[EXHIBIT 10.22- Certain portions of this document have been
omitted in the publicly filed version of this document pursuant
to the Registrant's request for confidential treatment and filed
separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.]
SPD SMART WINDOW LICENSE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
RESEARCH FRONTIERS INCORPORATED
AND
ISOCLIMA S.P.A.
This License Agreement ("Agreement") effective as of
March 5, 2002 by and between RESEARCH FRONTIERS
INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation ("LICENSOR") and
ISOCLIMA S.P.A., a corporation organized under the laws of
Italy ("LICENSEE").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, LICENSOR has been engaged in research and
development in the application of physicochemical concepts to
Light Valves and Licensed Products (both as hereinafter
defined) and of methods and apparatus relating to products
incorporating such concepts; and is possessed of and can convey
information and know-how for such products and rights to
manufacture, use and sell such products; and
WHEREAS, LICENSEE is interested in manufacturing and
selling Licensed Products; and
WHEREAS, LICENSEE desires to acquire from
LICENSOR, and LICENSOR desires to grant to LICENSEE,
certain rights and licenses with respect to such technology of
LICENSOR;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and
the mutual covenants herein and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties agree as follows.
1 DEFINITIONS.
The following terms when used herein shall have the
respective meanings set forth in this Article 1.
The "Effective Date" of this Agreement shall be the date which
is the last date of formal execution of this Agreement by duly
authorized representatives of the parties to this Agreement as
indicated on the signature page of this Agreement.
"Licensed Product" means a Light Valve Architectural Window
Product or a Light Valve Transportation Vehicle Window
Product incorporating a Light Valve. The term "Licensed
Product" shall not include Light Valves used or intended for use
in any product other than as specifically defined herein, such as
other window products not specifically defined herein, including
but not limited to windows for aircraft, space craft and space-
stations, and non-window products such as but not limited to
displays, eyewear, sunvisors, toys, mirrors or filters for scientific
instruments, lamps or contrast enhancement of displays. The
term "display" means any device for displaying letters, numbers,
images or other indicia or patterns. Nothing contained herein
shall permit LICENSEE to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of a
Light Valve which is not combined or intended to be combined
as described above into a Light Valve Architectural Window
Product or a Light Valve Transportation Vehicle Window
Product.
"Licensed Territory " means all countries of the world except
North and South Korea.
"Light Valve" means a variable light transmission device
comprising: a cell including cell walls, containing or adapted to
contain an activatable material, described hereinafter, such that a
change in the optical characteristics of the activatable material
affects the characteristics of light absorbed by, transmitted
through and/or reflected from the cell; means incorporated in or
on the cell, or separate therefrom for applying an electric or
magnetic field to the activatable material within the cell; and
coatings, (including, but not limited to, electrodes), spacers,
seals, electrical and/or electronic components, and other
elements incorporated in or on the cell. The activatable
material, which the cell contains or is adapted to contain,
includes in it solid suspended particles, which when subjected to
a suitable electric or magnetic field, orient to produce a change
in the optical characteristics of the device, and may be in the
form a liquid suspension, gel, film or other material.
"Light Valve Architectural Window Product" means a Light
Valve used or intended for use solely as a window integrally
incorporated in, or attached as a fixture to the external structure
or internal structure of any building, whether permanent or
temporary, and whether above or below ground.
"Light Valve Transportation Vehicle Window Product" means a
Light Valve used or intended for use solely as a window
(including sunroofs and window panes which are an integral part
of the internal or external structure) integrally incorporated in a
transportation vehicle of a type not designed or primarily
intended for military use. The term "Light Valve Transportation
Vehicle Window Product" shall not include a Light Valve used
or intended for use as a sunvisor, but may include Light Valves
which are used or intended for use in a non-military
transportation vehicle as, or as part of, or are laminated to, or
whose surface area is primarily attached to, a window, sunroof
or windshield. The term "transportation vehicle" shall mean
passenger cars, recreational vehicles, boats, trucks, mobile
cranes, and trains, but shall not include other types of vehicles
such as aircraft, space craft and space-stations.
The "Net Selling Price" of a Licensed Product on which
royalties are payable shall be the larger of the following: (A) the
genuine selling price of LICENSEE and its sublicensees
hereunder (including amounts charged for any wiring,
installation, and related services provided by LICENSEE and its
sublicensees hereunder) f.o.b. factory at which nonaffiliated
customers are billed in the usual course of business for a
Licensed Product, as packed for shipment to the customer; (B)
the genuine selling price of LICENSEE and its sublicensees
hereunder (including amounts charged for any wiring,
installation, and related services provided by LICENSEE and its
sublicensees hereunder) f.o.b. factory at which nonaffiliated
customers are billed in the usual course of business for a
Licensed Product, as packed for shipment to the customer,
multiplied by
a fraction, the numerator of which is the direct cost of all
components included in the window associated with the
incorporation of a Light Valve, and the denominator of which is
the total direct cost for such product; and (C) $100 per window.
The aforementioned $100 figure specified in clauses (A) and (C)
above shall be adjusted upward as of each January 1st hereafter
beginning on January 1, 2003 by any increase in the Producer
Price Index for Finished Goods (the "Index") for the 12 month
period ending in December of the prior year, prepared by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of
Labor (or if the Index is not then being published, the most
nearly comparable successor index). In calculating a genuine
selling price of a product for the above calculation, such price
may be reduced only by the applicable proportions of the
following if, and to the extent that, amounts in respect thereof
are reflected in such selling price: (i) normal trade discounts
actually allowed; (ii) sales, use or excise and added value taxes
and custom duties paid; (iii) if the genuine selling price is other
than f.o.b. factory, amounts paid for f.o.b. transportation of the
product to the customer's premises or place of installation or
delivery; (iv) insurance costs and the costs of packing material,
boxes, cartons and crates required for shipping; provided,
however, that for purposes of this calculation, the genuine
selling price of a product may not be less than 90% of the gross
selling price of said product after all deductions therefrom, if
any. If a product is leased, sold, used or otherwise disposed of
on terms not involving a bona fide arm's length sale to an
unaffiliated third party, then the Net Selling Price for such
transactions shall be deemed to be the Net Selling Price as
defined above for identical products sold to a nonaffiliated
customer nearest to the date of such lease, sale, use, or other
disposition.
