PATENT LICENSE AGREEMENTwww.freepatentforms.com
THIS AGREEMENT, effective this ___ day, of _________________ (month), _____ (year), is entered into by ________________________ (hereinafter “LICENSOR”) and ________________________ (hereinafter “LICENSEE”).
BACKGROUND WHEREAS, LICENSOR has designed and developed a ___________________________________ (hereinafter “INVENTION”). WHEREAS, LICENSOR is the owner of all right, title and interest in a United States Letter of Patent filed ______________ and issued _________ as United States Patent Number ______________. WHEREAS, LICENSOR desires to transfer to LICENSEE and LICENSEE desires to acquire from LICENSOR an exclusive license to manufacture and market the INVENTION covered by the patent rights in all other countries, territories and jurisdictions on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, parties agree as follow:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS 1.1. GROSS SALES. “Gross Sales” shall mean the aggregate compensation the LICENSEE, or its subsidiaries, receives for goods sold under the Patent Rights without a reduction for taxes, transportation, returns, depreciation or other expenses. 1.2. CLOSING. “Closing” shall occur when both LICENSOR and LICENSEE have applied their respective signatures to this Agreement. 1.3. PATENT RIGHTS. “Patent Rights” means the following listed patents and/or patent applications, patents to be issued pursuant thereto, and all divisions, continuations, reissues, substitutes, and extensions thereof:
(a) U.S. Application Serial No. ______________________ Date Filed: ______________
SECTION 2. GRANT OF INVENTION AND PATENT RIGHTS In consideration for the up-front monies and royalty to be paid under Sections 3 and 4, LICENSOR grants to LICENSEE: (a) an exclusive, nontransferable license to manufacture and market the INVENTION in the United States; (b) an exclusive, nontransferable license to manufacture and market the INVENTION in all foreign countries; (c) all rights under the Patent Rights; and (d) all technology, trade secrets and know-how related to the design and manufacture of the INVENTION, including all design plans, blueprints and any documentation or software related thereto.
SECTION 3. UP-FRONT MONIES LICENSEE shall pay to LICENSOR on the date of Closing $__________ in United States funds. The up-front monies are not to be considered part of the royalties due under Section 4 of this Agreement.
SECTION 4. ROYALTY Upon Closing, LICENSEE shall pay LICENSOR a royalty payment based upon the Gross Sales of the LICENSEE. Said royalty payment shall be calculated based upon ___% of the Gross Sales of the LICENSEE with regard to the Invention.
SECTION 5. TIMING OF ROYALTY PAYMENTS AND MINIMUM ROYALTY 5.1. QUARTERLY PAYMENTS. LICENSEE shall pay LICENSOR a royalty for each quarter of each year during which this Agreement is in effect. LICENSEE shall pay LICENSOR quarterly, four times per year, on or before the 30th day after January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year during which this Agreement is in effect. 5.2. MINIMUM PAYMENT. A minimum quarterly royalty payment of $______ shall be paid each quarter.
SECTION 6. REPORTS AND RECORDS 6.1. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. LICENSEE shall provide a quarterly financial statement to LICENSOR showing the number of units manufactured during each quarter when each quarterly royalty payment is made. 6.2. RECORDS. LICENSEE shall keep records of the Gross Sales and number of units manufactured and sold pursuant to this Agreement in sufficient detail to enable the royalty payment to LICENSOR to be determined. 6.3. ANNUAL INSPECTION. LICENSEE shall allow LICENSOR’s representative, one annual inspection, during regular business hours or at such other times as may be mutually agreeable, to inspect LICENSEE’s books and records to the extent reasonably necessary to determine LICENSEE’s compliance with the terms of this Agreement. 6.4. PENALTY. If the LICENSOR determines through an annual inspection that the LICENSOR was undercompensated as required by this Agreement, then the LICENSEE shall pay to the LICENSOR a Penalty Fee. The Penalty Fee shall comprise three times the difference between the actual compensation and the required compensation. The LICENSEE shall still be obligated to pay full compensation as required under the Agreement.
