Exhibit 10.1
*** CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT (INDICATED BY ASTERISKS) HAS BEEN
OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION PURSUANT TO A REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER
17 C.F.R. SECTION 200.80(B)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
OUTPUT DISTRIBUTION
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT
(“Agreement”) is dated as of July 7, 2006 and is
entered into between Genius Products, Inc. (“Genius”)
and ESPN Enterprises, Inc. (“ESPN”). All capitalized
terms (other than paragraph headings) are defined as set forth
herein.
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1.
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Grant of
Rights . ESPN hereby
grants to Genius, throughout the Territory and during the Term, the
exclusive Videogram rights as more particularly set forth herein,
in and to all audiovisual productions released by ESPN that ESPN
elects to distribute or cause to be distributed by means of
Videograms during the Term and as to which ESPN owns or controls
said rights in the Territory (each an “AP” and
individually or collectively, “APs”). In addition to
future APs, subject to the terms and conditions hereof Genius will
distribute hereunder certain APs existing as of the date hereof
which are set forth in Exhibit “1” attached hereto, and
Exhibit 1 will be supplemented from time to time as each additional
AP or APs become covered hereunder during the Term. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the following productions are excluded from this
Agreement and are not APs hereunder: (i) ”ESPN Golf
Schools 3-Club Tour with Hank Haney,” (ii) “ESPN
Golf Schools Top Tips with Hank Haney,” and
(iii) “Code*Breakers.”
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2.
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Territory. Unless ESPN notifies Genius to the contrary in
writing with respect to a particular AP no later than six
(6) months prior to the intended Release Date (as defined
below) of such AP hereunder, the “Territory” is the
United States and Canada and their respective territories and
possessions, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and
Guam. The Territory shall also include Army, Navy, Air Force, Red
Cross and other U.S. and Canadian national and governmental
installations. wherever any such facilities and installations are
located.
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3.
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Term .
The “Term” of this Agreement shall mean the period
commencing on the date hereof and continuing through and including
December 31, 2011. Commencing immediately at the end of the
Term, Genius will have an additional six (6) month period as a
non-exclusive sell-off period for Videograms, during which sell-off
period Genius will have the right to continue to market, distribute
and account for hereunder all previously manufactured Videograms
remaining in Genius’s inventory.
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4.
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Rights Granted
. Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein, ESPN hereby irrevocably licenses to
Genius, throughout the Territory during the Term, the exclusive
right, under copyright and otherwise, to manufacture, produce,
market and distribute, and subject to ESPN’s prior written
approval except for licenses or sub-licenses to wholesalers (
e.g., Ingram ) and revenue-sharing arrangements with
retailers, to license, sub-license, lease, rent, exhibit and
exploit each and all of the APs (in their entirety (except for
marketing and publicity) unless otherwise approved in writing in
advance by ESPN) and all elements thereof by means of and in
connection with “Videograms,” which for purposes hereof
shall mean videocassettes, videodiscs, videotape, DVD,
High-Definition DVD (e.g., “HD-DVD” and
“Blu-Ray”), Universal Media Disc (“UMD”),
CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other hard carrier devices now known or
hereafter devised and designed to embody one or more APs or
portions thereof and to be used in conjunction with a personal
reproduction, player or viewing apparatus which causes a visual
image (whether or not synchronized with sound) to be seen on a
screen, display or device (e.g., a television receiver or computer
display), all for home use and falling within the definition of
“home video” as that term is generally understood in
the industry; and to act as sales agent on behalf of ESPN with
respect to such rights; and to authorize others to do any or all of
the foregoing; and/or to refrain from any or
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*** Certain confidential information in this
document has been omitted pursuant to a request for Confidential
Treatment and filed separately with the Commission.
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all of the foregoing as Genius
may determine in its reasonable discretion subject only to the
terms and conditions hereof. For the avoidance of doubt,
“Videograms” does not include digital downloads,
podcasts, television (other than for display of Videograms),
theatrical, non-theatrical, online / internet, digital media, VOD,
SVOD, SD Cards or Flash Memory.
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ESPN hereby further irrevocably
licenses to Genius, throughout the Territory during the Term, the
non-exclusive right, under copyright and otherwise, and subject to
the approval provisions contained in this Agreement, to promote,
market, advertise and publicize each and all of the APs and all
elements thereof by means of and in connection with
Videograms.
Subject to ESPN’s prior
written approval over each key creative element of advertising,
marketing, publicity and packaging, the Rights Granted include
without limitation the right to use any and all elements of the APs
and all Delivery Materials (as defined below) (including without
limitation the names, voices, likenesses and biographies of all
persons appearing in and/or connected with the APs), and any
portions thereof, in connection with the advertising, marketing,
publicity and packaging of the APs, including DVD menu design and
DVD “extras” and/or the institutional promotion of
Genius, including without limitation the right to reproduce,
distribute and exhibit any and all visual images and/or sound
recordings contained in the APs and/or the Delivery Materials
throughout the Territory, by any and all means of distribution, and
in any and all media now or hereafter known or devised, in
connection with such advertising, marketing and/or publicity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if ESPN has given written approval
of guidelines that Genius will provide to wholesalers for their
trade ads in connection with APs, a violation of such guidelines by
such wholesalers or retailers in connection with such trade ads
will not constitute a breach of this Agreement by
Genius.
