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Exhibit 10.21
LICENSE
AGREEMENT
This Agreement is by and between The
Topps Company, Inc. with offices at One Whitehall Street, New York,
NY 10004-2109 (hereinafter "Licensee"), and NATIONAL FOOTBALL
LEAGUE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, a corporation with offices at 2021 L
Street, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C., 20036 (hereinafter
"NFLPA" or "Licensor"). This Agreement shall be effective as of
March 1, 2007.
- REPRESENTATIONS.
-
- NFLPA represents that the NFLPA has been duly appointed and is
acting on behalf of the active and retired football players of the
National Football League (hereinafter "NFL") who have entered into
a Group Licensing Assignment, either in the form attached hereto as
Attachment "A" or through the assignment contained in Paragraph
4(b) of the NFL Player Contract, and that in such capacity NFLPA
has the right to grant rights and licenses described herein.
Licensee acknowledges that NFLPA also on occasion secures
authorization for inclusion in NFLPA licensing programs from
players, including but not limited to retired players, who have not
entered into such Group Licensing Assignment, but who,
nevertheless, authorize NFLPA to represent such players for
designated NFLPA licensed programs.
- NFLPA makes no representation that it has the authority to
grant, nor does it grant herein, the right to utilize any symbols,
insignias, logos, or other identifying names or marks of the NFL
and/or any of its member clubs. Accordingly, it is understood by
the parties hereto that if likenesses of players are to be used by
Licensee in conjunction with any symbols, insignia, or logos of the
NFL or any of its member clubs, in the exercise of the License
granted hereunder, it will be the responsibility of the Licensee to
obtain such permission as may be necessary for the use of such
material from the NFL or the club(s) in question. Licensor retains
all rights not expressly and exclusively granted to Licensee
hereunder.
- GRANT OF LICENSE.
-
- Upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, NFLPA
hereby grants to Licensee and Licensee hereby accepts
[INFORMATION SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT.] .
- The rights, licenses, and privileges granted by NFLPA hereunder
shall not constitute or be used by Licensee as a testimonial or an
endorsement of any product, service, or event by all or any of the
players, or by NFLPA or Players Inc.
- Licensee acknowledges that the Grant of License of this Section
2 is contingent upon Licensee's compliance with and performance
under the terms and conditions of the Service Agreement between
Licensee and Players Inc, effective March 1, 2007 (hereinafter
"Service Agreement"). As provided in Section 14(C), NFLPA may
terminate this Agreement if Licensee shall violate any of its
material obligations under the terms of the Service Agreement.
- RETAIL LICENSE ONLY. The Grant of License set forth in
Section 2 of this Agreement applies [INFORMATION SUBJECT TO AN
APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT.] .
- TERRITORY AND DISTRIBUTION. Licensee shall have the
right to utilize the rights granted hereunder for distribution of
the licensed product(s) in the following territory: Worldwide.
- TERM.
-
- The term of this Agreement shall extend from [INFORMATION
SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT.]
(hereinafter referred to as the Original License Period) unless
terminated in accordance with the provisions hereof. Licensee may
renew this Agreement for a Second License Period from
[INFORMATION SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT.] , provided Licensee has materially fulfilled its
obligations hereunder in the Original License Period. Notice of
desire to renew shall be given by Licensee no later than
[INFORMATION SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT.] in the Original License Period. Licensee may renew
this Agreement also for a Third License Period from [INFORMATION
SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT.] to
February 28, 2010, provided Licensee has faithfully fulfilled its
obligations hereunder in the Second License Period. Notice of
desire to renew shall be given by Licensee no later than
[INFORMATION SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT.] of the Second License Period.
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-
- Licensee acknowledges and agrees that Licensee has and shall
have no right to extend or renew this Agreement beyond the term and
renewal options, if any, stated herein. No conduct by either
Licensor or Licensee (including without limitation, any approvals
granted pursuant to the Service Agreement) shall create, imply, or
infer a new license agreement or an extension of the stated term
and renewal options, if any, of this Agreement, unless same is
specifically set forth in a written agreement signed by both
Licensor and Licensee. Licensee's agreement that this Agreement is
subject to the term and renewal options, if any, stated herein, in
all events whatsoever, is a material inducement for Licensor to
enter into this Agreement.
- ROYALTY PAYMENT.
