Better Protection For Trade Secrets In The EU

During the past months, the European Commission put forward a proposal for a directive on the protection of undisclosed material and business information, also known as trade secrets, and against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure. The idea of this proposal is for the protection against the misappropriation of business information and the safeguarding of confidential business practices. 

A recent survey has showed that 1 in 5 companies has suffered an attempt to steal its trade secrets in the last ten years, and the numbers are on the increase. Factors which contribute to this include the rise of global competition and the increased use of digital technologies.

This proposed directive introduces new EU-wide rules to help safeguard against the misappropriation and misuse of confidential business information and it aims to make it easier for national courts to deal with such cases and for victims of such abuse to receive compensation for damages.