Master Alliance Provisions Guide (MAPGuide)

PHS – Aridis, Rotavirus Vaccine Exclusive and Non-Exclusive License Agreement

  • Intellectual Property | Protection of IP

6. ROYALTIES AND REIMBURSEMENT

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6.09 Within thirty (30) days of the earliest to occur of 1) the second anniversary of the effective date of this Agreement; 2) upon completion of the first round of financing in which a total of Five (5) million U.S. Dollars in equity investment is received by Licensee; or 3) the completion of a sublicensing agreement in the Exclusive Licensed Territory, Licensee will be obligated to pay PHS patent costs accumulated by them as follows: a) costs associated with the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of the PRV and PCT applications and Licensed Patent Rights in the Non-Exclusive Licensed Territory listed in Appendix A, said expenses being those incurred by PHS prior to the time that payment by Licensee under this Paragraph 6.09 is obligated and said expenses to be divided by the greater of 1) four (4), or 2) the number of relevant commercialization licenses of record as of the time payment is obligated; and b) one hundred percent (100%) of costs associated with the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of all patent applications and patents included within the Licensed Patent Rights listed in Appendix A in the Exclusive Licensed Territory .

6.10 With regard to expenses associated with the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of all patent applications and patents included within the Licensed Patent Rights in the Licensed Territories incurred by PHS on or after the date on which expenses under Paragraph 6.09 become due, PHS , at its sole option, may require Licensee:

a) to pay PHS on an annual basis, within sixty (60) days of PHS’s submission of a statement and request for payment, a royalty amount equivalent to all such patent expenses incurred during the previous calendar year(s), said expenses to be calculated in the same way as in Paragraph 6.09; or

b) to pay such expenses directly to the law firm employed by PHS to handle such functions, said expenses to be calculated in the same way as in Paragraph 6.09. However, in such event, PHS and not Licensee shall be the client of such law firm.

6.11 Licensee may elect to surrender its rights in any country of the Licensed Territories under any Licensed Patent Rights upon ninety (90) days written notice to PHS and owe no payment obligation under Paragraph 6.10 for patent-related expenses incurred in that country after ninety (90) days of the effective date of such written notice.

7. PATENT FILING, PROSECUTION, AND MAINTENANCE

7.01 Except as otherwise provided in this Article 7, PHS agrees to take responsibility for, but to consult with, the Licensee in the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of any and all patent applications or patents included in the Licensed Patent Rights, shall furnish copies of relevant patent-related documents to Licensee, and shall provide Licensee sufficient opportunity to comment on any document that PHS intends to file or to cause to be filed with the relevant intellectual property or patent office; Licensee’s comments shall be considered in good faith and suggestions not to be unreasonably refused. Regarding Licensed Patent Rights in the Non-Exclusive Licensed Territory, PHS shall also consult with Licensee in the choice of countries in which protection shall be sought, giving good faith consideration to concerns of cost and efficiency.

7.02 Upon PHS’s written request, Licensee shall assume the responsibility for the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of any and all patent applications or patents included in the Licensed Patent Rights in the Exclusive Licensed Territory and shall on an ongoing basis promptly furnish copies of all patent-related documents to PHS. In such event, Licensee shall, subject to the prior approval of PHS, select registered patent attorneys or patent agents to provide such services on behalf of Licensee and PHS. PHS shall provide appropriate powers of attorney and other documents necessary to undertake such actions to the patent attorneys or patent agents providing such services. Licensee and its attorneys or agents shall consult with PHS in all aspects of the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of patent applications and patents included within the Licensed Patent Rights in the Exclusive Licensed Territory and shall provide PHS sufficient opportunity to comment on any document that Licensee intends to file or to cause to be filed with the relevant intellectual property or patent office. PHS’s comments shall be considered in good faith and suggestions not to be unreasonably refused.

7.03 At any time, PHS may provide Licensee with written notice that PHS wishes to assume control of the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of any and all patent applications or patents included in the Licensed Patent Rights in the Exclusive Licensed Territory. If PHS elects to assume such responsibilities, Licensee agrees to cooperate fully with PHS, its attorneys, and agents in the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of any and all patent applications or patents included in the Licensed Patent Rights in the Exclusive Licensed Territory and to provide PHS with complete copies of any and all documents or other materials that PHS deems necessary to undertake such responsibilities. Licensee shall be responsible for all costs associated with transferring patent prosecution responsibilities to an attorney or agent of PHS’s choice.

7.04 Each party shall promptly inform the other as to all matters that come to its attention that may affect the preparation, filing, prosecution, or maintenance of the Licensed Patent Rights and permit each other to provide comments and suggestions with respect to the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of Licensed Patent Rights, which comments and suggestions shall be considered by the other party.

11. INFRINGEMENT AND PATENT ENFORCEMENT

11.01 PHS and Licensee agree to notify each other promptly of each infringement or possible infringement of the Licensed Patent Rights in the Exclusive Licensed Territory, as well as any facts which may affect the validity, scope, or enforceability of the Licensed Patent Rights in the Exclusive Licensed Territory of which either Party becomes aware.

