Form of Employee Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement

Exhibit 10.4

Form of Employee Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement

This Employee Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between ▇▇▇▇’▇, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Employer”) on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries, and other corporate affiliates (collectively referred to herein as the “Employer Group”), and ________ (the “Employee”) (the Employer and the Employee are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties”) as of April ______, 2025 (the “Effective Date”). The Employer Group’s businesses and existing and prospective customers, suppliers, investors, distributors and vendors and other associated third parties are referred to herein as “Associated Third Parties.”)

In consideration of the Employee’s employment by the Employer, which the Employee acknowledges to be good and valuable consideration for the Employee’s obligations hereunder, the Employer and the Employee hereby agree as follows:

1. Confidentiality and Security.

(a) Confidential Information. The Employee understands and acknowledges that during the course of employment by the Employer, the Employee will have access to and learn about confidential, secret, and proprietary documents, materials, data, and other information, in tangible and intangible form, of and relating to the Employer Group and its businesses and Associated Third Parties (“Confidential Information”). The Employee further understands and acknowledges that this Confidential Information and the Employer’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Employer Group is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Employer, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by the Employee will cause irreparable harm to the Employer Group, for which remedies at law will not be adequate and may also cause the Employer to incur financial costs, loss of business advantage, liability under confidentiality agreements with third parties, civil damages and criminal penalties.

For purposes of this Agreement, Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, all information not generally known to the public, in spoken, printed, electronic or any other form or medium, relating directly or indirectly to: business processes, practices, methods, policies, plans, publications, documents, research, operations, services, strategies, techniques, agreements, contracts, terms of agreements, transactions, potential transactions, negotiations, pending negotiations, know-how, trade secrets, computer programs, computer software, applications, operating systems, software design, web design, work-in-process, databases, device configurations, embedded data, compilations, metadata, technologies, manuals, records, articles, systems, material, sources of material, supplier information, vendor information, financial information, results, accounting information, accounting records, legal information, marketing information, advertising information, pricing information, credit information, design information, payroll information, staffing information, personnel information, employee lists, supplier lists, vendor lists, developments, reports, internal controls, security procedures, graphics, drawings, sketches, market studies, sales information, revenue, costs, formulae, notes, communications, algorithms, product plans, designs, styles, models, ideas, audiovisual programs, inventions, unpublished patent applications, original works of authorship, discoveries, experimental processes, experimental results, specifications, formulas, customer information, customer lists, client information, client lists, manufacturing information, factory lists, distributor lists, and buyer lists of the Employer Group or its businesses or any Associated Third Party, or of any other person or entity that has entrusted information to the Employer in confidence.

The Employee understands that the above list is not exhaustive, and that Confidential Information also includes other information that is marked or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary, or that would otherwise appear to a reasonable person to be confidential or proprietary in the context and circumstances in which the information is known or used.

The Employee understands and agrees that Confidential Information developed by the Employee in the course of the Employee’s employment by the Employer shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if the Employer furnished the same Confidential Information to the Employee in the first instance. Confidential Information shall not include information that is generally available to and known by the public, provided that such disclosure to the public is through no direct or indirect fault of the Employee or person(s) acting on the Employee’s behalf.

(b) Disclosure and Use Restrictions.

(i) The Employee covenants:

(A) to treat all Confidential Information as strictly confidential;

(B) not to directly or indirectly disclose, publish, communicate, or make available Confidential Information, or allow it to be disclosed, published, communicated, or made available, in whole or part, to any entity or person whatsoever (including other employees of the Employer Group) not having a need to know and authority to know and to use the Confidential Information in connection with the business of the Employer Group and, in any event, not to anyone outside of the direct employ of the Employer Group, except with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Employer Group in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such consent) and only after execution of a confidentiality agreement by the third party with whom Confidential Information will be shared; and

(C) not to access or use any Confidential Information, and not to copy any documents, records, files, media, or other resources containing any Confidential Information, or remove any such documents, records, files, media, or other resources from the premises or control of the Employer Group, except with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Employer Group in each instance (and then, such access or use shall only be within the limits and to the extent of such consent). The Employee understands and acknowledges that the Employee’s obligations under this Agreement regarding any particular Confidential Information begin immediately and shall continue during and after the Employee’s employment by the Employer until the Confidential Information has become public knowledge other than as a result of the Employee’s breach of this Agreement or a breach by those acting in concert with the Employee or on the Employee’s behalf.

