2.23 Subject Matter Content License Agreement
AGREEMENT by and between Media Producer, Inc., a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of New York, with a principal place of
business at Madison Avenue, New York, New York (hereinafter referred to as
"Producer") and Aircraft Manufacturer Corp., a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Washington, with a principal place of
business at Oak Road, Walnut Creek, WA (hereinafter referred to as "Manufacturer").
WHEREAS, Producer is in the business of publishing and distributing products in
CD-ROM format;
WHEREAS, Manufacturer is in the business of designing and manufacturing jet
aircraft including fighter planes;
WHEREAS, Producer wishes to produce a CD-ROM product tentatively entitled "Jet
Fighter", which would chronicle the design and development of an advanced
fighter jet by a major aircraft manufacturer (the "Product"); and
WHEREAS, Manufacturer is willing to permit its fighter jet aircraft to be the
subject of the Product, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and covenants recited below, it
is hereby agreed by and between Producer and Manufacturer as follows:
1. AccessProducer wishes to use, and Manufacturer has agreed to allow Producer to
develop a Product concerning the design and development of Manufacturer's
fighter jet aircraft identified on Schedule A (the "Jet") Manufacturer agrees to
provide Producer with reasonable access to information concerning the design and
development of the Jet. Such access shall include, but not be limited to, access
to design specifications, drawings, blueprints, and drawings of the Jet, and
interviews with Manufacturer's personnel involved with the Jet's design.
2. Confidentiality
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 1, Producer will have access to and
be furnished with certain of Manufacturer's Confidential Information as defined
below. Producer recognizes that such information is confidential and agrees
that, as a condition to Producer being provided access to or furnished with such
information, Producer will treat any Confidential Information which Manufacturer
may provide Producer in accordance with the following terms and conditions:
(a) As used in this Agreement, the term "Confidential Information"
shall be presumed to mean all information which is made available to Producer
hereunder. Without limitation of the foregoing, Confidential Information shall
include any and all information concerning Manufacturer's Jet fighter and other
products and services, including, but not limited to, processes and procedures
relating thereto, which Manufacturer deems and treats as confidential and/or
proprietary and such aspects of Manufacturer's business as Manufacturer treats
as confidential, including, without limitation, information about Manufacturer's
market research, ideas, plans, operations, procedures, finances, trade secrets,
copyrights, trademarks, patents, know-how and technology with respect to its
business and existing and future products and services. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Confidential Information shall not include information which: (i) is
or becomes generally available to the public through no act or omission by
Producer; (ii) is or becomes available to Producer on a non-confidential basis
by a source other than Manufacturer, its affiliates, or their respective
employees, representatives or agents; or (iii) is or becomes generally known
within the aircraft industry through no act or omission of any party under an
obligation of confidentiality to Manufacturer. (b) Producer agrees that it will not, without the prior written
consent of Manufacturer, directly or indirectly, use, authorize the use of, or
disclose to any party any Confidential Information which has been or may be made
available to Producer, or to which Producer has had or will have access.
(c) Except as may be otherwise permitted by Manufacturer in writing,
Producer agrees that it will not, directly or indirectly, use or authorize the
use of any Confidential Information in any manner whatsoever other than in
preparation of the Product.
(d) Producer agrees to take all necessary steps to safeguard and
maintain the confidentiality of Confidential Information made available to it or
to which it has had or will have access.
(e) Upon completion of the Product, Producer shall immediately
return to Manufacturer all notes, documents and other materials that contain or
reflect Confidential Information, whether provided to Producer by Manufacturer
or created by Producer, including oral information reduced to written form by Producer.
3. Approvals
Upon completion of the design of the Product, but before any development
of the Product commences, Manufacturer shall have the right to review a detailed
written description of the Product, and any photographs, illustrations,
diagrams, charts, video and film segments to be included in the Product (the
"Design Work-up"), and to approve or disapprove the inclusion of Confidential
Information therein and factual accuracy. Within thirty (30) working days of
Manufacturer's receipt of the Design Work-up, Manufacturer's designees shall
review the Design Work-up and notify Producer in writing of any instructions or
comments Manufacturer may have concerning the inclusion of Confidential
Information or factual inaccuracies, and Producer shall revise the Design Work-
up in accordance with Manufacturer's instructions and comments and resubmit the
same to Manufacturer for its approval.
