Comments on: Why I don’t sign NDAs http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/01/why-i-dont-sign-ndas Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:52:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lboguy http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/01/why-i-dont-sign-ndas/comment-page-1#comment-20626 Lboguy Fri, 06 May 2011 00:38:00 +0000 http://new.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/01/why-i-dont-sign-ndas#comment-20626 Too bad buyouts don't work this way! Too bad buyouts don’t work this way!

]]> By: sethlevine http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/01/why-i-dont-sign-ndas/comment-page-1#comment-20613 sethlevine Thu, 05 May 2011 05:05:00 +0000 http://new.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/01/why-i-dont-sign-ndas#comment-20613 Agreed! Agreed!

]]> By: Joe Tan http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/01/why-i-dont-sign-ndas/comment-page-1#comment-20612 Joe Tan Wed, 04 May 2011 16:49:00 +0000 http://new.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/01/why-i-dont-sign-ndas#comment-20612 Thanks for the VC perspective on this. Even among entrepreneurs and potential co-founders/partners, I personally think NDAs should be avoided, in general - particularly "first date" NDAs. For the entrepreneur, there are many drawbacks, and very few benefits. Issues include ways your future opportunities become more limited, your liabilities become unlimited and it goes against the principle of free flow and exchange of human ideas. http://orbinary.com/blog/2010/07/the-first-date-nda-just-say-no/n Thanks for the VC perspective on this. Even among entrepreneurs and potential co-founders/partners, I personally think NDAs should be avoided, in general – particularly “first date” NDAs. For the entrepreneur, there are many drawbacks, and very few benefits. Issues include ways your future opportunities become more limited, your liabilities become unlimited and it goes against the principle of free flow and exchange of human ideas. http://orbinary.com/blog/2010/07/the-first-date-nda-just-say-no/n

]]> By: sethlevine http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/01/why-i-dont-sign-ndas/comment-page-1#comment-13310 sethlevine Sat, 14 Aug 2010 13:48:10 +0000 http://new.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/01/why-i-dont-sign-ndas#comment-13310 That’s a good question, WD. About ¼ of the companies we invest in at Foundry are seed stage and for the most part haven’t filed any patents. A reasonable portion of our Series A investments (still very early) likely haven’t thought about patents yet either. So in total maybe 50% haven’t filed a provisional or anything similar. All that said, there’s almost no risk to an entrepreneur that a reputable VC is going to steal their idea (pre or post patent – a patent won’t give most entrepreneurs much protection from that kind of thing in any case). Like I say in the post, it’s not about the legality of it, it’s the practical fact that doing so would be extremely bad for business. VCs ride on little more than their reputation… Thanks for the comment.  seth<br /> That’s a good question, WD. About ¼ of the companies we invest in at Foundry are seed stage and for the most part haven’t filed any patents. A reasonable portion of our Series A investments (still very early) likely haven’t thought about patents yet either. So in total maybe 50% haven’t filed a provisional or anything similar. All that said, there’s almost no risk to an entrepreneur that a reputable VC is going to steal their idea (pre or post patent – a patent won’t give most entrepreneurs much protection from that kind of thing in any case). Like I say in the post, it’s not about the legality of it, it’s the practical fact that doing so would be extremely bad for business. VCs ride on little more than their reputation… Thanks for the comment.  seth

]]> By: WD Murray http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/01/why-i-dont-sign-ndas/comment-page-1#comment-13139 WD Murray Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:45:41 +0000 http://new.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/01/why-i-dont-sign-ndas#comment-13139 Well said Mr.Levine. This sounds reasonable enough...Just Saying: " NO to NDA"! My question is: approx what % of your deals are initiated with pre-patented ideas? Thank you, WD Well said Mr.Levine.

This sounds reasonable enough…Just Saying: ” NO to NDA”!

My question is: approx what % of your deals are initiated with pre-patented ideas?

Thank you, WD

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