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On 21 March 2019, the German Bundestag passed a new law to better protect secret information and to ensure uniform protection throughout the EU. However, in order for companies to receive comprehensive protection for their trade secrets, they must also protect them better than before under the GeschGehG, i.e. take appropriate protective measures.

In a globalized economy, where companies share their services and goods across continents – does anyone actually need special knowledge of German property rights? Absolutely! Because for intellectual property (IP) rights, as in other areas of law, the principle of territoriality applies. Every state grants sovereign rights within its own territory and determines the limits thereof. For IP rights this concerns temporary exclusion rights that are limited to the territory of the state and prohibit the use of the protected subject-matter without the permission of the owner.

This guide serves to help you find out more about how you can already protect the intellectual property (IP) of your company in the time leading up to a trade fair. You will also be shown what to do if during a trade fair you notice that a competitor has infringed your IP rights.