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THIS PATENT AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION CROSS-LICENSE AGREEMENT is entered into by
NextLevel Communications, L.P. ("NLC") and General Instrument Corporation
("GI"), dated this ____ day of October, 1999, and effective as of the Effective
Date (as defined below).
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. The following terms have the meaning specified:
1.1 "Agreement" means this Patent and Technical Information Cross-License
Agreement, including all Appendices to this Agreement, as amended from time to
time.
1.2 "Affiliate" means, with respect to any entity, any other person or
entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls
or is controlled by or is under common control with such entity.
1.2 "Effective Date" means the date both parties have signed this
Agreement.
1.3 "End User" means a third-party system operator or such system
operator's customers.
1.4 "GI Digital and HFC Telephony Products" means digitable cable
subscriber terminals (for example, without limitation, DCT 1000, DCT 2000, DCT
5000, etc.), satellite and wireless subscriber terminals, cable modems, and
related headend, uplink, transmission or other network equipment and software.
GI Digital and HFC Telephony Products also include devices to provide telephony
and data services via HFC networks (for example, without limitation, IP
telephony over HFC networks and selling, monitoring or provisioning BTIs).
1.5 "GI Licensed Patents" means all patent applications and patents owned
by GI and filed before the Effective Date, and any future patents to issue from
same worldwide; but does not include claims covering only HFC, wireless or
satellite implementations. GI Licensed Patents do not include claims covering
conditional access or security methods or devices. Further, GI Licensed Patents
do not include patents and patent applications included, or which come to be
included, in open publicly available licensing programs listed in Appendix A.
1.6 "NLC Licensed Patents" means all patent applications and patents owned
by NLC and filed before the Effective Date, and any future patents to issue from
same, worldwide; but do not include claims covering embodiments basely solely on
DSL, DLC or fiber-to-the-curb or fiber-to-the-home implementations. Further, the
term does not include patents and patent applications included, or which come to
be included, in open publicly available licensing programs listed in Appendix B,
or individually listed in Appendix B.
1.7 "NLC Products" means the NLevel3 product or related switched digital
access (SDA) network equipment and software for providing voice, video and data
services.
1.8 "Technical Information" means the technical data and other
confidential information of one party rightfully in the possession of the other
party as of the Effective Date and which is reasonably required to design, make
or use products of the party rightfully possessing such information.
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SECTION 2. LICENSE GRANTS AND RIGHTS
2.1 Grant of License Rights in Patents. Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, NLC grants to GI and its Affiliates a worldwide, perpetual,
nonexclusive, royalty-free license under its NLC Licensed Patents:
(1) to make and have made GI Digital and HFC Telephony Products; and
(2) to use (including for all End User uses), offer for sale,
maintain, sell and import GI Digital and HFC Telephony Products.
2.2 Grant of License Rights in Technical Information. Subject to the terms
of this Agreement, NLC grants to GI and its Affiliates a worldwide, perpetual,
nonexclusive, royalty-free license to use NLC's Technical Information:
(1) to make and have made GI Digital and HFC Technology Products; and
(2) to use (including for all End User uses), offer for sale,
maintain, sell and import GI Digital and HFC Telephony Products.
2.3 Grant of License Rights in Patents. Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, GI grants to NLC and its Affiliates a worldwide, perpetual,
nonexclusive, royalty-free license under GI Licensed Patents:
(1) to make and have made NLC Products; and
(2) to use (including for all End User uses), offer for sale, sell,
maintain and import NLC Products.
2.4 Grant of License Rights in Technical Information. Subject to the terms
of this Agreement, GI grants to NLC and its Affiliates a worldwide, perpetual,
nonexclusive, royalty-free license to use GI's Technical Information:
(1) to make and have made NLC Products; and
(2) to use (including for all End User uses), offer for sale,
maintain, sell and import NLC Products.
2.5 Reservation of Rights. Each party reserves all rights not expressly
granted to the other party under this Agreement and no other rights are granted
by implication, estoppel or otherwise.
2.6 Rights to Sublicense. The licenses granted do not include the right to
sublicense, except to End Users as provided in the foregoing license grants.
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SECTION 3. WARRANTIES
3.1 WARRANTIES. THE NLC LICENSED PATENTS AND THE GI LICENSED PATENTS AND
EACH PARTIES' RESPECTIVE TECHNICAL INFORMATION ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND EACH
PARTY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR OTHERWISE. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE
DEEMED TO BE A REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY THAT ANYTHING MADE, USED, SOLD OR
OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNDER ANY LICENSE GRANTED IN THIS AGREEMENT IS OR WILL BE
FREE FROM INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES. EACH
PARTY ASSUMES NO LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF THE SUPPLYING OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION
UNDER, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER THE SAME
SHALL BE ALLEGED TO ARISE IN WARRANTY, CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, OR OTHERWISE,
EXCEPT AS MAY ARISE AS A RESULT OF A BREACH OF THE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THIS
AGREEMENT.
