Trade secrets

DTU employees' co-operation with enterprises, irrespective of whether the nature of such co-operation is commercial or non-commercial, are comprised by the trade secret provisions contained in section 10 of the Danish Marketing Practices Act. This means, among other things, that:

• trade secrets must not, unless authorisation to this effect has been given, be passed on or used.
• entrusted technical drawings, descriptions, recipes, models or the like must not, unless authorisation to this effect has been given, be used.
• entrusted material must be kept in an adequate manner and not be available to unauthorised persons.

Special provisions

Persons employed by the Techical University must also be aware that co-operation agreements or special provisions may apply to certain projects, imposing certain additional, special obligations on the individual employee.

Section 10 of the Danish Marketing Practices Act:

Anyone who is in the service of, cooperates with or performs duties for an enterprise must not unduly obtain or attempt to obtain knowledge or control of the enterprise's trade secrets.

Subsection 2. Where the person in question has lawfully obtained knowledge - or control - of the enterprise's trade secrets, the person must not, unless authorised to do so, pass on or use such secrets. This prohibition shall be in force for a period of 3 years after the termination of the employment, co-operation or the duty in question.

Subsection 3. Anyone who, for purposes of his or her discharge of duties or otherwise for commercial purposes, has been entrusted with technical drawings, descriptions, recipes, models or the like shall not make unauthorised use of such material or allow others to do so.

Subsection 4. Businessmen must not use a trade secret where the knowledge or control of it has been obtained in breach of the provisions mentioned above.