United States Ski and Snowboard Association, Consent and Joinder
Agreement made on the _________________________ (date) , between United States
Ski & Snowboard Association, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
state of _______________, with its principal office located at ___________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
(street address, city, county, state, zip code) , referred to herein as Association, in favor of
and for the benefit of _________________________ (Name of Athlete) of ________________
____________________________________________________________________________
(street address, city, county, state, zip code) , hereinafter called Athlete , and ____________
__________________________________ (Name of Company) , of ______________________
____________________________________________________________________________
(street address, city, county, state, zip code) , in relation to the agreement between them
dated __________________________ (date) (which agreement is referred to hereinafter as the
Endorsement Agreement ), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A .
Whereas, the United States Ski & Snowboard Association is the National Governing
Body (NGB) for skiing and snowboarding recognized by the United States Olympic Committee
(USOC) , and is the National Association for skiing and snowboarding in the United States
recognized by the International Ski Federation (FIS) ; and
Whereas, Company desires to obtain commercial endorsement rights of Athlete in
accordance with the terms set forth in the Endorsement Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit
A , and Athlete desires to confer such commercial endorsement rights; and
Whereas, Athlete is a member of NGB and currently of the U.S. Ski Team or
U.S. Snowboard Team, who has entered into a U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team
Membership Agreement with NGB, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B , and
incorporated herein by reference; and
Whereas, under the above-referenced Team Membership Agreement between
Athlete and NGB, Athlete requires the consent and joinder of NGB to any endorsement
agreement before the execution or entry into the same may become valid and enforceable;
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. NGB hereby acknowledges, consents to and joins in the Endorsement Agreement
between Athlete and Company , subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, as well as
any applicable terms or limitations set forth in the Team Membership Agreement between
Athlete and NGB , which is incorporated herein by this reference.
2. NGB hereby reserves, and Company and Athlete hereby grant to NGB , the right
unilaterally to require modification at any time of any provision of the Endorsement Agreement
which may, in the sole good faith judgment of NGB , place Athlete ’s competition eligibility at risk
under any FIS or NGB rules or regulations then in effect. In the event that Athlete and Company
receive written notice from NGB of such a required modification, Athlete and Company shall
immediately amend the Endorsement Agreement in writing, signed by both parties, to reflect
such modification, and shall provide a written copy of such amendment to NGB . NGB ’s consent
and joinder to the Endorsement Agreement is specifically conditioned, among other things,
upon the agreement by Athlete and Company to honor and comply with any such modification
required under this consent and joinder. Failure by Company and Athlete to immediately honor
and comply with any such requirement of modification may jeopardize Athlete ’s NGB and FIS
competition eligibility and shall constitute grounds for NGB to terminate Athlete ’s Team
Membership Agreement , and to remove Athlete from the U.S. Ski Team or U.S. Snowboard
Team.
3. NGB hereby disclaims and disavows on its own behalf any and all representations and
warranties made by Athlete to Company in connection with the Endorsement Agreement, and
similarly disclaims and disavows any representations by Company to Athlete concerning the
Endorsement Agreement and any related matters. Athlete understands and agrees that NGB
does not warranty or guaranty the performance of any obligation by Company , and further that
NGB shall have no liability to him/her for or in connection with any breach or failure to perform
any obligation set forth in the Endorsement Agreement by Company , and Athlete hereby
waives, releases and agrees to defend and indemnify NGB from and against any claim of such
liability. Similarly, Company understands and agrees that NGB does not warranty or guaranty
the performance of any obligation under the Endorsement Agreement by Athlete . Company
understands and agrees that NGB shall have no liability to Company for or in connection with
any breach or failure to perform any obligation set forth therein by Athlete , and Company hereby
waives, releases and agrees to defend and indemnify NGB from and against any claim of such
liability.
4. Any rights granted to Company under the Endorsement Agreement shall not include any
right to reproduce or use in any way any name(s) and/or mark(s) owned by NGB . Such names
and marks include, without limitation, the names United States Ski Team and United States
Snowboard Team , and any derivations thereof, as well as the U.S. Ski Team and U.S.
Snowboard Team “shield” logos, and the NGB logo. To the extent any such name or logo may
appear incidentally, in the form of a uniform patch or other similar incidental feature in any
photograph or videotape of Athlete , NGB may (at its option) bar Company from utilizing such
photograph or videotape if exclusivity has been granted by NGB to any third party for any
product or service category in which Company also does business. Under no circumstances
shall Company be entitled to highlight any name(s) or mark(s) owned by NGB or make specific
reference to any affiliation between Athlete and NGB , the U.S. Ski Team or U.S. Snowboard
Team without the prior written consent of NGB . All parties hereto understand and agree that
NGB shall be entitled to withhold such consent for any reason, and/or may condition the
granting of such consent upon the payment of separate consideration to NGB or its designee.
5. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Endorsement Agreement, Company
agrees to remit to NGB , and NGB agrees to receive and administer on behalf of Athlete , all
monetary payments and other consideration due to Athlete under the Endorsement Agreement.
6. NGB ’s consent and joinder to the Endorsement Agreement is specifically conditioned,
among other things, upon:
A. Athlete ’s acknowledgment that he/she is solely responsible for negotiating and
evaluating the substantive terms of that agreement and for protecting and maximizing his/her
rights thereunder, and
B. Athlete ’s waiver, release of, and indemnification against any claims against NGB
which relate in any way to the substantive terms of the agreement or any failure to perform by
any party other than NGB .
7. Athlete and Company agree that any publicity appearance obligations imposed upon
Athlete under the Endorsement Agreement shall be subject to Athlete ’s schedule of training,
competition and other NGB activities and events.
8. Company and Athlete hereby represent and warrant that Company shall not use
Athlete ’s name, likeness, image, performance or any of Athlete ’s other publicity rights in
connection with any promotion, marketing, advertising or sale of any product or service for
which NGB has granted, or is negotiating for a grant of, exclusivity to any third party.
Notwithstanding the foregoing section, Athlete specifically grants to NGB the irrevocable, fully
paid up, worldwide right and license to use Athlete ’s image in any NGB group licensing
promotion. Athlete understands that NGB will exercise this right only in a group basis, i.e.
applications involving the use of images of three or more Athlete s. The product and service
categories in which NGB has granted, or is negotiating for a grant of, exclusivity to any third
party are listed on Exhibit C attached hereto, and hereby incorporated by reference.
9. Notwithstanding any provision in the Endorsement Agreement to the contrary, (i) NGB
shall have no obligations, responsibilities or liabilities in connection with such agreement other
than those specifically set forth in this Consent and Joinder, (ii) this Consent and Joinder shall
and does constitute a binding written modification of and to the Endorsement Agreement, and
any similar agreement under which Company would acquire or has acquired any endorsement
rights of or from Athlete , and (iii) this modification and the Endorsement Agreement itself shall
be unalterable absent a written agreement to the contrary signed by Athlete , Company and
NGB . This Consent and Joinder shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all successors
and assigns of NGB , Athlete and Company .
10 . 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, n othing herein shall in any
way limit the right of any party hereto to seek preliminary or emergency injunctive relief with
respect to any alleged unauthorized use of (i) any names and/or marks owned by NGB or (ii)
Athlete ’s name, likeness, image, performance or any of Athlete ’s other publicity rights.
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 mail if sent to the respective address of each
party as set forth at the beginning of this Agreement.
14 . 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
WITNESS our signatures as of the day and date first above stated.
__________________________________
United States Ski & Snowboard Association (Name of Company)
By: _______________________________ By: ________________________________
(P rinted or typed name) (P rinted or typed name)
_______________________________ ________________________________
_______________________________ ________________________________
(Name and Office in Corporation) (Name and Office in Corporation)
_________________________________________
(Printed Name and Signature of Athlete)
EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT A
Athlete / Sponsor Endorsement Agreement
EXHIBIT B
Athlete Team Membership Agreement
EXHIBIT C
Product and Service Categories Reserved Exclusively to NGB
United airline Ski & Snowboard
Visa credit card Ski & Snowboard
Sprint telecommunications provider Ski & Snowboard
Budweiser malt beverage Ski & Snowboard
Chevrolet vehicle Ski & Snowboard
Banknorth bank Ski & Snowboard
Charles Schwab investment services provider Ski & Snowboard
Scudder Mutual Funds Ski & Snowboard
Nature Valley Granola Bars Energy Bar Ski & Snowboard
Smartwool socks Ski & Snowboard
Under Armour Base Layer Ski
Spyder Outerwear Alpine Ski
Hilfiger Outerwear Freestyle Ski
Grandoe Gloves Freestyle Ski
Reusch Gloves Alpine Ski
Note: Athlete s are also prohibited from entering into endorsement agreements or otherwise
contracting with providers of products in the following categories unless those providers are
Official Suppliers of NGB .
Skis
Boots
Bindings
Ski Poles
Helmets
Goggles
Sunglasses
Wax
Ski tools, gates and accessories
Physical Therapy Clinics
Orthopedic Clinics
Hospitals/Medical Centers