PRODUCT SUPPLY AGREEMENT
Redacted
Exhibit
10.1
This
Product Supply Agreement (this “Agreement”)
is
entered into as of May 30, 2007 (the “Effective
Date”),
by
and between Aerogrow
International, Inc,
a
corporation, organized under the laws of Nevada and having its principal place
of business at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 (“Supplier”),
and
Global
Infomercial Services, Inc., a corporation organized
and existing under the laws of Nevada and having its principal place of business
at 00000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 (“Distributor”).
Supplier and Distributor are sometimes referred to individually as a
“Party”
and
together as the “Parties”.
INTRODUCTION
WHEREAS,
Supplier owns or controls the right to manufacture, market, distribute, and
sell
certain Product (as defined below) as well as use certain Marketing Materials
(as defined below) in connection therewith;
WHEREAS,
Distributor sources products on behalf of other resellers and/or distributors
for resale in their home territories through multiple distribution channels,
such as Infomercials, direct response TV, TV home shopping, telemarketing,
direct mail, e-commerce, and print catalogs, and desires to be appointed an
exclusive reseller of the Product in the Territory (as defined below);
WHEREAS,
in connection with a willingness to grant Distributor an exclusive appointment,
Supplier agrees to grant to Distributor, and Distributor agrees to accept,
the
exclusive rights to import, market, sell, and distribute the Product in the
Territory and use the Marketing Materials, with full rights to sublicense
through multiple channels such rights to the Product and the Marketing
Materials; and
WHEREAS,
in connection with the foregoing, Supplier agrees to supply Distributor with
its
requirements for the Product and Marketing Materials under the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
NOW,
THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, and in consideration of the covenants, obligations, terms,
and conditions set forth herein, the Parties hereby agree as
follows:
AGREEMENT
1. Definitions.
In
addition to any other terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the following meanings for the purposes of this
Agreement.
1.1. |
"Customer"
means any third party or person who acquires a Product(s) directly
from
Distributor or its Sublicensees in the
Territories.
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1.2. |
“Distribution
Channel”
means any and all sales channels in the Territory, including, without
limitation, retail, wholesale, direct response television, Infomercials,
home shopping, telemarketing, direct mail, e-commerce, print, and
any
other channel of distribution.
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1.3. |
“Infomercial”
means short and long form audio-visual commercials suitable for television
and Internet broadcasts used to market a
Product.
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1.4. |
"Intellectual
Property"
means patents (including patent applications, registrations,
continuations, divisions, and disclosures), copyrights (including
copyright applications and registrations), trade secrets, moral rights,
trademarks (including trademarks, service marks, trade dress, and
trade
names as well as any applications or registrations therefor), know-how,
and any related or other rights and interests or other intangible
assets
recognized under any laws, regulations, or international conventions,
in
any country or jurisdiction in the
world.
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1.5. |
“Marketing
Materials”
means all packaging, manuals, instructions, tapes, scripts, and
advertising or promotional materials (in any medium or form) relating
to
the Product, including, without limitation, any Infomercials, print,
radio
and television advertisements, point-of-sale displays, and
signage.
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1.6. |
“Minimum
Purchase Milestones”
means the minimum purchase milestones set forth in Exhibit
G
of
this Agreement necessary in order to maintain exclusivity in the
countries
identified in Exhibit
G.
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1.7. |
“Patents”
means the international patent applications and resulting patents
in the
Territory that Supplier has filed or will file, in Supplier’s sole
discretion, based on its U.S. patent applications relating to the
Product,
including, without limitation, those listed in Exhibit
A,
as Exhibit
A
may be amended by agreement of the Parties from time to
time.
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1.8. |
“Product”
means collectively and individually the products and up-sells listed
in
Exhibit
B,
as Exhibit
B
may be amended by agreement of the Parties from time to time.
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1.9. |
“Territory”
means the countries listed in Exhibit
C.
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1.10. |
“Trademarks”
means the trademarks, trade names, domain URLs, and/or logos, whether
registered or unregistered, relating to the Product, including, without
limitation, those listed in Exhibit
A,
as Exhibit
A
may be amended by agreement of the Parties from time to
time.
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2. Grant
of Rights.
2.1. |
Appointment.
For
the Term, Supplier hereby appoints Distributor as the exclusive reseller
and distributor of the Product in the Distribution Channels to Customers
in the Territory. In connection with this exclusive
appointment:
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(a) |
Product
Rights.
Supplier hereby licenses to Distributor the exclusive right within
the
Territory, including, without limitation, any rights in and to the
Patents, to market, display, promote, sell, import, export, and distribute
the Product purchased from Supplier pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement in the Distribution Channels in the Territory. Moreover,
Supplier hereby licenses to Distributor the sole right, including,
without
limitation, any rights in and to the Patents, to use, evaluate, and
modify
the Product in the Territory in order to suggest modifications and
customizations with respect to use of the Product in the Territory
for the
benefit of Customers. With respect to modifications to the Product,
all
such modifications’ shall be subject to the approval of Supplier, not to
be unreasonably withheld, and any and all such modifications shall
become
the property of Supplier. With respect to utilization of the Product
in
the Territory, Supplier acknowledges that during the Term, subject
to the
foregoing, Distributor shall have exclusive control over and shall
be
responsible for marketing, sale, and distribution of the Product
in the
Territory. Rights granted under 2.1(a) shall not include any trade
secrets, know-how or any other Intellectual Property of
Supplier;
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(b) |
Trademark
Rights.
During the term of this Agreement, Supplier hereby licenses to Distributor
the exclusive right to use, affix, display and register the Trademarks
in
connection with the importation, marketing, and distribution of the
Product in the Territory;
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(c) |
Marketing
Material Rights.
During the term of this Agreement, Supplier hereby licenses to Distributor
the exclusiveright to use, copy, distribute, publicly broadcast,
modify,
translate, prepare derivative works of, and otherwise exploit the
Marketing Materials in the Territory, including, without limitation,
the
right to use the names, voices, endorsements, images, and likenesses
of
performers appearing therein. Without limiting the foregoing, Distributor
may modify the Marketing Materials for use in the Territory and translate
the Marketing Materials into the languages used in the Territory.
With
respect to modifications to the Marketing Materials, all such
modifications’ shall be subject to the prior written approval of Supplier,
not to be unreasonably withheld, and any and all such modifications
shall
become the property of Supplier. Moreover, with respect to use of
the
Marketing Materials, Supplier acknowledges that during the Term and
subject to the foregoing, Distributor shall have exclusive control
over
and shall be responsible for all promotion and marketing of each
Product
and distribution of the Marketing Materials in the Territory; and
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(d) |
Right
to Sublicense.
Supplier expressly acknowledges that Distributor shall have the exclusive
right to sublicense further all of the foregoing rights identified
in
Sections 2.1 (a) through (c) to its Sublicensees (as defined below)
in the
Territory in order to carry on Distributor's rights under this Agreement,
and that any Sublicensee to which it sublicenses such rights shall
be an
intended third party beneficiary with full rights to enforce the
obligations of Supplier hereunder in such countries in which such
Sublicensee has received a sublicense. Distributor shall, however,
be
required to notify Supplier in writing of all such sublicenses within
ten
days of the date granted.
