Review your NDA before you sign
Non-disclosure agreements aren't always straightforward. See what you're actually promising to keep secret, and for how long.
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Common red flags in NDAs
These are the types of clauses our AI looks for
SneakyOverly broad confidentiality definition
Everything they tell you counts as confidential, even things that are already public, unless the agreement carves them out somewhere else.
A clear NDA says what is confidential and excludes what is public, what you already knew and what you work out yourself. When the definition covers everything and no exclusions appear anywhere in the agreement, almost any information could later be claimed as theirs.
No end date on confidentiality
Your duty to keep quiet never expires.
Whether that is a problem depends on what it covers. An open-ended duty can be reasonable for a genuine trade secret. Applied to everything you were told, including information that will be public or out of date within a year, it asks for more than the situation needs. Check what the open-ended part actually applies to.
WatchfulNo mutual obligation
You must keep their secrets, but they do not have to keep yours.
A one-way NDA is normal when only one side is sharing. It becomes one-sided when you are sharing information too, which is common in business discussions. If you are, ask for the duties to apply to both of you.
Residuals clause
General knowledge and skills kept in memory can still be used, even if they were picked up during the confidential relationship.
Who this helps depends on which side you are on. If you are receiving information, it protects your ability to keep using your general skills and know-how. If you are the one sharing, it can let the other side reuse what they remember of your ideas. Read it from your own position.
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Frequently asked questions
What happens if you break an NDA?
It depends on what the agreement says. Some NDAs let the other side recover the loss a disclosure actually caused. Others set a fixed amount for any breach, or make you cover their legal costs as well. Find the breach or remedies clause and read how the consequences are worked out before you sign. Laws vary by country. A local lawyer can tell you exactly where you stand.
How long does an NDA last?
As long as the agreement says. Many set a fixed number of years. Some have no end date at all. An open-ended duty can be reasonable for a genuine trade secret and heavy when it covers everything you were told. Upload yours to see how long you are bound, and for what.
Can an NDA be one-sided?
Yes. A one-way NDA is normal when only one side is sharing information. If both sides are sharing but only you are bound to secrecy, that is one-sided and worth pushing back on. Sneaky Terms shows you which way the obligations run.
What should I check in an NDA before signing?
Five things. What counts as confidential and what is excluded, how long the duty lasts, whether it binds both sides or only you, whether anything in it goes beyond confidentiality such as a non-compete, and what happens if you breach it. How much each one matters depends on the information involved and which side you are on.
Should I sign an NDA before a job interview?
Pre-interview NDAs are common for senior and technical roles. One that only covers what is shared during the interview is a narrow ask. Be more careful if the scope is broad or the duration is long for what is only a conversation.
Is this legal advice?
No. Sneaky Terms tells you what a clause means and whether it is one-sided. What you do about it is your call. For anything serious, talk to a local lawyer.
What happens to my document after I upload it?
Your contract is processed and deleted immediately after analysis. We only save the analysis results to your account so you can access them later.
Guides worth reading first
NDA red flags to check before you sign
An NDA can quietly bind you for life, cover far more than a real secret, and put all the obligations on you. Here are the red flags to look for and how to review yours before you sign.
How to review a contract yourself, without a lawyer
Most everyday contracts can be reviewed without a lawyer if you know what to look for. Read in order of risk, not front to back. Here is the process.
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