Provision Language
Definitions
“Brand IP” shall mean any and all rights and privileges in trade names, domain names, brand names, product names, logos and trade dress (and the goodwill of any business symbolized thereby), including trademarks, service marks, copyrights and design rights for any of the above, and any similar intellectual property right recognized from time to time in any jurisdiction, as well as any and all registrations, applications, recordings and other legal protections to the foregoing.
2. Licenses; Exclusivity
2.1 License Grants to GSK
2.1.1 License under CureVac Technology. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the disclosures set forth in paras (ii) and (iii) of the Disclosure Letter, on a COVID Product- by-COVID Product basis, CureVac hereby grants to GSK, and GSK hereby accepts: (i) a royalty-free, exclusive license to use the CureVac Technology for the Development and Manufacture of COVID Products for use in the Field in the Territory; and (ii) an exclusive license to use the CureVac Technology for the Commercialization of COVID Products for use in the Field in the Territory, bearing the financial consideration set forth in Section 8, subject to CureVac’s rights with respect to the CureVac Territory under Section 6 and the Distribution Agreement. Subject to the disclosures set forth in the Disclosure Letter, the license granted hereunder shall be exclusive as to Third Parties and to CureVac, provided that CureVac retains the right to perform the Development and Manufacturing activities allocated to CureVac under this Agreement.
2.1.2 License under LNP Technology. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the terms and conditions set forth in Exhibit 2.1.2, and subject to paras (ii) and (iii) of the Disclosure Letter, on a COVID Product-by-COVID Product basis, CureVac hereby grants to GSK, and GSK hereby accepts: (i) a royalty- free, non-exclusive sublicense under the LNP Agreement to use the LNP Technology for the Development and Manufacture of the COVID Products for use in the Field in the Territory; and (ii) a corresponding non-exclusive license to use the LNP Technology for the Commercialization of the COVID Products for use in the Field in the Territory, bearing the financial consideration set forth in Section 8, subject to CureVac’s rights with respect to the CureVac Territory under Section 6 and the Distribution Agreement (“LNP License”). Subject to the disclosures as set forth in the Disclosure Letter, CureVac shall not (i) grant a sublicense to any Third Party under the LNP Technology for the Development, Manufacture and Commercialization of COVID Products for use in the Field in the Territory, and (ii) itself carry out any activities under the LNP Technology for the Development, Manufacture and Commercialization of COVID Products for use in the Field in the Territory other than under this Agreement. Within [*****] following the Closing Date, the Parties will agree on a redacted copy of this Agreement (excluding any commercially confidential information) that CureVac can provide to the LNP Provider in accordance with its obligations under the LNP Agreement. [“LNP Agreement” means the Non-Exclusive License Agreement between CureVac and [redacted party name].].
2.2 Sublicenses.
2.2.1 Right to Sublicense. GSK shall have the right to sublicense its rights under Section 2 to any of its Affiliates. GSK’s right to sublicense any of its Development rights or any of its Manufacturing rights for Development purposes (subject to Section 5.2.1) under Section 2.1.1, or any of its rights to the LNP Technology under Section 2.1.2 to any other Third Party shall be subject to CureVac’s prior written consent which CureVac may grant or withhold in its sole discretion. GSK’s right to sublicense (in multiple tiers) any of its Manufacturing rights for commercial purposes (subject to Section 5.2.1) and/or Commercialization rights under Section 2.1.1 to a Third Party shall be subject to CureVac’s prior written consent which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 2.2.1 shall not restrict GSK or any of its Affiliates to subcontract any of its Development or Manufacturing activities to a CRO, CMO or other service provider of GSK or its Affiliate, subject to Section 5.2.1.
2.2.2 Sublicensing Requirements. The right to sublicense to a Third Party is subject to a written sublicense agreement containing terms and conditions that are consistent with those contained in this Agreement, and shall include, inter alia, provisions regarding confidentiality, non- compete, indemnification, audit, record- keeping, termination and consequences of termination that are consistent with the corresponding terms and conditions provided herein. GSK shall remain liable to CureVac for all obligations under this Agreement, including all payment obligations, and shall send to CureVac a copy of the signed sublicensing agreement within [*****] after its execution, subject to the reasonable redaction of confidential information. CureVac acknowledges that all information provided to CureVac by GSK under this Section 2.2.2 shall be deemed Confidential Information of GSK and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 11.
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2.4 Trademarks.
2.4.1 Registration. As between the Parties and their Affiliates, GSK shall be solely authorized to determine the brand, trade name, logo and trade dress under which the Finished Products shall be Commercialized in the Territory. GSK shall have the first right, but not the obligation, to prepare, file, prosecute and maintain, at its own expense, any Brand IP for the Finished Products in the Territory; provided, however, that nothing herein shall grant GSK any right to use any trademark Controlled by CureVac and/or CureVac’s Affiliates. GSK will own all right, title and interest in and to any such trademark it selects in its own name during and after the Term, subject to the licenses granted to CureVac with respect to the CureVac Territory under Section 6.
