Getting web designers to sign a NDA

[rossmc]

If I put together a design brief for a website and I'm giving it to various firms to bid on the project, can I get them to sign a NDA so that the project is kept under wraps? I'm a little worried that I'll get a few disgruntled designers who don't get the contract.

 

[Richard Conyard]

For larger projects this is normal, no one should moan.

 

[Optegris]

Perfectly acceptable. If they don't want to sign it then you don't want to work with them

 

[rossmc]

Cool, cheers.

 

[ll_aman]

Perfectly acceptable. If they don't want to sign it then you don't want to work with them

cant think of a better way to put it

 

[fxdigital]

If you don't have a NDA most designers will have one around... it's pretty common practise these days... and some designers, that work with clients to develop themes... do similar things in reverse in that we will take a clients basic ideas and develop them fully, adding in new features, systems, etc... to maximise company aims... these details are then only given once an order is recieved... so NDA and a lack of trust both ways are common

Steve Cartwright
FX Digital Pty Ltd
www.website-designs.com

PS - If you have to ask how much, you cannot afford our premium services.

 

[rossmc]

Anyone know where I'd get a copy of a free basic NDA?

 

[Gavin Harris]

Just to add, I've often been given information on new projects, and have had to sign NDAs - I've no problem with that. I've also been privy to information where I've verbally agreed not to disclose the information elsewhere.

Often when building a website you learn an awful lot about a business, so it's important to work with a designer that you can trust. And sometimes you're developing the site for a brand new idea - so it's important that NDAs are signed, else you run the risk of those who didn't get the project running off and making their own version of it.

 

[creospace]

I've never signed an NDA but been enforced by many by just acknowledging them on email - is this still legally binding?

I don't' have a problem with NDA's and think they do go both ways as mentioned above but just made me think re the above paragraph.

 

[Richard Conyard]

Creo,
One for the lawyers should the need arise. However since e-mails have been recognised as legally binding in contract law with suitable case material I would expect so.

That said however, should I have felt the need to introduce and NDA into a relationship with another company I wouldn't feel comfortable without having a signed copy returned.

 

[pairpair.co.uk]

NDA is acceptable enough, we sign those on many projects

 

[Astaroth]

You may want to ask how enforcable the NDA is really going to be - in principle they will protect anything but in reality are much more a psychological tool than anything else when it comes to an idea rather than "facts".

We frequently get asked to sign them and 95% of the time have no issues with them though occasionally they are either non-reciprocal or contain non-competitor terms which we will not agree to (naturally we will agree to terms not to set up our own rival service but have seen some that would have basically meant we could never develop an ecommerce website again if we had signed - and this was just to see the brief and so not even certain we would get the contract)