EXHIBIT 10.31
NONEXCLUSIVE LICENSE
Between
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, INC.
And
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
As Represented By
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
INDEX
Page
Preamble .............................................................. 3
Article I Definitions................................................... 4
Article II License Grant................................................. 6
Article III LICENSEE'S Performance........................................ 6
Article IV Royalties..................................................... 7
Article V Patent Marking and Nonendorsement............................. 9
Article VI Representation and Warranties.................................10
Article VII Progress Reports..............................................10
Article VIII Modification and Termination..................................11
Article IX Notice........................................................14
3
PREAMBLE
This Nonexclusive License (hereinafter called "LICENSE") is made and
entered into by and between the United States of America as represented by the
Secretary of the Navy (hereinafter called "LICENSOR") and Science & Technology
Research, Inc., incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland,
(hereinafter called "LICENSEE") having an address at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx
000, Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS Title 35 of the United States Code, section 207 authorizes
Federal agencies to license their patents; and
WHEREAS Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter IV, Part
404 entitled "Licensing of Government Owned Inventions" sets forth the terms and
conditions under which licenses may be granted and;
WHEREAS the above-cited authorities provide that licensing of
Government inventions will best serve the interests of the Federal Government
and the public when utilization of such inventions is promoted and such
inventions are brought to practical application; and
WHEREAS, LICENSOR has an assignment of title to the invention disclosed
and claimed in United States Patent No. 6,459,079
4
issued on October 1, 2002 for "SHIPBOARD CHEMICAL AGENT MONITOR-PORTABLE
(SCAMP)" (Navy Case No. NC79285); and
WHEREAS LICENSEE has supplied LICENSOR with a plan for development and
marketing of the invention disclosed in this patent and has expressed its
intention to carry out this plan upon the granting of this LICENSE; and
WHEREAS LICENSEE has agreed that any products embodying this invention
or produced through the use of this invention for use or sale in the United
States will be manufactured substantially in the United States;
NOW THEREFORE, in accordance with and to the extent provided by the
aforementioned authorities and in consideration of the foregoing premises and of
the covenants and obligations herein-after set forth to be well and truly
performed and other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree to
the foregoing and as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
-----------
The following definitions shall apply to the defined words where such
words are used in this LICENSE:
a. The "licensed patent" means U.S. Patent No. 6,459,079 entitled
"SHIPBOARD CHEMICAL AGENT MONITOR-PORTABLE (SCAMP),"
5
issued October 1, 2002 to Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Pompeii;
b. A "licensed invention" means the invention claimed in U.S. Patent
No. 6,459,079;
c. To "practice the licensed invention" means to make, use and sell by
or on behalf of LICENSEE or otherwise dispose of according to law any machine,
article of manufacture or composition of matter physically embodying or made
according to the licensed invention;
d. "Practical application" means to manufacture in the case of a
composition or product, to practice in the case of a process or method, or to
operate in the case of a machine or system, and, in each case under such
conditions as to establish that the licensed invention is being utilized and
that its benefits are to the extent permitted by law and Government regulations
available to the public on reasonable terms;
e. A "royalty-bearing product" means any product defined by any claim
of the licensed patent or made by a process or method claimed in the licensed
patent;
f. The "net selling price" shall mean the invoice price of the
royalty-bearing product sold and not returned. A royalty-bearing product will be
considered to be sold when shipped or delivered to a customer;
g. A "grace period" is the period after October 1 of a
6
calendar year and before January 1 of the following year; and
h. "United States" means the United States of America, its territories
and possessions, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
ARTICLE II
License Grant
-------------
LICENSOR grants to LICENSEE a nonexclusive right and license to
practice the licensed invention throughout the United States in all fields of
commerce for a period of ten (10) years, commencing on the date of execution of
this LICENSE by LICENSOR, which shall become the effective date of the LICENSE,
unless the LICENSE is sooner modified or terminated in whole or in part.
This LICENSE is nonassignable without written approval of LICENSOR
except to the successor of that part of LICENSEE'S business to which the
licensed invention pertains.
