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This is an example of a Co-development Agreement in English. Using the document is at your own responsibility, and we recommend that you consult with a professional adviser.

Co-development Agreement

This Co-development Agreement (hereinafter called the “Agreement”)is entered into by and between

[name]

[company registration number]

[address]

(hereinafter called“Party A”)

and

[name]

[company registration number]

[address]

(hereinafter called“Party B”)

  1. Definitions

1.1As used in the Agreement, the following words have the following meanings when written with a capital first letter:

The “Agreement” means this Co-development Agreement, includingAppendix A, as may be amended from time to time in accordance with Clause 11.1.

“Background Rights” means all Confidential Information and IPR owned by a Party andwhich are not Foreground Rights.

“Confidential Information” means all technical and other informationwhich is not IPR.

“Field of Use” means [field of use] in respect of Party A and [field of use] in respect of Party B.

“Foreground Rights” mans all Confidential Information and IPR which are first generated in the performance of the Project.

“IPR” means patents, utility models, designs, copyrights and any other intellectual property rights of a technical natureanywhere in the world.

“Party” or “Parties” means Party A or Party B, individually, or Party A and Party B, collectively.

“Product” means [product to be developed under the Project].

“Project” means the project to develop the Product, as set out in Appendix A hereto.

  1. Scope

2.1Party A and Party Bhereby agree to jointly perform the Project,onand subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement.

2.2Due to the experimental nature of the Project, aParty’s failure to achieve a particular result shall not be considered abreach ofthe Agreement.

  1. Costs

3.1The costs of performing the Project shall be borne by the Parties as set out in Appendix A.

3.2Except as provided in Appendix A or as otherwise agreed by the Parties in writing, a Party shall not be required to bear any costs associated with performing the Project.

  1. Ownership

4.1Each Party shall exclusively own its Background Rights.

4.2The Parties shall jointly own all Foreground Rights,whether made solely by a Party or jointly by the Parties.

4.3A Party shall not pledge, sell or otherwise dispose of its interest in the Foreground Rights to third parties without the other Party’s prior written consent.

4.4Licensing of Foreground Rights to third parties shall require written agreement between the Parties, setting out theirrespective rights and obligations, including, without limitation, the distribution of licensing costs and income.

  1. Right of use

5.1A Party shall be entitled to exclusively use the Foreground Rights to make, sell or otherwise dispose of the Product within its Field of Use.

5.2Each Party hereby grants to the other Party the non-exclusive rightto useits Background Rights free of charge, but only as strictly necessary to perform the Project.

5.3Each Party hereby grants to the other Party a non-exclusive, royalty-bearing, non-transferable right to use its Background Rights, but only as strictly necessary to enable the other Party tomake, sell or otherwise dispose of the Productwithinits Field of Use.The terms and conditions of the right of use shall be set out in a separate agreement negotiated and signed by the Parties in good faith.

5.4No right to use any Background Rights is granted by one Party to the other under the Agreement except as expressly set out in Clauses 5.2 and5.3.

  1. Protection

6.1The Parties shall decide, by mutual agreement, whether to file for or maintain patent or other IPR protection of the Foreground Rights.

6.2If the Parties decide to file for or maintain patent or other IPR protection of a Foreground Right, the Parties shall agree which Party shall conduct the activities in the names of and on behalf of both Parties. The Parties shall equally bear all costs resulting from these activities.

6.3If a Party declines to bear its share of the costsassociated with filing for or maintaining patent or other IPR protection of a Foreground Right, the other Party may conduct the activities in its own name and at its own expense. The declining Party shall retain its rights set out in Clause 5.1 in respect of the patent or other IPR protection, but shall lose its rights and obligations under Clause 4.4 in respect of the patent or other IPR protection.

  1. Enforcement

7.1The Parties shall decide, by mutual agreement, whether to take action against an infringement of the Foreground Rights by a third party.

7.2If the Parties decide to take action against aninfringement of a Foreground Right by a third party, the Parties shall decide which Party shall control the activities in the names of and on behalf of the Parties. The Parties shall equally bearall costs and income associated withsuch action.

7.3If a Party declines to bear its share of the costs associated with the action taken against an infringement of a Foreground Right by a third party, the other Party may decide to take such action in its own name, controlling the action and bearing all costs associated with and obtaining all income resulting from the action.

  1. Confidentiality

8.1Each Party shall keep all Background Rights of the other Partyand all Foreground Rights strictly confidential and shall not disclose these to any third party without the other Party’s prior written consent.

8.2The obligationsset out in Clause8.1shall not apply to any Background Rights and Foreground Rights that aregenerally available to the public, obtained in good faith from a third party, independently developed by a Partyor required to be disclosed by law.

