evaluation contract

[Christine]

dag,

hoe komt ik het makkelijkst aan een goed evaluatiecontract in het engels? mijn ervaring is dat als je dat aan je jurist vraagt, deze er eentje van scratch gaat maken en dat dat heel duur is. Zijn er juristen die dat soort dingeno op de plank hebben liggen zodat ze het goedkoop kunnen leveren?

De bedoeling is dat zo'n contract getekend wordt door een potentiele partner die ons product een periode ter evaluatie heeft waarbij ik er zeker van kan zijn dat ze er geen illegale dingen mee doen.

 

dagdag

Christine

[Edo van Santen]

gaat het hier om het evalueren van software? ik zal even zoeken...

[Edo van Santen]

hierbij een"standaard" algemene voorwaarden voor gebruik van software.

 

Wellicht een goed uitgangspunt. In de bijbehorende "leveringsbrief" kan je gewoon omschrijven dat het voor evaluatie- en test doelenden binnen de eigen organisatie mag worden gebruikt.

 

Ik garandeer je dat de rechten van de producent in deze AV goed zijn afgedekt. Ik hoop dat je hier iets aan hebt.

 

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Contents

Section I. GENERAL SECTION   1

1. General   1

2. Delivery Dates   1

3. Prices and Rates   2

4. Terms of Payment   2

5. Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights   2

6. Confidentiality   3

7. Liability and Indemnification   3

8. Suspension, Termination, Dissolution   4

9. Force Majeure   4

10. Applicable Law   5

Section II. Use of Software   5

11. Delivery, Installation, Implementation   5

12. Licenses   5

13. Warranty   6

14. Software Maintenance and Support   6

15. Programs from Suppliers   7

16. Prices and Rates   7

Section III. Production of Applications and Custom Software   7

17. Production of Applications and Custom Software   7

18. Acceptance   8

Section IV. Hosting   8

19. Duration   8

20. Fulfillment   8

21. Security and Privacy   9

22. Telecommunications   9

23. Maintenance/Guarantee   9

24. Indemnification by Customer and Dissolution   9

25. Prices and Rates   9

26. Alteration of the Contract and Extra Work   10

 

   Section I. GENERAL SECTION

   1. General

1.1   These general conditions shall apply to all offers, quotations and contracts under which PRODUCER, (hereinafter referred to as “PRODUCER”), grants a license for the use of computer software (hereinafter referred to as “Software”) or modifies, produces (in the form of Applications and/or Custom Software), implements and/or hosts Software for a customer of PRODUCER (hereinafter referred to as “Customer” or “the Customer”).

Other services rendered by PRODUCER such as reviews, advice and training shall be governed by the general conditions for the performance of review and consultancy engagements of PRODUCER. A copy hereof will be sent to the Customer immediately on request.

1.2   These general conditions consist of four sections:

-   I a general section, which is universally applicable,

-   II a section with conditions governing the use of Software,

-   III a section with conditions applicable if PRODUCER produces Custom Software and/or Applications, and

-   IV a section with conditions applicable if PRODUCER is to host Software for the Customer.

1.3   All offers and quotations are entirely free of obligation and are valid for 60 days unless indicated otherwise and unless the offer or quotation is revoked before acceptance.

1.4   The Contract between PRODUCER and the Customer is constituted by the order confirmation or, as the case may be, the software licensing agreement, these general conditions and any additional written arrangements (hereinafter referred to collectively as “the Contract”). The Contract contains the full representation of the rights and obligations of parties. The Contract shall take the place of all prior written and oral proposals, communications and any correspondence.

1.5   The issuing of a quotation and the acceptance of the order are effectuated on the basis of the information provided by the Customer. The Customer warrants that it has in this regard provided all relevant and essential information known to it. If new and/or relevant information comes to the attention of the Customer after the start of the Contract, the Customer shall supply this to PRODUCER immediately. The Customer shall also cooperate in every way necessary for the fulfillment of the Contract. In making its deliveries and carrying out its work PRODUCER shall exercise the due care that may be expected of a good contractor.

1.6   Derogations from these general conditions and/or the Contract shall be valid only if they have been agreed to expressly in writing. The applicability of any purchase or other conditions of the Customer is hereby expressly excluded.

1.7   The following definitions are used in the Contract:

a.   Software: the “Product” computer software supplied by PRODUCER (Runtime or Builder version) and “WebProduct” (Runtime version), in object code and as designated in this Contract, and any new Releases and Versions of the Software.

b.   Custom Software: custom-made software and/or custom-made modifications to the Software made by PRODUCER.

c.   Release: a modified version of the Software in which any faults have been cleared and/or the operation of which has been improved.

d.   Version: a modified and/or upgraded version of the Software that has enhanced its functionality.

e.   Application(s): new, different computer software or other computerized materials produced or generated with the help of the Software, including computer software and databases generated with the help of Product.

f.   Hosting: PRODUCER’s offering of space on the Internet to the Customer and its rendering of regular services in connection therewith, in the widest sense of the word.

   2. Delivery Dates

2.1   All dates (delivery dates) specified by PRODUCER are set according to the best of its knowledge and shall be observed as far as possible. However, PRODUCER shall not be bound by dates (delivery dates) that can no longer be met owing to circumstances occurring after the signing of the Contract. If delivery dates are not met, PRODUCER cannot be held liable for the damage caused as a result, unless the delay is due to intent or gross negligence on the part of PRODUCER. If a delivery date is not met or there is a danger it will not be met, parties shall confer with each other as quickly as possible in order to take suitable measures.

