TRADEMARK LICENSE AND PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
This
Trademark License and Product Distribution Agreement (hereinafter “Agreement”),
is effective as of the 14 day of January, 2010 (hereinafter
“Agreement Date”), and is made by and between Zeroloft Corp (hereinafter
“LICENSOR”), a Wyoming corporation having a legal address of 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, and Element 21 Sports Company (hereinafter “LICENSEE”),
a Delaware corporation having a legal address of 000 Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxx # 0,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0 Canada (together, the “Parties”).
WHEREAS,
LICENSOR has adopted and/or is using itself or through its related company,
licensee, or predecessor the name and xxxx ZEROLOFT alone and in combination
with other terms and/or symbols and variations thereof in the United States and
elsewhere throughout the world and is the owner of common law rights and of the
U.S. Trademark Application(s) and/or Registration(s) from the United States
Patent and Trademark Office and the International Trademark Application(s)
listed on Exhibit A of this Agreement (hereinafter collectively referred to as
the “Trademarks”); and
WHEREAS
LICENSOR manufactures and sells proprietary, weather-resistant fabric, products
made of such fabric, thermal insulation and related insulating fabrics
(hereinafter “Product”);
WHEREAS,
LICENSEE is desirous of acquiring the exclusive right to distribute items
comprised of the Product bearing the Trademarks as more fully described below in
the field of sport wear apparel, footwear and related sports specialty
items;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing Recitals, which are hereby
incorporated into the operative terms hereof, the mutual promises contained in
this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration from LICENSEE to
LICENSOR, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by
LICENSOR, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1. License. LICENSOR
grants to LICENSEE a limited, worldwide, exclusive right, to whatever extent
LICENSOR has, has had, or will have such rights, to use the Trademarks under the
common law and under the auspices and privileges provided by any of the
registrations covering the same during the Term of this Agreement, and LICENSEE
hereby undertakes to use the Trademarks as follows, directly or through
sublicensees:
a. as brand names for insulating
fabrics and thermal insulation raw materials and in connection with
corresponding “made with” labeling on sport wear apparel and sport wear footwear
products as listed in Exhibit B, LICENSEE expressly having no rights hereunder
to use or sublicense any of the Trademarks in connection with goods other than
those listed in Exhibit B, whether exclusively or non-exclusively, such use of
the Trademarks being further defined in and limited by the Brand Guidelines
document attached as Exhibit C of this Agreement and incorporated herein by
reference;
b. in print and other advertising media
in connection with the promotion, sale and offer for sale of the products
identified in Exhibit B, again as guided by the Brand Guidelines document
attached as Exhibit C of this Agreement, but such advertising use and any
departure from the therein described and shown hang tag artwork is only
permissible with LICENSOR’s prior written approval; and
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c. in the limited context of services
offered in connection with the manufacture and sale of products identified in
Exhibit B, such as sponsorship and cross-promotional services.
2. Distribution
Rights. LICENSOR grants to LICENSEE a limited, worldwide, exclusive
right to distribute the Product for use in the manufacture, production and sale
of items in the field of sport wear apparel, footwear and related sports
specialty items.
3. Quality of Products and
Services. LICENSEE agrees to maintain such quality standards as shall
be prescribed by LICENSOR in the conduct of the business operations with which
the Trademarks are used. LICENSEE or its subsidiary or sublicensee
shall use the Trademarks only with goods and services listed in Exhibit B that
are offered for sale, sold or rendered by LICENSEE or its subsidiary or
sublicensee in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and with the guidance
and directions furnished to LICENSEE by LICENSOR, or its authorized
representatives or agents, from time to time, if any; but always the quality of
the goods and services shall be satisfactory to LICENSOR or as specified by
LICENSOR.
4. Inspection. LICENSEE
will permit duly authorized representatives of LICENSOR to inspect the premises
of LICENSEE or its subsidiary or authorized factory or other supplier using the
Trademarks at all reasonable times, for the purpose of ascertaining or
determining compliance with Paragraphs 1 and 2 hereof.
