Exhibit 10.26

 

CONFIDENTIAL

Execution Copy

 

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

 

This SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (this “Settlement Agreement”) is made and entered into
as of November 12, 2004 (the “Effective Date”) by and between, on the one hand,
Polycom, Inc., a Delaware corporation, having offices at 4750 Willow Road,
Pleasanton, CA 94588 (“Polycom”), and, on the other hand, Avistar Communications
Corporation, a Delaware corporation, having offices at 555 Twin Dolphin Drive,
Suite 360, Redwood Shores, California 94065 together with its wholly owned
subsidiary Collaboration Properties, Inc., a Nevada corporation, having offices
at 555 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 360, Redwood Shores, California 94065
(collectively, “Avistar”) (Polycom and Avistar are individually referred to
herein as a “party,” and collectively as the “parties”).

 

WITNESSETH

 

WHEREAS, Avistar has filed claims against Polycom for patent infringement in an
action styled Collaboration Properties, Inc. v. Polycom, Inc., Case #
02-CV-04591, pending in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of California, and Polycom has asserted counterclaims for, inter alia,
patent infringement, invalidity and unenforceability, against Avistar (the
“Litigation”);

 

WHEREAS, Polycom denies that it does now or has ever infringed any of Avistar’s
patents or committed any act that would entitle Avistar, under the law of any
jurisdiction anywhere in the world, to any of the relief it is seeking in the
Litigation against Polycom;

 

WHEREAS, Avistar asserts that Polycom does infringe the Avistar patents asserted
in the Litigation, that those patents are valid and enforceable, and that it is
entitled to the relief it is seeking in the Litigation against Polycom;

 

WHEREAS, Avistar and Polycom are concurrently entering into that certain Patent
Cross-License Agreement of even date herewith and attached hereto as Exhibit C
(the “Patent License Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, Avistar and Polycom desire to avoid the time and expense of litigation,
and in compromise of the disputed claims, to fully and finally resolve and
settle the Litigation through the exchange of mutual releases, licenses and
other valuable and adequate consideration as set forth in this Settlement
Agreement and the Patent License Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above and the mutual covenants and
promises hereinafter contained, the parties agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I – DEFINITIONS

 

As used in this Settlement Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:

 

1.1 “Avistar Patents” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1 of the
Patent License Agreement.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.2 “Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.10 of the Patent
License Agreement.

 

1.3 “Polycom Patents” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.14 of the
Patent License Agreement.

 

1.4 “Subsidiary” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.13 of the Patent
License Agreement.

 

1.5 “Third Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.14 of the Patent
License Agreement.

 

1.6 “Voting Power” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.15 of the
Patent License Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II – RELEASES

 

2.1 Releases by Avistar.

 

(a) Subject to ARTICLE V below, Avistar, on behalf of itself and its
Subsidiaries, irrevocably releases, acquits and forever discharges (and will
cause its Subsidiaries to irrevocably release, acquit and forever discharge)
Polycom and its Subsidiaries and its and their respective officers, directors,
employees, agents, predecessors, successors, assigns, representatives, and
attorneys from and against any and all causes of action, actions, rights of
action, suits, judgments, liens, indebtedness, damages, losses, claims,
liabilities, obligations, attorneys’ fees, costs, expenses and demands of every
kind and character (i) arising from, included in or relating to the Litigation,
or (ii) which otherwise accrued against Polycom or its Subsidiaries prior to the
Effective Date or arises out of any act or alleged act done prior to the
Effective Date, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, disclosed or
undisclosed, up to and as of the Effective Date, including misappropriation of
trade secrets, unfair business practices, anticompetitive acts, and infringement
of any Avistar Patents, including Patents asserted by Avistar in the Litigation,
whether direct, contributory or by inducement, and whether or not willful.

