THE IMPACT OF THE DIRECTIVE ON THE PROTECTION OF TRADE SECRETS ON THE CONCEPT OF TRADE SECRETS IN GERMAN LAW
2020
Abstract
The article deals with the impact of the Directive (EU) 2016/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure on the concept of trade secrets in German law. The Federal Republic of Germany implemented the Directive by adopting the Act on the Protection of Trade Secrets, which entered into effect on 26 April 2019.
The impact of the Directive on the concept of trade secrets in German law was significant as the Act introduced, inter alia, the first ever statutory definition of trade secrets in Germany.