"Technical Information" means all useful information relating to
apparatus, methods, processes, practices, formulas, techniques,
procedures, patterns, ingredients, designs and the like including
(by way of example) drawings, written recitations of data,
specifications, parts, lists, assembly procedures, operating and
maintenance manuals, test and other technical reports, know-
how of LICENSOR, and the like owned or controlled by
LICENSOR, to the extent they exist, that relate to Light Valves,
Licensed Products and/or to the suspensions or other
components used or usable for Licensed Products or Light
Valves including, but not limited to, particles, particle
precursors, coatings, polymers, liquid suspensions and
suspending liquids, or any combination thereof, and that consist
of concepts invented or developed by LICENSOR. Know-how
of LICENSOR's suppliers and of LICENSOR's other licensees
and their sublicensees under licenses from LICENSOR shall not
be considered Technical Information owned or controlled by
LICENSOR.
2 GRANT OF LICENSE.
2.1 License. During the term of this Agreement,
LICENSOR hereby grants LICENSEE a non-exclusive right and
license to use (a) all of the Technical Information, if any,
(subject to Section 8.1 hereof), furnished by LICENSOR
pursuant to this Agreement, and (b) any invention claimed in (i)
any of the unexpired patents now or hereafter listed on Schedule
A attached hereto or (ii) unexpired patents which issue from
pending patent applications now or hereafter listed in Schedule
A, and any continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions,
reissues, reexaminations, or extensions thereof to make, have
made, and to lease, sell, or otherwise dispose of Licensed
Products in the Licensed Territory.
2.2 No Other Rights. LICENSEE agrees that, except for
the specific licenses granted to it under Section 2.1 hereof for
use in Licensed Products, LICENSEE has not acquired any
rights or licenses under this Agreement to use Light Valves or
any components thereof made by or for LICENSEE or its
sublicensees pursuant to this Agreement.
2.3 Sublicenses. LICENSEE shall have the right to grant
non-exclusive sublicenses to any of its wholly-owned and
controlled subsidiaries, whose obligations to LICENSOR
hereunder LICENSEE hereby guarantees, and which
acknowledges to LICENSOR in writing that it wishes to become
a sublicensee hereunder prior to doing so and agrees to be bound
by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. All sublicenses
shall (i) be non-exclusive, (ii) shall terminate with the
termination of the rights and licenses granted to LICENSEE
under Section 2.1 hereof, and be otherwise limited in accordance
with the limitations and restrictions which are imposed on the
rights and licenses granted to LICENSEE hereunder, (iii)
contain confidentiality provisions no less protective than those
contained in Section 12.1 hereof, and (iv) shall contain such
other terms, conditions, and licenses as are necessary to enable
LICENSEE to fulfill its obligations hereunder. LICENSEE shall
send LICENSOR a copy of every sublicense agreement or other
agreement entered into by LICENSEE in connection with a
sublicense hereunder within thirty (30) days of the execution
thereof. LICENSOR may terminate any such sublicense if there
is any change in the ownership or control of a sublicensee.
3 ROYALTY PAYMENTS, REPORTS AND RECORD-
KEEPING.
3.1 Royalties and Reports on Net Sales. During the term of
this Agreement, LICENSEE agrees to pay LICENSOR an
earned royalty which shall be five percent (5%) of the Net
Selling Price of Licensed Products which embody, or the
manufacture of which utilizes, any of the rights granted under
Section 2.1 hereof, and which are manufactured by or for
LICENSEE and sold, leased, used or otherwise disposed of by
or for LICENSEE or a permitted sublicensee. Payments under
this Section 3.1 shall be made on a quarterly basis and made
within 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter in which
such Licensed Products were sold, leased, used or otherwise
disposed of by or for LICENSEE or a permitted sublicensee
hereunder. Each royalty payment shall be in U.S. dollars and
shall be accompanied by a statement by LICENSEE showing in
reasonable detail the amount of Licensed Products sold, used,
leased or otherwise disposed of by or for LICENSEE and its
sublicensees during the preceding quarter, any deductions taken
or credits applied, and the currency exchange rate used to report
sales made in currencies other than U.S. dollars. LICENSEE
shall use the exchange rates for buying U.S. dollars in effect on
the last day of each quarter, as specified in The New York
Times. The first such statement shall cover the period from the
Effective Date of this Agreement to the end of the first calendar
quarter in which a Licensed Product is sold, used, leased or
otherwise disposed of by or for LICENSEE or its sublicensees.
LICENSEE shall also furnish to LICENSOR at the same time it
becomes available to any third party, a copy of each brochure,
price list, advertisement or other marketing and promotional
materials prepared, published or distributed by LICENSEE or its
sublicensees relating to Licensed Products.
3.2 Initial Fee and Minimum Annual Royalties - Regardless
of whether LICENSEE is selling any Licensed Products, during
the term of this Agreement LICENSEE agrees to pay
LICENSOR the initial license fee of [Confidential Information
Omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission]
3.3 Time and Method of Payment.[Confidential
Information Omitted and filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission] All other payments shall be due on the
date specified in this Agreement, or if no date is specified,
within 30 days of invoice. All payments made to LICENSOR
shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to
the account of Research Frontiers Incorporated at Chase
Manhattan Bank, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, Account No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇, ABA Wire Code No.: 021
000 021, or to such other account or place, as LICENSOR may
specify in a notice to LICENSEE.