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(ii) Permitted disclosures. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent disclosure of Confidential Information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or pursuant to the valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that the disclosure does not exceed the extent of disclosure required by such law, regulation, or order. The Employee shall promptly provide written notice of any such order to an authorized officer of the Employer Group.

(iii) Nothing in this Agreement prohibits or restricts the Employee (or Employee’s attorney) from filing a charge or complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), or any other securities regulatory agency or authority. The Employee further understands that this Agreement does not limit the Employee’s ability to communicate with any securities regulatory agency or authority or otherwise participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any securities regulatory agency or authority in connection with reporting a possible securities law violation without notice to the Employer. This Agreement does not limit the Employee’s right to receive an award for information provided to the SEC staff.

(iv) Notice of Immunity Under the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, as amended by the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:

(A) This Employee will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for any disclosure of a trade secret that is made: (1) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (2) in a complaint or other document that is filed under seal in a lawsuit or other proceeding.

(B) If the Employee files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Employer for reporting a suspected violation of law, the Employee may disclose the Employer’s trade secrets to the Employee’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding if the Employee (1) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (2) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

(c) Duration of Confidentiality Obligations. The Employee understands and acknowledges that the Employee’s obligations under this Agreement with regard to any particular Confidential Information shall commence immediately upon the Employee first having access to such Confidential Information (whether before or after the Employee begins employment by the Employer) and shall continue during and after the Employee’s employment by the Employer until such time as such Confidential Information has become public knowledge other than as a result of the Employee’s breach of this Agreement or breach by those acting in concert with the Employee or on the Employee’s behalf.

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2. Proprietary Rights.

(a) Work Product. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that, subject to 2(c), all writings, works of authorship, technology, inventions, discoveries, ideas, and other work product of any nature whatsoever, that are created, prepared, produced, authored, edited, amended, conceived, or reduced to practice by the Employee individually or jointly with others during the period of the Employee’s employment by the Employer and relating in any way to the business or contemplated business, research, or development of the Employer (regardless of when or where the Work Product is prepared or whose equipment or other resources is used in preparing the same) and all printed, physical, and electronic copies, all improvements, rights, and claims related to the foregoing, and other tangible embodiments thereof (collectively, “Work Product”), as well as any and all rights in and to copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks (and related goodwill), mask works, patents and other intellectual property rights therein arising in any jurisdiction throughout the world and all related rights of priority under international conventions with respect thereto, including all pending and future applications and registrations therefor, and continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, reissues, extensions, and renewals thereof (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”), shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Employer.

For purposes of this Agreement, Work Product includes, but is not limited to, Employer Group information, including plans, publications, research, strategies, techniques, agreements, documents, contracts, terms of agreements, negotiations, know-how, computer programs, computer applications, software design, web design, work in progress, databases, manuals, results, developments, reports, graphics, drawings, sketches, market studies, formulae, notes, communications, algorithms, product plans, product designs, styles, models, audiovisual programs, inventions, unpublished patent applications, original works of authorship, discoveries, experimental processes, experimental results, specifications, customer information, client information, customer lists, client lists, manufacturing information, marketing information, advertising information, and sales information.

(b) Work Made for Hire; Assignment. The Employee acknowledges that, by reason of being employed by the Employer at the relevant times, to the extent permitted by law, all of the Work Product consisting of copyrightable subject matter is “work made for hire” as defined in the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. § 101), and such copyrights are therefore owned by the Employer. To the extent that the foregoing does not apply, the Employee hereby irrevocably assigns to the Employer, for no additional consideration, the Employee’s entire right, title, and interest in and to all Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights therein, including the right to sue, counterclaim and recover for all past, present, and future infringement, misappropriation, or dilution thereof, and all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to reduce or limit the Employer’s rights, title, or interest in any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights so as to be less in any respect than that the Employer would have had in the absence of this Agreement.

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(c) Further Assurances; Power of Attorney. During and after the Employee’s employment, the Employee agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Employer at the Employer’s expense to (i) apply for, obtain, perfect, and transfer to the Employer the Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights in the Work Product in any jurisdiction in the world; and (ii) maintain, protect, and enforce the same, including, without limitation, executing and delivering to the Employer any and all applications, oaths, declarations, affidavits, waivers, assignments, and other documents and instruments as shall be requested by the Employer. The Employee hereby irrevocably grants the Employer power of attorney to execute and deliver any such documents on the Employee’s behalf in the Employee’s name and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to transfer the Work Product to the Employer and further the transfer, issuance, prosecution, and maintenance of all Intellectual Property Rights therein, to the full extent permitted by law, if the Employee does not promptly cooperate with the Employer’s request (without limiting the rights the Employer shall have in such circumstances by operation of law). The power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall not be impacted by the Employee’s subsequent incapacity.

