What is the intellectual property protection for a confidential recipe for muffins?

The correct choice is trade secret because it is the most appropriate form of intellectual property protection for a confidential recipe. Trade secrets are designed to protect confidential business information that provides a competitive edge, such as formulas, practices, processes, and recipes. As long as the recipe remains secret and measures are taken to keep it confidential, it can be protected indefinitely.

Unlike patents, which require public disclosure of the invention and only last for a limited time (usually 20 years), a trade secret can last indefinitely as long as the information remains confidential. Additionally, while trademarks protect brand names and logos associated with goods or services, and copyright protects original works of authorship (such as literature, music, or art), these forms of protection do not apply to recipes as intellectual property per se. Therefore, for a confidential recipe for muffins, a trade secret is the most suitable form of protection.