# Common Paper MCP server and AI plugins

Query, create, and manage your contracts in [Common Paper](https://commonpaper.com) from your AI assistant, in plain English. Common Paper runs a remote MCP server that works with any MCP client, including GitHub Copilot, VS Code, Claude, Cursor, and ChatGPT.

This repo also packages the server as a plugin for Claude Cowork, Claude Code, Cursor, Grok Build, and Gemini CLI. The plugin bundles two things:

- **The Common Paper MCP connector** (`https://api.commonpaper.com/mcp`). You sign in with your Common Paper account through OAuth, so there's no API key to copy or store.
- **A Common Paper skill** that teaches how Common Paper works: agreement statuses, the Cover Page + Standard Terms model, safe defaults (every agreement starts as a draft), template parameters for each agreement type, the rules for porting contract text into custom terms without altering it, and a guided onboarding flow for new accounts.

For a few things the connector doesn't cover yet (filtering by company name or end date, uploading Word files as custom terms, and creating a brand-new account), the skill falls back to the Common Paper REST API.

## What you can do

- **Count and search:** "How many signed NDAs do we have?" / "Do we have a contract with Acme?"
- **Send agreements:** "Draft an NDA to jane@example.com from ben@company.com" (the assistant creates a draft, shows you the link, and sends only when you confirm)
- **Manage agreements:** void, reassign the recipient, resend the signature email, download the PDF, get a shareable link
- **Financial questions:** "What's our largest CSA by deal value?"
- **Renewals:** "Which contracts expire in the next 90 days?"
- **Signers:** "Who signed the deal with Microsoft?"
- **Templates:** create and update NDA, CSA, DPA, PSA, Partnership, BAA, LOI, Software License, Design Partner, and Pilot templates
- **Custom agreements:** publish custom terms and build custom cover page templates
- **Onboarding:** "Set up my Common Paper account" walks through ten quick questions and creates a starter set of templates

## Example prompts

1. `How many signed contracts do we have, and how many are still waiting on the other side?`
2. `Do we have an active NDA with Northwind? If not, draft one to sam@northwind.com from me.`
3. `List every agreement that ends in the next 90 days as a table with counterparty, type, and end date.`
4. `Create a CSA template with Delaware law, a 1x fees liability cap, and net-30 annual invoicing.`
5. `Set up my Common Paper account.`

## Use with any MCP client

- **Server URL:** `https://api.commonpaper.com/mcp`
- **Transport:** Streamable HTTP
- **Auth:** OAuth. Clients that support dynamic client registration connect automatically, and you sign in with your Common Paper account. No API key needed.

### VS Code and GitHub Copilot

Add this to `.vscode/mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "common-paper": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.commonpaper.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

Start the server from the file or the MCP servers list, then sign in to Common Paper when prompted.

Setup for other assistants (ChatGPT, Cursor, Notion, Perplexity, and more) is in [Connecting Common Paper to other AI assistants](https://help.commonpaper.com/en/articles/17271884-connecting-common-paper-to-other-ai-assistants).

## Install as a plugin

The plugin adds a skill on top of the MCP server with Common Paper workflows and safe defaults.

### Claude Cowork

Install **Common Paper** from the plugin directory, then connect when prompted and sign in to Common Paper.

### Claude Code

Install from the plugin directory with `/plugin`, or add this repo as a marketplace directly:

```bash
claude plugin marketplace add CommonPaper/ai-plugin
claude plugin install commonpaper@commonpaper
```

Then run `/mcp`, choose `common-paper`, and sign in to Common Paper.

### Cursor

Install **Common Paper** from the Cursor Marketplace, or add this repo to your team marketplace (Dashboard > Plugins & MCPs). Then open the Customize page, find `common-paper` under MCP servers, and sign in to Common Paper.

To try a local copy, clone this repo into `~/.cursor/plugins/local/commonpaper`.

### Grok Build

Add this repo as a marketplace and install the plugin. `--trust` lets Grok attach the bundled Common Paper connector.

```bash
grok plugin marketplace add CommonPaper/ai-plugin
grok plugin install commonpaper --trust
grok plugin enable commonpaper
```

Then sign in to Common Paper when Grok prompts you to connect `common-paper`.

