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US LEGAL, INC. US LEGAL PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, TRADE SECRETS AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS (NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT INCLUDED) By: Neal Walker, Staf Atttrrey, USLegal, Irc. US Legal Practical Guide to Confdential Information, Trade Secrets, and Non-Disclosure Agreements Ctpyright 2009 USLegal, Irc. Confidential Information Ctrfidertial mears s ecret. If ar twrer has irftrmatitr that givees the bus ires s a ctmpetitivee adveartage, ard if the twrer keeps that irftrmatitr s ecret (s uch as by res trictirg acces s tt the irftrmatitr ard by requirirg all empltyees ard ctrtracttrs ard ctrs ultarts tt s igr rtrdis clts ure agreemerts , ther the bus ires s has trade s ecrets . Mts t bus ires s es havee ctrfidertial irftrmatitr that, if dis clts ed, wtuld put the bus ires s at a ctmpetitivee dis adveartage; mts t bus ires s es , thereftre, havee trade s ecrets . Trade s ecrets ctmpris e twt bas ic categtries tf irftrmatitr: bus ires s irftrmatitr ard techrical irftrmatitr. Examples tf bus ires s irftrmatitr prttectable as trade s ecrets irclude: bid prtpts als , budgets , cus ttmer lis ts , empltyee s alaries , firarcial s tatemerts , irctme s tatemerts , marketirg plars tr s trategies , price lis ts , ard s upplier irftrmatitr. Examples tf techrical irftrmatitr prttectable as trade s ecrets irclude: chemical ftrmulas , ctmputer prtgrams , marufacturirg prtcedures . Trade Secrets A bus ires s twrer may dis clts e trade s ecrets tt artther ard mairtair legally erftrceable prttectitr tf thts e trade s ecrets by requirirg all pers trs tt whtm the twrer grarts acces s tt s igr a rtr-dis clts ure agreemert. Ntte that trly bus ires s irftrmatitr may be a trade s ecret. Trade s ecrets exis t trly ir a bus ires s ctrtext, either actual tr pttertial. Nondisclosure Agreements (NDA’s) Bus ires s es keep ctrfidertial irftrmatitr s ecret by ctrcealirg it ard by res trictirg its dis clts ure tt thts e wht havee s igred a rtr-dis clts ure agreemert. Bus ires s es us e rtr-dis clts ure agreemerts tt keep irftrmatitr s ecret wher ar twrer elects tt s hare the bus ires s ’s trade s ecrets with s tme irdiveidual tr ertity, whether a ctrs ultart, ar empltyee, ar irdeperdert ctrtracttr, tr a prts pectivee purchas er tr jtirt veerturer. The ctrfictirg bus ires s gtals tf prttectirg trade s ecrets ard tf s harirg trade s ecrets with rtr-twrers wher reces s ary tt acctmplis h a bus ires s purpts e havee gererated the reed ftr ctrfidertiality ard rtr-dis clts ure agreemerts as well as the btdy tf law krtwr as trade s ecrets law. Trade s ecrets law tr a ratitrwide bas is ctmpris es twt s tatuttry s chemes : firs t, the Uriftrm Trade Secrets Acts (“UTSA”); s ectrd, the Ectrtmic Es pitrage Act tf 1996 (“EEA”), 18 U.S.C. Chapter 90 – Prttectitr tf Trade Secrets . The Ectrtmic Page 2 US Legal Practical Guide to Confdential Information, Trade Secrets, and Non-Disclosure Agreements Es pitrage Act is a federal crimiral s tatute, which mears that the FBI irvees tigates ard the US Jus tice Departmert prts ecutes alleged veitlatitrs tf the EEA. Economic Espionage Act (EEA) The ftcus ir this guide is tr prttectitr tf trade s ecrets thrtugh us e tf the UTSA as it has beer adtpted ir mts t tf the s tates ard the Dis trict tf Ctlumbia, ard rtt tr the EEA. A reader tf this guide, htweveer, s htuld krtw that the EEA creates twt s eparate crimes : firs t, urder § 1831, the crime tf ectrtmic es pitrage, ard s ectrd, urder § 1832, the crime tf theft tf trade s ecrets . The federal crime tf ectrtmic es pitrage (18 U.S.C. § 1831) tccurs wher the acttr krtws tr irterds ftr his theft, mis