5. Use of
Trademarks. When using the Trademarks under this Agreement, LICENSEE
must undertake to comply substantially with all laws pertaining to the
Trademarks. This provision includes compliance with marking
requirements. LICENSEE represents and warrants that all goods and
services to be sold under the Trademarks and the marketing, sales, and
distribution of them shall meet or exceed all international, federal, state, and
local laws, ordinances, standards, regulations, and guidelines pertaining to
such products or activities, including, but not limited to, those pertaining to
product safety, quality, labeling and propriety. LICENSEE agrees that
it will not package, market, sell, or distribute any goods or services or cause
or permit any goods or services to be packaged, marketed, sold, or distributed
in violation of any such international, federal, state, or local law, ordinance,
standard, regulation, or guideline. LICENSEE shall maintain general
and product liability insurance coverage in connection with the operation of its
business within the scope of this Agreement and shall name LICENSOR in any and
all such insurance policies and riders as an additional
insured. Failure to obtain such insurance coverage shall be
considered breach of this agreement and be subject to the provision of Paragraph
10.
6. Payment of Proceeds and
Royalties.
a. LICENSEE is hereunder granted a
license that is retroactive to January 1, 2009, and is deemed fully paid for the
period from January 1, 2009, to the Agreement Date (“the Retroactive Period”)
upon issuance to LICENSOR of two million dollars ($2,000,000 USD) worth of ETGF
stock at current fair market value of forty-five cents per share ($0.45/share)
and payment to
LICENSOR of a further one million dollars ($1,000,000 USD) in the form of
additional shares of ETGF stock at then fair market value, a lump sum payment,
or installment payments of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000 USD) per year
for five years, at the sole election of LICENSOR.
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b.
LICENSEE shall pay a royalty equal to fifty percent (50%) of the gross royalty
revenues charged in connection with the manufacture, distribution and/or sale of
products by sublicensees using or relating to one or more of the Trademarks
subject to this Agreement in connection with the products.
c. Any royalty owed to LICENSOR from
the Agreement Date forward will be determined, reported and paid to LICENSOR
shall be due within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar month
for all royalties received or sales occurring. At the time each such
Royalty payment is due, LICENSEE or its Successor shall also submit to LICENSOR,
along with the Royalty payment, a report (herein “Royalty Report”) showing in
detail the quantity of Units sold and the amount of Royalty accruing thereon
during that calendar month.
d. Upon request by LICENSOR, LICENSEE
or its Successor agrees to allow an independent certified public accountant to
inspect, during normal business hours and not more than once per year, the
records of LICENSEE or its Successor to the extent necessary to verify the
accuracy of any Royalty Report. LICENSEE or its Successor agrees to
keep and make available such records of the sales of Units and all other
contracts, agreements and other arrangements that affect Royalty
reporting. The costs of such accountant, together with all other
costs of inspection and copying during the course of LICENSOR’s inspection of
records of the LICENSEE or its Successor shall be paid by LICENSOR unless a
discrepancy in the Royalty payments in excess of two percent (2%) in favor of
LICENSEE or its Successor is discovered, in which case LICENSEE or its Successor
shall pay the LICENSOR, within thirty (30) days following the end of the next
calendar month, an amount equal to the discovered discrepancy plus all fees and
costs associated with the inspection.
e. For the purpose of computing the
Royalty payments hereunder, a Unit shall be considered “sold” when such sale is
invoiced or, if not invoiced, when shipped to a third party.
f. LICENSOR and
LICENSEE hereby agree that LICENSEE shall receive from any sublicensee a minimum
royalty of at least two and one half cents and up to ten
cents ($0.025-$0.10) US per square foot (ft2) of
thermal insulation or insulating
fabric using or relating to one or more of the Trademarks or the
underlying technology.
7. Term of
License. This Agreement will commence on the Agreement Date, though
is retroactive to the time LICENSOR first licensed use of one or more of the
Trademarks to LICENSEE as contemplated hereunder, and at least is retroactive to
January 1, 2009, and shall remain in effect for five (5) years from the
Agreement Date and shall be renewable for subsequent and successive one-year
periods unless notice of termination is sent from either party at least ninety
(90) days prior to any such anniversary date, subject to the other terms of this
Agreement.
