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Service Agreement

for services provided by NexGroup Pty Ltd
trading as “NetStripes” (ABN 66 110 820 552)

Date 10 December 2019
Operative provisions

1. Definitions and interpretation

Definitions

1.1 The following definitions apply in this agreement unless the context requires otherwise:

Authorised Third Party Disclosee means any Representative of a Disclosee to whom that Disclosee discloses Confidential Information in accordance with clause 7.

Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday) when banks in Sydney, New South Wales are open for business

Change of Control means, in respect of a particular entity, a person who Controls that entity ceasing to do so or another person acquiring Control of it.

Claim any claim, complaint, demand, proceeding, suit, litigation, action, cause of action or other legal recourse (whether in contract, tort, under statute or otherwise).

Client means the party that will receive the Services as named in the Quote.

Confidential Information clients, suppliers, distributors or joint venture partners, of the party and/or any of the business or financial affairs of any of them, including:

  1. any information that is specifically designated by any of them as confidential;
  2. any information which, by its nature, may reasonably be regarded as confidential;
  3. any information relating to any:
  4. agreements, arrangements or terms of trade with any existing or prospective customers, clients, suppliers, distributors or joint venture partners or other contractual counterparties;
    1. customers, clients, suppliers, distributors, joint venture partners, employees, technologies, products, services, proposals, market opportunities, business or product development plans, pricing, financial position or performance, capabilities, capacities, operations or processes; or
    2. Intellectual Property Rights, of any of them; and
  5. any note, calculation, conclusion, summary or other material derived or produced partly or wholly from any such information.

Control has the meaning given in Section 50AA of the Corporations Act.

Copyright Act means the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).

Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

Deadline Date means, in respect of a Quote, the times (if any) specified in the Quote as the dates or times on or before which the parties must complete their obligations in each Phase of the Engagement and/or as specified in clause 3.3.

Default Rate means a rate of interest of 8.00% per annum

Disclosee means, in respect of any particular Confidential Information, any party that has received that Confidential Information (whether directly or indirectly) from another party.

Discloser means, in respect of any particular Confidential Information, any party that has disclosed or discloses that Confidential Information (whether directly or indirectly) to another party.

Engagement has the meaning given in clause 3.1, being each individual engagement for the Provider to provide specific Services to the Client pursuant to a Quote.

Event of Default means any of the following on the part of the Client:

  1. committing any material or persistent breach of this agreement;
  2. repudiating or, or, in the reasonable opinion of the Provider, evincing an intention to repudiate, this agreement;
  3. if the Client is a company, undergoing a Change of Control without the prior written consent of the Provider;
  4. misleading the Provider in any material way; and/or
  5. an Insolvency Event occurring in respect of the Client.

Expenses mean the expenses of the Provider for which the Provider is entitled to be reimbursed by the Client pursuant to clause 4.6

Fees has the meaning given in clause 4.1.

Fixed Price means, in respect of a particular Engagement, if, as specified in the relevant Quote:

  1. the Services are not divided into Phases, the price (exclusive of GST) specified in the relevant Quote for all of the Services; or
  2. the Services are divided into Phases, the price (exclusive of GST) specified in the relevant Quote for each Phase respectively.

Governmental Agency means any government or governmental, semi-governmental, administrative, fiscal or judicial body, department, commission, authority, tribunal, agency or entity whether foreign, federal, state, territorial or local.

GST has the same meaning given to that expression in the GST Law.

GST Act means A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth), as in force from time to time.

GST Law has the same meaning given to that expression in the GST Act.

Hourly Rate means the hourly rate set out in the relevant Quote, if applicable.

Insolvency Event means, in respect of a party:

  1. where the party is an individual, that party commits an act of bankruptcy or is declared bankrupt or insolvent or that party’s estate otherwise becomes liable to be dealt with under any law relating to bankruptcy or insolvency;
  2. where the party is a company, a resolution is passed or court order made for the winding up of that party or an administrator is appointed to that party pursuant to any relevant law;
  3. a receiver or manager or receiver and manager is appointed to the assets or undertaking of the party or any part thereof; or
  4. the party is otherwise unable to pay its debts as and when they fall due.

In-Scope Work means work that has been expressly and specifically designated as being within the scope of the Services including website development and online marketing services, as set out in the relevant Quote.

Input Tax Credit has the meaning given in the GST Law.

Intellectual Property Rights means patents, rights to inventions, copyright and related rights, moral rights, trademarks and service marks, trade names and domain names, rights in get-up, rights to goodwill or to sue for passing off or unfair competition, rights in designs, rights in computer software, database rights, rights in confidential information (including know-how, trade secrets and marketing secrets) and any other intellectual property rights, in each case whether registered or unregistered and including all applications (or rights to apply) for, and renewals or extensions of, such rights and all similar or equivalent rights or forms of protection which subsist or will subsist now or in the future in any part of the world.

