a proprietary issue

USAGE SUMMARY

"a proprietary issue" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to refer to a particular issue that is connected to ownership or control of something, such as when referring to a patent or contract issue. For example, "The company was facing a proprietary issue with their newest invention, so they sought legal counsel."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"We cannot tell you what their interventions are, because that's a proprietary issue," said Englejohn, adding that the interventions comprise "additional sanitary measures that reduce contamination".

The New York Times

"But I don't think it's a proprietary issue at all to say we're using this percentage of renewable power". .

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In the interests of a satisfying commercial ending, the play then glibly begs the question of Judd's "proprietary issues" and of the nature of such symbiotic collaborations, which so often begin in allegiance and end in alienation (the demented first Mrs. T. S. Eliot; the murdered Joe Orton).

The New Yorker

In the same time when data are available, proprietary issues pan these data to be available for public use.

Complex & Intelligent Systems

The version used will be available after arrangement of proprietary issues.

BMC Medical Ethics

However, Google keeps details about its infrastructure and energy use secret, viewing them as a proprietary and competitive issue.

TechCrunch

The company has a proprietary scorecard for issuing loans and collects reams of data on lenders across the country.

TechCrunch

Instead, he said, the co-op can sell additional shares and issue a proprietary lease for the newly allocated space, for instance a roof deck or hallway space.

The New York Times

To address this issue, a proprietary dynamometer, the Muscle Atrophy Research and Exercise System (MARES) has been developed and flown aboard the ISS.

Acta Astronautica

It is a polished, collarless tapered stem comprised of 'Orthinox', a proprietary stainless steel, which is issued with a V40 taper trunnion.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

The issues related to a proprietary wireless technology owned by Motorola pertaining to Wi-Fi access, user interface and power management.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sensitive business information or intellectual property, use "a proprietary issue" to clearly indicate that the matter is confidential and related to ownership.

Common error

Avoid using "a proprietary issue" when referring to matters that are in the public domain or are openly accessible. This phrase is reserved for situations involving exclusive ownership or control.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a proprietary issue" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a specific problem or concern related to something that is privately owned and protected. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts where confidentiality and exclusive rights are important. The Ludwig AI confirms this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a proprietary issue" is a noun phrase used to describe a problem or concern related to privately owned and protected information, such as intellectual property or trade secrets. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts, with a neutral to professional register. While not exceedingly common, its use is consistent with established patterns and serves to highlight the importance of exclusive rights and confidentiality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a matter of intellectual property

More specific, highlighting the intellectual property aspect.

a confidential matter

Focuses on the secrecy aspect rather than the ownership aspect.

a commercially sensitive matter

Emphasizes the business implications of the issue.

a private concern

Emphasizes the privacy and exclusivity of the issue.

an exclusive rights conflict

Focuses on conflicting exclusive rights.

a trade secret

Highlights the commercial confidentiality.

a company secret

Highlights the confidentiality from a company perspective.

a patented technology dispute

Specifically relates to disputes over patented technology.

a data ownership problem

Focuses on the issue of who owns specific data.

a copyright infringement problem

Specifically involves copyright violations.

FAQs

What does "a proprietary issue" mean?

It refers to a problem or situation related to something that is privately owned and typically protected by patents, copyrights, or trade secrets.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a proprietary issue"?

Use it when discussing matters related to intellectual property, trade secrets, or confidential business information where ownership and exclusive rights are central to the concern. For example, when "a confidential matter" needs protection.

What are some alternative ways to express "a proprietary issue"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a private concern", "a matter of intellectual property", or "a commercially sensitive matter" depending on the specific context.

How does "a proprietary issue" differ from a general business problem?

While a general business problem might involve various operational or strategic challenges, "a proprietary issue" specifically relates to problems concerning ownership, control, and protection of exclusive rights such as patents or trade secrets.