Yrityssalaisuuslain

Yrityssalaisuuslaki, or the Finnish Trade Secret Act, provides legal protection for confidential business information. This law is designed to prevent unauthorized disclosure, use, or acquisition of trade secrets, thereby safeguarding the competitive advantage of businesses. A trade secret is defined as information that is not generally known or readily accessible, has commercial value because it is secret, and for which reasonable steps have been taken to keep it secret. This can encompass a wide range of information, including manufacturing processes, customer lists, marketing strategies, financial data, and proprietary technologies.

The law outlines specific actions that constitute infringement of a trade secret. These include obtaining the secret by unauthorized access, copying, or other means, as well as disclosing or using a trade secret that has been unlawfully obtained. The act also covers situations where a person knew or should have known that the information was a trade secret and that its disclosure or use would be unlawful.

Remedies for trade secret infringement can include injunctive relief to stop the unlawful activity, damages to compensate for losses incurred, and in some cases, even criminal penalties. The purpose of these remedies is to deter misappropriation and to restore the injured party to the position they would have been in had the infringement not occurred. The Yrityssalaisuuslaki plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and fair competition within the Finnish business environment by ensuring that valuable confidential information remains protected.