WHAT 商业秘密 MEANS
What 商业秘密 means
The 2025-revised Anti-Unfair Competition Law protects trade secrets against improper acquisition, disclosure and use. The owner should be able to show secrecy, value and appropriate protection measures.
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Why the role matters
Unlike registered IP, trade-secret protection depends heavily on operational controls: NDAs, access limits, classification, exit procedures and evidence of secrecy measures.
CONTEXT
Where you see the term
ContextWhat it means there
R&DFormulas, source code and technical know-how.
Commercial operationsPricing, customer and supplier information.
Employee departuresAccess and confidentiality controls are tested.
TRANSLATION NOTE
文/A
Translation note
商业秘密 is “trade secret”. “Confidential information” can be broader and may include information that does not satisfy the statutory trade-secret test.
AUTHORITY
Primary legal basis
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
Example
A departing engineer downloads a restricted formula database to a personal device. The company’s access controls and confidentiality measures become central evidence.
SOURCES AND REVIEW
Primary authorities.
18 Sep 2026
OFFICIAL SOURCESUPPORTSCHECKED
PRC Anti-Unfair Competition Law (2025 revision)
PRC Anti-Unfair Competition Law (2025 revision)
MAINTAINED BYChina Legal Portal Editorial
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