This work places trade secrets firmly in the context of intellectual property rights and commerce, and considers the complex web of law and policy underlying any decision to protect confidential information from un-authorised use or disclosure. * It looks at both the civil and criminal laws of a number of jurisdictions, and at proposals for law reform * It is the ideal source of information regarding case law about the conflict of interest between employers who want to protect information, and former employees who want to be free to use that information in the course of their new jobs and businesses.