Label Dominance

When any type of label has a security level equal to or greater than the security level of another label to which it is being compared, the first label is said to dominate the second. This comparison of security levels is based on classifications and compartments in the labels. The classification of the dominant label must be equal to or higher than the classification of the second label, and the dominant label must include all the compartments in the other label.

Two equal labels are said to dominate each other. Another kind of dominance is called strict dominance. One label strictly dominates another label, when the first label has a security level greater than the security level of another label to which it is being compared. Strict dominance is dominance without equality. The classification of the first label must be higher than that of the second label and the first label must contain all the compartments in the second label or, if the classifications of both labels are the same, the first label must contain all the compartments in the second label plus one or more additional compartments for the first label to strictly dominate the second.