What does a protective order achieve in legal terms?

A protective order is a legal mechanism designed to restrict the access to or dissemination of certain information and evidence in the context of legal proceedings. By sealing specific types of evidence, a protective order helps to safeguard sensitive information, which may include trade secrets, confidential personal information, or proprietary business data. This ensures that the information is not disclosed to the public or to unauthorized parties, thus maintaining the privacy and integrity of the involved parties.

In contrast, while other options might pertain to different aspects of legal process, they do not accurately describe the primary function of a protective order. For instance, a protective order does not inherently allow for the submission of more evidence, nor does it compel testimony from witnesses or halt court proceedings. Instead, its main purpose lies in the protection of sensitive information within the context of those proceedings.