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5.
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ESPN
Rights . ESPN reserves
all rights in the APs not granted to Genius hereunder. Without
limiting the foregoing, ESPN reserves the following rights in the
APs:
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(a)
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The right to
promote the APs with respect to ESPN’s reserved rights, and
with respect to Videograms to the extent that ESPN’s existing
distribution partners (e.g., Hart Sharp Video, Ingram, etc.) may
promote their ESPN Videogram titles, and so that ESPN and its
partners may promote the APs.
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(b)
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Exploitation of
content contained in or derived from the APs, provided that such
exploitation is by means of “Video Now” and similar
interactive videogame devices, broadband, video-on-demand,
interactive board games, greeting cards, SD cards, books or other
products (which may include added Videogram content); provided,
however, that such content may be exploited by ESPN only in
conjunction with such products and not as standalone Videogram
product in any of the formats set forth in Paragraph 4 above,
Genius acknowledging that the foregoing rights set forth in this
Paragraph 5(b) have been licensed to a third party;
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(c)
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Licensing of
excerpts and clips derived from the APs (each a “Clip”)
by means of Videograms; provided, however, that unless otherwise
agreed to in writing by Genius and ESPN, if a Clip licensed by ESPN
to a third party for use in a Videogram to be sold at retail is
part of the titled content of an AP, such Clip may not have a
length longer than the greater of ten percent (10%) of the
length of the AP or five (5) minutes, but if such Clip is not
part of such titled content but is part of “value
added” or “bonus content” included (or to be
included) in a Videogram of such AP, there will be no limitation on
the length of such Clip. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in the
foregoing will limit Genius’s marketing and publicity rights
with respect to APs hereunder or Genius’s use of Clips in
connection therewith.
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*** Certain confidential information in this
document has been omitted pursuant to a request for Confidential
Treatment and filed separately with the Commission.
2/39
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(d)
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Exploitation of
“premium” offerings of APs (i.e., co-branded or custom
content product created for an advertiser or affiliate of ESPN as a
premium item for promotional or other non-retail purposes), direct
to consumer continuity programs (i.e., the marketing and delivery
of content to targeted databases via direct mail or otherwise but
not made available at retail), or exploitation by means of
electronic sell-through or download.
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(e)
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Notwithstanding
the foregoing, ESPN and Genius shall discuss in good faith any
proposed exploitation by ESPN of the APs in digital media during
the Term; provided, however, that ESPN shall have no obligation to
enter into an agreement with Genius regarding such exploitation. In
this connection, upon Genius’s request at any time after
January 1, 2009, Genius and ESPN will review and discuss in
good faith (i) then-prevailing industry trends concerning the
impact of digital media upon the Videogram business in general and
the impact of ESPN’s digital distribution rights upon the
value of Genius’s rights hereunder in particular, and
(ii) possible adjustment of the remaining “Minimum
Guarantee” (as defined below) payable by Genius hereunder
based on such impacts; provided, however, that no such adjustment
shall be made unless agreed to in writing by Genius and
ESPN.
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6.
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ESPN
Approvals; Marketing Plan .
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(a)
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ESPN shall have
the right of final approval over all content of all Videograms
manufactured, produced and/or distributed hereunder, including the
packaging thereof and all creative content, unit forecast,
inventory production and initial shipment, as well as final
approval over the initial marketing plan (including, without
limitation, wholesale pricing), release strategy, budget and all of
the “Distribution Expenses” (as defined below) for each
AP, which approval may be granted or withheld in ESPN’s sole
discretion. In connection with ESPN’s approval right over
Distribution Expenses, the marketing plan submitted by Genius for
each AP pursuant to subparagraph (b) below will include
Genius’s estimate of the “P&L” for such AP,
including all customary Distribution Expenses, and ESPN’s
approval of such marketing plan will constitute approval of all
such customary Distribution Expenses to the extent set forth in
such P&L.
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(b)
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Genius will
submit the initial marketing plan for each AP, and if ESPN does not
expressly approve or disapprove the marketing plan within five
(5) business days after its receipt thereof, such marketing
plan will be deemed not approved. In the event such plan is so
deemed not approved, Genius shall contact ESPN’s designee
hereunder and ESPN shall give Genius the reasons for such
disapproval within the next five (5) business days. Genius and
ESPN will use their best efforts to resolve any disagreement with
respect to the marketing plan, but ESPN shall have the final
decisions in its sole discretion with respect thereto.
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(c)
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Genius may
modify the approved marketing plan for each AP based on the
performance of such AP in the marketplace and prevailing market
costs, provided that any such marketing expenses and/or other
Distribution Expenses in excess of the approved marketing expenses
plus 5% shall require ESPN’s prior written approval, which
shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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(d)
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Without
limiting the foregoing, in connection with the marketing of APs
hereunder Genius shall not purchase advertising on a television
sports network competitive with ESPN without ESPN’s prior
written approval.
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*** Certain confidential information in this
document has been omitted pursuant to a request for Confidential
Treatment and filed separately with the Commission.
