>a potential client has sent me the following NDA:
>
>"I will not disclose the business or affairs of the company or its clients to any persons.
>
>I will not disclose to any other person any trade secrets, discoveries, inventions or improvements relating to the company or its clients.
>
>I will not make any statement nor do any acts, which could in any manner, be detrimental to the Company or its employees or its clients or its client's (sic) employees.
>
>I shall not enter into any arrangement which can be constituted as a conflict of interest."
>
>The main concern is the last clause, this sounds very limiting to me, should I limit it to a particular time period?

This is highly strict, as far as what they are asking a consultant/employee to agree on. Basically, it is like do they really want someone to work for them? As you received comments from others on this thread, I would also agree that some of that has to go . I, for one, wouldn't sign anything like that. They probably had a bad experience before and now it's like everyone is bad at first and that you have to justify yourself that you are not. :)