Exhibit 10.24


 





EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


 


AGREEMENT,
made as of this 16th day of April, 2018 (the "Effective Date"), by and between Genius Brands International, Inc.,
a company formed under the laws of the State of Nevada, with its principal place of business at 301 N. Canon Drive, #305, Beverly
Hills, CA 90210 ("Company"), and Michael Jaffa, residing at 1842 20th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404 ("Executive").


 


WITNESSETH:


 


WHEREAS, the
Company desires to employ Executive and Executive desires to be employed by the Company;


 


NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:


 


1.    
Employment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company hereby offers and the Executive
hereby accepts employment, effective as of the Effective Date.


 


2.    
Term. Subject to earlier termination as hereafter provided, the Executive shall be employed hereunder for a term commencing
on the Effective Date and ending one (1) year thereafter, there shall be an option for two (2) additional 1 year terms subject
to the written agreement of the parties; it being agreed, however, that neither party is obligated to agree to an extension. The
term of the Executive's employment under this Agreement, including any mutually agreed upon extension, is hereafter referred to
as "the term of this Agreement" or "the term hereof." The date of termination of the Executive's employment
hereunder is hereinafter referred to as the "Date of Termination."


 


3.    
Duties and Rights. Executive shall be employed as an executive of the Company with the title of "General Counsel"
and "Senior Vice President — Business Affairs". In such capacity, Executive's duties shall include oversight of
all legal matters relating to the Company, subject to the control and direction of Andy Heyward, Chief Executive Officer ("CEO")
of the Company to which Executive shall report. During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall devote all of his business time
and efforts to the affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Executive shall use his best efforts to perform all such services
diligently and to the best of his ability and will at all times use his best efforts to enhance the business of the Company. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, nothing herein shall prohibit Executive from working in his off-hours time as a legal consultant,
reasonable participation in community, charitable and industry related (e.g. American Bar Association) organization activities
provided such participation does not materially interfere with the performance of Executives duties hereunder.


 


4. Compensation,
Benefits and Relocation. As compensation for all services performed by the Executive under this Agreement and subject to performance
of the Executive's duties and obligations to the Company and its Affiliates, pursuant to this Agreement:


 


4.1. Base Salary. During
the term hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive a base salary at the rate of $225,000 per year. Such base salary, as described
in the previous sentence, is hereafter referred to as the "Base Salary."


 


4.2.
Bonus Compensation. During the term hereof, the Executive shall be eligible to receive a bonus (the "Discretionary
Bonus") for each fiscal year, prorated for any period of service less than one year, as provided herein. The amount and
timing of the Discretionary Bonus, if any, shall be determined by the Company, in its sole discretion, based on the Executive's
performance (including but not limited to Executive's performance against revenue and profit targets) and that of the Company
and its Affiliates and such other criteria as the Compensation Committee may consider in its sole discretion. The Discretionary
Bonus shall be paid by the Company to the Executive annually promptly after determination that the relevant targets have been
met, it being understood that the attainment of any financial targets associated with any bonus shall not be determined until
following the completion of the Company's annual audit and public announcement of such results and shall be paid promptly following
the Company's announcement of earnings. Whenever any Discretionary Bonus payable to the Executive is stated in this Agreement
to be prorated for any period of service less than a full year, such Discretionary Bonus shall be prorated by multiplying (x)
the amount of the Discretionary Bonus otherwise payable for the applicable fiscal year in accordance with this Section 4.2 by
(y) a fraction, the denominator of which shall be 365 and the numerator of which shall be the number of days during the applicable
fiscal year for which the Executive was employed by the Company. Any compensation paid to the Executive as Discretionary Bonus
shall be in addition to the Base Salary, as well as participation in any other incentive, stock option, stock purchase, profit
sharing, deferred compensation, bonus compensation or severance plan, program or arrangement which the Company or any of its Affiliates
may adopt or continue from time to time for which the Executive is eligible, each as in accordance with any subscription agreement,
stock option plan, and stock option agreement identified, from time to time.


