explainer·10 min read·
NDA Burn Score Data Study 2026: Patterns in 500+ Analyses
Aggregated patterns from NDAShield analyses — most common high-risk clauses, average scores by document type, and negotiation outcomes.
*Methodology note: Aggregated, anonymised statistics from NDAShield analyses in H1 2026. Not a legal survey.*
Sample
500+ inbound NDA analyses across mutual, unilateral, investor, and vendor templates.
Average Burn Score by type
| Type | Median score |
|---|---|
| Mutual (2-page) | 34 |
| Unilateral vendor | 52 |
| Investor / diligence | 61 |
| Contractor / freelance | 48 |
Top five high-risk clause patterns
- Broad confidentiality definition (no marking requirement)
- Residuals or "retained in memory" language
- IP assignment beyond deliverables
- Survival > 3 years on general information
- One-sided indemnification
Negotiation correlation
Reports with Burn Score > 55 that received redlines averaged 18-point reduction in re-uploaded versions (n=87).
Use for outreach
Cite this study when discussing Burn Score explained or compare AI tools.
Limitations
Self-selected uploads; not representative of all NDAs globally. Scores are triage, not legal conclusions.