On March 17, 2026, Llinks, in collaboration with LCOUNCIL, successfully hosted a professional seminar titled "IP Litigation and Compliance in the Digital Economy" at the Llinks Shenzhen office. The event focused on the critical areas of trade secret protection and unfair competition in the digital age, drawing nearly fifty senior representatives and legal experts from various industries.
The Convergence of Trade Secrets and Data Security In the opening session, Llinks partner Mr. Xun Yang analyzed the deepening intersection between trade secret protection and cybersecurity compliance. He emphasized that in the digital era, legal frameworks have explicitly expanded the scope of technical secrets to include data, algorithms, and source code. Furthermore, specialized digital preservation measures—such as Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), data masking, and comprehensive audit trails—are now essential. These requirements align directly with the Cybersecurity Law and the Data Security Law, meaning that a company's efforts to meet data security obligations simultaneously serve as a robust framework for trade secret protection.
Mr. Yang followed this with a presentation titled "A 360-Degree View of IP and Data Compliance for AI Products." He conducted a lifecycle analysis of AI products—from design and development to deployment and operation—highlighting risks regarding the legality of training data, the security of remote Large Language Model (LLM) connectivity, and the necessity of proper labeling and disclaimers during commercial operation.
To conclude the first session, Mr. Yang offered a special segment: "The OpenClaw 'Pinch". He broke down the technical nature of the OpenClaw tool, exploring the unique "nuisance" risks it poses, including potential liabilities for cybersecurity breaches, data infringement, and its broader impact on the internet ecosystem.
Countering Unfair Competition in the Internet Era Following the networking break, Llinks partner Mr. Denny Jiang leveraged his extensive litigation experience to provide a deep dive into the "Internet Element" clauses of the 2025 Revised Anti-Unfair Competition Law. He detailed key amendments concerning "commercial confusion" and "trade disparagement." By analyzing landmark cases he has personally led, Mr. Jiang explored the application of internet-specific provisions and the regulatory pathways for addressing platform-based unfair competition. He provided a clear takeaway: any unethical behavior that unfairly compromises a competitor's "competitive resources" can be effectively addressed through the lens of anti-unfair competition law.
Finally, Mr. Jiang addressed the complexities of trade secret litigation for internet companies. He analyzed why these cases often face a high risk of dismissal and shared critical practical insights for successful enforcement. He concluded with actionable advice for internal trade secret management, helping companies fortify their defenses and mitigate the risk of infringement before it reaches the courtroom.
The seminar concluded with a vibrant Q&A session. As the digital economy and AI continue to evolve, the legal challenges surrounding trade secrets and data compliance will only intensify. This event provided a valuable platform for industry leaders to exchange ideas and injected fresh momentum into the fields of digital compliance and internet litigation.
