Contract
This
Agreement is entered into as of the 26th day of March, 2008, by and between
uKarma
Corp. (“uKarma”),
located at 000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000, and Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
(“Writer”), located at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, with reference to
the following facts:
A.
uKarma
is the creator and owner of the “Xflowsion” exercise and lifestyle DVD series
featuring Xxxx Xxxxxx (“Paskel”), and products related to said series. uKarma
desires to create a book, related to the series and branded with the “Xflowsion”
trademark, relating to diet and nutrition, for marketing to the general
public.
B.
Writer
has substantial expertise in the field of nutrition, and uKarma desires to
have
Writer write the above-described book (the “Book”) on the terms set forth below.
The
parties agree as follows:
1.
Services:
a.
Writer
will first create an outline for the Book, and will submit such outline to
uKarma for approval prior to proceeding further. Once Writer has begun writing
the Book’s chapters, each chapter (along with Writer’s proposed title for that
chapter) will be submitted to uKarma upon its completion for approval. In each
case, Writer will make such changes as are reasonably requested by uKarma
(subject to the next sentence), and submit the revised chapter to uKarma within
two (2) weeks after uKarma’s request for changes. Once a chapter has been
submitted, uKarma may make one (1) request for major (e.g., structural) changes
in such chapter, and thereafter may make only reasonable, non-structural
requests for edits by Writer.
b.
The
final chapter of the Book will be submitted not later than July 31, 2008.
c.
Not
later than the submission of the final chapter, Writer will submit a list of
not
fewer than ten (10) recommended titles for the Book.
d.
It is
agreed that indexing, layout, design and marketing services are not required
of
Writer, and uKarma will be responsible for procuring same.
e.
It is
contemplated that the Book will be between Two Hundred Fifty (250) and Three
Hundred (300) pages in length, and will include four (4) weeks worth of meal
plans and recipes.
2.
Compensation:
a.
In
consideration of Writer’s services hereunder, provided that Writer is not in
material violation of this Agreement, uKarma will pay to Writer, on a “pay or
play” basis [meaning that uKarma need not use the results of Writer’s services,
but will have satisfied its obligations to Writer by making payment of the
sum
provided in this subparagraph 2(a)] the sum of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000),
payable as follows:
i.
Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) upon the execution of this
Agreement;
ii.
Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) on or before the completion and delivery
of
the first fifty percent (50%) of the Book; and
iii.
Ten
Thousand Dollars ($10,000) on full completion and delivery, and uKarma’s
acceptance, of the Book.
b.
uKarma
will also pay to Writer a royalty (“Writer’s Royalty”) based on sales of the
Book (including sales in both physical and digital media, such as downloads,
and
so-called “audio books,” it being understood that sales in all media will be
included in sales levels described below, and further understood that
dissemination of the Book, in whole or in excerpts, for no charge, for
promotional purposes, will neither count as sales that generate royalties
hereunder nor be included in such sales levels), in accordance with this
paragraph 2b.
i.
For
purposes hereof, the “Publisher’s Price” will be the price paid to the Book’s
publisher (the “Publisher”), whether sales are made directly to retailers or to
wholesalers or other intermediate parties (that is, the Publisher’s Price may be
the equivalent of a wholesale or a retail price), after subtracting therefrom
taxes, returns, collection costs, chargebacks or other similar fees or returns
(and the Publisher may take a reasonable reserve against such fees or returns
[not to exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of sales], which will be liquidated
within three accounting periods).
ii.
The
Writer’s Royalty will be Five Percent (5%) of the Publisher’s Price where uKarma
acts as the Publisher, and Two and One-Half Percent (2.5%) of the Publisher’s
Price where uKarma engages a third party publisher.
iii.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Writer’s Royalty will be
paid prospectively, from and after the point where retail sales of the Book
equal Fifty Thousand (50,000) units.
iv.
Wherever uKarma is paid for Book sales on a basis other than a per-unit royalty
(such as a flat license fee), provided that the Book has sold over Fifty
Thousand (50,000) units prior to uKarma’s receipt of such payment, uKarma will
pay to Writer an amount equal to Five Percent (5%) of uKarma’s net receipts
(i.e., gross receipts minus taxes and collection costs).
v.
