{
 "topic": "FOIA section 7(1)(g) - Trade secrets and confidential commercial/financial information",
 "statute": "5 ILCS 140/7(1)(g)",
 "family": "FOIA exemptions (section 7)",
 "page": "https://illinoisfoia.org/issues/foia-7-1-g/",
 "note": "Determination letters are non-binding. Verify against the source PDF before citing.",
 "counts": {
  "violation_found": 6,
  "no_violation": 6,
  "no_determination": 1,
  "other": 0
 },
 "challenge_notes": {
  "generated_by": "AI summary of the decisions listed on this page; not legal advice; verify each decision against its PDF",
  "when_a_challenge_is_strong": [
   {
    "text": "The public body makes only conclusory claims of competitive harm without specific facts about actual competition or how disclosure would cause substantial harm.",
    "why": "The exemption requires clear and convincing evidence with specific facts; conclusory statements fail to meet that burden.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Audit reports on a board's real estate and investment activities",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-44377/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Animal research protocol and medical records",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-35091/#issue-4"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The public body fails to show the records were furnished under a claim of confidentiality.",
    "why": "Section 7(1)(g) requires that commercial information be obtained from a business under a claim of confidentiality; without that showing, the exemption does not apply.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Quarterly cost reports for Medicaid managed care organizations",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56759/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The information is generic or relates to the public body's own operations rather than a third party's confidential commercial information.",
    "why": "Information about the public body itself, or generic descriptions, does not fall within the exemption because competitors cannot exploit it to harm a third party.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Audit data on railcar component origins",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Audit data on railcar component origins",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/#issue-4"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The public body does not demonstrate that disclosure would cause actual competitive harm to a person or business.",
    "why": "The public body must show competitive harm; a mere assertion is insufficient.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Lease agreements for business or remodeling licenses",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-77566/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "when_the_body_usually_wins": [
   {
    "text": "The records contain commercial or financial information obtained from a business under a claim of confidentiality, and disclosure would allow competitors to copy unique methods or target suppliers.",
    "why": "When the public body proves the information is commercial, furnished under a claim of confidentiality, and disclosure would cause substantial competitive harm, the exemption applies.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Training presentation on sexual harassment",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56208/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Investment banking pitchbooks for pension bond sales",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56600/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Investment banking pitchbooks for pension bond sales",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56600/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Investment banking pitchbooks for pension bond sales",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56600/#issue-3"
     },
     {
      "title": "Audit data on railcar component origins",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Audit data on railcar component origins",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/#issue-3"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The records are marketing materials like pitchbooks that are proprietary and marked confidential, with a longstanding understanding of confidentiality.",
    "why": "Such materials are commercial information furnished under a claim of confidentiality, and disclosure would allow competitors to copy unique methods and analysis.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Investment banking pitchbooks for pension bond sales",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56600/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Investment banking pitchbooks for pension bond sales",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56600/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Investment banking pitchbooks for pension bond sales",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56600/#issue-3"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The information reveals specific supplier percentages or component names that competitors could use to gain a bidding advantage.",
    "why": "Competitors could use that information to target suppliers or maximize domestic content, causing competitive harm.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Audit data on railcar component origins",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Audit data on railcar component origins",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/#issue-3"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "points_to_put_in_the_letter": [
   {
    "text": "Argue that the public body must provide specific facts showing actual competition and substantial competitive harm, not just conclusory statements.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Audit reports on a board's real estate and investment activities",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-44377/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Animal research protocol and medical records",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-35091/#issue-4"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Point out that the public body failed to prove the records were furnished under a claim of confidentiality.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Quarterly cost reports for Medicaid managed care organizations",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56759/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Show that the information is generic or relates to the public body's own activities, not a third party's trade secrets.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Audit data on railcar component origins",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Audit data on railcar component origins",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/#issue-4"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Emphasize that the public body has the burden to demonstrate competitive harm with clear and convincing evidence.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Lease agreements for business or remodeling licenses",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-77566/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Audit reports on a board's real estate and investment activities",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-44377/#issue-2"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "facts_to_gather": [
   "Whether the records contain any confidentiality markings or were submitted under an explicit claim of confidentiality.",
   "Whether the public body has provided specific examples of how disclosure would cause competitive harm.",
   "Whether the information is about the public body's own operations or a third party's commercial information.",
   "Whether the information is already publicly available or generic."
