Trade Secrets Law in Ethiopia
Ethiopia does not currently have a comprehensive, standalone law dedicated solely to the protection of trade secrets. Instead, trade secret protection is addressed through various provisions scattered across multiple legal instruments. These include the Civil Code, Commercial Code, Criminal Code, the Trade Competition and Consumer Protection Proclamation No. 813/2013, the Mass Media and Access to Information Proclamation No. 590/2008, and the Transfer of Technology Regulation No. 121/1993. However, these provisions are not sufficiently developed to provide adequate and effective protection for trade secrets
The Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO), established in 2003, is responsible for maintaining intellectual property rights in Ethiopia, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Despite this, the office faces challenges such as limited staff and budget, and lacks law enforcement authority, which hampers its effectiveness in enforcing IP rights
In summary, while Ethiopia recognizes the importance of trade secret protection, the existing legal framework is fragmented and lacks the necessary comprehensiveness and enforcement mechanisms to ensure robust protection. There is a need for a dedicated and cohesive legal framework to effectively safeguard trade secrets in the country.
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