3.4 Sales, Use and Returns. Licensed Products shall be
considered as sold, leased or used and royalties shall accrue on
the earlier of when such Licensed Products are billed out, or
when delivered, shipped or mailed to the customer. If as a result
of a price reduction or a return of Licensed Products previously
sold, a credit or refund to a customer is given on part or all of
the sale price of such Licensed Products, a credit shall be
allowed against royalties accruing thereafter under this
Agreement equal to the royalty paid on that part of the sales
price so credited or refunded.
3.5 Recordkeeping. LICENSEE shall keep and shall cause
each sublicensee to keep for six (6) years after the date of
submission of each statement supported thereby, true and
accurate records, files and books of accounts that relate to
Licensed Products, all data reasonably required for the full
computation and verification of the Net Selling Price of
Licensed Products, deductions therefrom and royalties to be
paid, as well as the other information to be given in the
statements herein provided for, and shall permit LICENSOR or
its duly authorized representatives, upon reasonable notice,
adequately to inspect the same at any time during usual business
hours. LICENSOR and LICENSEE agree that an independent
certified public accounting firm (selected by LICENSOR from
the largest ten certified public accounting firms in the United
States of America or Italy) may audit such records, files and
books of accounts to determine the accuracy of the statements
given by LICENSEE pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof. Such an
audit shall be made upon reasonable advance notice to
LICENSEE and during usual business hours no more frequently
than annually. The cost of the audit shall be borne by
LICENSOR, unless the audit shall disclose a breach by
LICENSEE of any term of this Agreement, or an underpayment
error in excess of two percent of the total monies paid to
LICENSOR by LICENSEE during the audited period, in which
case LICENSEE shall bear the full cost of such audit.
LICENSEE agrees to pay LICENSOR all additional monies that
are disclosed by the audit to be due and owing to LICENSOR
within thirty days of the receipt of the report.
4 OBLIGATIONS OF LICENSEE.
4.1 Compliance. LICENSEE agrees that, without
limitation, any manufacture, sale, lease, use or other disposition
of Licensed Products that is not in strict accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed a material breach
of this Agreement.
4.2 End Users. LICENSEE agrees to require all direct
recipients of Licensed Products to whom Licensed Products is
sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of by LICENSEE or its
sublicensees, to look only to LICENSEE and not to LICENSOR
or its affiliates for any claims, warranties, or liability relating to
such Licensed Products. LICENSEE agrees to take all steps to
reasonably assure itself that Licensed Products sold, leased or
otherwise disposed of by or for LICENSEE is being used for
permitted purposes only.
4.3 Laws and Regulations. LICENSEE agrees that it shall
be solely responsible for complying with all laws and
regulations affecting the manufacture, use and sale or other
disposition of Licensed Products by LICENSEE and its
sublicensees, and for obtaining all approvals necessary from
governmental agencies and other entities. LICENSEE agrees to
maintain a file of all such approvals and to send LICENSOR a
copy of all such approvals (including English translations
thereof in the case of approvals required by any foreign country)
within 10 business days of any written request for such copies
by LICENSOR. LICENSEE represents and warrants to
LICENSOR that no approval from any governmental agency or
ministry, or from any third party, is required to effectuate the
terms of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby.
4.4 Purchase of Components from Others. By virtue of
the disclosure of Technical Information and information, if any,
provided from time to time by LICENSOR to LICENSEE and to
its other licensees, and each of their sublicensees and affiliates,
any component of a Light Valve, including, without limitation,
materials, suspensions, films, polymers, coatings, particle
precursors, and particles (each, a "Component"), which
LICENSEE or its sublicensees makes, has made for it, or
purchases from any third party for use in Licensed Products
shall be deemed to have been manufactured at least in part using
the Technical Information provided by LICENSOR if
LICENSEE or any supplier of a Component to LICENSEE has
had access to Technical Information of any kind of LICENSOR
or its licensees and their sublicensees, consultants,
subcontractors, agents or representatives.. LICENSEE and its
sublicensees each hereby agrees that (i) all Components shall be
used only in strict accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement, and that such Components may not be used for any
other purpose or resold by LICENSEE or its sublicensees except
as specifically permitted by the license granted in Section 2.1
hereof, and (ii) LICENSEE and its sublicensees will only look to
the manufacturer or supplier of such Component or other item
used by LICENSEE or its sublicensees and not to LICENSOR
or its affiliates for any claims, warranties, or liability relating to
such Component or other item. LICENSEE acknowledges that
LICENSOR has not made any representations or warranties
regarding the availability of any Component, or the price
thereof, and that in all respects LICENSEE shall deal directly
with the suppliers of such Components and will obtain from
them information regarding availability, pricing, and/or other
terms relating to such Components.
4.5 No Warranties by LICENSOR. LICENSOR does not
represent or warrant the performance of any Licensed Product or
of any material, Component, or information provided hereunder,
and LICENSEE expressly acknowledges and agrees that any
such material, Component or information provided by
LICENSOR hereunder is provided "AS IS" and that LICENSOR
makes no warranty with respect thereto and DISCLAIMS ALL
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT THERETO, ITS USE OR ANY
INABILITY TO USE IT, OR THE RESULTS OF ITS USE.
Except for any breach of the terms of this Agreement, in no
event shall any party to this Agreement be liable for any
damages, whether in contract or tort (including negligence),
including but not limited to direct, consequential, special,
exemplary, incidental and indirect damages, arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement or the use, the results of use, or
the inability to use any Licensed Product, material, Component
or information provided hereunder.
