This article was originally published in Deer Isle Group’s News & Views on March 22, 2023.
(Published here with permission)
In recent years many companies have turned to standard “form” contracts for common business arrangements such as non-disclosure/confidentiality agreements (generically referred to as NDAs). On the surface, this appears to be an efficient use of limited personnel and an effort to be more responsive to businesses’ interactions with current and potential customers, suppliers, investors, and collaborators. This trend, however, has led many to mistakenly believe that these agreements are simply “forms” to be filled out by anyone in the organization without much care or consideration for the subject matter being disclosed or the understanding of appropriate terms and conditions governing the relationship.
It should be appreciated that an NDA is often the gateway for targeted discussions that lead to business relationships, investments, product, service, and material evaluations, sales, product and market developments, and other business or technical arrangements. As such, it is critical that the agreement is written with consideration of the context of the relationship. Some common areas of concern involve a myriad of issues, from those as modest as identifying the correct legal parties, to more strategic decisions around what level or type of information will be disclosed and received, and by whom.
These concerns are echoed in the recent rulemaking proposal from the Federal Trade Commission regarding Non-Compete Clauses. The FTC proposal would essentially ban non-compete clauses. The proposal considers NDAs with employees de facto non-compete clauses when they are “written so broadly that [they] effectively preclude the worker from working in the same field after the conclusion of the worker’s employment with the employer.” Once again, therefore, care should be taken to define confidential and proprietary information as specifically as possible, even when using NDAs with employees.
There are several areas to think about before completion of the agreement – without delaying the transactions that keep businesses moving toward their goals.
One-Way or Two?
A first, sometimes confused, issue involves the format of the NDA – whether one-way or requiring mutual obligations of confidentiality. One-way agreements (i.e., one party sharing information), might typically be used with suppliers, vendors, and consultants; they offer the most flexibility and include no reciprocal obligations to protect information.
Alternatively, although commonly the default because of “mirror image” terms, mutual NDAs, which anticipate both parties sharing confidential information, should be reviewed with care. They should not be offered or accepted if information should only flow in one direction because they may place undue burdens on a party that has no legitimate interest to receive or protect the other party’s information.
Who’s Who?
Next, while it may appear straightforward, correctly identifying the parties to the agreement requires understanding not only that the accurate and appropriate legal entities are identified, but also recognizing whether any others may have access to the information being shared. If one or both parties are part of a larger entity or they are related to or affiliated with another party that may participate in any way, then the third parties should be included in the agreement. It is also advisable to have individuals (employees or contractors) identified and named party to the agreement if they will have access to the confidential information. The agreement may also require all relevant employees and contractors to be made aware of and agree with confidentiality obligations before they receive access to any confidential information. Overall, it is important to remember that inaccurate or inadequate identification of a party may result in an unenforceable agreement or leave a party without recourse under the agreement.
What’s Confidential?
The definition of confidential information in the NDA should be specific, understood by the parties, and relevant only to the use of the information within the purpose of the agreement. Of course, the disclosing party would prefer a broader definition while the recipient would prefer a narrower definition. Similar positions are typically held by discloser and recipient regarding the need to mark or otherwise identify disclosed information as being confidential. It should be understood, however, that in all situations only information necessary to achieve the agreement’s purpose should be disclosed.
Any Exceptions?
Common exceptions to confidentiality are important to understand. Most are familiar with the standard or well-known exceptions to confidentiality, including information that is generally known, publicly available, in possession of the receiving party, and lawfully received on a non-confidential basis from third parties. However, consideration also should be given to information that was or is independently developed by the receiving party without any use of the disclosing party’s confidential information. This exception to confidential information is often missing from the “standard” list of exceptions. It could be especially important to allow a company to exploit developments that might be technically related to the confidential information to which it may have been exposed.
How Long – and How Long?
The term of the NDA typically includes two time periods: a first defining a time limit for one or both parties to exchange confidential information, usually running from the effective date; and a second defining the period of the confidentiality obligation on the recipient(s), which may run concurrently with the agreement term or continue after the expiration of the NDA. In situations involving disclosure of proprietary and confidential information protectable as trade secrets, the obligation of confidentiality on the receiving party should be indefinite (without time limit) or until the trade secret becomes available to the public. Limiting the confidentiality obligation to a shorter period opens the trade secret up to potential public disclosure and an inevitable loss of rights. This is an important consideration, among many others, for handling confidential and proprietary information with third parties and within companies, particularly in view of the above-referenced FTC proposal to ban non-compete agreements.
Anything Else?
Other areas in NDAs to consider include assignability, return of information, governing law, dispute resolution, and remedies. Although commonly viewed as legalese, these provisions are key to understanding the rights and obligations upon termination or in a dispute between the parties.
NDAs are important business tools and are often precursors to further agreements and business relationships. When discussions discontinue, however, the NDA sets reasonable boundaries for behavior. As such, the NDA should be viewed as a significant and necessary component of any business relationship in which confidential information is exchanged and should be treated as such. Standard and “form” contracts may still be useful as a starting point and framework for the NDA. It must be appreciated, however, that critical terms in these agreements can help the parties to maintain and protect value in the disclosed and received information, and also can help to define the parties’ relationship, rights, and obligations under the agreement.
