Why Do Non-Disclosure Agreements Make People Angry? Case Study

Asking a potential business partner or vendor to sign aThis book project was about new education
non-disclosure agreement, can lead to catastrophe andtechnologies and indeed, our Online Think Tank has
often hard feelings, thus it makes sense for you todiscussed Cad Cam design 3D for the OLPC efforts,
understand the mindset when you ask someone toso those kids use SimCity, so can learn to design their
sign a NDA. Recently, someone asked for acities in the future. We've discussed here the use of a
non-disclosure agreement before we started talks, thisSecond Life type scenario linking all education in
threw me back a bit, in fact, I have made it a point notvarious common causes for humanity.
to sign non-disclosure agreements any more. So, IBesides in the spirit of collaboration, which is part of the
stated:future of eLearning with kids linked up Worldwide,
I am sorry, I do not do NDA's anymore, because soshouldn't all of us, as adults collaborate without fear of
many times in the past folks have disclosed stuff toeconomic loss, if one of us steals an idea, which is not
me that I had already thought of and was way pastsomething I would do anyway. If you cannot trust me,
their innovative ideas on the subject. Therefore, if wethen how on Earth can we collaborate? See that point
are to collaborate on an Book, then eventually all thatregarding NDAs?
information will be out in the public anyway, and howWe hope you have enjoyed this case study in the
long does it take to put a manuscript for a Bookproblems with NDAs and why it is important for folks
together of let's say a 100 pages or less - about ato proceed very carefully when mentioning secrets
week or less.and any hint or display of lack of trust.