Microsoft BizSpark Network Partner Agreement
These terms are an agreement between the entity (“Network Partner” or “you”) who wishes to enroll in the Microsoft BizSpark Program (“BizSpark” or “Program”) as a BizSpark Network Partner, and Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”, “we” or “us”). These terms govern your participation in the Program. Please read them. BY CLICKING THE “I ACCEPT” BUTTON, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THIS AGREEMENT, AND BY THE NETWORK PARTNER PROGRAM GUIDE AND THE PROGRAM WEBSITE (INCLUDING ITS TERMS OF USE, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND PRIVACY STATEMENT), AND REPRESENT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS AGREEMENT. YOU MUST ACCEPT THIS AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM AS A BIZSPARK NETWORK PARTNER. 1. Scope. BizSpark is designed to unite startups with entrepreneurial and technology resources in a global community with a common goal of supporting and accelerating startup success. Network Partner’s participation in this Program is voluntary. Nothing in this Agreement or the Program restricts either party from working in any way with other companies in businesses similar to the other party’s, or which promote or otherwise support other technologies. Definitions. “Agreement” means these Program terms. “BizSpark Network Partner” means a person or organization that has enrolled in BizSpark as a BizSpark Network Partner and can, for the duration of its participation in the Program (in addition to the startup-oriented business guidance and other services it ordinarily provides to Startups), sponsor Startups for membership in the Program. “Network Partner Program Guide” means the Network Partner guide for the Program, located on the Program Website. The Network Partner Program Guide provides additional guidance about the Program and Program requirements. “Program Materials” means the Network Partner Program Guide and the Program Website (including its Terms of Use, Code of Conduct, and Privacy Statement), together with any other agreements you may choose to enter into with us or our affiliates relating to the Program. “Program Website” means the website currently located at http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark or equivalent local site, or a successor site designated by Microsoft. The Program Website provides tools and information about the Program, including the Network Partner Program Guide. “Startup(s)” means technology startup(s) who are actively engaged in development of a software-based product or service that will form a core piece of its current or intended business. “Startup Eligibility Requirements” means the eligibility requirements for Startups to participate in the Program, as set forth in the Network Partner Program Guide. “Your Network” means your organization or network that specializes in promoting and supporting software startups through programs, mentoring, networking, business advice, financial or legal assistance or similar activities or services, and that the Startups you sponsor for the Program will join or have joined. “Your Site” means the website for Your Network. 3. Areas of BizSpark Network Partner Cooperation. 3.1. Terms and Conditions. a. b. You agree to abide by Program terms and conditions as set forth in this Agreement and in the Program Materials. You will use commercially reasonable best efforts to: i. ii. iii. iv. v. c. Promote BizSpark to eligible Startups in Your Network, Recruit eligible Startups to join BizSpark, Respond promptly to Startup inquiries regarding BizSpark (e.g. within 3 business days), Ensure that the Startups you sponsor for BizSpark meet Startup Eligibility Requirements, and For the Startups you sponsor for initial enrollment in BizSpark, leverage your relationship with them to encourage them to annually update their membership in BizSpark.
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You will not charge Startups any amount for sponsoring them for BizSpark, or otherwise in connection with BizSpark or any benefits available to them under BizSpark.
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You will maintain as confidential any information or materials regarding the Program you receive or access regarding the Program, unless and until such information or materials are made public by Microsoft via the Program. We will have no responsibility or liability with regard to any disputes that may arise between you and any Startup in connection with that Startup’s participation in Your Network. We may change or discontinue the Program or any aspect of it, but will give you at least 60 days email or written notice if we intend to discontinue the Program. For all other changes, you are responsible for checking the Program Website regularly. You will be bound by Program Materials changes as of the date the changes are posted, but the changes will not apply retroactively. Links to Microsoft sites. Once enrolled in BizSpark as a BizSpark Network Partner, you can include on Your Site links to the Program Website and/or the Microsoft StartupZone site (currently at www.microsoftstartupzone.com along with text approved by us, as described in and in accordance with instructions to BizSpark Network Partners provided by Microsoft. Opportunity to submit content to Microsoft sites. As part of the BizSpark Network Partner enrollment process, you will have the opportunity to submit to the Program Website a description of your organization and a link back to Your Site. We may also provide opportunities for you to submit other factual and descriptive materials about your organization to other Microsoft online properties such as the Microsoft StartupZone site (“Other Online Properties”). You are solely responsible for all content you submit to the Program Website or Other Online Properties, and for hosting of and all content on Your Site. Your submission of content to and use of the Program Website and Other Online Properties will accord with the Program Materials or the terms of use for those Other Online Properties, which may be amended by us from time to time. Other publicity and promotion. Both parties may reference the fact that Network Partner is a participant in Microsoft’s BizSpark program, as long as no stylized logos of the other party are used and any referential use of word marks in plain text form complies with the respective party’s external posted trademark guidelines. Microsoft’s trademark usage guidelines are located at http://www.microsoft.comabout/legal/intellectualproperty/trademarks/usage/default.mspx. Any use by a party of any stylized logos of the other party for publicity or promotions will be per the terms of a separate agreement. We or our affiliates may also provide you with other opportunities to participate in other promotional activities relating to the Program; for instance, to describe your experience with the Program in case studies, testimonials, or presentations at events or to potential BizSpark startups. These activities will be governed solely by separate agreements between you and us or our affiliate.
