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Non-Disclosure Agreement
I need a non-disclosure agreement to protect sensitive business information shared with a potential partner during preliminary discussions, ensuring confidentiality for a period of 3 years, with clear definitions of confidential information and exclusions.
What is a Non-Disclosure Agreement?
A Non-Disclosure Agreement, commonly called an NDA, is a legally binding contract that keeps sensitive information confidential. When you share trade secrets, business plans, or proprietary data with employees or business partners in Malaysia, this agreement creates clear legal obligations to protect that information from being leaked or misused.
Under Malaysian contract law, NDAs give businesses strong legal protection and a clear path to seek damages if someone breaches confidentiality. Companies in tech, manufacturing, and services regularly use NDAs during negotiations, employment, and business partnerships. Breaking an NDA can lead to lawsuits and compensation claims in Malaysian courts.
When should you use a Non-Disclosure Agreement?
Use a Non-Disclosure Agreement before sharing sensitive business information with anyone outside your core team. This includes discussing potential partnerships, hiring new employees, outsourcing work, or seeking investment in Malaysia. The agreement needs to be in place before revealing trade secrets, customer data, financial projections, or proprietary technology.
Timing is crucial - once confidential information is shared without an NDA, it becomes much harder to protect legally. Malaysian businesses commonly need NDAs when negotiating with suppliers, pitching to investors, working with consultants, or developing new products. Having it signed early creates clear legal obligations and helps prevent costly information leaks.
What are the different types of Non-Disclosure Agreement?
- Nondisclosure Agreement: Standard two-way NDA for business partnerships and negotiations, protecting both parties' confidential information
- Employee Confidentiality Agreement: One-way agreement specifically for protecting company information from employee disclosure
- Not To Compete Agreement: Combines confidentiality with competition restrictions, common in Malaysian tech and service industries
- Non Compete Contract: Focused on preventing competitive activities while maintaining confidentiality
- Non Disclosure Letter: Simplified format for quick, one-off confidential discussions or initial negotiations
Who should typically use a Non-Disclosure Agreement?
- Business Owners & Executives: Initiate and oversee Non-Disclosure Agreements to protect company secrets and intellectual property during business dealings
- HR Managers: Handle NDAs for new hires, contractors, and departing employees across Malaysian organizations
- Legal Counsel: Draft, review, and customize agreements to ensure enforceability under Malaysian law
- Employees & Contractors: Sign and comply with confidentiality terms as part of their work engagement
- Investors & Partners: Enter into NDAs before receiving sensitive financial or strategic information during deal negotiations
- Technology Companies: Rely heavily on NDAs to protect proprietary software, designs, and development plans
How do you write a Non-Disclosure Agreement?
- Party Details: Gather full legal names, addresses, and registration numbers of all involved parties
- Scope Definition: List specific confidential information to be protected, including trade secrets, processes, or data
- Time Periods: Determine how long the confidentiality obligations will last after sharing information
- Permitted Uses: Clearly outline how the receiving party can use the confidential information
- Security Measures: Specify required safeguards for protecting the confidential information
- Local Requirements: Ensure compliance with Malaysian contract law and industry regulations
- Document Generation: Use our platform to create a legally-sound NDA that includes all necessary elements
What should be included in a Non-Disclosure Agreement?
- Identification Details: Full legal names and addresses of all parties, including company registration numbers
- Definition of Confidential Information: Clear description of protected data, trade secrets, and intellectual property
- Duration Clause: Specific timeframe for confidentiality obligations under Malaysian law
- Permitted Use: Explicit terms on how confidential information can be used or shared
- Return of Information: Requirements for handling or destroying confidential data after agreement ends
- Breach Consequences: Specific remedies and compensation terms under Malaysian contract law
- Governing Law: Clear statement that Malaysian law governs the agreement
- Signature Block: Space for authorized signatures, witness details, and company stamps
What's the difference between a Non-Disclosure Agreement and a Non-Compete Agreement?
While Non-Disclosure Agreements focus on protecting confidential information, they're often confused with Non-Compete Agreements in Malaysia. Though both protect business interests, they serve distinct purposes and have different enforcement requirements under Malaysian law.
- Scope of Protection: NDAs specifically prevent information sharing, while non-compete agreements restrict competitive business activities
- Duration Impact: NDAs can last indefinitely for trade secrets, but Malaysian courts typically limit non-compete periods to 1-2 years
- Enforcement Focus: NDAs require proving information disclosure, while non-competes must demonstrate actual competition
- Geographic Reach: NDAs apply worldwide, but non-competes must have reasonable geographic limitations in Malaysia
- Legal Test: NDAs face fewer enforceability challenges compared to non-competes, which courts scrutinize more strictly for restraint of trade
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