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2.2. |
Appointment
Limitations.
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(a) |
Third
Party Contracts.
The foregoing licensing of rights (as set forth in Section 2.1 above)
do
not give Distributor authority to bind Supplier to any contract with
any
third party without the prior written consent of Supplier.
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(b) |
Sublicense
Rights.
In accordance with the right to sublicense (as granted in Section
2.1(d)),
Distributor may further appoint sublicensees, subdistributors, and
resellers (together, "Sublicensees") in various parts of the Territory
and
grant its Sublicensees such of its rights granted to Distributor
by
Supplier under this Agreement, provided however, Distributor shall
not be
relieved of its obligations hereunder. Accordingly, any use by Distributor
of Sublicensees with respect to the Product, Patents, Trademarks,
or
Marketing Materials shall be subject to compliance with the terms
and
conditions of this Agreement. Distributor shall cause each of its
Sublicensees to enter into an agreement containing terms and conditions
no
less restrictive than the terms and conditions hereof regarding how
a
Sublicensee may (i) market, distribute, and sell the Product in the
Territory and (ii) handle, protect, and use the Marketing Materials
in
connection with the Product. By its terms, no agreement between
Distributor and a Sublicensee shall survive termination of this Agreement.
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3. Term.
3.1. |
Test
Phase.
Once all relevant regulatory requirements relating to the Product
and
Marketing Materials are satisfied and Global Infomercial Services
has
received the master tape, script and other materials reasonably requested,
an initial purchase order for Product shall be immediately placed.
In the
event relevant regulatory requirements relating to the Product and
Marketing Materials are not satisfied within one hundred and twenty
days
of the date of this Agreement, the Parties shall review in good faith
the
status such approvals and Supplier shall be entitled to terminate
this
Agreement if Supplier can determine, in Supplier’s reasonable discretion,
that the delays are due in part to the actions, or lack of action,
of
Distributor. Within 8 weeks of the initial purchase order being placed,
a
28 day test period shall begin in Japan (the “Test
Phase”).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, where required by local law, the test
will
not begin until the Product is in the Distributor’s physical possession.
During the test, Global Infomercial Services through its distributors
shall conduct test marketing of the Product through such Distribution
Channels as Distributor, in its sole judgment, determines are likely
to
have favorable sales results, and, Distributor shall have exclusive
control over and shall be responsible for all promotion, marketing
and
distribution of the Product in the countries where the test is taking
place.
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3.2. |
Term.
Upon conclusion of the Test Phase and so long as Distributor has
not
elected to terminate this Agreement by written notice to Supplier,
such
notice to be provided within fifteen days of the conclusion of the
Test
Phase, this Agreement shall automatically continue
for a period of one (1) year from the date the Test Phase expires
and
thereafter automatically
renew for additional one (1) year periods until terminated as provided
herein. Each twelve (12) month period of this Agreement commencing
with
the first twelve (12) month period beginning at the conclusion of
the Test
Phase shall be a “Contract
Year”.
The period from the Effective Date until this Agreement is terminated
shall be the “Term".
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4. Fees,
Prices, Ordering & Payment for Product.
4.1. |
No
Fees.
Distributor shall not owe to Supplier or any third party any fees,
royalties, payments, or revenue for use of the Marketing Materials,
Trademarks and Patents under this Agreement or for the associated
rights
licensed to Distributor.
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4.2. |
Product
Prices.
The purchase price for the Product shall be as set forth on Exhibit
B
hereto (the “Purchase
Price”).
Supplier shall give Distributor no less than sixty (60) days prior
written
notice of any increase in the Purchase Price, which shall not be
increased
by more than five percent (5%) in any six (6) month period, unless
due to
material, logistical, or production cost increases that Supplier
can
reasonably document. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Supplier acknowledges
and agrees that Distributor has acted as a product sourcing representative
to Supplier for the benefit of other Sublicensees. Accordingly,
Distributor may add a margin to the price to be paid by its Sublicensees
for the Product. Supplier therefore agrees not to take any action
that
would interfere with Distributor's pricing of the Product or its
relationship with its Sublicensees.
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4.3. |
Product
Orders.
Distributor shall place all orders in writing to Supplier on Distributor’s
or its distributors' or resellers' behalf (each such order, an
“Order”).
Orders may be submitted by fax or e-mail. All such Orders shall be
placed
not less than forty five days from the requested shipping date if
the
quantity of such orders are within the amount forecasted by Distributor
pursuant to Section 7.2 (b) or ninety days if the quantity of such
orders
exceed the amount forecasted by Distributor pursuant to Section 7.2
(b)
Upon acceptance of the Order by Supplier as provided in Section 4.4,
Supplier shall issue to Distributor a pro forma invoice for the Product.
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4.4. |
Order
Acceptance.
Promptly after receiving an Order, Supplier shall immediately accept
or
reject the same in writing. If Supplier fails to accept and reject
an
Order within seven (7) days from the date of such Order, the Order
shall
be deemed accepted by Supplier. When accepting an Order, Supplier
shall
confirm to Distributor, among other things, the Purchase Price and
the
expected shipping date for the Product (the “Shipping
Date”).
Supplier may not change the expected Shipping Date by more than fourteen
(14) days without Distributor's prior approval, and any changes to
the
Purchase Price shall be done in accordance with the requirements
of
Section 4.2 above. If Supplier at any time changes the Shipping Date
and
such change is not reasonably acceptable to Distributor, Distributor
may
cancel the Order without prejudice to any other remedies Distributor
may
have against Supplier for breach of this Agreement.
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4.5. |
Payment
and Shipping.
Distributor shall pay Supplier for the Product in accordance with
the
terms set forth in Exhibit
D.
Shipping terms are also set forth on Exhibit
D.
Supplier shall ship the Product directly to the location designated
in the
Order. The consignee on the Xxxx of Lading shall be as designated
by
Distributor on the Purchase Order. Supplier will use all commercially
reasonable efforts to ship the Product on or before the Shipping
Date. If
the Product is not shipped within three (3) weeks after the Shipping
Date,
Distributor may, at its sole option, cancel the Order and Supplier
shall
promptly refund to Distributor any monies paid to Supplier for such
Order,
if any.
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4.6. |
Supply
Obligations.
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(a) |
Product.
Supplier shall supply to Distributor all Product ordered on behalf
of
Distributor. Moreover, Supplier shall make all reasonable efforts
to meet
Distributor’s supply and delivery needs even if the quantity of Product
ordered exceeds the amount previously forecasted.
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(b) |
Marketing
Materials.
For Marketing Materials not included as part of the Product, Supplier
shall faithfully print and provide Distributor at Supplier’s actual costs
with sufficient copies of the Marketing Materials as reasonably requested
by Distributor for use by Distributor and its Sublicensees to market
and
sell the Product in the Territory. Supplier shall not make any revisions
or modifications without the prior written consent of Distributor,
which
shall not be unreasonably withheld. Distributor shall have the right,
upon
request, to request changes and modifications to the Marketing Materials
in order to customize and localize such Marketing Materials for use
in the
Territory. In such event, Supplier shall then provide current Marketing
Materials to Distributor for use in the Territory, including, without
limitation, any new versions customized for the Territory (as directed
by
Distributor). Upon request, Supplier shall also provide to Distributor
a
letter of release from each performer appearing, named, or speaking
in any
Marketing Materials, authorizing Distributor’s and its Sublicensees' use
of each such performer’s name, voice, endorsement, image and likeness
without further compensation.
