ARTICLE 5. Protection of Trade Secrets [78480. - 78495.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 5.

in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 78480. Section 78480.

“Trade secrets,” as used in this article, may include, but are not limited to, any formula, plan, pattern, process, tool, mechanism, compound, procedure, production data, or compilation of information that is not patented, that is known only to certain individuals within a commercial concern who are using it to fabricate, produce, develop, or compound an article of trade or a service having commercial value, and that gives its user an opportunity to obtain a business advantage over competitors who do not know or use it.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 78485. Section 78485.

Any person providing information pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 78440 shall, at the time of its submission, identify all information that the person believes is a trade secret. Any information or record not identified as a trade secret is available to the public, unless exempted from disclosure by other provisions of law.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 78490. Section 78490.

The department shall establish procedures to ensure that trade secret information is utilized by the department only in connection with the responsibilities of the department pursuant to this part and is not otherwise disseminated without the consent of the person who provided the information to the department. However, any information shall be made available to governmental agencies for use in making studies and for use in judicial review or enforcement proceedings involving the person furnishing the information.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 78495. Section 78495.

Any person who knowingly and willfully disseminates information protected by this article or procedures established by the department pursuant to Section 78490 shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026