   3. Prices and Rates

3.1   As regards the rates and the cost estimates based on them, administrative expenses, time spent traveling, traveling and accommodation expenses and other expenses connected with the order it is specified in the offer whether these are included in the quotation. Insofar as such expenses are not specified or explicitly included therein, they may be charged for separately.

3.2   PRODUCER is entitled to pass on to the Customer any changes to its rates or above-mentioned expenses and maintenance- or hosting fee necessitated by a change in the level of wages and costs at PRODUCER during the duration of the Contract. The fee and expenses payable are interest-free, unless the quotation indicates otherwise.

   4. Terms of Payment

4.1   The Customer shall pay all amounts due within 15 days of the date of invoice. PRODUCER shall charge for its work at the end of each month, unless expressly agreed otherwise.

4.2   All amounts and expenses owed by the Customer shall be denominated in euros and subject to sales tax and any other levies imposed by the government. The Customer shall pay all the amounts it owes, without deferment or set-off, to the account specified by PRODUCER. If payment has not been received by the due date, the Customer shall be charged interest at the statutory rate, without any notice of default being required.

4.3   If the Customer fails to fulfill one or more of its obligations, it shall bear all reasonable costs incurred in obtaining payment, including legal fees and out-of-court costs.

4.4   If the order has been placed by more than one Customer, all Customers shall be jointly and severally liable for fulfilling the obligations as specified above (regardless of the name on the invoice or the Contract).

4.5   Everything delivered to the Customer remains the property of PRODUCER until all amounts owed by the Customer for past and future deliveries or work performed or to be performed pursuant to the Contract, as well as the amounts meant in this section, including interest and collection fees, have been paid to PRODUCER in full.

   5. Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights

5.1   All intellectual and industrial property rights, including copyrights, on Software, Custom Software, documentation, designs, descriptions, instruction manuals and databases produced or delivered, as the case may be, by PRODUCER and other materials delivered by PRODUCER shall be vested in PRODUCER, its licensors or suppliers. The Customer shall receive solely those licenses and authorities as specified under these conditions or that are expressly granted otherwise. Unless expressly agreed otherwise, no intellectual or industrial property rights are transferred to the Customer by PRODUCER.

5.2   If other Applications are generated with the help of the Software by PRODUCER in behalf of the Customer or by the Customer itself, the intellectual property rights to these Applications vest in the Customer. The Customer recognizes, however, that the Software delivered by PRODUCER or part of such Software is incorporated into these Applications and that the intellectual property rights to this Software remain vested in PRODUCER. With regard to these Applications, the Customer shall therefore strictly observe the provisions on licenses in these conditions, unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing.

5.3   The Consumer is prohibited from removing and/or altering in any way whatsoever any notice of copyrights, brands, trademarks or other intellectual or industrial property rights from the Software, Customer Software or other materials, including notices of the confidential and exclusive nature of the Software and the other materials.

5.4   Insofar as evidenced by this sub-section, PRODUCER shall indemnify the Customer against all claims based on the allegation that Software developed by PRODUCER itself or other materials developed by PRODUCER infringe third-party intellectual or industrial property rights. Indemnification shall be effectuated solely on the proviso that the Customer inform PRODUCER immediately about the existence and content of the claim and leave the resolution of the matter, including any out-of-court settlement, entirely to PRODUCER. For this purpose, the Customer shall grant PRODUCER the required powers of attorney, information and cooperation to defend itself against this claim, if necessary in the name of the Customer.

PRODUCER is not required to indemnify the Customer if and insofar as the relevant infringement is connected with:

- modifications made by the Customer (or in behalf of the Customer by third parties) to the Software or other materials, or

- applications generated by the Customer (or in behalf of the Customer by third parties).

If it is indisputably established by law that Software developed by PRODUCER itself or other materials developed by PRODUCER infringe any intellectual or industrial property right vesting in a third party, or if PRODUCER believes that there is a reasonable chance of such infringement, PRODUCER shall take back the Software or materials that it has delivered and refund their purchase price less a reasonable fee for their use. PRODUCER may also, however, elect to ensure that the Customer can continue using the Software or materials, or functionally equivalent software or other materials, without interruption.

Any other or more far-reaching liability or duty of indemnification on account of the infringement of third-party intellectual or industrial property rights is excluded. This exclusion includes PRODUCER’s liability or obligation to indemnify for infringements caused by the use of non-PRODUCER modifications to Software or other materials delivered by PRODUCER, in connection with software or materials that were not delivered by PRODUCER or by the use of the Software or other materials in a manner for which they were not developed or intended to be used.

5.5   The Customer warrants that no third-party rights oppose making software or other materials available to PRODUCER for the purpose of their use and adaptation insofar as necessary for fulfilling the Contract. The Customer warrants that the Applications generated by the Customer (or applications generated by third parties in behalf of the Customer) do not infringe any third-party rights. The Customer shall indemnify PRODUCER against all actions based on the allegation that the granting of such availability, use or adaptation of such Application infringes any third-party right.

   6. Confidentiality

6.1   Neither party shall disclose any information or data of the other party to third parties. Each party shall take all possible precautionary measures to protect the interests of the other party.

6.2   More specifically, the Customer shall refrain from disclosing any information concerning or related to the Software, Custom Software or Application generated by PRODUCER or any other materials supplied by PRODUCER and their operation and shall also refrain from communicating with third parties about PRODUCER’s procedures and so forth, unless with the written consent of PRODUCER.