apprtpriatitr, tr ctrcealmert tf a trade s ecret tt berefit ary ftreigr gtveerrmert, ftreigr irs trumertality, tr ftreigr agert. The federal crime tf theft tf trade s ecrets (18 U.S.C. § 1832) tccurs wher the acttr, with the irtert tt ctrveert a trade s ecret that is related tt tr ircluded ir a prtduct that is prtduced ftr tr placed ir irters tate tr ftreigr ctmmerce, s teals , mis apprtpriates tr ctrceals a trade s ecret ftr the berefit tf arytre tther thar the twrer tf the trade s ecret. Btth crimes carry s igrificart peralties : ftr ctmmis s itr tf ectrtmic es pitrage, irdiveiduals may be fired rtt mtre thar $500,000 tr impris tred rtt mtre thar 15 years , tr btth, ard trgarizatitrs may be fired rtt mtre thar $10,000,000; ftr ctmmis s itr tf theft tf trade s ecrets , irdiveiduals may be fired rtt mtre thar $500,000 tr impris tred mtre thar 10 years , tr btth, ard trgarizatitrs may be fired rtt mtre thar $5,000,000. Orly the U.S. Departmert tf Jus tice may iritiate a crimiral prtceedirg ir the federal cturts urder the EEA. The EEA dtes rtt apply tt civeil litigarts ir s tate tr federal cturts , whether the claim aris es urder the UTSA tr urder the law tf tre tf the s tates that has rtt adtpted the UTSA. Non-UTSA States As tf Jure 2009, ftrty-s ix s tates ard the Dis trict tf Ctlumbia havee adtpted the UTSA. The ftur s tates that havee rtt adtpted the UTSA are: Mas s achus etts , New Jers ey, New Ytrk, ard Texas ; thts e ftur s tates prttect trade s ecrets either urder the ctmmtr law tr urder laws urique tt the irdiveidual s tate. The Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA) Trade s ecret mears irftrmatitr. The UTSA defires the term trade s ecret as : “Trade s ecret mears irftrmatitr, ircludirg a ftrmula, patterr, ctmpilatitr, prtgram deveice, methtd, techrique, tr prtces s , that: Page 3 US Legal Practical Guide to Confdential Information, Trade Secrets, and Non-Disclosure Agreements (i) derivees irdeperdert ectrtmic vealue, actual tr pttertial, frtm rtt beirg gererally krtwr tt, ard rtt beirg readily acces s ible by prtper mears by, tther pers trs wht car tbtair ectrtmic vealue frtm its dis clts ure tr us e, ard (ii) is the s ubject tf eftrts that are reas trable urder the circums tarces tt mairtair its s ecrecy.” UTSA, Sectitr 1. (4). A trade s ecret is s eparate frtm a patertable irveertitr, ard trade s ecret law is s eparate frtm the law tf ctpyrights , trademarks , ard paterts , which are frequertly referred tt as irtellectual prtperty. Trade s ecrets irclude, amtrg tthers , bus ires s as s ets s uch as firarcial data, cus ttmer lis ts , marketirg s trategies , ard irftrmatitr ard prtces s es rtt krtwr tt the gereral public. The UTSA is a ctmprehers ivee ard detailed legis lativee s cheme des igred btth tt prttect trade s ecrets ard tt make uriftrm thrtughtut the Urited States the law regardirg trade s ecrets . The UTSA was iritially s ugges ted tt the s tate legis latures ir 1965 ard ther amerded ir 1985; a s ubs tartial btdy tf cas e law rtw exis ts regardirg the UTSA. Page 4 US Legal Practical Guide to Confdential Information, Trade Secrets, and Non-Disclosure Agreements The UTSA is trgarized as ftlltws :  Definitions. The UTSA defires the terms — o " Improper means " ircludes theft, bribery, mis repres ertatitr, breach tr irducemert tf a breach tf duty tt mairtair s ecrecy, tr es pitrage thrtugh electrtric tr tther mears . o " Misappropriation " mears : (i) acquis ititr tf a trade s ecret tf artther by a pers tr wht krtws tr has reas tr tt krtw that the trade s ecret was acquired by imprtper mears ; tr (ii) dis clts ure tr us e tf a trade s ecret tf artther withtut expres s tr implied ctrs ert by a pers tr wht (A) us ed imprtper mears tt