trade secret

trade secret (plural trade secrets)

1. (business) A formula, practice, process, design, instrument, pattern, or compilation of information used by a business to obtain an advantage over competitors within the same industry or profession, which kept secret from those competitors or the public.
   • 1988, Roald Dahl, Matilda:

     'I'm telling you trade secrets,' the father said, 'So don't you go talking about this to anyone else. You don't want me put in jug do you?'

• industrial espionage

• trade secret on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Directive (EU) 2016/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure
• “trade secret”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

• rescattered