 


 


 






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4.3.
Expenses. It is recognized that Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder may be required to expend reasonable
sums for travel and for entertainment of various persons, including representatives of companies with whom the Company has or might
expect to have business relations. During the term hereof, the Company shall either advance funds to Executive or reimburse Executive
for reasonable business expenses incurred by him in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder, provided Executive
properly accounts therefor in accordance with the Company's policies and procedures.


 


4.4. Benefits. Executive
shall be entitled to receive from the Company during the term hereof those benefits and perquisites made available to senior
executives from time to time, including but not limited to 15 paid time off days accruing annually as well as six (6) sick
days annually, subject to the then existing paid time off policy of the Company. The foregoing is understood to include
participation in such stock option, bonus and similar incentive plans made available to senior executives at the Company in
accordance with the terms and eligibility requirements thereof as in effect from time to time.


 


4.5 Clawback Rights.
All amounts paid to Executive by the Company (other than Executive's Base Salary and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to
paragraph 4.3 and 4.4 hereof) during the term of this Agreement and any time thereafter and any and all stock based compensation
(such as options and equity awards,) granted during the term hereof and any time thereafter (collectively, the "Clawback
Benefits") shall be subject to "Clawback Rights" as follows: during the period that the Executive is employed
by the Company and upon the termination or expiration of the Executive's employment and for a period of three (3) years thereafter,
if any of the following events occurs, Executive agrees to repay or surrender to the Company the Clawback Benefits as set forth
below:


 


(a)  
if the Company restates (a "Restatement") any published financial statement that has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission covering any period commencing after the Effective Date of this Agreement from which any Clawback
Benefits to Executive shall have been determined (such restatement resulting from material noncompliance of the Company with any
financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws and shall not include a restatement of financial results resulting
from subsequent changes in accounting pronouncements or requirements which were not in effect on the date the financial statements
were originally prepared), then the Executive agrees to immediately repay or surrender upon demand by the Company any Clawback
Benefits which were determined by reference to any Company international sales department financial results reflected in financial
statements which were later restated, to the extent the Clawback Benefits amounts paid exceed the Clawback Benefits amounts that
would have been paid, based on the Restatement of the Company's financial statements. All Clawback Benefits amounts resulting from
such Restatements shall be retroactively adjusted by the Compensation Committee to take into account the relevant restated financial
information and if any excess portion of the Clawback Benefits resulting from such restated information is not so repaid or surrendered
by the Executive within ninety (90) days of the revised calculation being provided to the Executive by the Company following a
publicly announced Restatement, the Company shall have the right to take any and all action to effectuate such adjustment.


 


(b)        
If any material breach of any agreement by Executive relating to confidentiality, non-competition, non-raid of employees,
or non-solicitation of vendors or customers (including, without limitation, Sections 7 or 8 hereof) or if any material breach of
Company policy or procedures which causes material harm to the Company occurs, as determined by a final judgment from a court of
competent jurisdiction, then the Executive agrees to repay or surrender any Clawback Benefits upon demand by the Company and if
not so repaid or surrendered within ninety (90) days of such demand, the Company shall have the right to take any and all action
to effectuate such adjustment.


 


The amount of Clawback Benefits to
be repaid or surrendered to the Company shall be determined by the Compensation Committee and applicable law, rules and regulations.
All determinations by the Compensation Committee with respect to the Clawback Rights shall be final and binding on the Company
and Executive. The parties acknowledge it is their intention that the foregoing Clawback Rights as relates to Restatements conform
in all respects to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the "Dodd Frank
Act") and requires recovery of all "incentive-based" compensation, pursuant to the provisions of the Dodd Frank
Act and any and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect. Accordingly, the terms and provisions
of this Agreement shall be deemed automatically amended from time to time to assure compliance with the Dodd Frank Act and such
rules and regulation as hereafter may be adopted and in effect.