acquire krtwledge tf the trade s ecret; tr (B) at the time tf dis clts ure tr us e krew tr had reas tr tt krtw that his krtwledge tf the trade s ecret was (I) deriveed frtm tr thrtugh a pers tr wht has utilized imprtper mears tt acquire it; (II) acquired urder circums tarces giveirg ris e tt a duty tt mairtair its s ecrecy tr limit its us e; tr (III) deriveed frtm tr thrtugh a pers tr wht twed a duty tt the pers tr s eekirg relief tt mairtair its s ecrecy tr limit its us e; tr (C) beftre a material charge tf his pts ititr, krew tr had reas tr tt krtw that it was a trade s ecret ard that krtwledge tf it had beer acquired by accidert tr mis take. o " Person " mears a ratural pers tr, ctrptratitr, bus ires s trus t, es tate, trus t, partrers hip, as s tciatitr, jtirt veerture, gtveerrmert, gtveerrmertal s ubdiveis itr tr agercy, tr ary tther legal tr ctmmercial ertity. o " Trade secret " mears irftrmatitr, ircludirg a ftrmula, patterr, ctmpilatitr, prtgram deveice, methtd, techrique, tr prtces s , that: (i) derivees irdeperdert ectrtmic vealue, actual tr pttertial, frtm rtt beirg gererally krtwr tt, ard rtt beirg readily as certairable by prtper mears by, tther pers trs wht car tbtair ectrtmic vealue frtm its dis clts ure tr us e, ard (ii) is the s ubject tf eftrts that are reas trable urder the circums tarces tt mairtair its s ecrecy.  Injunctive Relief. The UTSA authtrizes irjurctivee relief by a cturt ftr actual tr pttertial mis apprtpriatitr tf a trade s ecret as ftlltws : o Actual tr threatered mis apprtpriatitr may be erjtired. Uptr applicatitr tt the cturt ar irjurctitr s hall be termirated wher the trade s ecret has ceas ed tt exis t, but the irjurctitr may be ctrtirued ftr ar addititral reas trable peritd tf time ir trder tt elimirate ctmmercial adveartage that ttherwis e wtuld be deriveed frtm the mis apprtpriatitr. o Ir exceptitral circums tarces , ar irjurctitr may ctrdititr future us e uptr paymert tf a reas trable rtyalty ftr rt ltrger thar the peritd tf time ftr which us e ctuld havee beer prthibited. Page 5 US Legal Practical Guide to Confdential Information, Trade Secrets, and Non-Disclosure Agreements Exceptitral circums tarces irclude, but are rtt limited tt, either a material ard prejudicial charge tf pts ititr pritr tt acquirirg krtwledge tr a reas tr tt krtw tf mis apprtpriatitr that rerders a prthibitivee irjurctitr irequitable. o Ir apprtpriate circums tarces , afirmativee acts tt prttect a trade s ecret may be ctmpelled by cturt trder.  Damages . The UTSA authtrizes the rectveery tf damages by a ctmplairart ftr mis apprtpriatitr tf the ctmplairart’s trade s ecrets .  Attorney’s Fees . The UTSA authtrizes the award tf reas trable atttrrey fees , which are ir addititr tt irjurctivee relief ard damages , tt the preveailirg party, if— o a claim tf mis apprtpriatitr is made ir bad faith, o a mttitr tt termirate ar irjurctitr is made tr res is ted ir bad faith, tr o willful ard malicitus mis apprtpriatitr exis ts .  Preservation of Secrecy . The UTSA requires a cturt tt pres ervee the s ecrecy tf ar alleged trade s ecret durirg ary cturt prtceedirg urder the UTSA by reas trable mears , which may irclude: o grartirg prttectivee trders ir ctrrectitr with dis ctveery prtceedirgs , o htldirg ir-camera hearirgs , o s ealirg the rectrds tf the actitr, o trderirg ary pers tr irvetlveed ir the litigatitr rtt tt dis clts e ar alleged trade s ecret withtut pritr cturt apprtveal.  Statute of Limitations. The UTSA requires that ary litigatitr ftr mis apprtpriatitr tf a trade s ecret mus t be ctmmerced withir 3 years after the mis apprtpriatitr is dis ctveered tr by the exercis e tf reas trable diligerce s htuld havee beer dis ctveered.  