Losses means any loss, damage, debt, cost, charge, expense, fine, outgoing, penalty, diminution in value, deficiency or other liability of any kind or character (including legal and other professional fees and expenses on a full indemnity basis) that a party pays, suffers or incurs or is liable for, including all:

  1. liabilities on account of Tax;
  2. interest and other amounts payable to third parties;
  3. legal and other professional fees and expenses (on a full indemnity basis) and other costs incurred in connection with investigating, defending or settling any Claim, whether or not resulting in any liability; and
  4. all amounts paid in settlement of any Claim.

Moral Rights has the same meaning as that term has in Part IX of the Copyright Act.

Non-Solicitation Period means each period of time specified in Schedule 2.

Out-of-Scope Rate has the meaning given in clause 4.2.

Out-of-Scope Work means any work that is not In-Scope Work, including the work specifically described as being out of scope in the Quote (if any).

Personal Information has the meaning given in the Privacy Act.

Phase means any particular phase of the Services as specified in the Quote.

Privacy Act means the Privacy Act 1998 (Cth).

Quote means, in respect of a particular Engagement, the document headed “Proposal” or similar setting out the scope of the Services for that Engagement as provided by the Provider to the Client and accepted by the parties in accordance with this agreement.

Relevant IP means any new Intellectual Property Rights that the Provider makes, develops or conceives (whether alone or in conjunction with someone else, and whether during or outside normal working hours) in the course of, or arising out of, the provision of the Services and/or Provider’s engagement with the Client, including any Intellectual Property Rights so made, developed or conceived:

  1. using the premises, resources or facilities of the Client or any of its customers, clients or suppliers;
  2. in the course of, as a consequence of, or in relation to, the provision of the Services by the Provider and/or the performance (whether proper or improper) of the Provider’s duties and responsibilities to the Client under this agreement or otherwise;
  3. as a direct or indirect result of any person’s access to any Confidential Information or Intellectual Property Rights of the Client or any of its customers, clients or suppliers; or
  4. in respect of any of the products or services of the Client or any of its customers, clients or suppliers, or any alterations, additions or methods of making, using, marketing, selling or providing such products or services; and
  5. for abundance of clarity does not include any pre-existing Intellectual Property Rights of the Provider.

Representatives means, in respect of a person, the employees, officers, consultants, agents and professional advisers of that person.

Services means the services provided by the Provider to the Client under this agreement in respect of each Engagement, as set out in the relevant Quote.

Stamp Duty means any stamp, transaction or registration duty or similar charge imposed by any Governmental Agency and includes any interest, fine, penalty, charge or other amount in respect of the above, but excludes any GST.

Start Date means the date of this agreement or such other date as the parties may agree in writing.

Tax Acts means the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (Cth) and the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth).

Tax or Taxation means:

  1. any tax, levy, impost, deduction, charge, rate, compulsory loan, withholding or duty by whatever name called, levied, imposed or assessed under the Tax Acts or any other statute, ordinance or law by any Governmental Agency (including profits tax, property tax, interest tax, income tax, tax related to capital gains, tax related to the franking of dividends, bank account debits tax, fringe benefits tax, sales tax, payroll tax, superannuation guarantee charge, group or Pay as You Go withholding tax and land tax);
  2. unless the context otherwise requires, Stamp Duty and GST; and
  3. any interest, penalty, charge, fine or fee or other amount of any kind assessed, charged or imposed on or in respect of the above.

Interpretation

1.2 The following rules of interpretation apply in this agreement unless the context requires otherwise:

  1. headings in this agreement are for convenience only and do not affect its interpretation or construction;
  2. no rule of construction applies to the disadvantage of a party because this agreement is prepared by (or on behalf of) that party;
  3. where any word or phrase is defined, any other part of speech or other grammatical form of that word or phrase has a cognate meaning;
  4. a reference to a document (including this agreement) is a reference to that document (including any schedules and annexures) as amended, consolidated, supplemented, novated or replaced;
  5. references to recitals, clauses, subclauses, paragraphs, annexures or schedules are references to recitals, clauses, subclauses, paragraphs, annexures and schedules of or to this agreement;
  6. in each schedule to this agreement, a reference to a paragraph is a reference to a paragraph in that schedule;
  7. a reference to any statute, proclamation, rule, code, regulation or ordinance includes any amendment, consolidation, modification, re-enactment or reprint of it or any statute, proclamation, rule, code, regulation or ordinance replacing it;
  8. an expression importing a natural person includes any individual, corporation or other body corporate, partnership, trust or association and any Governmental Agency and that person’s personal representatives, successors, permitted assigns, substitutes, executors and administrators;
  9. a reference to writing includes any communication sent by post, facsimile or email;
  10. a reference to time refers to time in Sydney, New South Wales and time is of the essence;
  11. all monetary amounts are in Australian currency;
  12. a reference to a “liability” includes a present, prospective, future or contingent liability;
  13. the word “month” means calendar month and the word “year” means 12 calendar months;
  14. the meaning of general words is not limited by specific examples introduced by “include”, “includes”, “including”, “for example”, “in particular”, “such as” or similar expressions;
  15. a reference to a “party” is a reference to a party to this agreement and a reference to a “third party” is a reference to a person that is not a party to this agreement;
  16. a reference to any thing is a reference to the whole and each part of it;
  17. a reference to a group of persons is a reference to all of them collectively and to each of them individually;
  18. words in the singular include the plural and vice versa; and
  19. a reference to one gender includes a reference to the other genders.

