Who will use these documents:
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anyone wanting to protect their business or idea when it is necessary to disclose secrets;
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a seller of a business or website or other property;
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any person involved with research or ideas
Note: Net Lawman provides two versions of the confidentiality letter, one in “letter” form, the other as an “agreement”. There is no difference in the legal effect. It is a matter of presentation. If in doubt, take the letter, COM402.
However, if the confidentiality letter is part of a situation where both sides are giving something (such as mutual confidentiality), then the agreement is a neater solution.
Key features of confidentiality letter:
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wide definitions cover most situations - agency, sale of business, software access, etc;
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extensive notes to guide you;
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plain English - of course!
Why use this document:
Because very few businesses develop their own ideas. Mostly, they “find” them elsewhere. Stop them from finding yours with this carefully drawn confidentiality letter.
Note: business owners tend to be most diffident about asking for confidentiality letter or agreement from bankers and other lenders. This is a great mistake. Disclosure is far more likely as a result of carelessness that of a deliberate attempt to steal your ideas. Buy this document now, then pull it out of your bottom drawer whenever you need to protect your secrets.
This document includes provision for:
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broadly defined confidential information;
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public domain exceptions carefully restricted;
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damages quantified in advance;
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usual legal provisions.
