Secrecy...outdated concept?
Dervish
I agree with you on the idea of 'originator' but I think that is a common sense interpretation rather than the official rule. In my last place, the 1-star auth'd is to downgrade material from subordinate units without further reference because of the factors you mention, along with his opinion that as the higher HQ we 'owned' the unit and therefore any information it generated.
If my 1-star explicitly takes on that risk, as he acknowledged at the time rather than leaving my team and I out in the cold, then I'll do what I'm told. The Sy section in our higher HQ unfortunately nearly had kittens because they interpreted the policy literally.