As
used in this Agreement, “collection costs” are any costs incurred in connection
with the collection of monies from buyers, including but not limited to audit
costs, fees paid to any collection agency or other third party to collect such
sums, and the costs of legal action where necessary.
c.
uKarma
will account to Writer for the Writer’s Royalty on a quarterly basis, within
sixty (60) days after the end of each calendar quarter. No accounting need
be
rendered for any period for which no sales have been made. Writer will have
customary rights to inspect uKarma’s records as they relate to sales of the Book
(not manufacturing records), provided that any such inspection must be conducted
by a certified CPA, may not be conducted more often than once a year, and must
be conducted in a manner that is not disruptive of uKarma’s business, with at
least thirty (30) days’ prior notice. Any statement to which Writer has not
objected (with specific written basis for such objection) within two (2) years
after it has been rendered will be deemed binding upon Writer.
3.
Credit:
Writer
understands and agrees that uKarma will have the right, but not the obligation,
to accord Writer credit as author or co-author of the Book. In this regard,
Writer may be credited, in uKarma’s sole discretion, as sole author, or as
co-author with Paskel, or with Xxxx Xxxxxx (uKarma’s CEO), or with any other
person(s) whom uKarma believes to have contributed to the authorship of the
Book. Writer hereby waives, irrevocably and forever, the right to claim
authorship of the Book (except to the extent uKarma elects to credit her as
such), and will not make any statements to any persons, including but not
limited to any press or media, claiming to have authored the Book to any greater
degree than the credit uKarma elects to accord Writer.
In
this
regard, if uKarma elects to accord credit to Writer together with one or more
other persons, uKarma may use such descriptive or connecting words as uKarma,
in
its sole discretion, decides. Examples of such usage include, “Written by Xxxx
Xxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxxx,” or “Written by Xxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxx, with Xxxx
Xxxxxxx,” or “By Xxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxx, with contributions from Xxxx
Xxxxxxx.” All aspects of such credit, including the descriptive or connective
words used, the order of names listed, and the size of each credit, will be
entirely within uKarma’s discretion, and uKarma may elect not to accord credit
to Writer at all.
Writer
understands that any public statements made by Writer that are inconsistent
in
any way with uKarma’s decision about whom to credit and whom not to credit with
authorship, may be detrimental to the Book’s public perception and therefore to
its commercial success. Writer will refrain from any such statements, or any
statements derogatory toward the Book in any way. Non-derogatory, incidental
mention of Writer’s engagement hereunder is permitted, AFTER uKarma has
determined authorship credit, and only if Writer is accorded credit; Writer
will
obtain uKarma’s prior written consent before making any such mention, which
consent will not be unreasonably withheld.
4.
Personal
Appearances:
Whenever
uKarma and Writer mutually agree that it is convenient and desirable for Writer
to make a public appearance to promote the Book (and only in the event of such
mutual agreement), Writer will use her best efforts to participate in such
public appearances, provided that each request for such appearance will be
reasonable, the number of such requests will be reasonable and customary for
promotion of a book of the nature of the Book, and Writer’s obligation will
always be subject to Writer’s availability to appear.
5.
Recipes:
Writer
will select, subject to uKarma’s approval, a third party (the “Recipe Master”)
to create recipes for the Book, and to stage and take photographs of prepared
foods for use in the Book and/or its promotion, advertising or publicity. uKarma
will pay the Recipe Master directly, and has budgeted the sum of Five Thousand
Dollars ($5,000) for this purpose (the amount paid to the Recipe Master may
not
exceed this sum without uKarma’s consent). Writer will cause the Recipe Master
to sign a Certificate or Authorship in the form of Exhibit A attached to this
Agreement, to confirm uKarma’s ownership of all rights in and to the results and
proceeds of the Recipe Master’s services.
6.
