Trade Secrets and Traditional Knowledge: Strengthening International Protection of Indigenous Innovation

The Law and Theory of Trade Secrecy, Edgar Elgar Publishing, 2011

33 Pages Posted: 11 Feb 2013

See all articles by Doris Estelle Long

Doris Estelle Long

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law; VeraKen Productions; Doris Long Consulting

Date Written: May 28, 2012

Abstract

A rational trade secret regime could serve as a valuable first step in protecting indigenous innovation. However, to assure that such a regime does not simply lock away such innovation from the public but assures that it is used and valued on terms that respect the rights of indigenous holders, the full flexibilities mandated by present international standards for trade secret protection must be applied. These flexibilities include recognition of the unfair competition basis of trade secret protection internationally which in turn allows for ethically applied considerations of secrecy, commercial value, and diasporic ownership. Ultimately, trade secret protection, applied with the full flexibility required under its unfair competition basis under TRIPS, could provide the critical legal foundation for the use of indigenous innovation as a critical source for sustainable development. But to reach these goals, present models for Material Transfer Agreements need to be more fully developed to accord full protection to indigenous innovation and TK databases and registers need to be crafted to avoid improvident loss of critical trade secrets.

Keywords: traditional knowledge, indigenous peoples, trade secret, innovation, international, flexibilities

JEL Classification: 034, 014, 031, Z10

Suggested Citation

Long, Doris Estelle, Trade Secrets and Traditional Knowledge: Strengthening International Protection of Indigenous Innovation (May 28, 2012). The Law and Theory of Trade Secrecy, Edgar Elgar Publishing, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2214785

Doris Estelle Long (Contact Author)

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law ( email )

300 S. State Street
Chicago, IL 60604
United States
60604 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://dorislongconsulting.com

VeraKen Productions ( email )

733 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202
United States
60202 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://verakenproductions.com

Doris Long Consulting ( email )

733 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.dorislongconsulting.com

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