Der verfassungsrechtliche Schutz von Betriebs- und Geschäftsgeheimnissen

Not least due to the recent food scandals, consumers have a strong interest in obtaining information about the production methods of food. Companies, on the other hand, want to keep their data confidential, especially operational and trade secrets. This work deals with the fundamental rights protection of these conflicting interests and examines their consideration in consumer information laws. Furthermore, it assesses the extent to which this fundamental rights protection exists in the USA and how the Freedom of Information Act takes consumer interests into account. Finally, a comparison is made between the regulations in Germany and the USA, and their implementation by the authorities is critically questioned.