-
- Licensee agrees to pay NFLPA a guaranteed royalty of $
[INFORMATION SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT.] for its use of the rights licensed hereunder for
the Original License Period, a guaranteed royalty of $
[INFORMATION SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT.] for the Second License Period, if applicable, and a
guaranteed royalty of $ [INFORMATION SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION
FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT.] for the Third License Period, if
applicable. The guaranteed royalty shall be paid as follows:
-
- For the Original License Period, $ [INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT.] .
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-
-
- For the Second License Period, if applicable, $ [INFORMATION
SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT.] .
- For the Third License Period, if applicable, $ [INFORMATION
SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT.] .
- Such guaranteed royalty payments shall be made by Licensee as
specified hereinabove whether or not Licensee uses the rights
licensed hereunder, and no part of such guaranteed payments shall
be repayable to Licensee.
- Licensee shall also pay to NFLPA an amount equal to
[INFORMATION SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT.] %) of the gross sales of the licensed product(s)
covered by this Agreement, less the guaranteed payments specified
above for the applicable License Period. Royalties shall be
calculated on a quarterly basis and shall be due as of the last day
of each May, August, November, and February of this Agreement and
must be paid no later than fifteen (15) days following such due
dates. Gross sales shall be calculated based on the actual price(s)
charged by Licensee to the retailer or consumer directly or to the
wholesaler in an arm's length transaction. Licensee shall transact
no sale, the effect of which is to reduce the royalty paid by
Licensee to NFLPA; provided, however, that Licensee shall be
permitted to provide arm's length discounts, allowances, and
returns that are normal and customary. Gross sales shall exclude
only [INFORMATION SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT.] in any annual period of March 1 to February 28
contained herein, and (b) such exclusion shall be available to
Licensee only if Licensee has theretofore fully complied in a
timely manner with its obligation hereunder to pay all royalties,
including guarantees.
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- PAYMENT, INTEREST AND NOTICES. All transactions under
this Agreement including, without limitation, all payment of
royalties and all notices, reports, statements, approvals, and
other communications, shall be with or made payable in the name of
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, 2021 L Street NW,
Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036, or its assignee, where applicable.
All correspondence, notices, approvals, and other communications to
Licensee shall be with The Topps Company, Inc. with offices at One
Whitehall Street, New York, NY 10004- 2109. With regard to all
guaranteed royalty and actual royalty payments only , such
payments shall be made by wire transfer in accordance with
Attachment "B" hereto. The payment made hereunder (or the cashing
of any check made hereunder) shall not preclude NFLPA or Players
Inc from questioning the correctness thereof at any time and, in
the event any inconsistencies or mistakes are discovered in
correction therewith, they shall immediately be rectified and the
appropriate payment made by Licensee. In addition to all other
rights contained in this Agreement, NFLPA shall be entitled to
collect and Licensee shall pay daily interest at the rate of
[INFORMATION SUBJECT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT.] %) monthly, or the maximum interest permitted by
law if less, on all payments not timely made to NFLPA by
Licensee.
- INDEMNIFICATION.
-
- Licensee agrees that it will not during the term of this
Agreement, or thereafter, challenge the rights of Players Inc or
NFLPA in and to the trademarks or names owned by or licensed to
Players Inc or NFLPA or any of the rights licensed as specified in
Section 2 of the License Agreement, or in any way challenge the
validity of the Service Agreement or this Agreement.
- Licensee further agrees to assist NFLPA and Players Inc to the
extent necessary in the procurement of any protection or to protect
any of the rights conveyed hereunder, and NFLPA, if it so desires,
may commence or prosecute at its own expense any claims or suits in
its own name or in the name of Licensee or join Licensee as a party
thereto. Licensee shall notify Players Inc in writing of any
infringement by others of the rights covered by this Agreement that
may come to Licensee's attention, and Players Inc shall have the
sole right to determine whether or not any action shall be taken on
account of any such infringement. Licensee shall not institute any
suit or take any action on account of any such infringement without
first obtaining the written consent of Players Inc to do so and
Players Inc shall reasonably consider any such request.
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-
- For its own acts, Licensee hereby indemnifies NFLPA and
undertakes to defend NFLPA from and against any and all claims,
suits, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses) arising out of the manufacture,
marketing, sale, distribution, or use of the licensed product(s)
that are the subject of this Agreem
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