This just occurred to me, so for the benefit of the list I will share, having 
had many dealings with paranoid VCs and other clients... This may or may not 
apply here, but may apply to other similar calls for help seen here in the past.

The list is a great resource. In looking for help, under a NDA, one tries to 
word the problem such that any answers will be useful and apply, but without 
directly describing the device. Being engineers, it isn't always difficult to 
figure out, or guess, at what the end product may be, or spur one's imagination 
to see an opportunity that wasn't seen before (probably being close enough to 
the original idea). Some NDAs go to great lengths in specifying a broad list of 
things which can't be talked about as well. Many phrase it as "enough info that 
someone else may infer what the product is, how it will be used, or the 
technology used". So, in soliciting help on the list, a few things might be 
kept in mind:

- Just the revelation that Mr. X (the engineer) is developing a device using 
(or needing) Y technology or sensor Z, may violate an NDA and cause future 
legal hassles.

- Someone may infer enough about the problem and solution that a competing 
product may result. The defense for the second company would be that Mr. X put 
enough online to facilitate it, ostensibly with the client's permission.

- This may also happen before the first client goes to market (or finishes 
development), potentially ruining possible patent claims.

- Mr. Y (a list contributor) could contribute materially to a solution and make 
the claim that it was his invention and not the original client company's, with 
the list being documented proof. Any number of people contributing could make 
that claim, and even more (as lurkers) could finish up a design or concept and 
claim prior art.

There are more, but it should show that there are risks in partially revealing 
development which is under NDA online. The major risk is borne by the engineer 
doing the posting, either through it being determined that the NDA was 
violated, to big $ damages for loses in losing patents or market position for 
the client. The list may fly under the radar of the VC or client management, 
but may not during discovery in a legal proceeding. There is also the problem 
of Mr. X's question showing up in a <google> search by management or 
engineering dept at the client. Whether or not it has NDA issues, it might not 
give the perception the engineer (Mr. X in this case) would want the client to 
have about his progress or abilities. All of our discussions are only a search 
away...

FYI
-Skip


Michael Algernon wrote:
> Thanks for the ideas.  My customer won't let me reveal what the sensor  
> is being used for.
> Sorry about being so mysterious.
> MA
> 
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