Source: https://marketplace.windriver.com/index.php?packages&on=details&id=38&cat=19
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 10:56:06+00:00

Document:
The EtherCAT master sends a telegram that passes through each node. Each EtherCAT slave device reads the data addressed to it “on the fly,” and inserts its data in the frame as the frame is moving downstream. The frame is delayed only by hardware propagation delay times. The last node in a segment or branch detects an open port and sends the message back to the master using Ethernet technology’s full duplex feature.
The master uses a standard Ethernet media access controller (MAC) without an additional communication processor. This allows a master to be implemented on any hardware platform with an available Ethernet port, regardless of which real-time operating system or application software is used.
EtherCAT slave devices use a so-called EtherCAT slave controller (ESC) to process frames on the fly and entirely in hardware, making network performance predictable and independent of the individual slave device implementation.
THIS AGREEMENT including its Appendices is made by and between acontis technologies GmbH (hereinafter referred to as "acontis") and Licensee (hereinafter referred to as "Customer"), the parties hereto hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Parties”. This agreement is hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement".
WHEREAS, The EtherCAT Technology, the trade name and logo "EtherCAT" are the intellectual property of, and protected by Beckhoff Automation GmbH.
WHEREAS, acontis has developed and distributes the EtherCAT Master Stack Software EC-Master.
WHEREAS, Customer wishes to obtain certain use and maintenance rights with respect to such products.
WHEREAS, the Parties wish to cooperate under this Agreement in a mutual business relationship characterised by mutual trust and good faith in order to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.
1.1 acontis shall deliver to Customer the EtherCAT Master Stack Software EC-Master in source code or in binary format together with the related user documentation, in the following altogether referred to as “Software”. In return, Customer shall pay the prices as agreed in Appendices 1 and 3 to this Agreement.
The Software shall operate as described in the relevant product description and more detailed in the relevant user documentation, which may describe functions which have not been ordered by Customer.
1.2 acontis shall provide the Software to Customer on data storage media or via the Internet or e-mail. Acontis shall provide the user documentation either as a printed copy or in electronic format.
1.3 acontis refers to the fact that it is not possible, according to the latest developments in technique, to develop the Software to the effect that the Software works free of defects in any combinations and/or applications. Thus, the Software shall only be usable with regard to the scope of the Agreement as pointed out in § 1.1.
1.4 acontis shall not be held liable in case the Software cannot be used for the solution of any task defined by Customer, and acontis shall not be held liable, in case the Software cannot be used on any hardware Customer uses.
2.1 In the case acontis provides the Customer with the source code of the Software this source code is provided only in order to bring Customer in a position to examine such source code.
Thus, acontis hereby only grants Customer the nonexclusive, nontransferable and perpetual right to use the Software for the sole purpose to (i) generate object code from the source code of the Software and (ii) integrate such object code in products of Customer as specified in § 2.2. Therefore, Customer may in particular, but without limitation, not modify or extend the source code in any way.
2.2 Object code generated from the source code of the Software – but not the source code itself – by Customer may be copied and distributed by Customer as an integrated part of one single product or product line the of Customer.
Customer is not entitled to pass such object code to any third party unless such object code is integrated in Customer’s products as descried in the foregoing sentence.
(a) Reproduce, as an integral part of a Target System with a single EtherCAT Network, one copy of the Software for each License Sticker that OEM has purchased from acontis or its local authorized distributor for the purpose of manufacturing Target Systems. Target Systems with multiple EtherCAT Networks require a separate runtime license for each EtherCAT network.
(b) Distribute copies of the Software made under section 2.3(a) to end users as part of and only for use in association with corresponding Target, both: (1) directly; and (2) indirectly by authorizing third parties to resell Target Systems and associated License Stickers (“Distributors”) provided that Customer shall at all times remain responsible to acontis for the full performance of any obligations, and compliance with any restrictions, required by this Agreement.
Customer must provide (and require its Distributors to provide) appropriate License Stickers to authorized end users of its Target System. If License Stickers are provided in the form of physical stickers, Customer will affix at least one sticker (i.e. one sticker per licensed EtherCAT Network) to each Target System created pursuant to this Agreement and require that these stickers not be removed by Distributors. Each License Sticker authenticates a copy of the Software as having been created under this Agreement and authorizes use of that copy in the Target System on one computer in conjunction with one single EtherCAT Network. A separate License Sticker is required for each EtherCAT Network on each Target System. License Stickers are specific to particular Software releases and Target Systems.
3.1 It shall be the responsibility of Customer to install the Software and to bring the Software into operation. To this end, Customer shall inspect the Software under Customer’s conditions of use before Customer uses the Software productively or integrates the software into its products. acontis is prepared to assist Customer in this respect upon request in return for compensation based on expense.
