An Analysis on Competition Rules Governing on Know-how: Comparative Study in US, EU and Iranian Law

Competition law as a manifestation of economic public order has also extended its controlling shadow on the commercial interactions around intellectual properties. Know-how as a specific and little-known example of such assets -at least in Iranian law-, isnt apart from the rules of competition law. This research in comparative attitude and regarding the specifics of innovative confidential information, is seeking to analyze general approaches of competition law enforceable to intellectual property and apply them in know-how domain in order to reply this question clearly that how far the competition law standards are distinct from other types of IPs including patents? Also current paper having examined the divergent solutions provided in US and EU law, is going to make clear deep deficiencies and vague approaches of Iranian competition law to know- how subject and accordingly present some solutions to rectify ambiguities and make uniformity existing laws with the established principles and rules of competition law in the framework of trade secrets and know-how sphere.