Upon Manufacturer's approval of a Design Work-up, Producer shall commence
development of the Product. Upon creation of a preliminary version of the
Product (the "Alpha Version"), Producer shall deliver the Alpha Version to
Manufacturer for approval. Within ten (10) working days of Manufacturer's receipt thereof,
Manufacturer's designees shall review the Alpha Version and notify Producer in
writing of any specific instructions or comments Manufacturer may have
concerning the inclusion of Confidential Information and/or factual accuracies,
and Producer shall revise the Alpha Version of the Product accordingly. Upon
Manufacturer's approval of the Alpha Version, Producer shall commence
development of a final version ("Final Version") of the Product. No changes
shall be made to the approved Alpha Version in creating the Final Version
without affording Manufacturer an opportunity to review such changes and any
such changes relating to or affecting Confidential Information or factual
accuracy to be included in the Product shall be subject to Manufacturer's
further prior approval.
Notwithstanding any approval by Manufacturer of any version of the Product
as herein provided, the Final Version of the Product shall be subject to
Manufacturer's prior approval with respect to the inclusion of any Confidential
Information and factual accuracy. Manufacturer shall have the right to approve any exploitation of all
rights in and to the Product reserved by Producer, including, without
limitation, television and motion picture rights, and any derivative or
adaptation of the Product to be created.
4. Publication
Subject to Manufacturer's approval pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement
of the Alpha and Final Version of the Product, and the materials to be included
in it, Producer shall use its best efforts to ensure that the Product shall be
published not later than two (2) months after the date on which the Jet is
announced to the public (the "Announcement Day").
5. Copyright
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the copyright in
and to the Product shall be owned by Producer. Except as provided herein,
Manufacturer shall have no right, title or interest in the Product or any
portion thereof. Manufacturer shall have the right to approve all derivatives
and adaptations of the Product, including without limitation, derivatives and
adaptations which would in any way change the Product as approved by Manufacturer.
6. Release; Indemnification
Producer shall be responsible for obtaining any releases which may be
necessary or required by Producer in connection with the Product, including
without limitation, releases from Manufacturer personnel. Producer shall
identify and hold Manufacturer and its affiliates harmless from and against any
and all liability, claims, demands, loss, damage and expenses (including
reasonable attorney's fees and expenses) arising out of or related to the
Product and the publication, sale, distribution, advertising and promotion of
the Product or the exploitation of any rights in and to the Product. The
indemnity provided for herein shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
7. Termination
Producer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement upon not less
than ten (10) days notice to Manufacturer in the event that Manufacturer
materially breaches its obligations to provide reasonable access to Producer as
provided for herein above and fails to cure such breach within ten (10) days
following notice thereof. Manufacturer shall have the right to terminate this
Agreement upon not less than ten (10) days notice to Producer in the event any
of the following events shall occur:
(a) with respect to the inclusion of Confidential Information,
Manufacturer shall fail to approve (i) any portion of the Product after it has
been revised pursuant to Section 3 above and the parties are unable to agree as
to further revisions or other action which would result in a version of the
Product acceptable to Manufacturer, or (ii) the Final Version of the Product.
(b) Producer shall fail to (i) deliver the Final Version of the
Product to Manufacturer by the date provided for herein or (ii) revise any
portion of the Product as provided for herein.
(c) Producer breaches any of its obligations under this Agreement
and fails to cure such breach within ten (10) days following notice thereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall automatically
terminate on the second anniversary date of the first publication of the Product.
8. Effect of Termination
Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, Producer shall have no
right to disclose or use, directly or indirectly, in any form or for any
purpose, any Confidential Information to which Producer had access or which was
furnished to Producer during the period this Agreement was in effect and
Producer shall immediately return to Manufacturer all notes, documents and other
materials containing or reflecting such information, whether provided to
Producer by Manufacturer or created by Producer, including oral information
reduced to written form by Producer.
9. Approvals
All approvals to be given by Manufacturer hereunder shall be given in
writing and shall not be unreasonably withheld and may be exercised as long as
the Product or any derivative or adaptation thereof is exploited.
10. Royalties
For the rights, privileges and licenses granted hereunder, Producer shall
pay Manufacturer in the manner hereinafter provided until the termination of
this Agreement a royalty ____ percent (__%) of Sales Income (as defined herein).