(d) Moral Rights. To the extent any copyrights are assigned under this Agreement, the Employee hereby irrevocably waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any and all claims the Employee may now or hereafter have in any jurisdiction to all rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure, and withdrawal and any other rights that may be known as “moral rights” with respect to all Work Product and all Intellectual Property Rights therein.

(e) No License. The Employee understands that this Agreement does not, and shall not be construed to, grant the Employee any license or right of any nature with respect to any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights or any Confidential Information, materials, software, or other tools made available to the Employee by the Employer.

3. Security.

(a) Security and Access. The Employee agrees and covenants (i) to comply with all Employer Group security policies and procedures as in force from time to time including without limitation those regarding computer equipment, telephone systems, voicemail systems, facilities access, monitoring, key cards, access codes, Employer Group intranet, the internet, social media and instant messaging systems, computer systems, email systems, computer networks, document storage systems, software, data security, encryption, firewalls, passwords, and any and all other Employer Group facilities, IT resources, and communication technologies (“Facilities Information Technology and Access Resources”); (ii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources except as authorized by the Employer; and (iii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources in any manner after the termination of the Employee’s employment by the Employer, whether termination is voluntary or involuntary. The Employee agrees to notify the Employer promptly in the event the Employee learns of any violation of the foregoing by others, or of any other misappropriation or unauthorized access, use, reproduction, or reverse engineering of, or tampering with any Facilities and Information Technology Access Resources or other Employer Group property or materials by others.

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(b) Exit Obligations. Upon (i) voluntary or involuntary termination of the Employee’s employment or (ii) the Employer’s request at any time during the Employee’s employment, the Employee shall (A) provide or return to the Employer any and all Employer Group property, including keys, key cards, access cards, identification cards, security devices, employer credit cards, network access devices, computers, cell phones, smartphones, PDAs, equipment, speakers, webcams, manuals, reports, files, books, compilations, work product, email messages, recordings, tapes, disks, thumb drives, other removable information storage devices, hard drives, negatives data, and all Employer Group documents and materials belonging to the Employer and stored in any fashion, including but not limited to those that constitute or contain any Confidential Information or Work Product, that are in the possession or control of the Employee, whether they were provided to the Employee by the Employer Group or any of its business associates or created by the Employee in connection with the Employee’s employment by the Employer; and (B) delete or destroy all copies of any such documents and materials not returned to the Employer that remain in the Employee’s possession or control, including those stored on any non-Employer Group devices, networks, storage locations, and media in the Employee’s possession or control.

4. Non-Disparagement. The Employee agrees and covenants that the Employee will not make, publish, or communicate defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments, or statements concerning any of the Employer Group’s products or services. The Employee agrees and covenants that the Employee will not at any time make, publish, or communicate to any person or entity or in any public forum any maliciously false, defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments, or statements concerning the Employer Group or its businesses, or any of its employees, officers, and Associated Third Parties. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right the Employee may have to exercise protected rights to the extent that such rights cannot be waived by agreement, or otherwise disclose information as permitted by law. The Employee is permitted to discuss the terms and conditions of employment with coworkers, the media, or others for mutual aid or protection.

This Section does not restrict or impede the Employee from exercising any rights to communicate with securities regulators to report suspected unlawful conduct. This Section also does not prevent the Employee from complying with any applicable law or regulation or a valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that such compliance does not exceed that required by the law, regulation, or order. The Employee shall promptly provide written notice of any such order to an authorized officer of the Employer Group within 20 days of receiving such order, but in any event sufficiently in advance of making any disclosure to permit the Employer to contest the order or seek confidentiality protections, as determined in the Employer’s sole discretion.

5. Non-Solicitation of Employees. The Employee agrees and covenants not to directly or indirectly solicit, hire, recruit, attempt to hire or recruit, or induce the termination of employment of any employee of the Employer Group, or attempt to do so, during a term of two-years, to run consecutively, beginning on the last day of the Employee’s employment with the Company.