4.6 Analysis. LICENSEE represents and agrees that it will
only incorporate Components received from authorized
suppliers into Licensed Products and for no other purpose, and
that LICENSEE will not directly or indirectly attempt to
reverse-engineer any material provided to it hereunder by
LICENSEE or any supplier of any Component.
4.7 Personnel. LICENSEE agrees to assign personnel from
its technical staff who shall be responsible for the development
of Licensed Products during the term of this Agreement.
5 TRADEMARKS.
5.1 Trademarks. All trademarks or service marks that
either party may adopt and use for Licensed Products or other
products incorporating Light Valves are and shall remain the
exclusive property of the adopting party, and the other party
shall not obtain any rights and license to such marks under this
Agreement, but may inform others that the adopting party has
licensed or produced Licensed Products or products
incorporating Light Valves under such ▇▇▇▇ or marks, and may
use the adopting party's logo in connection therewith.
LICENSOR may require LICENSEE or its permitted
sublicensees to indicate on packaging that such product is
licensed from Research Frontiers Incorporated or to otherwise
include language and/or designations approved by LICENSOR
indicating an affiliation with Research Frontiers Incorporated.
6 INSURANCE AND INDEMNIFICATION.
6.1 Insurance. LICENSEE shall maintain at all times
ample product liability and other liability insurance covering its
operations relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.
6.2 Indemnification. LICENSEE, and its affiliates,
successors and assigns and sublicensees (each, an "Indemnifying
Party"), each hereby indemnify and agree to hold harmless
LICENSOR and its shareholders, officers, directors, agents and
employees (each, an "Indemnified Party"), against any liability,
damage, loss, fine, penalty, claim, cost or expense (including
reasonable costs of investigation and settlement and attorneys',
accountants' and other experts' fees and expenses) arising out of
any action or inaction by any Indemnifying Party relating to this
Agreement including an Indemnifying Party's manufacture,
sale, use, lease or other disposition of Licensed Products, and
related materials, or other use of the information and rights
granted hereunder. Any knowledge of LICENSEE's or its
sublicensee's activities by LICENSOR or its representatives
shall in no way impose any liability on LICENSOR or reduce
the responsibilities of LICENSEE hereunder or relieve it from
any of its obligations and warranties under this Agreement.
7 FUTURE PATENTS.
7.1 Future Patents. Each party, at its cost, shall have the
right to file patent applications in the United States and in
foreign countries covering any invention made by such party.
7.2 Improvements and Modifications. (a) Any future
improvements or modifications invented or developed by or on
behalf of LICENSEE, LICENSEE's sublicensees and
LICENSOR after the Effective Date of this Agreement, if any,
which relate in any way to or are useful in the design, operation,
manufacture and assembly of Licensed Products, and/or to the
suspensions or other components used or usable in Licensed
Products shall not be included in this Agreement. Upon written
request by the non-inventing party, LICENSOR and LICENSEE
shall negotiate with each other regarding the grant of
nonexclusive rights and licenses to use such improvements and
modifications, but neither party shall be obligated to grant such
rights and licenses to one another.
(b) During the term of this Agreement each of the parties
hereto agrees to inform the other in writing (without any
obligation to reveal details which would be confidential
information), at least as frequently as once a year in January of
each calendar year, if any significant improvements or
modifications have been made relating to the subject matter of
this Agreement, and as to the general nature of any such
improvements and modifications.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, LICENSOR may, but
shall not be required to, voluntarily and without additional cost
to LICENSEE disclose certain information relating to future
improvements and modifications and license to LICENSEE
rights in such certain future improvements and modifications,
and any information so disclosed will be considered Technical
Information which LICENSEE shall be obligated to keep
confidential pursuant to Section 12.1 of this Agreement. In
connection therewith, LICENSOR, may voluntarily add patents
and/or patent applications to Schedule A hereof. No disclosure
of any information by LICENSOR shall in any way establish a
course of dealing or otherwise require LICENSOR to make any
future disclosure of information under this Agreement.
7.3 Foreign Patent Applications. During the term of this
Agreement, LICENSEE shall have the right to designate that
any patent application now or hereafter listed on or incorporated
into Schedule A shall be filed or maintained in any foreign
country included in the Licensed Territory. If so designated and
if legally possible to do so, LICENSOR agrees to promptly file,
prosecute and maintain such applications and resulting patents,
and LICENSEE shall pay to LICENSOR the complete cost,
including reasonable attorney's fees, to file, prosecute and
maintain any such patent application and resulting patents
specifically so designated by LICENSEE.
8 TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.
8.1. Materials. Upon request by LICENSEE, during the
term of this Agreement and when mutually convenient to
LICENSOR and LICENSEE, LICENSOR shall supply
LICENSEE with small quantities of materials related to
Licensed Products for experimental use only by LICENSEE,
and shall charge LICENSEE $750 per man/day plus the cost of
any other materials used in making such materials, plus the cost
of shipping such materials to LICENSEE. Each invoice
submitted by LICENSOR for such service shall include detailed
explanations of the charges, and, if requested by LICENSEE,
copies of receipts. The parties acknowledge that LICENSOR has
no obligation to transfer to LICENSEE any Technical
Information other than as may be embodied in such sample
materials, and that, other than sample materials, if any, that may
be supplied by LICENSOR as aforesaid, LICENSEE will be
acquiring materials from authorized suppliers other than
LICENSOR.
8.2 Inquiries. LICENSEE and LICENSOR may also at any
time during the term of this Agreement make reasonable inquiry
by telephone, facsimile or mail to one another in regard to any
information or data furnished pursuant to this Agreement.