 

(b) Subject to ARTICLE V below, Avistar, on behalf of itself and its
Subsidiaries, irrevocably releases, acquits and forever discharges (and will
cause its Subsidiaries to irrevocably release, acquit and forever discharge)
Polycom’s and its Subsidiaries’ direct and indirect manufacturers, distributors,
dealers, resellers, customers (including OEM customers), and end users, (each
direct and indirect manufacturer, distributor, dealer, reseller, customer
(including OEM customer), and end user is a “Purchaser”, and all are
collectively “Purchasers” for the purposes of this section and section 2.2(b)
below) from and against any and all causes of action, actions, rights of action,
suits, judgments, liens, indebtedness, damages, losses, claims, liabilities,
obligations, attorneys’ fees, costs, expenses and demands of every kind and
character, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, disclosed or
undisclosed (i) arising from, included in or relating to the Litigation, or (ii)
arising from infringement of Avistar Patents, including Patents asserted by
Avistar in the Litigation (whether direct, contributory or by inducement, and
whether or not willful) based on acts prior to the Effective Date that would
have been licensed under the Patent License Agreement if conducted after the
Effective Date. For the avoidance

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

of doubt, this release extends to a Purchaser only with respect to their
permitted manufacture, sale, distribution, import or use (as the case may be) of
products of Polycom or its Subsidiaries, and does not extend to any other
actions or omissions of a Purchaser that may give rise to a claim or cause of
action by Avistar. The foregoing shall not be construed as limiting the
covenants not to sue set forth in the Patent License Agreement, which the
parties acknowledge shall apply to products of Polycom and its Subsidiaries (and
subject to the limitations set forth in Section 4.2 of the Patent License
Agreement, to new Subsidiaries) whether sold prior to or after the Effective
Date.

 

2.2 Releases by Polycom.

 

(a) Subject to ARTICLE V below, Polycom, on behalf of itself and its
Subsidiaries, irrevocably releases, acquits and forever discharges (and will
cause its Subsidiaries to irrevocably release, acquit and forever discharge)
Avistar and its Subsidiaries and its and their respective officers, directors,
employees, agents, predecessors, successors, assigns, representatives, and
attorneys from and against any and all causes of action, actions, rights of
action, suits, judgments, liens, indebtedness, damages, losses, claims,
liabilities, obligations, attorneys’ fees, costs, expenses and demands of every
kind and character (i) arising from, included in or relating to the Litigation,
or (ii) which otherwise accrued against Avistar or its Subsidiaries prior to the
Effective Date or arises out of any act or alleged act done prior to the
Effective Date, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, disclosed or
undisclosed, up to and as of the Effective Date, including misappropriation of
trade secrets, unfair business practices, anticompetitive acts and infringement
of any Polycom Patents, including Patents asserted by Polycom in the Litigation,
whether direct, contributory or by inducement, and whether or not willful.

 

(b) Subject to ARTICLE V below, Polycom, on behalf of itself and its
Subsidiaries, irrevocably releases, acquits and forever discharges (and will
cause its Subsidiaries to irrevocably release, acquit and forever discharge)
Avistar’s and its Subsidiaries’ direct and indirect Purchasers from and against
any and all causes of action, actions, rights of action, suits, judgments,
liens, indebtedness, damages, losses, claims, liabilities, obligations,
attorneys’ fees, costs, expenses and demands of every kind and character,
whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, disclosed or undisclosed (i)
arising from, included in or relating to the Litigation, or (ii) arising from
infringement of Polycom Patents including Patents asserted by Polycom in the
Litigation (whether direct, contributory or by inducement, and whether or not
willful) based on acts prior to the Effective Date that would have been licensed
under the Patent License Agreement if conducted after the Effective Date. For
the avoidance of doubt, this release extends to a Purchaser only with respect to
their permitted manufacture, sale, distribution, import or use (as the case may
be) of products of Avistar or its Subsidiaries, and does not extend to any other
actions or omissions of a Purchaser that may give rise to a claim or cause of
action by Polycom. The foregoing shall not be construed as limiting the
covenants not to sue set forth in the Patent License Agreement, which the
parties acknowledge shall apply to products of Avistar and its Subsidiaries (and
subject to the limitations set forth in Section 4.2 of the Patent License
Agreement, to new Subsidiaries) whether sold prior to or after the Effective
Date.