  ],
  "common_mistakes": [
   {
    "text": "Assuming that any commercial information is automatically exempt without showing competitive harm.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Lease agreements for business or remodeling licenses",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-77566/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Audit reports on a board's real estate and investment activities",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-44377/#issue-2"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Failing to mark records as confidential when submitting them to the public body.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Investment banking pitchbooks for pension bond sales",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56600/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Quarterly cost reports for Medicaid managed care organizations",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56759/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Arguing that disclosure would cause competitive harm without providing specific facts about the market or competitors.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Animal research protocol and medical records",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-35091/#issue-4"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Believing that a public body's own financial information is exempt under section 7(1)(g) when it is not commercial information obtained from a business.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Audit data on railcar component origins",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/#issue-2"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "caution": "These notes are based on non-binding determination letters; outcomes depend on specific facts and the public body's evidence; always verify the full PDF for context."
 },
 "issues": [
  {
   "issue": "Withholding lease under section 7(1)(g)",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "A public body must show disclosure would cause competitive harm to withhold records under the trade secret/commercial information exemption.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Lease agreements for business or remodeling licenses",
    "date": "2024-04-10",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-77566/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Chicago v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc, 2017 IL App (1st) 150870",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2017%20IL%20App%20(1st)%20150870/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Cooper v. Dep't of the Lottery, 266 Ill. App. 3d 1007 (1994)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Calhoun v. Lyng, 864 F.2d 34 (5th Cir. 1988)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "New Hampshire Right to Life v. United States Dept of Health & Human Services, 778 F.3d 43 (1st Cir. 2015)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Public Citizen Health Research Group v. Food Drug Administration, 704 F.2d 1280 (D.C. Cir. 1983)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Section 7(1)(g) exemption for MCO cost reports",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "The Department failed to show the cost reports were furnished under a claim of confidentiality or that disclosure would cause competitive harm.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Quarterly cost reports for Medicaid managed care organizations",
    "date": "2019-12-19",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56759/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "City of Chicago v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2017 IL App (1st) 150870",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2017%20IL%20App%20(1st)%20150870/"
    },
    {
     "text": "BlueStar Energy Services, Inc. v. Illinois Commerce Commission, 374 Ill. App. 3d 990 (1st Dist. 2007)",
     "url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2219884/bluestar-energy-services-inc-v-illinois-commerce-commission/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Pub. Acc. Op. No. 18-004",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/2017-pac-50559/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Lieber v. Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois Univ., 176 Ill. 2d 401 (1997)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Cooper v. Dep't of the Lottery, 266 Ill. App. 3d 1007 (1st Dist. 1994)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Calhoun v. Lyng, 864 F.2d 34 (5th Cir. 1988)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Whether pitchbooks contain commercial or financial information",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Pitchbooks are marketing materials relating to commerce and thus fall within the first prong of section 7(1)(g).",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Investment banking pitchbooks for pension bond sales",
    "date": "2020-06-30",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56600/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Chicago v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2017 IL App (1st) 150870",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2017%20IL%20App%20(1st)%20150870/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Lake County Bd. of Review v. Prop. Tax Appeal Bd. of State of Ill., 119 Ill. 2d 419",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "New Hampshire Right to Life v. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 778 F.3d 43",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Lapin v. Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 506 F. Supp. 2d 221",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Minnesota Life Ins. Co. v. AXA Inv. Mgr., Civ. 03-4383 (DWF/SRN), 2005 WL 1475336",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Whether records were furnished under a claim of proprietary, privileged, or confidential",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "A longstanding understanding that pitchbooks are proprietary, combined with confidentiality markings, establishes they were furnished under such a claim.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Investment banking pitchbooks for pension bond sales",
    "date": "2020-06-30",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56600/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Pub. Acc. Op. No. 18-004",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/2017-pac-50559/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Food Marketing Institute v. Argus Leader Media, 139 S. Ct. 2356",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Whether disclosure would cause competitive harm to a person or business",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Disclosure would allow competitors to copy unique marketing methods and analysis, causing substantial harm to competitive position.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Investment banking pitchbooks for pension bond sales",
