Exhibit 10.1
CONFIDENTIAL LICENSE
AGREEMENT
FOR THE Wii CONSOLE
(Western Hemisphere)
THIS LICENSE
AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into between
NINTENDO OF AMERICA INC. (“NOA”) at 4820 150th Avenue
N.E., Redmond, WA 98052 Attn: General Counsel (Fax:
425-882-3585) and TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE, INC., and
each of the Affiliates that are signatories to this Agreement
(collectively, “LICENSEE”) at 622 Broadway,
6th Floor, New York, NY 10012 Attn: Kristine Severson (Fax:
212-334-6644). NOA and LICENSEE agree as follows:
1.
RECITALS
1.1
NOA markets and sells advanced design, high-quality video game
systems, including the Wii video game console
(“Wii”).
1.2
LICENSEE desires use of the highly proprietary programming
specifications, unique and valuable security technology,
trademarks, copyrights and other valuable intellectual property
rights of NOA and its parent company, Nintendo Co., Ltd., which
rights are only available for use under the terms of a license
agreement, to develop, have manufactured, advertise, market and
sell video game software for play on Wii.
1.3
NOA is willing to grant a license to LICENSEE on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement.
2.
DEFINITIONS
2.1
“Affiliates” means and includes with respect to Take
Two Interactive Software, Inc., a corporation or other legal
entity that operates primarily as a video game publisher and/or
developer and is under the Control of, or is under common Control
with, Take Two Interactive Software, Inc. A list of such
Affiliates is attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A, which
may be amended in writing from time to time.
2.2
“Artwork” means the text and design specifications for
the Game Disc label and the Printed Materials in the format
specified by NOA in the Guidelines.
2.3
“Bulk Goods” means Game Discs that have been printed
with the Game Disc label Artwork for delivery to LICENSEE without
Printed Materials or other packaging.
2.4
“Control” means ownership, either directly or
indirectly, through a subsidiary or series of tiered subsidiaries,
of shares of capital stock (or like units of ownership)
representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting rights in
such corporation or other legal entity.
2.5
“Check Disc(s)” means the pre-production Game Discs to
be produced by Nintendo.
2.6
“Confidential Information” means the information
described in Section 8.1.
2.7
“Development Tools” means the development kits,
programming tools, emulators and other materials of Nintendo, or
third parties authorized by Nintendo, that may be used in the
development of Games under this Agreement.
2.8
“Effective Date” means February 21,
2007.
2.9
“Game Discs(s)” means custom optical discs for play on
Wii on which a Game has been stored.
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2.10
“Game(s)” means any interactive programs (including
source and object/binary code) developed to be compatible with
Wii.
2.11
“Guidelines” means the then current version of
“Wii Programming Guidelines,” “Licensee Packaging
Guidelines,” and “Nintendo Trademark Guidelines,”
together with other guidelines provided by NOA to LICENSEE from
time to time.
2.12
“Independent Contractor” means any individual or entity
that is not an employee of LICENSEE, including any independent
programmer, consultant, contractor, board member or
advisor.
2.13
“Intellectual Property Rights” means individually,
collectively or in any combination, Proprietary Rights owned,
licensed or otherwise held by Nintendo that are associated with the
development, manufacturing, advertising, marketing or sale of the
Licensed Products, including, without limitation,
(a) registered and unregistered trademarks and trademark
applications used in connection with Wii including Nintendo®,
WiiTM, Official Nintendo Seal of Quality®, and MiiTM ,
(b) select trade dress associated with Wii and licensed video
games for play thereon, (c) Proprietary Rights in the Security
Technology employed in the Games or Game Discs by Nintendo,
(d) rights in the Development Tools for use in developing the
Games, excluding, however, rights to use, incorporate or duplicate
select libraries, protocols and/or sound or graphic files
associated with the Development Tools which belong to any third
party and for which no additional licenses or consents are
required, (e) patents, design registrations or copyrights
which may be associated with the Game Discs or Printed Materials,
(f) copyrights in the Guidelines, and (g) other
Proprietary Rights of Nintendo in the Confidential
Information.
2.14
“Licensed Products” means Bulk Goods after being
assembled by or for LICENSEE with the Printed Materials in
accordance with the Guidelines.
2.15
“Marketing Materials” means marketing, advertising or
promotional materials developed by or for LICENSEE (or subject to
LICENSEE’s approval) that promote the sale of the Licensed
Products, including but not limited to, television, radio and
on-line advertising, point-of-sale materials (e.g., posters,
counter-cards), package advertising, print media and all audio or
video content other than the Game that is to be included on the
Game Disc.