ARTICLE III
Licensee's Performance
----------------------
LICENSEE agrees to carry out the plan for development and marketing of
the licensed invention submitted with LICENSEE's Application for License dated
November , 2003 to bring the licensed invention to practical application by the
end on calendar year 2004 and LICENSEE will, thereafter, continue to make the
benefits of the licensed invention reasonably accessible
7
to the public for the remainder of this LICENSE.
LICENSEE agrees that during the period of this LICENSE any products
embodying the licensed invention or produced through the use of a licensed
invention for use or sale in the United States will be manufactured
substantially in the United States.
LICENSEE shall pay to the LICENSOR a nonrefundable licensing fee in the
amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) payable upon the execution of this
LICENSE by LICENSEE. Payment will be made in the manner prescribed in Article
IV.
LICENSEE agrees to promptly report to LICENSOR any changes in mailing
address, name or company affiliation during the period of this LICENSE and to
promptly report discontinuance of LICENSEE'S making the benefits of this
licensed invention reasonably accessible to the United States public.
ARTICLE IV
Royalties
---------
LICENSEE shall pay a royalty to LICENSOR of four percent (40) of the
net selling price for each royalty-bearing product made, used or sold by
LICENSEE in the United States.
Royalties will not be paid on items sold directly to agencies of the
U.S. Government or for known U.S. Government end use. Notwithstanding the
provisions of the preceding paragraphs in this Article IV, LICENSEE agrees to
pay at least a minimum annual
8
royalty of five thousand dollars ($10,000) for calendar year 2004 and each
calendar year thereafter throughout the LICENSE. The minimum annual royalty for
each calendar year shall be due and payable in advance on or before October 1 of
the preceding year and will be credited as advance payment of royalties to
accrue during the calendar year following payment. The minimum annual royalty
for calendar year 2004 shall be due and payable upon execution of this LICENSE
by LICENSEE. The minimum annual royalty payments will not be refunded in whole
or in part.
LICENSEE shall send to LICENSOR all royalties which accrue between 1
January and 31 December of each year by 1 March of the following year. A royalty
report shall be included with each payment setting forth the quantity and net
selling price of each royalty-bearing product sold during the period covered by
the report, to whom sold and the date of such sale, and the total amount of
royalties being paid for that year. Royalty reports are due for each calendar
year. The last royalty report is due no later than sixty (60) days after the
expiration of this LICENSE.
9
All payments due LICENSOR under this LICENSE shall be made payable to
the "Department of the Navy" and mailed to:
Patent Counsel of the Navy
Office of Naval Research
ONR 01CC, Room 207
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
LICENSEE agrees to make and keep full, accurate and complete books and
records as are necessary to establish its compliance with this Article IV.
LICENSEE agrees that LICENSOR may, if LICENSOR so desires at a future
time or times, have a duly authorized agent or representative in LICENSOR's
behalf inspect, check or verify all such books and records either at LICENSEE's
business premises or at a place mutually agreed upon by LICENSEE and LICENSOR.
ARTICLE V
Patent Marking and Nonendorsement
---------------------------------
LICENSEE hereby agrees to xxxx any royalty-bearing product manufactured
or sold by LICENSEE under this LICENSE (or when the character of the product
precludes marking, the package containing any such product) with the notation
"Licensed from U.S. Navy under U.S. Patent No. 6,459,079." LICENSEE agrees not
to create any appearance that LICENSOR endorses LICENSEE's business or products.
10
ARTICLE VI
Representations and Warranties
------------------------------
LICENSOR makes no representation or warranty as to the validity of U.S.
Patent No. 6,459,079 or of the scope of any of the claims contained therein or
that the exercise of this LICENSE will not result in the infringement of other
patent(s). Neither LICENSOR nor its employees assumes any liability whatsoever
resulting from the exercise of this LICENSE.
Nothing relating to the grant of this LICENSE nor the grant itself
shall be construed to confer upon LICENSEE any immunity from or defenses under
the antitrust laws or from a charge of patent misuse, and the acquisition and
use of rights pursuant to this LICENSE shall not be immunized from the operation
of State or Federal law by reason of the source of the grant.
Nothing contained in this LICENSE shall be interpreted to grant to
LICENSEE any rights with respect to any invention other than the licensed
invention.