8. Non-Assignment. This
Agreement is not assignable or transferable in any manner whatsoever without
LICENSOR’s prior written approval, except that either party may assign its
rights and obligations under this Agreement without the permission of the other
party to any majority owned subsidiary, or in the event of a merger,
consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of the assigning party’s
stock, assets, income stream or business to which this Agreement relates, any
such acquiring party under any circumstances being referred to herein as
“Successor” and the date of any such transaction being referred to herein as the
“Acquisition Date.” To the extent that LICENSOR has not exercised its
right to terminate as set forth in Paragraph 11 below, the terms of the license
hereunder shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of LICENSEE’s Successors,
with such Successors to LICENSEE expressly taking a continued license under the
Trademarks as set forth herein subject to the royalty provisions set forth in
Paragraph 6 above. Nothing in this section shall prevent or limit
LICENSOR’s right to sell, borrow against, amortize, reduce to present value, or
otherwise take a present interest in the future payments by LICENSEE’s Successor
contemplated under this Agreement.
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9. Warranties
and Representations.
a.
LICENSOR warrants to LICENSEE that it has the lawful right to grant this License
and that at the time of execution of this Agreement, LICENSOR has no knowledge
as to any third party claims regarding the proprietary rights in the Trademarks
that would interfere with the rights granted under this Agreement.
b.
LICENSEE warrants to LICENSOR that it will not enter into any sublicense agreement on terms inconsistent
with any terms herein or assign its rights and/or obligations under this
Agreement to any majority owned subsidiary or other such agreement with respect
to the merger, consolidation, assets, income stream or business to which this
Agreement relates without (i) making the subsidiary or acquiring party aware of
the terms of this Agreement as they relate to such LICENSEE’s Successor,
including but not limited to the requirement of payment of the Royalties as set
forth in Paragraph 6 and (ii) putting such terms and the notice thereof in
writing in a document signed by such LICENSEE’s Successor, whether a memorandum
of understanding or letter of intent, a stock or asset purchase agreement, or
other such writing, whereby such LICENSEE’s Successor clearly and unequivocally
takes control of LICENSEE and continues use of one or more of the Trademarks
under license, if at all, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
10. Indemnification. LICENSOR
shall defend, indemnify and hold LICENSEE and LICENSEE shall defend indemnify
and hold LICENSOR and its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, and their
shareholders, directors, officers, representatives, employees, members, managers and agents harmless against
all third party claims, and resulting damages, losses and costs (including attorneys' fees), arising from or in
connection with a breach of the foregoing representations and warranties; the
manufacture, composition or quality of the Products, including but not limited to in connection with any
allegedly unauthorized use of any patent, process, idea, method, or device in
connection with the Products; and also from any claims, suits, losses and
damages arising out of alleged defects in the Products; or resulting from any
failure of LICENSOR, or any person, firm, or entity acting under or through
LICENSOR, to comply with the provisions of this Agreement or to comply with any
applicable laws including, without limitation of the foregoing, accidental death
of, or injury to, persons or damage to property, and claims of infringement of
intellectual property rights, including copyrights, trademark, trade dress
and/or patent claims.
11.
Termination. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect for the period stated in Paragraph 7,
above. This Agreement may be terminated: (a) by either party in the
event the other party materially breaches the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, provided that the non-breaching party gives the breaching party
written notice of any such breach and the breaching party fails to cure (or
fails to take reasonable steps to cure) such breach within thirty (30) days
thereof; (b) by either party in the event the other party makes a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors, files a voluntary petition in
bankruptcy or for reorganization or arrangement under the bankruptcy laws, if a
petition in bankruptcy is filed against such party, or if a receiver or trustee
is appointed for all or any part of the property or assets of such party, and
provided that any such action is not dismissed within thirty (30) days after
such action is initiated; or (c) by a written agreement executed by the
parties. LICENSOR also retains the right to terminate this Agreement
within ninety (90) days of the Acquisition Date relative to a Successor to
LICENSEE irrespective of the execution of a new agreement between LICENSOR and
LICENSEE’s Successor.
