Joint Marketing or Co-Branding Agreement
This Joint Marketing Agreement (the Agreement ) is made and entered into on the
____________________ (date) (the Effective Date ), by and between ______________
_____________________ (Name of Corporation) , a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the state of ________________, with its principal office
located at _____________________________________________________________
_________________ (street address, city, state, zip code) , referred to herein as the
Company , and _____________________________ (Name of Corporation) , a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of ______________, with
its principal office located at _______________________________________________
_______________________________ (street address, city, state, zip code) , referred
to herein as the Vendor. Company and Vendor are collectively referred to as Parties ,
and individually referred to as a Party .
Whereas, the Parties desire to establish a cooperative business relationship with
each other focused on joint marketing activities with the goal of generating sales and
customer prospects;
Now, therefore, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this
agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
1. License of Marks
A. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Party grants
the other Party a limited, royalty-free, nonexclusive, nontransferable license to
use its logos, trademarks, copyrights and copyrightable works (the Marks ) solely
in connection with the joint marketing activities contemplated by this Agreement.
B. Neither Party will use nor permit others to use the other Party's Marks
except as permitted in this Agreement nor for any purpose other than in
connection with the joint marketing activities without the prior written consent of
the other Party. Neither Party will use or permit the Marks of the other Party to be
used in any manner that would dilute or adversely affect the value and
distinctiveness of the Marks or that would disparage, embarrass or be
detrimental to the licensing Party or in any way use or take any action that may
associate the Marks with any illegal, offensive, obscene, immoral, or improper
purpose or action. Each Party agrees, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, that any and all rights that may be acquired by its use of the other
Party's Marks shall inure to the sole benefit of the other Party.
C. Each Party will comply with the other Party's guidelines or conditions
provided to it with respect to style, appearance and manner of use of the Marks
and will obtain other Party's consent prior to using the Marks in a manner that
deviated from such guidelines and conditions. In addition, upon the other Party's
request, each Party will promptly provide the other Party with specimens of the
marketing materials, products, or other use that incorporate the Marks to monitor
compliance with this Agreement.
2. Territory and Marketing Channels
The territory covered by this Agreement shall be the fifty states of the United
States of America, and the marketing channels shall be (describe) __________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________ .
3. Website Information
A. Vendor will provide its logo, a description of its business and a description
of its goods and services to Company. Company will include this information in
the Vendor listing on the Company website, once this listing is launched.
B. Company will provide its logo, a description of its business and a
description of its goods and services to Vendor. Vendor will include this
information in the Vendor listing on the Vendor website, once this listing is
launched.
4. Sales Material
A. Company will provide Vendor with sales presentation and prospect
qualifications which Vendor may use to describe Company's products and
services to prospective customers and to determine whether a prospect is a
qualified candidate for Company's services.
B. Vendor will provide Company with sales presentation and prospect
qualifications which Company may use to describe Vendor's products and
services to prospective customers and to determine whether a prospect is a
qualified candidate for Vendor's services.
C. Each Party may provide collateral packages, as requested by the other
Party, containing reports, announcements, appropriate brochures, and the like,
which the other Party may distribute to prospective customers.
5. Joint Event Participation
A. Each Party may invite the other party to participate in tradeshows,
conferences, seminars and other events, as deemed appropriate by both parties.
Each Party may determine whether to participate in an event at its discretion.
B. Each Party is responsible for its own travel, entertainment and other costs
to participate in these events, unless agreed to in writing in advance by both
Parties.
6. Joint Sales Plan
A. Company and Vendor will work together to develop a plan for identifying
joint sales opportunities. They may conduct joint sales calls to accounts as
mutually agreed to by the sales organizations of both Parties.
B. Once a prospective customer has been identified, according to each
Party's qualification procedures, each Party will assign a person in its respective
organizations to sell jointly to the prospective customer.
7. Press Releases
A. The Parties will provide each other with quotes to be used in respective
press releases that announce the formation of the relationship between Vendor
and Company and for participation in each other marketing programs.
B. Company and Vendor may participate in other joint press releases, as
deemed appropriate, when mutually agreed to by both Parties. Neither Party will
issue a press release regarding the other Party without the other Party's prior
written approval.
8. Point of Contact
A. Company will provide Vendor with the name of a single point of contact
within the Company's Business Development organization that shall be called the
Vendor Manager .
B. Vendor will provide Company with the name of a single point of contact
within the Vendor's Business Development organization that shall be called the
Company Manager .
