英国秘密信息保护原则研究

Study on Principles of Breach of Confidence in UK

对英国秘密信息保护(breach of confidence)的原则进行了介绍和研究。在影响深远的Coco v.Clark一案中,英国法院提出秘密信息保护的三个原则:第一,秘密信息本身需要达到一定要求,如“质量”和“秘密性”的要求;第二,被告需负有一定的保密义务,不存在直接的权利义务关系也可能产生保密义务;第三,存在不正当的使用,但应当对不正当有所认知。在新的时期和新的法律体系下,英国秘密信息保护原则有所发展,通过改变司法保护出发点的方式,扩大了对个人私密信息的保护。剖析了英国秘密信息保护制度的合理性及对于保护个人私密信息的不合理之处。

The paper introduces and studies the principles of breach of confidence in UK.In the case of Coco v.Clark,the British courts put forward three principles for breach of confidence claim:first,the secret information itself must meet certain requirements,such as the requirements of"quality"and"secrecy".Second,the defendant must bear certain confidentiality obligation,obligation may arise even though parties have no direct relationship.Third,there must be unauthorised use,but the use should be recognized by defendants.Under the new era and new legislation,the principle of breach of confidence in the UK has been developed.By changing the centre of gravity of judicial protection,the protection of private information has been expanded.This article analyzes the rationality of the British breach of confidence and the irrationality of protecting private information.