EUIPO organised an IP Café on Trade Secrets Protection concluded in Beijing

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), in the context of the EU-funded project IP Key China, organises periodic IP Cafés - a series of open and interactive discussions on current intellectual property (IP) issues affecting the development of intellectual property law in China and Europe. These forums aim to foster an environment where participants can engage in meaningful discussions and exchange insights.

The EUIPO is committed to contributing to EU policies, including trade and market access in third countries through various projects in Africa, China, Latin America and South-East Asia. By fostering open discussions among IP professionals, authorities and academics, the EUIPO aims to identify cooperation opportunities, and pragmatic solutions for emerging IP issues.

On 16 October 2024, the IP Café - Protecting Intellectual Assets: Trade Secrets in China's Evolving Legal Landscape took place in Beijing, China. The event, with the participation of the European Commission, explored the critical issue of trade secrets protection within China’s legal framework.

The IP Café provided an overview of the current legal framework and practical challenges in protecting trade secrets in China. It also evaluated the impact of legislative changes, specifically the 2019 amendments to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law (AUCL) and fostered a dialogue on improving the legal and practical environment for protecting trade secrets.

Key highlights from the recent Trade Secrets IP Café event included:

• A detailed overview of China's legal framework for trade secrets protection, with a focus on key legislative provisions.
• Analysis of the 2019 amendments to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law (AUCL) and their impact on trade secrets protection, supported by recent case law.
• A summary of concerns from EU businesses in China, highlighting the main challenges they face in safeguarding trade secrets, as outlined in a recent position paper.
• Insights into the cosmetics industry's specific trade secret-related challenges in China.
• Discussion on cross-border enforcement complexities, with practical strategies for EU industries navigating differing legal standards between the EU and China.

Participants engaged in a Q&A session following the panel discussion.

The IP Café served as a key platform where participants exchanged ideas on improving the legal and enforcement landscape for trade secrets in China.

The EUIPO has the ability to mobilise expertise in any IP area across its network of EU Agencies and partner IP institutions. The activity demonstrates the EUIPO’s ongoing commitment to its users by supporting open discussions in third country jurisdictions regarding matters affecting their market access and daily operations.