8.3 Visits. During all visits by either party to the facilities
of the other party, visitors shall comply with all reasonable rules
of the host company, and each party to this Agreement will
indemnify and hold the other party harmless from any liability,
claim or loss whatsoever (i) for any injury to, or, death of, any
of its employees or agents while such persons are present at the
facility of the other party; and (ii) for any damages to its own
property or to the property of any such employee or agent which
may occur during the presence of any such person at the facility
of the other party, regardless of how such damage occurs, if the
rules of the host are followed.
8.4 Sole Purpose. Any documentation or information
supplied pursuant to this Agreement by either party to the other
shall be used solely for the purposes set forth in this Agreement.
9 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION
RESPONSIBILITIES.
9.1 Proprietary Rights: Notices. Each party shall provide
appropriate notices of patents, or other similar notice of the
patent rights of the other party on all products utilizing the
patented inventions of the other party. Either party may add its
own patent notice to any copy or embodiment which contains its
patented inventions.
9.2 LICENSOR Exclusive Owner. LICENSEE hereby
acknowledges LICENSOR as purporting to be the sole and
exclusive owner of the patents and patent applications listed on
Schedule A, and that, except for the rights granted hereunder,
LICENSEE shall not have any rights or attempt to assert any
ownership rights in and to those patents and patent applications.
10 TERM AND TERMINATION.
10.1 Term. The term of this Agreement shall extend from
the Effective Date of this Agreement to the date of termination
of this Agreement. Unless sooner terminated or extended, as
herein provided for below, this Agreement shall terminate upon
the expiration of the later of (A) the last to expire of the patents
now or hereafter listed in Schedule A hereof, and (B) the
expiration of the period in which LICENSEE is obligated to
maintain confidential Technical Information of LICENSOR
pursuant to Section 12.1 hereof.
10.2 Termination by LICENSEE. LICENSEE may
terminate this Agreement effective as of December 31, 2005 or
as of any anniversary thereof by giving LICENSOR prior notice
thereof unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided. Such
notice shall be made in writing and shall be given between 60
and 90 days prior to the effective date for which such
termination is to be effective. If LICENSEE decides to terminate
this Agreement for any reason, LICENSEE shall provide
LICENSOR, along with the aforementioned notice of
termination, with a written report describing the reasons for such
termination.
10.3 Termination by LICENSOR. LICENSOR may
terminate this Agreement at any time effective as of December
31, 2005 or as of any anniversary thereof upon at least 30 days'
notice to LICENSEE for any reason, provided, however, that
LICENSOR shall give LICENSEE at least one years' notice of
any termination under this Section 10.3 if LICENSEE is
producing and selling Licensed Products hereunder.
[Confidential Information Omitted and filed separately with the
Securities and Exchange Commission] Notwithstanding the
foregoing, LICENSOR may terminate this Agreement at any
time upon at least 30 days' notice to LICENSEE if LICENSEE
shall have failed to make any payment when due or at any time
breach any material term of this Agreement and such payment is
not made or such breach is not cured within any applicable cure
period specified in Article 11 of this Agreement, or repeatedly
provide inaccurate reports hereunder, or if there has been a
cessation by LICENSEE of general operations or of work
related to Licensed Products.
10.4 Effect of Termination. If this Agreement expires or is
terminated for any reason whatsoever, in addition to any other
remedies which one party may have against the other: (1) all of
LICENSEE's rights and licenses under this Agreement shall
cease, and LICENSEE shall immediately return to LICENSOR
all Technical Information furnished to LICENSEE under this
Agreement, together with all reproductions, copies and
summaries thereof; provided, however, that LICENSEE may
retain solely for archival purposes one copy of all such
documents in its legal department files, (2) at LICENSOR's
option, LICENSEE shall, within 30 days of the date of such
termination, either (A) sell and deliver to LICENSOR at
LICENSEE's direct cost of manufacture any Licensed Products
which shall then be in the possession of LICENSEE, and, if
requested by LICENSOR, LICENSEE shall finish and deliver to
LICENSOR any Licensed Products in the process of
manufacture as soon as possible and, in any case, not later than
30 days after receiving LICENSOR's request, and/or (B) with
respect to any unsold inventory and work in the process of
manufacture, to complete such work in process and sell any
remaining inventory during the period not to exceed six months
from the date of termination or expiration of this Agreement
provided that at the completion of such six-month period,
LICENSEE shall promptly destroy and dispose of any Licensed
Products (and Licensed Products in the process of manufacture)
not sold under this Section 10.4 and (3) if this Agreement is
terminated for any reason on or before December 31, 2005,
LICENSEE hereby grants to LICENSOR a nonexclusive,
royalty-free, irrevocable, worldwide license with the right to
grant sublicenses to others to utilize all technical information,
improvements and/or modifications (whether or not the subject
of patents or pending patent applications) developed or invented
by or on behalf of LICENSEE and/or its sublicensees,
subcontractors, or agents hereunder through the date of such
termination of this Agreement relating to Light Valves, or
Licensed Products, and upon such termination, LICENSEE shall
provide LICENSOR in reasonable detail complete information
regarding such technical information, improvements and/or
modifications. The foregoing license shall be self-effectuating,
and LICENSEE agrees upon written notice by LICENSOR at
any time hereafter to deliver to LICENSOR within 30 days of
such notice any document or other instrument reasonably
requested by LICENSOR to convey such license rights to
LICENSOR such as, by way of example, confirmations or
instruments of conveyance or assignment. No termination of
this Agreement by expiration or otherwise shall release
LICENSEE or LICENSOR from any of its continuing
obligations hereunder, if any, or limit, in any way any other
remedy one party may have against the other party.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, LICENSEE's obligations to
LICENSOR under Sections 3.1, 3.5, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 6.1,
6.2, 7.2, 8.3, 8.4, 10.4, 12.1, and Articles 13 and 14 shall survive
any termination or expiration of this Agreement.
