Trade secret
Commercially valuable information protected by keeping it confidential and binding recipients by contract; a route to protecting pure AI output that copyright will not cover. Protection attaches only if the information derives independent economic value from secrecy and the owner takes reasonable measures to keep it secret (US Defend Trade Secrets Act and state Uniform Trade Secrets Act); publishing the output destroys it.
Defined in 3 GAGE programs, which carry 3 distinct definitions of it. The wording above is taught in Certified AI Practitioner: Workplace Foundations.
How each discipline defines it
The same term does different work depending on who is using it. These are the definitions as each program teaches them, unedited.
Commercially valuable information protected by keeping it confidential and binding recipients by contract; a route to protecting pure AI output that copyright will not cover. Protection attaches only if the information derives independent economic value from secrecy and the owner takes reasonable measures to keep it secret (US Defend Trade Secrets Act and state Uniform Trade Secrets Act); publishing the output destroys it.
Information that derives independent economic value from not being generally known, where the owner has taken reasonable measures to keep it secret, protected under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 and state versions of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act. Careless AI exposure of a client's trade secret can undermine the "reasonable measures" element the client needs to enforce their own trade secret rights later.
Confidential business information that has value because it is secret and is protected only while the holder takes reasonable steps to keep it secret. Disclosing it into an uncontrolled AI tool can destroy that protection.
Where it is taught
The exact lessons this term appears in. The first module of every program is free with a free account.
- AI Output Ownership and Accountability Frameworks · Ethical and Responsible AI and Operational Governance, Certified AI Practitioner: Workplace Foundations
- Who owns the output: IP, training-data provenance, and the liability chain when AI work goes wrong · Evidence Engineering, Certified AI Governance Professional (CAIGP)
- Client Confidentiality and Compliance When AI Touches the Work · AI for Lobbying Productivity, The AI Lobbyist: Certified AI Policy Strategist
Where it shows up at work
A definition is where Trade secret starts. The lessons above teach it inside the competencies below, which are what job descriptions ask for and what the GAGE credential records. Every link here is drawn from the same careers map that builds a role's readiness check.
Turns controls into enforceable obligations: data use, change notice, audit rights, incident duties, subcontractors, IP, exit and deletion.
One lesson on this page teach it as a primary outcome.
Applies acceptable-use rules, discloses AI assistance where it matters, and keeps confidential material out of unapproved tools.
One lesson on this page teach it as a primary outcome.
Applies GDPR, CCPA and sector rules to training data, inference, automated decisions, lawful basis, individual rights and cross-border transfer.
One lesson on this page teach it as a primary outcome.
Roles that hire for it
Each role page shows the full competency set, what the seat decides, and a readiness check against your own evidence.
- AI Regulatory Counselneeds it at depth · 14 open postings this week
- AI Vendor Risk Managerneeds it at depth
- Third-Party AI Risk Analystneeds working knowledge
- Third-Party Cyber Risk Managerneeds it at depth
- AI Literacy Leadneeds working knowledge
- AI Adoption and Enablement Leadneeds working knowledge
How job descriptions say it
Postings rarely use the textbook word. These are the phrases the careers map reads as asking for the competencies above.
Where the frameworks place it: GDPR Article 28; EU AI Act value-chain obligations; EU AI Act Article 50; OECD AI Principles.
One interview question about it
Which contract terms would you insist on before a vendor's model touches customer data, and what happens when the vendor changes the model?
Asked of candidates for contract terms that allocate ai risk. Answering it in your own words is exactly how a GAGE topic is passed, and the credential records the pass where an employer can check it.
If you come from another field
Some backgrounds already carry this competency, and the readiness check gives credit for it.
- Legal and paralegal work carries it as work you can show: Contract terms are your product.
- A law degree (JD, LLB or LLM), no AI work yet carries it as a claim to back up: Contract terms that move risk are a first-year subject.
- Privacy and data protection carries it as work you can show: Privacy assessments and lawful-basis records are your work product.
Terms it appears with
Not an alphabetical neighbourhood: these are the terms taught in the same lessons, ranked by how often they appear together.