EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), is made by and between Image Sensing Systems, Inc., and its subsidiaries and divisions (collectively, "ISS"), and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx ("Xxxxxxxxx") as of the 29th day of April, 2019 (the "Effective Date").
RECITALS:
A. ISS has offered Xxxxxxxxx, and Xxxxxxxxx has accepted, the position of Chief Financial Officer of ISS under the terms of this Agreement.
B. ISS and Xxxxxxxxx mutually agree to the terms set forth in this Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and conditions contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, ISS and Xxxxxxxxx agree as follows:
AGREEMENT:
1. Employment; Definitions.
(a) Employment. Xxxxxxxxx is an at-will employee, and his employment may be terminated by either Xxxxxxxxx or ISS at any time, with or without cause.
(b) Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(i) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and the regulations, notices and other guidance of general applicability issued thereunder.
(ii) "Fair Market Value" means the per share closing price of ISS's common stock or any other securities into which ISS's common stock has been converted that are subject to Options, Awards of Restricted Stock, or Restricted Stock Units to be granted or held by Xxxxxxxxx as quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market or any other exchange on which such common stock or other securities are principally traded or, if such common stock or securities are not traded on any exchange, the fair market value of such common stock or securities as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of ISS or its successor.
(iii) "Good Reason" means Xxxxxxxxx has provided written notice to ISS within 90 days following the occurrence of any of the following events, provided the event results in a negative change to Xxxxxxxxx, which notice describes the event in reasonable detail and the facts and circumstances claimed by Xxxxxxxxx to constitute Good Reason, and ISS has not cured the event within 30 days after receiving such notice from Xxxxxxxxx:
(A) the assignment of Xxxxxxxxx without Xxxxxxxxx'x consent to a position with material responsibilities or duties of a lesser status or degree than the position of Chief Financial Officer;
(B) the relocation of Xxxxxxxxx'x principal office for ISS business, without Xxxxxxxxx'x consent, to a location more than 50 miles outside Xxxxxxxxx'x work location as of the date of this Agreement;
(C) a material reduction, in the aggregate, in base salary, variable pay opportunities or the employee benefits in which Xxxxxxxxx is entitled to participate irrespective of any standard waiting periods with respect to the same, unless such material reduction is generally applicable to all employees of ISS with a similar ranking to Xxxxxxxxx; or
(D) a material breach or a material adverse modification of this Agreement by ISS without Xxxxxxxxx'x consent.
Termination for "Good Reason" shall not include Xxxxxxxxx'x death or a termination for any reason other than one of the events described in clauses (A) through (D) of this Section l(b)(iii).
(iv) "Termination Date" means the date upon which Xxxxxxxxx'x "separation from service" with ISS within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code (with "ISS" for purposes of this paragraph to include any business entity that is treated as a single employer with ISS under the rules of Section 414(b) and (c) of the Code).
(v) "With Cause" means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(A) the conviction of Xxxxxxxxx of, or a plea of "guilty" or "no contest" by Xxxxxxxxx to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the conviction of Xxxxxxxxx of, or a plea of "guilty" or "no contest" by Xxxxxxxxx to, any act involving moral turpitude;
(B) Xxxxxxxxx'x breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit;
(C) Xxxxxxxxx'x willful and material misconduct in the performance of duties assigned to Xxxxxxxxx as the Chief Financial Officer of ISS;
(D) Xxxxxxxxx'x consistent failure to perform the reasonable stated duties assigned to Xxxxxxxxx under this Agreement; or
(E) Illegal or unethical business practices by Xxxxxxxxx including, but not limited to, the commission of fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement in connection with ISS's business.
2. Duties. Xxxxxxxxx will devote his full professional time, attention and eff01ts to the business and affairs of ISS during his employment with ISS, and Xxxxxxxxx agrees that, to the best of his ability and experience, and at all times, he will conscientiously perform the duties and obligations assigned to him.
