{"data":{"id":"us-ia/iowa-code-550.2","jurisdiction":"us-ia","citation":"Iowa Code § 550.2","heading":"Definitions.","body":"As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:\n1. “Improper means” means theft, bribery, misrepresentation, breach or inducement of a breach of a duty to maintain secrecy, or espionage, including but not limited to espionage through an electronic device.\n2. “Knows” or “knowledge” means that a person has actual knowledge of information or a circumstance or that the person has reason to know of the information or circumstance.\n3. “Misappropriation” means doing any of the following:\na. Acquisition of a trade secret by a person who knows that the trade secret is acquired by improper means.\nb. Disclosure or use of a trade secret by a person who uses improper means to acquire the trade secret.\nc. Disclosure or use of a trade secret by a person who at the time of disclosure or use, knows that the trade secret is derived from or through a person who had utilized improper means to acquire the trade secret.\nd. Disclosure or use of a trade secret by a person who at the time of disclosure or use knows that the trade secret is acquired under circumstances giving rise to a duty to maintain its secrecy or limit its use.\ne. Disclosure or use of a trade secret by a person who at the time of disclosure or use knows that the trade secret is derived from or through a person who owes a duty to maintain the trade secret’s secrecy or limit its use.\nf. Disclosure or use of a trade secret by a person who, before a material change in the person’s position, knows that the information is a trade secret and that the trade secret has been acquired by accident or mistake.\n4. “Trade secret” means information, including but not limited to a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process that is both of the following:\na. Derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by a person able to obtain economic value from its disclosure or use.\nb. Is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.","path":["Title XIII - COMMERCE (Ch. 505 - 554I)","Chapter 550 - TRADE SECRETS"],"source_url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/2026/550.2.pdf","current_through":"Iowa Code 2026 edition","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:40:14Z","sha256":"c4676f7f218d5c9eb321ee8d868bd585ab019f0959fa7b0936133a6ac8c64b3b","source_id":"us-ia","stale":false,"prev":"us-ia/iowa-code-550.1","next":"us-ia/iowa-code-550.3"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}