European Commission Proposal for Harmonization of the Law on the Protection of Trade Secrets

The European Commission announced on 28 November 2013 the adoption of a “Proposal for a Directive on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure” (the “Proposal”), as part of its efforts to facilitate cross-border innovation and the exchange of knowledge within the EU. The Proposal aims to harmonize laws across the EU relating to the protection of commercially valuable confidential information, also referred to as “trade secrets”, “business confidential information” and “proprietary know-how”.