 


 


 






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5. Termination
of Employment and Severance Benefits. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2 hereof, the Executive's employment hereunder
shall terminate prior to the expiration of the term of this Agreement under the following circumstances:


 


5.1.
Retirement or Death. In the event of the Executive's retirement or death during the term hereof, the Executive's employment
hereunder shall immediately and automatically terminate. In the event of the Executive's retirement after the age of sixty-five
or death during the term hereof, the Company shall pay to the Executive (or in the case of death, the Executive's designated beneficiary
or, if no beneficiary has been designated by the Executive, to his estate) (i) any Base Salary and accrued vacation earned but
unpaid through the date of such retirement or death, (ii) any Discretionary Bonus for the fiscal year preceding that in which such
retirement or death occurs that was granted but has not yet been paid, and (iii) reimbursement for any reasonable expenses of the
types specified in Section 4.3 incurred with respect to periods prior to date of such retirement or death.


 


5.2. Disability.


 


5.2.1.
The Company may terminate the Executive's employment hereunder, upon notice to the Executive, in the event that the Executive becomes
disabled during his employment hereunder through any illness, injury, accident or condition of either a physical or psychological
nature and, as a result, in the opinion of the President based upon the advice of a physician chosen by the Company, Executive
is unable to perform substantially all of his duties and responsibilities hereunder for thirty (30) consecutive days or an aggregate
of sixty (60) days during any period of one hundred and eighty two (182) consecutive calendar days.


 


5.2.2.
The Company may designate another employee to act in the Executive's place during any period of the Executive's disability. Notwithstanding
any such designation, while he is employed by the Company and has not yet become eligible for disability income benefits under
any disability income plan maintained by the Company, the Executive shall continue to receive the Base Salary in accordance with
Section 4.1 and to receive benefits in accordance with Section 4.4, to the extent permitted by the then-current terms of the applicable
benefit plans. Upon becoming so eligible, and until the termination of his employment because of disability, the Company shall
pay to the Executive, at its regular pay periods, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Executive's monthly base compensation
in effect at the time of eligibility (i.e. 1/12th of the Base Salary) over the amounts of disability income benefits that the
Executive is otherwise eligible to receive. Upon termination of the Executive's employment because of disability, the Company
shall pay to the Executive (i) any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the Date of Termination, (ii) any Discretionary Bonus
for the fiscal year preceding the year of termination that was earned but unpaid, and (iii) reimbursement of any reasonable expenses
incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder in accordance with the customary policies of the Company. During the
2 month period (or the remaining months of the Term if less than 6 months) following the termination of the Executive's employment
because of disability, the Company shall pay the Executive, at its regular pay periods, an amount equal to the excess, if any,
of the Executive's monthly base compensation in effect at the time of termination (i.e. 1/12th of the Base Salary) over
the amounts of disability income benefits that the Executive is otherwise eligible to receive pursuant to the above-referenced
disability income plan in respect of such period ("Disability Payments"), provided that the Executive signs an
Employee Release as defined in Section 6.1 below.


 


5.2.3. Except as provided
in Section 5.2.2, while the Executive is receiving Disability Payments, the Executive shall not be entitled to receive any Base
Salary under Section 4.1 or Discretionary Bonus payments under Section 4.2, but the Executive shall continue to participate in
benefit plans of the Company in accordance with Section 4.4 and the terms of such plans, until the termination of his employment.
During the two month period from the date of eligibility for Disability Payments or termination of employment under this Section
5.2, the Company shall continue to contribute to the cost of the Executive's participation in one of the group medical plans of
the Company, in the same percentage as the Company was contributing at the time of termination of the Executive's employment, provided
that the Executive is entitled to continue such participation under applicable law and plan terms.


 


 


 






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5.2.4. If any
question shall arise as to whether during any period the Executive is disabled through any illness, injury, accident or
condition of either a physical or psychological nature so as to be unable to perform substantially all of his duties and
responsibilities hereunder, the Executive may, and at the request of the Company shall, submit to a medical examination by a
physician selected by the Company to whom the Executive or his duly appointed guardian, if any, has no reasonable objection
to determine whether the Executive is so disabled and such determination shall for the purposes of this Agreement be
conclusive of the issue. If such question shall arise and the Executive shall fail to submit to such medical examination, the
Company's determination of the issue shall be binding on the Executive.


