Trade Secrets Regulations 2018: Primary UK legislation implementing the EU Trade Secrets Directive, protecting against unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure of trade secrets
Data Protection Act 2018: UK's implementation of GDPR, governing how personal data must be handled and protected, including within confidentiality agreements
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988: Primary legislation protecting intellectual property rights, particularly relevant for software code and documentation
Computer Misuse Act 1990: Legislation criminalizing unauthorized access to computer systems and data, relevant for protecting sensitive technical information
Common Law Contract Principles: Fundamental principles governing contract formation, including offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention to create legal relations
Law of Confidentiality: Common law principles protecting confidential information and trade secrets, including requirements for information to qualify as confidential
Employment Rights Act 1996: Key legislation governing employment relationships, including duties of confidentiality in employment contexts
Equality Act 2010: Legislation ensuring non-discrimination in employment and contractual relationships
Reasonable Duration Principles: Legal principles requiring confidentiality obligations to have reasonable temporal limits to be enforceable
Geographic Scope Considerations: Legal requirements for reasonable territorial limits on confidentiality obligations
Legitimate Business Interests: Common law principle requiring confidentiality provisions to protect legitimate business interests to be enforceable
Remedies Framework: Legal framework for enforcement including injunctive relief, damages, and specific performance under English law
