...are local.

They don't have to work on-site, but you'll find it incredibly difficult to manage the process properly without being able to visit them at will.

Exactly, you don't just step in the ring with Ali because you think you can box... ;)

Where do you get this information from? LOL. It's nowhere in TFA. You must know something we don't.

'If we're talkin with VCs" - What on earth are you on about. A woman approach the programmer and discussed an idea she had with him, they interacted, she then indicated that she wanted to take the relationship further. It is at this point that she broaches the topic of an NDA. The programmer doesn't know anything about how she is or is not funded, she's just been talking to him about the project. Are you just making this stuff up? Lol...

You didn't apparently. "...when she mentioned she would soon have a lawyer draw up a Non-Disclosure Agreement regarding the project..." - in other words, she wanted to involve him formally.

Waste of his time? That's like asking "why should he answer questions he thinks are dumb from his clients since it's a waste of his time?"

You're free to act however you want if you're willing to live with the repercussions of those decisions, but his blog is looked at as sage advice, and in this case his advice is poor and nonsensical.

Signing an NDA you agree with can actually make it more difficult for someone to sue you.

Personally I require NDAs to have expiration dates. It's tough for someone to sue me for something with an explicitly stated dissolution once that date has passed.

This is exactly right, and what a person should do. If you don't like something in the NDA, tell the person sending it to you what you have a problem with and what you suggest as an alternative (unless you want it removed completely.)

Personally, I insist on very specific market definitions and a date of expiration (usually 12-18 months.)

I've occasionally had a little push-back (from larger companies usually who have a**hole legal departments), but ultimately it has always worked.

I did read the article, thanks.

Again, he's simply being arrogant and naive. If someone sends you an NDA, especially someone who is trying to get a company on its feet, simply suggest changes to the NDA that you find inappropriate. If you think it is too broad and vague, suggest something better. If you think it should have an expiry, make the suggestion. The person sending you an NDA isn't saying to you that you're going to steal their stuff, they're saying to you "I don't know you very well."

It's not like someone who wants to hire you is going to refuse to consider your point of view.

The guy is giving people bad advice.

What a great counter argument. <paraphrase>He has a blog and is therefore a well-known successful freelance programmer, and because of that he's not naive about the common requirements for obtaining funding...</paraphrase>

- You're being naive as well. Trust me, a company will sue you whether you have an NDA or not simply based upon the premise that they will likely weather a legal battle much more easily than you. It's not always true, but it's a "well-known" tactic.

There are perfectly valid and logical reasons to have someone who can implement your idea sign an NDA. It isn't always necessary, but it often is.

Just make sure the NDA has a relatively short term expiry (12-18 months) and is VERY specific as to market.

...want to know that anyone involved has been signed with an NDA before they consider giving you money.

It isn't a good idea unless it is disabled by default and only available as an option.

I WANT Firefox to spread in the enterprise, and this will likely make that less probable.

Web based applications requiring individual permissions for aspects of their functionality in the corporate world? I have enough trouble getting these mental giants to load a web page...