Gunster attorney David G. Bates identifies 13 reasons why business owners and executives should pay close attention to the confidentiality agreements they use, in an article published by The Business Journals.
Bates cautions that the inappropriate agreement – or inappropriate provisions within an agreement – can be problematic or even fail to adequately protect the intended proprietary information.
Decide up front whether the agreement should be unilateral or mutual, Bates writes, as well as what is meant by "confidential information," and whether there are any exceptions to the rule.
Slight tweaks can make an agreement more or less favorable to one party or the other, he says, but be on the lookout for "hidden bomb" provisions that could introduce unintended restrictions once the agreement is executed.
Read the article now: Confidentiality agreements are nonroutine contracts routinely entered into by entrepreneurs (The Business Journals, 5/9/17)
Bates co-chairs Gunster's Technology & Emerging Companies law practice and serves on the firm's board of directors.
