John Richard Brady v Chemical Process Equipments
John Richard Brady v Chemical Process Equipments (Delhi High Court, 1987): an early Indian recognition of breach-of-confidence protection for trade secrets absent any dedicated statute.
Finin2min Summary — in 2 Minutes
John Richard Brady v Chemical Process Equipments (Delhi High Court, 1987): an early Indian recognition of breach-of-confidence protection for trade secrets absent any dedicated statute.
Official source and legal ownership
Facts and background
Brady shared confidential technical drawings and know-how with the defendant in connection with a proposed business collaboration; the collaboration did not proceed, but the defendant allegedly used the confidential information to manufacture similar equipment independently.
The issue
Whether Indian law protects confidential technical information and trade secrets shared in a business relationship, given that India (unlike some jurisdictions) has no dedicated trade secrets statute.
Holding and ratio
The Delhi High Court granted relief based on the equitable doctrine of breach of confidence, holding that information shared in confidence for a limited purpose cannot be used or disclosed for another purpose without the discloser's consent, applying general equitable principles rather than any specific trade-secrets statute.
Why this case matters
This remains a foundational Indian case for trade secret protection through the breach-of-confidence doctrine, illustrating how Indian courts have filled the gap left by the absence of dedicated trade secrets legislation using established equitable principles.