CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION LAW IN MALAYSIA

This publication provides in detail the law of confidential information which protects information including opinions and ideas that are precluded by copyright and other statutory regimes. The law of confidential information provides valuable protection not only to personal, commercial or industrial information but also to governmental or administrative information. This law has its importance particularly in the area of trade secrets and business information and gives protection to information that is not released to the public or part of the public domain. It also provides a basis of action for protection of privacy.

The publication further explains in great detail the aim of the particular area of law concerned, i.e. to act as a safeguard from exploitation of trade secrets, encroachments of privacy, misappropriation of confidential information without just cause and excuse and to protect national security and the government’s integrity. It protects both the owner and its secrets based on an equitable principle, that those who receive confidential information should not take advantage of them to the detriment of the confider or the owner of the information.

The publication also provides commentary on cases pertaining to the subject matter, with reference to the United Kingdom, Malaysia and other relevant jurisdictions.