6.3   More specifically, PRODUCER shall refrain from disclosing any Customer-specific information that it receives from the Customer regarding the conducting of business. PRODUCER is not entitled to sell and/or deliver Applications developed for or by the Customer to any person or any other entity than the Customer or to use these Applications in behalf of any person or any other entity than the Customer without the written consent of the Customer.

6.3   The Customer grants PRODUCER the right to use the Customer’s name and/or logo for the purpose of advertising and references.

   7. Liability and Indemnification

7.1   PRODUCER shall be liable only for failures in fulfilling the Contract that are imputable to it, insofar as this is expressly apparent from this section and from the guarantees that it has made and also insofar as it has not exercised the due care that can be expected of a good contractor.

7.2   The total liability of PRODUCER for the damage caused by the failures shall be limited to the value of that part of the Contract which has not been fulfilled. The liability of PRODUCER shall also be limited to the amount of the fee (excluding sales tax and expenses) that PRODUCER has received for its work under this Contract. In the case of Contracts for a term in excess of six months, the liability referred to here shall be further limited to a maximum of the amount invoiced during the last six months (excluding sales tax and expenses). In no case whatsoever, however, shall the total compensation for direct damage exceed € 350,000 (three hundred fifty thousand euros).

Direct damage is taken to mean:

a.   the reasonable costs that the Customer would need to incur to make PRODUCER fulfill the Contract. No compensation for this damage shall be given, however, if the Customer has dissolved the Contract;

b.   the costs incurred by the Customer for being forced to keep its old system(s) and related equipment operational for a longer period of time on account of PRODUCER’s failure to deliver on a binding delivery date, less any savings resulting from the delayed delivery;

c.   reasonable costs incurred to ascertain the cause and extent of the damage insofar as such ascertainment relates to direct damage within the meaning of these conditions;

d.   reasonable costs incurred to prevent or limit damage insofar as the Customer demonstrates that these costs have resulted in the limitation of direct damage within the meaning of these conditions.

 

7.3   Any claims by the Customer as arising above are valid solely if the Customer notifies PRODUCER in writing as soon as possible after such damage occurs and if it immediately notifies PRODUCER of its breach of contract with a sound written warning that sets a reasonable deadline for remedying the breach and if PRODUCER remains imputably in breach of contract after that deadline.

7.4   In no case whatsoever shall PRODUCER’s total liability for material damage to property exceed € 350,000 (three hundred fifty thousand euros).

7.5   Liability for indirect or consequential damage, including loss of sales or income, lost savings and damage due to business stagnation, is excluded at all times.

7.6   Limitations of liability shall lapse if and insofar as the damage is the result of intent or gross negligence on the part of PRODUCER.

7.7   The Customer shall indemnify PRODUCER against all third-party claims on account of product liability resulting from a defect in a product or system that the Customer has delivered to a third party and that consisted in part of the Software or other materials delivered by PRODUCER. This does not apply if and insofar as the Customer proves that the damage was caused by that Software or other materials.

7.8   The Customer shall indemnify PRODUCER and its employees at all times against all other third-party claims that are in any way connected with the work performed by PRODUCER for the Customer or Software or other materials delivered to the Customer. This does not apply if the claim is the result of intent or gross negligence on the part of PRODUCER.

   8. Suspension, Termination, Dissolution

8.1   If the Customer fails to fulfill any part of a contract with PRODUCER, the latter is entitled to suspend or terminate its fulfillment of the Contract without any warning or notice of breach of contract.

8.2   The Customer is entitled to dissolve the Contract with PRODUCER if PRODUCER is imputably in breach of the Contract with the Customer, yet not until the Customer has notified PRODUCER of its breach of contract by written warning that sets a reasonable deadline for remedying the breach and if PRODUCER remains in breach of contract after that deadline.

8.3   If and insofar as the Contract entails an order for services from PRODUCER, each Party is unilaterally entitled to terminate such order early, if it is of the opinion that the order can no longer be fulfilled in conformity with the Contract and any later additional order specifications. This must be made clear to the other party in writing and supported by reasons. PRODUCER is entitled to exercise its power to early termination if completion of the order cannot reasonably be required as a result of factors beyond its control. If the order is terminated prematurely by the Customer in this sense, PRODUCER shall be entitled to compensation for the capacity utilization loss incurred as a result. The capacity utilization loss shall be calculated on the basis of the average annual invoiced amount hitherto.

Any other rights and obligations of the Customer and PRODUCER under the Contract shall remain in full force upon early termination of the order as meant in this sub-section.

8.4   Under normal circumstances, parties are entitled to terminate this Contract by giving notice three months before the end of the agreed fixed period or before the end of the year in the case of continuing performance contracts. Fixed-period Contracts are automatically extended on the expiry of the agreed period of time for the length of an equal period of time, unless notice was given on time. Hosting is governed by different periods of time, as specified in sub-section 19.2.

8.5   In the event of early termination of an order, termination of the Contract or in case of the dissolution of the Contract, PRODUCER shall continue to be entitled to payment of the invoices for work performed and Software or Custom Software delivered hitherto. In the event of early termination of an order, termination of the Contract or dissolution of the Contract, no refund shall be given for amounts or maintenance fees paid in advance.

8.6   In the event of the termination or dissolution of the Contract, all rights to use the Software, Custom Software and Applications developed by PRODUCER as well as for other materials supplied by PRODUCER in the context of the Contract shall cease.