As used herein, "Sales Income" shall mean all gross revenues received by
Producer in connection with any sale, license, lease or other exploitation of
the Product less: (i) transportation and shipping charges, including insurance;
(ii) monies received for demonstration and promotional Products; (iii) sales,
use and excise taxes and duties paid or allowed by Producer and any other
governmental charges imposed upon Producer for the production, use, sale or
license of the Product; (iv) actual credits, discounts, allowances and returns
granted to customers; (v) normal and customary trade and quantity discounts and
allowances; and (vi) credits for uncollected or uncollectible accounts. Except
as herein provided, Sales Income shall be determined by using generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied. Producer shall pay Manufacturer ____________ ($_________) as a
nonrefundable advance (the "Advance") of royalties upon the execution of this
Agreement. Any royalties earned by Manufacturer will accrue against the Advance
until such royalties exceed ____________($__________), after which they will be
paid directly to Manufacturer. Producer shall render to Manufacturer, on a quarterly basis, commencing
with the quarter after the first distribution of the Product takes place, a
detailed written statement of the fees due to Manufacturer or accrued by
Manufacturer against the Advance. Such statement shall be accompanied by a
remittance of such amount as shown to be due. Each statement shall be rendered
within forty-five (45) days following the end of each quarterly period;
provided, however, that no statement shall be furnished for any such period in
which there are no fees due to, or accrued by Manufacturer. Any statement
remitted by Manufacturer hereunder shall conclusively be deemed true and correct
and binding on Manufacturer unless Manufacturer submits to Producer in writing
within two (2) years after such statement has been remitted to Manufacturer
specific objections to the submitted statement. Manufacturer shall have the
right at its sole cost and expense to cause an independent certified public
accounting firm reasonably acceptable to Producer to examine and inspect the
books and records of Producer which relate to the Product purpose of determining
the accuracy of statements rendered by Producer.
11. RemedyProducer acknowledges and agrees that the injury Manufacturer or its
affiliates would suffer if it breaches its confidentiality obligations under
this Agreement would result in irreparable harm which could not adequately be
compensated by money damages. The provisions of this Section 11 shall survive
the termination of this Agreement.
12. Notices
All notices and requests in connection with this Agreement shall be given
or made upon the respective parties in writing and shall be deemed to be given
as of the day such notice or request is sent via confirmed facsimile
transmission or if deposited in the U.S. mails, postage prepaid, certified or
registered, return receipt requested, to the addresses set forth above or to
such other address as the party to receive the notice or request so designates
by written notice to the other.
13. Severability
In the event that any provision of this Agreement or any obligation or
grant of rights by either party is found invalid or unenforceable pursuant to a
judicial decree or decision, any such provision, obligation or grant of rights
shall be deemed and construed to extend only to the maximum permitted by law and
the remainder of this Agreement shall remain valid and enforceable according to
its terms.
14. Assignment
Neither party hereto may assign its rights, duties or obligations under
this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any other person or entity without the
prior written consent of the other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing this
Agreement shall be assignable by Producer to an affiliated entity, or upon the
transfer of the right to license or sublicense the Products to the transferee of
said right, by providing written notice to Manufacturer.
15. Complete Agreement
This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties as to
its subject matter and may not be modified except in a writing executed by both parties.
16. Governing Law; Arbitration
This Agreement shall be governed in all aspects by the laws of the United
States of America and the State of New York. All disputes and/or claims arising
under this Agreement shall be brought before the American Arbitration
Association under the rules of that organization then in effect, except that the
parties agree that if they enter such arbitration proceeding under this
Agreement, they will each name one (1) independent arbitrator, and the
arbitrators chosen by the parties will name a third arbitrator, and the matter
will be heard by the three (3) named arbitrators.
17. Independent ContractorsIt is expressly agreed that Producer and Manufacturer are acting hereunder
as independent contractors, and under no circumstances shall any employees of
one party be deemed the employees of the other for any purpose. This Agreement
shall not be construed as authority for either party to act for the other party
in any agency or other capacity or to make commitments of any kind for the
account of or on behalf of the other except to the extent and for the purposes
expressly provided for herein.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands as of the
date hereof.
MEDIA PRODUCER, INC. By:_______________________________Name:_____________________________Title:____________________________
AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER CO. By:_______________________________Name:_____________________________Title:____________________________