Trade secret and confidential information laws and regulations
Scope of protection
Relevant international treaties
This article is the first in a series outlining the practical aspects of trademark legislation and procedure in Saudi Arabia. In particular, this article sets out the relevant legislation.(1)
Trade secret and confidential information laws and regulations
The relevant laws and regulations covering trade secrets in Saudi Arabia are as follows:
- the Regulation for the Protection of Confidential Commercial Information;(2)
- Saudi Arabia Cabinet Decision No. 219/1426 On the Approval of The Labour Law.
There is not a single definition of trade secrets in the legislation mentioned above. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in order for information to be deemed a trade secret, it must be:
- commercially valuable because it is secret;
- known only to a limited group of persons; and
- subject to reasonable steps taken by the rightful holder of the information to keep it secret, including the use of confidentiality agreements for business partners and employees.
Relevant international treaties
The United Arab Emirates is a signatory to the WIPO Convention (24 September 1974).
For further information on this topic please contact Richard Gaugeler at Bird & Bird by telephone (+44 20 7415 6000) or email ([email protected]). The Bird & Bird website can be accessed at www.twobirds.com.
Endnotes
(1) For the first article in a similar series on trade secret law in the United Arab Emirates, see "Practical guide to trade secrets in the United Arab Emirates: relevant legislation". For the first article in a similar series on patents in Saudi Arabia, see "Practical guide to patents in Saudi Arabia: relevant legislation".
(2) Issued by The Minister of Commerce and Industry's decision No. 3218 dated 4 May 2005.