2. Engagement as Provider

2.1 The Client hereby engages the Provider on a non-exclusive basis to provide the Services to the Client, and the Provider hereby accepts that engagement and agrees to provide the Services to the Client, in accordance with the terms of this agreement.

Commencement and duration

2.2 The Provider’s engagement with the Client will:

  1. commence on the Start Date; and
  2. continue indefinitely unless and until it is terminated in accordance with clause 11

Nature of relationship

2.3 The Provider is an independent contractor of the Client and nothing in this agreement constitutes a relationship of employer and employee, principal and agent, partnership or joint venture between the parties.

3. Provision of the Services

Quote

3.1 In respect of each individual engagement for the Provider to provide Services to the Client under this agreement (each an Engagement), the parties must first agree on a Quote.  The Provider’s obligation to provide the Services that are the subject of each Engagement does not arise unless and until the Client has notified the Provider of the Client’s acceptance of the relevant Quote and has paid the deposit.

Standards and duties

3.2 The Provider must, in providing the Services, comply with the standards and duties set out in Schedule 1.

Deadline Dates

3.3 If the Services for an Engagement are divided into Phases,

  1. the Client will deliver or make available the Client’s materials, information, facilities, acceptance, refusal to accept or conditional acceptance or any material to be included in the Website for each Phase; and
  2. the Provider will complete Services of each Phase;
    on or before the relevant Deadline Date and the parties acknowledge and agree that time is of the essence in respect of this clause 3.3.

Delays

3.4 It is agreed that for website services:

Homepage of Website

  1. upon submission of the online branding design of the website homepage to the Client by the Provider, the Client shall respond within 3 business days with its acceptance, refusal to accept or conditional acceptance;
  2. the Provider will do up to 3 revisions of the online branding design and the Client is to respond within 24 hours of receiving a revision;
  3. any request for revision exceeding 3 revisions will be charged at the Out-of-Scope Work Rate in clause 4.2 (a); and
  4. the Client will pay the Provider $100 for each week of delay cause by the Client not adhering to the times outlined in clause 3.4.

Inner pages of Website

3.5 It is agreed that:

  1. upon submission of the inner page designs of the website the Client by the Provider, the Client shall respond within 2 business days with its acceptance, refusal to accept or conditional acceptance;
  2. the Provider will do up to 2 revisions of the inner page designs and the Client is to respond within 24 hours of receiving a revision;
  3. any request for revision exceeding 2 revisions will be charged at the Out-of-Scope Work Rate in clause 4.2 (a); and
  4. the Client will pay the Provider $100 for each week of delay caused by the Client not adhering to the times outlined in clause 3.5.

Content for your Website

3.6 It is agreed that:

  1. the Client will give the Provider all content desired by the Client for their Website within 3 business days of acceptance;
  2. the content may include photographs, written copy, infographics, videos, logos and other print material.  including images, text, videos, infographics or any other type of content given via email, Dropbox, Google Drive or the “Content Calendar” document;
  3. the Client will pay the Provider $100 for each week of delay caused by the Client not adhering to clause 3.6.

Domain registration, hosting and email hosting

3.7 It is agreed that:

  1. the Provider will notify the Client at least 7 days in advance of the date on which the Client’s completed website will be launched on to the internet;
  2. the Client may request assistance and a quote from the Provider should the Client require assistance with domain name registration, website or email hosting services;
  3. in any other circumstances, the Client will give the Provider all particulars of the Client’s domain registration, website and email hosting account details at least 7 days before the date on which the Client’s website will be launched on to the internet (N.B. email hosting is optional);
  4. the Client will pay the Provider $100 for each week of delay caused by the Client not adhering to clause 3.7.

4. Pricing and invoicing

Pricing

4.1 Subject to clause 3.1, in respect of each Engagement, the parties have agreed that the total price for the relevant Services (exclusive of GST and Expenses, and including a Deposit where relevant) (the Fees) will be, if as designated in the relevant Quote:

  1. (NotPhases)  the Services are not divided into Phases and:
    1. (Fixed Price)  a Fixed Price applies – that Fixed Price payable in accordance with the payment plan in the service or service Proposal selected by the Client; or
    2. (Hourly Rate)  the Hourly Rate applies – calculated on the basis of the time spent by the Provider in exclusively providing those Services on an hourly rate basis at the Hourly Rate in accordance with clause 4.3 and payable by instalments in accordance with the payment plan in the service or Proposal selected by the Client;,

      and the Provider will invoice the Client by way of a single invoice for all relevant Charges following completion of all relevant work to the reasonable satisfaction of the Client; or
  2. (Phases)  the Services are divided into Phases and:
    1. (Fixed Price)  Fixed Prices apply – the Fixed Price payable by instalments in accordance with the payment plan in the Proposal selected by the Client; or
    2. (Hourly Rate)  the Hourly Rate applies – calculated on the basis of the time spent by the Provider in exclusively providing those Services on an hourly rate basis at the Hourly Rate in accordance with clause 4.3 and payable as per payment plan for each Phase respectively,

      and the Provider will invoice the Client for all relevant Charges for each Phase as agreed with the Client.

