Last week, the European Parliament has approved the text of the proposed Directive for the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure.
After approval by the Council, EU Member States will have to amend their national law. The Directive brings a harmonized definition of « trade secrets », defined as information which is secret, has commercial value because it is secret, and has been subject to reasonable steps to keep it secret.