  1. Limitation of liability

9.1A Party shall not be liable for any failure to fulfil any term or condition of the Agreement due to an event outside its reasonable control (force majeure). If such event continues for [number] days or more, the non-affected Party may terminate the Agreement by written notice and without liability to the affected Party.

9.2In no event shall a Party be liable to the other Party for consequential, incidental, special, punitive or exemplary loss, including, but not limited to, loss of profit, loss of revenue, loss of business, loss of goodwill, loss of anticipated savings or cost of procuring substitute goods or services.

9.3All Background Rights and Foreground Rights are provided “as is”, and neither Party makes any representation or warranty, including, without limitation, any representation or warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, validity or patentability.

  1. Term

10.1The Agreement shall commence when signed by both Parties.

10.2Either Party may terminate the Agreement subject to [number] days’ written notice to the other Party, if it holds a good-faith belief that the Product is not technically or commercially viable.

10.3Either Party may terminate the Agreement by written notice to the other Party, effective immediately, if the other Party fails to remedy any material breach of the Agreement within [number]days of receiving written notice of such breach or if the other Party enters into insolvency proceedings.

  1. Miscellaneous

11.1The Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the Project. The Agreement may not be amended except by written agreement signed by both Parties.

11.2Any disputes arising out of or in connection with the Agreement which cannot be settled amicably shall be resolved by a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the laws of [country]excluding conflict of law principles.

11.3The provisions of Clauses 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 5.3,5.4,6.1, 6.2, 6.3,7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 8.1, 8.2, 9.2,9.3,11.2 and 11.3 hereof shall survive termination of the Agreement for any reason.

For and on behalf ofFor and on behalf of

Party AParty B

Name:Name:

Title:Title:

Date:Date:

Appendix A

Project

  1. Key persons

The Parties’ key persons responsible for [area] are:

[names and contact details]

  1. Product

The Product to be developed under the Project is:

[description of Product]

  1. Tasks

The tasks to be performed by Party A under the Project are:

[list and description of tasks to be performed by Party A]

The tasks to be performed by Party B under the Project are:

[list and description of tasks to be performed by Party B]

  1. Costs

The estimated costs of performing the Project are detailed in the attached budget. The budget also details how the costs are to bedivided between and borne by the Parties.

  1. Time schedule

The time schedule for performing the Project is:

[time schedule for performing the Project, including the Project as a whole and the tasks to be performed by either Party]

  1. Other terms

[other terms applicable to the performance of the Project]

Vejledning til Co-development Agreement

  1. Parter

Din samarbejdspartners navn, virksomhedsnummer og adresse skal skrives korrekt. Fx har virksomheder inden for samme koncern ofte navne, der ligner hinanden, men det er ikke nødvendigvis ligegyldigt, om du indgår Aftalen med det ene eller det andet selskab. Du kan finde virksomhedsnummer og andre oplysninger om danske virksomheder hos Det centrale virksomhedsregister og om udenlandske virksomheder hos Erhvervs- og Selskabsstyrelsen.

  1. Definitioner

Projektet: Det er vigtigt, at det Projekt, du og din samarbejdspartner skal samarbejde om, er klart beskrevet i Aftalens Bilag A. På den måde sikrer I, at I har de samme forventninger til, hvad Projektet går ud på, og hvordan det skal gennemføres. Bilag A kan fx beskrive:

i) det Produkt, der skal udvikles, ii) arbejde, som I hver især skal udføre, ii) materialer, udstyr, penge m.v., som I hver især skal bidrage med, iii) tidsplan for Projektet, og iv) navne på medarbejdere, der skal deltage i Projektet.

  1. Aftalens omfang

Punkt 2.2: Et Projekt vil ofte være eksperimentelt, og det vil dermed ligeså ofte være usikkert, hvilke konkrete resultater der kommer ud af et Projekt. Dette punkt skal sikre, at du og din samarbejdspartner ikke kan komme efter hinanden, fordi I ikke opnår bestemte resultater.

  1. Omkostninger

Punkt 3.1: Aftalen skal tage stilling til, hvordan de omkostninger, der er forbundet med at gennemføre Projektet, fordeles mellem dig og din samarbejdspartner, fx i form af et budget, der vedlægges under Bilag A.

Punkt 3.2: Dette punkt skal sikre, at du og din samarbejdspartner ikke kan kræve af hinanden, at I bidrager til Projektet ud over det, der fremgår af Aftalen, medmindre I aftaler andet med hinanden.

  1. Ejendomsret

Punkt 4.1: Når du og din samarbejdspartner går ind i et Projekt sammen, er det ofte fordi, I hver især har relevant viden, som I kan bidrage med. Dette punkt skal sikre, at I bevarer ejendomsretten til den viden, I har i forvejen (Baggrundsrettigheder), uanset at I går ind i Projektet.

