Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/18pdf/18-481_5426.pdf
Page Number: 20

Cite as:  588 U. S. ____ (2019) 

5 

Opinion of BREYER, J. 

reasons  no  better  than  convenience,  skittishness,  or  bu-
reaucratic inertia.  The Exemption’s focus on “commercial” 
or  “financial”  information,  for  instance,  implies  that  the
harm caused by disclosure must do more than, say, simply 
embarrass  the  information’s  owner. 
It  must  cause 
some  genuine  harm  to  an  owner’s  economic  or  business 
interests. 

In  sum,  the  language  permits,  and  the  purpose,  prece-
dent,  and  context  all  suggest,  an  interpretation  that  in-
sists upon some showing of harm.  And I believe we should 
say  just  that.  Exemption  4  can  be  satisfied  where,  in
addition to the conditions set out by the majority, release 
of  commercial  or  financial  information  will  cause  genuine 
harm  to  an  owner’s  economic  or  business  interests.    (Be-
cause it is not at issue, I express no opinion as to whether
genuine  harm  to  a  government  interest  would  suffice.)    I 
would remand the case for a determination as to whether, 
in  this  instance,  release  of  the  information  at  issue  will 
cause  that  genuine  harm.    To  that  extent,  I  dissent  from 
the majority’s decision.