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

The European Union (EU) has its own set of trade secrets laws that protect secret information from being used without permission. This set of laws, called the Trade Secrets Directive, is applicable across all 28 EU member states and creates a common system for protecting trade secrets throughout the EU. This Directive provides owners of trade secrets with harmonized legal protection against their confidential information being disclosed or used without their consent. In terms of the substance of the protection, the Directive requires at least the same standard of protection of trade secrets in all EU countries. This means that all EU countries must provide owners of trade secrets with remedies to stop the disclosure, use, and acquisition of their trade secrets, and they must do so in a timely manner. The Trade Secrets Directive also sets out general principles for the protection of confidential information. These include prohibitions against the unauthorized acquisition, use, or disclosure of trade secrets and the need to protect trade secrets from becoming generally known. The Directive also provides for civil proceedings and penalties for the unlawful acquisition, use or disclosure of trade secrets. The law on trade secrets in the European Union is intended to provide a minimum level of protection that is consistently applied across the EU. This helps to ensure a level playing field and provide a consistent legal environment for businesses operating in the region.

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