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4.7. |
Title
and Risk of Loss.
Title and risk of loss to the Product shall pass from Supplier to
Distributor pursuant to the applicable shipping terms agreed by the
Parties and provided in Exhibit
D
hereto.
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4.8. |
Currency.
Unless otherwise provided, all dollar amounts set forth in this Agreement
and any Exhibit shall refer to United States
Dollars.
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4.9. |
Taxes.
Any and all amounts payable hereunder by Distributor under Section
4 do
not include any government taxes (including without limitation sales,
use,
excise, and value added taxes) customs, tariffs, or duties imposed
by any
governmental agency that are applicable to the import, or purchase
of the
Product (other than taxes on the net income of Supplier), and Distributor
shall bear all such taxes, customs, tariffs, and duties..
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4.10. |
Costs.
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(a) |
Translation.
At its own cost and expense, Distributor shall translate the Marketing
Materials for its use in the Territory. For Marketing Materials intended
to be included as part of the Product(s) sold by Distributor to Customers,
Distributor may provide the localized version to Supplier, and Supplier,
at its sole cost, will print and package the localized version with
the
Product and otherwise provide Distributor with all necessary copies
of the
translated version of the Marketing Materials (as required by this
Agreement). With respect to any modifications made by Distributor
to the
Marketing Materials in order to customize or translate them for use
in the
Territory, the Parties agree that if the cost of production of the
localized version is substantially higher than the cost of the production
of the original versions of the Marketing Materials provided to
Distributor, the Parties will negotiate in good faith to apportion
the
increased cost between Supplier and Distributor.
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(b) |
Recordation
Costs.
The expenses associated with recordation of the licenses granted
under
this Agreement whether by way of the filing of this document or through
the use of a separate recordable instrument shall be borne by Distributor.
Distributor shall furnish to Supplier within ten days of their filing
a
written copy of all such filings
recorded.
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5. Specifications,
Quality & Inspection.
5.1. |
Specifications.
The Parties shall agree on detailed, written specifications for each
Product supplied hereunder that shall include not only the design,
materials and attributes of the Product, but any and all quality
and
testing standards, labeling, packaging, manuals and instructions
provided
in connection with the Product (for each Product, the “Specifications”).
In that Distributor will expend considerable resources to meet the
regulatory requirements of the Territory and to localize the Marketing
Materials based upon the Specifications, it is agreed that the
Specifications shall be “frozen” for all major and critical components and
materials and that any proposed changes will be submitted by Supplier
to
Distributor for consideration. No changes will be implemented without
Distributor’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld. In any case, Supplier must give sufficient notice of any
proposed changes so that Distributor may, at their sole discretion,
elect
to cease distribution of the Product and have sufficient time within
which
to arrange for an orderly wind down of
sales.
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5.2. |
Accepted
Quality Level.
The Parties shall establish quality check criteria for all Product
to
ensure compliance with the Specifications, including the establishment
of
outward and inward bound Product inspection procedures with an accepted
quality level (“AQL”)
as set forth in Exhibit
E.
Any Product not in conformance with its Specifications and/or meeting
the
AQL shall be deemed defective.
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5.3. |
Goods-Outward
Inspection.
Supplier shall arrange for inspection of all outbound Product against
the
Specifications and the AQL and remove from shipment all defective
units.
Supplier shall insure that inspection records are kept and maintained
and
shall provide a copy to Distributor upon request. Upon reasonable
prior
notice, and without prejudice to any other Product inspections rights
to
which Distributor may be entitled, Distributor shall have the right
to
inspect Product prior to pick-up at Supplier’s or its manufacturer’s
facility. Distributor may remove from the shipment any defective
units.
Supplier shall promptly make available to Distributor a one-for-one
replacement for such defective units with Product that meets the
Specifications or, as requested by Distributor, credit the amount
represented by such units to payment of the next purchase order.
At any
time or times after the conclusion of the Test Phase and upon reasonable
prior notice, Distributor shall also have the right to inspect and
audit
the quality control and inspection processes used at Supplier’s or its
manufacturer’s facilities and manufacturing sites.
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5.4. |
Goods-Inward
Inspection.
As further provided in Exhibit
E,
Distributor may promptly inspect Product shipments upon arrival at
the
location designated in the Order to ensure that such Product complies
with
the Specifications and AQLs. Distributor shall give written notice
to
Supplier of any minor or major defects that it discovers or finds
and
shall reasonably describe the nature of such defects. Distributor
shall
also give written notice to Supplier of any minor or major defects
that
are noted by Distributor’s Customers, resellers, or distributors, or
discovered by Distributor after the goods-inward inspection. As set
forth
in further detail in Exhibit
E
and at Distributor's option, defective goods shall be repaired or
replaced
or Distributor shall receive a credit for the defective units to
be
applied towards the next purchase order. At Supplier’s request,
Distributor will provide reasonable support, evidence, or proof for
the
claimed defect as Supplier may request in writing, for example,
photographs or samples.
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5.5. |
Packaging.
At Distributor’s reasonable request, Supplier shall at its sole cost, not
to exceed Supplier’s current costs, customize and modify packaging,
product materials, construction and other features of the Product
packaging specifically for the Territory, using information supplied
by
Distributor in the required format.
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5.6. |
Product
Recall.
In the event that a partial or total recall is imposed in the Territory
by
a governmental body with respect to the Product, all costs and expenses
incurred by Distributor and its distributors and resellers as a result
of
the recall will be the responsibility of the Supplier, and Supplier
will
indemnify and hold Distributor and its Sublicensees harmless with
respect
to any claims resulting from the
recall.
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6. Intellectual
Property.
6.1. |
Trademarks.
As between Supplier and Distributor, Supplier shall own all right,
title
and interest in the Trademarks. Distributor agrees that it will not
challenge the title of any rights of Supplier in and to the Trademarks
or
make any claim or take any action adverse to Supplier’s rights therein.
Both Parties agree that they will not challenge the validity of this
Agreement. Distributor further agrees that all use by Distributor
or its
agent of the Trademarks or domain name shall inure to the benefit
of
Supplier. Moreover, Distributor shall use the Trademarks in accordance
with the written use guidelines provided by Supplier or as otherwise
agreed by the Parties. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall
be
construed as an assignment or grant to the Distributor of any right,
title
or interest in or to the Trademarks, and all rights relating thereto
are
reserved by Supplier except for the license granted hereunder to
the
Distributor of the right to use the Trademarks only as specifically
and
expressly provided herein.
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6.2. |
Maintenance
of Supplier Intellectual Property Rights.