9. Ownership and Proprietary Rights.
Each Party agrees that all rights, title and interest in the other Party's Marks and
any other intellectual property of the other Party shall remain vested in the other Party
and that this Agreement does not transfer ownership of any of these rights. Each Party
shall notify the other Party promptly of any actual or threatened infringements, imitations
or unauthorized use of the other Party's Marks or intellectual property by third parties of
which such Party becomes aware. Each Party shall cooperate with the other, at its
request, in connection with any action brought by the other Party. Each Party agrees not
to challenge, oppose, petition to cancel or otherwise attack the other Party's Marks or
intellectual property and the other Party's ownership thereof.
10. Compensation
A. For completed sales of Vendor's products made pursuant to this
Agreement, the Parties agree that the compensation shall be as follows:
______% Sale Commission
______% Joint Sale
B. Each Party will deliver to the other quarterly reports of sales generated
pursuant to this Agreement during the immediately preceding calendar quarter,
together with a calculation of the compensation due to the other Party hereunder
and identification in reasonable detail of each customer and prospect, in such
form as the Parties may mutually agree. Each such report shall be accompanied
by a check in the amount of such compensation for invoices that have already
been paid by customers.
C. Each Party shall have the right, upon reasonable notice to the other and
not more often than once each year, to review the books and records of the other
Party relating to sales generated and compensation paid pursuant to this
Agreement. Each Party shall bear its own cost of such review, provided that if
any review indicates that a Party (the Audited Party ) has paid less than _____%
of the compensation actually due under this Agreement for any month, then
the Audited Party shall pay the cost of such review, together with interest on
any overdue payment(s) at the rate of ____% per annum.
11. Relationships with Customers
Each Party will independently enter into agreements with its own customers, and
neither Party will knowingly solicit customers of the other Party during the term of this
Agreement and for a period of one (1) year thereafter.
12. Sales of Vendor's Products
A. For all completed sales of the Vendor's products made by the Company:
(i) Vendor reserves all authority for credit approvals; (ii) Vendor will drop ship the
product to customer's location; and (iii) Vendor will provide technical support but
no legal or regulatory advice to customer.
B. Vendor guarantees and warrants that it has the full legal right and
authority to produce and to assign Vendor's products for sales by Company.
C. Vendor will provide Company with _______ (number) month s' written
notice prior to eliminating any or all of its products from sale. After expiration of
such notice, Vendor will continue to provide full support for an additional ______
(number) months if Company so requests in writing.
D. If for any reason Vendor ceases to offer any or all of its then current
products and does not replace them within a reasonable time, Company shall
have the right to establish its own support needs and the right to purchase any or
all discontinued products for one dollar ($1.00) each.
13. Disclaimer of Certain Damages
IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY
INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS
OF PROFIT OR GOODWILL, FAILURE TO REALIZE ANTICIPATED PROFITS OR SAVINGS,
OR OTHER COMMERCIAL OR ECONOMIC LOSS, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO
THIS AGREEMENT OR ITS SUBJECT MATTER, WHETHER SUCH LIABILITY IS
ASSERTED ON THE BASIS OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE EVEN IF THE PARTY
HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR THEY ARE
FORESEEABLE.
14. Term and Termination
A. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date of signing and
shall continue for one (1) year, and will survive the merger, acquisition, sale, or
takeover of either Party. The term of this Agreement shall automatically renew
thereafter for successive and consecutive one (1) year terms unless either Party
provides written notice of termination to the other Party at least _____ (number)
days prior to the expiration of such term of its desire not to renew.
B. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by either Party upon _______
(number) days by giving notice to the other Party in the event of a material
breach of this Agreement by the other Party that remains uncured ______
(number) days after the nonbreaching Party's notice of breach; (ii) by either
Party in the event that the other Party makes a general assignment for the
benefit of creditors, files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization or
arrangement under the bankruptcy laws, if a petition in bankruptcy is filed against
such other Party, or if a receiver or trustee is appointed for all or any part of the
property or assets of such other Party; or (iii) by a written agreement executed by
Parties.
C, After termination of this Agreement, the Company shall have the complete
right to purchase a perpetual license for every customer and prospect for one
dollar ($1.00) each.
15. Proprietary Information
A. Either Party may provide to the other Party certain confidential, proprietary
and trade secret business and technical information in connection with the
performance of this Agreement ( Proprietary Information ). Proprietary
Information shall be clearly marked and designated as Confidential or
Proprietary .
