The protection of trade secrets in Sweden
In an increasingly digital and competitive global environment, Swedish companies and research bodies face growing threats from industrial espionage and insider misuse of sensitive information.
The current legal framework, primarily governed by the Trade Secrets Act (2018:558), does not sufficiently address situations where individuals with legitimate access, such as employees, consultants, or business partners, misuse technical trade secrets.
A proposed legislation to combat internal threats
The Swedish government has emphasized that inadequate legal protection undermines innovation, economic competitiveness and national security.
In response, on June 10, 2025, the government submitted a legislative proposal titled “Ett mer heltäckande straffansvar vid angrepp på företagshemligheter”, which aims to strengthen the criminal protection of trade secrets.
The proposed legislation introduces new offences related to the unauthorized use or disclosure of a trade secret by individuals with lawful access and is set to enter into force on January 1, 2026.
In this article, Lexing Sweden (Eris Law) explores the key changes introduced by the proposal, the implications for individuals and organizations and the practical compliance steps companies should consider before the law takes effect.