Taipei, 21 September 2016 - The European Economic and Trade Office (EETO), in the framework of the European Business and Regulatory Cooperation (EBRC) programme hosted the "EU-Taiwan Seminar on Trade Secrets" on 21 September 2016 at International Conference Hall, Tsai Lecture Hall, College of Law, NTU. The co-host of seminar was the Intellectual Property Office (TIPO), Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The seminar brought together 190 experts from Europe and Taiwan to discuss trade secret disputes, with the aim to enhance public understanding of legislation and practices in the EU and Taiwan, and to further foster mutual-understanding through discussions. Ms Shu-Ming Hong (洪淑敏), Director General of TIPO, and Ms Viktoria Lovenberg, Deputy Head of EETO delivered opening remarks at the event.

The seminar was organised in response to the new challenges of protection and enforcement of trade secrets. The risk of infringements of trade secrets has risen with the growth of globalisation and the mobility of information, digital technology and human resources. The disclosure of trade secrets may severely endanger companies' R&D output, create unfair competition and distort markets. Hence, there has been adjustment in legislation around the world designed to effectively prevent infringements of trade secrets.

The Taiwanese experts were: Yu-Chiung WANG (王玉瓊), Executive Officer, Legal Affairs Office, TIPO; Chiou-Ming TSAI (蔡秋明), Director, Department of International and Cross-Strait Legal Affairs, MOJ; Sylvia FANG (方淑華), Vice President and General Counsel, TSMC; Chairperson, Taiwan Association for Trade Secrets Protection (TTSP).

The European experts were: Jorg WEBERNDORFER, Policy officer, DG TRADE, European Commission; Jan ØSTERGAARD, Head Prosecutor, Denmark; Elizabeth JONES, Copyright & IP Enforcement Directorate, UKIPO; Gloria LU, Partner, Lee and Li Attorneys-at-law; Heather HSIAO, Senior Associate, Eiger; Reinout van MALENSTEIN, IP Expert, China IPR SME Helpdesk.