3. Compensation.
(a) Salary. ISS will pay Xxxxxxxxx a base salary at a rate of$9,166.67 per semi-monthly pay period, which is equal to $220,000.00 annualized, for the remainder of the 2019 calendar year or until the earlier termination of Xxxxxxxxx'x employment under this Agreement, less all required withholdings and deductions, payable in accordance with ISS's standard payroll procedures in effect from time to time. Xxxxxxxxx'x performance will be evaluated by ISS's Board of Directors from time to time in its discretion but no less often than annually.
(b) Grant of Restricted Stock. On the Effective Date, ISS will grant to Xxxxxxxxx a one-time grant of shares of Restricted Stock under the terms of the Image Sensing Systems, Inc. 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan effective as of April 9, 2014, as amended (the "Plan"), with a Fair Market Value of$55,000.00 on the Effective Date, which will vest as to one-third of the shares of ISS's common stock subject to such Award of Restricted Stock over a three-year period on each anniversary date of the Effective Date in 2020, 2021 and 2022 if Xxxxxxxxx is then an employee of ISS. The grant of any future Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Options or other Awards to Xxxxxxxxx under the Plan or otherwise will be in the discretion of ISS's Board of Directors or other person or party with authority to grant such future Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Options or other Awards. For purposes of this Agreement, the terms "Option," "Restricted Stock," "Restricted Stock Units" and "Award" shall have the meaning set fo1th in the Plan or any successor or replacement plan of a similar nature.
(c) Bonuses. Xxxxxxxxx will be eligible to participate in an annual cash incentive award of a target bonus equal to 25% of Xxxxxxxxx'x annual base salary for the previous calendar year, proportionately pro-rated for any p011ion of the previous calendar year that he worked. Such annual cash incentive award will be based on the attainment of gross profit and operating income performance goals for the previous calendar year set by ISS's Board of Directors or other person or party with authority to determine such bonus in its discretion and will be payable upon completion of the audit of ISS's financial statements for the previous calendar year.
(d) Employee Benefits. Xxxxxxxxx will be entitled to insurance and other benefits in accordance with ISS's standard and executive benefits in effect from time to time. These benefits include several elections that must be made by Xxxxxxxxx. Plan books, Summary Plan Descriptions, and Plan Legal Documents containing formal descriptions of all available benefits have been or will be provided to Xxxxxxxxx. ISS is entitled to change, modify, or discontinue such benefits at its sole discretion.
(e) Vacation. Xxxxxxxxx is entitled to vacation each year in accordance with ISS's vacation policy in effect from time to time.
4. Reimbursement of Reasonable Travel and Business Expenses. ISS will, in accordance with its policies in effect from time to time, reimburse Xxxxxxxxx for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Xxxxxxxxx in connection with the performance of his duties under this Agreement, upon submission of the necessary documentation required pursuant to ISS's standard policies and record keeping procedures. Xxxxxxxxx also agrees that he will adhere to ISS's travel policy, which is subject to amendment from time to time.
5. Confidentiality, Noncompetition and Invention Assignment. Xxxxxxxxx has reviewed and, on the Effective Date, has signed Appendix A to this Agreement.
6. Severance upon Termination of Employment.
(a) Voluntary Termination. Should Xxxxxxxxx terminate his employment for any reason other than for Good Reason as provided in Section l(b)(iii) of this Agreement, (i) ISS shall pay Xxxxxxxxx all earned and unpaid amounts due to him for salary through the termination date; (ii) Xxxxxxxxx shall have 90 days after the date of the termination of his employment (or such shorter period as is provided in the Plan, or any successor or replacement plan of a similar nature, or an agreement governing an Option or other Award) to exercise all Options registered in Xxxxxxxxx 's name that are exercisable as of such termination date; and (iii) any other Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Awards registered in Xxxxxxxxx'x name and that are not vested and not exercisable by Xxxxxxxxx shall automatically terminate. Except as expressly provided herein, to the extent that there is any conflict between the provisions of this Section 6(a) and the provisions of the Plan or any agreement governing Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or other Awards registered in Xxxxxxxxx'x name, the provisions of this Section 6(a) shall govern.