In the event of the termination or dissolution of the Contract, the Customer shall be required to return to PRODUCER all copies of Software, Custom Software and Applications developed by PRODUCER, as well as other materials owned by PRODUCER, in its possession.

8.7   Notwithstanding the other provisions of these general conditions, PRODUCER has the right to dissolve the Contract between the Customer and PRODUCER, without any recourse to the courts or any notice of breach of contract being required, if the Customer is declared bankrupt, applies for a suspension of payments or loses its power to dispose of property and/or legal capacity in regard to its assets, in whole or part, as the result of attachment, conservatorship or otherwise.

   9. Force Majeure

   

9.1   Neither party is required to fulfill any obligation if it is hindered in this regard by force majeure. Force majeure is taken to mean in part a non-imputable breach of contract on the part of PRODUCER’s suppliers.

If the case of force majeure has lasted longer than 90 days, parties are entitled to dissolve the Contract in writing. Contractual work conducted up to that point will be charged for on a proportional basis, without parties owing each other any compensation.

   10. Applicable Law

10.1   This Contract shall be governed exclusively by the law of the Netherlands.

10.2   Disputes between parties shall be arbitrated by the competent court in Amsterdam, yet only after parties have attempted to settle out of court, notwithstanding the parties’ right to seek preliminary relief in urgent cases.

   

   Section II. Use of Software

   The Provisions of this section apply as well if PRODUCER delivers Software (including Applications, Custom Software, databases, general and user documentation, designs and other materials) to the Customer.

   11. Delivery, Installation, Implementation

11.1   Unless agreed otherwise and unless the Software is hosted by or in behalf of PRODUCER, the latter shall be responsible for delivery of the Software referred to in the Contract to the Customer and the Customer shall be responsible for its installation on the designated hardware or the hardware specified in this Contract and for the implementation of the Software.

11.2   If parties to the Contract have not agreed on an acceptance test, the provisions of section 18 apply.

If parties to the Contract have agreed on an acceptance test, the Customer shall accept the Software in its condition at the time of delivery or upon the commencement of hosting, notwithstanding PRODUCER’s obligations under its warranty (section 13).

   12. Licenses

12.1   Unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing, the Customer shall be granted solely a non-exclusive and non-assignable license to the object codes for the Software placed at the Customer’s disposal by PRODUCER, subject to the applicability of the conditions described in the Contract. The license shall be valid, subject to the provisions of section 8 (termination/dissolution), for an indefinite period, unless stated otherwise in the Contract.

12.2   Unless expressly agreed otherwise, the customer shall use the Software exclusively in the course of its normal business operations and shall not in any way supply, rent or lend the Software or copies thereof to third parties or allow the Software to be inspected by third parties or send the Software through a network involving the use of information technology or allow third parties the opportunity to infringe the conditions (license conditions) referred to in the Contract.

12.3   The Customer shall use the Software exclusively for the purposes and in accordance with the instructions described in the documentation and the Contract.

12.4   The Customer shall in no way whatever make copies of the Software, with the exception of copies for back-up purposes, yet only if and insofar as this is necessary.

12.5   The Customer shall in no way whatever make alterations, modifications or additions to the Software or cause the same to be made, unless these concern Applications that the Customer has generated itself without any alterations to the rest of the Software.

12.6   If the Contract states that the Software is intended to run on specific hardware or at a specific location, the license shall be limited to its use on such hardware and/or at such location. If such hardware is defective, the customer shall be entitled to use the Software on other hardware, provided that PRODUCER is informed immediately and that such use is only during downtime.

12.7   Unless the Web Product version of the Software is concerned and the Customer has been granted the right by Contract to use the Software for a certain number of users, or unless the Customer has otherwise been granted the right by Contract to use the Software in a network environment for a certain number of users, the Customer is entitled to have the Software used solely by one user at any one time and/or to give solely one user access to the Software in a network environment.

The Customer shall be charged a fee for each simultaneous user of the Software with the related Application, according to the graduated scale of fees specified in the Contract. The Web Product version, however, is governed by a different rate structure, as specified in the Contract.

12.8   The Customer is entitled to use Product Builder to produce solely one or more Application(s) under the conditions as stated in the Contract.

12.9   The Customer is entitled to use an Application solely in combination with a Runtime version of the Software installed on the relevant hardware at the Customer or, in the case of hosting, at PRODUCER.

12.10   If the Customer makes no use of hosting as specified in these conditions, it is entitled to use the codes supplied with the Software to install the Software. The Consumer is entitled to use these installation codes one time only, unless the installation codes are used to install the Software in (and for no longer than the duration of) a contingency context due to faults or the replacement of the relevant hardware and – in the case of the Runtime version of the Software – on the proviso that the Customer continue to use the Software for the same Application.

12.11   PRODUCER is entitled to check on a regular basis within the Customer’s organization the extent to which the Software is in accordance with the agreed conditions and licensing fees.

12.12   Notwithstanding section 45 (j) of the Copyright Act [Auteurswet] 1912, the Customer is not permitted to disassemble the Software or imitate (or cause to be imitated) the functionalities of the Software by means of reverse engineering or otherwise, without the prior consent of PRODUCER.

   13. Warranty

13.1   The warranty obligations of PRODUCER are limited to that which is described in this section, unless different or additional warranties have been expressly agreed to in writing.