Rights/Ownership:
The
results and proceeds of Writer’s services hereunder, including but not limited
to the Book and all drafts, ideas, pictures, drawings, graphics, titles and
outlines (collectively the “Work”), will be a work made for hire for uKarma
under the copyright laws of the United States and any other jurisdiction where
the concept of a work made for hire is recognized. As such, uKarma is and will
be the sole owner of all rights in and to the Work (including copyrights
therein), from inception, perpetually, throughout the universe. To the extent
that, in any jurisdiction or territory throughout the world, the Work or any
portion of it is not recognized as a work made for hire for uKarma, Writer
will
and hereby does assign all rights (including all copyrights) in and to the
Work
to uKarma, forever, irrevocably, throughout the universe. Writer hereby waives,
irrevocably and forever, any so-called “moral rights,” “neighboring rights” and
any other rights to which Writer might otherwise be entitled, which would limit
or impair uKarma’s full ownership and enjoyment of its rights in and to the
Work. Without limiting the foregoing, uKarma will have the right to register
the
Book and all elements thereof for copyright in its sole name, and the right
to
edit, alter, sell, license, distribute and otherwise exploit the Book and/or
any
portions thereof in all media or formats now known or hereafter devised, in
perpetuity, throughout the universe.
7.
Related
Rights:
uKarma
will also have the right, but not the obligation, to use Writer’s name, approved
photo or likeness, and approved biographical information, in connection with
the
packaging, advertising, promotion or publicity of the Book. Writer will, upon
request, submit to uKarma photos and/or biographical information for such use.
Any use of Writer’s name or likeness in connection with another commercially
exploited product related to the Book (e.g., DVD’s and merchandise) will require
negotiation by the parties in good faith of appropriate compensation for such
use (taking into account the nature of the product, the circumstances, and
industry custom and practice).
8.
Exclusivity:
Writer
will refrain from writing, co-writing, or otherwise participating in the
creation of, any book with a similar theme (i.e., a non-fiction food and
lifestyle book), for a period of three (3) years from the initial publication
of
the Book. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during such three-year period, Writer
may participate in the creation of another book with a similar theme, if Writer
submits the idea for such book to uKarma, and uKarma determines (and confirms
to
Writer in writing) that such book will not be competitive with the Book in
the
marketplace. uKarma’s determination as to whether such book will be competitive
will be made in good faith, but that determination will be binding.
9.
Miscellaneous:
a.
Writer
will, upon request, sign and deliver to uKarma any further documents that are
reasonably required to confirm uKarma’s rights hereunder (such as a short-form
copyright assignment for filing with the U.S. Copyright Office).
b.
In the
event of any breach or alleged breach by uKarma of any of its obligations
hereunder, Writer’s remedies will be limited to an action at law for damages,
and in no event will Writer have the right to seek to enjoin the publication,
promotion, advertising or exploitation of the Book.
c.
Writer’s services are of a unique and extraordinary nature, and uKarma will have
the right to seek equitable remedies, including injunctive relief, to prevent
Writer’s breach of any provision of this Agreement.
d.
Nothing herein will constitute the parties as partners, nor will anything in
this Agreement convey to Writer any rights whatsoever in the Book or any
trademarks or other elements contained therein or associated therewith. Without
limiting the foregoing, the trademark “Xflowsion” remains the sole property of
uKarma.
e.
This
Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties, and supersedes
any
prior discussions or agreements, whether written or oral. This Agreement may
not
be amended except by a written document signed by the party charged with such
amendment. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, and a signature by
facsimile will be binding upon the signing party.
f.
This
Agreement will be subject to the laws of the State of California, without regard
to conflict-of-laws rules in said State. In the event of any dispute arising
hereunder or relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, the parties
agree
to submit such dispute to binding arbitration in Los Angeles, under the rules
and jurisdiction of JAMS.
g.
Each party to this Agreement has either consulted with an attorney of its or
her
choosing, or had the opportunity but declined to do so. In the event that Writer
declines to consult with a lawyer, Writer understands and agrees that neither
Writer’s lack of legal representation, nor the fact that this Agreement was
prepared by counsel for uKarma, will be grounds for challenging the
interpretation or the validity of this Agreement or any part of
it.
By
_________________________
/s/ Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx