How do you protect an innovation that won't be patented?

You have identified an innovation, but the patent route is not envisaged for the following reasons in particular:

• or the innovation is not patentable subject matter (it is not a technical solution to a technical problem);

• or you prefer not to disclose the innovation to third parties.

So you want to know :

• whether there are alternatives to patent protection;

• whether secrecy is feasible or recommended.