(b) Termination by ISS "With Cause." Should ISS terminate Xxxxxxxxx'x employment With Cause, Xxxxxxxxx shall not be entitled to any severance, and all of the Options, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units registered in Xxxxxxxxx'x name, whether or not vested and whether or not exercisable, shall automatically terminate; provided, however, that Xxxxxxxxx shall have ten (10) days to cure any alleged breach, failure, or misconduct under Section l(b)(v)(D) of this Agreement, if such alleged breach, failure or misconduct is curable, after ISS provides Xxxxxxxxx written notice of the actions or omissions constituting such breach, failure, or misconduct. Except as expressly provided herein, to the extent that there is any conflict between the provisions of this Section 6(b) and the provisions of the Plan or any agreement governing Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or other Awards registered in Xxxxxxxxx'x name, the provisions of this Section 6(b) shall govern.
(c) Termination by ISS "Without Cause." Should ISS terminate Xxxxxxxxx'x employment for any reason other than (I) With Cause, or (2) because of Xxxxxxxxx'x inability to perform his duties because of death or disability, upon entry into a release agreement substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as Appendix B (the "Release Agreement"), (i) Xxxxxxxxx shall be entitled to three months of salary continuation, without eligibility for bonus; and (ii) he shall have 90 days after the date of the termination of his employment (or such shorter period as is provided in the Plan, or any successor or replacement plan of a similar nature, or an agreement governing the Option) to exercise all Options registered in Xxxxxxxxx'x name that are vested and exercisable as of such Termination Date. Any other Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Awards registered in Xxxxxxxxx'x name that are not vested and not exercisable shall automatically terminate upon termination of Xxxxxxxxx'x employment under this Section 6(c). ISS and Xxxxxxxxx have the ability, however, at any time, to terminate this Agreement by mutual written agreement, with or without the severance benefit. Except as expressly provided herein, to the extent that there is any conflict between the provisions of this Section 6(c) and the provisions of the Plan or any agreement governing Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or other Awards owned by Xxxxxxxxx, the provisions of this Section 6(c) shall govern.
(d) Post-Termination Obligations and Conditions. In the event of the termination of Xxxxxxxxx'x employment with ISS, the sole obligation of !SS to Xxxxxxxxx will be ISS's obligation to make any payments it is required to make to Xxxxxxxxx as provided in this Agreement, and ISS will have no other obligation to Xxxxxxxxx or to Xxxxxxxxx'x beneficiary(ies) or estate.
(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6(c) of this Agreement, ISS will not be obligated to make any payments to Xxxxxxxxx under Section 6(c) unless: (A) Xxxxxxxxx has signed the Release Agreement within 25 days following his Termination Date; (B) any and all applicable rescission periods provided by law for releases of claims shall have expired and Xxxxxxxxx shall have signed and not rescinded the release of claims; and (C) Xxxxxxxxx is in strict compliance with the terms of this Agreement as of the date(s) of such payments.
(ii) Any salary continuation provided under Section 6(c) of this Agreement shall be paid in equal installments over the period in accordance with the normal payroll practices for ISS, with the first such installment to commence with the first normal payroll for ISS that follows the execution of the Release Agreement and expiration of all applicable rescission periods without rescission; provided that: (A) the first installment payment shall include all amounts of that would otherwise have been paid to Xxxxxxxxx during the period beginning on the Termination Date and ending on the first payment date if no delay had been imposed; and (B) If the period during which the first installment payment potentially could be made (as determined on the Termination Date) spans two calendar years, the first installment payment shall not be made until the first normal payroll for ISS in the second of the calendar years.
(iii) Immediately upon the termination of Xxxxxxxxx'x employment with ISS for any reason, Xxxxxxxxx will resign all positions then held as an officer, director or manager of ISS and of affiliated entities of ISS.
(e) Withholding Taxes. ISS shall be entitled to deduct from all payments or benefits provided for under this Agreement any federal, state or local income and employment-related taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments or benefits.
