At a glance
- Sweden introduced significantly strengthened criminal law protections for trade secrets, with a particular focus on safeguarding technical information and innovation, effective from 1 January 2026.
- The reform expands criminal liability to cover the use or disclosure of technical trade secrets even when the individual had lawful access, such as through employment.
- Two new criminal offences have been introduced, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment.
- The purpose of the reform is to strengthen protection against industrial espionage and safeguard Sweden’s innovation capacity and competitiveness.
- The changes signal the increasing importance of trade secrets in today’s economy.
From 1 January 2026, significantly stricter rules on the protection of trade secrets will apply in Sweden. The reform markedly expands the scope of criminal liability, with a particular emphasis on safeguarding technical trade secrets and innovations.
Under the previous regime, criminal liability primarily applied to the unlawful disclosure of trade secrets. Under the amended rules, it will also be a criminal offence to exploit or disclose technical trade secrets even where the individual originally had lawful access to the information. For example, as an employee, consultant, or business partner. This represents a substantial tightening of the legal framework governing misuse of sensitive information.
The reform introduces two new criminal offences, with sanctions ranging from fines to imprisonment, depending on the seriousness of the misconduct. The stated purpose is to strengthen the protection of sensitive knowledge, reduce the risk of industrial espionage, and protect Swedish innovation and competitiveness.
Overall, the amendment sends a clear message about the importance of trade secrets in today’s innovation‑driven economy.
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