Document:

ex105.htm

Exhibit 10.5

 

 

 

August 13, 2009

Ronald Petkie, Ph.D.

560 Laurie Lane, Apt 6.

Thousand Oaks, California 91360

Re:           Offer of Employment

Dear Dr. Petkie:

 

 

On behalf of HyperSolar, Inc. (the “Company”), I am pleased to offer you employment, under the following terms and conditions.

This offer expires at 5:00 p.m., PDT, on September 1 2009, unless prior to that time you sign and return one copy of this letter to the Company.

	
Title:

	
Chief Technology Officer

	
Job Description:

	
Responsible for all those duties customarily associated with the research and development of the company’s technology and other duties as assigned by the CEO.

	
Type:

	
Full time (100%)

	
Location:

	
At the Company’s Santa Barbara office or other approved remote locations.

	
Report to:

	
CEO

	
Base Salary:

	
$10,000 per month (equivalent to an annualized salary of $120,000), subject to modification from time to time during your employment in accordance with the Company’s practices, policies, or procedures.

	
Quarterly Bonus:

	
You may be granted a quarterly bonus in the amount to be determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

	
Term of Employment:

	
Your employment with the Company is “at-will," and may be terminated at any time by you or by the Company, for any reason or no reason, upon written notice.  Nothing in this letter creates a promise or representation of continued employment for a term or limits the Company's right and power to terminate your employment at any time.

	
Severance:

	
If your employment is terminated by the Company, the Company shall pay you three (3) months of Base Salary over a three (3) month period.

	
Benefits:

	
You will be able to participate in all benefits that the Company has or will implement(ed).

	
Immigration:

	
As a condition of your employment, you will be required to furnish all necessary documentation that will satisfy the requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

	
Date of Employment:

	
Effective on September 1, 2009 and upon proper legal documents showing proof of eligibility of employment in the United States as required by Form I-9.

 

 

  

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Arbitration:

	
Any dispute arising with respect to your employment or the termination of your employment with the Company shall be conclusively settled by final and binding arbitration in accordance with the arbitration procedures described in the attached Employee Confidentiality and Inventions Agreement.

	
Company Policies:

	
From time to time you will be advised of certain Company policies, including such policies as may from time to time be set forth in an employee handbook or similar document.  As a condition of your employment, you agree to comply with such policies.

Enclosed are an Employee Confidentiality and Inventions Agreement and a Termination Certificate.  Our offer is contingent on your understanding and agreement, as evidenced by your signing below, that: (i) you will execute the Employee Confidentiality and Inventions Agreement as a prerequisite to your employment; and (ii) upon your termination, you will execute a Termination Certificate (or document containing similar provisions).

By signing this letter, you acknowledge that the terms described in this letter, together with the enclosed Employee Confidentiality and Inventions Agreement, sets forth the entire understanding between us and supersedes any prior representations or agreements between us, whether written or oral.  There are no terms, conditions, representations, warranties or covenants relating to your employment other than those contained herein.  No term or provision of this letter may be amended waived, released, discharged or modified except in writing, signed by you and an authorized officer of the Company, except that the Company may, in its sole discretion, adjust your salary, incentive compensation, benefits, job title, location, duties, responsibilities, and reporting relationships.

Welcome to the team; we look forward to working with you.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

 

	
Sincerely,

	 	 	
Offer Accepted:

	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	
/s/ Christopher Marquis

	 	 	
/s/ Ronald Petkie

	 
	

Christopher Marquis

	 	 	

Ronald Petkie

	 
	

Chairman of the Board of Directors

	 	 	
 

	 

 

 

 

  

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HyperSolar, Inc.

EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY & INVENTIONS AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement is entered by and between HyperSolar, Inc. (the “Company”) and Ronald Petkie (“Employee”) effective as of the first date on which the Employee provides services for the Company.

 

In consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, it is mutually covenanted and agreed by and between the parties as follows:

 

1. Confidential Information.

 

(a) Company Information.  Employee shall at all times during the term of Employee’s employment with the Company and thereafter, hold in strictest confidence, and not use, except for the benefit of the Company, or disclose to any person, firm or corporation without written authorization of the Company’s management, any Confidential Information of the Company.  As used herein, “Confidential Information” means any Company proprietary information, technical data, trade secrets or know-how, including, but not limited to, research, product plans, products, services, investors, business partners, customer lists and customers (including, but not limited to, those of the Company on whom Employee has called or with whom Employee became acquainted during the term of Employee’s employment), markets, technology, developments, inventions, processes, methods of operation, formulas, designs, drawings, engineering, marketing, finances or other business information disclosed to Employee by the Company either directly or indirectly in writing, orally or by drawings or observation of parts or equipment.  “Confidential Information” does not include any of the foregoing items which has become publicly known and made generally available through no wrongful act of Employee or of others who were under confidentiality obligations as to the item or items involved or improvements or new versions thereof.