11 EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES.
11.1 Events of Default. Each of the following events shall
constitute an "Event of Default" under this Agreement:
11.1.1 (a) A party's failure to make any payment due in
a timely manner or a party's material breach or material failure
to punctually perform any of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement, which material breach or failure, if curable, remains
uncured for thirty (30) days after written notice of such breach
or failure is received by the breaching party; or (b) a material
misrepresentation is made by a party in any representation or
warranty contained in this Agreement and the misrepresented
facts or circumstances, if curable, remain uncured thirty (30)
days after written notice of such misrepresentation is received
by the breaching party; and, in either case, if such breach or
misrepresentation is not curable, termination shall occur thirty
(30) days after such misrepresentation or breach at the option of
the non-breaching party; or
11.1.2 The failure by a party upon request to provide the
other party with adequate assurances of its performance of all
obligations under this Agreement upon: (a) such first party's
filing of a voluntary petition in bankruptcy; (b) the filing of any
involuntary petition to have such first party declared bankrupt
which has not been dismissed within ninety (90) days of its
filing; (c) the appointment of a receiver or trustee for such first
party which has not been rescinded within ninety (90) days of
the date of such appointment; or (d) such first party otherwise
becoming insolvent or otherwise making an assignment for the
benefit of creditors.
11.2 Default by a Party. If there occurs an Event of
Default with respect to a party, the other party may:
(a) seek damages; and/or
(b) seek an injunction or an order for mandatory or
specific performance; and/or
(c) terminate this Agreement and the licenses granted to
LICENSEE hereunder whereupon the non-defaulting
party shall have no further obligations under this
Agreement except those which expressly survive
termination, and except with respect to royalty
payments due and owing to LICENSOR as of the
termination date or any subsequent period specified in
Section 10.4.
12 CONFIDENTIALITY.
12.1 Confidential Information. (a) LICENSEE agrees for
itself, its sublicensees, and their employees and agents that for
twenty (20) years from the later of the Effective Date of this
Agreement or the latest date of its receipt of information
disclosed to LICENSEE by LICENSOR pursuant to this
Agreement, such information shall be held in confidence;
provided, however, there shall be no obligation to treat as
confidential information which is or becomes available to the
public other than through a breach of this obligation, or which
was already possessed by LICENSEE in writing (or otherwise
provable to be in the possession of LICENSEE) prior to the
Effective Date of this Agreement (and was not received from
LICENSOR) or which is shown by LICENSEE to have been
received by it from a third party who had the legal right to so
disclose it without restrictions and without breach of any
agreement with LICENSOR or its licensees. LICENSOR shall
affix an appropriate legend on all written documentation given
to LICENSEE which contains confidential information.
LICENSEE acknowledges that the list of patent applications
contained on Schedule A is confidential information of
LICENSOR. If confidential information is otherwise conveyed
orally by LICENSOR, LICENSOR shall specify to LICENSEE
at the time such information is being conveyed (or in a
subsequent letter referring to the conversation) that the
information conveyed is confidential. It is understood and
agreed that, unless otherwise provided in a separate agreement
between LICENSEE and LICENSOR, LICENSEE has no
obligation hereunder to provide LICENSOR with any
confidential or proprietary information, and that LICENSOR
shall have no obligation hereunder to LICENSEE to maintain in
confidence or refrain from commercial or other use of any
information which LICENSOR is or becomes aware of under
this Agreement. The terms and provisions of this Agreement or
any other agreement between the parties shall not be considered
confidential, and the parties hereto acknowledge that, pursuant
to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder, LICENSOR may file
copies of this Agreement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and with NASDAQ and with any other stock
exchange on which LICENSOR's securities may be listed.
LICENSEE agrees that for the period of time during which
LICENSEE is obligated to keep information confidential
hereunder, LICENSEE will not make, use, sell, lease or
otherwise dispose of products using or directly or indirectly
derived from Licensed Products, Light Valves, or Components,
or which otherwise comprise suspended particles, which when
subjected to a suitable electric or magnetic field, orient to
produce a change in the optical characteristics of the suspension
("SPD Technology") unless an agreement between LICENSOR
and LICENSEE permitting it to do so is in full force and effect
and the royalties, if any, provided in such agreement are being
paid to LICENSOR on such products. The foregoing restriction
shall not apply to products (i) which do not directly or indirectly
incorporate SPD Technology, such as, but not limited to, liquid
crystal devices, or electrochromic devices, or (ii) which
incorporate technology involving suspended particles, which
when subjected to a suitable electric or magnetic field, orient to
produce a change in the optical characteristics of the suspension
but which is independently developed and which is not in any
way directly or indirectly derived from any Technical
Information of LICENSOR or its licensees, sublicensees, or any
of their affiliates. LICENSEE shall have the burden of proving
by clear and convincing evidence that the availability of any
exception of confidentiality exists or that the foregoing
restrictions do not apply to a particular product. Nothing
contained in this section, however, shall be construed as
granting LICENSEE any rights or licenses with respect to any
Technical Information or patents of LICENSOR or its other
licensees or their sublicensees.