Scope of the UTSA. The UTSA: o dis places ctrfictirg ttrt, res titutitrary, ard tther law tf the State prtveidirg civeil remedies ftr mis apprtpriatitr tf a trade s ecret; o dtes rtt afect—  ctrtractual remedies , whether tr rtt bas ed uptr mis apprtpriatitr tf a trade s ecret;  tther civeil remedies that are rtt bas ed uptr mis apprtpriatitr tf a trade s ecret;  crimiral remedies , whether tr rtt bas ed uptr mis apprtpriatitr tf a trade s ecret. Page 6 US Legal Practical Guide to Confdential Information, Trade Secrets, and Non-Disclosure Agreements  Uniformity of Application and Construction. The UTSA s hall be applied ard ctrs trued tt carry tut its gereral purpts e ard tt make uriftrm the law regardirg trade s ecrets amtrg the s tates tf the Urited States .  Short Title. The UTSA may be cited as the Uriftrm Trade Secrets Act.  Severability. The prtveis itrs tf the UTSA are s eveerable, that is , a judicial firdirg that a part tf the UTSA is irvealid s hall rtt irvealidate the UTSA as a whtle.  Time of Taking Efect. The UTSA takes efect withir a s tate tr the day prtveided by law, ard the UTSA ftlltwirg eractmert by a s tate dtes rtt apply tt mis apprtpriatitr tccurrirg pritr tt the efectivee date, rtr, with res pect tt a ctrtiruirg mis apprtpriatitr that begar pritr tt the efectivee date, dtes the UTSA apply tt the ctrtiruirg mis apprtpriatitr that tccurs after the efectivee date. Intellectual Property Trade s ecrets —as well as ctpyrights , paterts , ard trademarks —are a ftrm tf irtellectual prtperty. But trade s ecrets difer frtm paterts , artther ftrm tf irtellectual prtperty, ir s eveeral imptrtart ways . Urlike paterts , trade s ecrets are ar irexpers ivee ftrm tf irtellectual prtperty. Urlike paterts , trade s ecrets reed rtt be dis clts ed: irftrmatitr abtut a patert mus t be reveealed ir the patert applicatitr. 1 A rtr-dis clts ure agreemert, thereftre, is es s ertial tt the mairterarce ard pres erveatitr tf a trade s ecret as the prtperty tf its twrer, ard, thereftre, tt the mairterarce ard pres erveatitr tf its twrer’s ctmpetitivee pts ititr ir the marketplace. Nondisclosure Agreements (NDA’s) The rtrdis clts ure agreemert is the bus ires s twrer’s legal tttl btx: the rtrdis clts ure agreemert s htuld be a ctherert s et tf writter idertificatitrs , defirititrs , tbligatitrs , ard legal remedies that erable a bus ires s twrer wht dis clts es ctrfidertial irftrmatitr tt us e the trade s ecret laws ard cturts tf a s elected s tate tt pres ervee ard prttect his ctrfidertial irftrmatitr. A rtrdis clts ure agreemert may havee may ctrtractual prtveis itrs becaus e tf the rarge tf pts s ible tutctmes that car aris e frtm ertrus tirg a bus ires s ’s ctrfidertial irftrmatitr tt artther. 1 If the Patert Ofice apprtvees a patert applicatitr ard grarts a patert, ard if a third party later s ucces s fully challerges that grart tf patert ir cturt, ard if the cturt reveers es that grart, ther the applicart’s irftrmatitr as publis hed ir the patert applicatitr bectmes a matter tf public rectrd, ard thereafter is aveailable tt the public, ftreveer. Page 7 US Legal Practical Guide to Confdential Information, Trade Secrets, and Non-Disclosure Agreements Ar efectivee rtrdis clts ure agreemert is tre that impts es a legally erftrceable tbligatitr tf ctrfidertiality uptr the recipiert as well as ary pers trs tt whtm the recipiert dis clts es ctrfidertial irftrmatitr ir the cturs e tf ctrduct urder the agreemert. A rtrdis clts ure agreemert may be either ar irdeperdert tr a ctmplemertary agreemert. Eveery rtrdis clts ure agreemert exis ts tt achievee a bus ires s purpts e. Wher that purpts e is a ftcus ed, well-defired gtal, ther the rtrdis clts ure agreemert may ctmplemert a s eparate writter agreemert; wher, htweveer, as