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Master Software License Agreement

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Software Support Agreement

Agreement made on the between

, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of , with its principal office located at , referred to herein as Contractor, and , a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of , with its principal office located at , referred to herein as Customer.

Whereas, Customer desires to retain Contractor as an independent contractor to provide the computer software maintenance services for its , hereinafter called System; and

Whereas, Contractor agrees to perform these services for Customer under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;

Now, therefore, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Contract, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1. Maintenance of Software

Beginning on the day of the execution of this Agreement the Contractor shall provide the following error-correction and support services:

A. Telephone hot-line support during the Contractor's normal days and hours of business operation with such support to include consultation on the operation and utilization of the Software; and

B. Error correction services, consisting of the Contractor using all reasonable efforts to design, code and implement programming changes to the Software, and modifications to the documentation, and to correct reproducible errors therein so that the Software is brought into substantial conformance with the way it should operate.

C. The response times for correcting errors are as follows:

1. Level One Response: When a major fault occurs such that a business critical function is not operational and major user inconvenience is being caused, Contractor shall respond within four hours of notification.

2. Level Two Response: When a fault occurs such that a function is not operational but a workaround is available and is causing significant user inconvenience, Contractor shall respond within one day of notification.

3. Level Three Response: When a fault occurs such that a non-critical function is not operational and is causing an inconvenient problem but is not causing significant user inconvenience, Contractor shall respond within three working days of notification.

4. Level Four Response: Where a fault occurs such that a cosmetic, non-urgent problem is being caused, e.g. a field is in the wrong position, Contractor shall respond within five days of notification.

2. Compensation for Maintenance Services

The Customer shall pay the Contractor for error-correction and support services the annual sum of $ payable in in advance beginning on the day of the execution of this Agreement.

3. Customer’s Role in Maintenance

The provision of the error correction and support services described above shall be expressly contingent upon the Customer promptly reporting any errors in the Software or related documentation to the Contractor and not modifying the Software without the Contractor's written consent.

4. Term of Agreement

Subject to timely payment by the Customer of the maintenance fees, the Contractor shall offer the maintenance described above for a minimum of one year after completion of the development work under this Agreement.

5. Termination of Maintenance by Customer

Customer may discontinue the maintenance services described above upon not less than days' written notice to the Contractor.

6. Limitation of Contractor’s Liability to Customer

A. In no event shall the Contractor be liable to the Customer for lost profits of the Customer, or special or consequential damages, even if the Contractor has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

B. The Contractor's total liability under this Agreement for damages, costs and expenses, regardless of cause, shall not exceed the total amount of fees paid to the Contractor by the Customer under this Agreement.

7. Confidentiality

During the term of this Agreement and for one year afterward, the Contractor will use reasonable care to prevent the unauthorized use or dissemination of the Customer's confidential information. Reasonable care means at least the same degree of care the Contractor uses to protect its own confidential information from unauthorized disclosure. Confidential information is limited to information clearly marked as confidential, or disclosed orally that is treated as confidential when disclosed and summarized and identified as confidential in a writing delivered to the Contractor within 15 days of disclosure. Confidential information does not include information that:

• the Contractor knew before the Customer disclosed it;

• is or becomes public knowledge through no fault of the Contractor;

• the Contractor obtains from sources other than the Customer who owe no duty of confidentiality to the Customer, or

• the Contractor independently develops.

8. Status as Independent Contractor

The parties intend that an independent contractor-employer relationship will be created by this Contract. Customer is interested only in the results to be achieved, and the conduct and control of the work will lie solely with Contractor. Contractor is not to be considered an agent or employee of Customer for any purpose, and the employees of Contractor are not entitled to any of the benefits that Customer provides for Customer's employees. It is understood that Contractor is free to Contract for similar services to be performed for other customers while under Contract with Customer.

