TRADE SECRET PROTECTION IN NIGERIA: HOW TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS SECRETS SAFE

Trade secret protection is a critical aspect of intellectual property law for businesses worldwide. A trade secret is any confidential information that provides a business with a competitive advantage, such as customer lists, formulas, designs, and other valuable data. In Nigeria, trade secret protection is not expressly provided for under any specific legislation. However, there are legal avenues available for business owners to protect their trade secrets, such as common law, contract law, and industrial property law.

Here are some steps business owners can take to keep their trade secrets safe:

  1. IDENTIFY AND CLASSIFY TRADE SECRETS

The first step in protecting trade secrets is to identify and classify the information as confidential. This can be done by determining which information is essential to the business’s operations and competitive edge. Once identified, businesses can take measures to limit access to the information and ensure that it is only disclosed on a need-to-know basis.

  1. IMPLEMENT SECURITY MEASURES

Businesses can implement various security measures to protect their trade secrets, such as access controls, password protection, encryption, and physical security measures. These measures can help prevent unauthorized access to confidential information and reduce the risk of theft or misappropriation.

  1. DRAFT NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS (NDAS)

An NDA is a legal agreement between two or more parties that outlines the confidential information that will be shared and the conditions under which it will be disclosed. By entering into an NDA, businesses can protect their trade secrets from disclosure or unauthorized use by third parties.

  1. CONDUCT EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS

Businesses can also conduct employee training and awareness programs to educate employees on the importance of trade secret protection and the consequences of violating NDAs. By doing so, businesses can reduce the risk of trade secret misappropriation by employees.

EXAMPLES OF TRADE SECRET MISAPPROPRIATION CASES

Trade secret misappropriation cases have been reported worldwide, with some of the most high-profile cases occurring in the United States. In one case, a former employee of Google was accused of stealing confidential trade secrets related to self-driving car technology and using them to start a competing company. The case was settled out of court, with Google receiving a payout and an agreement that the former employee would not use any of Google’s trade secrets.

In another case, a former employee of DuPont was accused of stealing trade secrets related to Kevlar, a material used in body armor, and selling the information to a competitor. The employee was found guilty of theft of trade secrets, and DuPont was awarded $920 million in damages.

In a third case, a former employee of Coca-Cola was accused of stealing confidential documents related to a new product launch and attempting to sell them to Pepsi. The employee was sentenced to eight years in prison for trade secret theft and wire fraud.

CONCLUSION

Trade secret protection is a vital aspect of business operations worldwide. By taking steps to identify and classify trade secrets, implementing security measures, drafting NDAs, and conducting employee training and awareness programs, businesses can keep their trade secrets safe. It is crucial to consult with legal professionals such as Regville Associates to ensure that your trade secrets are adequately protected.

Feel free to contact us.

Tolulope Oguntade 
Regville Associates 
info@regville.com 
08065111667

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