In connection with Distributor's exclusive appointment and in recognition
of the resources Distributor will invest in the marketing and sale
of the
Product in the Territory, Supplier, at its sole discretion, shall
use its
best efforts to take all steps necessary at its own expense to maintain
the rights to the Patents and Trademarks associated with the Product
by,
among other things, filing for, prosecuting, and maintaining any
necessary
applications and/or registrations for the Patents and Trademarks
in the
Territory. Distributor agrees to provide Supplier with reasonable
assistance, at Supplier's expense, to file for, register, and otherwise
record Supplier's Intellectual Property rights and Distributor's
licensee
rights in and to the Product and Marketing Materials in the Territory.
To
the extent Supplier fails to maintain the Intellectual Property rights
associated with the Product and Marketing Materials in the Territory,
Distributor shall have the right but not the obligation to maintain
such
Intellectual Property rights on behalf Supplier and at the expense
of the
Distributor by, among other measures, renewing the registration of
the
Patents and Trademarks in the Territory.
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6.3 |
Defense
of Supplier Intellectual Property Rights.
Each Party shall inform the other Party of any possible infringement,
misappropriation, or violation by a third party of which either
Party
becomes aware of Supplier’s Intellectual Property rights, including,
without limitation, any duplication of the Product (including
any part,
component, or feature thereof), the Marketing Materials, or
the Patents
and Trademarks. Supplier may take all commercially reasonable
steps and
measures to defend and enforce Distributor’s exclusive rights in and to
the Patents and Trademarks as well as Distributor's rights
to exclusively
use, import, market and sell the Product and the Marketing
Materials in
the Territory. Supplier may also take all commercially reasonable
steps
and measures to stop importation into, and the sale of counterfeit
and
unauthorized goods and the unauthorized use of the Product
and/or
Marketing Materials as well as the Trademarks in, the Territory
including
(i) tracking the source of unauthorized Product or Marketing
Materials,
(ii) sending cease and desist letters to, terminating supply
to, or
terminating distribution rights of third parties marketing,
selling,
and/or distributing unauthorized Product or Marketing Materials,
and (iii)
commencing legal or administrative actions against infringers
in the
country of manufacture of such counterfeit or unauthorized
goods. Supplier
acknowledges that Distributor and its Sublicensees shall have
no liability
to Supplier with regard to counterfeit or unauthorized goods
or
unauthorized Marketing Materials entering the Territory as
a result of
actions of third parties other than the Distributor or Distributor’s
sub-licensees. In addition, provided that Distributor has first
offered to
Supplier the opportunity to take action and Supplier has declined
the
offer or not taken action within five (5) days of receiving
notice from
Distributor, Supplier also hereby grants to Distributor and/or
its
Sublicensees the right, in Distributor's or its Sublicensees’ sole
discretion, to take action to stop the importation or use of
unauthorized
or counterfeit Product or Marketing Materials into the Territory.
Supplier
shall support and cooperate with Distributor’s (and its Sublicensee’s)
efforts to stop the importation or use of unauthorized or counterfeit
Product or Marketing Materials into the Territory, including
but not
limited to executing and delivering such documentation as may
be necessary
or helpful in this regards (such as a power of attorney to
enforce rights
with respect to the intellectual property, or, for Japan, by
executing and
delivering a letter to Distributor designating Distributor’s sublicensee
as the registered exclusive licensee (senyo-shiyo
kensha, or senyo-jisshi kensha)
of the Trademarks and Patent rights in the Territory, as applicable.
A
sample of the senyo-shiyo
kensha
letter is attached hereto as Exhibit
F.
Distributor or one of its Sublicensees shall be entitled to
record such
designation at the appropriate government office.) To the extent
Distributor or one of its Sublicensees takes action to protect,
enforce
and defend the Intellectual Property rights associated with
the Product
and Marketing Materials, Distributor may seek, in addition
to any other
rights and remedies to which it is entitled, including, any
indemnification by Supplier, recovery of its costs from the
alleged
infringer and Supplier shall be entitled to all of the excess
recovered in
the enforcement action. Any award, or portion of an award,
recovered by
Supplier in any such action or proceeding commenced by the
Supplier shall
belong solely to Supplier, once Distributor and its Sublicensees
have
recoved their costs and expenses in bringing the action or
proceeding and
damages from the
infringement..
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6.4 |
Distributor's
Reservation of Rights.
Distributor reserves all rights in and to its Intellectual Property,
information, and materials not related to the Product and nothing
herein
shall grant to Supplier any right to use such Intellectual Property,
information, and materials of
Distributor.
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7. Responsibilities.
7.1. |
Supplier
Covenants & Responsibilities.
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(a) |
Exclusivity.
During the Term, Supplier shall not sell, distribute, or otherwise
market,
approach, or actively enter into any negotiations with a view to
selling,
distributing, or marketing, the Product, or any product that is a
knock-off of or confusingly similar to the Product, to any third
party or
person which Supplier knows or has reason to know, does or intends
to
market, promote, distribute, advertise, or sell such Product, or
any part
or component of the Product, or a competitive or “knock-off” product, in
the Territory. Supplier further agrees for the Term not to assign
its
import license or otherwise authorize any third party or person to
use its
import license to import any Product into the
Territory.
|
8
(b) |
Insurance.
During the Term and for not less than three (3) years following the
expiration or termination of this Agreement, Supplier shall, or Supplier
shall cause the Product owner or Product manufacturer to, maintain
comprehensive general liability insurance, including, without limitation,
product liability insurance providing coverage against, but not limited
to, all forms of liability for any injury, loss, or damage relating
to the
Product, in an amount of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000)
per occurrence, Five Million Dollars ($5000,000) annual aggregate.
The
insurance will be written on an occurrence policy form with an insurance
company with a current rating of A, XII, or better. Supplier shall,
or
Supplier shall cause the Product owner or Product manufacturer to,
arrange
for its insurance policies to be in force from the Effective Date
and
endorsed to include Distributor and its Sublicensees as well as its
affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees and
agents
as additional insureds thereunder. Such endorsement will stipulate
that
the required coverage will not be reduced or canceled without thirty
(30)
calendar days' prior written notice to Distributor. Such endorsement
will
also stipulate that it is the primary coverage and any other insurance
in
force for the additional insureds will act as excess coverage only,
and
Distributor will not be required to contribute in the payment of
any claim
made thereunder to the extent of the limits of liability afforded
by
Supplier’s insurance. Evidence of such required insurance coverage will be
supplied to Distributor within thirty (30) days of the Effective
Date and
at any time upon request during the
Term.
|
(c) |
Regulatory
Compliance.
Supplier shall ensure that the Product and the Marketing Materials
are
market-ready as necessary to meet the regulatory requirements of
the
Territory. If Supplier does not or fails to do so, then at Supplier’s
expense, Distributor may, but shall not be required to, make the
Product
and the Marketing Materials market-ready as necessary to meet the
regulatory requirements of the
Territory.
|
7.2. |
Distributor
Covenants and Responsibilities.
|
(a) |
Performance.
Distributor shall perform its obligations hereunder with the skill
and
care of a professional provider of like
services.
|
(b) |
Marketing.