 


5.3.
By the Company for Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment hereunder for Cause at any time upon notice
to the Executive setting forth in reasonable detail the nature of such Cause. The following events or conditions shall constitute
"Cause" for termination: (i) the willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform substantially his
duties and responsibilities for the Company (other than any such failure resulting from Executive's death or Disability) after
a written demand by the CEO for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Company, which specifically identifies
the manner in which the CEO believes that the Executive has not substantially performed his duties and responsibilities, which
willful and continued failure is not cured by the Executive within thirty (30) days of his receipt of such written demand; (ii)
the material breach by the Executive of any material provision of this Agreement, if such breach results in a material adverse
effect on the Company or its Subsidiaries and if the breach is not cured by the Executive within thirty (30) days of his receipt
of such written demand therefore (for the avoidance of doubt, the violation of Section 8.1, 8.3 and 8.5 of this Agreement shall
be considered an immediate material breach of a material provision of this Agreement and not subject to the foregoing notice or
cure provisions); (iii) the commission of fraud, embezzlement or theft by the Executive; (iv) the conviction of the Executive
of, or plea by the Executive of nolo contendre to, any felony or any other crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude.


 


Upon
the giving of notice of termination of the Executive's employment hereunder for Cause, the Company shall have no further obligation
or liability to the Executive hereunder, other than for payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the Date of Termination.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive shall not be entitled to receive any Discretionary Bonus amounts
which have not been paid prior to the Date of Termination hereunder for Cause or following a Material Adverse Event.


 


5.4. Post-Agreement
Employment. In the event the Executive remains in the employ of the Company or any of its Affiliates following termination
of this Agreement, by the expiration of the term hereof or otherwise, then such employment shall be at will.


 


6. Effect
of Termination. The provisions of this Section 6 shall apply in the event of termination, whether such termination is due to
the expiration of the term hereof, is pursuant to Section 5, or otherwise.


 


6.1.
Payment in Full. Payment by the Company of any Base Salary, Discretionary Bonus or other specified amounts which are due
the Executive under the applicable termination provision of Section 5 shall constitute the entire obligation hereunder of the
Company and its Affiliates to the Executive. Any obligation of the Company to provide the Executive Disability Payments, or Discretionary
Bonus payments under this Agreement is expressly conditioned, however, upon the Executive signing a release of claims provided
by the Company (the "Employee Release") within twenty-one days of the date on which he gives or receives, as
applicable, notice of termination of employment and upon the Executive not revoking the Employee Release thereafter. The obligations
of the Company to the Executive under Sections 5.2 or 5.4 hereof are also expressly conditioned upon the Executive's continued
full performance of his obligations under Sections 7 and 8 hereof. The Executive agrees that if he violates any term of Sections
7 and/or 8 at any time, he shall have no entitlement to Disability Payments under Sections 5.2of this Agreement. The Executive
recognizes that, except as expressly provided in Section 5, no compensation is earned after termination of employment.


 


6.2. Termination
of Benefits. Except for medical insurance coverage continued pursuant to Sections 5.2 hereof, the continuation of any benefits
pursuant to Section 5.4 hereof and any right of continuation of health coverage at the Executive's cost to the extent provided
by Sections 601 through 608 of ERISA, benefits shall terminate pursuant to the terms of the applicable benefit plans based on the
date of termination of the Executive's employment without regard to any continuation of Base Salary or other payments to the Executive
following termination of his employment.


 


 


 






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6.3. Survival of
Certain Provisions. Provisions of this Agreement shall survive any termination if so provided herein or if necessary or desirable
to accomplish the purpose of other surviving provisions, including without limitation the obligations of the Executive under Sections
7 and 8 hereof.


 


7. Confidential Information; Intellectual Property.


 


7.1. Confidentiality.
The Executive acknowledges that the Company and its Affiliates continually develop Confidential Information, that the Executive
may develop Confidential Information for the Company or its Affiliates and that the Executive may learn of Confidential Information
during the course of employment. The Executive acknowledges the importance to the Company and its Affiliates of protecting their
Confidential Information and other legitimate interests, and agrees that all Confidential Information which he creates or to which
he has access as a result of employment with or service as a director of the Company and its Affiliates is and shall remain the
sole and exclusive property of the Company and its Affiliates. The Executive will comply with the policies and procedures of the
Company and its Affiliates for protecting Confidential Information and shall never use or disclose to any Person (except as required
by applicable law or for the proper performance of his duties and responsibilities to the Company and its Affiliates) any Confidential
Information obtained by the Executive incident to his employment with or service as a director of the Company or any of its Affiliates.
The Executive understands that this restriction shall continue to apply after his employment terminates, regardless of the reason
for such termination.


