Document:

Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION

QuickLinks
 -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document
  

 
 

EXHIBIT 10.1    
  

 
 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT    
  

    THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of            , 2001 between Liberate Technologies, a Delaware corporation ("the
Company"),
and            ("Indemnitee"). 

    WITNESSETH
THAT: 

    WHEREAS,
Indemnitee performs a valuable service for the Company; and 

    WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors of the Company has adopted Bylaws (the "Bylaws") providing for the indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company to the maximum extent
authorized by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended ("Law"); and 

    WHEREAS,
the Bylaws and the Law, by their nonexclusive nature, permit contracts between the Company and the officers or directors of the Company with respect to indemnification of
such officers or directors; and 

    WHEREAS,
in accordance with the authorization as provided by the Law, the Company may purchase and maintain a policy or policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance
("D & O Insurance"), covering certain liabilities which may be incurred by its officers or directors in the performance of their obligations to the Company; and 

    WHEREAS,
in recognition of past services and in order to induce Indemnitee to continue to serve as an officer or director of the Company, the Company has determined and agreed to
enter into this contract with Indemnitee; 

    NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee's service as an officer or director after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows: 

    1.  Indemnity of Indemnitee.  The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the
full extent authorized or permitted by the provisions of the Law, as such may be amended from time to time, and Article VII, Section 6 of the Bylaws, as such may be amended. In
furtherance of the foregoing indemnification, and without limiting the generality thereof: 

    (a)  Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.  Indemnitee shall be entitled
to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section l(a) if, by reason of his Corporate Status (as hereinafter defined), he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in
any Proceeding (as hereinafter defined) other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(a), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses (as
hereinafter defined), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or
matter therein, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. 

    (b)  Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.  Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of
indemnification provided in this Section 1(b) if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right
of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(b), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding
if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; provided, however, that, if applicable law so provides, no
indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and
to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall determine that such indemnification may be made. 

1

 

    (c)  Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful.  Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be
indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such
Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of
any claim, issue or matter in
such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter. 

    2.  Additional Indemnity.  In addition to, and without regard to any limitations on, the indemnification
provided for in Section 1, the Company shall and hereby does indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the
right of the Company), including, without limitation, all liability arising out of the negligence or active or passive wrongdoing of Indemnitee. The only limitation that shall exist upon the Company's
obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be that the Company shall not be obligated to make any payment to Indemnitee that is finally determined (under the procedures, and subject to the
presumptions, set forth in Sections 6 and 7 hereof) to be unlawful under Delaware law. 

    3.  Contribution in the Event of Joint Liability.  

    (a) Whether
or not the indemnification provided in Sections 1 and 2 hereof is available, in respect of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding
in which Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), Company shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount of any judgment or settlement
of such action, suit or proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment and Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have against Indemnitee.
Company shall not enter into any settlement of any action, suit or proceeding in which Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding) unless such
settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee. 

    (b) Without
diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall elect or be required
to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in
such action, suit or proceeding), Company shall contribute to the amount of expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred and
paid or payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with
Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which such action, suit or proceeding arose;
provided, however, that the proportion determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of Company and
all officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and
Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events that resulted in such expenses, judgments, fines or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which the law may
require to be considered. The relative fault of Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in
such action, suit or proceeding), on the one 

2

 

hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the
degree to which their liability is primary or secondary, and the degree to which their conduct is active or passive. 

    (c) Company
hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from any claims of contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of
the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee. 

    4.  Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to
the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. 

    5.  Advancement of Expenses.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall
advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee's Corporate Status within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of
a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall
reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall
ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5 shall be unsecured and
interest free. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation of the Company to advance Expenses pursuant to this Section 5 shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent
that the Company determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed, within thirty (30) days of such
determination, by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences legal
proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law, any determination made by the Company that Indemnitee would not
be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advance of Expenses until a final judicial determination
is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed). 

    6.  Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.  It is the intent of
this Agreement to secure for Indemnitee rights of indemnity that are as favorable as may be permitted under the law and public policy of the State of Delaware. Accordingly, the parties agree that the
following procedures and presumptions shall apply in the event of any question as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement: 

    (a) To
obtain indemnification (including, but not limited to, the advancement of Expenses and contribution by the Company) under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit
to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to
what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that
Indemnitee has requested indemnification. 

    (b) Upon
written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 6(a) hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law,
with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case by one of the following three methods, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (1) by a majority vote
of the disinterested directors, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders. 

3

 

    (c) If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be
selected as provided in this Section 6(c). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors).
Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within 10 days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a
written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of "Independent
Counsel" as defined in Section 13 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person
so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is
withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to
Section 6(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or other
court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other's selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as
Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so
appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 6(b) hereof. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel
in connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6(c), regardless of the
manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed. 

    (d) In
making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in
accordance with Section 6(a) of this Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence. 

