What principle means that a manager’s admission of altering records may not reach court?

The principle that relates to a manager's admission of altering records and the possibility of that information not reaching court is best captured by the concept of "work product doctrine." This legal principle protects materials prepared in anticipation of litigation from disclosure to the opposing party. Specifically, it allows attorneys to prepare and strategize without concern that their notes or records will be made available to adversaries.

In essence, any documentation, notes, or communications that are created specifically for the purpose of litigation are generally shielded from discovery. This promotes candidness and thorough preparation during case development. Although attorney/client privilege also relates to confidential communications, it specifically protects private dialogues between an attorney and their client, not necessarily the types of records or documents in question.

Intellectual property is concerned with the ownership rights of creative works and does not cover the admissibility of evidence in court regarding record alterations. Therefore, the situation described directly aligns with the protections provided by the work product doctrine rather than the other options presented.