Agreed. I've been in this situation and managed to have "non-negotiable" confidentiality agreements and intellectual property contracts changed. It's never a pl

Agreed. I've been in this situation and managed to have "non-negotiable" confidentiality agreements and intellectual property contracts changed. It's never a pleasant experience but clarity and communication are essential to achieving the results you want. I think the key elements are a) mention your intention to review IP contract language early, in writing, so it isn't a surprise later (because it WILL be a surprise otherwise) b) only talk to people who can actually make a change (no low-level people) c) be reasonable yourself (don't overreach) and be specific about your change requests (don't make them guess) d) don't get angry (can be difficult), it's a negotiation e) actually be willing to walk.