12. Ownership of
Trademarks. LICENSEE acknowledges LICENSOR’s exclusive right, title
and interest in and to the Trademarks and will not at any time do or cause to be
done any act or thing contesting or in any way impairing or tending to impair
any part or all of such right, title and interest. In connection with
the use of the Trademarks, LICENSEE or its Successor shall not in any manner
represent that it has any ownership in the Trademarks or registrations thereof,
and acknowledges that use of the Trademarks shall inure to the benefit of
LICENSOR. On termination or expiration of this Agreement or any
portion thereof in any manner provided herein, LICENSEE or its Successor and any
sublicensees will forward to LICENSOR all molds, labels, patterns, signs,
displays or other identifications or advertising material, supplies and
documents, and any other materials bearing any of the Trademarks and will
certify to LICENSOR in writing that it has done so. Furthermore,
LICENSEE or its Successor and any sublicensees will not at any time adopt or use
without LICENSOR’s prior written consent, any word or xxxx which is likely to be
similar to or confusing with any of the Trademarks.
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13. Trademark Prosecution and
Maintenance. LICENSOR shall have the sole right and responsibility,
including the costs thereof, for prosecuting and maintaining any and all U.S.
and foreign Trademark Applications and Trademark Registrations listed in Exhibit
A or later filed or obtained. LICENSOR shall promptly obtain
trademark availability searches through qualified legal counsel in relevant
geographic jurisdictions upon LICENSEE’s request and secure trademark protection
to facilitate the purpose of this Agreement. LICENSOR will maintain
the Trademarks using counsel of its choice, including timely submission of the
appropriate renewal affidavits and payments necessary to maintain any U.S.
Trademark Registration listed in Exhibit A or later obtained during the Term of
this Agreement for any Trademark covered hereunder. LICENSEE, at no
expense to itself, shall cooperate in any such prosecution or maintenance
efforts.
14. Infringement of
Trademarks. If LICENSEE learns of any actual or threatened
infringement of any of the Trademarks or the Product or of the existence, use,
or promotion of any xxxx or design similar to any of the Trademarks, LICENSEE
shall promptly notify LICENSOR. LICENSOR has the right to decide at
its sole discretion what legal proceedings or other action, if any, shall be
taken, by who, how such proceedings or other action shall be conducted, and in
whose name such proceedings or other action shall be performed. Any
legal proceedings instituted pursuant to this Paragraph 13 shall be for the sole
benefit of LICENSOR and all sums recovered in such proceedings, whether by
judgment, settlement, or otherwise, shall be retained solely and exclusively by
LICENSOR unless agreed to otherwise and in writing by LICENSOR.
15. Injunctive
Relief. LICENSEE acknowledges that any breach or threatened breach of
any of LICENSEE’s covenants in this Agreement relating to the Trademarks,
including, without limitation, LICENSEE’s or its Successor’s failure to cease
the manufacture, sale, marketing, or distribution of goods bearing any of the
Trademarks at the termination or expiration of this Agreement will result in
immediate and irreparable damage to LICENSOR and to the rights of any subsequent
assignee or licensee of them. LICENSEE acknowledges and admits that
there is no adequate remedy at law for failure to cease such activities, and
LICENSEE agrees that in the event of such breach or threatened breach, LICENSOR
shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief and such other
relief as any court with jurisdiction may deem just and proper.
16. Disclosure and
Confidentiality. Each party, unless otherwise provided by the written
consent of the other, shall hold in confidence this Agreement and/or any
transaction relative hereto, except where the disclosure of such Agreement or
transaction is required by law or to meet the provisions of Paragraph
8-b. The foregoing obligation of confidentiality shall survive
termination or expiration of this Agreement and for five (5) years following the
date of such termination or expiration.
