It is prudent for parties to a contract to include a clause that addresses “changed conditions.” A provision in a contract discussing changed conditions should broadly identify  altered circumstances from the time the contract was signed and how these new circumstances will be addressed. A changed conditions clause is frequently found in construction contracts. This is because construction projects rely on so many variables, including weather, labor, and materials, that can be subject to unpredictable...

Unlike patents and trademarks, trade secrets are protected without any procedural formalities associated with the benefits of registration with a government agency. The benefit to this is that a trade secret can be protected for an unlimited period of time and requires no public disclosure. The downside is that defining and protecting a trade secret can be trickier. There are different definitions of what constitutes a “trade secret.” California law has adopted the Uniform Trade Secrets Act definition,...