For the Term, Distributor shall (i) use commercially reasonable efforts
to
market and sell the Product in the Territory; (ii) submit to Distributor
non-binding sales forecasts at least five (5) days prior to the beginning
of each Contract Year quarter; (iii) not make any representations
or give
any warranties concerning the Product which are false or misleading
in any
way or go beyond those warranties and representations made by Supplier
in
this Agreement and/or the Marketing Materials for the Product; and
(iv)
refrain from selling any Product to any entity outside the Territory
or to
any entity who Distributor reasonably believes may resell, export
or use
the Product outside the Territory and refer to Distributor any inquiries
regarding the purchase or sale of any Product coming from outside
the
Territory.
|
(c) |
Advertising.
At its sole cost and expense, Distributor shall prepare and place
any and
all advertising of any nature with respect to the Product in the
Territory. Supplier retains the right to review and revoke all such
advertisement or promotion of the Product in the Territory, such
right to
be reasonably exercised.
|
(d) |
Quality
Standard.
Distributor shall maintain the highest quality and standards of the
Product and shall exercise its best efforts to safeguard the good
will
established by the Trademarks. Distributor shall take all necessary
steps,
and all steps reasonably requested by Supplier, to prevent or avoid
any
misuse of the Trademarks by any of its contractors, distributors
or other
resources.
|
9
8. Representations
and Warranties.
8.1. |
Mutual.
Each Party represents and warrants to the other Party the
following
|
(a) |
Power
and Authority.
That it has the right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and has not entered into any agreement with any third party or person
that
conflicts with its respective obligations hereunder or the rights
granted
to the other Party herein.
|
(b) |
Notice
of Complaints and Claims.
If at any time either party learns of any complaints involving consumers
being injured by use of a Product or learns of any actual or threatened
claims, lawsuits or proceedings by consumers regarding Product safety,
efficacy or functionality, such party shall promptly inform the other
of
the same.
|
(c) |
Survival.
All representations and warranties of either party both expressed
and
implied survive the termination or expiration of the Agreement,
inspections, acceptance and
payment.
|
8.2. |
Supplier.
Supplier represents and warrants to Distributor the
following:
|
(a) |
Specifications
and Requirements.
The Product will correspond in quality, function, design and manufacture
with the Specifications and the sample Product supplied to and approved
by
Distributor, or, if modified to conform to legal or regulatory
requirements, then the modifications agreed to by the Parties.
|
(b) |
Defects.
The Product is free from defects in design, material and
workmanship.
|
(c) |
Quality.
Product shall be new and not used, reconditioned, refurbished or
the like
unless otherwise specified.
|
(d) |
Safety.
The Product is safe for its intended purpose and use, under conditions
of
normal use and service.
|
(e) |
Product
Liability.
Supplier has no knowledge of any product liability claims being made
or
threatened in any country or jurisdiction concerning the safety or
use of
the Product.
|
(f) |
Functionality.
The Product fulfills the description of any quality or function ascribed
to the Product in Marketing Materials or packaging supplied or approved
by
the Supplier, and the Marketing Materials contain no representation
or
statement about any feature, result or functionality of the Product
that
is false, inaccurate or materially
incomplete.
|
(g) |
Manufacturer's
Warranty.
For the warranty period set out in the manufacturer’s warranty for the
Product, which shall be no less than one (1) year, if a faulty Product
is
returned to the Distributor by a consumer, the Supplier will repair,
replace or refund the faulty Product in a timely manner.
|
(h) |
Title
and Compliance with Laws.
The Product delivered to Distributor shall be free of any encumbrance
or
adverse claim and the importation, sale or use of the Product shall
not
contravene any law or regulation, nor infringe, violate, or misappropriate
the patent, trademark, copyright or other Intellectual Property right
of
any third party.
|
10
(i) |
Authority.
Supplier has all the necessary rights, consents and licenses to grant
the
licenses and rights to Distributor and its Sublicensees and to authorize
and permit Distributor and its Sublicensees to perform their services
and
fulfill their responsibilities under this Agreement.
|
8.3. |
Distributor
Warranties.
Distributor hereby represents and warrants to Supplier the
following:
|
(a) |
Experience.
Distributor has experience and knowledge in the sale and distribution
of
direct response TV products.
|
(b) |
Resources.
Distributor has adequate resources and experience to fulfill all
of its
obligations under this Agreement.
|
(c) |
Authority.
Distributor has all the necessary rights, consents and licenses to
grant
the licenses and rights to its Sublicensees and to authorize and
permit
its Sublicensees to perform their services and fulfill their
responsibilities under this Agreement.
|
9. Indemnity.
9.1. |
Mutual.
Each Party shall be liable for and shall indemnify, defend, and hold
the
other harmless against any liability, damages, or loss from any claims,
actions, suits, judgments, proceedings, demands, recoveries or expenses,
including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of,
based on, or caused by any breach of its respective representations
and
warranties contained in this Agreement or which may otherwise arise
as a
result of the gross negligence or the willful actions or inactions
of the
indemnified party.
|
9.2. |
Supplier.
Supplier shall be liable for and shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless
each of Distributor and its parent company and its subsidiaries and
affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees,
resellers, distributors, Customers and agents from
and against all reasonable costs (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys’ fees) in connection with any claim,
suit or other proceeding made, threatened or initiated by a third
party
(i) under Intellectual Property laws, product descriptions, trade
practices law, or product liability laws of any country or (ii) with
respect to any Product recalls or problems that arise
therefrom.
|
9.3. |
Distributor.
Distributor shall be liable for and shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless Supplier and its directors, officers, employees, and agents
from
and against all reasonable costs (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys’ fees) in connection with any claim,
suit or other proceeding made, threatened or initiated by a third
party
under Intellectual Property laws resulting solely from Distributor’s or
Sublicensee’s modifications of or additions to the Product or the
Marketing Materials, or resulting from any act, omission, negligence
or
performance under this Agreement by the Distributor, or its Sublicensees
or agents.
|
11
9.4. |
Limitation
of Liability.
In no event shall either Party be liable to the other Party or any
other
Person for any indirect, punitive (to the fullest extent permitted
by
applicable law), special, consequential or incidental damages, however
caused and on any theory of liability arising out of this agreement,
and
whether or not such Party has been advised of the possibility of
such
damage. These limitations shall apply notwithstanding any failure
of
essential purpose of any limited remedy provided herein. Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.4, the foregoing limitations
of
liability set forth in this Section 9.4 shall not apply to liability
arising under Sections 5.6, 9.1, 9.2 or 9.3 and shall not affect
the
remedies expressly provided in Section
12.2(e).
|
10. Termination.
10.1. |
Termination.
Either Party may terminate this Agreement immediately upon written
notice
of termination served upon the other Party if (a) the other Party
has
materially breached this Agreement and has failed to remedy the breach
within thirty (30) days after written notice thereof; (b) the other
Party
ceases to do business, or otherwise terminates its business operations;
(c) the other Party becomes insolvent or seeks protection under any
bankruptcy, receivership, creditors arrangement, or comparable proceedings
|
10.2. |
Effect
of Termination.
|
(a) |
Termination
for Breach.
In the event of termination of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
terminate, in full or with respect to a specified Product, without
the
need for further action by either Party, but shall not terminate,
by
implication or otherwise, any other agreement among the Parties.
