Protections: A Commentary On Trade Secrets In Nigeria

"Forget patents, trademarks and copyrights... trade secrets could be your company's most important and valuable assets."
James Pooley, former Deputy Director-General,
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).¹

Introduction

From Campari to Coca-Cola to Google's PageRank, businesses and corporations have continued to keep their trade secrets (TS), to enhance prospects of their long term, sustainable future through market relevance and profitable business operations. Some of these TS have spanned decades, generations and centuries,² therefore the need for adequate protection against prejudicial disclosures, cannot be overemphasised. Whilst Nigeria - through lack of subject-specific legislation - can be said to be partly indifferent about TS, other countries like Uganda (through her Trade Secrets Protection Act 2009), the United States of America (through their Uniform Trade Secrets Act 1985 (UTSA)³ and the Defend Trade Secrets Act 2016 (DTSA)) and the