What must be true for an engineer to keep information as a trade secret?

To maintain information as a trade secret, it is essential that the information is kept secret by the owner. This means that the owner must take reasonable measures to ensure that the information is not disclosed to the public or made available to competitors. The very essence of a trade secret lies in its confidentiality; if the information becomes widely known or is not actively protected, it can lose its status as a trade secret.

By keeping the information undisclosed and implementing protective measures, such as non-disclosure agreements or limited access, the owner demonstrates their intention to treat the information as proprietary. This ensures that the competitive edge offered by the secret is preserved, providing commercial value to the owner.

The other options do not fulfill the criteria necessary for maintaining the status of trade secrets. While some may touch on relevant aspects of confidentiality, they do not directly address the critical requirement for an owner to actively guard the secrecy of the information.