Intellectual Property
Confidential Information

This important area of law can be used to protect a variety of types of confidential information. It is largely aimed at protecting secrets - whether these are trade secrets, such as the recipe for coca-cola, or something as mundane (but very valuable) as a customer list.

To prevent others using such secrets without permission, three criteria must be met: the information must be of a confidential nature; it must be imparted in circumstances or on an occasion of confidence; and it must be used in an unauthorised way.