Such
right of termination shall be in addition to such other rights and
remedies as the terminating Party may have hereunder or under applicable
law. Subject to the Sell-Off rights provided herein and excluding
any
indemnification obligations owed by Supplier (with such indemnification
obligations to survive the termination of this Agreement), all rights
granted to Distributor by Supplier under this Agreement shall terminate
upon the termination of this Agreement.
|
(b) |
Inventory.
Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason,
whether
in full or with respect to a specified Product, for six (6) months
from
the date of such expiration or termination (the “Sell-Off Term”),
Distributor shall have the non-exclusive right to sell the Product
and use
the Marketing Materials to close out and exhaust its inventory, including
Product in transit to Distributor. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Supplier
may elect to repurchase all inventories of the Product held by Distributor
at Distributor’s cost and Distributor’s right to a Sell-Off Term would
terminate.
|
(c) |
License
Rights.
Upon expiration of the Sell-Off Term, all relevant rights and licenses
granted to Distributor hereunder shall immediately terminate and
Distributor shall stop all use of the Trademarks and Marketing
Materials.
Distributor agrees to cooperate fully and in good faith with Supplier
and
to execute such documents as Supplier reasonably requests for the
purpose
of securing and preserving Supplier’s rights in and to the Patents,
Trademarks and Marketing Materials in the Territory.
|
12
(d) |
No
Additional Compensation.
When this Agreement is terminated for reasons other than for an uncured
breach, each Party shall not be entitled to any compensation, damages,
payment, for goodwill that has been established, severance pay, or
any
amount for any cause by reason of the termination or expiration of
its
rights under this Agreement (in whole or in part) pursuant to the
terms of
this Agreement despite any applicable law to the contrary. In such
cases,
each Party hereby irrevocably waives and renounces any claim for
compensation, damages or other legal or equitable relief which such
Party
may hereafter be entitled to assert against the other Party under
the laws
in the Territory, or any political subdivision thereof, or the applicable
laws of any other country, by reason of such termination or expiration,
or
by reason of the termination or expiration of any relationship resulting
from this Agreement or any course of dealing at any time between
the
Parties, arising under any such
laws.
|
11. Confidentiality.
11.1. |
Non-Disclosure.
For the Term, and period of two (2) years thereafter, each Party
shall
hold in trust and confidence for the other Party all Confidential
Information (as defined below) disclosed to the receiving Party at
any
time during the Term and neither Party shall disclose such Confidential
Information to any third party except as expressly permitted by this
Agreement. For
purposes of this Agreement, a Party’s attorneys and accountants shall not
be considered as third parties. “Confidential
Information”
means any information that is marked or identified as “Confidential” prior
to its disclosure or if any information is not so marked or is disclosed
orally or visually, identified as confidential within thirty (30)
days
after such of disclosure.
|
11.2. |
Exceptions.
Confidential Information shall not include any information disclosed
by a
Party hereunder which (i) is already known to the receiving Party
prior to
the date of disclosure; (ii) is rightfully received by the receiving
Party
in the routine course of business from a third party; (iii) is approved
for release or publication by written authorization of the disclosing
Party; (iv) is independently developed by a Party through no breach
of
this Agreement; or (v) has become generally available to the public
through no act of the receiving
Party.
|
11.3. |
Limitations
on Use; Return of Information. All
Confidential Information disclosed to a Party hereunder is, and shall
remain, the sole property of the disclosing Party. Upon termination
or
expiration of this Agreement (but subject to the Sell-Off rights
set forth
in this Agreement), each Party shall cease use of all Confidential
Information of the other Party, and shall promptly destroy or return
to
the disclosing Party, all such Confidential Information upon written
request.
|
12. General
Provisions.
12.1. |
Third
Party Beneficiaries.
Supplier acknowledges that Oak Lawn Marketing, Inc., Vector Direct
Limited, and Vector Versandhandels GmbH, each of which has been designated
by Distributor as Sublicensee for the Product in certain countries
in the
Territory, are third party beneficiaries to this Agreement with respect
to
the grant of rights to Distributor hereunder, including, without
limitation, the right to receive Product, the right to inspect the
Product
for compliance with the Specifications and AQL, the right to maintain
and
enforce the Intellectual Property rights in and to the Product and
Marketing Materials as well as the Patents and Trademarks, Supplier's
covenants and responsibilities, including, without limitation, Supplier's
insurance obligations, Supplier representations and warranties, and
Supplier's indemnification obligations. Supplier acknowledges that
Oak
Lawn Marketing, Inc., Vector Direct Limited, and Vector Versandhandels
GmbH shall have the right to assert all such rights against Supplier
directly, and Supplier shall not raise as a defense that Oak Lawn
Marketing, Inc., Vector Direct Limited, and Vector Versandhandels
GmbH are
not Parties to this Agreement.
|
13
12.2. |
Dispute
Resolution.
|
(a) |
Governing
Law.
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Nevada without
regard to the principles of conflicts of law.
|
(b) |
Disputes.
Prior to initiating any proceeding in accordance with this Agreement,
the
Parties hereto agree to attempt to resolve any dispute arising in
connection with this Agreement (a “Dispute”)
promptly, equitably and in a good faith manner. To this end, each
of
Supplier and Distributor shall designate in writing to the other
Party a
representative who shall be authorized to resolve by an agreement
among
them any Dispute and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein,
to
exercise the authority of such Party to reach such an agreement.
Either
Party may change its representative from time to time by written
notice to
the other Party. If for any reason any Dispute is not resolved among
the
Parties within thirty (30) days from the date on which one Party
receives
written notification from the other Party that a Dispute exists,
then,
subject to Section 12.2(e), such Dispute shall be settled exclusively
and
finally by arbitration in accordance with Section 12.2(c) and (d)
hereof.
|
(c) |
Arbitration.
Arbitration between the Parties shall be held and finally settled
in Reno,
Nevada, and shall be conducted pursuant to the commercial Rules of
the
American Arbitration Association in force when the arbitration commences.
The arbitration shall be conducted before an arbitral tribunal composed
of
three (3) arbitrators. Each Party shall, within twenty (20) days
after the
mailing of the initiating notice, choose one (1) arbitrator. Unless
the
Parties agree on the third arbitrator within ten (10) days after
each of
the Parties has selected an arbitrator, the two (2) arbitrators chosen
shall, within thirty (30) days after the mailing of the initiating
notice,
select a third arbitrator. A person shall be ineligible to be the
neutral
arbitrator if he/she (or any of his/her affiliates) is an affiliate
of,
vendor or service provider to, or customer of, any Party or its
affiliates. Unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, any arbitrator
must
be a licensed attorney who has practiced international trade and
contracts
law for at least ten (10) years, and shall be chosen by the Parties
within
fifteen (15) days from lists of qualified persons provided by the
American
Arbitration Association.
|
(d) |
Procedure.
