This is a crazy time for everyone, and every industry. It does not mean your entrepreneurial mind has closed. During the quietest of times is when ideas start to come to us. So, you’ve got the next big inustry solution – congratulations! How do you know someone, even with the best of intention, doesn’t share it with another? Who then decides to take it and run with it? Or, you want to share the idea with a few friends to get their feedback on its viability? But, still want to protect what you’ve created. These are questions we are asked by clients because they want to know how to protect their ideas.
The best way and most secure way, of course, is to keep the idea to yourself. But seriously, it is a sincere recommendation. Most often people talk about their ideas to brag or to brainstorm. Also, sharing can make themselves feel as if they are adding to discussions. All of which in the end can hurt you and your potential business idea. And to be honest, these are not good or even great reasons to disclose information you want kept confidential. However, barring total secrecy is having a Confidentiality Agreement to can help protect your ideas. But what if you don’t have a Confidentiality Agreement in place or want to put one into place? The following will be helpful as a guide to making your way through the sea of opportunity.
When to disclose information?
This is likely the most difficult field to play. Disclosing information in incremendal amounts is a great way to keep the balance of power remains relatively even. Especially in terms of oral commitments, commitments through information disclosure, money or contracts. A good rule of thumb is having the information being shared be kept to general concepts. Progress with more information at different contract stages. Be sure to keep careful notes on what, when and where information was disclosed and who was present at meetings. These records can be extremely helpful if you ever end up in court.
Additionally, do your best to only disclose the minimum amount of information necessary to close the deal. Remember, to be clear so as not to be fraudulent or misleading. This allows you to maintain the most control over your product or idea. As well as protecting your options for changing the timeline or details later if needed. Once the deal is closed and the contract is signed; both parties are more committed to the process and protecting the information.
However, saying the minimum needed does not mean withholding material information that substantially affects the deal. For example, if your idea requires FDA approval and you do not have it and no one brings this up. It would be wiser to disclose this up front rather than to wait for this bomb to blow up later. If one party feels mislead then trust is broken, and, contract or not, it will be hard to proceed productively.
Who in Your Industry?
Consider who you are talking to about your product or information. Is the party a competitor who would greatly benefit from the idea? Or a customer who will be helped by the idea or product? What about a partner whose own business would be complemented by your success? The other party’s interest always needs to be kept in mind. Also, be aware of whom you are dealing with. Dealing with a CEO of a company is entirely different than dealing with a programmer or sales person. Remember to also consider the employee’s personal interests in having the information. For example, the head of product development might think she can get a promotion if she presents your idea as her own.
Risk of Exchanging Information.
Confidentiality agreements can help protect the both parties. Receiving and disclosing information can be protected with a limited amount of financial investment. Additionally, a surprising fact is the party receiving information is often taking a greater risk than the party disclosing information. A good example of this risk is a movie studio. New script writers express dismay when they learn studios refuse to sign a confidentiality agreement. Furthermore, they are needing to sign an agreement stating that if the studio later develops something that looks like his or her idea, the submitter agrees not to challenge this.
Studios are in the business of coming up with ideas and making them into movies. Every time the studio receives a script or a pitch, it is receiving an idea. If a studio were to agree to keep this information confidential and the submitter keeps the rights to the idea then the studio would be subjecting itself to potential lawsuits for every idea submitted. Even those already developed by employees who have never seen or heard of the submission. In court, the studio would have the burden of showing that despite the receipt of the submission. Its employees developed the similar idea never saw or received any information from the submission. This would be virtually impossible for the studio to prove. Not to mention costly when you multiply it by the large of submissions they receive.
For studios, venture capitalists and other groups working with large numbers of ideas, it is too risky for them to sign a confidentiality agreement. In these circumstances you are usually the less powerful party. Which leads to you being forced into assuming more risk.
Greatest Risk
The disclosing party can be the one with the greatest risk. The disclosing party risks (a) disclosure of such information to its competitors; (b) disclosure of the information to the public; and/or (c) use of such information to compete or gain market advantage against the disclosing party.
In conclusion, be sensitive to these considerations when you are disclosing information, especially to a competitor. , or by signing the confidentiality agreement you present, your competitor is risking a law suit from you even if it already knows, or has in development, what you are about to tell them. When in doubt on how to proceed with sharing your business idea or product concept, seeking the support of a lawyer can be the best and safest first step.