These people are --- and excuse the breach of decorum here --- insane.<p>VC's (for instance) won't sign NDAs because they don't want to be sued by spurned startups over something they "never" do (stealing ideas from pitches --- note: this is something several of them do). VC's get to not sign NDAs, because no VC will sign them, and they have all the money.<p>Consultancies sign NDAs because they are going to work in close contact with their clients code, documentation, client roster, sales pipeline, and, oh-yes, client protected information. Consultancies don't get to not sign NDA's, because every other professional consultancy will sign them, and because they have none of the money.<p>NB: Many fun prospective clients are legally and/or contractually required to have you sign NDAs.<p>NB: Many smart clients don't simply want to give you cart blanche with their name and logo for your portfolio page, which is the real subtext behind not signing an NDA.<p>My advice, as both a consultant and as a buyer of consulting services, is: if you have even the faintest sense that your client has legal representation, don't bother ever trying to negotiate out of the NDA. Just walk away from the deal, which you aren't going to get anyways once you try to avoid signing contracts.
FriendDA rocks:<p>This agreement has absolutely no legal binding. However, upon breach or violation of the agreement, I will feel free to do any of the following:<p><pre><code> 1. Curse you under my breath.
2. Publicly disclose the manner of your screw-i-tude.
3. Write about your transgressions in ALL CAPS.
4. No longer consider you a person with whom I can share my ideas.
</code></pre>
<a href="http://friendda.org/" rel="nofollow">http://friendda.org/</a>
Does anyone have a good way to explain why they're not going to sign an NDA? We'll sign as part of signing a contract, but not as part of the initial discussion. I've never found a way to say no without getting a shocked reaction from the requester.