Exhibit 10.2
XENOPORT, INC.
EMPLOYEE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AGREEMENT
As a condition of my employment with XenoPort, Inc., its subsidiaries,
affiliates, successors or assigns (together the "COMPANY"), and in consideration
of my employment with the Company and my receipt of the compensation now and
hereafter paid to me by Company, I agree to the following:
1. At-Will Employment. I understand and acknowledge that my employment
with the Company is for an unspecified duration and constitutes "at-will"
employment. I acknowledge that this employment relationship may be terminated at
any time, with or without good cause or for any or no cause, at the option
either of the Company or myself, with or without notice.
2. Confidential Information.
(a) Company Information. I agree at all times during the term of my
employment and thereafter, to hold in strictest confidence, and not to use,
except for the benefit of the Company, or to disclose to any person, firm or
corporation without written authorization of the Board of Directors of the
Company, any Confidential Information of the Company. I understand that
"CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" means any Company proprietary information, technical
data, trade secrets or know-how, including, but not limited to, research,
product plans, products, services, customer lists and customers (including, but
not limited to, customers of the Company on whom I called or with whom I became
acquainted during the term of my employment), markets, software, developments,
inventions, processes, formulas, technology, designs, drawings, engineering,
hardware configuration information, marketing, finances or other business
information disclosed to me by the Company either directly or indirectly, in
writing, orally, by drawings, or by observation of parts or equipment. I further
understand that Confidential Information does not include any of the foregoing
items which has become publicly known and made generally available through no
wrongful act of mine or of others who were under confidentiality obligations as
to the item or items involved.
(b) Former Employer Information. I agree that I will not, during my
employment with the Company, improperly use or disclose any proprietary
information or trade secrets of any former or concurrent employer or other
person or entity and that I will not bring onto the premises of the Company any
unpublished document or proprietary information belonging to any such employer,
person or entity unless consented to in writing by such employer, person or
entity.
(c) Third Party Information. I recognize that the Company has
received and in the future will receive from third parties their confidential or
proprietary information subject to a duty on the Company's part to maintain the
confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited
purposes. I agree to hold all such confidential or proprietary information in
the strictest confidence and not to disclose it to any person, firm or
corporation or to use it except as necessary in carrying out my work for the
Company consistent with the Company's agreement with such third party.
3. Inventions.
(a) Inventions Retained and Licensed. I have attached hereto, as
Exhibit A, a list describing all inventions, original works of authorship,
developments, improvements, and trade secrets which were made by me prior to my
employment with the Company, which belong to me, which relate to the Company's
proposed business, products or research and development, and which are not
assigned to the Company hereunder (collectively referred to as "Prior
Inventions"); or, if no such list is attached, I represent that there are no
such Prior Inventions. If in the course of my employment with the Company, I
incorporate into any invention, improvement, development, product, copyrightable
material or trade secret any invention, improvement, development, concept,
discovery or other proprietary information owned by me or in which I have an
interest, the Company is hereby granted and shall have a nonexclusive,
royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license to make, have made,
modify, use and sell such item as part of or in connection with such product,
process or machine.
(b) Assignment of Inventions. I agree that I will promptly make full
written disclosure to the Company, will hold in trust for the sole right and
benefit of the Company, and hereby assign to the Company, or its designee, all
my right, title, and interest in and to any and all inventions, original works
of authorship, developments, concepts, improvements or trade secrets, whether or
not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar laws, which I may
solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce to practice, or cause to be
conceived or developed or reduced to practice, during the period of time I am in
the employ of the Company (collectively referred to as "INVENTIONS"), except as
provided in Section 3(f) below. I further acknowledge that all original works of
authorship which are made by me (solely or jointly with others) within the scope
of and during the period of my employment with the Company and which are
protectible by copyright are "works made for hire," as that term is defined in
the United States Copyright Act.
(c) Inventions Assigned to the United States. I agree to assign to
the United States government all my right, title, and interest in and to any and
all Inventions whenever such full title is required to be in the United States
by a contract between the Company and the United States or any of its agencies.
(d) Maintenance of Records. I agree to keep and maintain adequate
and current written records of all Inventions made by me (solely or jointly with
others) during the term of my employment with the Company. The records will be
in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, and any other format that may be
specified by the Company. The records will be available to and remain the sole
property of the Company at all times.
(e) Patent and Copyright Registrations. I agree to assist the
Company, or its designee, at the Company's expense, in every proper way to
secure the Company's rights in the Inventions and any copyrights, patents, mask
work rights or other intellectual property rights relating thereto in any and
all countries, including the disclosure to the Company of all pertinent
information and data with respect thereto, the execution of all applications,
specifications, oaths, assignments and all other instruments which the Company
shall deem necessary in order to apply for and obtain such rights and in order
to assign and convey to the Company, its successors, assigns and nominees the
sole and exclusive rights, title and interest in and to such Inventions,
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and any copyrights, patents, mask work rights or other intellectual property
rights relating thereto. I further agree that my obligation to execute or cause
to be executed, when it is in my power to do so, any such instrument or papers
shall continue after the termination of this Agreement. If the Company is unable
because of my mental or physical incapacity or for any other reason to secure my
signature to apply for or to pursue any application for any United States or
foreign patents or copyright registrations covering Inventions or original works
of authorship assigned to the Company as above, then I hereby irrevocably
designate and appoint the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as
my agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in my behalf and stead to execute
and file any such applications and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to
further the prosecution and issuance of letters patent or copyright
registrations thereon with the same legal force and effect as if executed by me.