(b) LICENSEE will have the right provide materials to, and
to disclose information, to a subcontractor relating to this
Agreement; provided, however, that LICENSEE shall only
disclose such information as is strictly necessary to enable said
subcontractor to perform its manufacturing task, and provided
that prior to disclosing any information to said subcontractor,
said subcontractor has signed a secrecy agreement with
LICENSEE at least as protective of LICENSOR's Technical
Information as the provisions of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, said subcontractor's specific agreement to be
bound by the provisions of Section 12.1 hereof to the same
extent as LICENSEE. For such purposes, LICENSEE may
develop a standard form of secrecy agreement for LICENSOR's
approval, after which LICENSEE may use such secrecy
agreement with all subcontractors without LICENSOR's prior
approval of the secrecy agreement being necessary. LICENSEE
shall have all subcontractors sign said secrecy agreement prior
to the disclosure of Technical Information to said subcontractor,
and LICENSEE shall send LICENSOR a copy of every such
secrecy agreement within thirty (30) days after the execution
thereof.
13 WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS.
13.1 Reciprocal Representations. Each party represents
and warrants to the other that:
13.1.1 Valid Agreement. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by the officer or representative so doing, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action by
LICENSOR and LICENSEE and this Agreement is a valid and
binding obligation enforceable against the parties in accordance
with its terms, except to the extent limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium and other laws of
general application relating to general equitable principles;
13.1.2 No Conflicts. Nothing herein conflicts with its
rights and obligations pursuant to any agreement by a party and
any other entity; and
13.1.3 Publicity. The parties shall have the right to use
non-confidential information, including but not limited to
information concerning this Agreement, for marketing, sales,
technical assistance, investor relations, disclosure and public
relations purposes, and that information permitted to be
disclosed by a party under this Section 13.1.3 may appear on
such party's (or its subsidiaries' or sublicensees') Internet web
site, along with links to the Internet web sites, and specific pages
therefrom, of the other party and its subsidiaries and
sublicensees.
13.2 LICENSOR Representations. LICENSOR represents
and warrants, for the benefit of LICENSEE, that:
13.2.1 Title. As of the date hereof, LICENSOR represents
and warrants that it has the right to convey the rights and
licenses granted by this Agreement, and otherwise to perform its
obligations under this Agreement. LICENSOR has caused its
employees who are employed to do research, development, or
other inventive work to disclose to it any invention or
information within the scope of this Agreement and to assign to
it rights in such inventions and information in order that
LICENSEE shall receive, by virtue of this Agreement, the
licenses granted to it under Section 2.1 hereof.
13.2.2 Infringement. As of the date hereof, LICENSOR is
not aware of any claim for patent infringement or the
misappropriation of trade secrets, being asserted against it by
any third party; or of any infringement of the patents listed on
Schedule A hereto by any entity.
13.2.3 Patents in Force. To the best of LICENSOR's
knowledge, all of the patents listed on Schedule A hereto are
currently in force.
13.3 No Warranty. LICENSOR and LICENSEE make no
guaranty or warranty to one another under this Agreement (a)
that LICENSEE will be able to develop, manufacture, sell or
otherwise commercialize Licensed Products, or (b) as to the
validity of any patent.
14 MISCELLANEOUS.
14.1 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be
interpreted, construed, governed and enforced in accordance
with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, and
LICENSOR and LICENSEE hereby submit to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the state or federal courts located in the County of
Nassau and State of New York for such purposes.
14.2 Confidentiality In Court Proceeding. In order to
protect and preserve the confidential information of a party
which the parties recognize may be exchanged pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement, the disclosing party may request,
and the receiving party shall not oppose, the court in any action
relating to this Agreement to enter a protective order to protect
information which is confidential information under Section
12.1 and to seal the record in the action or to hold the
proceedings, or portion of the proceedings, in camera; provided,
that the requested terms do not prejudice the receiving party's
interests. Nothing, however, shall preclude either party from
thereafter moving to unseal its own records or to have matter
and information designated as confidential under any relevant
protective order designated otherwise in accordance with the
circumstances as they shall appear at that time.
14.3 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is
declared or found to be illegal, unenforceable or void, the parties
shall negotiate in good faith to agree upon a substitute provision
that is legal and enforceable and is as nearly as possible
consistent with the intentions underlying the original provision.
If the remainder of this Agreement is not materially affected by
such declaration or finding and is capable of substantial
performance, then the remainder shall be enforced to the extent
permitted by law.
14.4 Waiver. Unless agreed to by the parties in writing to
the contrary, the failure of either party to insist in any one or
more instances upon the strict performance of any one or more
of the provisions of this Agreement, or to exercise any right
contained in this Agreement or provided by law, shall not
constitute or be construed as a waiver or relinquishment of the
performance of such provision or right or the right subsequently
to demand such strict performance or exercise of such right, and
the rights and obligations of the parties shall continue
unchanged and remain in full force and effect.
14.5 Captions. The captions and headings in this
Agreement are inserted for convenience and reference only and
in no way define or limit the scope or content of this Agreement
and shall not affect the interpretation of its provisions.
14.6 Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding on and
shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and
assigns. However, LICENSEE agrees that it shall not assign this
Agreement or its rights hereunder without the prior written
consent of LICENSOR except to a successor to substantially all
of its business relating to Light Valves and whose obligations
hereunder are guaranteed to LICENSOR by LICENSEE.
LICENSOR may assign all of its rights and obligations
hereunder to any successor to any of its business interests or to
any company controlling or controlled by LICENSOR. All
assignees shall expressly assume in writing the performance of
all the terms and conditions of this Agreement to be performed
by the assigning party, and an originally signed instrument of
such assumption and assignment shall be delivered to the non-
assigning party within 30 days of the execution of such
instrument.
14.7 Schedules. All Schedules attached to this Agreement
shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement as if set forth
fully in this Agreement.
14.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the
entire understanding and agreement between LICENSOR and
LICENSEE with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersedes
all prior agreements, proposals, understandings, letters of intent,
negotiations and discussions with respect to the subject matter
hereof and can be modified, amended, supplemented or changed
only by an agreement in writing which makes specific reference
to this Agreement and which is executed in writing by the
parties; provided, however, that either party may unilaterally
waive in writing any provision imposing an obligation on the
other.
