Hire an Experienced Attorney for a Broken Non-Disclosure Agreement

What Is a Non-Disclosure Agreement?

High-profile celebrities, businesses, and government officials commonly use legal contracts known as non-disclosure agreements or NDAs. NDAs protect the contract provider from having highly confidential information exposed or leaked to the public and competitors. For example, if you audition for a reality TV show, they may have you sign an NDA. It might state that you cannot share any information about the audition process or filming. You shouldn’t share the information, especially the outcome, with friends and family before airing. Doing so would damage the success of the show and may land you in legal hot water.

Examples of NDA Contracts

The workplace, the entertainment industry and other highly-sensitive cases commonly use two different types of non-disclosure agreements. Pre-drafted NDA forms are common for parties issuing contracts in mass, and citizens who don’t have any legal experience.

Unilateral NDA: One party issues a legally binding contract that is used for the containment of sensitive information by the other party. You should not sign the NDA before the issuer has signed. Your legal obligation to the contract terms begin the second you sign your name.

Mutual NDA: Both parties agree to keep certain sensitive information confidential. Both sides will benefit from guarding the same private information or trading separate pieces of information as intellectual collateral. If you accept money in exchange for keeping undisclosed information, then the non-disclosure agreement is mutual.

There are instances where employees sign a non-disclosure agreement. This is for the sake of safeguarding the business’s operations. It is to prevent employees from exposing company secrets or tarnishing the company in a harmful way. You shouldn’t conceal information that might lead to a criminal arrest because a non-disclosure agreement doesn’t protect illegal activity. Make sure to consult a lawyer before making any decisions or turning in information to law enforcement officials.

How Long Does a Non-Disclosure Agreement Last?

The contract states the length of an NDA’s effect. Most non-disclosure agreements in the entertainment industry last for one to two years. If there is no ending term in the contract, then the NDA is in effect indefinitely. It is implied that the agreement will be effective as long as the relationship continues. Non-disclosure agreements are not always final, and there are other solutions, such as early termination and renegotiation opportunities.

The Consequences of Breaking an NDA

A non-disclosure agreement is a civil contract, and therefore a person cannot go to jail for being in breach of said contract. There is an exception with trade secrets that can turn into criminal offenses. However, most NDAs are signed by people who are bound to the contract by financial obligations. The terms should be specifically written in the contract, and in most cases, you will be sued if you break the agreement. In other cases, you might not receive the benefit of waiting out the contract if there was a reward written into the terms.

Are You Trying To Get Out of a Non-Disclosure Agreement?

It is easier to be patient and wait out the expiration of the non-disclosure agreement because these types of contracts typically have a limited timeline. You will want to get a lawyer to explain the costs and possible risks that come with opting out of a civil contract. Most NDAs last only a few years past a resignation or the end of that relationship. You will have to make some sacrifices, but it is easier than starting a complex lawsuit.

At times, renegotiating the terms of a non-disclosure agreement can present a viable solution, especially if you propose a more appealing alternative. Having an experienced attorney by your side is crucial for this process. Non-disclosure agreements are binding legal contracts often filled with complex language that can be challenging to interpret. A skilled attorney can help decipher the wording, identify potential loopholes, and guide you through the renegotiation.

This is not something to handle on your own. Even if you are familiar with legal contracts, an experienced attorney offers invaluable advice on how to effectively exit or amend your non-disclosure agreement. They also help balance the scales, as the other party likely has legal representation to protect their interests. By entrusting this process to your attorney, you can alleviate the legal stress and focus on what matters most to you.

When Do I Need To Hire an Attorney?

Breaking a contract is going to automatically require an attorney’s assistance. The other party will likely summon you to court. Your attorney will build a solid case, and thoroughly read the contents of the non-disclosure agreement to lessen the financial repercussions. An attorney will seek out less obvious loopholes and broad language that might render the contract invalid. And if all else fails, an attorney can protect your rights and keep you from being mistreated in court.

The disclosing party can also be in breach of contract if they don’t hold up to their end of the deal. For example, if you didn’t receive the promised money, work, or information, you might be able to get out of the contract. There are many working parts when dealing with non-disclosure agreements, and a good attorney will be able to break down each component. Don’t let someone else infringe upon your rights if they aren’t providing their written word.

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About the Author

Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.

With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations. Contact Aaron at [email protected] for article suggestions, collaborations, or inquiries.