Practical Answer — NNN Agreements

What Should Be Attached to a China NNN Disclosure Schedule?

Last updated: June 2026

A disclosure schedule identifies what you are protecting. An ongoing evidence log records what was actually disclosed. Both matter if you ever need to prove a breach.

In short

A disclosure schedule attached to an NNN identifies the category and scope of materials being disclosed. An ongoing disclosure log records what was actually shared — date, format, recipient, purpose. Both serve the same goal: creating a contemporaneous record that is credible if a breach is later alleged. The schedule is a document; the log is a habit.

The Direct Answer

A China NNN disclosure schedule should identify the product or project, describe the categories of materials being disclosed, state the receiving entity's registered name, and reference the NNN agreement it is attached to. Ongoing disclosures after the initial signing should be recorded in a running log — not left unrecorded.

Why a Disclosure Schedule Matters

An NNN agreement defines the rules — what the factory must not disclose, use, or do. But the agreement itself does not prove what was actually shared. If a dispute arises and the factory argues that a particular product file, drawing, or sample was never received under the NNN — or was shared outside the NNN's scope — your ability to respond depends on what records exist.

A disclosure schedule attached to the NNN at signing identifies the initial tranche of materials and makes them part of the agreement record. A running disclosure log records ongoing disclosures throughout the relationship.

Neither the schedule nor the log needs to be complex. The goal is a contemporaneous record — created at or near the time of disclosure — that can be produced if needed.

What the Disclosure Schedule Should Contain

Product or project identification

A description of the product, project, or product category being disclosed. This does not need to be a full technical description — it should be clear enough to identify what the disclosure is about.

Categories of materials

A description of the types of materials being disclosed: CAD files, STP files, product drawings, technical specifications, BOM, packaging artwork, brand materials, samples, prototypes, pricing information. Describing by category is usually sufficient at the schedule stage.

Receiving entity

The registered legal name of the Chinese factory or supplier entity receiving the materials. Not the sales representative's name — the registered company name that is party to the NNN.

Date of disclosure

The date the materials are being made available. For initial disclosures at signing, this is the signing date. For subsequent disclosures, each tranche should be dated.

Format and method

How the materials are being shared: email attachment, shared drive link, physical sample, WeChat file transfer, USB drive. This helps trace the disclosure if a specific file is later disputed.

Purpose of disclosure

Why the materials are being shared: price quotation, sample production, tooling development, manufacturing review. This prevents the factory from arguing the disclosure was for an unrelated purpose.

The Ongoing Disclosure Log

An NNN agreement typically covers all confidential information shared during the relationship — not just what was disclosed at signing. But without a running record, the scope of what was shared becomes a matter of reconstruction from emails, file metadata, and memory.

A disclosure log does not need to be a formal document. A simple spreadsheet with the following columns is usually sufficient:

Date — when the disclosure was made
Description — what was shared (file name, sample reference, category)
Format — email, shared drive, physical, etc.
Recipient name — individual contact at the factory
Recipient entity — registered name of the contracting entity
Purpose — why the disclosure was made
NNN reference — confirmation that the disclosure was made under the signed NNN

Common Mistakes in Disclosure Documentation

Signing an NNN with no disclosure schedule attached — leaving the scope of 'confidential information' undefined at the agreement level
Sharing files through the factory's preferred channels (WeChat groups, shared platforms) where you have no independent record of what was transferred
Sending files to a sales contact without confirming they represent the entity named in the NNN
Not recording disclosures made in person — factory visits, product demonstrations, sample presentations
Updating the product and sharing revised files without noting the revision in the log — creating gaps between the NNN scope and what was actually disclosed

How This Connects to NNN Enforcement

If a breach of the NNN is ever alleged, the claimant typically needs to establish two things: that the NNN was in force and covered the disclosed materials, and that the specific materials at issue were actually shared with the factory under that agreement. The disclosure schedule and log address the second requirement.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does an NNN agreement need a disclosure schedule attached to it?

Not always — but attaching or referencing a disclosure schedule makes the scope of the agreement clearer and creates a contemporaneous record of what was disclosed when. Without a schedule or a running log, the scope of 'confidential information' under the NNN may be disputed later. A schedule or log strengthens the evidentiary position if a breach is alleged.

What should a disclosure schedule include?

At a minimum: a description of the materials being disclosed (product category, type of files, stage of development), the date of disclosure, the receiving entity (registered name of the factory or supplier), the purpose of the disclosure, and the format (physical samples, email attachments, shared drive, etc.). A reference to the NNN agreement it is attached to should also be included.

Should I log disclosures that happen after the initial NNN signing?

Yes. An initial disclosure schedule covers the first tranche of materials at signing. Ongoing disclosures — updated CAD files, revised specs, new samples, pricing information, packaging artwork — should be recorded in a running disclosure log that documents what was shared, when, and to which contact at which entity. The NNN agreement's terms apply to all covered disclosures, but the log creates the proof.

Can a disclosure log be a simple internal spreadsheet?

Yes — a simple spreadsheet or table with columns for date, description, format, recipient, entity, and purpose is usually sufficient. The goal is to have a contemporaneous record that was created at or near the time of each disclosure, not a retrospective reconstruction. A log kept at the time is generally more credible than one assembled after a dispute arises.

Does the factory need to sign the disclosure schedule?

A schedule attached to the NNN at signing and acknowledged in the agreement is the most formal approach. For ongoing disclosures, a signed log is not always practical — but keeping your own contemporaneous records, supported by email metadata, version history, and file transfer records, creates a usable evidence trail. The specifics depend on how the NNN is structured and the nature of the relationship.

Related Resources

Further reading on China NNN agreements, disclosure documentation, and supplier control.

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