Document:

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Exhibit 10.1 - Jarus Employment Agreement

June 12, 2001

Mr. Scott Jarus
9 Dewey Drive
New Brunswick, NJ  08901

Dear Scott,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of j2 Global Communications, Inc. (the
"Company"), I am pleased to offer you the position of President, reporting to
the Executive Committee of the Board or its designee. You will have
responsibility for the day-to-day management and direction of the Company.

This Agreement Letter shall serve as a formal agreement between you and the
Company for your employment:

     1.  Responsibilities: During the term of your employment, you shall devote
         your full-time, skill and attention to your duties and responsibilities
         and shall perform them faithfully, diligently, and competently. In
         addition, you shall comply with and be bound by the operating policies,
         procedures and practices of the Company in effect from time-to-time
         during your employment. You will perform services of an executive
         nature consistent with the President of the Company as may from time to
         time be reasonably assigned or delegated to you by the Executive
         Committee of the Board. Subject to the severance provisions in
         paragraph 8 below, nothing in this Agreement is intended to ensure that
         you will continue as the President, and you understand that you will
         serve in that position at the pleasure of the Board and the Executive
         Committee. Except as contemplated in paragraph 2 below, you agree that,
         during the term of your employment with the Company, you will not
         engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other
         business activity, in each case without the prior approval of the
         Board, nor will you engage in any other activities that conflict with
         your obligations to the Company.

     2.  Board Appointments: You will be permitted to maintain your current
         Board of Directors appointment at NetworkOSS, Inc. You will make every
         effort to avoid any distraction from your duties and responsibilities
         at the Company to serve on this or any other Board of Directors. In the
         event you resign your Board position with NetworkOSS, Inc, you will be
         permitted to accept a Board appointment from another company; provided,
         however, that you will first obtain approval from the Company's Board,
         which shall not be unreasonably withheld. All costs associated with
         your participation on an outside Board shall be borne by the respective
         company.

     3.  Start Date: Your start date will be Sunday, July 8, 2001, unless
         otherwise agreed to by both you and the Company.

     4.  Compensation: You will receive an initial weekly base salary of
         $5,192.30, which equates to $270,000 per year (the "Base Salary), and
         which will be paid bi-weekly in accordance with the Company's normal
         payroll procedures. In addition, you will be eligible to participate in
         the Company's Profit Sharing Plan. This program is discretionary and is
         managed by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of
         Directors. Your bonus target under the Profit Sharing Plan will be 50%
         of Base Salary for exceptional achievement. A description of the Profit
         Sharing Plan is attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement Letter. Your
                                     ---------
         level of achievement will be determined by the
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         Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. For less than
         exceptional achievement, the bonus may be between 0% and 50% of Base
         Salary.

     5.  Benefits: You will be eligible to participate in the Company's employee
         benefit plans, as outlined in the Company's Employee Handbook which
         will be sent to you prior to your Start Date, and as may be amended
         from time to time. Notwithstanding the above, you shall immediately
         qualify for vacation based upon tenure with the Company of "After Three
         Years of Employment" as described in the Employee Handbook.

     6.  Option Grants: Effective as of your Start Date, the Board will grant to
         you options (the "Stock Options") to purchase 250,000 shares of Common
         Stock in the Company. The strike price of your Stock Options will be
         set at the last reported sales price for Common Stock on your Start
         Date, as recorded by the NASDAQ. The Stock Options will have a ten-year
         term, will be governed by the Company's Second Amended and Restated
         1997 Stock Option Plan (the "Stock Option Plan"), and may require the
         execution of one or more stock option agreements (in accordance with
         the Stock Option Plan.) The Stock Options shall vest annually as set
         forth below:

     Anniversary of Start Date          Number of Shares
     -------------------------          ----------------
               1                        25%
               2                        25%
               3                        25%
               4                        25%

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, should your employment be terminated by the
Company for any reason other than with "Cause" and you are within 60 calendar
days of your Start Date anniversary, you shall be considered vested in that
year's stock options. To the extent permitted by the Internal Revenue Code and
applicable regulations, the Stock Option will be incentive stock options, with
the remainder being non-qualified stock options.

     7.  Relocation and Housing Assistance: The Company agrees to reimburse you
         for all reasonable expenses for you to relocate your family from New
         Brunswick, New Jersey to the greater Los Angeles, California area. This
         assistance will include real estate commission and closing costs
         incurred in selling your residence in New Jersey, all moving and
         storage costs, reasonable interim living expenses, and a reasonable
         move-in allowance (painting, etc.). The aggregate amount of this
         relocation assistance shall not exceed $60,000. Whenever possible, the
         Company will be billed directly, and will pay directly, all reasonable
         expenses related to your relocation, subject to the foregoing $60,000
         limit. The intent of the parties is that your reasonable relocation
         expenses, up to $60,000, shall not have an adverse personal tax effect.