(f) Compliance with Code Section 409A.
(i) The parties to this Agreement intend that the payments described in Section 6(c) of this Agreement shall be excluded from deferred compensation as a "short-term deferral" under Treas. Reg. § l.409A-l (b)(4). The parties to this Agreement intend that the continuation of any health and dental benefits under this Agreement shall be excluded from deferred compensation pursuant to the medical benefits exception for separation pay plans under Treas. Reg. §l.409A-l(b)(9)(v)(B).
(ii) The parties to this Agreement intend that the continuation of any life and disability insurance benefits under this Agreement shall be excluded from deferred compensation as separation pay due to an involuntary separation from service under Treas. Reg. § l .409A- l(b )(9)(iii), and the amounts payable for any such continuation of life and disability insurance coverage shall not exceed two times the lesser of (A) Xxxxxxxxx'x annualized compensation based on the annual rate of pay for services to ISS for the calendar year prior to the calendar year in which the Termination
Date occurs (adjusted for any increase during the year that was expected to continue indefinitely if Xxxxxxxxx had not separated from service) or (B) the compensation limit under Section 40l(a)(l 7) of the Code for the year in which the Termination Date occurs.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any of the payments described in Section 6(c) of this Agreement are subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A, and ISS determines that Xxxxxxxxx is a "specified employee" as defined in Code Section 409A as of Xxxxxxxxx'x Termination Date, such payments shall not be paid or commence earlier than the date that is six months after the Termination Date, but shall be paid or commence during the calendar year following the year in which the Termination Date occurs and within 30 days of the earliest possible date permitted under Code Section 409A.
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices. Any and all notices permitted or required to be given under this Agreement must be in writing. Notices will be deemed given (i) when personally received or when sent by facsimile transmission (to the receiving party's facsimile number), (ii) on the first business day after having been sent by commercial overnight courier with written verification of receipt, or (iii) on the third business day after having been sent by registered or certified mail from a location on the United States mainland, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, whichever occurs first, at the address set forth below or at any new address, notice of which will have been given in accordance with this Paragraph:
| If to ISS: | Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
| 000 Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx | |
| 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx. Xxxx |
|
| Xx. Xxxx, XX 00000 |
|
| by | (or other address as is notified in writing from time to time by ISS to Xxxxxxxxx return receipt requested, postage prepaid post) |
| If to Xxxxxxxxx: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx 6957 |
| 6957 Tartan Curve | |
| Xxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 | |
| by |
(or other address as is notified in writing from time to time by Xxxxxxxxx to ISS return receipt requested, postage prepaid post) |
(b) Amendments. Except as provided in the next sentence, this Agreement may not be changed or modified in whole or in part except by a writing signed by ISS and Xxxxxxxxx. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, ISS and Xxxxxxxxx agree that ISS has the right to amend this Agreement without Xxxxxxxxx'x consent to the extent necessary or desirable to comply with Code Section 409A, provided that no such amendment may reduce the amount of any benefits payable to Xxxxxxxxx without Xxxxxxxxx'x consent.
(c) Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted according to the laws of the State of Minnesota without regard to its conflicts law.
(d) No Waiver. The failure of either party to this Agreement to insist on strict compliance with any of the terms of this Agreement in any instance or instances will not be deemed to be a waiver of any term of this Agreement or of that party's right to require strict compliance with the terms of this Agreement in any
other instance.
(e) Severability. Xxxxxxxxx and ISS recognize that the limitations contained in this Agreement are reasonably and properly required for the adequate protection of the interests of ISS. If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction or binding arbitration proceeding finds any provision of this Agreement, or the application of any part of this Agreement, to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement will be interpreted so as best to reasonably effect the intent of the parties to this Agreement. The parties to this Agreement further agree that the court or arbitrator shall replace any such invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid and enforceable provisions designed to achieve, to the extent possible, the business purposes and intent of such unenforceable provisions.