SECTION 7. OBLIGATIONS OF LICENSOR The LICENSOR agrees with the LICENSEE to execute such documents and give such assistance as the LICENSEE may reasonably require: (a) to defeat any challenge to the validity of, and resolve any questions concerning the Patent Rights; (b) to apply for and obtain patents or similar protection for the INVENTION in other parts of the world at the LICENSEE’s expense; (c) to do all that is necessary to vest such protection in the LICENSEE; (d) to inform the LICENSEE of all technical information concerning the INVENTION; and (e) to supply the LICENSEE with any documents or drawings relevant to the INVENTION.
SECTION 8. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LICENSOR 8.1. LICENSOR represents and warrants to LICENSEE as follows: (a) LICENSOR is the sole and exclusive owner of the INVENTION and the Patent Rights. No other parties have any right or interest in or to the INVENTION nor to the Patent Rights; (b) All rights to the INVENTION and the Patent Rights are free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests and other encumbrances of any kind or nature; (c) The LICENSOR has not granted any licenses to use the INVENTION to any other parties; (d) LICENSOR has the right and power to enter into this Agreement, and has made no prior transfer, sale or assignment of any part of the INVENTION, patent rights pertaining to the INVENTION or the Patent Rights; (e) As of the date hereof and as of the Closing date, LICENSOR is not aware of any parties infringing on the patent rights transferred hereunder; (f) LICENSOR is not aware that the INVENTION infringes upon any patent, but LICENSOR does not otherwise warrant or guarantee the validity of the Patent Rights or that the INVENTION does not infringe any valid and subsisting patent or other rights not held by the LICENSOR; and (g) The INVENTION was not procured by the use of confidential information, trade secrets, or in other respects in violation of law, and there is no action, order or proceeding, to the LICENSOR’s knowledge, alleging any of the foregoing. 8.2. Each of the warranties and representations set forth above shall be true on and as of the date of Closing, as though such warranty and representation was made as of such time. All warranties and representations shall survive closing.
SECTION 9. LICENSEE’S OBLIGATIONS 9.1. INDEMNIFICATION. The LICENSEE agrees to indemnify the LICENSOR and his heirs successors, assigns and legal representatives for liability incurred to persons who are injured as a consequence of the use of any INVENTION manufactured by the LICENSEE or as a consequence of any defects in the INVENTION. 9.2. QUARTERLY ROYALTY. The LICENSEE agrees to pay the above stated quarterly royalty without demand. 9.3. REASONABLE EFFORTS. The LICENSEE agrees to utilize all reasonable efforts to manufacture and market the INVENTION. 9.4. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The LICENSEE agrees to provide the financial statement at the end of each quarter without demand. 9.5. PROFESSIONALISM. The LICENSEE agrees to the extent reasonably possible, have all manufacturing, shipping, and sales performed in a professional and equitable manner. 9.6. LIABILITY INSURANCE. The LICENSEE agrees to maintain liability insurance to cover the INVENTION in an amount greater than or equal to $1,000,000. 9.7. TRADE SECRETS. The LICENSEE agrees to take all reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of all trade secrets provided by the LICENSOR to the LICENSEE during and after this Agreement.
SECTION 10. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING LICENSEE’s obligation to pay the up-front monies and the royalty shall be subject to the satisfaction on or before the Closing of the following conditions, any one or more which may be waived by LICENSEE: (a) The warranties and representations made by the LICENSOR in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on the Closing date as if such warranties and representations had been given as of the Closing date. (b) LICENSOR shall have delivered to LICENSEE such instruments of transfer as may be reasonably requested by LICENSEE to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 11. MARKING OF INVENTION LICENSEE agrees to affix patent pending and patent notices to all INVENTIONs prior to their sale in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §282. Each device shall have either the words “PATENT PENDING” or “Patent No.” followed by the patent number conspicuously marked on each of the goods sold under the Patent Rights subject to the reasonable approval of the LICENSOR.