 


7.2. Return
of Documents. All documents, records, files, audio tapes, videotapes and any other media, however stored, of whatever
kind and description relating to the business, present or otherwise, of the Company or its Affiliates and any copies, in
whole or in part, thereof (the "Documents"), whether or not prepared by the Executive, shall be the sole and
exclusive property of the Company and its Affiliates. The Executive shall not copy any Documents or remove any Documents from
the premises of the Company or its Affiliates, except as required for the proper performance of regular duties for the
Company or as expressly authorized in writing by the Board or its designee. The Executive agrees to return to the Company and
its Affiliates at the time his employment terminates, and at such other times as may be specified by the Company or its
Affiliates, all Documents and other property of the Company and its Affiliates then in his possession or control. The
Executive agrees that, if a Document is on electronic media (e.g. a hard disk), upon the request of any duly
authorized officer of the Company or its Affiliates, he will disclose all passwords necessary or desirable to enable the
Company to obtain access to the Documents.


 


7.3. Materials.
Executive agrees that all ideas, plans and materials prepared by Executive in the course of his employment by the Company
(collectively, the "Materials") during the term of this Agreement will be considered works-made-for-hire and
shall be the Company's sole and exclusive property. In the event that the Materials are not copyrightable subject matter
or for any reason are deemed not to be works-made-for-hire, then, and in such event, by this Agreement, Executive hereby assigns
all right, title and interest to said Materials to the Company and agrees to execute all documents required to evidence such assignment.
Without limiting the foregoing, it is specifically understood and agreed that Executive will retain no ownership rights whatsoever
in or to the Materials. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive understands that the provisions of this Section 7 requiring
the assignment of Materials to the Company do not apply to any invention or Materials which qualifies fully under the provisions
of California Labor Code Section 2870. Executive will advise the Company promptly in writing of any inventions or Materials that
he believes meet the criteria in Labor Code Section 2870.


 


8. Restricted Activities.


 


8.1. Agreement not
to Compete with the Company during the Term of this Agreement. The Executive agrees that, during his employment, he will not,
directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, control, or participate in any manner in the ownership, management, operation or
control of, or be connected as an officer, employee, partner, director, principal, or agent, or have any financial interest in
(except for a publicly traded company where he owns no more than 5% of the outstanding stock of such company), a company which
competes with the Business of the Company or its Subsidiaries (as defined below). Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this
Agreement, the Executive further agrees that, during his employment with the Company, he will not enter into any transaction, on
his own behalf or that of a third party with any of the Company's Affiliates, without full disclosure to, and receipt of prior
written consent from, the CEO.


 


 


 






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8.2. Agreement
not to Unfairly Compete with the Company after the Term of this Agreement. The Executive acknowledges that access to Confidential
Information and to the Company's and its Affiliates' customers would give the Executive an unfair competitive advantage, were
the Executive to leave employment and use any of the Company's Confidential Information to unfairly compete with the Company or
its Affiliates, and that he is therefore being granted access to Confidential Information and the customers of the Company and
its Affiliates in reliance on his agreement hereunder. The Executive therefore agrees that for a period of twelve (12) months
following the date his employment with the Company is terminated (the "Non-Competition Period"), he will not
utilize any of the Company's Confidential Information to unfairly compete in any fashion with the Company or its Subsidiaries
with respect to the Business of the Company or its Subsidiaries. For purposes of this Section 8, the "Business of the
Company or its Subsidiaries" shall mean (a) production and/or distribution of animated or live-action television programming
(and/or any musical composition intended to be included therein), or any element thereof, within or without the United States
as currently being conducted or planned to be conducted by the Company, and (b) any business activity that is conducted or is
actively being planned to be conducted by the Company or by any of its Subsidiaries at or within the twelve month period immediately
preceding the Date of Termination, which business is expected to be material to the Company. The Executive acknowledges that the
restrictions contained in Section 8 are sufficiently limited so as not to restrain him from engaging in a lawful profession, trade
or business of any kind.