 

(b) Former Employer Information.  Employee shall not, during Employee’s employment with the Company, improperly use or disclose any proprietary information or trade secrets of any former or concurrent employer or other person or entity and Employee shall not bring onto the premises of the Company any unpublished document or proprietary information belonging to any such employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing by such employer, person or entity.

 

(c) Third Party Information.  Employee shall hold all confidential or proprietary information that the Company has received from any third party to which it is the Company’s obligation to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it to any person, firm or corporation or to use it except as necessary in carrying out Employee’s work for the Company consistent with the Company’s agreement with such third party.

 

2. Inventions.  Employee hereby represents, warrants and covenants with respect to Prior Inventions or Inventions (each, as defined below), as the case may be, as follows:

 

(a) Inventions Retained and Licensed.  Attached hereto, as Exhibit A, is a list describing all inventions, original works of authorship, developments, improvements, and trade secrets which were made by Employee prior to Employee’s employment with the Company (collectively referred to as “Prior Inventions”), which belong to Employee (and not to any prior employer), which relate to the Company’s proposed business, products or research and development, and which are not assigned to the Company hereunder.  If in the course of Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee incorporates into a product, process or machine for the benefit of the Company or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries a Prior Invention owned by Employee or in which the Employee has an interest, the Company is hereby granted and shall have a nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license to make, have made, modify, use and sell such Prior Invention as part of or in connection with such product, process or machine.

 

 

 

  

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(b) Assignment of Inventions.  Employee shall make, or will promptly make, full written disclosure to the Company, will hold in trust for the sole right and benefit of the Company, and hereby assigns to the Company, or its designee, all of Employee’s right, title, and interest in and to any and all inventions, original works of authorship, developments, concepts, improvements, designs, discoveries, ideas, trademarks or trade secrets, whether or not patentable or registerable under copyright or similar laws, which Employee may solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce to practice, or cause to be conceived or developed or reduced to practice, during the period of time Employee is employed by the Company (collectively referred to as “Inventions”), except as specifically provided in Section 2(f) below.  Employee hereby acknowledges that all original works of authorship that are made by Employee (solely or jointly with others) within the scope of and during the period of Employee’s employment with the Company are (i) “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act (to the extent protectable by copyright); and (ii) together with all related intellectual property rights of any sort anywhere in the world, the sole property of the Company.  Employee hereby understands and agrees that the decision whether or not to commercialize or market any Inventions developed by Employee solely or jointly with others is within the Company’s sole discretion and for the Company’s sole benefit and that no royalty will be due to Employee as a result of the Company’s efforts to commercialize or market any such Inventions.

 

(c) Inventions Assigned to the United States.  Employee shall assign to the United States government all Employee’s right, title, and interest in and to any and all Inventions whenever such full title is required to be in the United States by a contract between the Company and the United States or any of its agencies.

 

(d) Maintenance of Records.  Employee shall keep and maintain adequate and current written records of all Inventions made solely or jointly with others during the term of Employee’s employment with the Company.  The records will be in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, and any other format that may be specified by the Company.  The records will be available to and remain the sole property of the Company at all times.

 

(e) Patent and Copyright Registrations.  Employee shall assist the Company, or its designee, at the Company’s expense, in every proper way to secure the Company’s rights in the Inventions and any copyrights, patents, mask work rights or other intellectual property rights relating thereto in any and all countries, including the disclosure to the Company of all pertinent information and data with respect thereto, the execution of all applications, specifications, oaths, assignments and all other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary in order to apply for and obtain such rights and in order to assign and convey to the Company, its successors, assigns, and nominees the sole and exclusive rights, title and interest in and to such Inventions, and any copyrights, patents, mask work rights or other intellectual property rights relating thereto.  Employee agrees that it is Employee’s obligation to execute or cause to be executed, when it is in Employee’s power to do so, any such instrument or papers after the termination of this Agreement.  If the Company is unable because of the Employee’s mental or physical incapacity or for any other reason to secure Employee’s signature to apply for or to pursue any application for any United States or foreign patents or copyright registrations covering Inventions or original works of authorship assigned to the Company as above, then Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as Employee’s agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in Employee’s behalf and stead to execute and file any such applications and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and issuance of letters patent or copyright registrations thereon with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Employee.

 

(f) Exception to Assignments.  It is agreed and acknowledged that the provisions of this Agreement requiring assignment of Inventions to the Company do not apply to any Inventions which qualifies fully under the provisions of California Labor Code Section 2870 (quoted on Exhibit B hereto).  Employee will advise the Company promptly in writing of any Inventions that the Employee believes meet the criteria in California Labor Code Section 2870.

 

 

 

  

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3. Conflicting Employment.  Employee shall perform Employee’s duties faithfully and to the best of Employee’s ability and shall devote Employee’s full business time and effort to the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder.  Employee shall not, during the term of Employee’s employment with the Company, engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity directly related to the business in which the Company, or its subsidiaries are now involved or become involved during the term of Employee’s employment, nor will Employee engage in any other activities that conflict with Employee’s obligations to the Company.