11.02 Pursuant to this Agreement and the provisions of Chapter 29 of title 35, United States Code, Licensee may: a) bring suit in its own name, at its own expense, and on its own behalf for infringement of presumably valid claims in the Licensed Patent Rights in the Exclusive Licensed Territory; b) in any such suit, enjoin infringement and collect for its use, damages, profits, and awards of whatever nature recoverable for such infringement; and c) settle any claim or suit for infringement of the Licensed Patent Rights in the Exclusive Licensed Territory provided, however, that PHS and appropriate Government authorities shall also have the right to take such actions as set out herein: Licensee shall have the first right to initiate such suit, but in advance of initiating the suit shall notify PHS in writing of its intent, and consult with PHS and provide information to PHS relating to the suit. During Licensee’s management of any such suit, it shall keep PHS informed regarding the progress of such suit and shall cooperate in good faith with PHS to address issues regarding the protection of PHS rights under this Agreement and in the Licensed Patent Rights, or to address any other concern regarding any Government interest in the action. If Licensee elects not to initiate a suit or engage in settlement discussions with an infringer within a reasonable period after a written request by PHS to do so, then PHS shall have the right to initiate such action. PHS and Licensee shall have a continuing right to join in any suit by the other party. Licensee shall take no action to compel the Government either to initiate or to join in any such suit for patent infringement. Licensee may request the Government to initiate or join in any such suit if necessary to avoid dismissal of the suit. Should the Government be made a party to any such suit, Licensee shall reimburse the Government for any costs, expenses, or fees which the Government incurs as a result of such motion or other action, including any and all costs incurred by the Government in opposing any such motion or other action. In all cases, Licensee agrees to keep PHS reasonably apprised of the status and progress of any litigation. Before Licensee commences an infringement action, Licensee shall notify PHS and give careful consideration to the views of PHB and to any potential effects of the litigation on the public health in deciding whether to bring suit.

11.03 In the event that a declaratory judgment action alleging invalidity or non-infringement of any of the Licensed Patent Rights in the Exclusive Licensed Territory shall be brought against Licensee or raised by way of counterclaim or affirmative defense in an infringement suit brought by Licensee under Paragraph 11.02, pursuant to this Agreement and the provisions of Chapter 29 of Title 35, United States Code or other statutes, Licensee may: a) defend the suit in its own name, at its own expense, and on its own behalf for presumably valid claims in the Licensed Patent Rights in the Exclusive Licensed Territory ; b) in any such suit, ultimately to enjoin infringement and to collect for its use, damages, profits, and awards of whatever nature recoverable for such infringement; and c) settle any claim or suit for declaratory judgment involving the Licensed Patent Rights in the Exclusive Licensed Territory -provided, however, that PHS and appropriate Government authorities shall also have the right to take such actions and shall have a continuing right to join in such suit according to the procedures set out in Paragraph 11.02. Licensee shall take no action to compel the Government either to initiate or to join in any such declaratory judgment action. Licensee may request the Government to initiate or to join any such suit if necessary to avoid dismissal of the suit, which request shall not be unreasonably denied. Should the Government be made a party to any such suit by motion or any other action of Licensee , Licensee shall reimburse the Government for any costs, expenses, or fees which the Government incurs as a result of such motion or other action. If Licensee elects not to defend against such declaratory judgment action, PHS, at its option, may do so at its own expense. In all cases, Licensee agrees to keep PHS reasonably apprised of the status and progress of any litigation. Before Licensee commences an infringement action, Licensee shall notify PHS and give careful consideration to the views of PHS and to any potential effects of the litigation on the public health in deciding whether to bring suit.

11.04 In any action under Paragraphs 11.02 or 11.03:

a) If brought by Licensee , the expenses including costs, fees, attorney fees and disbursements, shall be paid by Licensee. If brought by PHS, the expenses including costs, fees, attorney fees and disbursements shall be paid by PHS. After reduction by the amount of all expenses including costs, fees, attorney fees and disbursements paid by the initiating party, the remaining value of any recovery made by either party through court judgment or settlement shall be treated as Net Sales, with appropriate earned royalties thereon deducted and paid to PHS, and the remainder paid to Licensee;

b) Any party electing to join, follow or otherwise participate in any such action shall bear its own expenses, including costs, fees, attorney fees and disbursements (except that Licensee shall pay the Government’s expenses in the event that Licensee requests the Government to initiate or to join any such suit if necessary to avoid dismissal of the suit).

11.05 PHS shall cooperate fully with Licensee in connection with any action under Paragraphs 11.02 or 11.03. PHS agrees promptly to provide access to all necessary documents and to render reasonable assistance in response to a request by Licensee.

11.06 With respect to Licensed Patent Rights in the Non-Exclusive Licensed Territory, Licensee and PHS shall notify each other if an infringement as in Paragraph 11.02 or a declaratory judgment as in Paragraph 11.03 has occurred and shall consult with each other and, if possible, with other licensees as to the appropriate course of action.