13.2   A 90-day warranty applies to Software supplied by PRODUCER, starting on the date it is made available. PRODUCER’s liability under this warranty is limited to taking whatever measures are reasonably possible to trace and repair to the best of its ability imperfections in the functional specifications agreed to in writing, provided that they are reported to PRODUCER in writing within the above period. Only essential differences from the functional specifications as demonstrated by the Customer shall be deemed to be imperfections. Recovery of any data that may have been lost is not covered by the warranty.

13.3   The parties acknowledge that no warranty can be given that Software will operate without interruption and/or faults or that all faults or defects will be cleared.

13.4   The Customer itself is responsible for the use and the proper application and protection in its organization of that supplied or made available by PRODUCER. In no way whatsoever shall PRODUCER be held responsible for the incorrect application of Software, Custom Software, Applications or any other materials delivered by PRODUCER or services rendered.

13.5   No warranty is given by PRODUCER on Software delivered by PRODUCER that is subject to third-party warranty and/or delivery conditions. Nor is any warranty given on advice or services rendered by PRODUCER or on databases.

13.6   Unless the generation of Applications by the Customer itself is concerned, every right to a warranty ceases if the Customer itself modifies Software delivered by PRODUCER or has it modified without the prior written consent of PRODUCER. In addition, PRODUCER shall then be entitled to terminate its maintenance without being under any obligation to refund maintenance fees and without the Customer having any right to compensation.

   14. Software Maintenance and Support

14.1   Provisions governing maintenance and support shall apply only if parties have agreed to this in writing. Maintenance shall start at the time the Software is delivered and shall continue until the end of the relevant calendar year. The maintenance provisions shall apply thereafter for a period of one calendar year and shall be automatically extended for a year at a time unless one of the parties gives written notice of termination no later than three months before the end of the relevant maintenance period.

14.2   Unless expressly agreed otherwise, maintenance shall relate solely to the last Version or Release of the Software supplied by PRODUCER. If it has been agreed that PRODUCER will maintain Custom Software, the provisions of this section shall apply by analogy. PRODUCER does not maintain Applications.

14.3   In the context of its maintenance work, PRODUCER shall to the best of its ability:

a.   Inform the customer about the availability of extensions and improvements to the Software in the form of new Versions and Releases developed by PRODUCER;

b.   Supply the customer with new Releases of the Software as soon as they become available. The customer shall install these new Releases upon their receipt;

c.   At the request of the permanent contact of the Customer as referred to in the Contract, provide telephone or e-mail support to such person in the use of the Software, which support shall be available on Dutch work days from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dutch time;

d.   Seek to trace defects or faults in the delivered Software and documentation that have been identified by the Customer and acknowledged by PRODUCER and to clear them in a subsequent Version or Release.

14.4   Maintenance excludes work other than that described in sub-section 3, in particular work as a result of:

a.   The incorrect functioning of the Software due to imperfections in the hardware or in programs or system programs on or in connection with which the Software is used;

b.   The incorrect functioning of the Software if this is used in conjunction with computer programs not delivered or recommended by PRODUCER;

c.   Use of the Software in a way contrary to the relevant documentation or instructions of PRODUCER or as a result of careless data management.

14.5   If possible, other maintenance work may be carried out by PRODUCER after written agreement, in which case the work actually performed will be charged for at the rates then applicable.

14.6   The agreed provisions (license provisions) shall apply by analogy to new Versions and Releases made available to the Customer.

   15. Programs from Suppliers

15.1   If and insofar as PRODUCER makes third-party programs available to the Customer, the conditions of those third parties shall apply to those programs in lieu of the provisions of these conditions, on the proviso that PRODUCER informs the Customer thereof. The Customer shall accept the relevant third-party conditions. These conditions shall be made available at PRODUCER for the Customer to inspect and PRODUCER shall send them to the Customer at its request.

15.2   If and insofar as the relevant third-party conditions are deemed inapplicable for any reason whatsoever in the relationship between the Customer and PRODUCER of if they are declared inapplicable, the provisions of these present conditions shall apply.

   16. Prices and Rates

16.1   For obtaining the Software license, the Customer shall owe the licensing fee referred to in the Contract. If it has been agreed that PRODUCER is to carry out maintenance, the Customer shall owe a maintenance fee as referred to in the Contract. If new functionalities have been included in a new Version, PRODUCER may then charge an additional licensing fee to be determined at that time.

16.2   The licensing fee shall be paid as invoiced by PRODUCER upon delivery of the Software. The Customer shall pay all yearly maintenance fees to PRODUCER in advance as invoiced.

   

   Section III. Production of Applications and Custom Software

   These provisions apply as well if PRODUCER produces Applications and/or Custom Software for the Customer.

   17. Production of Applications and Custom Software

17.1   If PRODUCER produces Applications or Custom Software for the Customer, PRODUCER shall carry out this work with care on the basis of the information to be supplied by the Customer. The Customer warrants that this information is correct and complete.

17.2   Unless indicated otherwise in the order confirmation or licensing agreement, Custom Software shall be produced in various stages, namely:

a.   Preparation of a written inventory by the parties of the desired functionalities and properties of the Applications or Customer Software and - if necessary - the production by PRODUCER of the functional design or elaboration of the desired functionalities of the Custom Software and the Application.

b.   Production by or in behalf of PRODUCER of the Applications or the Custom Software in accordance with the written specifications or functional design.

c.   If and insofar as this has been agreed, the installation and implementation of the Custom Software and Application by PRODUCER.

