Trade secrets are common in a games company, especially at an early stage before the game has been launched on the market. They could concern design, storytelling, game logic, technology or customer databases and commercial agreements with collaboration partners. 

It is therefore a good idea to consider what assets are unique within your company and can be considered to constitute valuable trade secrets. It is important that you restrict the circle of people who know about them. 

In some cases, you can sign a confidentiality agreement, known as a nondisclosure agreement (NDA), to ensure that what you disclose does not spread outside an invited circle of people. Read more about non-disclosure agreements here. 

Things to remember

• Identify your trade secrets.
• Keep your secrets secret.
• Use non-disclosure agreements (NDA) when necessary.
• Limit the circle of people who know your trade secrets.
• Store and manage your trade secrets in a way which ensures that unauthorised persons cannot gain access to them.