Europe’s sophisticated draft legislation - the Digital Services Act (DSA) - could finally change the asymmetry of power and information between Big Tech and citizens by enabling data access for regulators and vetted researchers to look ‘under the hood.’  Sarah Andrew …

The French transposition of the European directive on trade secrets has hindered access to certain documents required for the “Implant Files” investigation. EURACTIV France reports.

The Commission presented on Monday (23 April) a draft directive on the protection of whistleblowers. However, this new draft counterbalances the directive on trade secrets adopted in 2016, which France is currently transposing. EURACTIV.fr reports.

In the three years it was debated in the European Parliament, the recently-adopted Trade Secrets Directive generated no small amount of controversy and myths. EURACTIV France attempts to separate fact from fiction.

The Trade Secrets Directive is out of the starting blocks, but the creation of a protected 'whistleblower' status may take some time. EURACTIV France reports.

The schemed Directive on “Trade Secrets Protection” is meant to repress industrial espionage, but applies to the whole of society legal remedies that should only apply to businesses, writes a broad coalition of journalists, lawyers, scientists, unions and associations.

The final version of the EU's draft Trade Secrets Directive provides greater legal protection for journalists and whistleblowers who act in the public interest. EURACTIV France reports.

Trialogues - secret three-way talks between the major EU institutions to finalise EU law - are a far cry from how lawmaking is supposed to work, underline the bloc's democratic deficit and breach the Treaties, writes Anaïs Berthier.

Members of the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee have adopted measures to ensure that the Trade Secrets bill does not weaken the right to freedom of information. EURACTIV France reports.

French MPs have called on the European institutions to rework the Trade Secrets bill, which they say hampers the freedom of information and puts journalists' sources at risk. EURACTIV France reports. 

The latest draft version of the Trade Secrets Directive currently being discussed in the European Parliament poses some serious enforcement issues, writes Jan-Diederik Lindemans. Little to no attention has been given to the costs of litigation, he warns.

Outcry from journalists has forced French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron to remove a "trade secrets" clause from his economic bill. Concerns are being raised over EU plans for a similar law. EURACTIV France reports. 

The EU executive is seeking to stem an increase in theft of trade secrets across Europe with a new proposal to harmonise the definition of the practice and block imports of products arising from such theft.

Suspected state-backed Russian hackers are believed to have stolen the entire contents of a personal email account used by former British trade minister Liam Fox as part of an attempt to sway the 2019 UK election, two sources told Reuters.

Chinese foreign affairs minister Wang Yi made a “plea” on Monday (16 December) for launching free trade talks with the EU, in parallel with the ongoing negotiations on an investment deal.

President Donald Trump said on Thursday (31 January) he wanted a "very big deal" US trade deal with China, but signaled there could be delays if negotiations fail to meet his goals of opening the Chinese economy broadly to US industry and agriculture.

The European Union is considering trade sanctions on Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis, potentially stripping the country of tariff-free access to the world’s largest trading bloc, three EU officials said.

The trade secrets directive will generate legal certainty for European innovators by creating a secure environment where valuable know-how can be exchanged, writes the Trade Secrets and Innovation Coalition (TSIC).

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that trade secrets are not an excuse for refusing to divulge information on biocides released into the air, water, soil and plants. EURACTIV Spain reports.

German industries have urged caution when the European Commission presents its free flow of data initiative next month, warning that excessive open data requirements risk exposing trade secrets and chilling investments in the digital economy.