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Confidentiality Agreement
I need a confidentiality agreement to protect sensitive business information shared with a potential partner during preliminary discussions, ensuring that all disclosed information remains confidential for a period of 3 years, with specific clauses addressing data protection and non-disclosure obligations.
What is a Confidentiality Agreement?
A Confidentiality Agreement creates a legal bond between parties who need to share sensitive information while keeping it private. In Belgian business practice, these contracts (also called NDAs) protect trade secrets, business plans, and other valuable data by making it clear what information must stay confidential and for how long.
Under Belgian law, these agreements give companies strong legal protection when sharing secrets with employees, partners, or suppliers. They spell out who can access the information, how they can use it, and what happens if someone breaks the rules. Breaking a confidentiality agreement in Belgium can lead to significant penalties, including damages claims under civil law.
When should you use a Confidentiality Agreement?
Use a Confidentiality Agreement before sharing sensitive business information with anyone outside your core team. This includes pitching to potential investors, working with contractors, starting merger talks, or bringing on new employees. Belgian companies often need these agreements when discussing innovative technologies, customer lists, or marketing strategies.
The timing matters: have the agreement signed before any confidential details are revealed. For Belgian startups and established companies alike, these agreements become essential during business negotiations, partnership discussions, or when outsourcing key services. They're particularly important in technology, pharmaceutical, and financial sectors where trade secrets have significant value.
What are the different types of Confidentiality Agreement?
- General NDA Agreement: Standard all-purpose template suitable for most business situations, offering balanced protection for all parties
- One Way NDA: Protects only the disclosing party's information, commonly used when sharing sensitive data with service providers
- Non Disclosure Agreement Parties: Specifically designed for multiple parties sharing confidential information in complex business deals
- NDA For Contractors: Tailored for freelancers and external consultants, focusing on project-specific confidentiality
- Confidentiality Contract: More formal version with detailed obligations, often used in regulated industries or high-stakes transactions
Who should typically use a Confidentiality Agreement?
- Business Owners & Executives: Initiate and oversee confidentiality agreements to protect company secrets during negotiations, partnerships, or employee onboarding
- Legal Counsel: Draft, review, and customize agreements to ensure compliance with Belgian law and adequate protection of client interests
- Employees: Sign agreements when joining companies or accessing sensitive information, binding them to confidentiality throughout and after employment
- External Contractors: Accept confidentiality terms before accessing client systems, data, or proprietary information
- Investors & Partners: Enter into agreements during due diligence processes or strategic partnerships to protect sensitive business information
How do you write a Confidentiality Agreement?
- Party Details: Gather full legal names, addresses, and registration numbers of all involved parties, including their authorized representatives
- Scope Definition: List specific types of confidential information to be protected, including trade secrets, customer data, or technical specifications
- Time Periods: Determine how long the confidentiality obligations will last and any specific dates for information sharing
- Usage Rights: Define exactly how the receiving party can use the confidential information and under what circumstances
- Security Measures: Specify required safeguards for protecting the information, including digital security and access controls
- Document Generation: Use our platform to create a legally-sound agreement that includes all mandatory Belgian legal requirements
What should be included in a Confidentiality Agreement?
- Identification Section: Full legal names and details of all parties, including their representatives and contact information
- Definition of Confidential Information: Clear description of protected data, trade secrets, and business information covered by the agreement
- Obligations Clause: Specific duties for handling confidential information and security measures required under Belgian privacy laws
- Duration Terms: Clear start date and length of confidentiality obligations, including any post-termination requirements
- Permitted Use Section: Explicit description of allowed uses for the confidential information
- Governing Law: Statement that Belgian law applies and specification of competent courts
- Signature Block: Space for dated signatures, with clear indication of signing authority
What's the difference between a Confidentiality Agreement and an Access Agreement?
A Confidentiality Agreement differs significantly from an Access Agreement in both scope and purpose. While both deal with information handling, they serve distinct legal functions under Belgian law.
- Primary Purpose: Confidentiality Agreements focus on protecting sensitive business information and trade secrets, while Access Agreements primarily govern the terms of entering and using specific facilities, systems, or data
- Duration and Scope: Confidentiality obligations typically extend well beyond the agreement period, often lasting years after termination. Access Agreements usually remain active only during the period of actual access
- Legal Obligations: Confidentiality Agreements create strict secrecy obligations with significant penalties for breaches. Access Agreements focus more on operational rules, safety protocols, and usage limitations
- Enforcement Mechanisms: Confidentiality breaches often lead to immediate injunctive relief and damages claims, while Access Agreement violations typically result in access revocation first
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