Punkt 4.2: Det er vigtigt, at Aftalen tager stilling til, hvem der har ejendomsretten til den viden (Forgrundsrettigheder), der opstår i forbindelse med, at du og din samarbejdspartner gennemfører Projektet. Aftalen går ud fra, at Forgrundsrettigheder tilhører dig og din samarbejdspartner i fællesskab, uanset hvem af jer der har skabt dem.

Punkt 4.3: Det er vigtigt, at Aftalen tager stilling til, om du og din samarbejdspartner må fx sælge jeres halvpart i Forgrundsrettigheder til andre. Aftalen går ud fra, at det må I ikke, medmindre I er enige om det.

Punkt 4.4: Det er vigtigt, at Aftalen tager stilling til, om du og din samarbejdspartner må sælge licenser til Forgrundsrettigheder til andre. Aftalen går ud fra, at det må I ikke, medmindre I er enige om det.

  1. Brugsret

Punkt 5.1: Aftalen går ud fra, at du og din samarbejdspartner arbejder inden for forskellige forretningsområder, og at I hver især har eneret til at sælge Produktet inden for jeres forretningsområde.

Punkt 5.2: For at du og din samarbejdspartner kan gennemføre Projektet, er det vigtigt, at I har adgang til at bruge de Baggrundsrettigheder, I hver især har i forvejen. Det giver Aftalens punkt 5.2 mulighed for.

Punkt 5.3: Det er vigtigt, at du og din samarbejdspartner har adgang til at bruge de Baggrundsrettigheder, I hver især har i forvejen, når I på et tidspunkt skal ud at sælge det Produkt, som kommer ud af Projektet inden for jeres forretningsområder – hvis Produktet bruger Baggrundsrettigheder. Det giver Aftalens punkt 5.3 mulighed for. Aftalen går i øvrigt ud fra, at I aftaler brugsvilkårene nærmere i en separat aftale.

  1. Beskyttelse

Punkt 6.1: Aftalen bør tage stilling til, hvordan der forholdes med hensyn til at indgive patentansøgninger m.v. på Forgrundsrettigheder. Aftalen går ud fra, at det er et spørgsmål, I beslutter i fællesskab.

Punkt 6.2: Aftalen går ud fra, at du og din samarbejdspartner indgiver patentansøgninger m.v. på Forgrundsrettigheder i fællesskab og har fælles ejendomsret til de patenter m.v., der måtte komme ud af ansøgningerne. Aftalen går også ud fra, at du og din samarbejdspartner deler de omkostninger, der er forbundet med patenteringen m.v.

Punkt 6.3: Hvis du eller din samarbejdspartner ikke ønsker bære jeres del af de omkostninger, der er forbundet med patentering m.v. af en Forgrundsrettighed, så tillader Aftalen, at den anden Part gør det i eget navn og for egen regning. Den Part, der springer fra, bevarer sin ret til at bruge Forgrundsrettigheden, men har ingen rettigheder i forhold til eventuelle patenter m.v., der måtte komme ud af patenteringen.

  1. Håndhævelse

Punkt 7.1: Det er vigtigt, at Aftalen tager stilling til, hvad der sker, hvis der er en tredjepart, der bruger en Forgrundsrettighed, uden at du og din samarbejdspartner har givet tredjeparten lov til det. Aftalen går ud fra, at det er et spørgsmål, I beslutter i fællesskab.

Punkt 7.2: Aftalen går ud fra, at du og din samarbejdspartner forfølger krænkelsessagen i fællesskab. Punktet går også ud fra, at I deler omkostninger og eventuelle indtægter fra sagen.

Punkt 7.3: Hvis du eller din samarbejdspartner ikke ønsker at bære jeres del af omkostningerne til en krænkelsessag, så tillader Aftalen, at den anden Part gør det i eget navn, og at Parten betaler omkostningerne ved og har ret til alle indtægter fra sagen.

  1. Fortrolighed

Punkt 8.1 og 8.2: Uanset at Aftalen indeholder bestemmelser, som skal begrænse risikoen for, at din samarbejdspartner videregiver dine Baggrundsrettigheder til tredjepart eller misbruger dem, så er det vigtigt, at du ikke udleverer flere Baggrundsrettigheder til din samarbejdspartner end nødvendigt. Når du først har udleveret en oplysning, er det nemlig uden for din kontrol, hvad der videre sker med den. Det er også vigtigt, at du mærker alle Baggrundsrettigheder, som du udleverer til din samarbejdspartner i fysisk form, ”FORTROLIGT” e.l.