 

4. Returning Company Documents.  At the time of leaving the employ of the Company, Employee covenants that Employee shall deliver to the Company (and will not keep in Employee’s possession, recreate or deliver to anyone else) any and all devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, other documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items developed by Employee pursuant to Employee’s employment with the Company or otherwise belonging to the Company, its successors or assigns, including, without limitation, those records maintained pursuant to paragraph 2(d).

 

5. Notification of New Employer.  In the event that Employee leaves the employ of the Company, Employee agrees to grant consent to notification by the Company to Employee’s new employer about Employee’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

6. Solicitation of Employees.  Employee covenants that, for a period of twelve (12) months immediately following the termination of Employee’s relationship with the Company for any reason, whether with or without cause, Employee shall not either directly or indirectly solicit, induce, recruit or encourage any of the Company’s employees or employees of any Company subsidiaries to leave their employment, or take away such employees, or attempt to solicit, induce, recruit, encourage or take away their employees, either for Employee or for any other person or entity.

 

7. Right to Advice of Counsel.  Employee acknowledges that Employee has had the right to consult with counsel and is fully aware of Employee’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

8. Successors.

 

(a) Company’s Successors.  Any successor to the Company (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Company’s business and/or assets shall assume the obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to perform the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession.  For all purposes under this Agreement, the term “Company,” shall include any successor to the Company’s business and/or assets which executes and delivers the assumption agreement described in this subsection (a) or which becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement by operation of law.

 

 

 

  

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(b) Employee’s Successors.  Without the written consent of the Company, Employee shall not assign or transfer this Agreement or any right or obligation under this Agreement to any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms of this Agreement and all rights of Employee hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, Employee’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

 

9. Notice Clause.  Any notice hereby required or permitted to be given shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person or sent by facsimile, electronic mail, overnight courier or First Class mail, postage prepaid, to either party at the address of such party or such other address as shall have been designated by written notice by such party to the other party.  Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given under this Agreement will be deemed given (i) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified (ii) on the day when delivered by electronic mail to the proper electronic mail address, (iii) when sent by confirmed facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, if not, then on the next business day, (iv) the first business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, or (v) the third business day after the day on which such notice was mailed in accordance with this Section.

 

10. Arbitration.

 

(a) Except as provided in Section 10(e) below, this Agreement shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act and the California Arbitration Act.  The parties hereby agree that a neutral arbitrator from the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) will administer any such arbitration(s) under the AAA’s National Rules for the Resolution of Employee Disputes.  The arbitration shall take place in Los Angeles,  California.

 

(b) The parties may conduct only essential discovery (i.e., discovery sufficient to arbitrate the claim at issue) prior to the hearing, as defined by the AAA arbitrator.  Following the hearing, the AAA arbitrator shall issue a written decision, which contains the essential findings and conclusions on which the decision is based.  The parties agree that the result of arbitration hereunder shall be final and binding upon the parties, and judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.  The arbitration ruling may be subject to limited judicial review as provided by applicable law.

 

(c) Employee shall bear only those costs of arbitration he or she would otherwise bear had Employee brought a claim covered by this Agreement in court.  The Company shall pay for the costs that are unique to the arbitration.  Each party will be responsible for payment of its own attorneys’ fees.  However, if any party prevails on a statutory claim that affords the prevailing party attorneys’ fees, the arbitrator may award reasonable attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party.

 

(d) The arbitrator shall not have any power, authority or jurisdiction to change or modify any provision of this Agreement.

 

(e) The parties may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or other interim or a conservatory relief, as necessary, without breach of this arbitration agreement and without abridgement of the powers of the arbitrator.

 

 

  

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(f)  EMPLOYEE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THIS SECTION, WHICH DISCUSSES ARBITRATION.  EMPLOYEE UNDERSTANDS THAT BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE AGREES TO SUBMIT ANY CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF, RELATING TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE INTERPRETATION, VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE, BREACH OR TERMINATION THEREOF TO BINDING ARBITRATION, UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY LAW, AND THAT THIS ARBITRATION CLAUSE CONSTITUTES A WAIVER OF EMPLOYEE’S RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND RELATES TO THE RESOLUTION OF ALL DISPUTES RELATING TO EMPLOYEE’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMPANY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CLAIMS OF HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION, WRONGFUL TERMINATION AND ANY STATUTORY CLAIMS.

 

11. Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement, or any terms hereof, shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision or term of this Agreement.

 

12. Integration.  This Agreement, together with the offer letter executed on or about the date hereof, represents the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements whether written or oral.  No waiver, alteration, or modification of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding unless in writing and signed by duly authorized representatives of the parties hereto.

 

13. Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the state of California.

 

14. 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.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of the Company by their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.

 

	 	HYPERSOLAR, INC.	 
	 	 	 	 