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6. Non-Solicitation of Associated Third Parties. The Employee understands and acknowledges that because of the Employee’s experience with and relationship to the Employer Group, the Employee will have access to and learn about much or all of the Employer Group’s information relating to Associated Third Parties. “Associated Party Information” includes, but is not limited to, names, phone numbers, addresses, email addresses, order history, order preferences, chain of command, decisionmakers, pricing information, and other information identifying facts and circumstances specific to the third party and relevant to sales. The Employee understands and acknowledges that loss of any of these third-party relationships and/or goodwill will cause significant and irreparable harm. The Employee agrees and covenants, during two years, to run consecutively, beginning on the last day of the Employee’s employment with the Company, not to directly or indirectly solicit, contact (including but not limited to email, regular mail, express mail, telephone, instant message, or social media), attempt to contact, or meet with the Company’s Associated Third Parties for purposes of offering or accepting goods or services similar to or competitive with those offered by the Company.

7. Acknowledgment. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the services to be rendered by the Employee to the Employer are of a special and unique character; that the Employee will obtain knowledge and skill relevant to the Employer’s industry, methods of doing business, and marketing strategies by virtue of the Employee’s employment; and that the terms and conditions of this Agreement are reasonable under these circumstances. The Employee further acknowledges that the amount of the Employee’s compensation reflects, in part, the Employee’s obligations and the Employer’s rights under this Agreement; that the Employee has no expectation of any additional compensation, royalties, or other payment of any kind not otherwise referenced herein in connection herewith; that the Employee will not be subject to undue hardship by reason of the Employee’s full compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement or the Employer’s enforcement thereof; and that this Agreement is not a contract of employment and shall not be construed as a commitment by either of the Parties to continue an employment relationship for any certain period of time. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to in any way terminate, supersede, undermine, or otherwise modify the at-will status of the employment relationship between the Employer and the Employee, pursuant to which either the Employer or the Employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice.

8. Remedies. The Employee acknowledges that the Employer’s Confidential Information and the Employer’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Employer Group is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Employer, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by the Employee will cause irreparable harm to the Employer Group, for which remedies at law will not be adequate. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement, the Employee hereby consents and agrees that the Employer shall be entitled to seek, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that monetary damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages, or other available forms of relief. The Employee further acknowledges that each member of the Employer Group is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.

9. Successors and Assigns.

(a) Assignment by the Employer. The Employer may assign this Agreement to any subsidiary or corporate affiliate in the Employer Group or otherwise, or to any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Employer. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Employer Group and permitted successors and assigns.

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(b) No Assignment by the Employee. The Employee may not assign this Agreement or any part hereof. Any purported assignment by the Employee shall be null and void from the initial date of purported assignment.

10. Arbitration. Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or related to this Agreement or any breach of this Agreement shall be submitted to and decided by binding arbitration. Arbitration shall be administered exclusively by JAMS located in Fairfield County, Connecticut and shall be conducted consistent with the rules, regulations, and requirements thereof. Any arbitral award determination shall be final and binding upon the Parties.

11. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement, for all purposes, shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Connecticut without regard to conflicts-of-law principles and all disputes, actions or proceedings arising under or relating to this Agreement shall be brought and resolved solely and exclusively in the state and Federal courts located in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

12. Entire Agreement. Unless specifically provided herein, this Agreement contains all the understandings and representations between the Employee and the Employer pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations, and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

13. Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and signed by the Employee and by the Chief Executive Officer. No waiver by either of the Parties of any breach by the other Party hereto of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other Party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time, nor shall the failure of or delay by either of the Parties in exercising any right, power, or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver thereof to preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power, or privilege.

14. Severability. Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the Parties with any such modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth in this Agreement. The Parties further agree that any such court is expressly authorized to modify any such unenforceable provision of this Agreement in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision from this Agreement in its entirety, whether by rewriting the offending provision, deleting any or all of the offending provision, by adding additional language to this Agreement, or by making such other modifications as it deems warranted to carry out the intent and agreement of the Parties as embodied herein to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Parties expressly agree that this Agreement as so modified by the court shall be binding upon and enforceable against each of them. In any event, should one or more of the provisions of this Agreement be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and if such provision or provisions are not modified as provided above, this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provisions had not been set forth herein.

15. Captions. Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or paragraph.

16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile, email in portable document format (.pdf), or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document has the same effect as delivery of an executed original of this Agreement.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Employee Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement as of the Effective Date above.

▇▇▇▇’▇, INC.

By:

Name:

Title:

EMPLOYEE

Signature:

Print Name:

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