Trade Secrets Act (1996.01.17.Promulgated)

Chapter I
General Provisions
Article 1 (The Legislative Purpose)

This Act is enacted to protect trade secrets, maintain industrial ethics and order in competition, and balance societal and public interests. Matters not provided for in this Act shall be governed by other laws.


Article 2 (The Definition of Trade Secret)

The term "trade secret" as used in this Act shall mean any method, technique, process, formula, program, design, or other information that may be used in the course of production, sales, or operations, and also meet the following requirements:


(1) It is not known to persons generally involved in the information of this type;


(2) It has economic value, actual or potential, due to its secretive nature; and


(3) Its owner has taken reasonable measures to maintain its secrecy.


Article 3 (The Ownership of a Trade Secret from Employment)

If a trade secret is the result of research or development by an employee during the performance of employment, the trade secret shall belong to the employer unless otherwise provided for in a contract, and in which case the contract shall prevail.

If a trade secret is the result of research or development by an employee other than during the performance of employment, the trade secret shall belong to the employee. However, if the trade secret is the result of utilizing the employer's resources or experience, the employer may make use of such a trade secret in the employer's business after paying a reasonable compensation to the employee.


Article 4 (The Ownership of a Trade Secret from a Funded Contract)

Where one provides funding and contracts another to conduct research or development that resulted in a trade secret, the ownership of the trade secret shall be determined by the terms of the contract. If the ownership is not specified in the contract, the trade secret shall belong to the contracted party; however, the contracting party shall be entitled to make use of such trade secret within the contracting party's business.


Article 5 (The Ownership of a Jointly-Developed Trade Secret)

Where a trade secret is the result of joint research or development by two or more parties, the respective shares in the ownership of the trade secret shall be determined by contract. In the absence of a contract, an equal share of the ownership shall be presumed.


Article 6 (The Assignment of a Trade Secret)

A trade secret may be assigned in whole or in part, or jointly owned.

Any use or disposition of a jointly-owned trade secret shall be unanimously approved by all co-owners in the absence of a contractual provision. However, no co-owner shall refuse consent without proper justification. No co-owner may assign its share of the ownership without the consent of the remaining co-owners, unless otherwise provided for in a contract, and in which case the contract shall prevail.


Article 7 (The Licensing of a Trade Secret)

An owner of a trade secret may grant a license to another for the use of the trade secret. The territory, term, contents, methods of use or other matters in connection with the license shall be determined by the contract between the parties.

The licensee as referred to in the preceding Paragraph shall not sub-license the licensed trade secret without the consent of the trade secret owner. No co-owner shall grant a license to another for the use of the jointly-owned trade secret without the unanimous consent of the remaining co-owners. However, no co-owner shall refuse consent without proper justification.


Article 8 (The Unavailability of a Trade Secret's Being Pledged and Compulsorily Enforced)


A trade secret shall not be used as the subject matter of a pledge or compulsory execution.


Article 9 (The Government Officials' Confidentiality Duty)

No government employee shall use or disclose without due cause any trade secrets of others known or obtained through the performance of his official duties.

No parties, representatives of the parties, advocates, expert witnesses, witnesses, and other parties related to the case shall use or disclose without due cause any trade secrets of others, known or obtained by virtue of a judicial investigation or proceeding.

The provision of the preceding Paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to arbitrators and other relevant parties involved in arbitration matters.


Article 10 (The Infringement of a Trade Secret)

Any of the following acts shall be deemed as a misappropriation of a trade secret:


(1) To acquire a trade secret by improper means;


(2) To acquire, use, or disclose a trade secret as defined in the preceding Item knowingly or unknowingly due to gross negligence;


(3) To use or disclose an acquired trade secret knowing, or not knowing due to gross negligence, that it is a trade secret as defined in Item One;


(4) To use or disclose by improper means a legally acquired trade secret; or


(5) To use or to disclose without due cause a trade secret to which the law imposes a duty to maintain secrecy;

The term "improper means" as referred to in the preceding Paragraph shall mean theft, fraud, coercion, bribery, unauthorized reproduction, breach of an obligation to maintain secrecy, inducement of others to breach an obligation to maintain secrecy, or any other similar means.


Article 11 (Civil Remedies)

If a trade secret is misappropriated, the injured party may request for the removal of such misappropriation. If there is a likelihood of misappropriation, a prevention may be requested.

When requesting for a remedy available under the preceding Paragraph, the injured party may request for the destruction or other necessary dispositions of products generated from the misappropriation or items used exclusively in the misappropriation.


Article 12 (Civil Liability and Statutory Limitation)

One who intentionally or negligently misappropriates another's trade secret shall be liable for damages. If two or more parties jointly misappropriate, such parties shall be jointly and severally liable.

The right to claim for damages as referred to in the preceding Paragraph shall be extinguished if the right is not exercised within two (2) years from the date when the owner of the right has knowledge of both the act of misappropriation and the identity of the party liable for the damages, or within ten (10) years from the act of misappropriation.


Article 13 (The Methods of Calculating Damages)

An injured party may choose any of the following provisions to request for damages in accordance with the preceding Article:
(1) To make a claim based upon Article 216 of the Civil Code. However, if the injured party is unable to prove the amount of damages, the party may take as damages the amount of profits normally expected from the use of the trade secret minus the amount of profits earned after the misappropriation; or

(2) To request for the profits earned through the act of misappropriation from the one who misappropriated. However, if the one who misappropriated is unable to prove the costs or the necessary expenses, the total income gained from the act(s) of misappropriation shall be deemed the profits.

Based on the provisions set forth in the preceding Paragraph, if an act of misappropriation is found to be intentional, the court may, at the request of the injured party and by taking into consideration the circumstances of the misappropriation, award an amount greater than the actual damages, provided that the amount shall not exceed three times the amount of the proven damages.


Article 14 (The Secrecy Maintenance of Trial on a Trade Secret)

To try trade secrets suits, the court may establish a special tribunal or appoint a designated person(s) to administer the case.

If assertions or defenses advanced by parties to a litigation relate to trade secrets, and at the request of the parties, the court may, as it deems appropriate, close the trial to the public and/or restrict access to the files of the litigation related information.


Article 15 (The Reciprocity Principle)

A foreign national's trade secret(s) will not receive protection in R.O.C., if the foreign national's home country has not signed a bilateral trade secrets protection treaty or agreement with R.O.C., or does not provide protection to trade secrets owned by R.O.C. nationals according to the laws and regulations of the foreign national's home country.


Article 16 (Effective Date)

This Act shall come into force from the date of promulgation.