17. Severability. If any
provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be illegal and unenforceable
by any court of law or any competent government or other authority, the
remaining provisions shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their
terms so as this Agreement without such terms or provisions does not fail of its
essential purpose or purposes. The Parties will negotiate in good
faith to replace any such illegal or unenforceable provision or provisions with
suitable substitute provisions that maintain the economic purposes and
intentions of this Agreement.
18. Notice. Any notices
required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be deemed
sufficiently given if mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, addressed to
the party to be notified at its address shown above (followed by facsimile or
e-mail, if possible), or at such other address as may be furnished in writing to
the notifying party.
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19. Miscellaneous.
a. Captions. The captions
for each Paragraph have been inserted for the sake of convenience and shall not
be deemed to be binding upon the Parties for the purpose of interpretation of
this Agreement.
b. Interpretation. The
Parties agree that each party and its counsel have reviewed this Agreement and
the normal rule of construction that any ambiguities are to be resolved against
the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this
Agreement.
c. Waiver. The failure of
LICENSOR to insist in any one or more instances upon the performance of any
term, obligation, or condition of this Agreement by LICENSEE or to exercise any
right or privilege herein conferred upon LICENSOR shall not be construed as
thereafter waiving such term, obligation, or condition, or relinquishing such
right or privilege, and the acknowledged waiver or relinquishment by LICENSOR of
any default or right shall not constitute waiver of any other default or
right. No waiver shall be deemed to have been made unless expressed
in writing.
d. Relationship. The Parties
hereby acknowledge and agree that neither party shall be considered to be the
agent, representative, master or servant of the other party for any purpose
whatsoever, and that neither party has any authority to enter into a contract,
to assume any obligation or to give warranties or representations on behalf of
the other party. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to
create a relationship of joint venture, partnership, fiduciary or other similar
relationship between the Parties.
e. Entire Agreement. The
terms and conditions herein constitute the entire agreement between the Parties
and shall supersede all previous agreements, either oral or written, between the
Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
f. No Oral Modification. No
agreement or understanding bearing on the subject matter of this Agreement shall
be binding upon either party hereto unless it shall be in writing and signed by
the duly authorized officer or representative of each of the Parties and shall
expressly refer to this Agreement.
g. Time of Essence. Time is
of the essence with respect to the obligations to be performed under this
Agreement.
h. Rights Cumulative. Except
as expressly provided in this Agreement, and to the extent permitted by law, any
remedies described in this Agreement are cumulative and not alternative to any
other remedies available at law or in equity.
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i. Governing Law and Consent to
Jurisdiction. ALL QUESTIONS AND/OR DISPUTES CONCERNING THE
CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
THE INTERNAL LAWS, AND NOT THE LAW OF CONFLICTS, OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES TO BE SUBJECT TO, AND HEREBY CONSENTS AND SUBMITS TO,
THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND OF THE FEDERAL
COURTS SITTING IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
j. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be
deemed a valid, original agreement when signed by each party.
k. Signatures. This
Agreement is not binding upon the Parties until it has been signed below on
behalf of each party.
Attest:
LICENSOR, Zeroloft Corp | LICENSEE, Element 21 Sports Company | |||
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xx
|
/s/
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
|
|||
Xxxxxxx
Xx, Senior Vice President
|
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx, CEO
|
|||
|
|
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Exhibit A –
Trademarks
Word
Xxxx:
ZEROLOFT,
U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 77/663,982 filed February 5,
2009
ZEROLOFT,
U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 77/855,864 filed October 23,
2009
|
ZEROLOFT,
International Trademark Application Serial No. A0017141 filed September
14, 2009 (initially listing Europe, Japan, China, South Korea and
Vietnam)
|
Stylized
Xxxx:
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Exhibit B –
Products
Thermal
insulation and related insulating fabrics, in Class 17, for use in sport wear
apparel and sport wear footwear and related sports specialty items
Sport
wear apparel and sport wear footwear, in Class 25
Sports
specialty items, in Classes 18, 21 and 28
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Exhibit C – Brand
Guidelines
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