A trade secret license can help extract value from a trade secret, a valuable form of intellectual property asset. However, omitting a key ingredient from a trade secret license can result in the ultimate loss of the value of the asset, disagreements between the licensor and licensee and lost opportunities.

While there has been significant growth in worldwide patent applications filed and patents granted, much intellectual property continues to be protected as a trade secret.

​2015 saw a number of high-profile cyber-sex security breaches. Most prominent was the Ashley Madison scandal, in which the personal details of over 37 million people were exposed through the hacking of a website that encourages and facilitates extramarital affairs.