14.9 Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given
or made in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given on the earliest of (i) actual receipt, irrespective of
method of delivery, (ii) on the delivery day following dispatch if
sent by express mail (or similar next day courier service), or (iii)
on the sixth day after mailing by registered or certified air mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed as
follows:
LICENSOR: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, Chairman
Research Frontiers Incorporated
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
LICENSEE: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, General Manager
Isoclima S.p.A.
▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ (▇▇), ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: 0039 0429 3878
Telephone: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
or to such substitute addresses and persons as a party may
designate to the other from time to time by written notice in
accordance with this provision.
14.10 Bankruptcy Code. In the event that either party
should file a petition under the federal bankruptcy laws, or that
an involuntary petition shall be filed against such party, the
parties intend that the non-filing party shall be protected in the
continued enjoyment of its rights hereunder to the maximum
feasible extent including, without limitation, if it so elects, the
protection conferred upon licensees under section 365(n) of
Title 17 of the U.S. Code. Each party agrees that it will give the
other party immediate notice of the filing of any voluntary or
involuntary petition under the federal bankruptcy laws.
14.11 Construction. This Agreement and the exhibits
hereto have been drafted jointly by the parties and in the event
of any ambiguities in the language hereof, there shall no be
inference drawn in favor or against either party.
14.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
14.13 Status of the Parties. The status of the parties under
this Agreement shall be solely that of independent contractors.
No party shall have the right to enter into any agreements on
behalf of the other party nor shall it represent to any person that
it has such right or authority.
The parties, through their duly authorized representatives,
and intending to be legally bound, have executed this
Agreement, as of the date and year first above written,
whereupon it became effective in accordance with its terms.
RESEARCH FRONTIERS INCORPORATED
By:_____________________________________________
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, Chairman
Date: March 11, 2002
ISOCLIMA S.P.A.
By:___________________________________________
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Chairman
Date: March 5, 2002
Schedule A
(As of March 7, 2002)
LIST OF UNITED STATES, INTERNATIONAL AND
FOREIGN PATENTS AND PATENT APPLICATIONS
Date
Expiration
Patents in the United States
Issued Date
4,772,103 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
"Light Valve Containing an Improved
Suspension, and Liquids Therefor"
9/20/88 8/8/06
4,877,313 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ et al
"Light Polarizing Materials and
Suspensions Thereof" 10/31/89 2/10/09
5,002,701 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
"Light Polarizing Materials and
Suspensions Thereof" 3/26/91 10/27/09
5,093,041 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Check, III et al
"Light-Polarizing Material Based on
Ethylene-diamine Polyacetic Acid
Derivatives" 3/03/92 7/30/10
5,111,331 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
"Electro-Optical Light Modulator" 5/05/92 7/5/09
5,130,057 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
"Light Polarizing Materials and
Suspensions Thereof" 7/14/92 10/31/06
Schedule A (Continued)
Date Expiration
Patents in the United States Issued Date
5,279,773 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
"Light Valve Incorporating A Suspension
Stabilized With A Block Polymer" 1/18/94 3/23/12
5,325,220 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
"Light Valve With Low Emissivity
Coating As Electrode" 6/28/94 3/9/13
5,463,491 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Check III
"Light Valve Employing a Film Comprising
An Encapsulated Liquid Suspension And
Method of Making Such Film" 10/31/95 11/6/12
5,463,492 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Check III
"Light Modulating Film of Improved
Clarity For A Light Valve" 10/31/95 11/6/12
5,461,506 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Check III et al
"Light Valve Suspensions Containing A
Trimellitate Or Trimesate And Light
Valves Containing The Same" 10/24/95 5/11/13
5,467,217 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Check III et al
"Light Valve Suspensions and Films
Containing UV Absorbers and Light
Valves Containing The Same" 11/14/95 5/11/13
5,516,463 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Check III et al
"Method of Making Light
Polarizing Particles" 5/14/96 07/08/14
5,650,872 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ et al
"Light Valve Containing
Ultrafine Particles" 07/22/97 07/22/14
5,728,251 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Check, III
"Light Modulating Film of Improved
UV Stability For a Light Valve" 03/17/98 09/27/15
Schedule A (Continued)
Date Expiration
Patents in the United States Issued Date
5,764,402 ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇; ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
"Optical Cell Control System" 06/09/98 xx/xx/xx
5,838,482 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇; ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
"Optical Cell" 11/17/98 xx/xx/xx
5,691,849 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇; ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇;
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
"Rear-View Assembly for a Vehicle
and an Adaptor Therefor" 11/25/97 xx/xx/xx
6,114,405 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al
"Ultraviolet Radiation-Curable
Light-Modulating Film for a Light
Valve, and Method of Making Same" 09/05/00 10/09/17
6,156,239 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ et al
"Light Polarizing Material, Liquid
Suspensions and Films Thereof, and Light
Valve Incorporating Same" 12/05/00 2/26/19
6,271,956B1 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ et al
"Method and Materials for Enhancing the
Adhesion of SPD Films and Light Valves
Comprising Same" 08/07/01 03/02/20
6,301,040 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al
"SPD Films Having Improved Properties and
Light Valves Comprising Same" 10/09/01 05/24/20
6,334,967 B1 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ et al
"Light Polarizing Particles of Improved
Particle Size Distribution" 01/01/02 12/21/20
(See also listing for PCT/US99/15508)
PENDING UNITED STATES APPLICATIONS
Serial Number Filing Date
[Confidential Information Omitted and filed separately with the
Securities and Exchange Commission]