proprietary
Owned by someone
Proprietary describes something owned and controlled by a particular party, especially when that ownership restricts others' use.
Proprietary software can't be freely copied or modified.
A proprietary formula is kept secret by its owner.
Proprietary information belongs to a company and isn't meant for public release.
The word often implies exclusivity that limits access: They use proprietary technology that won't work with other systems.
Hidden business knowledge
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- non-disclosureMandated secrecy obligation
- NDASecrecy contract, abbreviated
privileged · sensitive · closed-source · black box · undisclosed · restricted · encryption · data protection
Registered commercial identifier
- brandCompany's product line name
- brandedMarked by hot iron
- patentedGranted exclusive manufacturing rights
- registeredFormally recorded or enrolled
copyrighted · licensed · logo · trade name · IP · service mark · brand name · protected
Limited in scope
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- exclusiveLimited to one group
- limited accessEntry with conditions
- members-onlyRestricted to enrolled participants
in-house · internal · controlled · gatekept · privileged access · closed · inaccessible · guarded
Possessed legally
- possessionState of owning
- titleFormal honorific or name
- deedWritten property conveyance
- assetsOwned items of value
equity · holdings · estate · freehold · leasehold · landlord · tenure · acquisition
Software with hidden code
- licensedGranted official permission
- commercialPaid broadcast promotion
- vendorOne who sells goods
- enterpriseCommercial undertaking or initiative
subscription · EULA · DRM · activation · Windows · Adobe · Oracle · SAP
trade secret
Hidden business knowledge
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- non-disclosureMandated secrecy obligation
NDA · privileged · sensitive · closed-source · black box · undisclosed · restricted · encryption · data protection · confidentiality agreement
trademark
Registered commercial identifier
- brandCompany's product line name
- brandedMarked by hot iron
- patentedGranted exclusive manufacturing rights
registered · copyrighted · licensed · logo · trade name · IP · service mark · brand name · protected · exclusive rights
restricted
Limited in scope
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- exclusiveLimited to one group
- limited accessEntry with conditions
members-only · in-house · internal · controlled · gatekept · privileged access · closed · inaccessible · guarded · monopolized
owned
Possessed legally
- possessionState of owning
- titleFormal honorific or name
- deedWritten property conveyance
assets · equity · holdings · estate · freehold · leasehold · landlord · tenure · acquisition · portfolio
closed-source
Software with hidden code
- licensedGranted official permission
- commercialPaid broadcast promotion
- vendorOne who sells goods
enterprise · subscription · EULA · DRM · activation · Windows · Adobe · Oracle · SAP · shrink-wrap
- softwaresoftware, app, apps, application, program
- business adjectivescommercial, corporate, economic, financial, fiscal
- tech methodsagile, debugging, scrum, testing, kanban
- software licensingsoftware license, license agreement, EULA, license key, licensee
- system qualitiesreliability, availability, scalability, performance, usability
- brandingbrand identity, brand, brand equity, taglines, logos
proprietaryopen
Not closed
nonproprietary · shared · communal · public domain · collective
proprietaryopen-source
Freely viewable, editable code
open source · free software · freeware · shareware · copyleft
- proprietary softwareRestricted, owned computer programs
- proprietary technologyPrivately owned technical methods
- proprietary rightsLegal entitlements to exclusive control
- proprietary blendConfidential mixture of ingredients