Confidentiality
Section 4
What else can I do to protect the information?
Practical tips
Consider whether confidential or sensitive information
is accessible by other students or staff. Be careful
about leaving information visible on desk tops. If
necessary keep information in locked cabinets or use
password security for electronic storage.
Keep a record of what has been disclosed during any
meeting/conversation. If a batch of information is to
be passed over, create a list of the information and,
if possible, get the recipient to sign the list by way of
acknowledgement.
Create some minutes or written record of
conversations. This does not have to be overly formal.
Something in bullet point form will suffice. A copy of
this record can then be sent to the recipient.
If information is confidential then it never does any
harm to mark it as such. It has the additional benefit
of putting the recipient on notice of the confidentiality
of the information and hopefully reminding them to
treat it carefully. Don't be afraid to tell the recipient
you expect them to treat it carefully.
Never disclose more information than is necessary.
If an individual or company has refused to enter into
a CDA, instead of disclosing specific details relating
to an invention – just refer to the advantages the
invention would offer the recipient. Whet their
appetite. Hopefully they will then become interested
to find out more and enter into a CDA.
28