9. Offers of Employment to Contractor’s Employment

Customer agrees that no offers of employment will be made to any employee of the Contractor during the term of this Agreement or for a period of 12 months after its termination without the prior consent of the Contractor. Should Customer breach this provision, Customer shall pay Contractor liquidated damages in the amount of $.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of .

13. Notices

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.

14. Attorney’s Fees

In the event that any lawsuit is filed in relation to this Agreement, the unsuccessful party in the action shall pay to the successful party, in addition to all the sums that either party may be called on to pay, a reasonable sum for the successful party's attorney fees.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. Counterparts

For the convenience of the parties, this Agreement has been executed in several counterparts, which are in all respects similar and each of which shall be deemed to be complete in itself so that any one may be introduced in evidence or used for any other purpose without the production of the other counterparts. Immediately following endorsement of the consenting parties, counterparts will be furnished to the consenting parties so that each may be advised of the rights, privileges, and benefits that this Agreement confers.

20. In this Agreement, any reference to a party includes that party's heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, singular includes plural and masculine includes feminine.

WITNESS our signatures as of the day and date first above stated.

By:

By:

Enter text✕

What a Master Software License Agreement Is and When It Applies

A Master Software License Agreement (MSLA) is a comprehensive contract that sets the ongoing legal relationship between a software licensor and licensee, covering license scope, permitted uses, fees, support, updates, IP ownership, confidentiality, warranties, indemnities, and termination. An MSLA typically governs multiple deployments, periodic updates, and ancillary orders (statements of work or purchase orders) so separate transactions reference the same master terms. In the United States the MSLA must be drafted with attention to state contract law and to electronic signature rules under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and applicable UETA provisions.

Why a Master Agreement Protects Both Parties

A single MSLA reduces transaction friction by standardizing key terms — licensing model, payment terms, deliverables, liability caps, and dispute resolution. Drafting clear allocation of rights and obligations lowers negotiation time and helps manage IP and compliance risk under ESIGN and UETA frameworks.

Why a Master Agreement Protects Both Parties

Typical parties and teams involved

Teams who commonly prepare, review, or sign MSLAs include legal counsel, procurement, product management, IT/security, and finance; each group focuses on different clauses and operational impacts.

  • Legal teams: negotiate liability, IP assignment, indemnities, and carve-outs to protect organizational exposure.
  • Procurement and finance: verify pricing schedules, payment terms, audit rights, and service credits for SLA failures.
  • IT and security: confirm permitted environments, encryption, data handling, and any HIPAA or industry addenda required.

Centralizing review and using consistent templates reduces errors and accelerates execution while preserving department-specific protections.

Core clauses to include in a professional MSLA

A robust MSLA balances commercial clarity with enforceable legal protections; include explicit clauses that anticipate lifecycle events, operational needs, and regulatory obligations.

License Grant

Defines license type (perpetual, term, subscription), scope (users, instances), and restrictions on copying, reverse engineering, and sublicensing.

Payment & Fees

Sets fee schedule, invoicing, taxes, audit rights, late-interest, and whether fees vary by usage or seats.

Support & Updates

Specifies support levels, service levels (SLA metrics), update/patch policy, and escalation procedures.

Intellectual Property

Allocates ownership of preexisting IP, enhancements, and third-party components; addresses open-source notices and assignment.

Confidentiality

Defines confidential information, permitted disclosures, duration of obligations, and remedies for breaches.

Liability & Indemnity

Limits damages, establishes indemnity triggers (IP, third-party claims), and clarifies insurance and defense obligations.

Step-by-step: executing an MSLA

Follow a consistent workflow to reduce negotiation cycles and ensure conformed, signed copies are retained for compliance.

  • 01
    Draft and Template: Use a vetted template and mark negotiable clauses before sharing.
  • 02
    Internal Review: Circulate to legal, finance, and IT for redlines and risk sign-off.
  • 03
    Counterparty Negotiation: Track changes, propose limited exceptions, and document approvals.
  • 04
    Execution and Storage: Obtain signatures and store conformed copies in a secure repository.

