The CEIPI Research Department organizes in partnership with the University of Lille a conference on the topic “The protection of trade secrets: National and European perspectives” on 1st April 2016, at the Palais du Luxembourg, Paris.
This event is held under the scientific direction of Mr. Jean Lapousterle, Professor at the University of Strasbourg, CEIPI and Mr. Bertrand Warusfel, Professor at the University of Lille.
The protection of trade secrets is of great interest for French and European companies and has close links with the intellectual property law. The secret may well be an alternative to the protection afforded by patent law or the copyright when the strategic choice not to proceed to the disclosure of the creation or invention is made. In addition, it provides protection to items that cannot meet the requirements of the Code of Intellectual Property for the recognition of private rights.
Is it appropriate to strengthen the position of holders of trade secrets by punishing unauthorized apprehension or misappropriation of trade secrets?
The European Commission is firmly committed to this approach by publishing, on 28 November 2013, a draft directive on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure. That text, subsequently amended by the Council of the European Union, was then submitted to the Committee on Legal Affairs of the European Parliament. The European institutions are then reached a provisional agreement on 15 December 2015, as part of the trilogue procedure.
At this advanced stage of adoption of the proposed directive, it seems necessary to address the many fundamental issues that it raises.
What is the nature of the trade secrets?
How to achieve conciliation with the holders of fundamental rights potentially affected by their protection?
What are the contributions of the proposed directive and how it intends to maintain the confidentiality of the secrets being currently in trial?
Who are the forgotten of this harmonization and are they likely to intrude to the transposition stage?
This conference will seek to provide answers to these questions on which the future of the protection of trade secrets in France, as well as in Europe depends.
You can download the programme.
Free admission subject to availability.
See also: “CEIPI’s remarks on the proposal of a Directive on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure”.