2.16
“NDA” means the non-disclosure agreement related to Wii
previously entered into between NOA and LICENSEE.
2.17
“Nintendo” means NOA’s parent company, Nintendo
Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, individually or collectively with
NOA.
2.18
“Notice” means any notice permitted or required under
this Agreement. All notices shall be sufficiently given when
(a) personally served or delivered, or (b) transmitted by
facsimile, with an original sent concurrently by first class U.S.
mail, or (c) deposited, postage prepaid, with a guaranteed air
courier service, in each case addressed as stated herein, or
addressed to such other person or address either party may
designate in a Notice. Notice shall be deemed effective upon
the earlier of actual receipt or two (2) business days after
transmittal, provided, however, any Notice received after the
recipient’s normal business hours will be deemed received on
the next business day.
2.19
“Price Schedule” means the then current version of
NOA’s schedule of purchase prices and minimum order
quantities for the Bulk Goods.
2.20
“Printed Materials” means a plastic disc storage case,
title page, instruction booklet, warranty card and poster
incorporating the Artwork.
2.21
“Promotional Disc(s)” means custom optical discs
compatible with Wii that incorporate select game promotional or
supplemental materials, as may be specified or permitted in the
Guidelines.
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2.22
“Proprietary Rights” means any rights or applications
for rights owned, licensed or otherwise held in patents,
trademarks, service marks, copyrights, mask works, trade secrets,
trade dress, moral rights and publicity rights, together with all
inventions, discoveries, ideas, technology, know-how, data,
information, processes, formulas, drawings and designs, licenses,
computer programs, software source code and object code, and all
amendments, modifications, and improvements thereto for which such
patent, trademark, service mark, copyright mask work, trade
secrets, trade dress, moral rights or publicity rights may exist or
may be sought and obtained in the future.
2.23
“Rebate Program” means any then current version of
NOA’s optional rebate program, establishing select terms for
price rebates under this Agreement.
2.24
“Reverse Engineer(ing)” means, without limitation,
(a) the x-ray, electronic scanning or physical or chemical
stripping of semiconductor components, (b) the disassembly,
decompilation, decryption or simulation of object code or
executable code, or (c) any other technique designed to
extract source code or facilitate the duplication of a program or
product.
2.25
“Security Technology” means the highly proprietary
security features of the Wii and the Licensed Products to minimize
the risk of unlawful copying and other unauthorized or unsafe
usage, including, without limitation, any security signature, bios,
data scrambling, password, hardware security apparatus, watermark,
hologram, encryption, digital rights management system, copyright
management information system, proprietary manufacturing process or
any feature which obstructs piracy, limits unlawful, unsafe or
unauthorized use, or facilitates or limits compatibility with other
hardware, software, accessories or peripherals, or with respect to
a video game system other than the Wii, or limits distribution
outside of the Territory.
2.26
“Term” means three (3) years from the Effective
Date.
2.27
“Territory” means all countries within the Western
Hemisphere and their respective territories and
possessions.
2.28
“Wii Network Services” means and includes the Wii Shop
Channel Services, WiiConnect24, and any related services and
material delivered to a consumer’s Wii console over the
Internet.
3.
GRANT OF LICENSE; LICENSEE RESTRICTIONS
3.1
Limited License Grant . For the Term and for the
Territory, NOA grants to LICENSEE a nonexclusive, nontransferable,
limited license to use the Intellectual Property Rights to develop
(or have developed on LICENSEE’s behalf) Games for
manufacture, advertising, marketing and sale by LICENSEE as
Licensed Products, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. Except as permitted under a separate written
authorization from Nintendo, LICENSEE shall not use the
Intellectual Property Rights for any other purpose.
3.2
LICENSEE Acknowledgement . LICENSEE acknowledges
(a) the valuable nature of the Intellectual Property
Rights, (b) the right, title and interest of Nintendo in
and to the Intellectual Property Rights, and (c) the right,
title, and interest of Nintendo in and to the Proprietary Rights
associated with all aspects of Wii. LICENSEE recognizes that
the Development Tools, Games, Game Discs and Licensed Products will
embody valuable rights of Nintendo and Nintendo’s
licensors. LICENSEE represents and warrants that it will not
undertake any act or thing which in any way impairs or is intended
to impair any part of the right, title, interest or goodwill of
Nintendo in the Intellectual Property Rights.
