[moxious]

NDAs aren't standard at all. They range from simple back of the napkin agreements to "we get your first born child".

Blindly signing subjects you to potentially nasty term, and obligated you not to talk about certain things. This in turn can be used as leverage by the other side if things go badly.

Really, it's just don't blindly sign any agreement. Unfortunately agreements are so ponderous (clickwrap) that most people are used to doing that

[bkovacev]

As funny as it sounds the "we get your first born child" clauses in the NDAs are not a rare occurrence. One NDA I was required to sign explicitly stated that every idea or functionality I developed on other projects for up to twelve months after delivery of their project was subject to review by the issuer of the NDA (not even a 3rd party) and that if anything even remotely similar to functionality I will be creating within the new project they're rightful owners of it or that they are able to sue me.

[dahart]

> One NDA I was required to sign explicitly stated that every idea or functionality I developed on other projects for up to twelve months after delivery of their project was subject to review by the issuer of the NDA

Saying 'required' makes it sound like you didn't have a choice -- out of curiosity, did they have other leverage over you above getting your help on their project, and did you attempt to negotiate on this clause?

I don't doubt that non-compete clauses happen in NDAs; other people in this thread to mention seeing them. But I think they're not that common either. I've seen my share of NDAs and never seen a non-compete clause. I do get non-compete clauses in employment contracts that also include NDAs as well as invention assignments and more, but I haven't personally seen a non-compete clause in a pure non-disclosure contract, that seems abnormal. But I agree completely that one should always read their contracts carefully before signing.