### Gemini CLI

```bash
gemini extensions install https://github.com/CommonPaper/ai-plugin
```

Then run `/mcp auth common-paper` in Gemini CLI and sign in to Common Paper.

### Upgrading from the standalone skill

If you previously installed [CommonPaper/claude-skill](https://github.com/CommonPaper/claude-skill), you can remove it after installing the plugin. If the plugin ever needs an API key for the REST fallback, it copies a key saved by the old skill to `~/.config/commonpaper/cp-api-token` automatically.

## Requirements

- A [Common Paper](https://commonpaper.com) account
- Any MCP client with OAuth support, or for the plugin: Claude Cowork, Claude Code, Cursor, Grok Build, or Gemini CLI
- For the REST fallback only: `curl` and network access to `api.commonpaper.com`. Custom terms and custom templates must be enabled for your organization to use those features.

## Security and privacy

- The server uses OAuth. Your assistant acts as the Common Paper user who signed in and can only see that user's organization.
- With the plugin, the assistant confirms before anything that sends an email or changes a live agreement (send, void, reassign, resend, invite), and creates agreements as drafts by default.
- If the REST fallback needs an API key, the plugin mints one for the signed-in user with the connector (or asks you for one), asks whether to keep it for future sessions, stores it at `~/.config/commonpaper/cp-api-token` with owner-only permissions (deleting it at the end of the task if you said not to keep it), and never prints it in chat.
- Contract text ported into custom terms is kept character-for-character. The assistant verifies the stored text after writing and never "fixes" typos or punctuation on its own.
- Privacy policy: https://commonpaper.com/privacy-policy/ (questions: privacy@commonpaper.com)

## Troubleshooting

| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| The Common Paper tools aren't connected | Cowork: Customize > Connectors > Common Paper > Connect. Claude Code: run `/mcp`, choose `common-paper`, and sign in. Cursor: open the Customize page, find `common-paper` under MCP servers, and connect. Gemini CLI: run `/mcp auth common-paper`. VS Code: start `common-paper` from `.vscode/mcp.json` or the MCP servers list. Other clients: connect `https://api.commonpaper.com/mcp` from the client's MCP settings. |
| An agreement you expect is missing | The API only covers agreements sent by your organization. Agreements you received from another organization aren't included. |
| "You've reached your plan limit" on a new account | Usually means your email address isn't verified yet. Verify it, then try again. |
| 404 on custom terms or custom templates | The feature isn't enabled for your organization. Contact Common Paper support. |
| REST fallback fails with a network error | Your environment can't reach `api.commonpaper.com` directly. The assistant will fall back to what the connector supports. |
| Search by company name is slow on a large account | Without the REST fallback, the assistant has to page through agreements. Allow network access to `api.commonpaper.com` so it can filter server-side. |

## Support

- Help center: [Common Paper and LLMs](https://help.commonpaper.com/en/articles/14627004-common-paper-and-llms)
- Bugs and feature requests: open an issue in this repository
- For account or connection problems, contact Common Paper support through the [help center](https://help.commonpaper.com) with the name of the client you're using and a screenshot of the error

## Repo contents

```
.claude-plugin/plugin.json          Plugin manifest (Claude, Grok Build)
.claude-plugin/marketplace.json     Lets this repo be added as a marketplace (Claude)
.cursor-plugin/plugin.json          Plugin manifest (Cursor)
.cursor-plugin/marketplace.json     Lets this repo be added as a marketplace (Cursor)
.grok-plugin/marketplace.json       Lets this repo be added as a marketplace (Grok Build)
.mcp.json                           Common Paper MCP connector (Claude, Grok Build)
mcp.json                            Common Paper MCP connector (Cursor)
gemini-extension.json               Extension manifest and connector (Gemini CLI)
registry/server.json                MCP Registry entry (com.commonpaper/contracts)
skills/commonpaper/SKILL.md         Core skill
skills/commonpaper/references/      REST API, templates, custom terms, onboarding details
```

## License

MIT