3.2 After delivery, Customer shall examine the Software (including any parts of the Software designed only for occasional use) for defects without delay, if appropriate in the proper course of business.
3.3 acontis shall appoint a customer adviser and Customer a contact person. Customer adviser and contact person shall either make decisions or bring about decisions without delay. Customer adviser shall record decisions in writing. The contact person shall be available to acontis to provide all necessary information. acontis shall be obliged to involve such contact person if necessary for the execution of the agreement.
4.1 Customer acknowledges that the Software and its source code, including the user documentation and additional documents, even in future versions, are copyright-protected and constitute business and trade secrets proprietary to acontis.
4.2 Customer shall not be entitled to reveal any parts of the Software in source code format to any third party (including subcontractors); in particular Customer shall not be entitled to give any third party access to the source code of the Software. This obligation shall be valid for modified, extended or integrated versions as well.
4.3 Customer shall take all necessary steps to avoid disclosure of the source code and the related documentation to any third party (including subcontractors) without acontis’s permission. This obligation is permanent. However, Customer shall have no obligation with respect to any information which is already in its possession, is independently developed, or becomes publicly known through no wrongful act of Customer.
In each case Customer is in breach of the stipulations under this § 4.3 and – as a result of such breach – any third party has obtained access to the source code of the Software, Customer shall pay contractual penalty of EUR 50.000,00. Customer shall be obliged to disclose any information relevant to determine whether Customer is in breach with any stipulation under this § 4.4.
4.4 Customer shall ensure that the Software and its source code cannot be misused. Customer shall only grant access to the source code to such employees that have coercively to work on the source code.
4.5 Customer may only use the user documentation for internal purposes and only copy it to the extent admissible with regard to Customer’s right of use. Customer shall not translate, modify or enhance the user documentation or develop any works based on the user documentation.
(b) Any relevant subcontractor will, upon the end of the relevant assignment, immediately (i) return the Software to Customer and (ii) delete any copies of the Software.
5.1 As far as maintenance and support are agreed on between the Parties according to Appendix 2, maintenance and support services of acontis shall include (i) the delivery of further developed versions of the Software and/or (ii) the remedy of defects as well as telephone support during the usual business hours, in each case in return for a lump-sum compensation.
The first level support will be provided by the distribution partner. The second level support will be provided by acontis.
Support shall be performed starting with the delivery of the Software.
5.2 All other performances shall be compensated separately, in particular the transfer of Customer specific modifications to further developed standard versions, and the adaptation of Customer specific enhancements to further developed versions.
5.3 The maintenance and support agreement shall run for an indefinite period of time. It may be terminated by Customer or by acontis to the end of a contract year, in writing, giving three (3) months prior written notice.
However, acontis may not terminate until the end of the third (3rd) support year, but shall be entitled to termination with the option of alterations to the agreement even earlier on objective grounds, particularly in the event support for system software required by the Software or other software needed for the operation of the Software is limited by the supplier thereof.
5.4 Customer shall name one (1) technically qualified employee as contact person for support purposes (such person is hereinafter referred to as the “Support Contact”) as well as one (1) further technically qualified employee as backup for the Support Contact. In case the Support Contact or its backup person is not available for a period longer than four (4) weeks, Customer shall appoint another technically qualified employee as Support Contact or backup person, respectively.
5.5 Any support inquiries of Customer shall only be addressed by the Support Contact or a designated backup person. Any such inquiry shall contain the relevant acontis license number and the names and version numbers of other products used in connection with acontis’ products (e.g. operating systems, compilers, etc.).
6.1 Defects are defined as deviations from the features the Software shall have in accordance with § 1.1 or which the Software must have for customary use.
6.2 The duty to remove defects as a specified performance and to provide telephone support shall relate to the current and the preceding version of the Software. acontis’s obligation to remove defects of the preceding version shall end six (6) months after the release of the latest version. However, acontis’s obligation to remove defects of preceding versions shall continue to exist as long as the acceptance of a newer version is unreasonable to Customer, provided acontis is capable of rendering such performances. In the foregoing case, acontis is entitled to claim for reimbursement of additional costs and expenses, including costs and expenses accruing for maintenance of the required support and maintenance environment.
6.3 § 12 shall apply accordingly for the execution of defect removal as a specified performance.
7.1 acontis shall deliver further developed standard versions of the Software including associated documentation to Customer as set forth in § 1.2, after the release of such versions by acontis. The foregoing shall not apply to the extent acontis offers enhancements separately, i.e. as separate software in acontis’s price list.