3/39
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7.
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Genius
Obligations . During the
Term:
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(a)
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Genius shall
provide all customary manufacturing, production, marketing, sales
and distribution services with respect to Genius’s
manufacturing, production, marketing, sales and distribution of
Videograms of the APs hereunder. Subject to ESPN’s approval
rights hereunder, such services shall include,:
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(i)
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Package design,
menu design, VAM development, authoring and replication;
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(ii)
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Taking orders
and picking, packing and shipping Videograms to retailers (such
services to be fully operational by June 5, 2006);
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(iii)
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Providing
dedicated personnel to work exclusively on furnishing
Genius’s services for ESPN as set forth herein, consisting of
a minimum of one brand manager and one retail strategies
manager;
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(iv)
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Providing
weekly status updates regarding sales solicitation, sell-through
tracking, industry tracking and key performance
indicators;
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(v)
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Providing
monthly reporting pursuant to Paragraph 20 below and , periodic
business reviews, industry comparison analyses and recommendations
for increasing sales;
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(vi)
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Designing,
preparing and monitoring point-of-purchase materials and in-store
presence; and
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(vii)
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Coordinating
retailer-sponsored advertising.
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(viii)
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If requested by
ESPN and to the extent reasonably available to Genius and not
otherwise available to ESPN or included in Genius’s reporting
to ESPN hereunder, providing such additional information as is
necessary to enable ESPN to determine its obligations pursuant to
Paragraph 8(b) below.
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(b)
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Subject to
ESPN’s approval in each instance, Genius shall release each
AP in at least the following formats: DVD and High Definition DVD,
subject to a release schedule to be approved in advance by ESPN.
Genius acknowledges that ESPN currently plans to use the Blu-Ray
format for its high definition releases, and any non Blu-Ray High
Definition DVD release contemplated by Genius shall be subject to
ESPN’s prior written approval.
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(c)
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Genius shall
not enter into a distribution agreement or similar arrangement for
production, manufacture and/or distribution of any Videograms of
content owned by any third-party sports media brand (i.e., a sports
television network or other sports broadcast outlet) without
ESPN’s prior written approval, which may be granted or
withheld at ESPN’s sole discretion.
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(d)
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ESPN shall be
entitled to purchase from Genius Videograms of each AP at a reduced
price equal to Genius’s *** thereof, in aggregate quantities
not to exceed *** Videogram units for all APs per Sales Period, to
be used only for internal sales and promotions by ESPN. Any ESPN
requests for additional reduced-price purchases shall be subject to
good faith negotiation.
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(e)
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Genius shall
deliver to ESPN, at no cost to ESPN in advance of the retail launch
of each AP hereunder, fifty (50) Videogram units of such AP in
each format released by Genius.
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(f)
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Unless otherwise agreed to in
writing by Genius and ESPN, all promotional and/or insert space on
the Videogram of each AP and/or the packaging thereof shall be
reserved for
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*** Certain confidential information in this
document has been omitted pursuant to a request for Confidential
Treatment and filed separately with the Commission.
4/39
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ESPN promotional content (e.g.,
promotional spots in a DVD, packaging inserts, etc.) as designated
by ESPN in its sole discretion subject to Paragraph 8(b)
below.
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(g)
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Genius shall
use its best efforts to cause the Videograms manufactured, produced
and distributed hereunder to be of first class technical quality
customary in the US home video industry at the time of
manufacture.
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(h)
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Genius shall
give “equal treatment” to the APs as compared to other
productions distributed by Genius, i.e., Genius shall deal with the
distribution of APs hereunder with a standard of care and diligence
no less than that accorded other productions distributed by
Genius;
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(i)
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Genius shall be
solely responsible for all third party clearances, all residual
costs and royalties payable to third parties, including all music
clearance costs, guild and union residuals and other payments, and
all third party profit participations or other contingent
compensation associated with any DVD Extras or other content
created and/or added to the Videograms by Genius (i.e., not
supplied to Genius by ESPN). The inclusion of any such
Genius-created material in Videograms hereunder, and Genius’s
right to include the costs of such material as part of Distribution
Expenses hereunder, shall be subject to ESPN’s prior written
approval.
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(j)
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If ESPN
requests that Genius execute any further documents reasonably
relating to this Agreement or ESPN’s rights hereunder,
subject to Genius’s right to review and comment thereon
Genius shall complete, execute and return such documents to ESPN
expeditiously, including at the end of the Term of this Agreement
and any sell-off period hereunder.
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8.
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ESPN
Obligations . During the
Term:
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(a)
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ESPN shall
deliver to Genius a minimum of fifteen (15) APs during each
Sales Period (as defined below) hereunder. The parties may discuss
in good faith a reduction of such minimums, provided that any
reduction will be subject to the parties’ mutual agreement,
which may be given or withheld in their respective sole discretion.
The APs may include national, regional and/or exclusive
releases.
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(b)
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Subject to
Paragraph 7(i) above, ESPN shall be solely responsible for all
third party clearances, all residual costs and royalties payable to
third parties, including all music clearance costs, guild and union
residuals and other payments, and all third party profit
participations or other contingent compensation associated with the
APs; and all APs will be delivered to Genius fully cleared and
authorized for Genius’s distribution hereunder with no
additional payments to be made by Genius to any third party in
connection therewith. If an AP is not cleared by ESPN for
distribution in Canada hereunder, ESPN will evaluate the costs of
such clearance and, in its sole discretion, will either
(i) undertake such clearance so as to allow Genius to
distribute the AP in Canada, or (ii) notify Genius in writing
pursuant to Paragraph 2 above that such AP is not cleared for
distribution in Canada (in which case Genius shall not distribute
such AP in Canada).
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(c)
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If Genius
requests that ESPN execute any further documents reasonably
relating to this Agreement or Genius’s rights hereunder,
subject to ESPN’s right to review and comment thereon ESPN
shall complete, execute and return such documents to Genius
expeditiously, including at the end of the Term of this Agreement
and any sell-off period hereunder.
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*** Certain confidential information in this
document has been omitted pursuant to a request for Confidential
Treatment and filed separately with the Commission.
5/39
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9.
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Minimum
Guarantee . Subject to
Paragraph 21 below, Genius shall pay to ESPN a minimum of Four
Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,500,000) in “ESPN
Receipts” (as defined below) during each Sales Period (as
defined below) (each, a “Minimum Guarantee”) during the
Term, subject to the following:
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(a)
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Each payment of
the Minimum Guarantee hereunder will be non-returnable to Genius
except as provided in Paragraphs 21 and/or 22 below, will be
recoupable by Genius and credited against ESPN Receipts pursuant to
Paragraph 11 below, and will be net of any ESPN Receipts
theretofore paid to ESPN during such Sales Period. For the
avoidance of doubt, in any Sales Period ESPN will be entitled to
receive the greater, but not both, of (i) the actual ESPN
Receipts for such Sales Period and (ii) the Minimum
Guarantee.
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(b)
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The Minimum
Guarantee for Sales Period 1 shall be payable 50% thereof within
ten (10) business days after full execution of this Agreement
and 50% thereof (less any ESPN Receipts theretofore paid in such
Sales Period) on or before February 1, 2007. The Minimum
Guarantee for each of Sales Periods 2 through 5 shall be payable
50% thereof on or before the first day of such Sales Period, 25%
thereof (less any ESPN Receipts theretofore paid in such Sales
Period) on or before three (3) months after such first day and
25% thereof (less any ESPN Receipts theretofore paid in such Sales
Period and not already credited against the Minimum Guarantee) on
or before six (6) months after such first day.
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(c)
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The Sales
Periods are as follows:
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Sales Period 1: July 7, 2006 -
December 31, 2007;
Sales Period 2: January 1, 2008
- December 31, 2008;
Sales Period 3: January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2009;
Sales Period 4: January 1, 2010
- December 31, 2010; and
Sales Period 5: January 1, 2011
- December 31, 2011.
(i)
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10.
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Gross
Receipts; Net Receipts .
With respect to each AP, “Gross Receipts” means all
amounts actually received by Genius in U.S. Dollars in the United
States from the distribution of Videograms that are released
hereunder during the Term; and “Net Receipts” means
Gross Receipts less all refunds, rebates, credits, discounts,
allowances, advance payments (until earned or forfeited), security
deposits (until earned or forfeited), the Return Reserve (as
defined below) and actual returns in excess of the Return Reserve.
Genius shall be entitled to establish and maintain a reserve for
returns of Videograms in an amount (“Return Reserve”)
equal to twenty percent (20%) of Gross Receipts, provided that
each addition to the Return Reserve shall be liquidated (to the
extent not applied to actual returns) within six (6) months of
its establishment, subject to Genius’ retention of its
Distribution Fee (as defined below) on such liquidated Return
Reserves.
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11.
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Allocation
of Net Receipts . All Net
Receipts derived from the distribution of each AP hereunder shall
be allocated as follows:
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(a)
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First, Genius
shall retain a distribution fee in an amount equal to the following
applicable percentage of the Net Receipts, computed as follows
based on the Net Receipts derived from all APs distributed
hereunder in each Sales Period (for each Sales Period, “Sales
Period’s Net Receipts”):
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(i)
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If a Sales
Period’s Net Receipts are less than or equal to *** Dollars
($***): *** Percent (***%) of such Sales Period’s Net
Receipts;
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*** Certain confidential information in this
document has been omitted pursuant to a request for Confidential
Treatment and filed separately with the Commission.
6/39
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(ii)
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If a Sales
Period’s Net Receipts are greater than *** but less than or
equal to *** Dollars ($***): *** Percent (***%) of the first ***
Dollars ($***) of such Sales Period’s Net Receipts and ***
Percent (***%) of such Sales Period’s Net Receipts in excess
of *** Dollars ($***); and
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(iii)
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If a Sales
Period’s Net Receipts are greater than $***: *** Percent
(***%) of the first *** Dollars ($***) of such Sales Period’s
Net Receipts, *** Percent (***%) of such Sales Period’s Net
Receipts in excess of *** Dollars ($***) but less then or equal to
*** Dollars ($***), and *** Percent (***%) of such Sales
Period’s Net Receipts in excess of *** Dollars
($***).
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(b)
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Then, Genius
shall retain 100% of further Net Receipts until it has recouped
(i) the Minimum Guarantee for the applicable Sales Period
(i.e., the Sales Period in which such Net Receipts are derived),
(ii) any unrecouped portion of the Minimum Guarantees for the
immediately preceding two (2) Sales Periods, and (ii) ***
percent (***%) of any unrecouped portion of the Minimum Guarantees
for all Sales Periods prior to the immediately preceding two
(2) Sales Periods;
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(c)
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Then, Genius
shall retain 100% of all further Net Receipts until it has recouped
all Distribution Expenses of such Sales Period and all previous
Sales Periods; and
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(d)
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Then, ESPN
shall be entitled to all further Net Receipts (collectively,
“ESPN Receipts”).
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For the avoidance of doubt, if
Genius has not recouped all of its Distribution Expenses with
respect to any AP, Genius shall be entitled to recoup such
unrecouped portion from the Net Receipts otherwise payable to ESPN
hereunder with respect to all other APs.
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12.
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Distribution
Expenses . Subject to
ESPN’s approval rights pursuant to Paragraph 6 above, whether
as to individual expense items or as included as part of the
“P&L” for each AP, Genius shall pay for, and recoup
pursuant to the terms hereof, all customary “Distribution
Expenses” with respect to each AP, which for purposes hereof
means and includes all costs and expenses of whatever kind paid or
incurred in connection with the manufacture, production,
distribution, advertising, exploitation and turning to account of
each AP hereunder and includes without limitation all of the
following, as applicable:
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(a)
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All costs of
duped and dubbed tapes, Videograms (including without limitation
the creation, compression and authoring of Videogram masters (e.g.,
a 16:9 digibeta video master), duplicating material and facilities
and all other material manufactured for use in connection with each
AP, including the cost of inspecting, repairing, checking and
renovating Videograms, packing, storing, shipping and all other
expenses connected therewith.
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(b)
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All
out-of-pocket costs of advertising, publicizing and/or exploiting
each AP, including without limitation all advertisements, press
books, artwork, publicity materials, advertising accessories and
trailers, Videogram screeners and all other pre- and post-release
advertising and publicity, so-called cooperative advertising,
and/or other advertising and/or publicity engaged in with or for
television exhibitors, internet providers and/or Videogram
retailers.
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*** Certain confidential information in this
document has been omitted pursuant to a request for Confidential
Treatment and filed separately with the Commission.
7/39
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(c)
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All other costs
of preparing and delivering the APs for distribution hereunder,
including without limitation all costs in connection with the
preparation of “bonus materials” or other additional
materials contained in or as part of the Videograms and all costs
of preparing such Videograms, including the costs of creating menus
and other navigational elements and designs in connection
therewith.
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(d)
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Subject to
Paragraph 20(e) below, all sums paid or liabilities incurred on
account of sales, use, receipts, excise, remittance and other
transactional taxes (however denominated) to any governmental
authority assessed upon the Videograms, or upon the use or
distribution of the APs hereunder, or upon the revenues derived
therefrom, or any part thereof, or upon the remittance of such
revenues, or any part thereof; and provided that the following sums
or liabilities are not recouped by Genius by means of a tax refund
or other reimbursement from the governing tax authority (in
connection with which Genius shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain such a refund, and costs which are so refunded or
reimbursed to Genius after having been deducted shall be added back
to Gross Receipts hereunder),any and all sums paid or accrued on
account of duties, customs and imposts, costs of acquiring permits
or any similar authority to secure the entry, licensing,
exhibition, performance, use or televising of the APs in the
Territory or part thereof, regardless of whether such payments or
liabilities are assessed against the AP or the proceeds thereof or
against a group of motion pictures in which the AP may be included
or the proceeds thereof. Genius’s own income taxes and
franchise taxes based on Genius’s net income shall not be
deductible hereunder.
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(e)
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Expenses of
transmitting to the United States any funds accruing to Genius from
the APs in foreign countries and any discounts from such funds
taken to convert such funds directly or indirectly into U.S.
dollars, and all customs costs, bank fees, transfer fees and other
similar fees and charges.
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(f)
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In the event
any person or entity shall make a claim relating to any AP against
Genius or any of its licensees, which claim, in Genius ‘s
judgment, is of sufficient merit to constitute a reasonable
probability of ultimate loss, cost, damage or expense, Genius may,
subject to ESPN’s approval in its sole discretion, deduct
such amount as Genius may reasonably deem necessary to cover loss,
cost, damage or expense which may be suffered as a result thereof.
Subject to ESPN’s approval in its sole discretion, Genius
shall have the right to settle and pay any such claim, and after
the settlement of any such claim, or after the final judicial
determination thereof, the amount previously deducted hereunder
shall be adjusted accordingly with the next accounting statement
rendered hereunder. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as
a waiver of any of ESPN’s warranties contained in this
Agreement, or a waiver of any right or remedy at law or otherwise
which may exist in favor of Genius including without limitation the
right to require ESPN to reimburse Genius on demand for any
liability, cost, damage or expense arising out of, or resulting
from, any breach by ESPN of any warranty, undertaking or obligation
by ESPN, or any right on the part of Genius to recoup or recover
any such cost or expense out of ESPN’s share of any monies
payable hereunder, or otherwise, rather than treating such costs or
expenses as Distribution Expenses.
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13.
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Manufacturing/Sourcing; International Labor
Standards (“ILS”); Compliance.
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(i)
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With regard to international
labor standards (“ILS”), to the extent that Genius owns
or operates any manufacturing facilities utilized for the
manufacture of Videograms hereunder (for purposes of this Paragraph
13, “Videograms”
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*** Certain confidential information in this
document has been omitted pursuant to a request for Confidential
Treatment and filed separately with the Commission.
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referring to Videograms of APs
hereunder), Genius covenants on behalf of such Genius-owned or
Genius-operated manufacturing facilities to comply with the Code of
Conduct attached hereto as Attachment 1 and incorporated by this
reference (the “Code”), in the manufacturing, packaging
and distribution of Videograms. “Manufacturer” means
any of the manufacturers, factories, suppliers and facilities (as
well as any sub-manufacturers, factories, suppliers and facilities)
that reproduce or use any of the Videograms, components of
Videograms, promotional materials, or any other item related to the
Videograms, or that assemble the Videograms, or that assemble a
final product including one or more Videograms. Genius shall
require all Genius-owned and/or Genius-operated Manufacturers to
covenant to comply with the Code in the manufacturing, packaging
and distribution of the Videograms by signing the
Manufacturer’s Agreement in substantially the form and
substance attached hereto as Attachment 4. The Code shall not be
interpreted to require Genius or its owned or operated
Manufacturers to violate any applicable Law.
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(ii)
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Genius agrees
to be bound by the Code of Conduct for Genius, attached hereto as
Attachment 2 and incorporated by this reference
(“Genius’s Code”).
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(iii)
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As provided in
the Code, , Genius agrees that ESPN and its designated agents
(including third parties) may engage in monitoring activities to
confirm compliance with this Paragraph. An inspection typically
consists of an initial audit, a period of time to remediate, and a
follow-up audit; provided, however, that egregious violations,
e.g., child labor, result in an immediate failure with no
opportunity to remediate.
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(iv)
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Genius agrees
to investigate or notify ESPN of any claimed or observed violations
of the Code, and, if it finds there have been violations of the
Code, to take appropriate and prompt steps to correct the
situation. In any case where there are severe violations of the
Code and remediation is unlikely to occur, ESPN shall have the
right to require that Genius move the production of Videograms to
an alternative factory on a reasonably expedient basis.
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(i)
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Genius shall supply ESPN with the
names and addresses of all of its owned or operated manufacturing
facilities, if any, for the Videograms. If Genius at any time
desires to use a third-party Manufacturer to produce the
Videograms, components of Videograms or related items, whether the
third party is located within or outside the Territory, Genius
shall provide ESPN the accurate name and complete address of the
Manufacturer and identify the Videograms, components, or related
items, using the Facilities and Merchandise Authorization (FAMA)
form, attached hereto as Attachment 2, and obtain ESPN’s
prior written permission to use the third party. The references to
“Disney” and “Disney’s merchandise”
in the FAMA form shall be deemed to be references to
“ESPN” and “ESPN’s merchandise” for
purposes of this Agreement. ESPN’s decision as to whether a
Manufacturer complies with the Code shall be a matter within
ESPN’s absolute discretion. ESPN’s permission in each
case is conditioned upon the execution and delivery of a
Manufacturer’s Agreement. The references to
“Disney” and “Disney’s merchandise”
in the Manufacturer’s Agreement form shall be deemed to be
references to “ESPN” and “ESPN’s
merchandise” for purposes of this Agreement. ESPN may require
a pre-approval compliance inspection (at ESPN’s sole cost) of
a Manufacturer prior to the production of any Videograms,
components, or other related items. Genius immediately shall notify
ESPN when
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*** Certain confidential information in this
document has been omitted pursuant to a request for Confidential
Treatment and filed separately with the Commission.
9/39
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Genius no longer is using a
Manufacturer. Genius agrees to comply with all applicable privacy
and data protection laws with regard to the submission of
information regarding Manufacturers and the ILS inspection reports
on such Manufacturers.
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(ii)
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If any
Manufacturer utilizes an AP for any unauthorized purpose, Genius
shall cooperate fully in bringing such utilization to an immediate
halt. If, by reason of Genius’s failure to submit all
necessary FAMA forms, ESPN makes any representation or takes any
action that causes it to be subject to any penalty or expense,
Genius shall fully reimburse ESPN for any cost or loss ESPN
sustains, and ESPN shall retain all rights it otherwise would have
to other legal or equitable remedies.
