On the protection of enterprise data interests by anti-unfair competition law
论企业数据权益的竞争法保护

摘要

企业数据何以保护是理论和实践中的难题。现行《中华人民共和国反不正当竞争法》第13条第3款为企业数据权益的竞争法保护奠定了规范基础，现阶段企业数据权益保护的核心争议问题应当从价值证成与路径构想转移到规则的具体适用方法上来。新设企业数据权益保护条款的适用需要厘清客体要件和行为要件，客体要件中的“持有”应结合数据本身性质上是否“可持有”及企业是否实际采取了控制措施加以判断；而“合法”则作为数据权益成立的抗辩要件，由抗辩方就争议数据不具备正当来源承担举证责任。行为要件则体现立法在数据权益安全和开发利用之间的平衡选择。行为类型要件方面，应在解释上为扩张数据侵权行为模式提供可能，并以相当性原则把握“不正当方式”的认定；行为后果要件方面，可采取“因符合行为构成引征违法性”的思路认定是否“扰乱市场竞争秩序”，重点关注行为是否实质性地影响企业经营利益。

Abstract

How to protect enterprise data is a challenge in both theory and practice. The Article 13, paragraph 3 of the current Anti-Unfair Competition Law provides a normative basis for the protection of enterprise data rights and interests under anti-unfair competition law. At the current stage, the core controversial issues concerning enterprise data protection should shift from value justification and pathway conception to the specific application methods of the rules. The application of the newly established enterprise data protection provisions requires clarifying the elements of the object and the elements of the conduct. As to the element of the object, “possession” should be judged by considering whether the data is “possessable” in light of its nature and whether the enterprise has indeed taken control measures; while “legitimacy” serves as a defense element for the establishment of data rights and interests, with the burden of proof placed on the defending party to show that the disputed data lacks a legitimate source. The conduct element reflects the legislative balance between the security of data rights and interests and the development and utilization of data. Regarding the conduct type element, it should be interpreted in a way that allows for the expansion of the modes of data infringement, and the determination of “improper means” should be guided by the principle of proportionality. Regarding the consequence element, the approach of “illegality inferred from the satisfaction of conduct elements” can be adopted to determine whether “market competition order is disrupted,” with a focus on whether the conduct substantially affects the enterprise's operational interests.