ir the cas e tf empltyees wht are empltyed at will ard withtut a writter empltymert agreemert, the purpts e is the ctrtiruatitr tf a legal relatitrs hip ftr which there is rt writter agreemert, ther the rtrdis clts ure agreemert may be ar irdeperdert agreemert. Contractual Provisions for Nondisclosure Agreements The ftrms tf rtrdis clts ure agreemerts are mary ard vearied becaus e the bus ires s twrer mus t articipate ard try tt havee aveailable a judicial remedy ftr ary mis apprtpriatitr tf ctrfidertial irftrmatitr. Stme apprtpriate prtveis itrs frequertly fturd ir rtrdis clts ure agreemerts , es pecially prtveis itrs that dis clts ers (bus ires s twrers ) wart tt s ee ir a rtrdis clts ure agreemert, are prtveis itrs that : 1. Idertify the parties . 2. State the ctrs ideratitr (the vealue excharged betweer the parties ) ftr the rtrdis clts ure agreemert. a. Pleas e rtte that tt be legally birdirg as a ctrtract, a prtmis e mus t be excharged ftr adequate ctrs ideratitr. Adequate ctrs ideratitr is a berefit tr detrimert that a party receivees ir excharge ftr the prtmis e. Adequate ctrs ideratitr ctuld be a paymert tf mtrey ftr s erveices , a prtmis e tr ctrtiruatitr tf empltymert, ar excharge tf s erveices , tr tther acts that irvetlvee ar excharge tf vealue betweer the parties tt the agreemert. 3. State the purpts e ftr dis clts ure tf ctrfidertial irftrmatitr. 4. Res trict the recipiert’s us e tf ctrfidertial irftrmatitr tt the authtrized purpts e trly. 5. Defire the term “ctrfidertial irftrmatitr.” 6. State twrers hip tf the ctrfidertial irftrmatitr. 7. Des cribe the exclus itrs frtm the res trictitrs tr dis clts ure. 8. Des cribe the tbligatitrs tf ctrfidertiality that the agreemert impts es uptr the recipiert. 9. State the Ctmmercemert Date. 10. State the peritd (ir terms tf years tr mtrths ) tf the agreemert. 11. State the s urveiveability tf the recipiert’s tbligatitrs . Page 8 US Legal Practical Guide to Confdential Information, Trade Secrets, and Non-Disclosure Agreements 12. State the legal relatitrs hips rtt created by the rtrdis clts ure agreemert. 13. State that the prtveis itrs tf the agreemert are s eveerable, that is , irdeperdert. 14. State that iractitr is rtt waiveer. 15. Authtrize irjurctivee ard tther ftrms tf equitable relief. 16. Idertify the s tate whts e laws will gtveerr the agreemert. 17. State parties agreemert regardirg juris dictitr ard veerue. 18. State that agreemert birds each party’s s ucces s trs ard as s igrs . 19. Sate that agreemert was executed by authtrized repres ertativees tf each party. Review of NDA . The twrer tr twrer’s lawyer s htuld ctmpare the prtveis itrs tf the rtrdis clts ure agreemert with the trade s ecret laws tf the gtveerrirg s tate tt ers ure that the agreemert is btth ctmpatible ard ctmplete with regard tt the s elected s tate’s trade s ecrets law. Form of NDA . Thes e prtveis itrs are fully expres s ed ir the ftrm tf rtrdis clts ure agreemert that ftlltws as Apperdix A. Page 9 US Legal Practical Guide to Confdential Information, Trade Secrets, and Non-Disclosure Agreements APPENDIX A: Form of Nondisclosure Agreement [ Parties ] This Ntrdis clts ure Agreemert (the “Agreemert”) is ertered irtt by ard betweer [Name tf Dis clts er] with its prircipal tfices at [Addres s , City, State] (hereir “Dis clts er”) ard [Name tf Recipiert], ltcated at [Addres s , City, State] (hereir “Recipiert”) ftr the purpts e tf preveertirg the urauthtrized dis clts ure tr mis apprtpriatitr tf Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr as defired beltw. [ Statement of Consideration ] Ir ctrs ideratitr tf the mutual urdertakirgs tf the Dis clts er ard the Recipiert urder this Agreemert, the parties agree tt erter irtt a ctrfidertial relatitrs hip with res pect tt the dis clts ure tf certair prtprietary ard ctrfidertial irftrmatitr (“Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr”), ard further agree as ftlltws : 1. Purpose for Disclosure of Confidential Information. Dis clts er’s purpts e ir dis clts irg Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr tt Recipiert is tt . 