[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” padding_top=”50″ css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”center” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” padding_top=”50″ padding_bottom=”50″ css_animation=””][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1517373139965{background-image: url(http:\/\/asiallians.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Picture1.png?id=18554) !important;}”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]The Highest Damages Awarded for Trade Secret Infringement in PRC Judicial History<\/span><\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”70px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]On February 26, 2021, the PRC Supreme People\u2019s Court held that two PRC companies infringed \u201cVanillin\u201d trade secret of another PRC company. The decision stands out and causes wide attention because it awarded 159,321,671 RMB, which is the highest damages for trade secret infringement in PRC judicial history. It is reported that the decision shows the trend of strengthening trade secrets protection in China.<\/p>\n The background of the case is: Jiaxing Zhonghua Chemical Co., Ltd (\u201cJiaxing\u201d), a major vanillin manufacturer in the world, cooperated with Shanghai Xinchen New Technology Co., Ltd (\u201cXinchen\u201d) to develop new technology\/knowhow for producing vanillin. A former employee of Jiaxing disclosed their trade secret1<\/a><\/sup>to Wang Long Group Co., Ltd (\u201cWang Long\u201d) and consequently Wang Long gained huge profit. Jiaxing and Xinchen filed a lawsuit against Company Wang Long alleging Wang Long infringed their trade secret.<\/p>\n We select a few interesting points in the court\u2019s decision for your reference.<\/p>\n (1) The technology constituted trade secret<\/strong>2<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n First, the technology was unknown to the public and was obtained from extensive research, development, and inspection, which was non-available and non-visible in the market or any kinds of public channels.<\/p>\n Second, the technology possessed high commercial value. Jiaxing had used the technology in production line and consequently created huge global market advantages.<\/p>\n Third, Jiaxing adopted strict protective measures, such as building a set of document control procedures, training on employees, signing confidential clause with the transaction counterparty, etc.<\/p>\n (2) The defendants committed infringement conducts<\/strong>3<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n The court determined that: the suspected infringing trade secret disclosed through illegal disclosure by an employee who joined Wang Long from Jiaxing; further, Wang Long and its affiliated entities, Ningbo Wanglong Technology Co., Ltd (\u201cNingbo Wanglong\u201d) and Xifu Shiwanglong Spices (Ningbo) Co., Ltd (\u201cXifu Shiwanglong\u201d), used the disclosed trade secret producing vanillin for sale; therefore, the disclosing employee, Wang Long, legal representative of Wang Long, Ningbo Wanglong, and Xifu Shiwanglong committed joint torts actions.<\/p>\n (3) Damages<\/strong><\/p>\n The court adopted the method of sale profits calculation to determine the damages. Wang Long refused to provide accounting books and materials, therefore, the court calculated the profits of Wang Long, Ningbo Wanglong, and Xifu Shiwanglong (the defendants) by referring to the sale price and profit margin for vanillin produced by Jiaxing (the plaintiff). The total profit of defendants from 2011 to 2017 is 155,829,455 RMB. Adding the lawyer fee and notary fee, the damages was determined as 159,321,671 RMB. The court held that the extremely high amount of compensation was reasonable because tort was outrageous.<\/p>\n Should you want to know more details about this case or how to protect your trade secret in China, please feel free to send a request at\u00a0asiallians@asiallians.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n https:\/\/wenshu.court.gov.cn\/website\/wenshu\/181107ANFZ0BXSK4\/index.html?docId=e2b36878c51e4f6f843dacde0122d989<\/a><\/p>\n As always, Asiallians remains at your service and our teams are currently mobilized in all our offices in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taipei.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1.<\/a>\u00a0The technology refers to 287 equipment drawings and 25 process piping and instrument flow diagrams.<\/p>\n 2.<\/a>\u00a0The case was adjudicated according to PRC Anti-unfair Competition Law (2017) (the \u201cApplicable Law\u201d), which was revised in 2019. Under the Applicable Law, trade secret has to be unknow to the public, possess commercial value and subject to confidential measures.<\/p>\n