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Exhibit
10.27
DISTRIBUTION
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made the 29
th day of September 2005 BETWEEN
LICENSEMUSIC.COM ApS of Gammel Strand 42, P.O. Box 1142,
DK-1010 Copenhagen K, Denmark (hereinafter referred to as
“LM.COM” which expression shall include its successors
and permitted assignees) of the one part and Digital Musicworks
International Inc of 1545 River Park Drive, Suite 210 Sacramento,
CA 95219 USA (hereinafter referred to as “DMI”) which
expression shall also include its successors and permitted
assignees of the other part
WHEREAS
| 1. |
LM.COM controls the rights in and to a large number of master
sound recordings; |
and
| 2. |
DMI wishes to acquire the right to exploit the master
recordings controlled by LM.COM by means of so called
“electronic distribution” |
IT IS HEREBY AGREED as
follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this Agreement the
following words shall have the meanings set forth against
them:
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| “Masters” |
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shall
mean all of the audio only master sound recordings in the current
LM.COM catalogue which comprises not less than [*] tracks details
of which are set out in Schedule A attached hereto which shall be
incorporated herein by this reference. |
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| “Term” |
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shall
mean an initial period of seven (7) years commencing with the date
of this agreement (the “Initial Period”) together with
[*] for DMI to renew the agreement for a further period of seven
(7) years by giving notice in writing to LM.COM not later than six
(6) months prior to the expiry of the initial term of its desire so
to do and paying to LM.COM within seven (7) days thereafter a
further advance equal in amount to [*] percent ([*]%) of the [*],
payable (before recoupment) to LM.COM by DMI in years 1 through 6
of the Initial Period or $[*], whichever is greater, such further
advance being, fully recoupable from Royalty. |
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| “Territory” |
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shall
mean the World unless indicated to the contrary in respect of an
individual Master listed in Schedule A in which case the Territory
in respect of such master shall be limited to that set out in
Schedule A. |
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| INITIAL HERE : |
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LICENSEMUSIC.COM [ ] ******* |
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LICENSEE [ ] |
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* Certain
information on this page has been omitted and filed separately with
the Commission. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
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“Net Receipts”
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shall mean the gross receipts received by DMI from its
exploitation of the Masters less only the following costs and fees
incurred in connection with such exploitation and only to the
extent incurred: |
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i. |
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sales
tax, VAT, or similar tax, if any; |
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ii. |
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returns
and credits, including, but not limited to, those on account of
errors in billing, and errors in transmission, if any; |
2. GRANT OF RIGHTS
| A |
LM.COM grants to DMI the sole right to exploit the Masters
during the Term and throughout the Territory by means of so
called electronic distribution and/or digital download only
which rights shall include the right to: |
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(i) |
reproduce and/or digitally encode the Masters and the
applicable artwork and packaging into secure, downloadable and
transmittable digital data formats or other formats now known or
hereafter developed; |
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(ii) |
reproduce and store the Masters on DMI’s owned or
controlled computer server(s) solely for its internal business
purposes and/or for subsequent distribution to consumer
end-users; |
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(iii) |
edit the Masters into segments that will constitute ring tones,
master tones or similar telephonic ringing tones now known or
unknown; |
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(iv) |
promote, market, distribute and sell (as herein permitted) the
Masters, deliver, upload, download and otherwise transmit, the
Masters, over the Internet (or any successor global computer
network) or over a regional wireless transmission network (e.g.,
SMS or WAP or any other digital delivery mechanism now known or
hereafter developed) whether individually or packaged with other
masters, for transfer onto consumers’ individual personal
computers and/or portable and mobile devices solely for such
consumers’ personal use; |
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(v) |
promote and advertise (including on the web sites of DMI and
third parties) the Masters using segments of the Masters no greater
in length than thirty (30) seconds; and |
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(vi) |
authorize third parties to electronically distribute the
masters by means only of an electronic delivery direct to consumers
(for the avoidance of doubt DMI shall not be permitted to
sub-license its rights hereunder or grant its rights to any
so-called aggregator e.g. The Orchard). |
For the avoidance of doubt it
is hereby acknowledged and agreed that DMI is not granted hereunder
the right to exploit the Masters in any physical (as opposed to
electronic/digital) format whether now known or hereafter invented
(e.g. Vinyl, CD, DVD, Audio-Tape) nor is it granted any performance
or broadcast rights.
