Indeed, the word "patent" itself—to quote Wikipedia: "The word patent originates from the Latin patere, which means "to lay open" (i.e., to make available for p

Indeed, the word "patent" itself—to quote Wikipedia: "The word patent originates from the Latin patere, which means "to lay open" (i.e., to make available for public inspection). It is a shortened version of the term letters patent, which was an open document or instrument issued by a monarch or government granting exclusive rights to a person, predating the modern patent system." Thus, a secret patent is a contradiction in terms.