Out-of-Scope Work

4.2 Notwithstanding clause 4.1, the Client will pay the Provider at the following hourly rates (the Out-of-Scope Rate) for any Out-of-Scope Work:

  1. Technical Level 1 – $99/hour
  2. Technical Level 2 – $200/hour
  3. Technical Level 3 – $475/hour

Hourly Rates and Out-of-Scope Rates

4.3 Hourly Rates and Out-of-Scope Rates shall be proportionately charged for work involving periods of less than one hour and structured in 15 minute units, with 4 units per hour – eg, the time charged for an attendance of up to 15 minutes will be 1 unit and the time charged for an attendance between 15 and 30 minutes will be 2 units.

4.4 The Provider must keep and maintain accurate records of the number of hours of Services in respect of which the Hourly Rate and/or Out-of-Scope Rate applies and provide the Client with a copy of such records upon reasonable notice as may be requested by the Client from time to time.

4.5 The Hourly Rate and Out-of-Scope Rate may only be changed by way of an amendment to this agreement pursuant to clause 14.7.

Reimbursement of Expenses

4.6 The Client will pay all reasonable expenses properly and necessarily incurred by the Provider in the course of providing the Services, provided that:

  1. the Provider:
    1. obtains the Client’s written consent before incurring the expenses;
    2. provides the Client with acceptable documentation for the expenses incurred; and
    3. complies with any applicable expenses policy of the Client in force from time to time; and
  2. the Client will not be required to reimburse the Provider for any amount of GST that the Provider has paid, or is liable to pay, in relation to any supply acquired by the Provider from any third party if the Provider has received, or is entitled to receive, an Input Tax Credit for that GST.

5. Payment

Timing of payments

5.1 The Client must pay to the Provider all Charges properly invoiced pursuant to clause 4 in full on or before the date that is stipulated om the relevant invoice. No payment should be no later than 15 Business Days after the Client’s receipt of the relevant invoice unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Method of payment

5.2 All amounts to be paid by a party to another party under or in connection with this agreement must be paid in cash or by way of bank cheque or electronic funds transfer into the account nominated by the other party.

No set-off or deduction

5.3 All amounts payable under or in connection with this agreement must be paid without set-off, counterclaim, withholding, deduction or claim to a lien whatsoever, whether or not any such set-off, counterclaim, withholding, deduction or lien arises under this agreement (unless otherwise required by law).

5.4 If a party is required by law to make a deduction or withholding in respect of any sum payable under or in connection with this agreement to another party, it must, at the same time as the sum that is the subject of the deduction or withholding is payable, make a payment to the other party of such additional amount as is required to ensure that the net amount received by the other party will equal the full amount that would have been received by it had no such deduction or withholding been required to be made.

Default interest

5.5 If a party fails to pay any sum payable by it under this agreement to another party at the time and otherwise in the manner provided in this agreement, it must pay interest on that sum from the due date of payment until that sum is paid in full at Default Rate, calculated daily on the basis of a 365-day year and compounded monthly.  Interest will accrue from day to day and will be payable on demand.  The payment of interest by a party to another party in respect of any late payment under this clause 5.5 is in addition to any other remedies that the other party may have in respect of such late payment.

5.6 If a liability of a party to another party under this agreement becomes merged in a judgement or order and the interest rate that applies under that judgement or order is lower than the Default Rate, that party must, as an independent obligation, pay to the other party, at the same time and in the same manner as the sum that is the subject of that judgement or order is to be paid, such additional interest on that sum as is required to ensure that the total amount of interest that the other party receives in respect of that liability is equal to the Default Rate.

6. GST

Definitions regarding GST

6.1 In this clause 6:

  1. expressions that are not defined, but which have a defined meaning in the GST Law, have the same meaning as in the GST Law;
  2. any part of a supply that is treated as a separate supply for GST purposes (including attributing GST payable to tax periods) will be treated as a separate supply for the purposes of this clause 6; and
  3. any consideration that is specified to be inclusive of GST must not be taken into account in calculating the GST payable in relation to a supply for the purpose of this clause 6.

Consideration is exclusive of GST

6.2 Unless expressly stated otherwise, any sum payable, or amount used in the calculation of a sum payable, under this agreement has been determined without regard to GST and must be increased on account of any GST payable under this clause 6.

Receiving Party to pay additional amount

6.3 If GST is imposed on any supply made under or in accordance with this agreement, the Client of the supply (Receiving Party) must pay to the supplier (Providing Party) an additional amount equal to the GST payable on the supply, subject to the Receiving Party receiving a valid tax invoice, or a document that the Commissioner will treat as a tax invoice, in respect of the supply at or before the time of payment.  Payment of the additional amount will be made at the same time and in the same manner as payment for the supply is required to be made in accordance with this agreement.

Fines, penalties and interest

6.4 The amount recoverable on account of GST under this clause 6 by the Providing Party will include any fines, penalties, interest and other charges incurred as a consequence of any late payment or other default by the Receiving Party under this clause 6.