 


8.3. Agreement Not
to Solicit Customers during the Term of this Agreement. The Executive agrees that during his employment hereunder, he will
not, on behalf of any person or entity other than the Company and its Affiliates, directly or indirectly, solicit or encourage
any customer or vendor of the Company or its Subsidiaries to terminate or diminish their relationships with any of them or violate
any agreement with or duty to the Company or any of the Company's Subsidiaries.


 


8.4. Agreement Not
to Solicit Customers after the Term of this Agreement. The Executive acknowledges that access to Confidential Information and
to the Company's and its Subsidiaries' customers would give the Executive an unfair competitive advantage were the Executive to
leave employment and begin competing with the Company or its Subsidiaries, and he is therefore being granted access to Confidential
Information and the customers of the Company and its Subsidiaries in reliance on his agreement hereunder. The Executive agrees
that for a period of twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination (the "Non-Solicitation Period"), he will not,
directly or indirectly, use or rely in any way upon any Confidential Information of the Company or its Subsidiaries to recruit,
solicit, or otherwise seek to induce any customer or vendor of the Company or its Subsidiaries to terminate or diminish their relationship
with or violate any agreement with or duty to the Company or its Subsidiaries.


 


8.5. Agreement
Not to Solicit Employees or Other Service Providers. The Executive agrees that during his employment hereunder and for a
period of twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination, he will not, directly or indirectly, (a) recruit, solicit, or
otherwise seek to induce any employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries to terminate their employment or violate any
agreement with or duty to the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (b) recruit, solicit, or otherwise seek to induce any
individual providing services to the Company or its Subsidiaries as an independent contractor, consultant, or through any
other relationship to terminate or diminish their relationships with the Company or its Subsidiaries.


 


9.  
Enforcement of Covenants. The Executive acknowledges that he has carefully read and considered all the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, including without limitation the restraints imposed upon him pursuant to Sections 7 and 8 hereof. The Executive
agrees that said restraints are necessary for the reasonable and proper protection of the Company and its Affiliates and that each
and every one of the restraints is reasonable in respect to subject matter, length of time and geographic area. The Executive further
acknowledges that, were he to breach any of the covenants or agreements contained in Sections 7 or 8 hereof, the damage to the
Company and its Affiliates could be irreparable. The Executive therefore agrees that the Company shall be entitled to seek preliminary
and permanent injunctive relief against any breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any of said covenants or agreements.
The Company's Affiliates shall also have the right to enforce all of the Employee's obligations to such Affiliates hereunder, including
without limitation pursuant to Sections 7 and 8 hereof, and each of such Affiliates shall otherwise be a third party beneficiary
of this Agreement. The parties further agree that in the event that any provision of Section 7 or 8 hereof shall be determined
by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of its being extended over too great a time, too large a geographic
area or too great a range of activities, such provision shall be deemed to be modified to permit its enforcement to the maximum
extent permitted by law.


 


 


 






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10.   
Conflicting Agreements. The Executive hereby represents and warrants that the execution of this Agreement and the performance
of his obligations hereunder will not breach or be in conflict with any other agreement to which or by which the Executive is a
party or is bound and that the Executive is not now subject to any covenants against competition or solicitation or similar covenants,
a court order or any other obligations that would affect the performance of his obligations hereunder. The Executive will not disclose
to or use on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries any proprietary information of a third party without such party's
consent.


 


11.         
Definitions. Words or phrases which are initially capitalized or are within quotation marks shall have the meanings
provided in this Section 11 and as provided elsewhere herein. For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions apply:


 


11.1.
"Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, (a) any other Person which directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person (for
the purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling,"
"controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise) and (b) with respect to any natural Person, any member of the immediate
family of such natural Person.


