秘密保持（Confidentiality）

Article 15. Confidential Information

 

1.      For the purpose of this Article, the party disclosing any information under this Agreement
       shall be called “Disclosing Party” and the party receiving any information hereunder shall
       be called “Receiving Party”.

2.      Receiving Party shall not disclose to third parties any information, which is confidential
      and proprietary in nature of Disclosing Party, acquired through this Agreement
     (hereinafter called “Confidential Information”). Confidential Information includes, but not
     limited to, trade secrets, know-how, inventions, techniques, processes, programs,
     schematics, data, customer lists, financial information, and sales and marketing plans. 
     Receiving Party agrees that Confidential Information shall not be disclosed to any other
     parties and not be used, modified, copied, adapted for any purpose whatsoever other than
    the purposes specified in this Agreement without the written consent of Disclosing Party. 
    Notwithstanding the above, Receiving Party shall not have any obligation to keep
    confidential with respect to Confidential Information that:

 

     (1) is rightfully obtained or will be obtained from a third party under no obligation of
          confidentiality; or

     (2) becomes a public domain through no fault of Receiving Party.

     (3) is already known to or possessed by Receiving Party prior to the disclosure of
          Confidential Information; or

     (4) is already a public domain prior to the disclosure of Confidential Information; or

     (5) is independently developed by Receiving Party without Confidential Information.

 

3.      Notwithstanding the provisions in this Article, Receiving Party shall not have any
       obligation to keep confidential if (a) Confidential Information is disclosed for the
       purpose of obtaining the professional advice from attorneys, tax accountants, certified
       public accountants, judicial scriveners, administrative scriveners, patent attorneys or
       certified social insurance labor consultants who have an obligation of confidentiality by
       law or non-disclosure agreement or (b) Confidential Information is disclosed legally by
      Receiving Party subject to the demand of government, governmental agency, court or law.

4.      If Receiving Party　discloses　Confidential　Information subject to the demand of
      government, governmental agency, court or law, Receiving Party shall use its best efforts
      to notify Disclosing party of such demand or requirement prior to the disclosure so that
      Disclosing party may seek an appropriate protective order or take lawful actions to avoid
      and/or minimize such disclosure.

5.      The provision of Sub-Paragraphs (1) to (4), Paragraph 2 of this Article shall not apply to
       personal information.

6.      Receiving Party shall exercise the sole and proper control and supervision over any of its
      employees and hereby assume full liability and responsibility of all obligations in
      connection with its employees and any activity of such employees in connection with
      the terms in this Article.

7.      Receiving Party shall, at any time upon Disclosing Party’s request or termination or
      expiration of this Agreement, return to Disclosing Party or, subject to the instruction of
      Disclosing Party, dispose of all copies of Confidential Information and all other documents
      and materials incorporating Confidential Information in the possession of Receiving Party.

       （要約）

・わかりやすいようにParagraph１でDisclosing Party（開示者）とReceiving Party（受領者）
　を定義。秘密保持義務について両者平等に相手方の秘密情報を第三者に漏洩してはならない旨
　を規定。

 　■秘密保持義務が適用除外（５＋２）になるケースを規定

　　５つの例（もはや秘密情報ではなくなってしまうという考え方）

　　(1)第三者から秘密保持義務を負うことなく適切に取得した情報

　　(2) 受領者の過失によることなく公知の事実になった情報

　　(3)秘密情報の開示前にすでに受領者が知得／所有していた情報

　　(4)秘密情報の開示の前にすでに公知の事実になっていた情報

　　(5) 秘密情報によることなく独自に開発した情報

 

　　◆２つの例（秘密情報ではあるが、下記の２例のケースは開示しても良いという考え方

　　(1)弁護士等の法的に守秘義務を負っている専門家から助言をもらう場合に
　　　 秘密情報を開示する場合

 

　　(2)政府、裁判所等からの要請により秘密情報を開示する場合