    (e) Indemnitee
shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee's action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial
statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records
given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise. In addition, the knowledge
and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this
Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(e) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and
convincing evidence. 

    (f)  If
the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 6 to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a
determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and
Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee's statement not
materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under 

4

 

applicable law; provided, however, that such 30 day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making
the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating documentation and/or information relating thereto; and
provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(g) shall not apply if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to
Section 6(b) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board of Directors or the Disinterested
Directors, if appropriate, resolve to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy five (75) days after such
receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such
determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat. 

    (g) Indemnitee
shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification, including
providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably
available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Independent Counsel, member of the Board of Directors, or
stockholder of the Company shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a determination under the Agreement of the Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification. Any costs or expenses (including
attorneys' fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the
determination as to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. 

    (h) The
Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay,
distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that any action, claim or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee
(including, without limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with or without payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the
merits or otherwise in such action, suit or proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence. 

    7.  Remedies of Indemnitee.  

    (a) In
the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made
pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to
this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10) days after a
determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be
entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of his entitlement to such indemnification. Indemnitee shall commence
such proceeding seeking an adjudication within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 7(a). The Company
shall not oppose Indemnitee's right to seek any such adjudication. 

5

  

    (b) In
the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any
judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, on the merits and Indemnitee
shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination under Section 6(b). 

    (c) If
a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound
by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7, absent a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law. 

    (d) In
the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7, seeks a judicial adjudication of his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this
Agreement, or to recover under any directors' and officers' liability insurance policies maintained by the Company the Company shall pay on his behalf, in advance, any and all expenses (of the types
described in the definition of Expenses in Section 13 of this Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by him in such judicial adjudication, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is
determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance recovery. 

    (e) The
Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 that the procedures and presumptions of this
Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. 

    8.  Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.  

    (a) The
rights of indemnification as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under
applicable law, the certificate of incorporation of the Company, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of
this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status
prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in the Law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification than would be afforded currently under
the Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred
is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter
existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or
employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy. 

    (b) To
the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents or fiduciaries
of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be
covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or
policies. 

    (c) In
the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who
shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such
rights. 

6

 

    (d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has
otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise. 

    9.  Exception to Right of Indemnification.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee, or any claim therein, unless (a) the bringing of such Proceeding
or making of such claim shall have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or (b) such Proceeding is being brought by the Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce his rights
under this Agreement. 

    10.  Duration of Agreement.  All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall
continue during the period Indemnitee is an officer or director of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced under Section 7
hereof) by reason of his Corporate Status, whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under
this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. This
Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as an officer or director of the Company or any other Enterprise at the Company's request. 

    11.  Security.  To the extent requested by the Indemnitee and approved by the Board of Directors of the
Company, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to the Indemnitee for the Company's obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other
collateral. Any such security, once provided to the Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee. 

    12.  Enforcement.  

    (a) The
Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to
serve as an officer or director of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as an officer or director of the Company. 

    (b) This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. 

    13.  Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement: 

    (a) "Corporate
Status" describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the express written request of the Company. 

    (b) "Disinterested
Director" means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by
Indemnitee. 

    (c) "Enterprise"
shall mean the Company and any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is
or was serving at the express written request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary. 

7

 

    (d) "Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating
costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting,
defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding. 

    (e) "Independent
Counsel" means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five
years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this
Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing
either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to
fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto. 

    (f)  "Proceeding"
includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry,
administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him
or of any inaction on his part while acting as an officer or director of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee
or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise; in each case whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is
incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement; including one pending on or before the date of this Agreement; and excluding one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to
Section 7 of this Agreement to enforce his rights under this Agreement. 

    14.  Severability.  If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, illegal or otherwise unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal
or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the
provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not
itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby. 

    15.  Modification and Waiver.  No supplement, modification, termination or amendment of this Agreement
shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. 

    16.  Notice By Indemnitee.  Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served
with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder. The failure
to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which 

8

 

it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise unless and only to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company. 

    17.  Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by
certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed: 

    (a) If
to Indemnitee, to the address set forth below Indemnitee signature hereto. 

    (b) If
to the Company, to: 

Two
Circle Star Way

San Carlos, CA 94070

Attention: Chief Financial Officer 

or
to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be. 

    18.  Identical Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which
shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is
sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement. 

    19.  Headings.  The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and
shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof. 

    20.  Governing Law.  The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware without application of the conflict of laws principles thereof. 

    21.  Gender.  Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where
appropriate. 

9

    IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on and as of the day and year first above written. 