The arbitration shall be conducted in the English language. All documents
submitted in connection with such proceeding shall be in the English
language or, if in another language, accompanied by a certified English
translation. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the
Parties
shall remain in full force and effect pending the award in such
arbitration proceeding, which award, if appropriate, shall determine
whether and when any termination shall become effective. The arbitration
award shall be final and binding on the Parties. Judgment on the
award may
be entered by any court having jurisdiction over the Party against
whom
enforcement is sought.
|
14
(e) |
Injunctive
Relief.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Party acknowledges and agrees
that any
breach, threatened or actual, by the other Party of any representations,
warranties, or covenants expressly set forth herein that relate to
the
Parties' confidentiality obligations or to each Party's respective
Intellectual Property rights under this Agreement, including, without,
limitation, Distributor's exclusive and sole license rights, will
cause
irreparable injury and that such injury would not be quantifiable
in
monetary damages alone. Accordingly, each Party acknowledges and
agrees
that the other Party would not have an adequate remedy at law and
shall
otherwise be entitled, in addition to other available remedies, to
seek
and be awarded an injunction or other appropriate equitable relief
from a
court of competent jurisdiction restraining any breach, threatened
or
actual, of each Party's respective representations, warranties, or
covenants. In connection with this acknowledgment, each Party hereby
waives any requirement that a Party post any bond or other security
in the
event any injunctive or equitable relief is sought by or awarded
to such
Party to enforce its rights under this
Agreement.
|
12.3. |
Exclusion
of Law.
The application of the 1980 UN Convention on Contracts for The
International Sale of Goods to any transaction hereunder is hereby
expressly excluded.
|
12.4. |
Relationship
of the Parties.
The Parties are independent contractors. Nothing in this Agreement
shall
be construed to constitute the Parties as principal and agent, employer
and employee, franchiser and franchisee, partners, joint venturers,
affiliates, co-owners or otherwise as participants in a joint undertaking.
The Parties shall not be jointly or severally liable for any breach
of
this Agreement by any other Party. Each of Distributor and its
Sublicensees as well as Supplier shall each be individually responsible
and liable for performance of its respective obligations under this
Agreement.
|
12.5. |
Assignment.
Except for Distributor's right to sublicense as set forth in this
Section
2.1(d), neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or
obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any Party without the
prior
written consent of the other Parties, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.
|
12.6. |
Publication,
Press Releases.
Each Party shall send the other Party a copy of any draft press release
that refers to the other Party, for advance approval before release.
Approvals will not be unreasonably withheld, and shall be provided
on a
timely basis.
|
12.7. |
Interpretation.
All Recitals and all Exhibits attached to this Agreement constitute
an
integral part of this Agreement. The definitions of this Agreement
shall
apply to all Exhibits. The headings of sections and subsections of
this
Agreement are inserted only for the purposes of convenience and they
shall
not be construed as to affect the scope, meaning or intent of the
provisions of this Agreement or any part or portion thereof, nor
shall
they otherwise be given any legal effect. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, any word used in the singular shall include,
where
appropriate, the plural and vice versa. The terms “include” and
“including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without
limitation,” whether or not so followed. The interpretation of this
Agreement shall not be construed against either
Party.
|
15
12.8. |
Notices.
Any and all notices, requests, demands and other communications required
or otherwise contemplated to be made under this Agreement shall be
in
writing and in English and shall be provided by one or more of the
following means and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if
delivered personally, when received; (ii) if transmitted by facsimile,
on
the date of transmission with receipt of a transmittal confirmation;
or
(iii) if by international courier service, on the fourth (4th)
business day following the date of deposit with such courier service,
or
such earlier delivery date as may be confirmed in writing to the
sender by
such courier service. Unless otherwise instructed, all such notices,
requests, demands and other communications shall be addressed to
Parties
at their addresses and/or fax numbers as follows.
|
If
to
Distributor:
Global
Infomercial Services, Inc.
00000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Phone:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxx, President
With
copy
to Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxx
X. Xxxxx & Associates
Attorneys
at Law
00000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Phone
000-000-0000
Fax
000-000-0000
If
to
Supplier:
Aerogrow
International Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Phone:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, CFO
16
12.9. |
No
Waiver.
Failure by either Party to enforce any provision of this Agreement
will
not be deemed a waiver of future enforcement of that or any other
provision.
|
12.10. |
Force
Majeure.
Neither Party shall be responsible for any failure to perform due
to
unforeseen circumstances or to causes beyond the Party’s reasonable
control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, war, terrorist
act,
riot, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, government
orders,
changes in statutes, rules, or regulations, fire, floods, or accidents.
In
the event of any such failure to perform, the Party in delay may
defer the
required performance date only for a period equal to the time of
event of
force majeure is in effect. The Parties acknowledge that the lack
of
liquidity by one Party shall not constitute a Force Majeure event
and that
this Section
12.10 will not be applicable to any payment obligations of either
party.
|
12.11. |
Severability.
If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or
unenforceable, the provision shall be deemed to be severable from
the
remainder of this Agreement and shall not cause the invalidity or
unenforceability of the remainder of this Agreement. The Parties
shall
make their best efforts in order to render effective such provisions
of
this Agreement not affected thereby and this Agreement will continue
in
full force and effect.
|
12.12. |
Amendments.
This Agreement may be modified or amended only in writing, signed
by both
of the Parties.
|
12.13. |
Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each
of which
shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of this
Agreement by facsimile or .pdf/e-mail copy will be deemed as effective
as
delivery of an originally executed counterpart.
|
12.14. |
Entire
Agreement.
This Agreement, including all Exhibits, constitutes the entire agreement
among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes
all prior agreements, understanding or representations, oral or written
between the Parties hereto regarding such
matter.
|
17
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement, as of the
Effective Date.
GLOBAL
INFOMERCIAL SERVICES ("DISTRIBUTOR")
BY:
Xxxxx. X. Xxxx
TITLE:
President
SIGNATURE: _____________________________
|
AEROGROW
INTERNATIONAL INC.
("SUPPLIER")
BY:
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx
TITLE:
CFO
SIGNATURE:
______________________________
|
EXHIBIT
A
AeroGrow
has filed 19 patent applications in the United States to protect its
technologies and products. These applications are for:
· seed
germination pods that transport, support and germinate seedlings in aeroponic
or
hydroponic devices and support the growth of the plant to maturity, filed in
November 2003, application serial number 10/714,786, and responded to examiner’s
second action,
· use
of
infrared beams to measure plant roots which creates a basis for the regulation
of nutrients, oxygen and plant growth, filed in December 2003, application
serial number 10/748,321, and responding to examiner’s second
action,
· PONDS
(passive, osmotic nutrient delivery system) technology, which is a nutrient
delivery system using no moving parts, filed in March 2005, application serial
number 11/079,054,
· RAIN
(rain-aerated ionized nutrient) system technology, which hyper-oxygenates and
ionizes plant roots in AeroGrow’s kitchen garden systems, filed in March 2005,
application serial number 10/528,110,
· rainforest
growing dome for maximizing germination, filed in April 2005, application serial
number 11/098,176, and responded to examiner’s second action,
· growing
basket for optimizing liquid and nutrient delivery, filed in April 2005,
application serial number 11/111,553, and responding to examiner’s second
action,
· methods
for growing plants using seed germination pods, filed in April 2005, application
serial number 11/112,269, and responding to examiner’s second
action,
· devices
and methods for growing plants by measuring liquid or nutrient usage rate,
the
adaptive growth learning technologies, filed in December 2005, application
serial number 11/321,368,
· time-release
oxygen generating nutrient compositions and methods for growing plants, filed
in
December 2005, application serial number 11/321,910,
· pH
buffered plant nutrient compositions and methods for growing plants, filed
in
December 2005, application serial number 11/321,023,
· apparatus
and methods for delivering photoradiation to plants, filed in June 2006,
application serial number 60/814,853,
· smart
garden devices and methods for hydroponic gardens, filed in June 2006,
application serial number 11/455,364,
· indoor
gardening appliance, filed in August 2005, application serial number 29/235,880,
· master
gardener baskets and methods for growing plants, filed in August 2006,
application serial number 60,840,575,
· devices
and methods for growing plants, filed in January 2007, application serial number
11/653,121,
· indoor
gardening appliance, filed in January 2007, application serial number
29/271,260,
· indoor
gardening appliance, filed January 2007, application serial number 29/271,259,
and
· systems
and methods for controlling liquid delivery and distribution to plants, filed
January 2007, application serial number 11/654,164.
AeroGrow
has filed 28 trademark applications in the United States (7 of which have been
allowed) and three trademark applications designating 33 countries, which it
intends to prosecute to protect its products and brand equity. The applications
are for:
· Farmers
Market Fresh, filed in July 2005, application serial number 78671280, and
allowed,
· Kitchen
Harvest filed in December 2005, application serial number 78781094,
· AeroGarden
filed in December 2005, application serial number 78781935, and
allowed,
· Xxxxxx’x
Market in Your Kitchen, filed in March 2006, application serial number 78836826,
and allowed,
· Off
the
Plant and Into the Pot, filed in March 2006, application serial number 78836758,
and allowed,
· Cut
&
Xxxx, filed in March 2006, application serial number 78836736, and
allowed,
· Bio-Dome,
filed in March 2006, application serial number 78836718, and
allowed,
· AeroPod,
filed in March 2006, application serial number 78836577, and
allowed,
· AeroGarden,
filed in Mexico in June 2006, application serial number 790722, and responding
to examiner’s action,
· AeroGarden,
filed in 31 countries under the Madrid Protocol in June 2006, application serial
number A0005030,
· AeroGarden,
filed in Canada in June 2006, application serial number 1,305,822,
· International
Gourmet, filed in May 2006, application serial number 78874379, and about to
publish,
· Xxxxxx’x
Market Fresh, filed in May 2006, application serial number 78882877, and
responding to examiner’s action,
· AeroGrow,
filed in April 2005, application serial number 78614573, responded to examiners
first action and suspended,
· MiniGarden,
filed in August 2006, application serial number 78955672,
· GrowNow,
filed in August 2006, application serial number 78955692, and responding to
examiner’s action,
· Green
Thumb Guarantee, filed in September 2006, application serial number
77007729,
· BioTransport,
filed in September 2006, application serial number 77009465,
· Herb
Appeal, filed November 2006, application serial number 77045636,
· Strawberry
Patch, filed November 2006, application serial number 77045993
· Sweet
Rubies, filed December 2006, application serial number 77058522,
· Plug
& Grow, filed December 2006, application serial number
77058534,
· Even
Better Than Organic, filed December 2006, application serial number 77070519,
and responding to examiner’s action,
· AeroGarden,
filed December 2006, application serial number 77073259, and responding to
examiner’s first action,
· AeroGarden,
filed December 2006, application serial number 77073339, and responding to
examiner’s first action,
· AeroGarden,
filed December 2006, application serial number 77073345, and responding to
examiner’s first action,
· AeroGarden,
filed December 2006, application serial number 77073362,
· AeroGarden,
filed December 2006, application serial number 77073424,
· AeroGarden,
filed December 2006, application serial number 77073448, and
· Herb
`n
Serve, filed January 2007, application serial number 77095536.
TRADEMARKS
Title
|
Country
|
Number
|
Date
of Renewal
|
EXHIBIT
B
[REDACTED]
EXHIBIT
C
TERRITORY
Exclusive
rights in Japan, and Taiwan
EXHIBIT
D
[REDACTED]
EXHIBIT
E
INSPECTION
AND REPAIR GUIDELINES
1) Distributor
shall conduct inward inspection based on the Specifications. Among other things,
the AQL and MIL-STD-105E (or equivalent standard used in the Territory) single
sampling plan, with AQL minor 4.0 and major 1.0, shall be used in determining
and acceptable defect level (an “Unacceptable Defect Level”).
2) Distributor
shall inform Distributor and Supplier if the inspection reveals an Unacceptable
Defect Level and the Parties will discuss and agree to a remedy within three
(3)
business days. If an agreement is not reached within three (3) business days,
Supplier hereby agrees to allow Distributor to conduct a one hundred percent
(100%) inspection of all units received in that shipment, at Supplier’s cost,
provided that the inspection cost per unit does not exceed ten percent (10%)
of
the unit price FOB value. Distributor shall invoice Supplier the lesser of
the
actual cost of inspection or the labor cost of $20/hour to perform the
inspection. (Additionally, in the event the inspection reveals minor defects
and
such defective units can be refurbished or repaired in the Territory,
Distributor will promptly inform Supplier, and if Supplier does not respond
within three (3) business days, Distributor may proceed with the refurbishment
and repair, provided that the refurbishing cost per unit does not exceed an
additional ten percent (10%) of the unit price FOB value. Distributor shall
invoice Supplier based on the lesser of the actual labor cost to refurbish
or
repair the units and the labor cost of $20/hour to perform the refurbishment
plus,
in
addition and separately, any other actual expense incurred during the
refurbishment, including spare parts, tools, materials, fixtures and
detergents.)
3) In
the
event defective units will not be refurbished or repaired, Distributor shall
return such units to Supplier at Supplier’s expense and Distributor shall
receive a one-for-one replacement, or, at Distributor’s sole option, a refund
will be applied towards the next purchase order. Upon Supplier’s request,
Distributor shall return such units to Supplier at Supplier’s expense. In the
event that Supplier does not wish to have the defective units returned to it,
Supplier shall reimburse Distributor for disposal costs.
4) In
the
event that more than two percent (2%) of Product shipped to Distributor under
any one Purchase Order fails to conform to the Specifications or the AQL, such
non-conformance shall be considered an endemic
problem,
and, in
addition to a refund on all rejected Product, Distributor may, at its sole
option and discretion, as a non-exclusive remedy, terminate this Agreement
for
breach in accordance with its terms, cancel all pending Purchase Orders, and
receive a refund of all monies paid to Supplier for such orders. Distributor
may
also return all previously undiscovered non-conforming Product still in its
inventory.
EXHIBIT
F
FORMAT
OF REGISTRATION OF EXCLUSIVE USE RIGHT OF THE
TRADEMARKS
LETTER
OF LICENSE
Date
Month, Year
Trademark
Registration No.
(Japanese
Trademark Application No.)
We
hereby
agree to establish the following registered license concerning the trademark
mentioned above.
1. |
The
scope of the registered exclusive
license.
|
Area:
Term:
During the valid term of this trademark
Contents:
All
Registered
Exclusive License Owner
Address:
Name:
Representative:
Trademark
Owner
Address:
Name:
Representative:
____________________________________
(Signature)
Nationality:
EXHIBIT
G
[REDACTED]