	
 

	
By: 

	/s/ Tim Young	 
	 	 	Tim Young	 
	 	 	President and CEO	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	EMPLOYEE	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	/s/ Ronald Petkie   	 
	 	 	Ronald Petkie	 
	 	 	 	 

 

  

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Exhibit A

LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS

AND ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP

	

Title

	

Date

	

Identifying Number or Brief Description

	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  

 

_____ No inventions or improvements

_____ Additional Sheets Attached

Signature of Employee:                                                                                                

Date: __________________

 

 

 

  

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Exhibit B

To

EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT

 

CALIFORNIA LABOR CODE SECTION 2870

INVENTION ON OWN TIME – EXEMPTION FROM AGREEMENT

“(a)           Any provision in an employment agreement which provides that an employee shall assign, or offer to assign, any of employee’s rights in an invention to employee’s employer shall not apply to an invention that the employee developed entirely on employee’s own time without using the employer’s equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information except for those inventions that either:

(1)           Relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention to the employer’s business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the employer; or

(2)           Result from any work performed by the employee for the employer.

(b)           To the extent a provision in an employment agreement purports to require an employee to assign an invention otherwise excluded from being required to be assigned under subdivision, the provision is against the public policy of this state and is unenforceable.”

 

 

 

 

  

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HyperSolar, Inc.

TERMINATION CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that I do not have in my possession, nor have I failed to return, any devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, other documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items belonging to HyperSolar, Inc., its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns (together, the “Company”).

I further certify that I have complied with all the terms of the Employee Confidentiality & Inventions Agreement signed by me, including the reporting of any inventions and original works of authorship (as defined therein), conceived or made by me (solely or jointly with others) covered by that agreement.

I further agree that, in compliance with the Employee Confidentiality & Inventions Agreement, I will preserve as confidential all trade secrets, confidential knowledge, data or other proprietary information relating to products, processes, know-how, designs, formulas, developmental or experimental work, computer programs, data bases, other original works of authorship, customer lists, business plans, financial information or other subject matter pertaining to any business of the Company or any of its employees, clients, consultants or licensees.

I further agree that for twelve (12) months from this date, I will not solicit, induce, recruit or encourage any of the Company’s employees or employees of any Company subsidiaries to leave their employment.

 

	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Date:	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	
 

	
 

	 	 
	 	 	
[TO BE SIGNED ONLY UPON TERMINATION 

OF EMPLOYMENT.]

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 

 

10ex106.htm

Exhibit 10.6

 

Consulting Agreement

between

HYPERSOLAR, INC. and RONALD PETKIE

This Consulting Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into this 9th day of March, 2009 (the “Effective Date”) by and between HyperSolar, Inc., a Nevada corporation, (“Company”) with its principal address at 3225 McLeod Drive, Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89121 and Ronald Petkie, Ph.D. (“Consultant”) with his principal address at 560 Laurie Lane, Apt 6. Thousand Oaks, California 91360.

Section 1.                      Hiring of Consultant.  This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and continue until terminated in accordance herewith.  This Agreement may be terminated by either party at any time, for any or no reason, by written notice to the other party not less than five (5) days prior to the effective date of termination.  In the event of such termination, Company will be obligated to pay Consultant any outstanding fees due under this Agreement only for or in connection with such services actually completed by Consultant and reasonably acceptable to Company as of the date of termination notice.

Section 2.                      Duties & Title.  Consultant shall be available to consult with and perform research for Company concerning the business and technology of Company.  Unless agreed upon by Company on a case-by-case basis, Consultant will supply all tools, materials, equipment, and transportation required to perform the services under this Agreement.  Consultant may perform the services under this Agreement at any suitable time and location he chooses.  Such consulting services shall be performed by Consultant for Company using the title “Consultant” or “Advisor”; however, such title shall not give rise to an employer-employee relationship.  Company shall pay Consultant the fees set forth in this Agreement for making himself available to consult with Company.  Consultant will determine the method, details, and means of performing the above-described services.  Consultant’s performance under this Agreement shall be conducted with due diligence and in full compliance with the highest professional standards of practice in the industry.  Consultant shall at all times comply with all applicable laws and Company’s safety rules in the course of performing the services.  If Consultant’s work requires a license, Consultant represents that it has obtained that license, and that such license is in full force and effect and will remain in full force and effect during the term of this Agreement.  It is understood and agreed by the parties that, unless expressly authorized by Company, the services hereunder shall be provided by Consultant and no other persons, and that the performance of the services by Consultant is the sole and absolute reason for the engagement of Consultant under this Agreement.

Section 3.                      Status of Consultant.  Consultant shall be treated as an independent contractor, and not as an employee, partner, agent, or principal of Company, and shall not be entitled to the rights or benefits afforded to Company’s employees, including disability or unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, medical insurance, sick leave, or any other employment benefit.  Consultant shall be responsible for providing, at his own expense, disability, unemployment, and other insurance, workers’ compensation, training, permits, and licenses for himself and for his employees and subcontractors. Consultant shall be responsible for paying when due all income taxes, including estimated taxes, incurred as a result of the compensation paid by Company to Consultant for services under this Agreement.  On request, Consultant will provide Company with proof of timely payment in the form of a written confirmation by a Certified Public Accountant that Consultant has paid such taxes on a timely basis.  Consultant agrees to indemnify Company for any claims, costs, losses, fees, penalties, interest, or damages suffered by Company resulting from Consultant’s failure to comply with this provision.