LICENSEE’s use of the Intellectual Property Rights shall not
create any right, title or interest of LICENSEE therein.
Licensee is authorized and permitted to develop Games, and have
manufactured, advertise, market, and sell Licensed Products, only
for play on Wii and only in accordance with this
Agreement.
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3.3
LICENSEE Restrictions and Prohibitions . LICENSEE is
not licensed to and covenants that, without the express, written
consent of NOA, it will not at any time, directly or indirectly, do
or cause to be done any of the following:
(a)
grant access to, distribute, transmit or broadcast a Game by
electronic means or by any other means known or hereafter devised,
including, without limitation, by wireless, cable, fiber optic,
telephone lines, microwave, radiowave, computer or other device
network, except (a) as a part of wireless Game play on and
among Wii systems, or between Wii and Nintendo DS systems
(b) for the purpose of facilitating Game development under the
terms of this Agreement, or (c) as otherwise approved in
writing by Nintendo. LICENSEE shall use reasonable security
measures, customary within the high technology industry, to reduce
the risk of unauthorized interception or retransmission of any Game
transmission. No right of retransmission shall attach to any
authorized transmission of a Game;
(b)
authorize or permit any online activities involving a Game,
including, without limitation, multiplayer, peer-to-peer or online
play, except as expressly permitted by Nintendo in
writing;
(c)
modify, install or operate a Game on any server or computing device
for the purpose of or resulting in the rental, lease, loan or other
grant of remote access to the Game;
(d)
emulate, interoperate, interface or link a Game for operation or
use with any hardware or software platform, accessory, computer
language, computer environment, chip instruction set, consumer
electronics device or device other than Wii, the Nintendo DS
system, the Development Tools or such other Nintendo system as NOA
may authorize in the Guidelines;
(e)
embed, incorporate, or store a Game in any media or format except
the optical disc format utilized by Wii, except as may be necessary
as a part of the Game development process under this
Agreement;
(f)
design, implement or undertake any process, procedure, program or
act designed to disable, obstruct, circumvent or otherwise diminish
the effectiveness or operation of the Security
Technology;
(g)
utilize the Intellectual Property Rights to design or develop any
interactive video game program, except as authorized under this
Agreement;
(h)
manufacture or reproduce a Game developed under this Agreement,
except through Nintendo; or
(i)
Reverse Engineer or assist in Reverse Engineering all or any part
of Wii, including the hardware, software (embedded or not) or the
Security Technology.
3.4
No Free-Riding; No Co-Publishing Arrangements . To
protect Nintendo’s valuable Intellectual Property Rights, to
prevent the dilution of Nintendo’s trademarks and to preclude
free-riding by third parties on the goodwill associated with
Nintendo’s trademarks, the license granted under this
Agreement is limited to LICENSEE and may not be delegated or
contracted out for the benefit of a third party, or to a division,
affiliate, or subsidiary of LICENSEE. This Agreement, together with
all submissions, representations, undertakings and approvals
contemplated of LICENSEE by this Agreement, is and shall remain the
right and obligation only of LICENSEE. All Printed Materials
and Marketing Materials for a Game shall prominently and accurately
identify LICENSEE as NOA’s licensee. NOA does not
permit the designation or identification of any third party
co-publisher for a Game on any Game Disc or Game Disc label
Artwork, however, LICENSEE may identify a third party as a
co-publisher, licensor, developer or other partner of LICENSEE in
those Printed Materials (other than the Game Disc label), Marketing
Materials or Game credits, as authorized under the Guidelines. For
purposes of clarification, LICENSEE’s name, or logo, will
appear on the Licensed Product Game Disc case and Game Disc label
as it appears in the preamble of this Agreement.
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3.5
Development Tools . NOA and Nintendo Co., Ltd.