17.3   Each stage is concluded as the Customer approves the services rendered or Applications or Custom Software produced hitherto. PRODUCER is entitled to suspend the following stage(s) until the Customer has approved the previous stage(s).

17.4   The inventory referred to in sub-section 2 and the functional design or elaboration of the desired functionalities of the Custom Software or Application shall form part of the Contract after approval by the Customer. If the Customer wishes to make an alteration or addition to the functionalities described herein or otherwise wishes to have an alteration of the specifications, this shall be regarded as extra work and parties shall record this alteration or addition in a new inventory or functional design, which will then form part of the Contract, while the original functional design, insofar as it has been altered, shall be deemed to have expired.

17.5   Unless expressly agreed otherwise, the Customer shall not be given access to the source codes and/or development documentation for the Custom Software.

   18. Acceptance

18.1   The Custom Software or Applications shall be deemed accepted between parties: on the first day after the acceptance test period agreed to in the Contract or, if PRODUCER receives a test report as meant in sub-section 4 prior to the end of the agreed test period: at the point in time that the faults stated in the test report have been cleared, notwithstanding the presence of imperfections that, according to sub-section 5, do not stand in the way of acceptance.

18.2   In derogation to the aforesaid, Custom Software and Applications shall be deemed fully accepted from the point that they are taken into use if the Customer makes any use of these prior to the time of acceptance for productive or operational purposes.

18.3   When conducting the agreed acceptance test, if the Custom Software or Application contains faults that hinder the progress of the acceptance test, the Customer shall bring this to the attention of PRODUCER as soon as possible in detailed writing, in which case the test period shall be suspended until the Custom Software or Application has been modified such that the hindrance has been removed.

18.4   When conducting the agreed acceptance test, if the Custom Software or Application contains other faults than those meant in sub-section 3, the Customer shall bring this to the attention of PRODUCER in writing in a timely manner, by no later than the last day of the test period, in the form of a detailed test report. PRODUCER shall endeavor to the best of its ability to clear these faults within a reasonable period of time, whereby PRODUCER is entitled to implement any temporary solutions, program circumventions and restrictions (to avoid problems) in the Custom Software or Application.

18.5   Acceptance of the Custom Software or Application shall not be withheld for any reasons other than those which are related to the specifications expressly agreed to between parties nor, furthermore, on account of minor faults, being faults that do not stand in the way of the Custom Software or Application reasonably being taken into operational or productive use, notwithstanding PRODUCER’s obligation to clear these minor faults.

18.6   If the Custom Software or Application is delivered and tested in stages and/or parts, the non-acceptance of any one stage and/or part shall not prejudice the possible acceptance of any previous stage and/or part.

   

   Section IV. Hosting

   These conditions apply as well if parties have agreed that Software is to be hosted by or through PRODUCER and that the Customer is to be given access to the Software through a telecommunications connection and the Internet.

   19. Duration

19.1   Hosting shall be effected for a period of time as set down by parties. If no particular period of time has been set down, a duration of one year shall apply.

19.2   This period of time shall be automatically extended each time by the duration of the original period of time yet by no longer than one year, unless the Customer or PRODUCER has terminated the Contract in writing by giving notice one month before the end of the relevant period of time. If hosting has been effected for a shorter period of time, no term of notice shall apply. In that case, however, automatic extension shall still apply.

   20. Fulfillment

20.1   PRODUCER undertakes to exercise due care in fulfilling its orders and rendering the services requested.

20.2   The Customer shall always provide PRODUCER with the necessary data and information on time and as completely as possible and, furthermore, shall make all facilities at its location(s) available if this should prove necessary for PRODUCER to conduct its work.

20.3   The Customer is prohibited from transferring the user name and password provided by or in behalf of PRODUCER to any third party without the consent of PRODUCER.

20.4   The Customer guarantees that all reasonable instructions from PRODUCER concerning the enjoyment of services shall be observed so that services may be continued in a reasonable manner and that PRODUCER shall, in this connection, receive all reasonable assistance that it or any third parties employed on its behalf request(s).

20.5   PRODUCER shall be entitled to adapt unilaterally the composition or content of the services requested by the Customer to the benefit of the Customer.

20.6   The conditions for the use of Software as stated in section II of these conditions also apply to Software hosted by PRODUCER.

   21. Security and Privacy

21.1   If and insofar as the Customer provides PRODUCER with personal data, the latter shall carefully manage and protect it as required by law; such data shall solely be used within the context of the latter’s management and administrative tasks. PRODUCER shall refrain from disclosing this personal data to third parties, unless it is required to do so by law or a court order.

21.2   The Customer warrants that all statutory provisions concerning the data to be processed, including in particular the provisions of the Personal Data Protection Act [Wet bescherming persoonsgegevens], shall be strictly observed and that all data shall be registered as set down by law. The Customer shall provide PRODUCER immediately in writing with all relevant information requested.

   22. Telecommunications

22.1   The Customer shall be responsible for the correct choice of the telecommunications and Internet facilities that it will use and for their availability as required. PRODUCER cannot be held responsible for transmission errors that are not imputable to it or for the lack of availability or the speed of the Internet or of the telecommunications facilities on the side of the Customer.

22.2   PRODUCER shall assign access and identification codes to the Customer. The Customer shall treat the access codes with confidentiality and disclose them to lawfully authorized persons only.

   23. Maintenance/Guarantee

23.1   PRODUCER shall regularly check and maintain the hardware and systems used by it or in its behalf for hosting and connecting to the Internet. PRODUCER shall ensure that the capacity and quality of the systems and hardware in use are high enough to elicit a reasonable response during normal use and that they do not result in any interruptions, up to a maximum of 500 simultaneous users.