	 	 	LIBERATE TECHNOLOGIES
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

 	
 	

 
	 	 	 	 	

	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

 	
 	

 
	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	Name:	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Address:	 	 

QuickLinks

EXHIBIT 10.1

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTPrepared by MERRILL CORPORATION

QuickLinks
 -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

 
 

EXHIBIT 10.51    
  

 
 

SETTLEMENT AND MUTUAL RELEASE AGREEMENT    
  

    This Settlement and Mutual Release Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into between Charitableway, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Charitableway"), and
Liberate Technologies, a Delaware corporation ("Liberate"). Charitableway and Liberate are collectively referred to herein as the "Parties". 

PREAMBLE  

    Charitableway and Liberate entered into the Sublease Agreement dated February 17, 2000 (the "Lease"), pursuant to which Liberate leased certain premises
to Charitableway (the "Lease"). A copy of the Lease is attached as Exhibit "A" hereto, and incorporated herein by reference. 

    On
or about March 1, 2001, Charitableway notified Liberate of its intent to windup all business operations and dissolve the corporation. 

    By
executing this Agreement, Charitableway and Liberate desire and intend to permanently settle any and all rights and obligations of any kind arising out of the Lease or performance
thereunder. 

AGREEMENT  

    The Parties agree as follows: 

    This
Agreement is a compromise and shall not be construed as an admission of liability. 

    Charitableway
represents and warrants it has not assigned any of its rights or obligations arising out of the Lease and has the legal right to enter into the Agreement. 

    Liberate
represents and warrants it has not assigned any of its rights or obligations arising out of the Lease and has the legal right to enter into the Agreement. 

    Charitableway
agrees to pre-pay its rent for the period May 1, 2001 through October 6, 2001 to Liberate in the sum of six hundred thousand dollars (US
$600,000), less the deposit held by Liberate under the terms of the Lease in the amount of two hundred seventy nine thousand eight hundred ninety dollars (US $278,890.50), for a net total of three
hundred twenty thousand one hundred and ten dollars (US $321,109.50), within 10 days of the execution of this Agreement. Charitableway further agrees to make the premises available for
unencumbered use by Liberate or its authorized sub-tenant as of the close of business on April 30, 2001. Charitableway shall have no further obligations under the Lease. 

    Liberate,
on behalf of itself, its heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, hereby releases and forever discharges Charitableway, their agents, servants, employees,
officers, directors, shareholders, heirs, successors and assigns and any and all other named and unnamed parties or associations, of and from any and all claims, demands, actions or other damages, now
sustained or sustained in the future, arising out of or in any way connected with or resulting from the Lease or performance thereunder, including without limitation any and all obligations to pay
further monetary sums to Liberate. 

    Charitableway,
on behalf of itself, its heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, hereby releases and forever discharges Liberate, their agents, servants, employees,
officers, directors, shareholders, heirs, successors and assigns and any and all other named and unnamed parties or associations, of and from any and all claims, demands, actions or other damages, now
sustained or sustained in the future, arising out of or in any way connected with or resulting from the Agreement or performance thereunder, including without limitation all executory obligations. 

    This
is a full and final release applying to all unknown and unanticipated injuries or damages arising out of the Lease or performance thereunder as well as those now known or
disclosed, and the 

parties waive all rights or benefits which the parties now have or in the future may have under the terms of Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California which reads as follows: 

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

	Initial below:	 	Initial below:
	

/s/ D.K.
 Charitableway	
 	

/s/ M.K.
 Liberate

    The
parties agree this Settlement forever terminated the Lease and performance thereunder, and in the event any action is brought arising out of this Agreement or any failure of
consideration, such action shall be brought under this Agreement and not under the Lease. 

    This
Agreement and any disputes arising under, in connection with, or relating to this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of California, excluding its conflicts of
law rules, and any action thereon shall be brought and maintained solely in San Mateo County, California. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof,
shall be settled by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules, and judgment on the award rendered by the
arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. 

    The
parties each warrant and represent that in executing this Agreement, it has relied on legal advice from the respective attorney of its choice, and that the terms of this Agreement
and its consequences have been completely read and explained to that party by their attorney, and that the party fully understands the terms of the Agreement. Furthermore, each party acknowledges and
warrants that in executing this Agreement, it has not relied on any inducements, promises, or representations made by the other party or any party representing or serving the other party. 

    This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute on and the same instrument. 

	Liberate Technologies	 	Charitableway, Inc.
	

Two Circle Star Way

San Carlos, CA 94070	
 	

One Circle Star Way, 4th Floor

San Carlos, CA 94070
	

By:	
 	

/s/ MITCHELL KERTZMAN   
	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/ DEAN KAYES   

	Name:	 	Mitchell Kerztman
	 	Name:	 	Dean Kayes

	Title:	 	CEO
	 	Title:	 	Vice President

	Date:	 	May 15, 2001
	 	Date:	 	May 17, 2001

QuickLinks

EXHIBIT 10.51

SETTLEMENT AND MUTUAL RELEASE AGREEMENT

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00029-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00029-of-00352.parquet"}]]