Reimbursement

6.5 If any party is required to pay, reimburse or indemnify another party for the whole or any part of any cost, expense, loss, liability or other amount that the other party has incurred or will incur in connection with this agreement, the amount must be reduced by the amount for which the other party can claim an Input Tax Credit, partial Input Tax Credit or other similar offset.

Adjustment events

6.6 If, at any time, an adjustment event arises in respect of any supply made by a party under this agreement, a corresponding adjustment must be made between the parties in respect of any amount paid to the Providing Party by the Receiving Party pursuant to clause 6.3 and payments to give effect to the adjustment must be made and the Providing Party must issue an adjustment note.

7. Confidentiality

7.1 Subject to clauses 7.3 and 7.4, a Disclosee must:

  1. keep all Confidential Information confidential;
  2. not use or exploit any Confidential Information in any way except in the proper performance of the Services in accordance with this agreement;
  3. not disclose or make available any Confidential Information in whole or in part to any third party;
  4. not copy, reduce to writing or otherwise record any Confidential Information except in the proper performance of the Services in accordance with this agreement (and any such copies, reductions to writing and records will be the property of the Discloser); and
  5. ensure that any and all Authorised Third Party Disclosees:
    1. comply with the obligations in this agreement as if each of them was a party to this agreement in the place of the Disclosee; and
    2. do not do, or omit to do, anything which, if done or omitted to be done by the Disclosee, would constitute a breach of this agreement by the Disclosee.

7.2 The Disclosee shall be responsible for, and liable to the Discloser in respect of, the actions or omissions of any and all of its Authorised Third Party Disclosees in relation to the Confidential Information as if they were the actions or omissions of the Disclosee.

Exceptions

7.3 The Disclosee may disclose Confidential Information to those of its Representatives who have an actual need to know the Confidential Information but only in the proper provision of the Services and performance of its duties under this agreement and provided that it informs such Representatives of the confidential nature of the Confidential Information before such disclosure.

7.4 Subject to clause 7.5, the obligations in clause 7.1 will not apply to any Confidential Information which (as shown by appropriate documentation and other evidence in the relevant Disclosee’s possession):

  1. was already known to the Disclosee on a non-confidential basis prior to the time of its first disclosure by the Discloser to the Disclosee, unless it came to be so known as a direct or indirect result of having been:
    1. unlawfully obtained by the Disclosee, whether from a third party or otherwise; or
    2. received by the Disclosee from a third party that owed a confidentiality obligation to the Discloser in respect of that information at the time of such receipt, in circumstances in which the Disclosee knew, or ought reasonably to have known after due enquiry, that the third party owed that confidentiality obligation to the Discloser;
  2. is or becomes generally available to the public, unless it became so generally available as a direct or indirect result of having been disclosed by any person:
    1. in circumstances that constitute a breach of this agreement by the Disclosee (for the avoidance of doubt, including any breach by the Disclosee of its obligations under clause 7.1(e) to ensure that its Authorised Third Party Disclosees comply with the obligations in this agreement as if they were parties to this agreement in the place of the Disclosee); or
    2. that owed a confidentiality obligation to the Discloser in respect of that information at the time of such disclosure, in circumstances in which the Disclosee knew, or ought reasonably to have known after due enquiry, that the person owed that confidentiality obligation to the Discloser;
  3. is, after the time of its first disclosure by the Discloser to the Disclosee, lawfully received by the Disclosee from a third party and the Disclosee reasonably believed, after due enquiry, that the information was not so received as a direct or indirect result of a breach by any person of a confidentiality obligation owed to the Discloser;
  4. is required by law or court order to be disclosed, provided that the Disclosee must:
    1. reasonably practicable; and
    2. reasonably assist the Discloser in obtaining confidential treatment for, or avoiding or minimising such disclosure of, the relevant Confidential Information to the extent reasonably requested by the Discloser;
  5. is independently developed by the Disclosee without any direct or indirect use of, reference to, or reliance on any Confidential Information; or
  6. is authorised for release or use by the written pre-approval of the Discloser but only to the extent of such written pre-approval.

7.5 The exceptions in clause 7.4 shall not apply to any specific Confidential Information merely because it is included in more generally non-confidential information, nor to any specific combination of Confidential Information merely because individual elements, but not the combination, are included in non-confidential information.

8. Non-disparagement

8.1 Subject to clause 8.2, on and from the date of this agreement, each party must not:

  1. make, express, transmit, speak, write, verbalise or otherwise communicate in any way (directly or indirectly, in any capacity or manner) any remark, comment, message, information, declaration, communication or other statement of any kind (whether verbal, in writing, electronically transferred or otherwise) that might reasonably be construed to be critical of, or derogatory or negative towards, any other party or any Representative of any other party; or
  2. cause, further, assist, solicit, encourage or knowingly permit any other person to do so, or support or participate in any other person doing so,

and must take all reasonable steps to prevent its Representatives from doing so.

