The Ministry of Justice and the Taiwan Taichung District Prosecutors Office (“Taichung DPO”) jointly organized and held the symposium on “Trade Secret Protection and System Improvement” in the Cultural Heritage Park of the Ministry of Culture on September 27, 2021. Prosecutor General Hui-Min Chiang, Chief Prosecutor Tai-Chao Hsing, and Chief Prosecutor Jung-Sheng Hsieh presented themselves at the symposium. Many officers from law enforcement agencies and administrative authorities and the representatives from nearly 60 well-known enterprises and manufacturers in Central Taiwan joined the conference to learn and discuss this critical issue.

　　In view of the intensification of international trade wars and technological cold wars in recent years, the protection of trade secrets becomes an essential issue that companies and manufacturers should face with caution. The Ministry of Justice has finalized the amendments to Trade Secrets Act to enhance the protection of trade secrets, such as the Investigation Confidentiality Protective Order provision. Suffice it to say that trade secret protection has been upgraded to a crucial link in maintaining the competitive advantage of the industry of our country, sustaining the lifeline of the country’s economy, and ensuring national security. However, identifying and protecting trade secrets are highly professional in the laws and the industry. The scope of secrets and burden of proof are also the existing problems in related criminal litigations.

　　In the symposium, Prosecutor I-Chen Tsai (Taiwan Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office), Prosecutor Shuai-Chun Chu (Intellectual Property Branch, Taiwan High Prosecutors Office), Prosecutor Chih-Chun Yang (Taichung DPO), and Distinguished Professor Chih-Chieh Lin (Graduate Institute of Technology Law, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University) respectively delivered the presentations on the following topics: “How to Prevent and Investigate Malicious Act from China’s Companies to Poach Taiwanese High-Tech Talents”, “Analysis of the Success and Failure Cases in How the Enterprises Protect Their Trade Secrets And Preserve Evidence”, “Watching and Analyzing the Short Film on Trade Secret Protection- The Untradeable Secrets” and "Analysis of Article 13-4 of Trade Secrets Act- Enterprises’ Responsibility and Exemption of Burden of Proof."

　　After the presentations, there was an enthusiastic and comprehensive discussion time for the attendees’ interaction. It was an excellent occasion for government officials to listen to enterprises and manufacturers for their difficulties and their need for seeking government assistance concerning trade secret protection. In terms of the multifaceted communication and exchange of opinions among the industry, academia, administrative authorities and law enforcement agencies, the symposium helped enterprises and manufacturers understand the connotation of trade secrets and the method to plan and design its protection mechanisms. Thus, the symposium achieved the purpose of promoting adequate protection of trade secrets and creating economic benefits in Taiwan.

　　Although the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control set a limit on the number of participants amid the pandemic, Taichung DPO used YouTube live streaming to allow those unable to be present could virtually participate in the seminar by electronic devices. Moreover, major law enforcement agencies and judicial protection organizations set up booths in the symposium venue to propagate the laws of trade secret protection, communication channels, and judicial protection systems. The symposium combined these booths could provide the participating enterprises and manufacturers with relevant assistance information of trade secrets.