Governmental confidentiality

The Certificate of Confidentiality is a federally sponsored document that provides immunity to investigators from any governmental or civil order to disclose identifying information from research records. The Certificate is granted under 301(d) of the Public Healthy Service Act. The Certificate provides additional protection against disclosure of confidential information to outside parties. When a Certificate of Confidentiality is granted, both the protections and limitations of it should be explained to the child and caregiver. The application for the Certificate can be obtained at most federal research institutions. 

Confidential. Documents, information, or material, the unauthorised disclosure of which, while not endangering the national security, would be prejudicial to the interests or prestige of the nation, any governmental activity, an individual, or would cause administrative embarrassment, or difficulty, or be of advantage to a foreign nation shall be classified CONFIDENTIAL. 

Under 35 U.S.C. 181, inventions affecting national security may not be patented and must be kept secret. The Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks may therefore refer to other governmental agencies on a confidential basis applications that he deems may affect national security. 

Has the information that you are claiming as confidential been disclosed to any other governmental agency, or to this Agency at any other time Identify the Agency to which the irrformation was disclosed and provide the date and circumstances of the same. Was the disclosure accompanied by a claim of confidentiality If yes, attach a copy of said document reflecting the confidentiality agreement [sic]. 

This category comprises sensitive confidential information of which the imauthorised disclosure would cause serious damage to the effectiveness or credibility of the Convention, or its aims and purpose, or cause serious damage from the point of view of national security or commercial secrecy to the interests of a State Party or of a commercial or governmental body or national of a State Party. 

---