Confidentiality Notice & Disclaimer

Protect your confidential information included in a presentation, pitch deck, or other materials

A Confidentiality Notice & Disclaimer is a notice included in a presentation, deck, or other shared materials. It puts the reader on notice that the information in the presentation is confidential and owned by your company. The reader is not allowed to share or copy any part of the presentation without your consent.

Limit how your confidential information can be used

Your Confidentiality Notice & Disclaimer tells the reader the information can only be used for the intended purpose, like evaluating a potential business relationship or investment. It also says that recipients must return or destroy all copies of the presentation and related materials when you request or if they decide not to go ahead with a business relationship.

Protect your intellectual property, too

Your Confidentiality Notice & Disclaimer tells the reader you reserve all your rights to any intellectual property in the materials. This means the reader does not have permission to use your intellectual property. Any information you share about patents, copyrighted materials, designs, and other IP is only for informational purposes.

Limit your liability

When you share information, you may be surprised to know you can be liable when people rely on it. Here’s how we protect you with your Confidentiality Notice & Disclaimer:

• No offer to sell investments: We clarify that the presentation is not an offer to sell or a request that the reader buy securities or any other interests in your company. If an investment is made, it will be done through formal legal documentation.
• No binding agreements: Nothing in the presentation is meant to be a binding commitment or agreement. If the parties decide to do business together, they’ll create a formal contract later.
• Accuracy disclaimer and no liability for use: While you have made efforts to make sure the information is accurate, there may be errors in it. So, the reader should not unduly rely on the information. It is just a presentation, after all, and not a formal legal disclosure statement about your business.
• Forward-looking statements disclaimer: If the presentation has projections, forecasts, or statements about future results (known as “forward-looking statements”), we’ll include a disclaimer that actual results may differ materially due to various risks and uncertainties. This is an important topic under investment laws.

When you’re presenting confidential information about your business

Here are some examples of when you would need a Confidentiality Notice & Disclaimer:

• Advisory Board or Consultant Briefings: When providing confidential company information to advisors, consultants, or board members.
• Investor Presentations: When sharing information with potential investors about the company, its business model, financials, or growth prospects, but before any formal offer for an investment is made.
• Due Diligence Meetings: During meetings or data room access provided to potential investors, acquirers, or partners who are evaluating a possible deal with the company.
• Strategic Partnership Discussions: When discussing potential joint ventures, partnerships, or collaborations with other companies and sharing sensitive business information.
• Internal Use by Employees or Contractors: When distributing sensitive company information internally, especially if the information is not intended for public disclosure or broader distribution.