In Shenzhen, innovation and intellectual property protection complement each other, becoming the leading strategy for the city’s development. Recently, the “Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments on Promoting Again the Adoption of Innovative Measures and Typical Experiences from Shenzhen’s Comprehensive Reform Pilot” once again emphasized Shenzhen’s innovative initiatives, with standardized protection of commercial secrets being a focal point.
The Shenzhen Municipal Committee and Government highly prioritize the protection of commercial secrets in urban development planning, incorporating technological innovation and intellectual property protection into their leading strategies, explicitly recognizing intellectual property as one of the most critical business environments. To achieve this, they have constructed a comprehensive management system aligned with innovation-driven development, implemented the strictest protection of commercial secrets, and formed a multi-dimensional protection pattern led by the government, with inter-departmental cooperation, social supervision, industry self-discipline, and enterprise autonomy.
In a case involving the infringement of commercial secrets, a technology company reported former employee Wu Moucun’s misconduct to the Market Supervision Administration, involving a furniture company in Foshan and a company in the United States. The market regulatory authorities intervened in the investigation and imposed administrative penalties on Wu Moucun and his related companies in accordance with the law. This case highlights Shenzhen’s zero-tolerance attitude towards infringement of commercial secrets.
To further enhance the intensity of commercial secrecy protection, Shenzhen has promoted the standardization process by enacting “two sets of standards,” including the “Enterprise Commercial Secret Management Specification” and the “Commercial Secret Protection Base (Park) Construction Specification.” These are not only the first local standards for commercial secrets implemented province-wide but have also received positive feedback from 48 pilot enterprises. Enterprises generally expressed that the standards are comprehensive and practical.
To strengthen the connection between the two laws, under the guidance of the joint meeting rules of the Anti-Unfair Competition Department, Shenzhen has established a collaborative mechanism for law enforcement in commercial secret protection. This helps strengthen coordination between administrative and judicial authorities, achieve information sharing, and strictly regulate law enforcement. The Market Supervision Administration fully utilizes the deterrent effect of regulatory law enforcement and vigorously combats infringement of commercial secrets.
To drive full coverage of commercial secrecy protection through demonstration bases and demonstration parks, Nanshan District has become the first batch of “National Commercial Secret Protection Innovation Pilots” nationwide and was selected as a pilot area for the “Golden Inner Bay Commercial Secret Protection Innovation Project” in Guangdong Province. The Nanshan District Intellectual Property Protection Center has become the first provincial, municipal, and district-level three-level collaborative commercial secrecy protection base in the province, introducing multiple service institutions to provide enterprises with comprehensive services.
In the process of protecting commercial secrets, Shenzhen also focuses on cultivating professional talents. The market regulatory department has hired 57 well-known scholars and lawyers in the industry to form an expert think tank, providing online and offline seminar training for enterprises. The Market Supervision Administration has even established the country’s first volunteer service team for commercial secrecy, providing free services to enterprises, highlighting the role of social forces in commercial secrecy protection.
In the journey of protecting commercial secrets, Shenzhen has become a national model with its forward-looking and innovative practices. Through establishing standards and strengthening law enforcement, Shenzhen has set a good example for innovative protection of intellectual property, helping technology innovation enterprises grow stronger and injecting strong momentum into the city’s sustainable development.