산업스파이 대응방안에 관한 비교법적 고찰

Technology, innovation and the outcomes from R&D have been main targets of industrial espionage around the world. Current or former employees of companies are likely to be bribed by the competitors or foreign companies to sell trade secrets. Confronting the threat of hacking and the theft of trade secrets, every country not only maintains monitoring, surveillance, and effective cyber security systems, but also legal countermeasures against industrial espionage. Most countries have enacted special legislations, such as the "Unfair Competition Prevention Act" or "Trade Secret Protection Act," to protect trade secrets. Some countries have added special articles to their criminal or civil laws. It is true, for various reasons, that some countries have a generous attitude toward industrial espionage. However, effective legal and technical countermeasures against industrial espionage such as those in the United States are required in South Korea where technology and information are powerful elements of the national industry.