8.2 Clause 8.1 shall not prohibit any party from making any statement or disclosure as required by law or court order, provided that such party must:

  1. promptly notify the other party in writing in advance of any such statement or disclosure, if reasonably practicable; and
  2. reasonably assist the other party in obtaining confidential treatment for, or avoiding or minimising the dissemination of, such statement or disclosure to the extent reasonably requested by any party.

9. Intellectual Property

9.1 The parties agree that Relevant IP will be assigned to, owned by, and vest in, the Client upon payment of the all invoices and in accordance with clause 9.

Assignment

Relevant IP other than Third Party Rights and Provider Proprietary Rights

9.2 The Provider:

  1. assigns to the Client all existing and future Relevant IP in the Website other than Third Party Rights;
  2. grants to the Client a perpetual non-exclusive royalty free licence of the Third Party Rights and the Provider’s Proprietary Rights; and
  3. will provide the Client with copies of any licences with respect to the Third Party Rights and the Provider’s Proprietary Rights.

Ownership of Third Party Rights

9.3 In relation to any Third Party Rights that are not assigned to the Client, the Provider will ensure that:

  1. the accessing and use of the Website by any End User will not infringe any such rights; and
  2. no fees, royalties or other payments are payable in respect of such Third Party Rights as a result of any such use in the Website and the reproduction of the contents of the Website unless agreed by the parties in writing to the contrary.

Provider’s duty to assist the Client

9.4 The Provider must do anything necessary, including executing any documents, for the purpose of effecting, perfecting and/or protecting the Client’s title to any Relevant IP, in Australia.

Permitted use

9.5 The Provider is free to use or reproduce any pre-existing Intellectual Property of the Provider in relation to any other person or website but may not use or reproduce any Relevant IP or any other Intellectual Property Rights of the Client or any of the Client’s customers, clients or suppliers without the Client’s prior written approval, except in the proper provision of the Services and performance of its duties under this agreement.

Disclosure of Relevant IP

9.6 The Provider must immediately disclose in writing to the Client any Intellectual Property Rights that the Provider makes, develops or conceives that might reasonably be regarded as Relevant IP.

Moral rights

9.7 The Provider consents to the doing of any acts, or making of any omissions, by the Client or any of the Client’s employees, officers, contractors, agents, licensees or assigns that infringes its Moral Rights in any Works that constitute Relevant IP, including:

  1. not naming the Provider as the author of a Work; or
  2. amending or modifying (whether by changing, adding to or deleting/removing) any part of a Work but only if the Provider is not named as the author of the amended or modified Work,

whether those acts or omissions occur before, on or after the date of this agreement.  The Provider acknowledges that its consent pursuant to this clause 9.7 is genuinely given without duress of any kind and that it has been given the opportunity to seek legal advice on the effect of giving that consent.

Non-infringement

9.8 In providing the Services, the Provider must not infringe any rights in any Intellectual Property of any third parties and must not, without proper authorisation, make any use of, or bring into the Client’s computer systems or onto the Client’s premises, any Intellectual Property of any third party.

10. Liability and remedies

Indemnity

10.1 The Provider shall have personal liability for, and hereby irrevocably indemnifies and covenants to hold the Client harmless from and against, any and all Losses that may be suffered by the Client and which arise, directly or indirectly, in connection with any breach of this agreement by the Provider and/or any negligent or other tortious conduct in the provision of the Services.

10.2 The Client shall have personal liability for, and hereby irrevocably indemnifies and covenants to hold the Provider harmless from and against, any and all Losses that may be suffered by the Provider and which arise, directly or indirectly, in connection with any breach of this agreement by the Client and/or any negligent or other tortious conduct in the provision of the Services.

Indemnities continuing

10.3 Each indemnity contained in this agreement is an additional, separate, independent and continuing obligation that survives the termination of this agreement despite any settlement of account or other occurrence and remains in full force and effect until all money owing, contingently or otherwise, under the relevant indemnity has been paid in full and no one indemnity limits the generality of any other indemnity.

Limitation of liability

10.4 To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Provider and its Representatives expressly:

  1. (Disclaimer of warranties)  disclaim all conditions, representations and warranties (whether express or implied, statutory or otherwise) in relation to the Services, including any implied warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement.  Without limitation to the foregoing, the Provider and its Representatives make no representation, and provide no warranty or guarantee, that:
    1. the Client will achieve any particular results from the provision of the Services;
    2. any particular individuals will perform the Services on behalf of the Provider; or
    3. the Services will be:
      1. error-free or that errors or defects will be corrected; or
      2. meet the Client’s requirements or expectations; and
  2. (Limitation of liability)  limit their aggregate liability in respect of any and all Claims for any Losses that the Client and/or any of its Representatives may bring against the Provider under this agreement or otherwise in respect of the Services to the following remedies (the choice of which is to be at the Provider’s sole discretion):
    1. re-supply of the Services;
    2. payment of the costs of supply of the Services by a third party; or
    3. the refund of any amounts paid by the Client to the Provider under this agreement in respect to the Services,

      even if the Provider has been advised of the possibility of such Losses,
  3. and the Client acknowledges and agrees that the Provider holds the benefit of this clause 10.4 for itself and as agent and trustee for and on behalf of each of its Representatives.