3.2. Promotion. a.
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Term and termination. 4.1. Term. The term of this Agreement will begin on the date accepted by you (the “Effective Date”), and will continue until terminated as provided below. 4.2. Automatic termination. This Agreement will terminate automatically without necessity of notice if: a. you have made any misrepresentations to us or to a Startup, , b. you have not exercised reasonable care to ensure that Startups you sponsor for BizSpark meet Startup Eligibility Requirements, c. the Program is discontinued, d. you make an assignment in contravention of Section 8.8, or e. you become insolvent or cease to do business in the ordinary course. 4.3. Other termination. Either party may also terminate this Agreement: a. immediately upon written notice at any time if the other party is in material breach of any material warranty, term, condition or covenant of this Agreement or the Program Materials and fails to cure that breach within 30 days after written notice thereof, or b. upon 60 days written notice to the other party. 4.4. Statutory form. If we are required to use a statutory form, we reserve the right to either terminate or vary this Agreement without its use and without any liability to you. 4.5. Effects of termination. Termination of this Agreement alone will not give rise to any liability on the part of either party, but the termination of this Agreement will not prejudice the rights of the parties accrued prior to such termination, or any other rights or remedies to which they may be entitled. All such rights and remedies are subject to the express disclaimers and limitations of liability set forth in this Agreement.
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4.6. Waiver of rights and obligations. To the extent necessary to implement the termination of this Agreement, each party waives any right or obligation under any applicable law or regulation to request or obtain intervention of the courts to terminate this agreement. 4.7. Survival. The provisions of Sections 3.1.d, 3.1.e, and 4-8 of this Agreement will survive expiration or termination of this Agreement. 5. Representations and warranties; disclaimer. 5.1. Representations and warranties. Each party represents and warrants that: a. it has the full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform under this Agreement; and b. this Agreement forms a binding obligation upon it, and it is not subject to any other agreements or commitments that conflict with its performance under this Agreement. 5.2. Disclaimer of all other warranties. THE WARRANTIES SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 5 ARE THE ONLY WARRANTIES MADE BY THE PARTIES HEREUNDER AND ARE IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY MATERIALS THAT MAY BE EXCHANGED BY THE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. 6. Indemnification. Each party (for purposes of this Section 6, a “defending party”) will defend the other party and its officers, directors and employees (for purposes of this Section 6, a “defended party”) against, and will pay the amount of any adverse final judgment or settlement to which the defending party consents resulting from, any unaffiliated third party claim that (a) would constitute a breach of the defending party’s warranties under Section 5 of this Agreement, or (b) any content posted or otherwise provided by the defending party on or for use within the Program Website or Other Online Properties (excluding, in all cases, any content posted or provided by third parties) infringes any intellectual property rights of such third party; provided that: (i) the defended party promptly notifies the defending party in writing of the claim; (ii) the defending party has sole control of the defense and all related settlement negotiations with respect to the claim, provided, however, that the defended party has the right, but not the obligation, to participate in the defense of any such claim or action through counsel of its own choosing at its own expense; and (iii) the defended party cooperates to the extent reasonably necessary, and executes all documents reasonably necessary for the defense of such claim, at the defending party’s expense. In the event the parties agree to settle a claim, neither party will publicize the settlement without first obtaining the other party’s written permission, which permission will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Exclusion of damages; limitations of liability. 7.1. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 7.3, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE OR SPECIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, OR ANY OTHER PECUNIARY LOSS) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER OR NOT SUCH PARTY WAS AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. 7.2. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 7.3, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE MAXIMUM AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF ONE PARTY TO THE OTHER PARTY ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS (US$100). 7.3. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE EXCLUSION OF DAMAGES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY CONTAINED IN SECTIONS 7.1 AND 7.2 WILL NOT APPLY (a) TO EITHER PARTY’S DEFENSE AND PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 6 ABOVE, OR (b) IN THE EVENT OF A BREACH OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY OBLIGATIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 3.1.d HEREOF OR THE INFRINGEMENT BY EITHER PARTY OF THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THE OTHER PARTY. 8. GENERAL. 8.1. Costs and expenses. Unless mutually agreed by the parties in a separate written agreement, each party is solely responsible for all costs and expenses it may incur in connection with this Agreement and the activities and matters contemplated by this Agreement. 8.2. Relationship of parties. You and we are and will remain independent entities that are separate legally, organizationally and financially, and nothing in this Agreement will be construed as creating a partnership, franchise, joint venture, employeremployee or agency relationship between you and us. Neither party may act on the other’s behalf or bind the other in any way, or represent that it is in any way entitled to act on behalf of or bind the other. Without limiting the foregoing, you may not (a) vary or purport to vary any terms, conditions, warranties, or covenants made by us, or (b) create or purport to create in favor of any person any rights from us. This Agreement will not entitle you or any third party to claim 3
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remuneration of any nature from Microsoft, including any kind of remuneration for having signed this Agreement or enrolled as a BizSpark Network Partner. 8.3. No representations. We have not made any representation about Program benefits to you on which you have relied in deciding to participate in the Program or to enter into this Agreement. You warrant that you have relied on your own skill and judgment or that of your advisers in relation to these matters. 8.4. Governing law. This Agreement will be construed and controlled by the laws of the State of Washington without reference to conflict of laws principles. 8.5. Jurisdiction; attorneys’ fees. The parties agree that all disputes arising in any way out of this Agreement will be heard exclusively in, and the parties irrevocably consent to jurisdiction and venue in, the state and Federal courts of the State of Washington. In any action to enforce any right or remedy under this Agreement or to interpret any provision of this Agreement, the prevailing party will be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and other expenses. 8.6. Notices. All notices and requests to you in connection with this Agreement will be sent to the named contact person and the address you provide on the Program Website. For notices and requests to Microsoft, see the Network Partner Program Guide. Notices will be considered delivered on the date shown on the confirmation of delivery, including the date of publication to the Program Website. You will give Microsoft prompt notice if you become insolvent or cease to conduct business in the ordinary course. 8.7. Complete agreement; agreement changes; no waiver. This Agreement and the Program Materials form the entire agreement between the parties concerning the Program. They replace all prior agreements and communications between you and us or our affiliates relating to the Program. This Agreement can only be changed by an amendment signed by both parties, except that we may change the Program Materials with respect to program administration, policies, procedures, guidelines, benefits and similar changes. Any delay or failure to exercise a right or remedy will not result in a waiver of that right or remedy. Any waiver of any breach of this Agreement must be in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party, and no such waiver will be a waiver of any other breach. 8.8. Assignment. This Agreement is personal to you, and neither this Agreement nor any or your rights or obligations under it may be assigned or otherwise transferred by you without our prior written consent, and any purported assignment or transfer contrary to the foregoing is void. 8.9. Tax. The parties are not liable for any of the taxes of the other party that the other party is legally obligated to pay and which are incurred or arise in connection with or related to the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, and all such taxes shall be the financial responsibility of the party who is obligated by operation of law to pay such tax. 8.10 No rule of strict construction; severability. No rule of strict construction will be applied against any party. If a court holds any provision of this Agreement to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the parties will deem the provision to be modified to the extent necessary to allow it to be enforced to the extent permitted by law, or if it cannot be modified, the illegal, invalid or unenforceable clause will be stricken and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect and be construed to give effect to the stricken clause to the maximum extent possible. 8.10. Non-disparagement. During the term of this Agreement, each party agrees not to make any derogatory statements regarding, or disparage in any way, the business or reputation of the other relating to any of the activities contemplated by this Agreement. 8.11. Language. We offer this Agreement in several languages. The language version in which you accept this Agreement will control. If you are located in Canada, the parties agree that this Agreement, and any associated Program documentation, be written and signed in English. C’est la volonté expresse des parties que la présente convention ainsi que les documents qui s’y rattachent soient rédigés en anglais. 8.12. Order of precedence. If there is any direct conflict between this Agreement and the Program Materials, this Agreement will prevail. If a particular subject is addressed in the Program Materials and not in this Agreement, the terms of the Program Materials regarding that subject will prevail.
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