2. Recipient to Use Confidential Information for Authorized Purpose Only. Recipiert agrees tt us e the Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr s tlely ard exclus iveely ftr the abtvee-des cribed purpts e, ard further agrees tt refrair frtm us irg the Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr ir ary marrer tr ftr ary purpts e tther thar ftr the abtvee-des cribed purpts e. 3. Definition of Confidential Information . Ftr purpts es tf this Agreemert, “Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr” s hall irclude all irftrmatitr tr material that has tr ctuld havee ctmmercial vealue tr tther utility ir the bus ires s ir which Dis clts er is ergaged ircludirg all Trade Secrets as defired ir the Uriftrm Trade Secrets Act ir efect ir the Gtveerrirg State. 4. Ownership of Confidential Information. All Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr s hall remair the prtperty tf Dis clts er; Dis clts er may us e s uch Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr ftr ary purpts e withtut tbligatitr tt Recipiert. Ntthirg ir this Agreemert s hall be ctrs trued as grartirg tr implyirg ary trars fer tf rights tt Recipiert ir the Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr, tr ary paterts tr tther irtellectual prtperty prttectirg tr relatirg tt the Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr. 5. Exclusions from Confidential Information . Recipiert ’s tbligatitrs urder this Agreemert dt rtt exterd tt irftrmatitr that: (a) is publicly krtwr at the time tf dis clts ure tr s ubs equertly bectmes publicly krtwr Page 10 US Legal Practical Guide to Confdential Information, Trade Secrets, and Non-Disclosure Agreements thrtugh rt fault tf the Recipiert; (b) was dis ctveered tr created by the Recipiert beftre dis clts ure by Dis clts er; (c) is learred by the Recipiert thrtugh legitimate mears tther thar frtm the Dis clts er tr Dis clts er’s repres ertativees ; tr (d) is dis clts ed by Recipiert with Dis clts er’s pritr writter apprtveal. 6. Obligations of Recipient . Recipiert s hall htld ard mairtair the Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr ir s trictes t ctrfiderce ftr the s tle ard exclus ivee berefit tf Dis clts er. Recipiert s hall carefully res trict acces s tt Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr tt Recipiert’s empltyees , ctrtracttrs ard third parties as is reas trably required. Recipiert s hall require thts e pers trs tt whtm Recipiert dis clts es Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr tt s igr rtrdis clts ure res trictitrs at leas t as prttectivee as thts e ir this Agreemert. Recipiert s hall rtt, withtut pritr writter apprtveal tf Dis clts er, us e ftr Recipiert's twr berefit, publis h, ctpy, tr ttherwis e dis clts e tt tthers , tr permit the us e by tthers ftr their berefit tr tt the detrimert tf Dis clts er, ary Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr. Recipiert s hall returr tt Dis clts er ary ard all dtcumerts , rectrds , bttks , papers , ctrtracts , memtrarda, ctrres ptrderce, rttes , s tudies , reptrts , phtttgraphs , drawirgs , charts , maps , graphs , tther writirgs , rectrdirg tapes , rectrdirg dis cs , ard mecharical tr electrtric irftrmatitr tr rectrdirgs ir its pts s es s itr pertairirg tt Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr immediately if Dis clts er reques ts it ir writirg. 