Skip to content

CS Professional · Intellectual Property Rights - Law and Practice · Protection of Trade Secrets

In Indian case law, such as Burlington Home Shopping v Rajnish Chibber, the court protected a compiled mailing list. What principle does this illustrate for a firm whose employee copies a customer list?

The Burlington case shows that a customer list or database created through skill and labour is protectable, mainly through copyright and breach of confidence, so unauthorised copying by an employee can be restrained by injunction.

  1. AA compilation developed with skill and labour can be protected through copyright and confidence, so copying it may be restrainedCorrect
  2. BCustomer lists can never be protected
  3. CProtection is available only after patent registration
  4. DProtection lasts only while the employee remains employed

Explanation

In Burlington, the court held a database compiled through skill and labour was protectable and copying could be restrained. Thus compilations can be protected under copyright and by confidence. Statements saying lists never qualify or need patents are wrong.

Did you get it right without looking?

One question tells you little. A timed set on Protection of Trade Secrets shows your real accuracy, how long you take and where you lose marks.

Practise Protection of Trade SecretsFree diagnostic mock

More Protection of Trade Secrets questions