Legal Definitions - confidential

The term confidential refers to information that is private and intended to be kept secret, or to a relationship built on trust where private details are shared with the understanding they will not be disclosed to others.

• Imagine a pharmaceutical company conducting clinical trials for a new drug. The results of these trials, including patient data and drug efficacy rates, are considered confidential information. The company strictly controls access to this data, ensuring it is not leaked to competitors or the public before regulatory approval. This protects both the company's proprietary research and the privacy of the trial participants.

• Consider a student meeting with a university counselor to discuss personal struggles affecting their academic performance. This interaction takes place within a confidential relationship. The student feels comfortable sharing sensitive personal details because they trust the counselor will not reveal this information to professors, parents, or other university staff without their explicit permission. This trust is fundamental to the counseling process.

• When a company is preparing to bid on a major government contract, the details of its proposed strategy, pricing, and technical approach are highly confidential information. These documents are often marked as "proprietary" and are shared only with a limited number of key personnel who have signed non-disclosure agreements. This prevents rival companies from gaining insight into their competitive offer, which could undermine their chances of winning the contract.