I'm a small company needing to outsource software development. I've written both functional and technical specifications for GUI developers and back-end (C or PHP) developers to implement my software application. I'm a little nervous handing over copies of these documents to request bids from numerous companies. Looking for recommendations to protect my work while outsourcing. What's the conventional wisdom? Is there generic NDA someone could send me a link to. How do others handle this situation. What would the outsource companies expect, or not expect, from me?
How to protect intellectual property when oursourcing software development?
gui;outsourcing;intellectual property;law
Getting legal help is a given.  There are lawyers who specialize in IP and I would suggest that they might be the best people to enlist.  Your local law society should be able to give you a list of suitable candidates.That said, unless you have the money to enforce any NDA you make people sign it's all rather moot isn't it?  Also, if you offshore development you have to deal with the legality of your NDA wherever you are & wherever they are which makes life much harder.Also, I don't have any indication of your own technical level and experience.  How, for example, do you plan on vetting the fitness of the bidders to do the work?  How will you know if the project is proceeding according to plan or is hopelessly behind schedule?  You may have answers to those questions but you will most certainly need answers before you proceed with outsourcing development.  Large companies with lots of resources and clout mess up outsourcing deals all the time.  As a small company you are even more at risk unless you are very careful.  You might be better partnering with a technically competent person you trust in return for a % of the proceeds on the understanding that they are responsible for the implementation of the project.Good luck.