Some of the systems it uses are custom-built and designed by its own employees, the better to keep competitors off the trail.

Health insurers are typically close-mouthed about their intentions, to keep competitors in the dark.

You may want to seek a patent or a registered design to keep competitors at bay.

Practices that keep competitors out run counter to what the law promised.

To keep competitors at bay, companies often publish anonymously, and they sometimes use vague language to describe an invention.

At the same time, national-security concerns keep potential foreign competitors at bay.

You get protection for a pre-determined period, allowing you to keep competitors at bay.

It might be that keeping the details of your invention secret will keep competitors at bay more effectively.

Until recently, companies of similar size often made deals, normally with little reason except to get bigger and keep competitors at bay.

They haven't protected their borders by buying up property that would keep competitors away and give them the room to expand.