A moratorium also gives the Client an opportunity to fully patent any intellectual property derived from the project. If I can make a personal observation, it would be this. My Clients are too concerned about public disclosures. Even careless scientists have enough good sense not to disclose so many details as to give away valuable intellectual property or to cause their Clients competitive harm. On the other hand, I can understand how Clients must feel.
Clients pay large sums for a competitive advantage.
They don't want to lose that advantage due to a careless or untimely disclosure by the Research Organisation or its staff.