Gurry on Breach of Confidence: The Protection of Confidential Information - new book co-authored by Professor Lionel Bently now published

Professor Lionel Bently is a co-author on the new edition of the renowned Breach of Confidence by Francis Gurry, the original authority in its field dealing with the British law of confidence

This new edition is an extensive revision in light of the numerous legislative developments of the last two and a half decades, which have included the TRIPS Agreement, the European Data Protection Directive, the Freedom of Information Act, the Public Interest Disclosure Act and the Technology Transfer Regulation

It includes new coverage of choice of applicable law and jurisdictional issues, reflecting the international nature of many business transactions in the current climate

Bringing together their particular skills and interests, the authors produce a fresh re-writing of a highly significant text which retains the academic quality and precision of the original and stakes its claim once more as the leading authority in the field.

Francis Gurry's renowned work, Breach of Confidence, published in 1984, was groundbreaking and invaluable in the field of intellectual property as the first text to synthesise the then burgeoning case law on breach of confidence into a systematic form. A highly regarded book, it was the first point of resort for practitioners and a key source for judges.

Aplin, Bently, Johnson and Malynicz bring us a new edition of this important work, which remains faithful to the original in its approach, but is fully updated in light of the developments since the first edition. The authors expand upon the original work, in particular adding new material on the history and current relevance of the action for breach of confidence,. The authors stress both the advantages and disadvantages of the action for breach of confidence and, like Gurry, they constantly distinguish the action from associated legislative regimes which regulate the access to, acquisition, use and disclosure of information. The book extensively references the many analyses of the data protection regime and considers also issues of jurisdiction and choice of applicable law.

For more information about this book, please refer to the OUP website.  For information about other publications by Professor Bently, see his Faculty Profile.

This book is available to purchase from Heffers: