Exhibit 10.4
WIRELESS DISTRIBUTION
AGREEMENT
THIS LICENSE FOR WIRELESS
DISTRIBUTION (“ Agreement ”) is entered into as
of March 6, 2006 (the “ Effective Date ”) by and
between:
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“BVIG”
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“Licensor”
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Buena Vista Internet
Group
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Artificial Life, Inc.
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500 South Buena Vista
Street
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Suite 4601, 333 Lockhart
Road,
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Burbank, California
91521-7697
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Hong Kong
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and
WHEREAS, Licensor is the owner or
licensee of all right, title and interest in and to certain content
and Licensor seeks to license such content to BVIG on the terms set
out hereunder to allow BVIG to create and distribute wireless
products and services using the content;
WHEREAS, BVIG desires to license
Licensor’s content to create and distribute wireless products
and services that incorporate the content;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the reciprocal promises, conditions, covenants, and undertakings
set out in the Agreement, Licensor and BVIG agree as
follows:
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“ Revenue Share ”
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Licensor – 50% of the Net Cumulative End
User Fees and Product Placement Fees
BVIG – 50% of the Net Cumulative End User
Fees and Product Placement Fees
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“ Territory ”
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United States, Canada, United Kingdom
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“ Term ”
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36 months from the earlier of the Product Launch
Date or July 1 st , 2006.
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“ Licensed Content
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V-girl – your virtual girlfriend Volume
I
V-boy – your virtual boyfriend Volume
I
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“ Exclusivity Fee
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$100,000
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Terms not defined above have the
meanings indicated in the attached Wireless Distribution Terms and
Conditions, which are incorporated into this Agreement. By signing
below, both Licensor and BVIG accept and agree to this Agreement,
including the attached Terms and Conditions.
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AGREED:
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AGREED:
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Artificial Life, Inc
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Buena Vista Internet Group
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By: _ Eberhard Schoneburg
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By: _ Laurence J. Shapiro
__________________
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Signature: /s/ Eberhard Schoneburg
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Signature: /s/ Laurence J. Shapiro
___________
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Title:
CEO
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Title: Executive Vice
President
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Exclusive Wireless License Terms and Conditions
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Version 3.05
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BVIG Confidential
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Wireless Distribution Terms and
Conditions
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1.
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ADDITIONAL
DEFINITIONS
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1.1 “
Approved Handsets ” means the Handsets listed on
Exhibit A hereto, as such list may be updated from time to time by
mutual written agreement of Licensor and BVIG in accordance with
Section 6.6.
1.2 “
Carrier ” means a provider of wireless
telecommunications services.
1.3 “
Disney Affiliate ” means The Walt Disney
Company (“ Disney ”) and any entity directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or in common control with
Disney, where “control” is defined as the ownership of
at least 50% of the equity or beneficial interests of such entity
or the right to vote for or appoint a majority of the board of
directors or other governing body of such entity, and any other
entity with respect to which Disney or any of such Disney
Affiliates has management or operational control (even though
Disney or such Disney Affiliate may own less than 50% of the equity
of such entity).
1.4 “
Handsets ” means handheld wireless mobile devices that
enable end users to view and browse Licensed Content.
1.5
“Intellectual Property Rights” means all
intellectual property rights throughout the universe, whether
existing under intellectual property, unfair competition or trade
secret laws, or under statute or at common law or equity, including
but not limited to: (i) copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks,
trade names, patents, rights in inventions, rights in designs,
rights in logos and trade dress, “moral rights,” rights
in mask works, rights of personality, publicity or privacy, and any
other intellectual property and proprietary rights; (ii) any
application or right to apply for, preserve, protect or secure any
of the rights referred to in this clause; and (iii) any and all
renewals, extensions and restorations thereof, now or hereafter in
force and effect.
1.6
“Licensed Content ” means the Licensor product
identified in the cover page of this Agreement, including any and
all Materials licensed by Licensor to BVIG in connection with that
product, including for the avoidance of doubt, all versions of
Volume 1 of the Licensed Content created for Wireless Distribution
in the Territory (for example, v1.0, v2.0, v3.0, and any other
future versions of Volume 1 of the Licensed Content created for
Wireless Distribution in the Territory).
1.7 “
Licensor Affiliate ” means any entity directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or in common control with
Licensor, where “control” is defined as the ownership
of at least 50% of the equity or beneficial interests of such
entity or the right to vote for or appoint a majority of the board
of directors or other governing body of such entity, and any other
entity with respect to which Licensor or any of such Licensor
Affiliates has management or operational control (even though
Licensor or such Licensor Affiliate may own less than 50% of the
equity of such entity).
1.8
“Materials” means audio and audiovisual
material, text, designs, graphics, musical compositions, photos,
symbols, films, photographs, artwork, sound recordings, games, web
pages, stories, interactive chats and conferences, and any
combinations of the foregoing, and compilations of data and other
materials. Without limiting the foregoing, such Materials shall
include all necessary data and content described as Licensed
Content on the cover page of this Agreement.
1.9
“Net Cumulative End User Fees ” means the monies
actually collected by BVIG from revenue directly attributable to
the Wireless Distribution of the Applications or Licensed Content
in the Territory (“ Gross ”) less (a) third
party out of pocket distribution fees and commissions, for example
a portion or share due and payable to a Carrier and/or other
distributors; (b) sales, value added, use and similar taxes,
tariffs, duties or assessments (excluding corporate income tax);
(c) credit card or similar fees charged for the transactions with
end users who obtain Applications; (d) solely as approved in
writing by Licensor prior to their occurence, any fees, royalties
and other charges payable by BVIG to third parties for services
directly related to the Applications (including development,
programming changes, repairs, porting, and testing), provided that
BVIG shall not be required to obtain Licensor’s approval for
any such services for which the fee amount is not material; (e)
credits, bill reconciliations, discounts, promotions, rebates or
similar transactions; and (f) relevant music collection society
royalty payments payable in the Territory, whether by BVIG or a
third-party distributor, with respect to the Wireless Distribution
of the Applications (provided that BVIG informs Licensor that such
music colleciton society royalty payments have been made). The same
amounts may not be deducted from Gross more than once, whether
pursuant to the above or elsewhere in the Agreement, and amounts
deducted pursuant to the above may not exceed 35% of
Gross.
1.10
“Product Placement Fees” means all cash revenues
generated in any territory throughout the world derived by BVIG in
accordance with Section 5.5 during the Term.
1.11 “
Product Launch Date ” means the date on which the
first Application is made available by BVIG to consumers via
Wireless Distribution on at least one major U.S. Carrier in the
Territory.
1.12 “
Territory ” shall have the meaning set forth on the
cover page of this Agreement, provided that the parties recognize
and agree that wireless distribution
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networks and users of wireless
devices are not always strictly territorially constrained.
Restrictions based on Territory shall generally mean restrictions
to Carriers that serve markets in such Territory or to users that
reside or make purchases in such Territory, based on available
information and implemented technology.
1.13 “
Wireless Distribution ” means distribution to wireless
service providers and wireless end user customers of the Approved
Handsets, including without limitation via the following: over the
air provisioning via wireless networks; Carrier online or wireless
mobile stores, including retail locations where wireless devices
are generally sold; storefronts, portals (whether operated by BVIG,
or a Carrier); on Approved Handsets; and all Carriers serving
customers in the Territory.
2. EXCLUSIVE
LICENSE. Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, Licensor grants to BVIG an exclusive (including as to
Licensor), non-transferable (except to a Disney Affiliate), license
in the Territory and for the Term: (i) to use (or have used), with
prior written consent of the Licensor, the Licensed Content in
conjunction with the distribution and promotion of the
entertainment products targeted for Wireless Distribution that are
further described in Exhibit B hereto (“ Applications
”); (ii) to distribute, display and perform (or have
distributed, displayed or performed) the Applications via Wireless
Distribution (including a license to end-users in accordance with
the next to last sentence of Section 3); and (iii) to use,
distribute, display and perform (or have used, distributed,
displayed or performed) the Licensed Content in connection with the
advertising and promotion of the Applications and their
availability via specific Wireless Distribution platforms. The
license granted by the Licensor to BVIG in each Territory is made
on an exclusive basis during the Term. Licensor acknowledges and
agrees that BVIG may subcontract with and permit third party
suppliers or developers to host and distribute the Applications,
provided that BVIG remains in all respects responsible for all work
performed by such subcontractors and for all duties and obligations
under this Agreement to be undertaken by BVIG. Licensor shall
promptly take action to enforce all of its rights against any third
party that distributes or plans or attempts to distribute any
content, application or product similar to Applications or Licensed
Content in the Territory or otherwise makes any claim or takes or
attempts to take any action that would affect the rights accorded
BVIG under this Agreement, and Licensor shall promptly provide BVIG
with detailed notice of any such third-party distribution, plan,
claim or attempt and the enforcement steps that Licensor intends to
take.
3. TERM
AND TERMINATION. This
Agreement shall continue for the Term set forth above.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, on the earlier of (a) the eighteen
(18) month anniversary of the Product Launch Date or (b) January 1,
2008, in the event that the Revenue Share paid to Licensor pursuant
to Section 4 is less than the amount equal to (i) $87,250 for
either Application, Licensor may elect to deliver to BVIG a written
notice stating that the license granted in Section 2 for the
Application that did not reach such revenue level will be
non-exclusive for the remaining months of the Term whereupon such
license will become nonexclusive (“ Non Exclusivity
Notice ”), or Licensor may elect to deliver to BVIG a
written termination notice whereupon BVIG’s license granted
in 2 will termin ate for the Application that did not reach such
revenue level. Upon the expiration of the Term, this Agreement
shall automatically renew for successive renewal terms of one (1)
year each (each a “ Renewal Term ” and
collectively with the prior Term, the “ Term ”)
unless either party shall have given the other party prior written
notice of its intent not to renew no later than ninety (90) days
prior to the expiration of the Term or any Renewal Term. Either
party may terminate this Agreement upon not less than ninety (90)
days’ prior written notice to the other party of any specific
and material breach by such other party, provided that such
termination shall not be effective if the other party shall within
such ninety (90)-day period have cured the material breach
identified in such notice. Either party may terminate this
Agreement immediately upon prior written notice to the other party
in the event the other party (i) violates Section 7, or (ii)
becomes insolvent (i.e. unable to pay its debts in the ordinary
course as they come due). Upon termination or expiration of this
Agreement, the Applications and/or Licensed Content will no longer
be able to be used by BVIG for any purpose, provided that
Licensor’s ownership or ability to use the underlying
Licensed Content it supplied to BVIG for such Applications shall
not be affected and BVIG’s ability to use any Materials
created or otherwise used for the Wireless Distribution
contemplated hereunder (including, but not limited to the Materials
in the Applications) shall not be affected to the extent the same
is not precluded by Licensor’s copyright or trademark rights.
Notwithstanding the above, all technology, source code, software,
templates and functionality used and/or created by BVIG or its
nominated contractors (collectively, “ BVIG
Technology ”) shall be owned (or licensed) by BVIG and
BVIG will have all rights to freely use such BVIG Technology after
termination of this Agreement. In the event of early termination of
this Agreement, BVIG will discontinue the distribution of the
Applications or Licensed Content, provided that the
parties
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acknowledge that, in the event BVIG
has contractually committed to a Carrier to allow Wireless
Distribution of an Application, BVIG will use reasonable efforts to
request that such Carrier discontinue distribution of the
Application, but, failing to do so, such Wireless Distribution may
continue, subject to all other terms and conditions of this
Agreement (including Licensor’s payment rights), until what
would have been the natural expiration date of the Agreement.
Licensor acknowledges and agrees that end users’ rights to
use Licensed Content on a Handset will not terminate upon
termination or expiration of this Agreement. Any subscription or
hosted services relating to the Applications may no longer be
provided by BVIG after termination or expiration of the
Agreement.
4.1
Revenue Share. BVIG shall pay Licensor the non-refundable
Exclusivity Fee within sixty (60) days of the execution of this
Agreement by both parties. BVIG may recoup the Exclusivity Fee,
Hosting Fee and Insurance Payment from the Revenue Share payable to
Licensor. Licensor shall receive its Revenue Share of the Net
Cumulative End User Fees from all Wireless Distribution by BVIG of
the Applications and its Revenue Share of all revenues generated as
Product Placement Fees in the Territory (together, the “
Revenue Share ”) after recoupment of the Exclusivity
Fee, Hosting Fee and the Insurance Payment by BVIG against
Licensor’s Revenue Share. Revenue Share payments shall be due
and payable within thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar
quarter in which BVIG actually receives any Net Cumulative End User
or Product Placement Fees. BVIG shall provide to Licensor a written
statement setting forth in respect of each Territory for the
applicable calendar quarter (i) the number of active subscribers
for the Applications at the start and end of that quarter, (ii) Net
Cumulative End User Fees received, (iii) the total amount of fees
paid to BVIG as Product Placement Fees, and (iv) a calculation of
the Revenue Share due to Licensor. Payments and statements issued
by BVIG hereunder shall be binding unless Licensor submits to BVIG
a written notice of any disputed items within ninety (90) days from
the date of receipt of the applicable payment or statement, except
however, this sentence shall not apply to any results from an audit
conducted by Licensor pursuant to this Section 4.1. If Licensor
reasonably believes that such reports or payments are materially
inaccurate, it may, no more than once per calendar year during the
Term of this Agreement and at its own cost, request that a
nationally recognized independent CPA or accounting firm nominated
by the Licensor and approved by BVIG (whose approval may not be
unreasonably withheld) audit the Revenue Share calculations. Any
such audit shall take place after prior written notice has been
delivered to BVIG and at a mutually agreeable time and place. In
the event that such audit reveals that the dollar value of a BVIG
underpayment of the Revenue Share for a specific payment period
exceeds 10% of the amounts actually paid by BVIG for such period,
then BVIG shall reimburse the reasonable fees paid by Licensor to
the auditor. Any results and information obtained during such audit
shall be treated as confidential pursuant to Section 7 of this
Agreement. To the extent a Carrier or other distributor is not
responsible, each party shall be responsible for foreign, federal,
state and local taxes, tariffs, duties or similar governmental
assessments, properly assessed against it in connection with this
Agreement.
4.2
Hosting and Maintenance. After the Product Launch Date, and
so long as BVIG is distributing and end users are using the
Applications, BVIG will pay to Licensor the following fee in
addition to the Revenue Share: a maintenance and hosting fee of
$2,000 per month (“ Hosting Fee ”) for Licensor
to provide maintenance and hosting service in accordance with the
terms set forth in Exhibit D. Licensor shall invoice BVIG in
accordance with BVIG’s standard invoicing policies, with each
invoice covering the Hosting Fee to be made for the previous
quarter. In accordance with this Section 4, Licensor shall receive
its Revenue Share after recoupment of the Insurance Payment,
Hosting Fee and the Exclusivity Fee by BVIG.
4.3 Non
Exclusivity Notice . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, in the event that (a) Licensor delivers a Non Exclusivity
Notice to BVIG in accordance with Section 3 and (b) BVIG terminates
its distribution of the Applications as a result thereof, then BVIG
shall have no further obligation to make any future Insurance Fee
or Hosting Fee payments to Licensor.
5.1
General Marketing and Approvals . During the Term, BVIG
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to advertise and
promote the merits, availability and content of the Applications.
