Secret
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SECRET. That which is not to be revealed.
2. Attorneys and counsellors, who have been trusted professionally with
the secrets of their clients, are not allowed to reveal them in a court of
justice. The right of secrecy belongs to the client, and not to the attorney
and counsellor.
3. As to the matter communicated, it extends to all cases where the
client applies for professional advice or assistance; and it does not appear
that the protection is qualified by any reference to proceedings pending or
in contemplation. Story, Eq. Pl. Sec. 600; 1 Milne & K. 104; 3 Sim. R. 467.
3. Documents confided professionally to the counsel cannot be demanded,
unless indeed the party would himself be bound to produce them. Hare on
Discov. 171. Grand jurors are sworn the commonwealth's secrets, their
fellows and their own to keep. Vide Confidential communications; Witness.
SECRET, rights. A knowledge of something which is unknown to others, out of
which a profit may be made; for example, an invention of a machine, or the
discovery of the effect of the combination of certain matters.
2. Instances have occurred of secrets of that kind being kept for many
years, but they are liable to constant detection. As such secrets are not
property, the possessors of them in general prefer making them public, and
securing the exclusive right for years, under the patent laws, to keeping
them in an insecure manner, without them. See Phil. on Pat. ch. 15; Gods. on
Pat. 171; Dav. Pat. Cas. 429; 8 Ves. 215; 2 Ves. & B. 218; 2 Mer. 446; 3
Mer. 157; 1 Jac. & W. 394; 1 Pick. 443; 4 Mason, 15; 3 B. & P. 630.