ACQNET: Vendor nondisclosure agreements

From: ELEANOR COOK <COOKEI_at_appstate.edu> Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2001 19:26:42 -0400 (EDT) To: acqnet-l_at_listproc.appstate.edu

Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 13:43:10 -0800
From: Rick Anderson (Univ. of NV-Reno) <rickand_at_unr.edu>
Subject: Vendor nondisclosure agreements

Dear ACQNET,

A member of the Acquisitions staff here at UNR recently registered to use
the website of one of our vendors, and subsequently received in the mail a
nondisclosure agreement to be signed by everyone in the department who plans
to use the site; the NDA says that we promise not to give out our password.
No other vendor we work with requires us to sign such an agreement, and
frankly, I don't really see why we should.  I'm inclined to say "No,
thanks."  (Interestingly, I recently had a similar conversation with the
folks at netLibrary, who include nondisclosure language in their standard
license agreement.  We took it out, which is why I can tell you it exists.)

I assume that others have either signed or refused to sign it -- any
interesting and/or helpful experiences to share?

*** Please respond to me directly, and I'll summarize for the list if
response warrants. ***

Thanks very much,
Rick Anderson

-------------
Rick Anderson
Electronic Resources/Serials Coordinator
The University Libraries
University of Nevada, Reno
1664 No. Virginia St.
Reno, NV  89557
PH  (775) 784-6500 x273
FX  (775) 784-1328
rickand_at_unr.edu