OUR COMPANY
Confidential Information and Intellectual Property
We protect the intellectual property (IP) and confidential information of Qnity and our business partners to maintain our competitive edge and ensure compliance with the law.
Intellectual Property
Qnity’s IP includes inventions, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights. Some IP is publicly available, such as logos, graphics, and published written work. Other types, like trade secrets, are confidential and must be safeguarded to protect their value.
Types of Intellectual Property
Patents:
Protect inventions by consulting Legal about filing patents when appropriate.
Trademarks and Copyrights:
Use trademarks, logos, and brand materials properly, and follow brand guidelines. Report any misuse or suspected counterfeiting to management, the Qnity Legal Trademark & Copyright Group or the Brand Protection Team.
Trade Secrets:
These are confidential innovations or information that give Qnity a competitive edge, such as formulas, processes, designs, and supplier details.
Inventions
An invention is any new and useful product, method, or process. Protecting inventions may involve filing patents, keeping them as trade secrets, or publishing to prevent others from patenting the idea. Consult Legal to determine the best course of action.
Confidential Information
Confidential information includes sensitive business, technical, or personal data that must be protected. Examples are:
Financial data, customer details, and business strategies.
Research findings, product designs, and supplier information.
Future plans like acquisitions, divestitures, or new product launches.
Pricing strategies and detailed pricing models.
Manufacturing processes and proprietary formulas.
Sales forecasts and market analysis reports.
Q&A
I want to share a customer success story that includes details about a Qnity product. Can I post it on LinkedIn?
Not without approval. Even if it seems harmless, your post may include confidential details or intellectual property. Talk to your manager or Legal before sharing anything publicly.
Qnity’s Information Classification
Qnity classifies information into four levels:
- Special Control: Highly sensitive, such as research or business strategies
- Confidential: For need-to-know use only, including proprietary financial and technical information
- Official Use Only: Internal non-public information, like general business communications
- Public: External materials, such as press releases and annual reports
Protecting Confidential Information and IP
- Share only when you are authorized to do so and a confidentiality agreement is in place.
- Mark all shared information as “Confidential.”
- Limit disclosures to what is necessary for business purposes.
- Report trademark or brand abuse or counterfeit products to your manager, the Corporate Brand Protection Center or the Legal Trademark and Copyright Group.
Departing the Company
When leaving Qnity, employees must:
- Return all company property, including devices and documents.
- Not take or share copies of confidential information, trade secrets, or anything marked “Special Control” or “Internal Use Only.”
Prior to an employee’s departure, their line manager should oversee the process and assure all Qnity-issued assets, devices, and documents are retrieved.
Learn More
- Qnity Employee Access