How to set up an online MSLA workflow

Configure a repeatable digital workflow that captures required fields, signer order, and audit information.

Field Configuration
Template Create a locked template with editable variables for pricing and term.
Signer Order Define sequential or parallel signing order in the workflow.
Authentication Select email, SMS code, or advanced authentication (KBA) per risk level.
Retention Enable audit trail retention and exportable signed PDF with certificate.

Digital signing and technical prerequisites

Choose a platform that supports secure signatures, robust audit trails, and industry integrations used in your organization.

  • File formats: PDF and DOCX support
  • Integrations: CRM and storage connectors
  • Security: Strong encryption and audit logs

Typical routing and submission path for an MSLA

MSLAs often pass through distinct stages: internal review, counterparty negotiation, signature collection, and centralized archival.

  • Upload: Add template to the signing platform and populate variables.
  • Assign Fields: Place signature, date, and initial fields for each party.
  • Send: Send to signers with defined order and authentication.
  • Archive: Store signed PDF and audit trail in records repository.

Who typically signs an MSLA

Authorized Officer

A corporate officer or designated signatory with authority to bind the entity should sign. Verify board delegations or procurement limits to confirm authority and avoid unenforceable signatures.

Procurement or VP

Procurement or finance leaders may sign where delegated by contract approval policies; include signer title and confirm delegated signing limits to prevent invalid execution.

Essential information to include for security and compliance

Data Location: Specify hosting region
Encryption: AES-256 at rest
Transport: TLS 1.2/1.3 required
Access Controls: Role-based access
Audit Trail: Immutable signing logs
BAA Requirement: For PHI

Common risks and legal consequences to watch for

Unsigned Amendments: May be unenforceable
Incorrect Signatory: Can void agreement
Ambiguous Scope: Leads to disputes
Missing SLA: Limits remedies
Failure to Meet HIPAA: Exposure to penalties
Tax Withholding: Incorrect reporting risk

Frequent drafting pitfalls to avoid

  • Leaving core terms open-ended (e.g., 'reasonable efforts') that later invite different interpretations and litigation.
  • Failing to specify exactly which versions of software and APIs are covered by the license, causing scope disputes.
  • Not aligning indemnity scope with insurance coverage limits, exposing parties to uninsured risk.
  • Neglecting to include termination assistance and data retrieval procedures for post-termination continuity.

How organizations use a Master Software License Agreement

Real examples illustrate typical commercial patterns and operational adjustments when deploying licensed software at scale.

Tech Platform Deployment

A SaaS vendor used a single MSLA across regional subsidiaries to centralize IP and support terms

  • Reduced negotiation cycles by standardizing attachments for local tax rules
  • The approach improved rollout speed and ensured consistent security obligations across 12 deployments for global clients.

On-premise Enterprise Rollout

A systems integrator negotiated one MSLA with modular exhibits per project

  • Each exhibit defined environment and maintenance terms
  • This structure preserved core indemnities while allowing tailored statements of work per client site, simplifying renewals and audits.

eSignature vendor comparison for MSLA execution

Compare common vendor pricing and key capability indicators to select a solution that supports compliance, bulk sending, and audit trails for high-volume MSLA workflows.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day trial Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bulk Send Yes (Business Premium) Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Updating or amending an existing MSLA

Follow a controlled amendment process: identify scope, obtain approvals, and ensure executed amendments are attached to the original MSLA.

01

Identify Change:

Document specific clauses to be altered and the business rationale.
02

Internal Approval:

Obtain legal and finance sign-off per approval matrix.
03

Draft Amendment:

Prepare a short amendment that references the original MSLA and effective date.
04

Counterparty Consent:

Send amendment for execution using the agreed signing platform.
05

Attach and Archive:

Attach executed amendment to original contract file and update repository metadata.
06

Communicate:

Notify impacted teams of the change and update templates if required.

Frequently asked questions about MSLA execution and e-signing

Answers to common questions about enforceability, signer authority, digital evidence, and industry-specific addenda.


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