What is the law on trade secrets in the European Union?

The European Union (EU) has several laws in place to protect trade secrets. The EU Trade Secrets Directive came into force in 2016, which established uniform rules across all EU Member States. The directive prohibits anyone from unlawfully obtaining, using, or disclosing trade secrets. Furthermore, it also prohibits anyone from offering or requesting another person to unlawfully obtain, use, or disclose trade secrets. If someone is found guilty of doing any of these things, then they could face criminal sanctions depending on the specific case. The Directive also requires Member States to put in place measures to ensure that there are effective remedies when trade secrets are misused. This includes the possibility of damages, as well as injunctions to prevent further misuse. In addition, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) also plays an important role in protecting trade secrets. The GDPR requires companies to take measures to keep personal data secure, which includes trade secrets. This means that companies must ensure that they have appropriate security measures in place to protect trade secrets from unauthorized access or disclosure. Finally, the EU’s own Trade Secrets Directive also provides specific rights for trade secret holders. This directive requires Member States to provide the necessary remedies for trade secret holders when their rights are infringed. In summary, the EU has several laws in place to protect trade secrets. These laws include the EU Trade Secrets Directive, the GDPR, and the EU’s own Trade Secrets Directive. These laws provide trade secret holders with the necessary remedies to protect their rights when they have been infringed.

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