 

2.3 General Releases. The releases between Avistar and Polycom in this
Settlement Agreement include an express, informed, knowing and voluntary waiver
and relinquishment to the

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

fullest extent permitted by law of rights under Section 1542 of the California
Civil Code, which reads as follows, and under any similar or comparable laws
anywhere in the world:

 

A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or
suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if
known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor.

 

ARTICLE III – DISMISSAL OF LITIGATION

 

3.1 Dismissal. In accordance with ARTICLE V below, Avistar and Polycom shall
cause their respective counsel to execute and file a stipulation and order in
the form set forth in Exhibit A dismissing with prejudice all claims and
counterclaims in the Litigation. The parties shall cooperate in taking any and
all additional procedures needed to dismiss the Litigation with prejudice.

 

3.2 No Admission. The parties agree that the settlement of the Litigation is
intended solely as a compromise of disputed claims and counterclaims. Neither
the fact of a party’s entry into this Settlement Agreement nor the terms hereof
nor any acts undertaken pursuant hereto shall constitute an admission or
concession by any party regarding liability or the validity of any claim or
counterclaim in the Litigation.

 

3.3 Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. Except as set forth in Section 4.1, The parties
agree that they shall bear their own costs and attorneys’ fees relating to the
Litigation and settlement thereof, including expert fees and court costs, and
the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Settlement Agreement and the
Patent License Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IV – CONSIDERATION

 

4.1 Polycom shall pay to Avistar a total of twenty-seven million five hundred
thousand U.S. dollars (US$27,500,000) in accordance with ARTICLE V below, some
of which is related to Avistar’s attorneys’ fees. Such payment shall be made by
check or wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account
designated by Avistar at execution. Such payment shall be the sole and exclusive
payment required to be made by Polycom and its Subsidiaries in connection with
this Settlement Agreement and shall be Avistar’s sole remuneration hereunder.

 

ARTICLE V – CLOSING PROCESS

 

5.1 Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Settlement
Agreement and the Patent License Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place on
Friday, November 12, 2004 at 9:30 am Pacific Time at the offices of Wilson
Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, 650 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, California, or at such
other place and time as the parties may mutually determine.

 

5.2 Deliveries at Closing. At the Closing, the parties shall execute and deliver
this Settlement Agreement, the Patent License Agreement, and the stipulation and
order in the form set forth in Exhibit A. Polycom’s counsel shall hold the
executed stipulation and order pending payment as described in Section 5.3.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5.3 Payment. At the Closing or within one (1) business day after the Closing,
Polycom shall pay to Avistar the amount set forth in Section 4.1 in the manner
set forth therein. Upon such payment, the releases, licenses and covenants and
all other rights and benefits of both parties under this Settlement Agreement
and the Patent License Agreement shall become fully effective.

 

5.4 Filing of Dismissal. Within two (2) court days after the date of payment as
described in Section 5.3, Polycom shall cause its counsel to file the executed
stipulation and order delivered pursuant to Section 5.2.

 

ARTICLE VI – MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

6.1 Representations and Warranties.

 

(a) Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants that it has the right to
grant the releases granted by such party under this Settlement Agreement.