Customer shall test any new version before Customer uses it.
7.2 In the event the manufacturer of the system software necessary for use of the Software for which acontis performs maintenance and support releases a new version of the system software under a maintenance agreement with acontis, acontis shall examine after the availability thereof whether such version works properly together with the Software under maintenance with Customer. If that is the case, acontis shall release such version. Otherwise, acontis shall adapt the Software to the further developed version of the system software within a reasonable period. The reasonable period shall begin upon the release and availability thereof for acontis.
7.3 For system software the manufacturers of which do not offer new versions within the framework of maintenance and support performances, instead offering new generations for sale from time to time, the following shall apply: In the event the manufacturer offers improvements (e.g. service packs), acontis shall act in accordance with § 7.2.
In the event the manufacturer offers a new generation, acontis shall evaluate if acontis adapts the Software to the new generation with due regard for user requirements. In the event acontis adapts the Software to the new generation, acontis shall only further develop the Software on this basis.
7.4 Customer shall ensure that Customer’s IT-equipment, particularly the system software thereof meets the state of technology required by the Software under maintenance within the framework of further development in accordance with § 7.2 and § 7.3. acontis shall notify Customer promptly which state of technology must be provided for maintenance and support services.
Customer shall notify acontis in advance if Customer plans to install a new version of the required system software.
7.5 § 7.2 through § 7.4 shall apply accordingly for other third-party software with which the Software has to work together. § 7.3 and § 7.4 shall also apply for third-party software which are freeware or in the public domain (e.g. Linux).
7.6 acontis agrees to further develop the respective current version in the event changes in legal regulations or other provisions applicable for the Software require such further development.
7.7 Not covered by the lump-sump maintenance compensation shall be the inclusion of changes pursuant to § 7.2 through § 7.6 which can only be realized through full or partial reprogramming of the Software, or changes pursuant to new regulations or provisions. In such a case, acontis may request a reasonable additional compensation with due regard for all customers which require and request reprogramming.
7.8 acontis shall keep a further developed version of the Software compatible with the preceding version with regard to acontis own performances. However, if circumstances not attributable to acontis cause the incompatibility of the Software, e.g. if pre-supplier software cause the incompatibility, acontis shall only be obliged to transmit the migration aids provided by the pre-supplier.
8.1 The initial annual lump-sum compensation shall be equal to the amount(s) as determined in Appendix 2.
8.2 Customer shall pay the lump-sum compensation annually in advance.
8.3 With effect to the beginning of each calendar year, acontis is entitled to raise the compensation but the maximum increase will not exceed 4% of the previous annual compensation, with a notice period of three (3) months. acontis shall be obliged to pass on reductions without a notice period.
9.1 Unless otherwise agreed, the compensation for the delivery of the Software shall be due after delivery is made.
9.2 All performances which are not part of this Agreement (particularly pre-installation support, preparations for use, installation and demonstration of operational readiness, conversion of old data, instruction, training or consulting) shall – unless otherwise agreed – be compensated based on expense, unless otherwise agreed. Hourly rates, travel expenses and ancillary costs in this regard shall be in accordance with acontis’s price list. acontis may invoice monthly.
9.3 Payments shall be made without any deduction within 30 days after receipt of the invoice by Customer.
9.4 Duties, taxes and levies including VAT – if applicable – shall be paid by Customer on all prices.
9.5 If payments are delayed, Customer shall not be allowed to use the Software.
10.1 In the event that any event for which acontis is not responsible, including strikes or lockouts, impairs compliance with a deadline, acontis may request reasonable extension of the deadline. In the event the expense is increased due to a cause falling within the scope of responsibility of Customer, acontis may request reimbursement for its added expenses as well.
10.2 In the event acontis is defaulted for over 30 days, Customer may claim for a contractual penalty in the amount equal to 0.5 % of the value of the performances which cannot be used for the intended purpose, but in no case higher than 5 % of the contract value, for each additional week of default from that date. In the event of a default in the delivery of a further developed version within the framework of support performances (cf. § 7), the annual lump sum for support then applicable shall be set as the contract value.
11.1 Upon acontis’s request, Customer shall enable acontis to perform remote support (remote diagnosis, remote corrections, transfer of new versions) to the extent technically possible.
11.2 If Customer does not enable acontis to perform tele support, Customer shall reimburse acontis additional costs, in any event travel time and additional costs for the correction of defects.
11.3 If Customer transfers data to acontis for restoration or for the analysis of defects, acontis shall establish all technical and organizational measures in acontis’s organization equivalent to those Customer has to establish for security and privacy pursuant to the laws and statutes on data protection applicable to Customer. At Customer’s and/or acontis’s request, details shall be agreed on separately.
