Comparative law notes
The English term "trade secrets" is a bit broader than the German concept of Betreibsgeheimnis. "The precise language by which a trade secret is defined varies by jurisdiction, as do the particular types of information that are subject to trade secret protection. Three factors are common to all such definitions: A trade secret is information that - is not generally known to the public; - confers economic benefit on its holder because the information is not publicly known; and - where the holder makes reasonable efforts to maintain its secrecy." wiki