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(iii)
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If a
Manufacturer fails to pass a compliance inspection as referenced in
subparagraph (c) below, and thereafter fails to remedy the
cited failure(s) within the time designated by ESPN, or if the
Manufacturer otherwise breaches the Manufacturer’s Agreement,
the Manufacturer’s Agreement for such Manufacturer may be
terminated immediately by ESPN, and upon receipt by Genius of
written notice from ESPN of such termination, Genius thereafter
shall not use such Manufacturer to manufacture Videograms,
components, or related items, subject to an orderly transition of
business. If a Manufacturer fails to pass a pre-approval compliance
inspection, and thereafter fails to remedy the cited failure(s)
within the time designated by ESPN, upon receipt by Genius of
written notice from ESPN thereof Genius shall not use such
Manufacturer to produce Videograms, components or related
items.
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(iv)
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Genius agrees
not to manufacture Videograms, or permit the manufacturing of
Videograms, in countries where the manufacturing of ESPN products
is prohibited. A current list of prohibited countries may be
obtained by written request to ESPN.
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(c)
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Videogram
Quality and Safety
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(i)
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With regard to
product quality and safety, Genius covenants that each Videogram,
and each component of each Videogram, shall be of good technical
quality and free of defects in design, materials and workmanship,
and shall comply with all applicable laws (other than laws relating
to the content of each Videogram, as to which ESPN has sole
responsibility), and such specifications, if any, as may have been
required in connection with this Agreement, and shall conform to
the approvals given by ESPN.
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(ii)
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Both before and after Genius puts
Videograms on the market, Genius shall follow reasonable and proper
procedures for testing or otherwise determining that Videograms
comply with all applicable product safety laws, and shall permit
ESPN’s designees, at ESPN’s sole cost, to inspect
testing and quality control records and procedures, and to test the
Videograms for compliance with product safety and other applicable
laws; however, ESPN shall not be required to conduct any such
testing. Genius also shall give due consideration to any
recommendations by ESPN that Videograms exceed the requirements of
applicable laws. Videograms not manufactured, packaged or
distributed in
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*** Certain confidential information in this
document has been omitted pursuant to a request for Confidential
Treatment and filed separately with the Commission.
10/39
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accordance with applicable laws
shall be deemed unapproved, even if previously approved by ESPN,
and shall not be shipped unless and until they have been brought
into full compliance.
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(iii)
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Without
limiting the foregoing, Genius agrees that all Videograms shall
comply fully with all applicable federal and state laws and
regulations and all voluntary industry standards and shall be safe
for children as required by applicable laws (collectively,
“Safety Requirements”). Genius immediately shall notify
ESPN if Genius obtains information reasonably supporting the
conclusion that a Videogram may fail to comply with one or more
Safety Requirements or may contain a defect that could create a
substantial risk of injury to the public, and thereafter shall
provide ESPN with timely information regarding further
developments. If ESPN determines from information supplied by
Genius or from other information that such a defect or failure to
comply exists, and if ESPN so directs, then Genius, at its expense
and in compliance with any applicable governmental regulations and
ESPN’s directions, shall notify the CPSC (or other
governmental agency specified by ESPN) of such defect or failure to
comply and shall take such further actions as the CPSC, other
governmental agency or ESPN shall direct, including, without
limitation, notifying the public of such failure or defect,
recalling the Videogram from retailers and consumers, repairing or
replacing the Videogram and refunding sums paid and expenses
incurred by retailers, consumers and others by reason of the recall
(all such actions being referred to collectively as the
“Recall Campaign”). Genius shall provide ESPN with
contemporaneous copies of correspondence and communications related
to the foregoing. Whether ESPN or Genius notifies the CPSC or other
governmental agency of such defect or failure, all reasonable
expenses paid or incurred by ESPN by reason of or in connection
with such notification, including, without limitation, all Recall
Campaign expenses, shall be promptly reimbursed by Genius to ESPN.
In addition, Genius shall not be entitled to recoup at any time any
of its Distribution Expenses (as defined in Paragraph 12) which are
associated with the Videogram in question. The obligations of
Genius under this Paragraph are in addition to and not in
limitation of other obligations, representations, warranties and
indemnities of Genius.
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(iv)
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Without
limiting the foregoing, Genius shall give ESPN written notice of
any product liability claim made or suit filed with respect to any
Videogram, any investigations or directives regarding the
Videograms issued by the CPSC or other federal, state, provincial,
or local consumer safety agency, and any notices sent by Genius to,
or received by Genius from, the CPSC or other consumer safety
agency regarding the Videograms within seven (7) days after
Genius’s receipt or promulgation of the claim, suit,
investigation, directive, or notice.
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(a)
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With respect to
each AP, “Delivery” means complete delivery and
acceptance, in Genius’s sole discretion as to completeness
and technical quality, of all of the delivery materials set forth
in Schedule A attached hereto (comprised of
“Documentation,” “Film Materials” and
“Publicity Materials,” and collectively,
“Delivery Materials”), which Delivery Materials shall
be delivered to Genius, at ESPN’s sole cost and expense, on
or before the applicable delivery dates for such materials as set
forth below (as to each category of Delivery Materials, the
“Delivery Date”). Time is of the essence of this
Agreement with respect to ESPN’s complete Delivery on or
before the Delivery Date.
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*** Certain confidential information in this
document has been omitted pursuant to a request for Confidential
Treatment and filed separately with the Commission.