  1. Ansvarsbegrænsning

Punkt 9.1: Ifølge Aftalen er du og din samarbejdspartner ikke ansvarlige for manglende opfyldelse af Aftalen, hvis det skyldes forhold, som er uden for jeres kontrol. Det er det, man kalder ”force majeure”. Eksempler på force majeure er fx krig, oversvømmelse og brand.

Punkt 9.2: Aftalen bestemmer, at hvis du eller din samarbejdspartner misligholder jeres forpligtelser efter Aftalen, så kan I ikke kræve erstatning af hinanden for det, man kalder ”indirekte tab”.

Punkt 9.3: Aftalen sikrer, at du og din samarbejdspartner ikke kan komme efter hinanden, fx hvis det viser sig, at nogle af de Baggrundsrettigheder og Forgrundsrettigheder, I har udleveret til hinanden, krænker andres rettigheder. I er med andre ord hver især ansvarlige for den brug, I gør af Baggrundsrettigheder og Forgrundsrettigheder.

  1. Varighed

Punkt 10.2: Hvis du vil sikre, at du kan komme ud af Aftalen, når du har behov for det, så skal du skrive det i Aftalen. Fx kan det være en god idé at skrive i Aftalen, at hver Part altid kan opsige Aftalen med et vist varsel, hvis der er grund til at tro, at Produktet ikke kan gennemføres teknisk eller kommercielt.

Punkt 10.3: Hvis en Part ikke overholder sine forpligtelser efter Aftalen, er det en god idé, at Aftalen giver den anden Part mulighed for at ophæve Aftalen med meget kort varsel. Fx hvis din samarbejdspartner gentagne gang nægter at betale sin andel af omkostningerne til at gennemføre Projektet.

  1. Andre vilkår

Punkt 11.2: Det skal fremgå af Aftalen, hvilket lands ret der skal gælde, hvis der opstår en uenighed, som du og din samarbejdspartner ikke kan løse i mindelighed. Hvis både du og din samarbejdspartner er danske, er det oplagt at vælge dansk ret. Hvis din samarbejdspartner derimod ikke er dansk, så vil du måske insistere på dansk ret og din samarbejdspartner på sit eget lands ret. Det kan her være en mulighed at vælge et tredje lands ret. Du bør dog aldrig acceptere et ”eksotisk” lands ret (fx uzbekisk ret), da det kan være svært at forudse, hvordan en uenighed vil blive afgjort der.

Co-development agreement guide

0. Parties

Your business partner's name, business registration number and address must be correct. Businesses in the same group often have similar names, for example, but whether you conclude the agreement with one or the other company is not necessarily irrelevant.

1. Definitions

Project: It is important the the project on which you and your business partner are to collaborate is clearly described in appendix A to the agreement. This way, you ensure that you clarify your expectations as regards the aim and realisation of the project. Appendix A may, for example, describe:

1.the product to be developed

2.the tasks which each of you is to perform,

3.materials, equipment, money etc. which each of you is to contribute,

4.time schedule for the project

5.names of project employees.

2. Scope of agreement

Clause 2.2: A project will often be experimental, and the specific results of a project will therefore also often be uncertain. This clause is to ensure that you and your business partner cannot set up claims against one another if you do not achieve particular results.

3. Costs

Clause 3.1: The agreement must set out how the costs associated with realising the project are to be distributed between you and your business partner, for instance in the form of a budget incorporated in appendix A.

Clause 3.2: This clause is to ensure that neither you nor your business partner may demand that the other party contributes to the project over and above what is set out in the agreement, unless you agree otherwise with each other.

4. Ownership

Clause 4.1: When you and your business partner decide to undertake a joint project, it will often be because each of you possesses relevant knowledge which you can contribute to the collaboration. This clause is intended to ensure that you each maintain the ownership of the knowledge which you have in advance ('Background Rights') irrespective of you entering into the project.

Clause 4.2: It is important that the agreement sets out who owns the knowledge ('Foreground Rights') which arises in connection with you and your business partner realising the project. The agreement assumes that all Foreground Rights are owned jointly by you and your business partner irrespective of which of you created these rights.

Clause 4.3: It is important that the agreement sets out whether you and your business partner are permitted, for example, to sell your own half of the Foreground Rights to third parties. The agreement assumes that you are not permitted to do so unless you agree on this.

Clause 4.4: It is important that the agreement sets out whether you and your business partner are permitted to sell licences to Foreground Rights to third parties. The agreement assumes that you are not permitted to do so unless you agree on this.

5. Right of use

Clause 5.1: The agreement assumes that you and your business partner work within different business areas and that each of you has an exclusive right to sell the product within your own business area.