Q: We filed a patent application (provisional or non-provisional) and have “patent pending” status. Can we show our product to others without having them sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement)?
A: Yes… more or less. If the most important thing to you is building your company, and you have a well written patent application and thorough IP strategy, go show your product and get the word out, but keep the following in mind:
An NDA helps fulfill the immediate need or desire to stop others from copying your invention. However, it is a bit impractical and reduces your ability to sell your product if you have to ask everyone to sign an NDA. So, while an NDA would provide some level of “protection” not yet afforded to you by the patent application, you can proceed without one. Keep in mind, that without a granted patent or NDA, someone can still copy what you have disclosed to them and you would have few if any legal arguments to stop them.