 

 

  

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Section 4 .                      Compensation.

 

As consideration for the Consultant’s undertaking to be available to provide the services described above, Company agrees to pay to Consultant a monthly fee of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) per month, payable in two semi-monthly payments.  Consultant shall seek the advice and counsel of a certified public accountant, tax attorney, or other tax adviser with respect to the tax consequences of the foregoing provisions.  Company makes no representations in that regard.  All fees paid hereunder are Consultant’s sole compensation for rendering the services to Company.

 

Section 5 .                      Product and Project Development.

 

Company’s actual development of any given project and/or product shall be contingent on (i) regulatory issues and financial concerns; and (ii) Company’s subjective determinations to be made in its sole discretion as to economic viability, availability of financing, marketplace desirability, competition in the marketplace, and aesthetic appeal, and such other factors as Company deems pertinent, in the exercise of its sole discretion.  Company has and shall continue to have the absolute unqualified and unfettered right to decline to develop, advance, or pursue any given project(s) and/or product(s).  Nothing contained in this agreement shall give rise to an obligation or duty on the part of Company to actually engage in the development, advancement, or pursuit of any given project(s) and/or product(s) or to assign to Consultant any tasks related thereto.  Company shall suffer no liability, penalty, or other adverse consequence if Company, in the exercise of its sole and unfettered discretion, abandons or otherwise declines to develop, advance, or pursue any given project.  Company disclaims any and all representations and/or warranties, express or implied, as to whether any such project(s) and/or product(s) will actually be developed, advanced, or pursued.

Section 6.                      Consultant’s Representations and Warranties.  Consultant hereby represents and warrants that he possesses the skill, knowledge, and experience so as to be fully qualified, well-experienced, and properly skilled in the performance of the services required under this Agreement without direct supervision.

Section 7.                      Intentionally Blank.

Section 8.                      Confidentiality and Assignment of Inventions.

(a)           Obligations.   During the term of this Agreement, and for five (5) years afterward, (i) Consultant must hold in strict confidence any Confidential Information (as defined below), (ii) Consultant must not disclose to any third party any Confidential Information unless he has first received approval to make such disclosure or such disclosure is required during the term of this Agreement in order to carry out Consultant’s day-to-day activities in fulfillment of his duties hereunder, and (iii) Consultant may not use Confidential Information for any use or purpose other than providing the services hereunder.

 

 

  

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(b)           Definition of Confidential Information.  For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information" means technical data, trade secrets or know-how, such as research, product plans, products, services, customer lists, vendors and customers (including customers and prospective customers of Company on whom Consultant calls or with whom Consultant becomes acquainted during the term of this Agreement), markets, software, developments, inventions, processes, formulas, technology, designs, drawings, engineering, hardware configuration information, marketing, finances or other business information disclosed to Consultant by Company either directly or indirectly in writing, orally or by drawings or observation of parts or equipment. Confidential Information may include items obtained by Company from a third party, but which it is required to keep secret.  Confidential Information does not include any of the foregoing items which have become publicly known and made generally available through no wrongful act of Consultant or of others who were under confidentiality obligations as to the item or items involved.

(c)           Former or Concurrent Employer Information.  Consultant shall not, during the term of this Agreement, improperly use or disclose any proprietary information or trade secrets of any former or concurrent employer, client, or other person or entity.  Consultant shall not bring onto the premises of Company any unpublished document or proprietary information belonging to any such employer, client, or other person or entity unless consented to in writing by such employer, person or entity.  Consultant acknowledges his understanding that Company has no interest whatsoever in any knowledge or information Consultant may possess that is proprietary to a concurrent or former employer or consulting client.  Consultant acknowledges his full and complete understanding that it is Company’s policy to insist that Consultant not bring to Company or use in his work for Company any papers, notes or other information that is proprietary to a concurrent or former employer or consulting client.  If Consultant has any such papers or other information in his possession, Company strongly suggests that such papers or other information be returned to such concurrent or former employer or consulting client.  Company further suggests that Consultant, if he has any questions or doubts concerning matters that may be proprietary to a concurrent or former employer or consulting client, contact such concurrent or former employer or consulting client to discuss the matter.  If questions remain with Consultant in this regard after engaging in such discussions, Company will afford Consultant an opportunity to meet with Company’s attorney for purposes of achieving a lawful and otherwise appropriate resolution with respect to such issues.

