NTIn ForceAct
Information Act 2002
57Commercial and business information, research, examination
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57 Commercial and business information, research, examination
papers
information would disclose information obtained by a public sector
organisation from a business, commercial or financial undertaking
that is:
(a) a trade secret; or
(b) other information of a business, commercial or financial nature
and the disclosure is likely to expose the undertaking
unreasonably to disadvantage.
(2) To decide whether disclosure of information is likely to expose an
undertaking unreasonably to disadvantage, a public sector
organisation may have regard to the following considerations:
(a) whether the information is generally available to the
undertaking's competitors;
(b) whether the information would be exempt under this Part if it
had been brought into existence by a public sector
(c) whether the information could be disclosed without causing
substantial harm to the competitive position of the
undertaking;
(d) whether there are any considerations in the public interest in
favour of disclosure that outweigh considerations of
competitive disadvantage to the undertaking (for example, the
public interest in evaluating aspects of government regulation
of corporate practices or environmental controls);
(e) any other considerations that in the opinion of the public
sector organisation are relevant.
(3) Information may be exempt under section 50 if disclosure of the
information would disclose:
(a) a trade secret of a public sector organisation; or
(b) information about a public sector organisation that is engaged
in trade or commerce where the information is of a business,
commercial or financial nature and the disclosure is
reasonably likely to expose the organisation unreasonably to
disadvantage; or
Information Act 2002 45
(c) the results of scientific or technical research undertaken or
being undertaken by a public sector organisation where:
(i) the research could lead to a patentable invention; or
(ii) the disclosure of the results in an incomplete state is
reasonably likely to expose a business, commercial or
financial undertaking unreasonably to disadvantage; or
(iii) the disclosure of the results before completion of the
research is reasonably likely to expose the public sector
organisation unreasonably to disadvantage; or
(d) an examination paper, a paper submitted by a student in the
course of an examination, an examiner's report or any other
similar document where the uses to which the paper, report or
other document have not been completed.
(4) Information mentioned in subsection (1) is not exempt under
was obtained by the public sector organisation.
(5) Information mentioned in subsection (3) is not exempt under
came into existence.
(6) The Commissioner may, if of the opinion that it is in the public
interest to do so, extend the period mentioned in subsection (4)
or (5) on one or more occasions and on each such occasion for a
limited, specified period or for an unlimited period.