(f) Entire Agreement. With the exception of the Plan and any agreement or other document setting forth the terms of an "Award" granted to Xxxxxxxxx under the Plan (as the term "Award" is defined in the Plan), this Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and, with the foregoing exceptions, supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements or understandings, inducements or conditions, express or implied, written or oral, including, without limitation, between the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
(g) Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue in effect until the date on which Xxxxxxxxx'x employment with ISS terminates for any reason whatsoever; provided, that any rights and obligations accruing upon or prior to the termination or expiration of this Agreement shall survive to the extent necessary to enforce such rights and obligations.
(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by Xxxxxxxxx, his heirs and the personal representative(s) of his estate, and it shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of ISS and its successors and assigns. ISS will require the transferee of any sale of all or substantially all of the business and assets of ISS or the survivor of any merger, consolidation or other transaction expressly to agree to honor this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that ISS would be required to perform this Agreement if no such event had taken place. The failure of ISS to obtain such agreement before the effective date of such event shall be a material breach of this Agreement by ISS within the meaning of Section l (b)(iii)(D) of this Agreement.
(i) Captions. The headings or captions set forth in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
U) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(k) Representation by Legal Counsel. Xxxxxxxxx acknowledges that this Agreement was prepared by Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A., as legal counsel for ISS, which does not represent Xxxxxxxxx; Xxxxxxxxx has consulted with and has been represented by legal counsel of Xxxxxxxxx'x own choice in connection with the meaning, interpretation, negotiation, drafting and effect of this Agreement or has had to opportunity to do so but has chosen not to do so; and the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement or any exhibits or amendments hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Xxxxxxxxx and ISS have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the Effective Date.
APPENDIX A
TO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN IMAGE SENSING SYSTEMS, INC., AND XXXXX XXXXXXXXX
CONFIDENTIALITY, NONCOMPETITION AND INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
This CONFIDENTIALITY, NONCOMPETITION, AND INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
("Agreement") between Image Sensing Systems, Inc. ("ISS"), and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx ("Employee") is signed and dated as of April 29, 2019.
As an express condition of Employee's employment with ISS, for his receipt of ISS benefits, and other valuable consideration, and in exchange for other premises and mutual promises contained in this Agreement, ISS and Employee agree as follows:
I. Confidential and Proprietary Information.
(a) Employee understands and agrees that, during the course of his employment with ISS, he will receive proprietary, confidential, and trade secret information - all of which has special value to and constitutes a unique asset of ISS (collectively referred to in this Agreement as "Confidential & Proprietary Information"). Employee agrees that he will not disclose such Confidential & Proprietary Information during the period of his employment or after the termination of his employment for any reason whatsoever and that he will not use or share the same with any person, firm, or corporation without first obtaining ISS's written consent.
(b) For these purposes, "Confidential and Proprietary Information" includes, but is not limited to, confidential information relating to ISS's business, products and services, customers, or vendors; trade secrets, data, specifications, developments, inventions, patents, patent materials, copyrightable subject matter and ideas, processes, know-how, designs, computer systems, and research activity; marketing and sales strategies, marketing and product plans, information, pricing strategies, and techniques; long and short term business plans; existing and prospective client, vendor, and employee lists, contacts, and information; financial and personnel information; any information and/or applications relating to ISS's internal information systems; and any other information concerning the business of ISS which is not disclosed to the general public or known in the industry, except for disclosure necessary in the course of Employee's duties or with the express written consent of ISS. All Confidential and Proprietary Information, including all copies, notes regarding, correspondence and/or electronic communications regarding, and replications of such Confidential and Proprietary Information will remain the sole property of ISS and must be returned to ISS immediately upon termination of Employee's employment.
(c) Employee acknowledges that ISS's Confidential and Proprietary Information constitutes a unique and valuable asset of ISS and represents a substantial investment of time and expense by ISS, and that any disclosure or use of such knowledge or information other than for the sole benefit of ISS would be wrongful and would cause irreparable harm to ISS.