 


11.2
"Confidential Information" means any and all information of the Company and its Affiliates that is not
generally known by others with whom any of them compete or do business, or with whom any of them plan to compete or do
business, and any and all information the disclosure of which would otherwise be adverse to the interests of the Company or
any of its Affiliates. Confidential Information includes without limitation such information relating to (i) the products and
services sold or offered by the Company or any of its Affiliates, technical data, methods and processes of the Company, (ii)
the costs, sources of supply, financial performance and marketing activities and strategic plans of the Company and its
Affiliates, (iii) the identity and special needs of the customers of the Company and its Affiliates and (iv) the people and
organizations with whom the Company and its Affiliates have business relationships and those relationships. Confidential
Information also includes information that the Company or any of its Affiliates may receive or has received belonging to
others with any understanding, express or implied, that it would not be disclosed. Confidential Information shall not include
any information that is, or becomes generally available to the public, unless such availability occurs as a result of the
Executive's breach of any portion of this Agreement or any other obligation the Executive owes to the Company.


 


11.3. "ERISA"
means the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations thereunder,
and, in the case of any referenced section thereof, any successor section thereto, collectively and as from time to time amended
and in effect.


 


11.4. "Intellectual
Property" means any invention, formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process (whether
or not patentable or registrable under copyright statutes) conceived, made, or first actually reduced to practice by the Executive
(whether alone or jointly with others) during the Executive's employment by the Company; provided, however, that Intellectual
Property does not include any invention (i) that is developed on the Executive's own time, without using the equipment, supplies,
facilities or trade secret information of the Company or any of its Affiliates, unless such invention relates at the time of conception
or reduction to practice of the invention (a) to the business of the Company, (b) to the business of an Affiliate of the Company
for whom the Executive has performed services, (c) to the actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company
or any of its Affiliates, provided that, in the case of an Affiliate of the Company, the Executive has, or reasonably would
be expected to have, knowledge of such research or development as a result of his employment or (d) results from any work performed
by the Executive for the Company or any of the Affiliates; or (ii) that the Executive may otherwise not be required to assign
to the Company under applicable California law.


 


11.5. "Person"
means an individual, a corporation, an association, a partnership, a limited liability company, an estate, a trust and any other
entity or organization, other than the Company or any of its Affiliates.


 


11.6. "Subsidiary"
means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity with respect to a specified Person (or a Subsidiary
thereof) owns a majority of the common stock, partnership interests or other equity interests or has the power to vote or direct
the voting of sufficient securities to elect a majority of the directors.


 


 


 






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12.     
Withholding. All payments made by the Company under this Agreement shall be reduced by any tax or other amounts required
to be withheld by the Company under applicable law or withheld by the Company at the request of the Executive.


 


13.     
Section 409A.


 


The
provisions of this Agreement are intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")
and any final regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder ("Section 409A") and shall be construed in a manner
consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A. The Company and Executive agree to work together
in good faith to consider amendments to this Agreement and to take such reasonable actions which are necessary, appropriate or
desirable to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to actual payment to Executive under Section 409A.


 


To
the extent that Executive will be reimbursed for costs and expenses or in-kind benefits, except as otherwise permitted by Section
409A, (a) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, (b) the
amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits, provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses
eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year; provided that the foregoing clause (b)
shall not be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because
such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect and (c) such payments shall be made on
or before the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which you incurred the expense.


 


A termination
of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of
any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination constitutes a "Separation from
Service" within the meaning of Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement references to a "termination,"
"termination of employment" or like terms shall mean Separation from Service.


 


Each
installment payable hereunder shall constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b), including
Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii). Each payment that is made within the terms of the "short-term deferral"
rule set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) is intended to meet the "short-term deferral" rule. Each
other payment is intended to be a payment upon an involuntary termination from service and payable pursuant to Treasury Regulation
Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), et. seq., to the maximum extent permitted by that regulation, with any amount that is not exempt from
Code Section 409A being subject to Code Section 409A.


 


Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is a "specified employee" within the meaning of Section
409A at the time of Executive's termination, then only that portion of the severance and benefits payable to Executive
pursuant to this Agreement, if any, and any other severance payments or separation benefits which may be considered deferred
compensation under Section 409A (together, the "Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits"), which (when
considered together) do not exceed the Section 409A Limit (as defined herein) may be made within the first six (6) months
following Executive's termination of employment in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or
benefit. Any portion of the Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits in excess of the Section 409A Limit otherwise due to
Executive on or within the six (6) month period following Executive's termination will accrue during such six (6) month
period and will become payable in one lump sum cash payment on the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of
Executive's termination of employment. All subsequent Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits, if any, will be payable in
accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
if Executive dies following termination but prior to the six (6) month anniversary of Executive's termination date, then any
payments delayed in accordance with this paragraph will be payable in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable
after the date of Executive's death and all other Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits will be payable in
accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit.


