The ACID Confidentiality Agreement is a standard form precedent, into which you should enter the relevant details as appropriate, and should be stored onto a computer in order for you to be able to re-use it. Please read the Agreement CAREFULLY, and note that it should be put on to your company letterhead paper.

It is important to identify in the Agreement information regarding the designs that you wish to discuss in your meeting. If you will be disclosing designs and/or samples previously unseen by the recipient they should sign and return the Agreement prior to you disclosing any information or samples to them.

If your company has a website and you are an ACID Member, it is suggested the following statement should be put on the bottom of your homepage, together with the Member of ACID logo, “All copyright, design rights and all other intellectual property rights existing in our designs and products, and the images, text and design of this website are and will remain the property of (Company Name). Any infringement of these rights will be taken seriously”. This statement provides a clear warning shot to any anonymous copyists visiting your website, and a clear message that you are a member of ACID, that you know and understand your rights and that you are prepared to assert them.

Below is an example of how the agreement could be used. This does not cover every situation but gives an idea of how it works in a practical business situation. Additional clauses can always be added, or existing clauses adjusted for your personal use, by a specialist Intellectual Property lawyer.

When would you use it?

When you want to respond to a pitch or tender, or perhaps show your designs or prototypes to a third party, like a potential manufacturer of your design.

With Whom?

The people you are showing your product or ideas to.

Why?

To ensure that you keep your product or idea a secret.

This agreement is a reusable legal document template which you can alter to include names, dates, addresses etc. There may be some clauses which need to be amended or deleted as they do not apply to your circumstances. This is because the document is designed as a general document to cover most commercial situations and therefore certain wording may not be appropriate, or suitable, for all situations.

As this agreement has not been drafted specifically for your circumstances, it is strongly advised, once you have made the appropriate changes to meet your business requirements, that you check it with your solicitor or with an ACID Accredited lawyer before using it, in order to ensure that the document suits your particular circumstances. No liability is accepted by ACID or any ACID Accredited Law Firm.