COMMERCIAL INFORMATION

‘Commercial information’ is a large and imprecise concept, and one that is almost impossible to define. Every innovation, in fact every new condition or situation, can originate business activity and a need for information. Obviously all business enterprises need what can only be described as ‘general information’; most also require scientific and technical information; commercial information fits into neither category—it is often useless to anyone not engaged in business, and it certainly cannot be described as scientific. It therefore seems that commercial information can only be described as ‘special information of interest primarily to those engaged in business operations’. ‘Primarily’ is an important qualification—today much information formerly regarded as strictly ‘commercial’ is of major consequence to the private consumer and those who protect his interests.