Licensor will not include BVIG’s trademarks or name in any
marketing without BVIG’s specific, prior written approval,
which may be withheld in BVIG’s sole discretion. BVIG agrees
to use commercially reasonable efforts to (a) include in all
marketing and publicity materials for the Applications distributed
in each Territory, a reference that the Applications has been
“produced by Artificial Life, Inc.” (or similar) and
(b) not include Licensor’s trademarks or name in any
marketing without Licensor’s specific, prior written
approval, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
Any co-branding of the
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Applications shall be subject to the
mutual agreement of the parties. All costs of marketing (except for
any costs independently incurred by Licensor in accordance with the
first sentence of this Section 5.1) will be paid for exclusively by
BVIG.
5.2
Carrier Promotions . During the Term, BVIG will use
commercially reasonable efforts to work with Carriers to promote
the Applications and negotiate all appropriate legal documentation,
provided that BVIG will have sole discretion over how and where the
Applications are promoted. Any failure of BVIG to obtain any such
marketing from any Carrier will not be a breach of this Agreement
or give rise to any rights or causes of action for Licensor or any
other person or entity hereunder. All costs associated with
promotional work with the Carriers will be solely at the expense of
BVIG.
5.3
Website, Packaging and Email Marketing . Subject to
BVIG’s specific, prior written approval, Licensor shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to prominently advertise and
promote the Applications, including without limitation, prominently
and above the fold on the home page of Licensor and
Application-related websites and online and wireless channels, and
in Application-related publications, packaging and
dispays.
5.4
Publicity; No Right to Use Disney Brands . Licensor and BVIG
shall issue a mutually-agreed joint press release. Licensor shall
not directly or indirectly issue or permit the issuance of any
further press release or any other publicity regarding, or make any
public statements concerning BVIG, or any other matters regarding
this Agreement without prior coordination with and approval by BVIG
which may be granted or withheld in BVIG’s sole discretion.
Except and only to the extent specifically permitted under this
Agreement, Licensor shall not acquire any right under this
Agreement to use, and shall not use, the names “BVIG,”
“Buena Vista Internet Group”, “Walt Disney
Internet Group”, “Starwave”, “ABC”,
“ESPN”, “Disney”, “The Walt Disney
Company” or the name of any other BVIG Affiliate (either
alone or in conjunction with or as a part of any other word or
name) or any fanciful characters or designs of BVIG or any BVIG
Affiliate in any advertising, publicity or promotion or other
disclosures, or to express or imply any endorsement of
Licensor’s products or services, or for any purpose
whatsoever. The provisions of this section shall survive
termination or expiration of this Agreement or any determination
that this Agreement or any portion is void or voidable.
5.5
Product Placement. BVIG shall be responsible for acquiring
(1) any third party product placements for advertising with the
Application, and (2) any product placements of BVIG Materials
within the Applications only as mutually agreed upon by the parties
and as jointly determined by BVIG and Licensor. During the Term,
BVIG shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with third
parties on product placement advertising within the Applications,
provided that any failure of BVIG to consummate any such
arrangements will not be a breach of this Agreement or give rise to
any rights or causes of action for Licensor or any other person or
entity hereunder, and any such arrangements shall be subject to
Licensor’s prior written approval. Licensor will, within
seven (7) calendar days of written request for approval, provide
approvals or disapprovals for any such product placement
arrangements. If Licensor expressly disapproves of any such product
placement arrangement, it will, contemporaneously with such
disapproval, supply a written statement setting forth the exact
reasons for the disapproval and the corrections necessary to obtain
Licensor’s approval, if any. Licensor's failure to provide
any approval or disapproval hereunder within seven (7) calendar
days after BVIG's request therefore will be deemed Licensor’s
approval. The aesthetic design of any product placement advertising
for third party content within the Applications shall be mutually
agreed upon by the parties and the implementation thereof shall be
the responsibility of Licensor, subject to BVIG’s approval.
Any development costs incurred by Licensor for product placements
will be mutually agreed upon by Licensor and BVIG prior to any
agreement between BVIG and a third party for implementing any
product placement. The fees charged by BVIG for any such product
pla