may lease, loan or sell Development Tools to LICENSEE to assist in
the development of Games under this Agreement. Ownership and
use of any Development Tools shall be subject to the terms of this
Agreement and any separate license or purchase agreement required
by Nintendo or any third party licensing the Development
Tools. LICENSEE acknowledges the respective interests of
Nintendo, and in the case of third-party Development Tools, such
third parties, in and to the Proprietary Rights associated with the
Development Tools. LICENSEE’s use of the Development
Tools shall not create any right, title or interest of LICENSEE
therein. LICENSEE shall not, directly or indirectly,
(a) use the Development Tools for any purpose except the
design and development of Games under this Agreement,
(b) reproduce or create derivatives of the Development Tools,
except in association with the development of Games under this
Agreement, (c) Reverse Engineer the Development Tools, or
(d) sell, lease, assign, lend, license, encumber or otherwise
transfer the Development Tools. Anything developed or derived
by LICENSEE as a result of a study of the performance, design or
operation of any Nintendo Development Tools shall be considered a
derivative work of the Intellectual Property Rights and shall
belong to Nintendo, but may be retained and utilized by LICENSEE in
connection with this Agreement. In no event shall LICENSEE
(i) seek, claim or file for any patent, copyright or other
Proprietary Right with regard to any such derivative work,
(ii) make available any such derivative work to any third
party, or (iii) use any such derivative work except in
connection with the design and development of Games under this
Agreement. Anything developed or derived by LICENSEE as a result of
a study of the performance, design or operation of any third-party
Development Tools shall be governed by the terms of the license
agreement applicable to such Development Tools.
Notwithstanding any referral or information provided or posted
regarding third-party Development Tools, NOA and Nintendo
Co., Ltd. make no representations or warranties with regard to
any such third-party Development Tools. LICENSEE acquires and
utilizes third-party Development Tools at its own risk.
3.6
Third Party Developers . LICENSEE shall not disclose
or permit access to the Confidential Information, the Guidelines or
the Intellectual Property Rights to any Independent Contractor,
unless and until such Independent Contractor has signed a
confidentiality agreement with LICENSEE that is no less restrictive
than the terms of Section 8 below, and that expressly includes
the following language:
“Independent Contractor
may have access to highly-confidential and proprietary information,
intellectual property, and trade secrets of Nintendo Co., Ltd.
and/or Nintendo of America Inc. (collectively,
“Nintendo”). Independent Contractor expressly
acknowledges (i) the valuable nature of such materials; and
(ii) Nintendo’s right, title and interest in such
materials. All such materials constitute confidential
information under this agreement and shall be treated by
Independent Contractor as such. Independent Contractor shall
not undertake any act or thing which in any way impairs or is
intended to impair any part of the right, title, interest or
goodwill of Nintendo in such materials. Independent
Contractor’s use of such materials shall not create any
right, title or interest of Independent Contractor therein.
Nintendo Co., Ltd. and Nintendo of America Inc. are
intended third-party beneficiaries of this
agreement.”
LICENSEE shall, upon
request by NOA, provide NOA with copies of the confidentiality
agreements required by this Section. Notwithstanding any such
confidentiality agreement, LICENSEE shall remain fully responsible
for, and shall hold NOA and Nintendo Co., Ltd. harmless against,
any breach of the confidentiality agreement by any Independent
Contractor involving any Confidential Information, Guidelines, or
Intellectual Property Rights.
3.7
Games Developed for Linked Play on Two Systems . In
the event the Guidelines permit LICENSEE to develop a Game for
simultaneous or linked play on Wii and on another Nintendo video
game system, LICENSEE shall be required to acquire and maintain
with NOA such additional licenses as
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are necessary for the
use of the Proprietary Rights associated with such other Nintendo
video game system.
3.8
In Game Advertising. LICENSEE shall not include
advertising or product placements for products or services of third
parties, whether in the Game, as separate content on a Game Disc
(e.g., a trailer), or in the Printed Materials without
Nintendo’s prior written consent.
3.9
Use of Mii Characters. LICENSEE shall not develop any
Game that permits Nintendo’s Mii characters to appear in the
Game without NOA’s prior written consent.
3.10
Sending Data to Consumers. LICENSEE shall not,
without the prior, written consent of NOA, send any data, content,
messages, advertising, or other communications of any kind to any
consumer’s Wii console through the Wii Network Services or
otherwise.
3.11
Downloadable Content. If LICENSEE desires to develop
Games, or updates/additions of any kind for any Licensed Product,
to be downloaded to consumers through the Wii Network Services, the
terms and conditions of such development shall be separately agreed
in writing between the parties. LICENSEE acknowledges that
the rights granted herein do not include the right to use the
Intellectual Property Rights to develop downloadable
content.
4.
SUBMISSION AND APPROVAL OF GAME AND ARTWORK
4.1
Submission of a Completed Game to NOA . Upon
completion of a Game, LICENSEE shall deliver a prototype of the
Game to NOA in a format specified in the Guidelines. Delivery
shall be made in accordance with the methods set forth in the
Guidelines. Each Submission shall include such other
information or documentation deemed necessary by NOA, including,
without limitation, a complete set of written user instructions, a
complete description of any security holes, backdoors, time bombs,
cheats, “easter eggs” or other hidden features or
characters in the Game and a complete screen text script.