SECTION 12. DURATION AND TERMINATION 12.1. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless and until termination or cancellation as hereinafter provided. 12.2. If LICENSEE shall at any time default in rendering any of the statements required hereunder, and payment of any monies due hereunder, or in fulfilling any of the other material obligations hereof, and such default is not cured within fifteen days after written notice is given by the LICENSOR to LICENSEE, LICENSOR shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving written notice of termination to LICENSEE. LICENSEE shall have the right to cure any such default up to, but not after the written notice of termination. 12.3.LICENSOR shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving written notice of termination to LICENSEE in the event of any of the following: (a) liquidation of LICENSEE; (b) insolvency or bankruptcy of LICENSEE, whether voluntary or involuntary; or (c) appointment of a Trustee or Receiver for LICENSEE. 12.4.LICENSOR shall have the right to terminate this Agreement, by giving three months written notice, if after the second year of this agreement the previous years total royalty payment is lower than $________. 12.5.LICENSEE shall have the right to terminate this Agreement, by giving three months notice, if all patent applications, continuation, continuation-in-part or divisional applications, related to the INVENTION become abandoned without issuing into a patent. 12.6.LICENSEE shall have the right to terminate this Agreement, by giving three months notice, if a court of law determines all of the issued patents to be invalid.
SECTION 13. MAINTENANCE FEES AND INFRINGEMENT COSTS 13.1. MAINTENANCE FEES. LICENSEE shall be responsible for paying all maintenance fees for the Patent Rights until they expire. 13.2. DEFENDING AN INFRINGEMENT LAWSUIT. LICENSEE shall be responsible for all expenses, including but not limited to legal fees, associated with defending an infringement action involving the INVENTION. LICENSEE also agrees to vigorously defend at its own expense any invalidity actions brought against the Patent Rights. 13.3. BRINGING AN INFRINGEMENT LAWSUIT. LICENSEE shall also be responsible for all expenses, including but not limited to legal fees, associated with bringing an infringement action involving the Patent Rights. LICENSEE agrees to initiate and vigorously prosecute proceedings to the termination of any infringements on the Patent Rights. 13.4. NOTIFICATION. LICENSEE and LICENSOR both agree to notify each other of any legal action involving the Patent Rights or the INVENTION.
SECTION 14. BINDING ARBITRATION Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this contract, or the breach thereof, between the LICENSOR and the LICENSEE shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association in a convenient location in ___________ (State). The judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
SECTION 15. GOVERNING LAW This Agreement shall be governed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of __________ of the United States of America.
SECTION 16. SEVERABILITY 16.1. The parties agree that if any part, term, or provision of this Agreement shall be found illegal or in conflict with any valid controlling law, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby. 16.2. In the event the legality of any provision of this Agreement is brought into question because of a decision by a court of competent jurisdiction, LICENSOR, by written notice to LICENSEE, may revise the provision in question or delete it entirely so as to comply with the decision of said court.
SECTION 17. NOTICES UNDER THE AGREEMENT For the purposes of all written communications and notices between the parties, their addresses shall be:
LICENSOR: Attn: _____________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________
LICENSEE: Attn: __________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________
SECTION 18. NONASSIGNABILITY The parties agree this Agreement imposes personal obligations on LICENSEE. LICENSEE shall not assign any rights under this Agreement without the written consent of LICENSOR. LICENSOR may assign all rights hereunder.
SECTION 19. ENTIRE AGREEMENT This Agreement sets forth all of the covenants, promises, agreements, conditions and understandings between the parties and there are no covenants, promises, agreements or conditions, either oral or written, between them other than herein set forth. No subsequent alteration, amendment, change or addition to this Agreement shall be binding upon either party unless reduced in writing and signed by them.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers on the respective dates hereinafter set forth. LICENSOR: By: _________________________ Date: ________________
LICENSEE: By: _________________________ Date: ________________ |