 (d)           Assignment of Inventions.  Consultant will promptly make full written disclosure to Company, will hold in trust for the sole right and benefit of Company, and hereby assigns to Company, or its designee, all of Consultant’s right, title, and interest in and to any and all inventions, original works of authorship, developments, concepts, improvements or trade secrets, whether or not patentable or eligible for registration under copyright or similar laws, which Consultant may solely or jointly with others conceive or develop or reduce to practice, or cause to be conceived or developed or reduced to practice, during the term of this Agreement (collectively referred to as "Inventions") and which (i) are developed using the equipment, supplies, facilities or Confidential Information of Company, (ii) result from or are suggested by work performed by Consultant for Company, or (iii) relate to the business, or to the actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of Company, will be the sole and exclusive property of Company, and Consultant shall, and does hereby assign all of his right, title and interest in such Inventions to Company, except as provided in Section 8(g).  Any assignment of copyright hereunder (and any ownership of a copyright as a work made for hire) includes all rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure and withdrawal and any other rights that may be known as or referred to as “moral rights” (collectively, “Moral Rights”).  To the extent such Moral Rights cannot be assigned under applicable law and to the extent the following is allowed by the laws in the various countries where Moral Rights exist, Consultant hereby ratifies and consents to any action of Company that would violate such Moral Rights in the absence of such ratification/consent.  Consultant will confirm any such ratifications and consents from time to time as requested by Company.

(e)           Patent and Copyright Registrations.  Consultant shall assist Company, or its designee, at Company’s expense, in every proper way to secure Company's rights in the Inventions and any copyrights, patents, mask work rights or other intellectual property rights relating thereto in any and all countries.  Consultant hereby conveys to Company, its successors, assigns, and nominees the sole and exclusive rights, title and interest in and to such Inventions, and any copyrights, patents, mask work rights or other intellectual property rights relating thereto.  Consultant’s obligation to execute or cause to be executed, when it is within his power to do so, any such instrument or papers shall continue after the termination of this Agreement.  If Company is unable because of Consultant’s mental or physical incapacity or for any other reason to secure Consultant’s signature to apply for or to pursue any application for any United States or foreign patents or copyright registrations covering Inventions or original works of authorship assigned to Company, as above, then Consultant hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as Consultant’s agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and in behalf and stead of Consultant to execute and file any such applications and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and issuance of letters patent or copyright registrations thereon with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Consultant.

(f)           Maintenance of Records.  Consultant will maintain adequate and current written records of all Inventions made by Consultant (solely or jointly with others) during the term of this Agreement.  The records will be in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, and any other format that may be specified by Company.  The records will be available to and remain the sole property of Company at all times.

(g)           Inventions Made Prior to the First Date of the Term of this Agreement.  Consultant provides below a list of all inventions, original works of authorship, developments, improvements, and trade secrets which were made by Consultant prior to the first date of the term of this Agreement (collectively referred to as "Pre-Company Inventions"), which belong to Consultant, which relate to Company’s proposed business, products or research and development, and which are not assigned to Company hereunder.  If no such list is attached, then Consultant represents that there are no such Pre-Company Inventions.  If during the term of this Agreement Consultant incorporates into a Company product, process, device, or machine a Pre-Company Invention owned by Consultant or in which Consultant has an interest, Company is hereby granted and shall have a nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license to make, have made, modify, use and sell such Pre-Company Invention as part of or in connection with such product, process or machine.

 

  

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List of Pre-Company Inventions Subject to §8(g):

 

 

	 Title	Date  	Identification No. or Brief Description
	 	 	 
	1.	 	 

 

Initals: _____________

(If more than one, see Attachment 8(g); if none, insert the word “None”)

 

 

(h)           Exception to Future Assignments.  Any provisions of this Agreement requiring the future assignment of Inventions to Company do not apply to any invention that (i) Consultant develops entirely on his own time; and (ii) Consultant develops without using Company equipment, supplies, facilities, or confidential or trade secret information; and (iii) does not result from any work performed by Consultant for Company; and (iv) does not relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice to Company's business, or to its actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development.  Any such invention will be owned entirely by Consultant, even if developed during the term of this Agreement.  Consultant will immediately advise Company promptly in writing of any inventions that Consultant believes meet the criteria for exclusion set forth herein and are not otherwise disclosed herein.

(i)           Return of Company Documents.  Upon termination of this Agreement, Consultant will deliver to Company (and will not keep in his possession, recreate, or deliver to anyone else) any and all devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, other documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items developed by Consultant pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise belonging to Company, its successors or assigns.  Upon termination of this Agreement Consultant will sign and deliver the "Termination Certificate" attached hereto as Exhibit B.

9.           Notification of New Principal, Employer, or Client.  Consultant hereby grants consent to Company to notify any new principal, employer, or client of Consultant about Company’s rights and Consultant’s obligations arising under this Agreement.

10.           No Solicitation of Employees; Non-Competition.

10.1           During the term of this Agreement, the following provisions apply:

(a)           Consultant will not solicit the employment of any person who is then engaged by Company as an employee, consultant or advisor, or who was engaged by Company as an employee, consultant or advisor within the prior 12 month period, on behalf of Consultant or any other person(s) or entity(ies).