23.2   PRODUCER expressly herewith excludes all guarantees with regards to the services rendered. Although the services rendered by PRODUCER thus do not fall under guarantee, PRODUCER undertakes to use all available means to resolve any downtime/defects as soon as possible upon the Customer’s request. Parties recognize that there can be no guarantee that the systems, hardware, Internet connection or the Internet will function without interruption and/or malfunction or imperfections or that all malfunctions or imperfections can be remedied.

   24. Indemnification by Customer and Dissolution

24.1   The Customer shall indemnify PRODUCER and the third parties that it has engaged for hosting against all claims regarding damage for which all liability on the part of PRODUCER towards the Customer is excluded and, in addition, damage in particular as the result of:

a.   the posting of inaccurate/offensive/illegal text and/or images on the Internet site by the Customer and/or the Customer’s staff;

b.   breaking into and/or gaining access to computer programs/Internet sites by third parties without the consent of the Customer or PRODUCER (hacking);

c.   insulting or otherwise prejudicing the rights of others;

d.   unauthorized use of the access and identification codes assigned to the Customer;

e.   third-party claims on account of infringements of the Personal Data Protection Act [Wet bescherming persoonsgegevens] and/or statutory record retention periods.

24.2   Notwithstanding the other provisions of these general conditions, PRODUCER is entitled to dissolve the Contract between the Customer and PRODUCER without any recourse to the courts or any notice of breach of contract being required if circumstances arise on the side of the Customer as specified under (a) to (e) of the above sub-section.

   25. Prices and Rates

25.1   The Customer shall be charged a regular hosting fee as stated in the Contract. For all other work performed for the Customer by PRODUCER, including the production of Custom Software and Application as well as maintenance, installation and implementation work, the Customer shall be charged a fee according to the usual rates on the basis of actual time spent, unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing.

   26. Alteration of the Contract and Extra Work

26.1   If extra work has to be conducted by PRODUCER on the basis of an alteration to the Contract as a result of extra requests or wishes by the Customer, the Customer shall be charged for the work actually performed at the rates then applicable, unless expressly agreed otherwise.

   

   © PRODUCER, The Netherlands, 2005.

 

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[ICTRecht]

 

Edit bezemploeg - deze post is vewijderd omdat deze in strijd is met de regels van het forum.

[Lawman]

 

Beste Christine,

 

Het is mij al eerder opgevallen dat je -impliciet- niet werkelijk gediend bent van de services van een jurist. Dat is jammer. Wellicht dat je slechte ervaring hebt of het tarief te hoog vind voor hun toegevoegde waarde. Overigens hoeft een eravren jurist dit soort alfa of beta testing danwel evaluation agreements niet van scratch te schrijven doch ben je meestal wel enkele uren verder om het contract klantspecifiek te maken. Het komt uiteindelijk aan op risk management van de ondernemer (aannemende dat jij ondernemer bent).

 

De bijdrage van VC coach is te loven doch ook gezien zijn eerdere stelligheid in antwoorden op juridische vragen zou ik behoorlijk twijfelen over het risiko dat je neemt als je zijn advies volgt cq hier zijn contract gebruikt. een contract waarvan hij garandeert dat de rechten van de leverancier goed zijn afgedekt.

 

Het voert te ver om hier commentaar te leveren op het bovenstaande contract doch mijn advies zou zijn om via google nog eens te zoeken naar zgn alfa of beta testing and evaluation (vaak veel kortere) agreements, deze zelf iets te verbouwen naar Nederlands recht en dan in enkele uren te laten toetsen door een in deze materie bekende jurist. Als je hier geen 1500 tot 2000 euro voor over hebt dan moet je het vooral zelf doen. Ik hoop dat jouw tijd (ook als het mis gaat) niet zo kostbaar is.

 

Succes.

 

Lawman

Onderneminsgrechtadviseur

PL Europe

 

 

[Christine]

Het is mij al eerder opgevallen dat je -impliciet- niet werkelijk gediend bent van de services van een jurist.

 

Het spijt me als ik die indruk heb gewekt. We werken in Nederland met twee advocatenkantoren, en in de VS met eentje. En dan nog met een octrooi-advocaat, zowel in Nederland als in de VS. Je ziet, we werken met heel wat advocaten.

 

Mijn vraag over evaluatiecontracten en eula's was ingegeven door het feit dat advocaten in ons land relatief weinig ervaring hebben met productsoftware en sofware die met een click-license gedownload kan worden. We werken nu inmiddels met een advocatenkantoor in Silicon Valley voor wie dat dagelijkse kost is. Zij hebben clickware contracten op de plank liggen terwijl de standaardcontracten hier toch vaak gaan over maatwerk software. Voor evaluatiecontracten geldt mutatis mutandis hetzelfde.

 

mvg

Christine

[Christine]

Als je hier geen 1500 tot 2000 euro voor over hebt dan moet je het vooral zelf doen. Ik hoop dat jouw tijd (ook als het mis gaat) niet zo kostbaar is.

 

Lawman,

ik vind je commentaar wat zuur. Het bedrag wat je noemt is ongeveer wat we uitgeven, per type contract, dus om te beginnen vier maal.

