Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

PODCAST · 20 AUGUST 2025

IP Basics: Trade Secrets (Podcast)

Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Contributor
Gowling WLG

Gowling WLG

The firm The firm’s lawyers speak English, French, Russian and Ukrainian. The firm’s client base...

View firm profile
Explore more from Gowling WLG

Trade secrets help businesses protect valuable information without making it public - unlike patents. But how do they work, and what legal protections are in place across Europe?

European UnionIntellectual Property
Alexis Augustin
Alexis Augustin
Lucy Singer
Lucy Singer
Alessandra Birkendorf
Alessandra Birkendorf
Author LinkedIn connections

Trade secrets help businesses protect valuable information without making it public - unlike patents. But how do they work, and what legal protections are in place across Europe?

In this latest episode in our IP Basics podcast series, Principal Associate Alexis Augustin, Senior Associate Lucy Singer, and Associate Alessandra Birkendorf, explain what trade secrets are, why they matter, and how businesses in France, Germany, and the UK can protect them.

Listen to the episode

self

Read the original article on GowlingWLG.com

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

A KTEP Ahead: Canada's New Mechanism For Advanced Examination Of Patent Applications

For a Canadian patent application to be examined, an applicant must file a request for examination with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). In most cases, the order in which applications are examined is based on the order that the requests for examination are received. An applicant may be able to accelerate examination of their patent application through several existing mechanisms, including advancing examination via special order, accelerating examination of applications related to green technology, and the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH).
CanadaIntellectual Property
Smart & Biggar
Smart & Biggar
Article

Patenting Innovation In Data Centres: Protecting Configurations, Cooling Technologies, And The Green Advantage

The rapid expansion of data centre infrastructure has made these facilities a focal point for technological innovation and intellectual property investment. From server configurations to advanced cooling systems, the technologies deployed inside data centres represent significant R&D expenditure and competitive advantages. Patent protection offers operators and developers opportunities to safeguard innovations...
WorldwideIntellectual Property
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Article

Recent TMOB Decision Shows That Sometimes, Establishing Use In A Section 45 Proceeding Is Straightforward

The Trademarks Opposition Board recently upheld a registration for the FRÜH & DESIGN trademark covering top fermented beers, demonstrating that clear evidence of use can successfully defend against section 45 proceedings. This decision illustrates how straightforward documentation of sales, distribution networks, and delivery records proved sufficient to maintain trademark protection in Canada.
CanadaIntellectual Property
Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala
Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala
Article

Understanding The Canadian Intellectual Property Office's Patent TermAdjustment (PTA) System

Canada's new Patent Term Adjustment system offers compensation for delays in patent issuance, but qualifying depends on meeting specific eligibility requirements and strategic prosecution decisions. Understanding how the CIPO's "chess clock" philosophy works and implementing key strategies like deferred examination and timely maintenance fee payments can significantly impact whether meaningful term adjustments are granted.
CanadaIntellectual Property
Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP
Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP
Article

What Evidence Of Use Is Required In A Section 45 Proceeding?

The Trademarks Opposition Board's recent ruling in Therrien Couture Joli-coeur v Oldcastle Building Products clarifies the evidentiary standards trademark owners must meet when responding to section 45 notices under Canada's Trademarks Act. This decision highlights critical distinctions between evidence of actual transfers versus mere advertising, and underscores the necessity of providing specific proof for each registered good to avoid expungement.
CanadaIntellectual Property
Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala
Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala
Article

Restoring Patent Priority In Canada

Canadian patent law provides mechanisms for restoring priority claims when applications are filed after the standard 12-month priority period expires. Understanding the specific requirements, timelines, and criteria for restoration across regular Canadian applications, PCT national phase entries, and international stage PCT applications can help applicants preserve earlier filing dates and avoid self-anticipation issues.
CanadaIntellectual Property
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Article