(b)           Consultant will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity directly related to the business in which Company is now involved or becomes involved during the term of this Agreement, nor will Consultant engage in any other activities that conflict with his obligations to Company.

(c)           Consultant will not engage in any other activity, alone or in concert with any other(s), which serves to solicit, entice, or in any way divert any of the Company’s employees, customers, prospects, business opportunities, investors, or suppliers to do business with any business entity in competition with Company or that could otherwise impair or harm the interests of Company.

 

 

  

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10.2           During the twelve (12) months following the termination of this Agreement, regardless of the reason or circumstances related to such termination, the following provisions apply:

(a)           Consultant will not solicit the employment of any person who is then engaged by Company as an employee, consultant or advisor, or who was engaged by Company as an employee, consultant or advisor within the prior 12 month period, on behalf of Consultant or any other person(s) or entity(ies).

(b)           Consultant will not engage in any employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity individually or with any third party with whom Company is engaged in a business relationship (whether as customer, subcontractor, supplier, investor, or otherwise).  A list of such third parties to whom this subparagraph applies will be prepared by Company and delivered to Consultant promptly following termination of this Agreement.

11.           Representations & Disclosure.  Consultant represents and warrants that his performance of all the terms of this Agreement will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information acquired by Consultant in confidence or in trust prior to the term of this Agreement.  Consultant has not entered into, and will not enter into, any oral or written agreement in conflict herewith, including without limitation any employment with or engagement by any academic institution.  Consultant will execute any proper oath or verify any proper document required to carry out the terms of this Agreement.  In conjunction with the signing of this Agreement, Consultant will make full disclosure and provide to Company accurate and complete copies of any and all (i) presentations, (ii) documents, and (iii) communications, regardless of the medium thereof, which Consultant provides to Company customer(s), prospect(s), supplier(s) and/or investor(s) outside of the scope of his duties as a Company consultant.

12.           Indemnity.  Consultant will defend, indemnify and hold Company and its affiliates (and their respective employees, directors and representatives) harmless against any and all loss, liability, damage, claims, demands or suits and related costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs) arising or resulting, directly or indirectly, from (i) any act or omission of Consultant (its employees or independent contractors) or Consultant’s (its employees’ or independent contractors’) breach of any representation, warranty or covenant of this Agreement, or (ii) infringement of any third-party intellectual property rights by the results of Consultant’s services, Company’s use of such results or Consultant’s performance of the services hereunder.

13.           Limit of Liability.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY­THING ELSE IN THIS AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE, NEITHER CONSULTANT NOR Company WILL BE LIABLE WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT UNDER ANY CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER LEGAL OR EQUITABLE THEORY FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.  THE FOREGOING LIMITATION DOES NOT APPLY TO CONSULTANT’S OBLIGATIONS UNDER SECTIONS 3, 8, 10 OR 12.

  

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14.           Arbitration and Equitable Relief.

(a)           Arbitration.  Except as provided in Section 14(b) below, any dispute or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement must be resolved by binding contractual arbitration to be held within the County of Los Angeles, State of California, in accordance with the Code of Civil Procedure of the State of California.  The arbitrator may grant injunctions or other relief in any such dispute or controversy.  The decision of the arbitrator shall be final, binding, and non-appealable.  Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s decision in any court having jurisdiction.  Company and Consultant shall each pay one-half of the costs and expenses of such arbitration. At the conclusion of such arbitration the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party the reasonable attorney fees (as determined by the arbitrator) and court costs incurred in said arbitration proceeding and in any ensuing enforcement and collection proceedings.

(b)           Equitable Remedies.  With respect to those sections of this Agreement which would be a proper subject of equitable relief under California law, Company will have available, in addition to any other right or remedy available, the right to obtain an injunction from a court of competent jurisdiction restraining such breach or threatened breach and to specific performance of any such provision(s) of this Agreement.  The parties mutually agree that no bond or other security shall be required in obtaining such equitable relief and Consultant hereby consents to the issuance of such injunction and to the ordering of specific performance.

15.           General Provisions.

(a)           Governing Law; Consent to Personal Jurisdiction.  This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of California as they apply to contracts entered into and wholly to be performed within such State.  Consultant hereby expressly consents to the nonexclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in the Central District of California for any lawsuit filed there against Consultant by Company arising from or relating to this Agreement.

(b)           Entire Agreement.  This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between Company and Consultant relating to the subject matter herein and merges all prior discussions between the parties hereto.  No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, will be effective unless in writing signed by the party to be charged.  Subsequent change(s) in duties and/or compensation will not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement.

(c)           Severability.  If one or more of the provisions in this Agreement are deemed void by law, then the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

(d)           Successors and Assigns.  Consultant may not assign, sell, transfer, delegate or otherwise dispose of any rights or obligations under this Agreement; any such purported assignment, transfer, or delegation shall be null and void.  Nothing in this Agreement shall limit Company’s right to assign, sell, transfer, delegate or otherwise dispose of any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement.  Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors, and permitted assigns, and shall not benefit any person or entity other than those enumerated above.