SECTION 4. CONFIDENTIALITY
4.1 Confidentiality. Each party acknowledges that the Technical
Information of the other and the terms and conditions of this Agreement are
confidential information and agrees that it shall abide by the restrictions on
the use of such confidential information as stated in certain non-disclosure
agreements which have been signed by the parties from time to time.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this or any other agreement,
however, each party agrees to protect the confidential information of the other
party with the same standard of care that such party uses with respect to its
own confidential information, provided that in no case shall such standard of
care be less than a reasonable standard of care.
SECTION 5. RELEASE AND COVENANT NOT TO XXX
5.1 Releases.
(1) Release by GI. GI, for itself and all its Affiliates, and their
successors, assigns, customers or any of their respective directors, officers or
employees and all others who may take any interest in the matters herein
released, hereby fully and forever releases, acquits and discharges NLC and its
Affiliates, and their successors, assigns, customers or any of their respective
directors, officers or employees from any and all claims, demands, damages,
losses, rights and causes of action known or unknown to GI that GI may have
against NLC that arise from (a) the use of the GI Patents, (b) the use of GI
Technical Information or (c) any other intellectual property rights of GI in
connection with the design, manufacture, sale or use of any NLC Products as of
or prior to the Effective Date of this Agreement.
(2) Release by NLC. NLC, for itself and all its Affiliates, and their
successors, assigns, customers or any of their respective directors, officers or
employees and all others who may take any interest in the matters herein
released, hereby fully and forever releases, acquits and discharges GI and its
Affiliates, and their successors, assigns, customers or any of their
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respective directors, officers or employees, from any and all claims, demands,
damages, losses, rights and causes of action known or unknown to NLC that NLC
may have against GI that arise from (a) the use of the NLC Patents, (b) the use
of NLC Technical Information or (c) the use of any other intellectual property
rights of NLC in connection with the design, manufacture, sale or use of any GI
Products as of or prior to the Effective Date of this Agreement.
5.2 Covenant Not to Xxx
(1) GI Covenant Not to Xxx. GI will not prosecute or assist in the
prosecution of any claim, demand, action or cause of action against NLC or its
Affiliates, and their successors, assigns, customers or any of their respective
directors, officers or employees, for, on account of, or arising out of any
claim of misappropriation of GI trade secrets, infringement of GI copyrights,
infringement of any GI Licensed Patents, use of any GI Technical Information or
any other GI intellectual property rights in connection with the design,
manufacture, sale or use of any NLC Products arising as of or prior to the
Effective Date.
(2) NLC Covenant Not to Xxx. NLC will not prosecute or assist in the
prosecution of any claim, demand, action or cause of action against GI, or its
Affiliates and their successors, assigns, customers or any of their respective
directors, officers or employees, for, on account of, or arising out of any
claim of misappropriation of NLC trade secrets, infringement of NLC copyrights,
infringement of any NLC Licensed Patents , use of any NLC Technical Information
or any other NLC intellectual property rights in connection with the design,
manufacture, sale or use of GI Digital or HFC Telephony Products arising as of
or prior to the Effective Date.
SECTION 6. PROSECUTION AND MAINTENANCE OF PATENTS; CLAIMS AGAINST THIRD PARTY
INFRINGERS
6.1 Rights to Prosecute and Maintain Patents. NLC has sole right to file,
prosecute and maintain all of the NLC Licensed Patents. GI has sole right to
file, prosecute and maintain all of GI Licensed Patents. Subject to the
obligations of confidentiality hereunder, each party has the sole and exclusive
right to determine whether or not, and where, to file a patent application, to
abandon the prosecution of any patent or patent application, or to discontinue
the maintenance of its respective patent or patent applications.
6.2 Notification of Adverse Claims and Actions. Each party will promptly
notify the other party in writing of any claims by third parties of infringement
of third party rights by the other party's products of which it receives written
notice. Each party will also promptly notify the other party in writing of any
suspected infringement of the other party's patents licensed hereunder or other
such activity that could adversely affect the rights of such other party with
respect thereto during the term of this Agreement, and will inform such other
party of any evidence of such infringement or unlawful activity in its
possession and the identity of any parties responsible for the infringement.
6.3 Cooperation. Each party will cooperate with the other party upon
request, at the other party's expense, in all matters relating to litigation
brought to enforce such party's patent
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rights licensed to the other party hereunder, including providing information,
documents and other assistance necessary to the settlement or prosecution
thereof.
SECTION 7. TERM AND TERMINATION
7.1 Term. This Agreement will remain in effect perpetually, except with
respect to the licenses granted under the GI Licensed Patents or NLC Licensed
Patents, in which case this Agreement shall remain in effect until the last to
expire of such patents.
SECTION 8. MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 Amendment and Modification. This Agreement and its Appendices may be
amended, modified or supplemented only by a written agreement of the parties
referring expressly to this Agreement.