B. Each Party agrees to preserve the confidentiality of all Proprietary
Information that is provided by the other Party in connection with this Agreement,
and shall not, without the prior written consent of the other Party, disclose,
display or make available to any person, or use for its own or any other person's
benefit, other than as necessary in performance of its obligations under this
Agreement, any Proprietary Information of the other Party. Parties shall exercise
a commercially reasonable level of care to safeguard all Proprietary Information
of the other Party against improper disclosure or use. The Party receiving the
Proprietary Information shall be responsible for any breach of this Agreement by
its agents, employees or representatives.
C. These restrictions on the use or disclosure of the information shall not
apply to any information: (i) which is independently developed by the receiving
Party without the use of the other Party having the right to so furnish such
information; (ii) after it has become generally available to the public without
breach of any confidentiality obligations; (iii) which at the time of disclosure to the
receiving Party was known to such Party free of restriction as evidenced by
documentation in its possessions; or (iv) which is required to be disclosed by law,
regulation or valid order a court or other governmental body, but only to the
extent required by such law, regulation or court order and only if the receiving
Party first notifies the disclosing Party of the law, regulations or order and permits
the disclosing Party to seek a protective order or other relief from disclosure.
D. The receiving Party agrees that irreparable damage would result to the
disclosing Party in the event that any provision of this Agreement is not
performed in accordance with its specific terms or is otherwise breached.
Accordingly it agrees that, in addition to any other rights it may have at law or in
equity, the disclosing Party will be entitled to injunctions, without being required
to post a bond or prove that monetary damages are inadequate, to prevent
breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions
hereof.
16. Independent Contractors
Parties and their respective personnel are and shall be independent contractors
and neither Party by virtue of this Agreement shall have any right, power or authority to
act or create any obligation, express or implied, on behalf of the other Party and shall
not hold itself out as having such authority. Nothing in this Agreement shall constitute a
partnership or a joint venture between Parties, and all communications to third parties
will clearly and accurately state the relationship between the Parties hereunder.
17. The Parties' respective obligations under this Agreement which by their nature
would continue beyond the termination or expiration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, Sections 9, 12, 13, 14, and 15 shall survive the termination or
expiration of this Agreement.
18. Severability
The invalidity of any portion of this Agreement will not and shall not be deemed to
affect the validity of any other provision. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be
invalid, the parties agree that the remaining provisions shall be deemed to be in full
force and effect as if they had been executed by both parties subsequent to the
expungement of the invalid provision.
19. No Waiver
The failure of either party to this Agreement to insist upon the performance of any
of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, or the waiver of any breach of any of the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall not be construed as subsequently waiving
any such terms and conditions, but the same shall continue and remain in full force and
effect as if no such forbearance or waiver had occurred.
20. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance
with the laws of the State of ______________.
21. Notices
Unless provided herein to the contrary, any notice provided for or concerning this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficiently given when sent by
certified or registered mail if sent to the respective address of each party as set forth at
the beginning of this Agreement.
22 . Mandatory Arbitration
Any dispute under this Agreement shall be required to be resolved by binding
arbitration of the parties hereto. If the parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, each party
shall select one arbitrator and both arbitrators shall then select a third. The third
arbitrator so selected shall arbitrate said dispute. The arbitration shall be governed by
the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force and effect.
23. Entire Agreement
This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties and
any prior understanding or representation of any kind preceding the date of this
Agreement shall not be binding upon either party except to the extent incorporated in
this Agreement.
24. Modification of Agreement
Any modification of this Agreement or additional obligation assumed by either
party in connection with this Agreement shall be binding only if placed in writing and
signed by each party or an authorized representative of each party.
25. Assignment of Rights
The rights of each party under this Agreement are personal to that party and may
not be assigned or transferred to any other person, firm, corporation, or other entity
without the prior, express, and written consent of the other party.
26. Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one and
the same instrument.
27. Compliance with Laws
In performing under this Agreement, all applicable governmental laws,
regulations, orders, and other rules of duly-constituted authority will be followed and
complied with in all respects by both parties.
WITNESS our signatures as of the day and date first above stated.
______________________ ______________________
(Name of Company) (Name of Vendor)
By:__________________________ By:___________________________
_________________________ _________________________
(P rinted Name & Office in Corporation) (P rinted Name & Office in Corporation)
_______________________ ______________________
(Signature of Officer) (Signature of Officer)