(d) The foregoing obligations of confidentiality do not apply to any knowledge or information that is now published or which subsequently becomes generally publicly known in the form in which it was obtained from ISS, other than as a direct or indirect result of the breach of this Agreement by Employee.
2. Return of Company Property. Upon termination of employment with ISS for whatever reason, or at any other time at the request of ISS, Employee will deliver to a designated Company representative all records, documents, hardware, software, and all other Company property and all copies of such Company property in Employee's possession. Employee acknowledges and agrees that all such materials are the sole property of ISS and that he will certify in writing to ISS at the time of delivery that he has complied with this obligation.
3. Noncompetition Covenant. ISS and Employee agree that, due to Employee's position with ISS,
Employee will have access to ISS's Confidential and Proprietary Information and has developed and will continue
to develop ce1iain goodwill and relationships on behalf of ISS. Employee acknowledges that ISS will only release its Confidential and Proprietary Information, and will only permit Employee to continue to generate this goodwill and
these relationships, upon the receipt of assurances that Employee will not use the information, goodwill, or relationships to ISS's disadvantage and, accordingly, agrees to the following provisions:
(a) Agreement Not to Compete. During the term of his employment with ISS, and for a period of twelve (12) months after the termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, serve as an employee, agent, consultant, director, stockholder or owner, or render services to any Conflicting Organization. Employee also will not direct any other individual or business enterprise to engage in such competition with ISS. For the purposes of this Agreement, "Conflicting Organization" means companies and other organizations engaged in or which have plans to engage in software-based computer enabled detection products and solutions for the intelligent transportation industry and adjacent security and law enforcement markets.
(b) Nonsolicitation of Customers or Suppliers. During the term of his employment with ISS, and for a period of twelve (12) months after the termination of such employment for any reason, Employee agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, divert, solicit, approach, contact, call upon, accept business from, or sell or render services to any client/customer or prospective client/customer of ISS who was solicited or serviced directly by Employee at any time during the twelve (12) months prior to his termination from employment, or where he supervised, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, the solicitation or service activities related to such clients or prospects during the same twelve-month period. Employee also will not, directly or indirectly, aid or assist any other person, firm, or corporation in doing what he himself cannot do under the terms of this Agreement. Employee will not in any way interfere or attempt to interfere with ISS's relationships with any of its actual or potential customers, suppliers, or subcontractors.
(c) Nonsolicitation of Employees. Employee recognizes that ISS's work force constitutes an important and vital aspect of its business. During the term of his employment with ISS, and for a period of twelve (12) months after the termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, hire, solicit, employ, or attempt to employ, any employee or director of ISS, or otherwise directly or indirectly interfere with or disrupt relationships, contractual or otherwise, between ISS and any of its employees, directors, or consultants.
(d) Acknowledgment. Employee agrees that the restrictions and agreements contained in this Agreement (and particularly in this Paragraph 3) are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of ISS, and that any violation of this Agreement will cause substantial and irreparable harm to ISS that would not be quantifiable and for which no adequate remedy would exist at law. Employee further acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to request that legal counsel review this Agreement and, having exhausted such right, agrees to the terms herein without reservation. Accordingly, Employee authorizes the issuance of injunctive relief by any court of appropriate jurisdiction, without the requirement of posting bond, for any violation of this Agreement, and agrees that ISS shall be entitled to the recovery of reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in the enforcement of this Agreement.
4. Assignment of lnventions. Employee agrees to promptly disclose to ISS inventions, ideas, processes, writings, designs, developments and improvements, whether or not protectable under the applicable patent, trademark or copyright statutes, which Employee makes, conceives, reduces to practice, or learns during his/her employment by ISS, either alone or jointly with others, relating to any business in which ISS is or may be concerned ("Inventions"). Such disclosures will be made by Employee to ISS in a written report, setting forth in detail the structures, procedures and methodology employed and the results achieved.
(a) To the extent that any Invention qualifies as "work made for hire" as defined in 17 U.S.C.
