However, ordered logit regressions show that the probability that a firm rates secrecy as more valuable than patents declines with an increase in firm size for product innovations, while there is no relationship for process innovations.
Most firms use secrecy to protect their knowledge from potential imitators.
Greece, stung by its long-time rival receiving the F-16, purchased 34 F-16C and six F-16Ds in November 1984, giving a firm pledge of secrecy.
That is because the law, seeking to protect the reputations of accountants who might be wrongly accused, and of accounting firms, mandates extensive secrecy.
At Westminster, the Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris said there was a need to "control the habit of law firms" of obtaining secrecy injunctions, and his colleague David Heath told the Commons a "fundamental principle" was being threatened: that MPs should be able to speak freely and have their words reported freely.
Thus, the strategic choice for most small firms is between secrecy and speed to market.
Some investors are fed up with the firm's culture of secrecy and say they want more disclosure.
While other companies have published the names of firms providing parts and services, Apple has resisted, with some inside the company citing the firm's culture of secrecy.
When I ask if Bell Pottinger is still working for the Sri Lankan government – citing commercial confidentiality or official secrecy, the firm does not publish a full list of clients – Bell says airily: "We stopped in … 2009?
Many Swiss people were prepared to sacrifice UBS for its misdeeds, in return for Swiss sovereignty standing firm and Swiss banking secrecy laws left intact.
Director John Christensen said in a statement that the law firm operated with "extreme secrecy and discretion" for their clients, "which was attractive to many clients engaged in tax evasion, fraud, hiding conflicts of interest, and other white collar crimes".
