Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or confidential disclosure agreements (CDAs) can be useful tools when you wish to keep any information, not just intellectual property, confidential while discussing it with someone outside of the UO.
Outgoing
Academic institutions are open environments, but there may be occasions where you are engaging with a non-UO party and need to protect your information from public disclosure. Protection in such cases is important if you are not ready to publish, if the information is part of ongoing research, or if you are concerned about compromising intellectual property rights. A formal CDA or NDA allows you to manage your information's release in keeping with the publication or scientific validation timeline for your work.
Incoming
In a sponsored research collaboration and other engagements with non-UO entities (such as private industry or foundations), you might be asked to receive outside information that must be kept confidential.
Important points to consider when entering a CDA or NDA include:
- How close or distant from your current and future research is the information you will be receiving?
- How likely is the information to be an active area for you at the university?
- Who in your research group will have access to the information?
- What exclusions does the agreement include in case the information is obtained lawfully from another source?
The scope of individual agreements varies greatly depending on context of the information exchange, and we recommend that you consult with Industry, Innovation, and Translation or the UO's General Counsel before committing to one. We can advise and assist you to ensure that the information exchange occurs in a manner that fosters collaboration while maintaining your ability to continue along your desired research trajectory and scholarship.
Not sure if you need an NDA or would like to start the process?