 

(b) Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants that (i) it has the right
to grant releases of the full scope set forth herein with respect to all Patents
owned by such party and its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date, including all
Patents asserted by such party or its Subsidiaries in the Litigation; (ii) no
Third Party has any right to enforce or obtain damages for past infringement of
any Patents owned by such party or its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date
(including Patents asserted by such party or its Subsidiaries in the
Litigation), (iii) neither such party nor any of its Subsidiaries has any
parent, affiliate or joint venture (other than such party or its Subsidiaries
under this Settlement Agreement) who owns or controls any Patents as of the
Effective Date; (iv) neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has assigned or
otherwise transferred to any other Person any rights to any claims,
counterclaims, causes of action, damages or other remedies relating to the
Litigation; and (vi) neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has assigned or
otherwise transferred its rights to any Patents in the one (1) year period prior
to the Effective Date.

 

6.2 Confidentiality of Terms. Neither party shall disclose the terms of this
Settlement Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party
except:

 

(a) In the press releases as set forth in 6.3 below, or any republication of
those press releases;

 

(b) to Subsidiaries of the parties in confidence;

 

(c) to any governmental body having jurisdiction and specifically requiring such
disclosure (in confidence to the extent allowed);

 

(d) in response to a valid subpoena or as otherwise may be required by law (in
confidence to the extent allowed);

 

(e) to the extent required, for the purposes of disclosure in connection with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and any other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other filings, reports or disclosures that may be required
under applicable laws or regulations, provided however, that in the event either
party determines it is necessary to disclose any terms beyond those included in
the

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

press releases attached hereto as Exhibit B or that it is required to publicly
file this Settlement Agreement or the Patent License Agreement, the disclosing
party agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to receive confidential
treatment for information deemed sensitive and shall give the other party
reasonable prior notice of its intention to disclose such information;

 

(f) to a party’s accountants, legal counsel and other financial and legal
advisors, subject to obligations of confidentiality;

 

(h) as required during the course of litigation, subject to protective orders or
other similar protections as applicable; or

 

(i) to a Third Party’s outside counsel in connection with a potential merger or
acquisition by, of or with the party provided that such disclosure shall be (i)
on a strictly limited, need-to-know basis, (ii) when such transaction is
reasonably certain to take place, and (iii) on terms applicable to the most
confidential information disclosed by such party in connection with such
transaction provided such terms are at least as restrictive as set forth herein;

 

provided, however, that prior to any such disclosure pursuant to paragraphs (d)
and/or (h) hereof, the party seeking to make such disclosure shall notify the
other party and take reasonable actions in an effort to minimize the nature and
extent of such disclosure.

 

6.3 Press Releases. At approximately 5 AM Pacific Time on November 15, 2004,
each party shall issue its corresponding press release regarding this Settlement
Agreement and the Patent License Agreement, the content of which is set forth in
Exhibit B hereto. Except as expressly authorized in Section 6.2 hereunder, or in
the Patent License Agreement, neither party shall issue any other press release
or other public communication regarding this Settlement Agreement or the Patent
License Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party.

 

6.4 Notices. All notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be delivered by hand, or if dispatched by prepaid air courier
or by registered or certified airmail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

If to Avistar:    Avistar Communications Corporation      Attn: Chief Financial
Officer      555 Twin Dolphin Drive      Suite 360      Redwood Shores,
California 94065 If to Polycom:    Polycom, Inc.      Attn: General Counsel     
4750 Willow Road      Pleasanton, CA 94588

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

with a copy to:

  

Polycom, Inc.

    

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

    

4750 Willow Road

    

Pleasanton, CA 94588

 

Such notices shall be deemed to have been served when received by addressee or,
if delivery is not accomplished by reason of some fault of the addressee, when
tendered for delivery. Either party may give written notice of a change of
address and, after notice of such change has been received, any notice or
request shall thereafter be given to such party as above provided at such
changed address.

 

6.5 Assignment. Neither party may assign this Settlement Agreement or any right
or obligation under this Settlement Agreement without the prior written consent
of the other party, except to a successor-in-interest of all or substantially
all of its business or assets, whether by sale, merger or otherwise. Subject to
the foregoing, this Settlement Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties and their permitted successors and assigns.