Force majeure

10.5 To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Provider and its Representatives expressly exclude liability for any damage and/or delay in the performance of any obligation of the Provider under this agreement where such damage or delay is caused by circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Provider and the Provider shall be entitled to a reasonable extension of time for the performance of such obligations, and the Client acknowledges and agrees that the Provider holds the benefit of this clause

Remedies for breach

10.6 Each party acknowledges and agrees that, in the event of any breach by the other party of the provisions of clause 7 (Confidentiality), clause 8 (Non-disparagement), clause 9 (Intellectual Property) or clause 12 (Non-solicitation), damages may not be an adequate remedy and the first-mentioned party may, in addition to any other remedies, obtain an injunction restraining any further violation by the other party and other equitable relief, without the necessity of showing actual damage and without any security being required, together with recovery of costs.  Any Claims asserted by such other party against the first-mentioned party shall not constitute a defence in any such injunction action, application or motion.

11. Termination

Termination for breach

11.1 The Provider may terminate this agreement immediately by notice to the Client if an Event of Default occurs in respect of the Client.

11.2 If the Provider commits any material or persistent breach of this agreement, the Client may (but is not obliged to) provide the Provider with a notice of breach in writing.  If the Provider fails to remedy the breach agreement within 20 Business Days after the date of its receipt of such notice, the Client may terminate this agreement with immediate effect upon providing the Provider with a further notice of termination in writing.

Termination with notice

11.3 The Client may, without limitation to its rights under clause 11.2, terminate this agreement at any time by giving at least 20 Business Days’ notice to the Provider.

11.4 The Provider may, without limitation to its rights under clause 11.1, terminate this agreement at any time by giving at least 20 Business Days’ notice to the Client.  The Client may waive all or part of such notice period.

Effect of termination

11.5 In the event of any termination of this agreement in any circumstances and for any reason whatsoever:

  1. the Client will remain liable to pay all Charges accrued up to and including the date of termination, whether or not invoiced prior to the date of termination (for the avoidance of doubt, in the event of any termination of this agreement by the Client, including Charges incurred by the Provider for the purchase of materials for those Services prior to such termination); and
  2. the Provider will send to the Client a final invoice for the balance of any unbilled Charges accrued up to and including the date of termination and clause 5 will apply in respect thereof.

During notice period

11.6 In the event that the Provider’s engagement under this agreement is terminated upon notice by either party the Client may, at its absolute discretion, require the Provider to refrain from providing the Services during the relevant notice period.

Partially completed deliverables

11.7 Upon the cessation of the Provider’s engagement under this agreement, subject to payment of all outstanding Charges by the Client in accordance with the terms of this agreement, the Provider will deliver to the Client any and all partially completed deliverables that are included within the scope of the Services.

Ipso facto legislation

11.8 If any provision of this agreement is otherwise unenforceable by virtue of the operation of the Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Enterprise Incentives No. 2) Act 2017 (Cth), upon the occurrence of an Insolvency Event in respect of a particular party, notwithstanding any other provision of this agreement, to the maximum extent permitted by law:

  1. time is of the essence in respect of all obligations of that party under this agreement (whether falling due for performance before, upon or after the occurrence of that Insolvency Event); and
  2. any breach of this agreement by that party (whether occurring before, upon or after the occurrence of that Insolvency Event), however minor, will (alone or, severally, in combination with the occurrence of that Insolvency Event) be deemed to be a material breach of this agreement,

and, if any such material breach has occurred or occurs, the parties acknowledge and agree that such provision will instead be enforceable by virtue of the occurrence of that material breach.

Accrued rights

11.9 Termination of this agreement will not affect any rights or liabilities that the parties have accrued under it prior to such termination.

Survival

11.10 The obligations of the Provider under clause 7 (Confidentiality), clause 8 (Non-disparagement), clause 9 (Intellectual Property), clause 12 (Non-solicitation) and this clause 11 will survive the termination of this agreement.

Dispute Resolution

11.11 If a dispute arises in relation to this Agreement (“a Dispute”), a party must comply with this clause before starting any court proceedings except proceedings for urgent interlocutory relief.

11.12   A party claiming that a Dispute has arisen must notify the other party in writing giving details of the Dispute.

11.13   Each party must use its reasonable efforts through a meeting of senior officers (or their nominees) to resolve the Dispute. If the parties cannot resolve the Dispute within an agreed period or within 30 days of the first meeting, they must refer the Dispute to a mediator.

11.14   If the parties cannot agree within the stipulated period in clause 11.13, The NSW Small Business Commissioner will be appointed as the mediator.  

11.15   Each party to a Dispute must pay its own costs of complying with this clause and split the costs of the mediator evenly. 

12. Non-solicitation

12.1 During the Provider’s engagement with the Client under this agreement and for each Non-Solicitation Period thereafter, the Client must not, without the Provider’s prior written consent (which the Provider may withhold or delay in its absolute discretion), directly or indirectly:

  1. (non-solicitation suppliers)  interfere with or disrupt, or attempt to interfere with or disrupt, any relationship, whether contractual or otherwise, between the Provider and any of the Provider’s suppliers, distributors or joint venture partners, or identified prospective suppliers, distributors or joint venture partners; or
  2. (non-solicitation of staff)  induce, encourage or solicit any of the Provider’s officers, employees, contractors or agents to cease their employment, engagement or agency with the Provider.

