An NDA that prevents an employee from working in their profession or field of trade may be considered a non-compete agreement. In California, non-compete agreements are more rarely enforceable. NDAs can also not be used to prevent the reporting of illegal activity or to silence whistleblowers.
Employee inclusive of his/her direct beneficiaries in business, interest and title in recognition of the transfer of Confidential and Proprietary Information to ​Company Name hereby agrees not to directly or indirectly compete with the business of Company name and its successors and assigns during the term of the ...
Starting January 1, 2025, businesses settling disputes with consumers cannot condition any refund or other consideration on a consumer agreeing not to make statements about the business, regardless of the sentiment or accuracy of those statements. The text of the new Cal. Civ. Code § 1748.50 can be found here.
To create a Non-Disclosure Agreement, include the following information: The parties' names and contact information. The length of the non-disclosure period. The scope and definition of the confidential information. The obligations of the Non-Disclosure Agreement. The ownership and return information.
Various whistleblower laws protect employees who have signed non-disclosure agreements and find whistleblowing necessary to right the wrongs of their employers. For instance, California law deems unenforceable NDAs that require employees to keep quiet about harassment, discrimination, or unlawful workplace activity.
You do not need a lawyer to create and sign a non-disclosure agreement. However, if the information you are trying to protect is important enough to warrant an NDA, you may want to have the document reviewed by someone with legal expertise.
NDAs should have a clear description of the purpose, parties, and duration they cover. Specifying time limits or periods that your employees are subject to confidentiality is particularly important to ensure your NDA is enforceable in California. The typical time period is one to five years.
In California, non-disclosure agreements are governed by state law and must comply with certain requirements to be enforceable. California law generally disfavors NDAs that restrict an individual's right to work, and there are specific rules regarding the enforceability of NDAs in the employment context.
Indeed, the potential client may well get you to sign an NDA yourself, to protect any business secrets they indulge during your pitch. So by presenting them with an NDA of your own, and making a strong case for them to sign it, you're actually conveying your seriousness and raising your authority overall.