 

6.6 Governing Law. This Settlement Agreement and matters connected with the
performance thereof shall be construed, interpreted, applied and governed in all
respects in accordance with the laws of the United States of America and the
State of California, without reference to conflict of laws principles.

 

6.7 Dispute Resolution. If a dispute arises regarding this Settlement Agreement,
or the interpretation, breach, termination or validity thereof, the senior
management of both parties shall meet to attempt to resolve such disputes. If
the senior management cannot resolve the dispute, the parties agree to meet for
one (1) day with an impartial mediator to attempt to resolve such dispute. If
the dispute is not resolved by such mediation, then the parties agree that such
dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration in San Francisco, California
before three (3) arbitrators in accordance with the rules of the International
Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) in effect as of the Effective Date of this
Settlement Agreement. The parties, their representatives, other participants and
arbitrators shall hold the existence, content and result of arbitration in
confidence, except as otherwise required or advisable in connection with
securities filings or otherwise required by law. The award of the arbitrators
may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. This Section 6.7 shall
not be construed as restricting or limiting either party’s ability to
immediately assert a license or other defense in any litigation or other
proceeding against such party, such party’s Subsidiaries, or its or their
products or the resellers, distributors or customers of such products,
regardless of jurisdiction or venue.

 

6.8 Further Acts. Each party to this Settlement Agreement agrees to perform any
further acts and to cause its Subsidiaries to perform such further acts, and
execute and deliver and to cause its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver any
further documents that may be reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions
of this Settlement Agreement.

 

6.9 Severability. If any provision of this Settlement Agreement is held to be
illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be limited or eliminated to the
minimum extent necessary so that the remainder of this Settlement Agreement will
continue in full force and effect and be

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

enforceable. The parties agree to negotiate in good faith an enforceable
substitute provision for any invalid or unenforceable provision that most nearly
achieves the intent of such provision.

 

6.10 Entire Agreement. This Settlement Agreement, together with the Patent
License Agreement, embodies the entire understanding of the parties with respect
to the subject matter hereof, and merge all prior discussions between them, and
neither of the parties shall be bound by any conditions, definitions,
warranties, understandings, or representations with respect to the subject
matter hereof other than as expressly provided herein. No oral explanation or
oral information by either party hereto shall alter the meaning or
interpretation of this Settlement Agreement.

 

6.11 Modification; Waiver. No modification or amendment to this Settlement
Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights, will be effective unless assented to in
writing by the party to be charged, and the waiver of any breach or default will
not constitute a waiver of any other right hereunder or any subsequent breach or
default.

 

6.12 Construction. Any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are
to be resolved against the drafting party will not be applied in the
construction or interpretation of this Settlement Agreement. As used in this
Settlement Agreement, the words “include” and “including,” and variations
thereof, will not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but rather will be deemed
to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The headings in this
Settlement Agreement will not be referred to in connection with the construction
or interpretation of this Settlement Agreement.

 

6.13 Counterparts. This Settlement Agreement may be executed in counterparts or
duplicate originals, both of which shall be regarded as one and the same
instrument, and which shall be the official and governing version in the
interpretation of this Settlement Agreement. This Settlement Agreement may be
executed by facsimile signatures and such signatures shall be deemed to bind
each party as if they were original signatures.

 

[The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank]

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Settlement Agreement to
be signed below by their respective duly authorized officers.

 

Avistar Communications Corporation       Polycom, Inc.

By:

 

/s/ William L. Campbell

     

By:

 

/s/ Michael R. Kourey

Name:

 

William L. Campbell

     

Name:

 

Michael R. Kourey

Title:

 

Vice Chairman & Chief Administrative Officer

     

Title:

 

CFO

Date:

 

11/12/04

     

Date:

 

11/12/04

 

Collaboration Properties, Inc.

By:

 

/s/ William L. Campbell

Name:

 

William L. Campbell

Title:

 

President & CEO

Date:

 

11/12/04