EMPLOYEE
CONFIDENTIALITY AND UNFAIR COMPETITION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT MADE this the 26th day of April ,
2005, by and between Michael E. Reed ("Employee") and EEI
Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Electro Energy, Inc. (hereinafter referred
to as "Company").
WHEREAS, Employee desires to be employed by Company in a capacity
in which he may receive, contribute or develop Confidential and
Proprietary Information;
WHEREAS, access, contribution and/or development of such
information is necessary in order for Employee to perform his
duties in a professional manner;
WHEREAS, such information is important to the future of the Company
and the Company expects the Employee to keep secret such
proprietary and confidential information and not to compete with
the Company during his employment and for a reasonable period after
employment.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
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1)
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Definitions. As used in
this Agreement:
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a)
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"Company" shall mean
EEI Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Electro Energy, Inc., its successors
and assigns, and any of their present or future subsidiaries or
organizations controlled by, controlling, or under common control
with them.
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b)
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"Affiliate" shall mean
any person, corporation, partnership or other entity with which
joint enterprises are carried on with the Company or in which the
Company has any interest.
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c)
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"Confidential and
Proprietary Information" shall mean any and all information
disclosed or made available to the Employee or known by the
Employee as a direct or indirect consequence of or through his
employment by the Company in which the Company is or may become
engaged, including, but not limited to, customers, clients,
contracts and agreements, marketing, product development, plans,
publications, equipment, financial information, and any information
or data related to the Company's and its Affiliate's products,
devices, structures, materials, technologies, patents processes,
procedures, methods, formulae, techniques, services, finances,
research, development, Inventions, manufacture, purchasing,
accounting or engineering. Notwithstanding the above, it is agreed
that the Confidential and Proprietary Information shall not include
the following:
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i)
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any information which
appears in printed publications available to the public, or becomes
generally known to the industry, other than through the acts,
negligence, or faults of the Employee; and
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ii)
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any information not
solicited by Employee which comes into Employee's possession
without covenant of secrecy from another party, who is under no
direct or indirect obligation to the Company to maintain the
confidentiality of the information.
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d)
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"Inventions" shall mean
discoveries, concepts, and ideas, whether patentable or not,
relating to any present, contemplated, or prospective activities,
investigations or obligations of the Company, including, but not
limited to, products, devices, technologies, patents, structures,
processes, procedures, methods, formulae, manufacturing, materials,
techniques, or services and any improvements to the foregoing.
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2)
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Right to Inventions.
With respect to all Inventions made, conceived or reduced to
practice by Employee, whether or not during the hours of his
employment or with the use of Company facilities, materials, or
personnel, in whole or in part, either solely or jointly with
others, during the term of his employment by the Company, and for a
period of one (1) year after termination of such employment, and
without royalty or any other consideration:
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a)
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Employee shall inform
the Chief Executive Officer of the Company promptly and fully of
such Inventions and upon request by such person set forth in
writing in such details as are necessary to explain the structures,
procedures, and methodology employed and the results achieved.
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b)
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Employee hereby agrees
that all such Inventions shall be the sole and exclusive property
of the Company, whether patented or not, and Employee hereby
assigns and agrees to assign to the Company all of his right, title
and interest in and to such Inventions and to all proprietary
rights therein, based thereon or related thereto, including, but
not limited to, applications for United States and foreign letters
of patent and resulting letters of patent. Employee shall execute,
acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments conveying,
confirming or otherwise affecting such ownership by the Company of
such Inventions.
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c)
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Employee shall execute
such documents and provide such assistance as may be deemed
necessary by the Company to apply for, defend, or enforce any
United States and foreign letters patent based on or rel
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