LICENSEE must establish that the Game and any other content
included on the Game Disc complies with the Advertising Code of
Conduct of the Entertainment Software Ratings Board
(“ESRB”) and that the Game has been rated EC, E, E10+,
T or M (or another non-Adult Only category added by the ESRB) by
the ESRB. LICENSEE shall provide NOA with a certificate of
rating for the Game issued by the ESRB.
4.2
Testing of a Completed Game . Upon submission of a
completed Game, NOA and Nintendo Co., Ltd. shall promptly test
the Game with regard to its technical compatibility with and
error-free operation on Wii, utilizing the lot check process.
Within a reasonable period of time after receipt, NOA shall approve
or disapprove such Game. If a Game is disapproved, NOA shall
specify in writing the reasons for such disapproval and state what
corrections are necessary. After making the necessary
corrections, LICENSEE shall submit a revised Game to NOA for
testing. NOA shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its
approval of any Game. Neither the testing nor approval of a
Game by NOA or Nintendo Co., Ltd. shall relieve LICENSEE of its
sole responsibility for the development, quality and operation of
the Game or in any way create any warranty by NOA or Nintendo Co.,
Ltd. relating to any Licensed Product.
4.3
Production of Check Discs . By submission of a
completed Game to NOA in accordance with section 4.1, LICENSEE
authorizes Nintendo to proceed with production of Check Discs for
such Game. If NOA approves a Game, it shall promptly, and
without further notification to or instruction from LICENSEE,
submit such Game for the production of Check Discs. Unless
otherwise advised by LICENSEE, following production of the Check
Discs, NOA shall deliver to LICENSEE approximately ten
(10) Check Discs for content verification, testing and final
approval by LICENSEE.
4.4
Approval or Disapproval of Check Discs by LICENSEE .
If, after review and testing, LICENSEE approves the Check Discs, it
shall promptly transmit to NOA a signed authorization for
production in the form specified in the Guidelines. If
LICENSEE does not approve the sample Check Discs for any reason,
LICENSEE shall advise NOA in writing and may, after undertaking any
necessary
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changes or corrections,
resubmit the Game to NOA for approval in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Section 4. The absence of a
signed authorization form from LICENSEE within five (5) days
after delivery of the Check Discs to LICENSEE shall be deemed
disapproval of such Check Discs. Production of any order for
Bulk Goods shall not proceed without LICENSEE’s signed
authorization.
4.5
Cost of Check Discs and Disc Stamper . If LICENSEE:
(a) disapproves the Check Discs for any reason; (b) fails
to order the minimum order quantity of any Game approved by NOA
within six (6) months after the date the Game was first
approved by NOA; or (c) submits a revised version of the Game
to NOA after production of such Game has commenced, LICENSEE shall
reimburse NOA (or its designee) for the reasonable estimated cost
of the production of the Check Discs, including the cost of the
disc stamper. The payment will be due (i) thirty
(30) days after NOA’s written notification to LICENSEE
of the Check Disc fee due NOA because of LICENSEE’s failure
to approve such Check Disc; (ii) six (6) months after the
date the Game was first approved by NOA; or (iii) upon the
subsequent submission by LICENSEE of a revised version of the Game
to NOA, as the case may be.
4.6
Submission and Approval of Artwork . Prior to
submitting a completed Game to NOA under Section 4.1, LICENSEE
shall submit to NOA all Artwork for the proposed Licensed
Product. Within ten (10) business days of receipt, NOA
shall approve or disapprove the Artwork. If any Artwork is
disapproved, NOA shall specify in writing the reasons for such
disapproval and state what corrections or improvements are
necessary. After making the necessary corrections or
improvements, LICENSEE shall submit revised Artwork to NOA for
approval. NOA shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its
approval of any Artwork. The approval of the Artwork by NOA
shall not relieve LICENSEE of its sole responsibility for the
development and quality of the Artwork or in any way create any
warranty for the Artwork or the Licensed Product by NOA. All
Artwork must be approved prior to submitting an order for the Bulk
Goods, and LICENSEE shall not produce any Printed Materials for
commercial distribution until such Artwork has been approved by
NOA.
4.7
Promotional Discs . In the event NOA issues Guidelines
in the future that permit LICENSEE to develop and distribute
Promotional Discs, either separately or as a part of the Licensed
Product, the content and specifications of such Promotional Disc
shall be subject to all of the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, including, without limitation, the Guidelines, the Price
Schedule and the submission and approval procedures