Non-Disclosure Agreements for Software Developers

People that work in or around the software development industry are often privy to confidential information regarding the software they are currently developing. Receptionists, developers, and everyone else in the office has access to information regarding a particular project. With an NDA in place, the software developer can have greater protection for  his ideas.  If it is, he has legal recourse thanks to his non-disclosure agreement.

Having a well-written non-disclosure agreement will provide an extra measure of security to those who develop software programs for a living. Non Disclosure Agreements set conditions for the exchange and use of confidential information and materials between the developer and a business associate.  It requires the other party to hold sensitive information confidential . More importantly, it gives the software developer legal recourse if the software is used illegally or if the project is exposed to anyone other than whom the NDA allows.

Sometimes both parties desire protection of their confidential information.  A mutual non-disclosure agreement is a common way to keep information protected. A mutual non-disclosure agreement protects both parties when they need to share information without the general public knowing. These types of agreements are usually used to outline individual business processes in a confidential manner. Companies for whom the developer is creating software may require a non-disclosure agreement in place so that additional protection is in place to ensure that all those who are privy to the details of the software’s development do not share it with anyone else than those who are directly involved in the project.  There are many scenarios where a non-disclosure agreement can be a vital tool.

How Do You Make a Better Independent Contractor Agreement?

The best part about being an independent contractor is the opportunity to be your own boss. On the flip side, the worst part about being an independent contractor has to be assuming all of the responsibility of being your own boss. One of the biggest issues that independent contractors face is the actual contracts under which we all must work. As an independent contractor, I understand first hand that your contracts are your life blood. If you don’t have any contracts you aren’t working, however, writing or developing a contract is a daunting task.
Here is a basic list of items that your contract should cover:

• The specific job or services to be performed.
• How much you are to be paid for your services.
• The time frame within which your services are to be rendered.
• Who owns the work product resulting from your services? This is a key issue, especially in IT independent contract agreements. Make sure that if you are giving up the rights to your work product that you are being fairly compensated.
• How often should the progress of the project be reported?
• The issue of disclosure is a huge one. Are you going to be subject to a non-disclosure agreement? Do you need to hold your employer to a non-disclosure agreement? It is important to remember to protect your intellectual property. Part of that is protecting your processes. If you are sharing sensitive material, knowledge or information make sure that you, as well as your employer are protected.

Once you have established general criteria for what you want your independent contractor agreement to contain, my suggestion would be to find a professional legal form service to provide you with your finished product. It is going to be easier for you to purchase a contract and have it tailored to your needs or to make slight modifications to a purchased contract then it would be to learn the appropriate laws and then subsequently write your own contract.