12.2 The Client acknowledges and agrees that:

  1. the restraints in clause 12.1 constitute several separate covenants and restraints consisting of each of clauses 12.1(a) and (b) combined with each separate Non-Solicitation Period severally;
  2. each of those separate covenants and restraints is a fair and reasonable restraint of trade that goes no further than is reasonably necessary to protect the Provider’s goodwill and business;
  3. the Client has received substantial and valuable consideration for each of those separate covenants and restraints, including its receipt of the Services; and
  4. breach by the Client of any of those separate covenants and restraints would be unfair and calculated to damage the Provider’s goodwill and business and would lead to substantial loss to the Provider.

12.3 The parties intend the covenants and restraints under clauses 12.1 to operate to the maximum extent.  If any of those separate covenants and restraints would, in the absence of this clause 12.3, be void as unreasonable for the protection of the interests of the Provider but would not be so void if any part of the wording in this clause 12 or Schedule 2 was deleted or amended, the separate covenants and restraints will apply with the minimum modifications necessary to make them effective.

13. Notices

13.1 A notice given to a party under this agreement must be:

  1. in writing in English; and
  2. sent to the address, fax number or email address of the relevant party as the relevant party may notify to the other party from time to time.

13.2 To prove service, it is sufficient to prove that:

  1. in the case of post – that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed and posted;
  2. in the case of fax – the notice was transmitted to the fax number of the party; and
  3. in the case of email – the email was transmitted to the party’s email server or internet service provider.

14. General

Further assurances

14.1 Each party must (at its own expense, unless otherwise provided in this agreement) promptly execute and deliver all such documents, and do all such things, as any other party may from time to time reasonably require for the purpose of giving full effect to the provisions of this agreement.

Third parties

14.2 This agreement is made for the benefit of the parties to it and their successors and permitted assigns and is not intended to benefit, or be enforceable by, anyone else.

Costs

14.3 All costs and expenses in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this agreement, and any other agreements or documents entered into or signed pursuant to this agreement, will be borne by the party that incurred the costs.

Entire agreement

14.4 This agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties in relation to its subject matter and supersedes any previous arrangement, understanding or agreement relating to its subject matter. There are no express or implied conditions, warranties, promises, representations or obligations, written or oral, in relation to this agreement other than those expressly stated in it or necessarily implied by statute.

Severability

14.5 If a provision of this agreement is invalid or unenforceable in a jurisdiction:

  1. it is to be read down or severed in that jurisdiction to the extent of the invalidity or unenforceability; and
  2. that fact does not affect the validity or enforceability of that provision in another jurisdiction, or the remaining provisions.

No waiver

14.6 No failure, delay, relaxation or indulgence by a party in exercising any power or right conferred upon it under this agreement will operate as a waiver of that power or right. No single or partial exercise of any power or right precludes any other or future exercise of it, or the exercise of any other power or right under this agreement.

Amendment

14.7 This agreement may not be varied except by written instrument executed by all of the parties.

Assignment

14.8 A party must not assign or otherwise transfer, create any charge, trust or other interest in, or otherwise deal in any other way with, any of its rights under this agreement without the prior written consent of the other party.

Counterparts

14.9 This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which is an original and which together will have the same effect as if each party had signed the same document.

Electronic exchange

14.10 Delivery of an executed counterpart of this agreement by facsimile, or by email in PDF or other image format, will be equally effective as delivery of an original signed hard copy of that counterpart.

14.11 If a party delivers an executed counterpart of this agreement under clause 14.10:

  1. it must also deliver an original signed hard copy of that counterpart, but failure to do so will not affect the validity, enforceability or binding effect of this agreement; and
  2. in any legal proceedings relating to this agreement, each party waives the right to raise any defence based upon any such failure.

Governing law and jurisdiction

14.12 This agreement and any disputes or claims arising out of or in connection with its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims) are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of New South Wales, Australia.

14.13 The parties irrevocably agree that the courts of New South Wales, Australia have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim that arises out of, or in connection with, this agreement or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims).

Schedule 1 | Standard and duties

The Provider must, in providing the Services:

  1. (Honesty and diligence)  be honest and diligent and provide the Services to it to the best of its knowledge and abilities;
  2. (Standards)  at all times maintain reasonable ethical, professional and technical standards;
  3. (Discrimination and harassment)  not unlawfully discriminate against, sexually harass or otherwise physically or verbally abuse any person; and
  4. (Privacy)  in relation to any Personal Information of any customer, client, supplier or Representative of the Client, any user or prospective user or any other person, comply with:
    1. the Privacy Act and any guidelines, information sheets and other relevant material issued from time to time by the Commonwealth Privacy Commissioner; and
    2. any approved privacy policy and procedures adopted from time to time by the Client.

Schedule 2 | Non-Solicitation Periods

3 months; 6 months; 9 months; 12 months