ARTICLE VII
Progress Reports
----------------
LICENSEE agrees to submit periodic reports on its efforts to achieve
practical application of the licensed invention by the end of calendar year 2004
with particular reference to LICENSEE'S plan for development and marketing of
the licensed invention
11
submitted with LICENSEE'S application for license. These reports shall contain
information within LICENSEE'S knowledge, or which it may acquire under normal
business practices, pertaining to the commercial use being made of this licensed
invention and other information which LICENSOR may determine is pertinent to
Government licensing activities. LICENSEE agrees to submit such reports to
LICENSOR semiannually until such time that the invention has been brought to the
point of practical application. LICENSEE will submit such report to the
following:
Chemical-Biological Systems Technology Division
Attn: Xx. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
NSWCDD, Code B50
00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000; and
Office of Counsel (Patents)
NSWCDD, Code XCD1
00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000.
ARTICLE VIII
Modification and Termination
----------------------------
This License may be terminated in whole or in part by LICENSOR, if:
(1) LICENSOR determines that LICENSEE is not executing the plan
submitted with its application for license dated November __, 2003 and LICENSEE
cannot otherwise demonstrate to the
12
satisfaction of LICENSOR that it has taken or can be expected to take within a
reasonable time effective steps to achieve practical application of this
licensed invention;
(2) LICENSOR determines that such action is necessary to meet
requirements for public use specified by Federal regulations issued after the
date of this LICENSE and such requirements are not reasonably satisfied by
LICENSEE;
(3) Licensee willfully made a false statement of or willfully omitted a
material fact in its application for license or in any report required by this
LICENSE; or
(4) LICENSEE commits a substantial breach of a covenant or agreement
herein contained.
This LICENSE may be modified or terminated in whole or in part
consistent with the law and applicable regulations upon mutual agreement of
LICENSOR and LICENSEE evidenced in writing and signed by both parties.
LICENSEE may request modification of this LICENSE in writing sent to
LICENSOR and stating the reasons therefore.
This LICENSE may be restricted to the fields of use or geographic
areas, or both, in which the LICENSEE has brought the invention to practical
application and continues to make the benefits of the invention reasonably
accessible to the public. However, such restriction may be made only after the
expiration of three (3) years following the effective date of this LICENSE
13
and shall be made only in order to grant an exclusive or partially exclusive
license.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Article II, LICENSEE and LICENSOR
agree that this LICENSE shall automatically terminate on September 30 of any
year if the minimum annual royalty due for the following calendar year, as
expressed in Article IV of the LICENSE, is not timely paid. If, however, the
minimum annual royalty payment together with a surcharge of one thousand dollars
($1,000) is paid during the grace period before the following calendar year,
then this LICENSE shall be considered as not having automatically terminated.
Before modifying or terminating in whole or in part this LICENSE, other
than by mutual agreement, LICENSOR shall furnish LICENSEE a written notice of
intention to modify or terminate in whole or in part this LICENSE, and LICENSEE
shall be allowed no less than thirty (30) days after such notice or other
agreed-upon time period, whichever is greater, to remedy any breach of any
covenant or agreement set forth in this LICENSE or to show cause why this
LICENSE should not be modified or terminated in whole or in part.
LICENSEE has a right to appeal, in accordance with procedures
prescribed by the Chief of Naval Research, any decision concerning the
interpretation, modification or termination in whole or in part of this LICENSE.
14
ARTICLE IX
Notice
------
All communications and notices required under this LICENSE shall be
considered duly given if timely mailed by U.S. Postal Service, first class,
postage prepaid and addressed as follows:
(a) if to LICENSOR:
Patent Counsel of the Navy
Office of Naval Research
ONR O1CC, Room 207
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000; and
Office of Counsel (Patents)
NSWCDD, Code XDCl
00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
(b) if to LICENSEE:
Science & Technology Research, Inc.
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Exec. V.P./Gen. Mgr.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
or such mailing address as the parties from time to time specify in writing.
15
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be executed by their duly authorized representatives.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
For the Secretary of the Navy
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Capt., USN
Title: Commander, NSWCDD
Date:
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Exec. V.P./Gen. Mgr.
Date:
ATTEST:
