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Confidentiality Agreements

Confidentiality Agreements are usually referred to in international usage as Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), or Confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDAs).

What is a Confidentiality or a Non-Disclosure Agreement?

Such agreements cover the exchange of confidential information with third parties (e.g., secret know-how belonging to Marburg University or a partner, unpublished patent applications, hitherto unpublished research results, etc.), typically in preparation for a planned collaboration or commercialization of research results.

What is the Duration of such a Confidentiality Agreement?

In principle, the validity of such a confidentiality agreement should be limited in time, the duration being contingent upon the content of the confidentiality and the type of collaboration envisaged, but it should not exceed a limited timeframe. Where know-how is published by an institution, its obligation to maintain confidentiality shall cease.

What about Regulations concerning Intellectual Property (IP)?

The transfer or licensing of intellectual property under a Non-Disclosure Agreement is excluded.