Unfair competition laws are designed to protect consumers and businesses from unfair, deceptive business or trade practices. Unfair competition claims include trademark infringement, patent infringement, copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, and breach of restrictive covenants in employment agreements and contracts for the sale of businesses.

Unfair or deceptive trade practices usually target consumers and include misleading claims about the quality or characteristics of goods or services; bait and switch sales tactics; and the unauthorized substitution of an advertised or represented brand or quality of goods for a lesser brand or quality of goods. Most unfair competition laws are located in state statutes and court opinions (common law). But patent, copyright, and trademark laws that may be the source of unfair competition claims are located in federal statutes.

In Iowa, unfair competition laws are in place to protect both consumers and businesses from deceptive and unethical practices. These laws encompass a range of issues including trademark infringement, patent infringement, copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, and breaches of restrictive covenants in employment or business sale contracts. Iowa's approach to unfair competition is grounded in both state statutes and common law (court opinions). For instance, the Iowa Trade Secrets Act, Iowa Code Chapter 550, provides protection against the misappropriation of trade secrets. Additionally, Iowa's consumer protection laws, found in Iowa Code Chapter 714H, prohibit deceptive trade practices that mislead consumers, such as false advertising, bait and switch tactics, and unauthorized substitution of goods. At the federal level, unfair competition claims may also arise under the Lanham Act for trademark issues, the Patent Act, and copyright laws. These federal statutes provide a uniform framework for addressing unfair competition across all states, including Iowa.