11/39
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(b)
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The applicable
Delivery Date for all of the items comprising each category of the
Delivery Materials shall be, with respect to the initial Videogram
release date of each AP in the Territory as set forth in the
mutually-approved marketing plan for each AP (as to each AP, the
“Release Date”): (i) for the Publicity Materials
no later than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the
Release Date, and (ii) for the Film Materials and
Documentation, no later than ninety (90) days prior to the
Release Date.
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(c)
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If ESPN does
not timely deliver one or more items of the Delivery Materials with
respect to an AP, then Genius shall have the right to adjust the
Release Date for such AP to a date that is commercially practical
in Genius’s judgment in light of such late
delivery.
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(a)
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Genius shall
use the credit block provided by ESPN on the prints, posters,
packaging box and advertising materials for each AP. Genius shall
not alter the copyright notice supplied by ESPN on an AP, provided
that Genius may add its logos on Videograms, packaging and
advertising materials for each AP (in a size of type no larger than
the respective size of type used for ESPN’s logos in or on
such Videograms, packaging and advertising materials.). Genius
shall notify its licensees of the aforementioned credit provisions.
No casual or inadvertent failure to accord credits as set forth
hereunder shall be deemed a breach of this Agreement by Genius.
Upon Genius’s receipt of written notice from ESPN specifying
a breach of the foregoing credit provisions, Genius shall use its
best efforts to cure such breach on any materials manufactured or
prepared after receipt of such notice.
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(b)
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ESPN shall use
its best efforts to inform Genius in writing, no later than four
(4) months prior to the Release Date of each AP hereunder, of
any restrictions on the use of any of the Delivery Materials for
such AP, including without limitation clips and footage for use in
Genius’s advertising and marketing campaigns.
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16.
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Intellectual
Property Rights .
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(a)
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ESPN’s
provision of the AP content and deliverables to Genius hereunder
shall not convey to Genius any copyright, trademark, other
intellectual property rights, title or other ownership in any of
the AP content and deliverables. As between Genius and ESPN,
all such rights shall remain at all times held and owned by
ESPN.
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(b)
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All worldwide
copyright, trademark, trade name, other intellectual property
rights, title and interest in and to the Videograms and all
elements thereof (including any DVD extras or other content added
or created by Genius) shall be owned and held by ESPN. Genius
acknowledges that it is creating the Videograms as a “work
made for hire” under 17 U.S.C. § 101 of the U.S.
Copyright Act of 1976 (and any other applicable foreign law), for
the benefit of ESPN, and ESPN will be deemed the sole author and
owner of all copyright in the Videograms and all elements thereof,
and any derivative works containing or based thereon.
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(c)
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To the extent the Videograms are
not covered by the definition of a “work made for hire”
under 17 U.S.C. § 101 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976,
Genius hereby irrevocably grants, transfers, assigns and conveys to
ESPN and its successors and assigns, without any further
consideration, the following rights: (a) all ownership
rights in and to the Videograms and all elements thereof (including
DVD extras or other content added or
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*** Certain confidential information in this
document has been omitted pursuant to a request for Confidential
Treatment and filed separately with the Commission.
12/39
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created by Genius) —
including, without limitation, all intellectual property, ownership
and proprietary rights anywhere in the world, and any and all
causes of action heretofore accrued in Genius’ favor with
respect to any of the foregoing rights. In the event any right
(including, without limitation, moral rights) in the Videograms
cannot be assigned, Genius hereby waives enforcement anywhere in
the world of such right against ESPN, its assigns, distributors,
licensees and customers, or, if necessary agree to exclusively
license such rights (with the right to sublicense) worldwide to
ESPN and any and all such rights Genius may have in and to the
Videograms or any portion thereof; and (b) the sole and
exclusive right to reproduce, copy, publish, distribute,
disseminate, broadcast, transmit, disseminate, publicly perform,
display, reproduce, license or syndicate others the right to use,
archive, make derivative works of, and/or otherwise use the
Videograms for any purpose and in any medium worldwide now or
hereafter known.
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(d)
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ESPN shall be
solely responsible for enforcing, in its sole discretion, all
copyright, trademark and other intellectual property rights in and
to the Videograms and each AP as against any alleged third-party
infringer, and ESPN shall control, be solely responsible for and
pay all legal fees and costs necessary for any legal action and
litigation necessary to enforce such intellectual property
rights. Upon discovery of any instances of possible or alleged
infringement of any copyright, trademark and other intellectual
property rights in and to the Videograms or any AP, Genius shall
promptly notify ESPN of such possible or alleged
infringement. Genius shall also fully cooperate with ESPN and
shall make it records, documents and witnesses available to ESPN
for the purposes of any legal action or litigation necessary to
enforce ESPN’s intellectual property rights in and to the
Videograms and the content of any AP.
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(e)
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Pursuant to the
Trademark License attached hereto as Exhibit 2 and incorporated
herein by reference, Genius is hereby licensed to use the ESPN
Marks.
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17.
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Representations and Warranties
.
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(a)
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ESPN hereby
represents and warrants that:
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(i)
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ESPN has the
full right, power, and authority to enter into and perform this
Agreement and to grant to Genius hereunder all of the Rights
Granted, and that ESPN solely controls and shall solely control
throughout th
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