(f) Exception to Assignments. I understand that the provisions of
this Agreement requiring assignment of Inventions to the Company do not apply to
any invention which qualifies fully under the provisions set forth on Exhibit B
attached hereto ("EXCEPTED INVENTIONS"). I will advise the Company promptly in
writing of any inventions that I believe meet the criteria of an Excepted
Invention and not otherwise disclosed on Exhibit A.
4. Conflicting Employment. I agree that, during the term of my employment
with the Company, I will not engage in any other employment, occupation,
consulting or other business activity directly related to the business in which
the Company is now involved or becomes involved during the term of my
employment, nor will I engage in any other activities that conflict with my
obligations to the Company.
5. Returning Company Documents. I agree that, at the time of leaving the
employ of the Company, I will deliver to the Company (and will not keep in my
possession, recreate or deliver to anyone else) any and all devices, records,
data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications,
drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, other documents or
property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items developed by me pursuant
to my employment with the Company or otherwise belonging to the Company, its
successors or assigns.
6. Notification to New Employer. In the event that I leave the employ of
the Company, I hereby grant consent to notification by the Company to my new
employer about my rights and obligations under this Agreement.
7. Solicitation of Employees. I agree that for a period of twelve (12)
months immediately following the termination of my relationship with the Company
for any reason, whether with or without cause, I shall not either directly or
indirectly solicit, induce, recruit or encourage any of the Company's employees
to leave their employment, or take away such employees, or attempt to solicit,
induce, recruit, encourage or take away employees of the Company, either for
myself or for any other person or entity.
8. Representations. I agree to execute any proper oath or verify any
proper document required to carry out the terms of this Agreement. I represent
that my performance of all the terms of this Agreement will not breach any
agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information acquired by me in
confidence or in trust prior to my employment by the Company. I
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have not entered into, and I agree I will not enter into, any oral or written
agreement in conflict herewith.
9. Arbitration and Equitable Relief.
(a) Arbitration. Except as provided in Section 9(b) below, I agree
that any dispute or controversy arising out of or relating to any
interpretation, construction, performance or breach of this Agreement, shall be
settled by arbitration to be held in Santa Xxxxx County, California, in
accordance with the rules then in effect of the American Arbitration
Association. The arbitrator may grant injunctions or other relief in such
dispute or controversy. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final,
conclusive and binding on the parties to the arbitration. Judgement may be
entered on the arbitrator's decision in any court having jurisdiction. The
Company and I shall each pay one-half of the costs and expenses of such
arbitration, and each of us shall separately pay our counsel fees and expenses.
(b) Equitable Remedies. I agree that it would be impossible or
inadequate to measure and calculate the Company's damages from any breach of the
covenants set forth in Sections 2, 3, and 5 herein. Accordingly, I agree that if
I breach any of such Sections, the Company will have available, in addition to
any other right or remedy available, the right to obtain an injunction from a
court of competent jurisdiction restraining such breach or threatened breach and
to specific performance of any such provision of this Agreement. I further agree
that no bond or other security shall be required in obtaining such equitable
relief and I hereby consent to the issuance of such injunction and to the
ordering of specific performance.
10. General Provisions
(a) Governing Law; Consent to Personal Jurisdiction. This Agreement
will be governed by the laws of the State of California. I hereby expressly
consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in
the State of California for any lawsuit filed there against me by the Company
arising from or relating to this Agreement.
(b) Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement
and understanding between the Company and me relating to the subject matter
herein and merges all prior discussions between us. No modification of or
amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this agreement,
will be effective unless in writing signed by the party to be charged. Any
subsequent change or changes in my duties, salary or compensation will not
affect the validity or scope of this Agreement.
(c) Severability. If one or more of the provisions in this Agreement
are deemed void by law, then the remaining provisions will continue in full
force and effect.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned
without the prior written consent of the Company. Subject to the foregoing
sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon my heirs, executors,
administrators and other legal representatives and will be for the benefit of
the Company, its successors, and its assigns.
(e) Effective Date. This Agreement shall be deemed to be effective
as of the earlier of (1) the date set forth below or (2) my starting date of
employment with the Company.
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, all
provisions hereof shall apply and shall be in full force and effect from such
effective date, regardless of whether such date precedes the actual date of my
commencing employment with the Company.
Date: ____________________, 20___.
__________________________________
Signature
__________________________________
Name of Employee (typed or printed)
_________________________________
Witness
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EXHIBIT A
LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS
AND ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP
IDENTIFYING NUMBER
TITLE DATE OR BRIEF DESCRIPTION
----- ---- --------------------
- No inventions or improvements
- Additional Sheets Attached
Signature of Employee: _______________________
Print Name of Employee: ______________________
Date: ___________________
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EXHIBIT B
EXCEPTED INVENTIONS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS; ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS
(a) Any provision in an employment agreement which provides that an
employee shall assign, or offer to assign, any of his or her rights in an
invention to his or her employer shall not apply to an invention that the
employee developed entirely on his or her own time without using the employer's
equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information except for those
inventions that either:
(1) Relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the
invention to the employer's business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated
research or development of the employer.
(2) Result from any work performed by the employee for the employer.
(b) To the extent a provision in an employment agreement purports to
require an employee to assign an invention otherwise excluded from being
required to be assigned under subdivision (a), the provision is against the
public policy of this state and is unenforceable.
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