§ 101 (1976), as amended, such Invention will be the exclusive property of ISS. Moreover, Employee agrees to treat every work or idea created or acquired by or on behalf of Employee for ISS as a "work made for hire." It is the intent of both Employee and ISS that ISS have unrestricted ownership in all of such works and to any derivative works thereof, without further compensation of any kind to Employee or to those with whom Employee may work.
(b) Consistent with and to the extent permitted by law, Employee hereby assigns and agrees to assign to ISS all rights in and to these Inventions, including, but not limited to, applications for United States and foreign patents and resulting patents and to further cooperate with ISS in maintaining, obtaining, and protecting such proprietary rights. Employee shall execute all applications, assignments and other papers necessary to enable
ISS to obtain full protection and title to such matter and inventions, and Employee hereby waives any claim of moral right that Employee may have in or in connection with any such work.
(c) Employee further acknowledges that he received notice from ISS that his obligation to assign rights in and to any Inventions does not apply to an Invention for which no equipment, supplies, facility or trade secret information of ISS was used and which was developed entirely on Employee's own time, and (I) which does not relate (A) directly to the business of ISS or (B) to ISS's actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (2) which does not result from any work performed by Employee for ISS.
(d) Employee has attached a complete list of all existing patentable or non-patentable inventions, original works of authorship, derivative works, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, service marks, discoveries, patents, technology, algorithms, computer software, application programming interfaces, protocols, formulas, compositions, ideas, designs, processes, techniques, know-how, data, and all improvements thereto to which Employee claims ownership as of the date of this Agreement and which Employee desires to clarify are not subject to this Agreement ("Excluded Inventions"). If no such list is attached to this Agreement, Employee represents that he has no such Excluded Inventions at the time of signing this Agreement.
(e) Employee further agrees that prior to separation from employment with ISS for any reason, he will disclose to ISS, in a written report, all Inventions, the rights to which he has agreed to assign to ISS under (a) and (b) above, and which he has not previously disclosed.
(f) In the event of any dispute concerning whether an Invention made or conceived by Employee is the property of ISS, such Invention will be presumed to be the property of ISS, and Employee will bear the burden of establishing otherwise in any arbitration, litigation, or similar proceeding.
5. Injunctive Relief. Because the Confidential and Proprietary Information described above and the products derived therefrom are unique, peculiar and of great value to ISS, ISS shall be entitled to injunctive relief to restrain Employee from violating or threatening to violate any provisions contained herein. The parties also agree that, because of the unique nature of their relationship and the information and products to which Employee has been exposed through this relationship, ISS shall be entitled to an injunction to be issued by any Court of competent jurisdiction enjoining and restraining Employee from committing any violation of this Agreement, and Employee hereby consents to the issuance of such injunction. Proceedings may be initiated against Employee or Employee's legal representatives or assigns. ISS shall be entitled to its reasonable costs and attorneys' fees incurred in enforcing this provision.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) At-will Employment. Nothing in this Agreement creates any rights of employment. Employee is, and remains, an "at-will" employee.
(b) Severability. It is further agreed and understood by the parties that if any part, term or provision of this Agreement should be unenforceable, invalid, or illegal under any applicable law or rule, the offending term or provision will be struck and the remaining provisions of the Agreement will not be affected or impaired thereby.
(c) Assignability. The terms, conditions, and covenants of this Agreement shall be assignable to the successors and assigns of ISS.
(d) Waiver. Failure of ISS at any time to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not be interpreted as a waiver of any provision of ISS's rights under this Agreement.
(e) Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior understandings, agreements or representations, written or oral, relating to such subject matter.
(f) Modification, Amendment, Waiver or Termination. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, amended, waived or terminated except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties to this Agreement. No delay or waiver, express or implied, by ISS of any right or any breach by Employee shall constitute a waiver of any other right or breach by Employee.
(g) Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted according to the substantive laws of the State of Minnesota without regard to such state's conflicts law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date memorialized in the first paragraph.
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