Updated February 21, 2023
A Missouri non-disclosure agreement is a document that is used to protect Confidential Information from a third party. Often these agreements are used to protect employers; a non-disclosure agreement is given to an employee when hired to ensure that any Trade Secrets the employee gained access to are not leaked to competing companies. An employer-to-employee agreement would be classified as Unilateral as the employer is the owner of the information. In a situation where two companies are merging, or two or more individuals are entering into a partnership, a Mutual non-disclosure agreement would be employed as it will protect both parties from damage incurred from the misappropriation of Trade Secrets/Confidential Information.
Laws – MO Rev Stat §§ 417.450 – 417.467
“Trade Secret” Definition
“Trade secret”, information, including but not limited to, technical or nontechnical data, a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process, that:
(a) Derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and
(b) Is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.