The University has limited mechanisms to protect a sponsor's proprietary information, and if proprietary information is compromised the University cannot expose taxpayer's funds to liability for damages. Therefore UCI has decided that the University should not guarantee the confidentiality of a sponsor's proprietary information. Only the P.I. can decide to accept such information on his or her own behalf. The sponsor is likely to ask you to sign their secrecy agreement. Before signing such an agreement, however, please have it reviewed by OTA to make sure the agreement does not conflict with UC Policy or contain unacceptable provisions for intellectual property rights.
Confidentiality is usually a requirement of consulting agreements.
See the section in this Handbook on Consulting Agreements and Appendix E for further information about these special contracts.