article about a U.S. A New Federal Trade Secret Law.

http://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2014/10/congress-is-considering-a-new-federal-trade-secret-law-why-forbes-cross-post.htm
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2498323

Trade secrets usually don’t grab headlines the way that patents or copyrights do, but don’t let that fool you about their importance. Studies regularly show that most businesses care more about trade secrets than either copyrights or patents. In fact, trade secrets are implicated by every aspect of a company’s operations, including dealings with employees, vendors and customers. And while there are millions of issued patents and registered copyrights, the total number of protectable trade secrets is nearly infinite. 

Please read also:
A patent issue from 2007 ?
http://onlinedatingsoundbarrier.blogspot.com.ar/2014/01/a-patent-issue-from-2007.html

The Terrible Cost Of Patents
http://onlinedatingsoundbarrier.blogspot.com.ar/2011/08/terrible-cost-of-patents.html