    "date": "2020-06-30",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56600/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Chicago v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2017 IL App (1st) 150870",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2017%20IL%20App%20(1st)%20150870/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Cooper v. Dep't of the Lottery, 266 Ill. App. 3d 1007",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Calhoun v. Lyng, 864 F.2d 34",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "New Hampshire Right to Life, 778 F.3d 43",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Pub. Acc. Op. No. 19-007",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/2019-pac-58468/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Withholding PowerPoint presentation under section 7(1)(g)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "A record is exempt under section 7(1)(g) if it contains commercial information obtained from a business under a claim of confidentiality and disclosure would cause competitive harm.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Training presentation on sexual harassment",
    "date": "2022-12-09",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56208/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Lieber v. Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, 176 Ill. 2d 401, 408 (1997)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Chicago v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2017 IL App (1st) 150870 ¶27, 78 N.E.3d at 455 (2017)",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2017%20IL%20App%20(1st)%20150870/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Cooper v. Department of the Lottery, 266 Ill. App. 3d 1007, 1013 (1st Dist. 1994)",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/pre1996-141617/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Calhoun v. Lyng, 864 F.2d 34, 36 (5th Cir. 1988)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "100Reporters LLC v. United States Department of Justice, 248 F. Supp. 3d 115, 140 (D.D.C. 2017)",
     "url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4380285/100reporters-llc-v-united-states-department-of-justice/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Public Citizen v. United States HHS, 66 F. Supp. 3d 196, 210 (D.D.C. 2014)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Roulette v. Department of Central Management Services, 141 Ill. App. 3d 394, 400 (1st Dist. 1986)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Fourth request redactions under section 7(1)(g)",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Trade secret exemption requires specific facts showing actual competition and substantial competitive harm; conclusory claims and public disclosure fail.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Audit reports on a board's real estate and investment activities",
    "date": "2017-02-01",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-44377/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Cooper v. Department of the Lottery, 266 Ill. App. 3d 1007 (1st Dist. 1994)",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/pre1996-141617/"
    },
    {
     "text": "BlueStar Energy Services, Inc. v. Illinois Commerce Commission, 374 Ill. App. 3d 990 (1st Dist. 2007)",
     "url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2219884/bluestar-energy-services-inc-v-illinois-commerce-commission/"
    },
    {
     "text": "New Hampshire Right to Life v. United States Department of Health & Human Services, 778 F.3d 43 (1st Cir. 2015)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Public Citizen Health Research Group v. Food & Drug Administration, 704 F.2d 1280 (D.C. Cir. 1983)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "General Electric Co. v. United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 750 F.2d 1394 (7th Cir. 1984)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Critical Mass Energy Project v. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 975 F.2d 871 (D.C. Cir. 1992)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "9 to 5 Organization v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, 721 F.2d 1 (1st Cir. 1983)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "News Group Boston, Inc. v. National Railroad Passenger Corp., 799 F. Supp. 1264 (D. Mass. 1992)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Req. Rev. Ltr. 9147, issued May 1, 2012",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Section 7(1)(g) exemption assertion not determined",
   "outcome": "no_determination",
   "rule": "Because the records were properly withheld under section 7(1)(f), the Public Access Bureau did not need to determine whether section 7(1)(g) also exempts them.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "An employee survey from 2015",
    "date": "2016-05-12",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-39705/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of sponsor and drug/device names as confidential commercial information",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Conclusory claims of competitive harm without supporting facts do not meet the clear and convincing burden for exemption.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Animal research protocol and medical records",
    "date": "2015-07-14",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-35091/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "BlueStar Energy Services, Inc. v. Illinois Commerce Com‘n, 374 Il. App. 3d 990, 995 (1* Dist. 2007)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Cooper v. Department of the Lottery, 266 Ill. App. 3d 1007, 1020 (1st Dist. 1994)",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/pre1996-141617/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Percentages for outside suppliers in Post-Delivery Audit",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Percentages for outside suppliers may be withheld because competitors could use them to target Bombardier's suppliers and submit more competitive bids.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Audit data on railcar component origins",
    "date": "2016-07-22",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "BlueStar Energy Services, Inc. v. Illinois Commerce Comm'n, 374 Ill. App. 3d 990 (1st Dist. 2007)",
     "url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2219884/bluestar-energy-services-inc-v-illinois-commerce-commission/"
    },
    {
     "text": "New Hampshire Right to Life v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 778 F.3d 43 (1st Cir. 2015)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "United Technologies Corp. v. U.S. Dept. of Defense, 601 F.3d 557 (D.C. Cir. 2010)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Percentages for Bombardier-supplied material in Post-Delivery Audit",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Percentages for material Bombardier itself supplies are not exempt because competitors cannot exploit information about Bombardier to harm it.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Audit data on railcar component origins",
    "date": "2016-07-22",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Buy America Compliance Certificates redactions",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "US%, Foreign%, and Subcomponent Name columns may be withheld because competitors could use supplier and component information to maximize US content in their bids.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Audit data on railcar component origins",
    "date": "2016-07-22",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Description of Work Final Assembly Requirements redactions",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Most redacted Description of Work is generic and not exempt, but the cost of final assembly may be redacted as it could enable competitors to undercut Bombardier.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Audit data on railcar component origins",
    "date": "2016-07-22",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-31664/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  }
 ]
}