Certified Protection Professional (CPP) Practice Exam

What must the owner demonstrate to effectively protect sensitive information legally?

1. Intent to use the information

2. Proof of continuous use

3. Objective indications of attempts to protect secrecy

4. Registered patents

The correct answer is: Objective indications of attempts to protect secrecy

To effectively protect sensitive information legally, the owner must provide objective indications of attempts to protect secrecy. This demonstration is essential because it helps establish that the information is indeed treated as a trade secret and that reasonable steps were taken to maintain its confidentiality. Courts typically look for evidence such as confidentiality agreements, restricted access, and physical or electronic security measures that corroborate the owner’s intent to keep the information secret. The other options, while relevant in different contexts, do not necessarily demonstrate the protection of sensitive information in a legal sense. For example, intent to use the information does not equate to its protection; one can intend to use information without taking measures to secure it. Proof of continuous use is likewise insufficient, as continuous use alone does not establish that reasonable protective measures were employed. Registered patents are irrelevant in this scenario since patents pertain to inventions and public disclosures, whereas sensitive information may not even be patentable and requires different forms of protection, like trade secret law.