2.4.2 Restrictions. Subject to any separate agreement(s) amongst the Parties (or their Affiliates), CureVac shall not, and shall cause their respective Affiliates not to, during the Term: (i) use or attempt to use any marks, brands or trade dress identical or similar to those covered by the Brand IP of GSK or its Affiliates, except as permitted by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; (ii) register or attempt to register or procure the registration anywhere in the world of any mark as a trademark for any goods or services or as a domain name that is same as or confusingly similar to the Brand IP for the Finished Products; (iii) use any Brand IP for any of the Finished Products in any way which could tend to allow it to become generic, to lose its distinctiveness, to become liable to mislead the public or which would otherwise be detrimental or inconsistent with the good name, goodwill, reputation or image of the Parties; (iv) challenge the ownership of the Brand IP belonging to GSK or its Affiliates except if Brand IP is prosecuted in breach of this Agreement; or (v) register or attempt to register or procure the registration of or use any mark or domain name that incorporates the letters [*****] either as a prefix or a suffix for use in connection with a pharmaceutical product. This Section 2.4.2 and the covenants set forth herein shall not apply to a Third Party (or such Third Party’s Affiliate) that becomes an Affiliate of CureVac solely as a result of a Change of Control in CureVac.
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2.8 In-Licensing Agreements.
2.8.1 Future In-Licensed IP. If during the Term, CureVac obtains, other than by way of a Change of Control, a sublicensable license to any Patent Rights or Know-How Controlled by a Third Party that is useful, but which is not necessary to obtain freedom to operate with respect to the use or exploitation of the mRNA, LNP, CVCM and other technology or information, each as described in the CureVac Know-How or within the scope of the specification of the CureVac Patent Rights (excluding any Invention or Know-How jointly owned by the Parties) (the “CureVac Elements”), for the Development, Manufacture and Commercialization of COVID Products under this Agreement (“In-Licensed IP”), CureVac shall (i) notify GSK of the rights that CureVac has obtained with respect to such In-Licensed IP, (ii) use commercially reasonable endeavors to obtain the right to sub-license those Patent Rights or Know-How, and (iii) notify GSK of the applicable financial terms, which shall be non-discriminatory (as between GSK and any other sublicensee of CureVac). Without limiting Section 7.3, and subject to a decision of the JSC to include any technology covered by In-Licensed IP in a COVID Product, (i) such In- Licensed IP is and shall be automatically included in the definition of CureVac Know-How or CureVac Patent Rights, as applicable, and be licensed to GSK under Section 2.1, and (ii) as a sublicensee of CureVac, GSK will meet all obligations of CureVac that are applicable to GSK’s activities as a sub-licensee (to the extent notified by CureVac to GSK in advance in writing); and (iii) with respect to COVID Products (other than Pathogen Combination Products) the costs under such In-Licensing Agreement will be included in the calculation of the Net Profit split in accordance with Section 8.2.3, and with respect to Pathogen Combination Products, GSK shall reimburse CureVac for additional amounts payable by CureVac under such license to such Third Party to the extent directly arising as a result of (x) the grant of such sublicense to GSK or (y) the use of the In-Licensed IP by the Development, Manufacture or Commercialization of COVID Products by GSK, its Affiliates, and Sublicensees.
2.8.2 Enforcement, Maintenance and Amendment of In-Licensing Agreements. CureVac will reasonably enforce (including in connection with any counterparty’s breach of any representations or warranties under the applicable In-Licensing Agreements), or otherwise take the actions necessary to enable GSK to enforce, CureVac’s rights, benefits and the obligations of the respective counterparties under the In-Licensing Agreements that may impact the rights, benefits and obligations of GSK hereunder, and will inform GSK of any action it may take under the In-Licensing Agreements to the extent such action may impact GSK’s interest under the respective In-Licensing Agreement. CureVac shall: (i) fulfil all of its obligations, including its payment obligations, under the In-Licensing Agreements; and (ii) not take any action or omit to take any action that would materially adversely affect, or would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect, GSK’s rights, benefits and obligations under this Agreement. CureVac shall reasonably notify GSK of any default, termination or amendment of, the In- Licensing Agreements, to the extent such default, termination or amendment may have an impact of GSK.
4. Development Collaboration
4.11 Use of GSK Technology. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, GSK hereby grants to CureVac, and CureVac accepts, a royalty-free, non-exclusive, license (with the right to sub-license in accordance with Section 4.12) to use the GSK Technology for performing the Development and Manufacturing activities allocated to CureVac under this Agreement (and, subject to the terms of each Ancillary Agreement, under the Ancillary Agreements).
4.12 Right to Sublicense. CureVac shall have the right to sublicense its rights under Section 4.11 to any of its Affiliates, but not to any Third Party, subject only to the right to subcontract as set forth under Section 4.13 below.
4.13 Subcontracts. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and as further defined in the COVID R&D Plan, the Parties may subcontract to Affiliates and Third Parties, including CROs and CMOs, certain activities to be performed. Any subcontractor shall be required to enter into appropriate agreements with respect to non-disclosure of Confidential Information and ownership of any intellectual property developed in the course of subcontracted activities, unless such subcontracting would not require the transfer of the other Party’s Confidential Information to the Affiliate or Third Party subcontractor and there is no reasonable possibility of the creation of new intellectual property. Each Party shall promptly inform the other Party in writing of any subcontracting of activities under this Agreement providing the name of the subcontractor and the activities to be performed by such subcontractor, and shall remain liable to the other Party for any act or omission of its subcontractor.
