Francis Gurry's renowned work, Breach of Confidence, published in 1984, was groundbreaking and invaluable in the field of intellectual property as the first text to synthesise the then burgeoning case law on breach of confidence into a systematic form. A highly regarded book, it was the first point of resort for practitioners and a key source for judges. Aplin, Bently, Johnson and Malynicz bring us a new edition of this important work, which remains faithful to the original in its approach, but is fully updated in light of the developments since the first edition. The authors expand upon the original work, in particular adding new material on the history and current relevance of the action for breach of confidence, . The authors stress both the advantages and disadvantages of the action for breach of confidence and, like Gurry, they constantly distinguish the action from associated legislative regimes which regulate the access to, acquisition, use and disclosure of information. The book extensively references the many analyses of the data protection regime and considers also issues of jurisdiction and choice of applicable law. Bringing together their particular skills and interests, the three authors produce a fresh re-writing of a highly significant text which retains the academic quality and precision of the original and stakes its claim once more as the leading authority in the field.

This book provides a full and clear exposition of the fundamentals of intellectual property law in the UK. It combines excerpts from cases and a broad range of secondary works with insightful commentary from the authors which will situate the law within a wider international context.

This book considers the inherent complexities of private law; relevant to property, tort, contract, legal method and legal theory.

This is a reissue of Gurry's definitive study of Breach of Confidence. Though much has changed since the book first appeared in 1984, the quality of this study is such that it remains in constant demand among practitioners and scholars. The revolution in intellectual property law and the protection of trade secrets in particular requires lawyers to approach the subject with increasing sophistication and clarity, qualities which Gurry's classic study exhibits in abundance.

In the increasingly knowledge- and innovation-based economy in which the mobility of the workforce is vital, employees and ex-employees are considered to be one of the biggest threats to the existence of trade secrets. The interests of the former parties to the employment relationship are contradictory: employers want to safeguard their competitive position by limiting use of information, and employees want to use that information to pursue their professional career. Magdalena Kolasa analyses existing guidelines that determine the extent to which former employees may use information learned during service. She proposes criteria for a balanced enforcement of trade secrets, discussing the statutory and implicit confidentiality duties, contractual protection, and remedies. Drawing from the laws of Germany, UK, and USA, and considering the EU Trade Secrets Directive, this book advocates an approach which recognises the value and functions of trade secrecy both within companies and in the context of public policy.

A comparative analysis of trade secrets enforcement against ex-employees in the EU and USA, aimed at legislators and practitioners.

An insight into bank secrecy in major jurisdictions, complemented by chapters on privacy, data protection, conflict of laws and exchange of information.

Contracts relating to scientific/technical development are effective only where they are enforceable or valid under relevant law, can be practically implemented by the parties, and address matters arising from the relevant scientific/technical issues and practices. Negotiators are often hampered by their lack of knowledge of contract law and of the biotechnological techniques used to derive new molecules and genes or genetic or biochemical formulas from biological samples. This lack of knowledge means they may not make the best choices. This book examines the special issues in applying contract law to the rights to take and utilize genetic resources; and the scientific issues and the manner in which they affect the negotiation of ABS agreements.

Inspired by recent debate, the purpose of this collection of essays on private law doctrines, remedies and methods is to celebrate and illustrate the contribution that both 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' methods of reasoning make to the development of private law. The contributors explore a variety of topical subjects, including judicial approaches to 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' methods; teaching trusts law; the protection of privacy in private law; the development of the law of unjust enrichment; the private law consequences of theft; equity's jurisdiction to relieve against forfeiture; the nature of fiduciary relationships and obligations; the duties of trustees; compensation and disgorgement remedies; partial rescission; the role of unconscionability in proprietary estoppel; and the nature of registered title to land.

This collection of essays interrogates significant issues at the forefront of scholarship and legal practice in the field of money remedies in equity. Chapters address the contentious and developing field of equitable compensation, including: the nature of equitable compensation; the relevant causation inquiry for equitable compensation; whether notions of contribution apply to multiple agents; accessorial liability; the role of discretion in limiting equitable compensation; which wrongs yield equitable compensation; and the extent to which compensation in equity differs from money remedies at common law. Other chapters examine the remedy of disgorgement of profit, and specifically the theoretical basis of that remedy, its application in the context of fiduciary obligations, and third-party issues. A number of chapters also examine the interrelationship between loss- and gain-based money relief. In addressing these issues the book includes both doctrinal and theoretical perspectives, and brings together leading equity scholars and judges from across the common law world.