Whenever you believe you are going to enter a situation that will involve you disclosing proprietary information such as trade secrets, business strategy or yet-to-be-implemented ideas, you will want to have the receiving party sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Do this BEFORE any disclosure occurs.
Say this: "In the interest of maintaining good governance with future investors, we're asking that anyone closely involved with this project at this early stage sign an NDA."
Explain the Context: Start by explaining why you need the NDA. Be clear about the sensitive information involved and why it's important to keep it confidential. Be Honest and Transparent: Share your reasons for needing an NDA. Emphasize that it's not about distrust but about protecting both parties' interests.
I hereby undertake to treat as confidential all and any information that I receive while participating in the work of evaluating project proposals, to use this information solely for the purpose of evaluation of the proposals, not to disclose it to any third party and not to make it publicly available or accessible ...
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.
By law, a nondisclosure contract must be reasonable and necessary for protecting a legitimate business interest. It must also be limited in scope and duration, in terms of timing, geography, and other relevant factors. While not required, you should put any confidentiality agreement in writing.
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.
California courts may refuse to enforce non-disclosure agreements that are overly broad or vague in their terms. NDAs should have a clear description of the purpose, parties, and duration they cover.
By law, a nondisclosure contract must be reasonable and necessary for protecting a legitimate business interest. It must also be limited in scope and duration, in terms of timing, geography, and other relevant factors. While not required, you should put any confidentiality agreement in writing.