Trademarks For Businesses - Part 3: Applying To Register A Trademark

Obtaining a trademark registration provides several benefits for businesses. Trademark registrations can help protect your rights and serve as assets that may be leveraged through licensing or used as collateral. However, obtaining a trademark registration in multiple jurisdictions can be a costly endeavour, and it can be difficult to prioritize where and when to seek registration to maximize protection.
CanadaIntellectual Property
Smart & Biggar
Smart & Biggar
Article

Peptides In Canada: Regulatory Reality Is Catching Up With The Hype

Health Canada's recent enforcement action against unauthorized injectable peptides signals a regulatory shift that wellness companies cannot afford to ignore. While peptides dominate influencer marketing and online wellness spaces, their legal status in Canada depends on factors far more complex than social media trends suggest. Understanding how route of administration, therapeutic claims, and market authorization intersect is now critical for compliance.
CanadaConsumer Protection
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Article

Three Power Shifts Shaping Canada’s Data Centre Market And The Always-present Threat Of Technological Change

Canadian data centre development is entering a critical phase as provincial governments introduce new frameworks for power allocation and pricing. With electricity access becoming increasingly competitive and conditional, developers face evolving regulatory landscapes in British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, and Québec that could fundamentally reshape project economics and timelines.
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Article

Understanding Canada’s new "Productivity Mega Deduction": Broad-based, immediate, and permanent expensing

Canada's new Productivity Mega Deduction promises to slash the marginal effective tax rate on business investment to just 6.4%, positioning the country as the most competitive G7 nation for capital deployment. This permanent tax incentive extends immediate expensing to roughly 65% of capital assets, fundamentally reshaping the economics of investing in Canadian operations across manufacturing, energy, technology, and resource sectors.
CanadaTax
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Article

Patenting Innovation In Data Centres: Protecting Configurations, Cooling Technologies, And The Green Advantage

The rapid expansion of data centre infrastructure has made these facilities a focal point for technological innovation and intellectual property investment. From server configurations to advanced cooling systems, the technologies deployed inside data centres represent significant R&D expenditure and competitive advantages. Patent protection offers operators and developers opportunities to safeguard innovations...
WorldwideIntellectual Property
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Video

Canada And The UK: A Historic Partnership Enters A New Era (Video)

Todd Burke of Gowling WLG's International Board sits down with British High Commissioner Rob Tinline to explore the evolving Canada-UK partnership and the commercial opportunities emerging across priority sectors like quantum computing, naval shipbuilding, and nuclear energy. Their discussion examines how these two nations are working together to advance trade, embrace innovation, and reduce barriers to cross-border collaboration in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
CanadaInternational Law
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Article

Enhanced Trade Pathways: The CPTPP Enters Into Force Between Canada And The UK

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership entered into force between Canada and the United Kingdom on September 1, 2026, fundamentally reshaping bilateral trade relations and investment frameworks. This development arrives as Canada actively diversifies away from U.S. trade dependence while the UK advances its post-Brexit global strategy, creating expanded market access for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.
United KingdomInternational Law
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Article

Artificial Intelligence In Public Decision-making: Guidelines, Jurisprudence And Open Questions

Canadian public authorities and courts are increasingly integrating artificial intelligence tools into their decision-making processes, raising critical questions about procedural fairness and the proper role of human judgment. This comprehensive analysis examines the evolving guidelines from Canadian judicial bodies and governments, explores key lessons from emerging case law, and identifies unresolved legal questions about AI's appropriate use in administrative and judicial contexts.
CanadaTechnology
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Video

Canada And Italy Chart A New Course For Shared Growth (Video)

As Europe's second-largest manufacturer, Italy presents compelling opportunities for Canadian businesses across sectors central to growth and competitiveness. In this conversation, Gowling WLG's CEO and Italy's Ambassador to Canada explore emerging opportunities in energy, critical minerals, agri-food, and defence, and how frameworks like CETA can deepen strategic collaboration across the Canada-Italy corridor.
WorldwideInternational Law
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG