What Does Proprietary Mean?

Proprietary means confidentially owned and controlled. Thus it is a reference to something that is exclusively owned by someone, often with implications that it is private and cannot be used by other parties without negotiations. It is often used as the word opposite to open. Thus this word indicates sole and private ownership to the exclusion of all other parties.

It can be used in reference to several things like literary works, property, computer software and other things. Intellectual property like copyright and patents are also included in the term proprietary. The party owning things that are proprietary in nature is known as a proprietor. This word originates from the Latin term proprietarius. Proprietary things are protected with the help of trademark or patent or copyright and an agreement or documents in the case of land or property.