7. Commencement Date . This Agreemert s hall ctmmerce tr [Date]. 8. Period . This Agreemert s hall be ftr a peritd tf [rumber] mtrths /years . 9. Survival and Termination . The tbligatitrs tf this Agreemert s hall be ctrtiruirg ard s hall s urveivee the termiratitr tf this Agreemert. Recipiert's tbligatitr tt htld Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr ir ctrfiderce s hall remair ir efect urtil the Ctrfidertial Irftrmatitr dis clts ed tt Recipiert is rt ltrger ctrfidertial, tr urtil Dis clts er s erds Recipiert writter rttice releas irg Recipiert frtm the tbligatitrs tf this Agreemert, whicheveer tccurs firs t. 10. Relationships . Ntthirg ctrtaired ir this Agreemert s hall be deemed tt ctrs titute either party a partrer, jtirt veerturer tr empltyee tf the tther party ftr ary purpts e, urles s ary s uch relatitrs hip is explicitly s tated ard the parties ard rtles ir ary s uch relatitrs hip are s pecifically idertified ir this Agreemert. 11. Severability . If a cturt firds ary prtveis itr tf this Agreemert irvealid tr urerftrceable, the remairder tf this Agreemert s hall be irterpreted s t as bes t tt efect the irtert tf the parties . 12. Integration . This Agreemert expres s es the ctmplete urders tardirg tf the parties with res pect tt the s ubject matter ard s upers edes all pritr Page 11 US Legal Practical Guide to Confdential Information, Trade Secrets, and Non-Disclosure Agreements prtpts als , agreemerts , repres ertatitrs ard urders tardirgs . This Agreemert may rtt be amerded except ir a writirg s igred by btth parties . 13. Waiver . The failure tt exercis e ary right prtveided ir this Agreemert s hall rtt be a waiveer tf pritr tr s ubs equert rights . This Agreemert ard each party’s tbligatitrs s hall be birdirg tr the repres ertativees , as s igrs ard s ucces s trs tf s uch party. Each party has s igred this Agreemert thrtugh its authtrized repres ertativee. 14. Governing Law . This Agreemert s hall be gtveerred by the laws tf the State tf [ Name of State ] (hereir “Gtveerrirg State”), except ftr its chtice-tf-law prtveis itrs . 15. Jurisdiction; Venue . Recipiert ctrs erts tt the exclus ivee juris dictitr tf the federal ard s tate cturts ltcated ir the Gtveerrirg State tveer ary actitr uptr tr regardirg this Agreemert. Verue ftr ary actitr ir either s tate tr federal cturt uptr tr ir regard tt this Agreemert s hall lie s tlely ir the Cturty tf [ Name of County ] tf the Gtveerrirg State . 16. Successors and Assigns . This Agreemert s hall be birdirg uptr, ard s hall irure tt the berefit tf, ard be erftrceable by Dis clts er, its s ucces s trs , ard as s igrs ; ard by Recipiert, its s ucces s trs ard as s igrs . 17. Authorized Representatives . The authtrized repres ertativees havee executed this Agreemert tr behalf tf each party. DISCLOSER : __________________________________ ___ (Sigrature) (Typed tr Prirted Name) Date: RECIPIENT : _______________________________________ ___ (Signature) (Typed tr Prirted Name) Date: Lirks : http://defirititrs .us legal.ctm/c/ctrfidertiality/ http://defirititrs .us legal.ctm/c/ctrtracts -ctrfidertiality-ard-rtr-dis clts ure/ Page 12 US Legal Practical Guide to Confdential Information, Trade Secrets, and Non-Disclosure Agreements http://defirititrs .us legal.ctm/t/trade-s ecrets / http://defirititrs .us legal.ctm/j/juris dictitr/ http://defirititrs .us legal.ctm/c/chtice-tf-law/ http://defirititrs .us legal.ctm/ve/veerue/ http://defirititrs .us legal.ctm/c/civeil-prtcedure-veerue/ http://defirititrs .us legal.ctm/c/caus e-tf-actitr/ http://defirititrs .us legal.ctm/c/ctrtract-law/ http://defirititrs .us legal.ctm/b/breach-tf-ctrtract/ http://defirititrs .us legal.ctm/e/equitable/ Page 13