12.1 In the event a defect (cf. § 6.1) occurs during the proper use of the Software, Customer shall give notice of such defect in comprehensible form, thereby specifying in reasonable detail the information necessary for identification of the defect, and, upon the request of acontis, in writing.
A precondition for all claims against acontis shall be that the defect is reproducible or can be displayed through mechanically generated output.
Customer shall assist acontis to the extent reasonable in the removal of defects, particularly by (i) transmitting the Software as used upon occurrence of the defect upon acontis’s request, (ii) making available machine time or (iii) integrating replacement deliveries provided by acontis.
12.2 In case of a defect of the Software, acontis shall, at its option, remedy such defect within a reasonable period either by removing the defect or by replacing the Software (any such removal and/or replacement measure is hereinafter referred to as “Supplementary Performance”).
In the event of defects which seriously impair use of the Software, acontis shall provide a workaround solution prior to the final Supplementary Performance, if necessary, so that the defect no longer has a serious impact.
acontis needs to remove other defects only at the time scheduled by acontis within the framework of proper version support. acontis shall provide workaround solutions for such defects as well if such is reasonable for acontis (in the event of software expressly identified as such by pre-suppliers, acontis only needs to attempt corrective measures of the pre-supplier).
12.3 The duty for Supplementary Performance shall expire for software which Customer modifies or in which Customer otherwise intervenes, unless Customer demonstrates that the intervention did not cause the defect.
12.4 acontis may request reimbursement for its own expenses in the event acontis performed work based on receiving notice of a defect (beyond telephone support in accordance with § 5.1) and Customer fails to demonstrate a defect.
13.1 Except with respect of the breach of any confidentiality obligations and except in cases of negligence or willful misconduct of acontis or any of acontis’ directors, officers, employees or agents, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, acontis shall not be liable to the Customer for indirect, consequential, punitive or similar damages.
acontis shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Company (and its affiliates, officers, directors and employees) from and against any and all damages, costs, losses, liabilities or expenses (including court costs and attorneys’ fees) which Company may suffer or incur in connection with any claim, demand, action or other proceeding by any third party alleging that the Software, when used within the scope of this Agreement, infringes, violates or misappropriates a valid third party patent, copyright or other proprietary right.
13.2 The limitation period for claims based on defects shall be 12 months starting from the delivery.
13.3 acontis – including any person engaged in performing any obligation under this contract – shall be liable for damages under any claim based on normal negligence only, if acontis breaches a basic obligation under this contract. In this event, acontis shall not be liable for any amount representing damages in excess of characteristic and foreseeable damages.
Customer is entitled to claim for a higher liability of acontis, but acontis may then require a surcharge for the aggravated risk.
The restrictions pursuant to § 13.3 shall not apply if and to the extent to which damages are covered under acontis’s business liability insurance and the insurance company has effected payment to acontis. acontis agrees to maintain the coverage of this insurance as given at the time of the execution of the contract.
Claims for personal injury and claims on the grounds of the German Product Liability Act (Produkthaftungsgesetz) shall remain unaffected.
14.1 acontis shall keep Customer's trade and business secrets confidential for an unlimited period of time, as well as all other information obtained by acontis under or in connection with this contract designated in writing as confidential by Customer. However, acontis shall have no obligation with respect to any information which is (i) already in acontis’s possession at the time of the execution of the contract, (ii) independently developed by acontis, or (iii) which is publicly known through no wrongful act of acontis.
14.2 Notwithstanding § 14.1, acontis is not obliged to keep confidential any of acontis’s ideas, concepts, know-how or techniques related to the development of software.
14.3 acontis shall oblige its employees to observe the above confidentiality obligations.
14.4 acontis may include the name Customer and a brief description of the rendered performances in a reference list. All other advertising references to Customer shall be discussed in advance with Customer.
15.1 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between acontis and Customer and supersede any prior or contemporaneous communications, representations or agreements between the Parties, whether oral or written, including but not limited to any e-mails or website information regarding the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may not be changed except through a written amendment to this Agreement, signed by an authorized representative of each party.
15.2 This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany without regard to its choice of law rules and excluding the provisions of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.
15.3 If any provision of this Agreement is, for any reason, invalid and/or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Parties agree to replace an invalid and/or unenforceable provision with a valid and/or enforceable provision which most closely approximates the intent and economic effect of said invalid and/or unenforceable provision.
15.4 All disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be finally settled under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce by one (1) or more arbitrators appointed in accordance with said Rules. Any arbitration proceedings shall be held in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. The arbitration language shall be English.

References: § 1
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