Non-Competition Typically Reserved for Employees Holding Keys to Trade Secrets Information – Ruling From Supreme People’s Court Referenced Case Database Summary of the Court Ruling If a non-compete agreement restricts an employee from pursuing a job in which they excel or have expertise during the specified period, and this significantly affects their livelihood and employment opportunities, the application of such restrictions must […]

Introduction: The Strategic Imperative of Trade Secret Protection In the global food industry, which is worth trillions of dollars, proprietary recipes are vital competitive assets. Historical examples, such as Coca-Cola’s long-standing protection of its formula and the 2016 incident involving the theft of Lao Gan Ma’s chili sauce recipe—resulting in over ten million renminbi in […]

Evolution of Legal Frameworks China’s approach to non-compete agreements has shifted significantly since 2008. Initially treated as trade secret infringement cases, these disputes are now classified as labor contract matters under judicial practice. Businesses must navigate this dual-track system—where trade secret infringements fall under tort law, while non-compete breaches are contractual disputes—to effectively safeguard intellectual […]