| B |
Notwithstanding the terms of paragraph 2A hereof it is agreed
that the rights granted to DMI hereunder are strictly limited to
the extent of the rights held by LM.COM (e.g. as to whether the
rights are exclusive or non-exclusive, the term and Territory of
LM.COM’s rights) as detailed in Schedule A and that in the
event that LM.COM’s rights are diminished or curtailed during
the Term the rights granted to DMI are automatically and similarly
diminished or curtailed. It is further agreed that LM.COM shall not
grant the rights granted to DMI hereunder to any other third
party. |
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| INITIAL HERE : |
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LICENSEMUSIC.COM [ ] ******* |
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LICENSEE [ ] |
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| C |
The non-exclusive right throughout the Territory to use and
publish the names, approved likeness and photographs of the artists
whose performances are recorded on the Masters. For the avoidance
of doubt nothing herein contained shall be construed as granting to
DMI any so-called “merchandising rights” nor shall DMI
be entitled to use such materials in any manner which may suggest
or imply that LM.COM and/or the artists endorses any product or
services whatsoever. |
3. DELIVERY OF MASTERS
| A |
To the extent they are in the possession of LM.COM it shall
supply to DMI in respect of each Master with either: |
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ii. |
a digital audiotape; or |
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iii |
or a compact disc (suitable for use in the digital encoding of
the master). |
(hereinafter referred to as
“the Delivery Materials”)
| B |
The Delivery Materials supplied to DMI shall be of an audio
quality which is commercially acceptable by general industry
standards commensurate with the age of the recording contained on
the master. |
| C |
Time being of the essence, the Delivery Materials shall be
delivered by LM.COM in up to [*] batches of not less than [*] per
batch, with all Delivery Materials to be delivered within [*] of
the date of signature hereof. |
| D |
In respect of any Master where LM.COM is not in possession of a
tape recording, digital audiotape or compact disc of the same it
hereby undertakes to use its best endeavors to acquire and supply
the same to DMI as soon as possible and this obligation/undertaking
shall remain throughout the Term of this agreement. |
| E |
In the event LM.COM is not able to deliver a tape recording,
digital audiotape or compact disc to DMI for [*] within [*] then
the [*] of the [*] shall be reduced on a pro-rata basis, the
numerator of which shall be the actual number of Masters delivered
and the denominator shall be [*] |
| F |
In the event that LM.COM delivers further Masters after the [*]
period DMI shall pay to LM.COM an additional recoupable advance at
the rate of US$[*] per Master delivered. |
| G. |
The supply to DMI of the Delivery Materials shall not imply a
change of ownership in the Masters which shall be and remain the
property of LM.COM. |
4. DMI’S
OBLIGATIONS
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(i) |
Exploit the Masters other than as permitted
hereunder; |
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| INITIAL HERE : |
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LICENSEMUSIC.COM [ ] ******* |
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LICENSEE [ ] |
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Page 3 of
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* Certain
information on this page has been omitted and filed separately with
the Commission. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
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(ii) |
Edit or otherwise alter in any way (other than expressly
permitted herein) the Masters without the prior consent of
LM.COM; |
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(iii) |
Exploit the Masters other than at regular industry prices for
the applicable method of exploitation without the prior written
consent of LM.COM; |
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(iv) |
Synchronize or permit to be synchronized the Masters with any
visual images whatsoever; |
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(v) |
During the Term license the rights granted to DMI hereunder
from any third party. |
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(i) |
use its best efforts throughout the Term to ensure the maximum
exploitation of the Masters by all means permitted hereunder;
and |
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(ii) |
In the event that it receives any claim from a third party
which is inconsistent with any of the warranties contained in
Clause 5 (“Third Party Claim”) it shall notify LM.COM
in writing of such claim within 48 hours of DMI’s receipt of
same. Provided that DMI does not in any way deal with any Third
Party Claim (save that it shall be permitted to advise any party
making a Third Party Claim that the rights in any Master which is
the subject of a Third Party Claim have been acquired from LM.COM
and refer any such party to LM.COM) it shall have the benefit of
the Indemnity from LM.COM set out in paragraph 6 hereof. In the
event that LM.Com does not deal with any such claim (for whatever
reason) within a reasonable period of time, DMI shall be entitled
to deal with the same and provided that it does so in a commercial
and reasonable manner shall be entitled to rely upon the indemnity
set out in paragraph 6 hereof. If in any other circumstances DMI
elects to deal with any such 3 rd Party Claim then it
hereby agrees that in respect of such 3 rd
Party Claim
it shall not have the benefit of the indemnity set out in clause 6
hereof. |
| C |
DMI agrees that all digital music files created by it for the
exploitation of the Masters shall, upon termination or expiry of
the Term hereof, belong to LM.COM and are hereby assigned by way of
future assignment of copyright effective on the date of termination
or expiry hereof to LM.COM |
5. WARRANTIES
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(i) |
it possesses full power and authority to enter into and perform
this Agreement; |
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(ii) |
it is the licensing representative of the owner of the Masters;
and |
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(iii) |
none of the Masters, their contents or DMI’s exploitation
of the same pursuant hereto shall interfere with or infringe the
rights of any other party; |
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| INITIAL HERE : |
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LICENSEMUSIC.COM [ ] ******* |
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LICENSEE [ ] |
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(iv) |
save as otherwise provided herein it has obtained all necessary
clearances and permissions in the Territory; |
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(v) |
No other person, firm or corporation has any right, title or
interest in or to the Master(s) inconsistent with the terms of this
Agreement, except as specified and duly stated herein in the
Territory; and |
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(vi) |
It has not heretofore done or permitted to be done, nor will it
hereafter do or permit to be done, any act or thing which is or may
be inconsistent with the rights granted to DMI hereunder;
and |
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(vii) |
there are no liens, encumbrances and/or obligations upon or in
connection with the Master(s) not specifically set forth herein
which would derogate from the rights granted to DMI hereunder;
and |
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(viii) |
it has the right to use the artist’s name and likeness in
connection with the exploitation of the Masters granted to DMI
hereunder. |
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(ix) |
It will not during the Term and extensions thereof grant the
rights granted to DMI hereunder to any third party. |
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(i) |
It will at all times use and require its clients to exercise
appropriate methods of security conforming to general industry
standards in order to protect the Masters from unauthorized
copying, distribution or other exploitation; and |
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(ii) |
Prior to DMI commencing exploitation of the Masters by any
particular method of exploitation or granting rights to any other
party so to do it will inform LM.COM in writing of what methods of
security are to be employed to protect the Masters during that
exploitation. |
| C |
The parties representations and warranties are true as of the
date of this agreement and shall remain true for as long as this
Agreement is enforceable. |
6. INDEMNITIES
| A |
Subject to all the terms hereof LM.COM agrees to indemnify,
save and hold DMI, it’s directors, officers, shareholders and
employees harmless from any costs |
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