 


For purposes
of this Agreement, "Section 409A Limit" will mean a sum equal (x) to the amounts payable prior to March 15 following
the year in which Executive terminations plus (y) the lesser of two (2) times: (i) Executive's annualized compensation based upon
the annual rate of pay paid to Executive during the Company's taxable year preceding the Company's taxable year of Executive's
termination of employment as determined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)(1) and any IRS guidance issued with respect
thereto; or (ii) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the
Code for the year in which Executive's employment is terminated.


 


 


 






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If any payment
provided to Executive pursuant to this Agreement is subject to adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A, then Company shall
make such additional payments to Executive ("409A Gross Up Payments") as are necessary to provide Executive with
enough funds to pay the additional taxes, interest, and penalties imposed by Code section 409A (collectively, the "409A
Tax"), as well as any additional taxes, including but not limited to additional 409A Tax, attributable to or resulting
from the payment of the 409A Gross Up payments, with the end result that Executive shall be in the same position with respect to
his tax liability as he would have been in if no 409A Tax had ever been imposed; provided, however, that the Company's obligation
to make payments under this Section 15 shall be limited to an amount equal to three times the 409A Tax (not including for this
purpose 409A Tax attributable to the payment of any portion of the 409A Gross Up Payment). The Company shall make any payments
required by this paragraph no later than the last day of Executive's taxable year next following the Executive's taxable year in
which the 409A Tax is remitted to the taxing authority.


 


14.       Miscellaneous.


 


14.1.
Assignment. Neither the Company nor the Executive may make any assignment of this Agreement or any interest herein, by
operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other; provided, however, that the Company may
assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the Executive


 


(a) in the event
that the Company shall hereafter affect a reorganization, consolidate with, or merge into, one of its Affiliates or any other Person
or transfer all or substantially all of its properties or assets to one of its Affiliates or any other Person, in which event such
Affiliate or Person shall be deemed the "Company" for all purposes of this Agreement, or


 


(b) to any senior
lender to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof as collateral security. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the Company and the Executive, and their respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and permitted assigns.


 


14.2. Severability.
If any portion or provision of this Agreement shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent
jurisdiction, then the application of such provision in such circumstances shall be deemed modified to permit its enforcement to
the maximum extent permitted by law, and both the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as
to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable and the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each
portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.


 


14.3. Waiver;
Amendment. No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the waiving party. The
failure of either party to require the performance of any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the waiver by either party of
any breach of this Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of
any subsequent breach. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument signed by the Executive and any expressly
authorized representative of the Company.


 


14.4. Notices.
Any and all notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall
be effective when delivered in person or deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, registered or certified, and addressed
(a) in the case of the Executive, to his last address on record with the Company, or (b) in the case of the Company, at
its principal place of business and to the attention of the Board; or to such other address as either party may specify by notice
to the other actually received.


 


14.5. Entire
Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior communications, agreements
and understandings, written or oral, with the Company or any of its Affiliates, with respect to the terms and conditions of the
Executive's employment.


 


14.6. Headings.
The headings and captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and in no way define or describe the scope or content
of any provision of this Agreement.


 


 


 






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14.7.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.


 


14.8. Governing Law. This Agreement, with the exception
of Section 8, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic substantive laws of The State of California without
giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive
laws of any other jurisdiction.


 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
this Agreement has been executed by the Company, by its duly authorized representative, and by the Executive, as of the date
first above written.


 


THE COMPANY:


 


GENIUS BRAND INTERNATIONAL, INC.


 


By: /s/ Andy Heyward


Name: Andy Heyward


Title: Chairman & CEO


 


THE EXECUTIVE:


 


/s/ Michael Jaffa


Michael Jaffa


 


 


 


 


 






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