Protection of Trade Secrets in Ethiopia: The Need for Comprehensive Legal Framework
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Date
2025-12-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study examines the adequacy of trade secret protection in Ethiopia. General legal principles
derived from Trade Competition and Consumer Protection Proclamation No. 813/2013, the
Ethiopian criminal code, Ethiopian tort law, contract law, labour law and commercial law, may
be used to protect trade secrets; however, the scattered or fragmented provisions contained
under these laws are not full-fledged. In this regard, the most common forms of trade secret
misappropriation, such as breaches of confidential obligations and third-party misappropriations,
have not been effectively addressed. Available civil and criminal remedies are inadequate for
redressing the proper relief of trade secret owners. Furthermore, the existing legal regime lacks
evidence gathering and preservation rules applicable to secret trade litigation. Additionally,
there are no established protective measures to ensure confidentiality of trade secrets during
court proceedings. Finally, the existing legal regime does not provide test data protection for
pharmaceutical products and agricultural chemicals. This study employs a doctoral research
methodology. This study finds that Ethiopia does not have a comprehensive law that regulates
trade secrets. Based on these findings, the researcher recommends that Ethiopia enact a
comprehensive standalone law
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Keywords
Trade Secret Misappropriation