HN Explorer

NDAs are a pain. Can we fix this?

1 points by cmos ↗ HN
I'm doing work for a larger company and trying to get information from other companies. Each new company I talk to requires this back and forth of NDA's and negotiating not so much the content of the NDA, but who's legal team will review it.

<insert weeks of my life wasted>

Can't we get everyone one the same page? Perhaps something called OpenNDA? Am I naive for thinking this can be solved?

2 comments

[ 243 ms ] story [ 246 ms ] thread
TallGuyShort
CAN this be solved? Yes, I'm sure it can be. But WILL it be solved? Probably not. Large companies are like this, and they often have good reason for making the process difficult. The best approach is to just be polite and respectful. Offer helpful advice, but I've found that just getting on someone's good side can make all the difference.

Best of luck, to you!

ErrantX
NDA's are the bane of my life!

My boss is paranoid about people stealing our ideas - pretty much any vistor to the office has to sign a ream of documents (not literally but it feels like it :)) just to get in the door. And imagine what out-sourcing work to a contractor takes (my new solution is to in-house and hire new people, mostly top piss the boss off :)).

So, yes, OpenNDA is a great idea.

But as already pointed out the whole point is to obfusticate and delay access to the information. It's like a polite way to say to someone yes we would like to work with you, but please wait two weeks whilst we ask round & check you out to make sure your kosher. Tying them up in paperwork for the same period is, apparently, more polite....