# 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.

### OpenAI Codex CLI

```bash
codex mcp add common-paper --url https://api.commonpaper.com/mcp
codex mcp login common-paper
```

The first command adds the server to `~/.codex/config.toml`. The second opens a browser so you can sign in to Common Paper.

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`. Codex CLI: run `codex mcp login 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