Its confidential application was provided by the IRS to ProPublica, a news organization that was investigating whether groups that held themselves out as "social welfare" organizations were overstepping limits on political activity.

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According to the complaint, XPRT sent eBay a confidential patent application in 2001 that the auction giant later incorporated into its own patent application.

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But rejections, because they are not final and are therefore part of communication during an ongoing drug application, are considered confidential.

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City officials say the data collected during the application process will be kept confidential.

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