8.2 Waiver of Compliance; Consents. Any failure of a party to comply with
any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition in this Agreement may be waived
by the other party; provided that any such waiver may be made only by a written
instrument signed by the party granting such waiver. Any such waiver or failure
to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or
condition will not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any
subsequent or other failure. Whenever this Agreement requires or permits consent
by or on behalf of any party, such consent must be given in writing in a manner
consistent with the requirements for a waiver of compliance as described above,
with appropriate notice provided in accordance with this Agreement.
8.3 Further Assurances. Each party will execute and deliver such other
documents and take such other action as the other party may reasonably request
in order to consummate more effectively the purpose of this Agreement and the
relationship between the parties as contemplated by this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the execution of documents in recordable form confirming the
existence of the grant of rights provided for under this Agreement, at the
expense of the requesting party.
8.4 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the
principles of conflicts of law thereof. Except for injunctive relief which may
be sought immediately in any court of competent jurisdiction, and subject to the
provisions of Section 9.5, all actions, claims or legal proceedings in any way
pertaining to this Agreement shall be commenced and maintained in the courts of
New York, New York or in a federal court of the United States located in New
York, New York.
8.5 Obligation to Discuss. If either party believes the other party has
breached this Agreement, then a senior level executive with responsibilities in
the appropriate area (the "Senior Executive") of the party claiming breach shall
provide written notice of such alleged breach to the Senior Executive of the
party allegedly in breach. Within fifteen (15) days of receipt of such notice,
the Senior Executive of GI and Senior Executive of NLC shall meet in person or
by telephone to seek to resolve the situation in a mutually agreeable manner. If
the Senior Executives are unable to resolve the problem in good faith within
forty-five (45) days after the Senior Executive of the party allegedly in breach
has received the forgoing notice, then
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the party claiming breach may commence any actions to which it is entitled under
the terms of this Agreement.
8.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which will constitute an original, but all of which
together constitute one and the same instrument and will become a binding
agreement when one or more of the counterparts have been signed by each of the
parties and delivered to the other party.
8.7 Publicity. Neither party will make any media or press release
concerning this Agreement or the relationship of the parties, without the prior
written consent of the other party. The preceding sentence will not apply to any
disclosure required to be made by law or by the regulations of any stock
exchange(s), as reasonably determined by counsel to the party determining that
such disclosure is required, except that such party, whenever practicable, must
consult with the other party concerning the timing and content of such
disclosure before making it.
Nothing in this Agreement should be construed to confer upon either party
any right to include in its advertising, packaging or other commercial
activities related to a product any reference to the trademarks or service marks
of the other party.
8.8 Compliance with Laws. Each party will be responsible for obtaining all
consents and permits required by any law or regulation for the performance of
its obligations under this Agreement, including compliance with restrictions
imposed by the United States of America governing the export of technical data
(including encryption software). Each party will take all steps necessary, at
its sole expense, for its performance of obligations under this Agreement.
8.9 Assignment. This Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder
may not be assigned in whole or in part by either party without the prior
written consent of the other party except as a part of the sale, transfer or
conveyance (including a conveyance by virtue of a merger, consolidation or
reorganization) of substantially all of NLC's or GI's business or a substantial
part of its business segment which exploits this rights granted under this
Agreement. Either party may assign its rights under this Agreement to an
Affiliate of that party, but such assignment will not relieve the assignor of
any of its obligations under this Agreement.
8.10 Severability. If any of the provisions of this Agreement are held by a
court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or
unenforceable, the remaining portions of this Agreement will remain in full
force and effect and construed so as to best effect the intention of the
parties.
8.11 Survival of Terms. Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement,
those provisions that by their express terms are to survive termination will do
so as so expressly provided; in all other cases such provisions will survive as
necessary to effect their essential purposes.
8.12 Notices under this Agreement. All notices and other communications
under this Agreement must be in writing and will be duly given if (1) delivered
by hand; (2) deposited in registered or certified mail (return receipt
requested), in which case such notice will be deemed given three (3) days
following deposit; or (3) sent via facsimile transmission (and confirmed by
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copy sent via registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), to the
parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as may
be specified by like notice):
NLC: NextLevel Communications, L.P.
and
GI: General Instrument Corporation
Attn: General Counsel
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
[REST OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, NLC and GI have caused this Agreement to be executed by
their duly authorized officers as of the date below.
NEXTLEVEL COMMUNICATIONS, GENERAL INSTRUMENT
L.P. ("NLC") CORPORATION ("GI")
By: By:
----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Title: Title:
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
Date: Date:
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APPENDIX A
EXCLUDED GI PATENTS
Several GI Patents, excluded from this Agreement, are or may come to be included
in the following publicly available licensing programs:
DOCSIS
MPEG2
MPEG4
PacketCable
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XXXXXXXX X
EXCLUDED NLC PATENTS
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