 

Het gaat er bovendien bij ons niet om wat we willen uitgeven, maar wat we kunnen uitgeven. Als je drie jaar lang zwaar investeert in het ontwikkelen van een mooi product, en de centjes beginnen eindelijk binnen te stromen, dan moet je wel kritisch zijn in waar je deze centjes dan vervolgens aan gaat uitgeven. Al het geld dat ik aan advocaten betaal kan ik niet uitgeven aan banners bij Google of een stand op "ICT en Zorg" of "Infosecurity".

 

dagdag

Christine

[Lawman]

Beste Christine,

 

Net als bij de evaluatie van software doet elke ondernemer er verstandig aan keuzes te maken zoals jij die schetst. Om die reden adviseerde ik je uit het oogpunt van risk management om een sample evaluation agreement te downloaden van het net en deze even te laten bekijken door een ICT lawyer alhier. Er zijn voldoende ICT juristen in ons land die de nodige ervaring hebben met dit soort licenties en net als in de VS zal je goed moeten zoeken naar een jurist met de relevante ervaring.

 

Ik begrijp niet waar de factor 4 in jouw reactie op slaat. Betaal je 1500, euro per type licentie en heb je 4 soorten nodig zodat je 6000,- euro betaalt, of kijken de door jou genoemde 4 advocatenkantoren elkaars werk na (smile)? Als je 6000 euro betaalt voor dit soort werk dan kan ik voorminder uit de brand helpen.

 

Als ik wat zuur overkom dan heeft dat van doen met mijn lichte aversie tegen mensen die voor een dupppie op de eerste rang willen zitten. Andere zouden misschien zeggen dat dat nu juist de goede ondernemer onderscheidt van de mindere broeders doch mijn ervaring is juist dat de beste ondernemers "value for money" hoog in het vaandel hebben en delegeren (bijv. aan juristen) als dat verstandig is.

 

De vraag is welke buil je valt als er iets mis is met de evaluation agreement. En om niet zuur te eindigen: kijk bijvoorbeeld eens bij win zipp voor een evaluation agreement, pas deze even wat aan en klaar is kees........Voor een encryptie specialist (die ik in het algemeen hoog inschat, gegeven mijn eerdere juridische adviezen aan dergelijke specialisten) zou dat een koud kunstje moeten zijn.

 

Lawman

[Christine]

Ik begrijp niet waar de factor 4 in jouw reactie op slaat.

Een evaluatiecontract en drie typen eula's.

 

Als ik wat zuur overkom dan heeft dat van doen met mijn lichte aversie tegen mensen die voor een dupppie op de eerste rang willen zitten.

 

Mijn motto is dat je moet doen waar je goed in bent en de rest moet je uitbesteden of niet doen.

 

dagdag

Christine

[Merkava]

 

Als ik wat zuur overkom dan heeft dat van doen met mijn lichte aversie tegen mensen die voor een dupppie op de eerste rang willen zitten. Andere zouden misschien zeggen dat dat nu juist de goede ondernemer onderscheidt van de mindere broeders doch mijn ervaring is juist dat de beste ondernemers "value for money" hoog in het vaandel hebben en delegeren (bijv. aan juristen) als dat verstandig is.

 

Lawman

 

Laat ik het eens omdraaien.

 

Ik denk dat veel ondernemers hier op het forum jou graag goed willen betalen voor gedane arbeid. Alleen als je zelf op een houtje zit te bijten, dan kun je weinig anders dan proberen een afweging te maken tussen wat je noodzakelijk acht, en wat later wel komt.

Helaas heeft geen van ons allen een glazen bol die ons aangeeft welke investeringen eerst moeten, en welke investeringen kunnen wachten.

 

En laten we eerlijk zijn, jij als jurist vind contracten belangrijk, een boekhouder zegt dat over de boekhouding, en zo heeft iedere specialist zijn eigen voorkeuren.

 

Dus probeer je niet te ergeren aan het syndroom van Scrooge, het is niet persoonlijk tegen jou gericht, maar het is het gebrek aan finaciele armslag.

[Lawman]

Beste Merkava,

 

Dank voor de modererende woorden. Voor ieder zou m.i. moeten gelden dat je vooral moet doen waar je goed in bent; daarnaast vind ik het leuk om beginners pro deo wat op weg te helpen. Vandaar dat ik sinds het begin van dit forum betrokken en een warm voorstander er van ben dat iedere beginnende ondernemer zich zelf dwingt om goed zijn hersenen te gebruiken en, zo snel als dat zijn talenten hem toestaan, zijn "werk" terrein verkent en dat weloverwogen besluit wat de prioriteiten voor hem (of haar) zijn.

 

In een zelfde perspectief zie ik de functie van een goede dienstverlener. Als ik eerlijk ben: ik beschik niet over genoeg aanleg om mijn functie groter te maken dan die van mijn klanten. Ik zal ook de laatste zijn die je hoort zeggen dat een accountant alleen maar opschrijft wat in het verleden zich heeft voorgedaan of dat een jurist opschrijft wat je zelf al wist. Gevorderden onder ons weten dat dit anders werkt. Een goede advsieur lever toegevoegde waarde, zoals dat heet (of value for money zoals je zal weten). Je begrijpt dat ieder zo z´n professionele frustraties kent. Ik meen die van een startende ondernemer goed te begrijpen en sympathiseer met de goede ondernemer met durf, uithoudingsvermogen, overzicht en een vleugje eigenwijsheid en humor. Het laatste meen ik nu bij jou te zien en dat is mooi.

 

Het gaat je goed en succes!

 

PS Ik begrijp

 

Lawman