 

 

  

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(e)           Proof of Eligibility to Work in U.S.  For purposes of U.S. federal immigration law, Consultant must provide to Company certain documents that confirm Consultant’s identity and prove your eligibility to engage in work activities in the United States, including the performance of the consulting activities contemplated by this Agreement.  Such documents shall be provided by Consultant to Company within three business days after date of hire.  Company reserves the right to terminate this Agreement if Consultant fails to provide the eligibility documents within said time period.

(f)           Additional Company Rules and Regulations, Conflict of Interest Guidelines. As a Company consultant, Consultant will be required to abide by company rules and regulations in force from time-to-time. When so requested by Company, Consultant will be specifically required to sign an acknowledgment that he has read and understand company rules of conduct which may be issued in written or electronic form, or in a company handbook.  In addition, Consultant agrees to abide by the Conflict of Interest Guidelines set forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto.

(g)           Attorneys’ Fees.  If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs and necessary disbursements, in addition to any other relief to which the party may be entitled.

Executed as of the Effective Date.

 

 

	HYPERSOLAR, INC.	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	
By:  /s/ Christopher Marquis

	 	 	
 

	 
	
Christopher Marquis

	 	 	
 

	 
	
President

	 	 	
 

	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	CONSULTANT:	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	/s/ Ronald Petkie, Ph.D	 	 	 	 
	Ronald Petkie, Ph.D.	 	 	 	 

 

  

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EXHIBIT A

HyperSolar, Inc.

Conflict of Interest Guidelines

It is the policy of HyperSolar, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (together, "Company") to conduct its affairs in strict compliance with the letter and spirit of the law and to adhere to the highest principles of business ethics.  Accordingly, all officers, employees, consultants, and independent contractors must avoid activities which are in conflict, or give the appearance of being in conflict, with these principles and with the interests of Company.  The following are potentially compromising situations which must be avoided.  Any exceptions must be reported to the President and written approval for continuation must be obtained.

(1)                          Revealing confidential information to outsiders or misusing confidential information.  Unauthorized divulging of information is a violation of this policy whether or not for personal gain and whether or not harm to Company is intended.

(2)                          Accepting or offering substantial gifts, excessive entertainment, favors or payments which may be deemed to constitute undue influence or otherwise be improper or embarrassing to Company.

(3)                          Participating in civic or professional organizations that might involve divulging confidential information of Company.

(4)                          Initiating or approving any form of personal or social harassment of employees.

(5)                          Investing or holding outside directorship in suppliers, customers, or competing companies, including financial speculations, where such investment or directorship might influence in any manner a decision or course of action of Company.

(6)                          Borrowing from or lending to employees, customers or suppliers.

(7)                          Acquiring real estate or property of interest to Company without first receiving written approval from the President.

(8)                          Improperly using or disclosing to Company any proprietary information or trade secrets of any former or concurrent employer or other person or entity with whom obligations of confidentiality exist.

(9)                          Unlawfully discussing prices, costs, customers, sales or markets with competing companies or their employees and/or consultants.

(10)                Making any unlawful agreement with distributors with respect to prices.

(11)                Improperly using or authorizing the use of any inventions which are the subject of patent claims of any other person or entity.

(12)                Engaging in any conduct which is not in the best interest of Company.

Each officer, employee, consultant, and independent contractor must take every necessary action to ensure compliance with these guidelines and to bring problem areas to the attention of higher management for review.  Violations of this conflict of interest policy may result in immediate termination.

 

  

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EXHIBIT B

HyperSolar, Inc.

Termination Certificate

This is to certify that I do not have in my possession, nor have I failed to return, any devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, other documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items belonging to HyperSolar, Inc. its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns (together, the "Company").

I further certify that I have complied with all the terms of my Consulting Agreement with Company signed by me (the "Consulting Agreement"), including the reporting of any inventions and original works of authorship (as defined therein), conceived or made by me (solely or jointly with others) covered by the Consulting Agreement.

I further agree that, in compliance with the Consulting Agreement, I will preserve as confidential all trade secrets, confidential knowledge, data or other proprietary information relating to products, processes, know-how, designs, formulas, developmental or experimental work, computer programs, data bases, other original works of authorship, customer lists, business plans, financial information or other subject matter pertaining to any business of Company.

I further agree that for twelve (12) months from this date, I shall not solicit the employment of any person who shall then be employed by Company (as an employee or consultant) or who shall have been employed by Company (as an employee or consultant) within the prior twelve (12) month period, on behalf of myself or any other person, firm, corporation, association or other entity, directly or indirectly, all as provided more fully with the Consulting Agreement.

	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	
Date:

	
 

	 	 
	 	 	Ronald Petkie	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 

                                                    

  

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ATTACHMENT 8(g)

Consultant’s Pre-Company Inventions:

 

 

                                                                                                                        

 

	Title 	Date	Identification No. or Brief Description  	Subject to §8(g), above

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

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