     At your option, the Company shall provide to you, at the time you close the
purchase of your new Los Angeles-area residence, a second mortgage loan (the
"Mortgage") which shall be recourse to you and shall be secured by a second deed
of trust on your new Los Angeles-area residence. The amount of the Mortgage
shall not be greater than the lesser of the Net Equity Requirement (as
hereinafter defined) or $500,000. The "Net Equity Requirement" shall be equal to
the excess of the purchase price paid by you for your new Los Angeles-area
residence over the gross sales price (i.e., without deducting for any mortgages
satisfied at closing or for closing costs) obtained by you in connection with
the sale of your New Jersey residence. In the event you have not closed the sale
of your New Jersey residence at the time you close on your new Los Angeles-area
residence, the Net Equity Requirement will be estimated by the Company based
upon ninety percent (90%) of your broker's listing price (in the event your New
Jersey residence is not yet under contract) or the contract price (in the event
the residence is under contract), and the amount of the Mortgage will be
adjusted, as necessary, in the event the actual sales price at closing does not
reflect the foregoing estimate. The Mortgage

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shall be zero coupon and payable within five (5) years of your Start Date. The
Mortgage shall accrue interest throughout the entire five years at the lowest
interest rate required in order for the Mortgage to qualify as debt for tax
purposes. As of this date, the interest rate on the Mortgage would be 4.88%. If
you leave the Company voluntarily or are terminated by the Company with "Cause"
during the five years, you will be required to repay the balance of the Mortgage
within 60 calendar days following your last day with the Company. If you are
terminated by the Company without "Cause" or are constructively terminated
during the five years, you will be required to repay the balance of the Mortgage
no later than the date (the "Termination Anniversary") that is one (1) year
following your last day with the Company; provided, however, that, in such
event, you will also have the following two extension options: (a) at your
discretion, you will have the option to extend the Mortgage loan for a period
(the "First Extension Period") of six months following the Termination
Anniversary, provided that during the First Extension Period (i) the interest
rate on the Mortgage will be increased to the then market rate for comparable
second mortgage loans and (ii) you will be required to make monthly, interest-
only payments on the Mortgage (with such interest accruing on the sum of the
original principal balance plus all interest accrued thereon through the
Termination Anniversary); and (b) at your discretion, you will have a second
option to extend the Mortgage loan for a period (the "Second Extension Period")
of six months following the expiration of the First Extension Period, provided
that during the Second Extension Period (i) the interest rate on the Mortgage
will be increased to the then market rate for comparable second mortgage loans
plus an additional two percent (2.0%) and (ii) you will be required to continue
to make monthly, interest-only payments on the Mortgage (with such interest
accruing on the sum of the original principal balance plus all interest accrued
thereon through the Termination Anniversary).

     8.  Employment Contract: The Board agrees to employ you on your Start Date
         and, by signing this Agreement Letter, you accept such employment
         subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein. The
         Company and you understand and agree that this Agreement Letter and
         your employment may be terminated at any time by the Company with or
         without "Cause", or by you for any or no reason. On termination of this
         Agreement Letter, all benefits and compensation shall cease as of the
         date of such termination, but nothing in this provision is intended to
         alter the specific severance provisions contained below in this
         paragraph 8 relating to either a termination by the Company without
         "Cause", or a termination by you following a "constructive
         termination."

         a)   Involuntary Termination: If your employment under this Agreement
              terminates upon notice by the Company to you or you suffer a
              "constructive termination" (as defined below) by the actions of
              the Company, for any reason other than with "Cause" (as defined
              below), you will be entitled to severance payments equal to your
              then base salary, plus continued participation in the Company's
              health (medical and dental) insurance coverage that is in effect
              at the time of termination, in each case for six months from the
              date of termination. In such event, your right to exercise all
              vested Stock Options would be extended until 90 days following
              your termination date (as outlined in the Stock Option Plan) and
              you will forego all unvested Stock Options (except as otherwise
              provided in paragraph 6 above).

     If, during the period of your severance, you become employed by another
company (or are engaged as a consultant under an arrangement providing
comparable benefits), the balance of your severance payments, including health
insurance coverage, will cease.

         b)   Voluntary Termination: If you voluntarily choose to resign your
              position for any reason other than a constructive termination, you
              will not be eligible for continuing base salary or health
              insurance coverage, and you will be required to exercise all
              vested Stock Options within a period of 90 days following the
              effective date of your resignation (as outlined in the Stock
              Option Plan), and you will forego all unvested Stock Options.

              If you voluntarily resign your position due to a disability (as
              defined below), you will have up to

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              12 months to exercise your vested Stock Options.

         c)   Termination Following a Change of Control: If, within one year
              following a "Change of Control" (as defined in the Stock Option
              Plan) of the Company, you are either terminated without "Cause" or
              constructively terminated, your severance payments and continuing
              health insurance benefits shall be as outlined in a) above, and
              all of the then unvested Stock Options shall immediately vest.

         d)   Termination For "Cause": If your employment under this Agreement
              terminates upon notice by the Company to you with "Cause" (as
              defined below), you will be required to exercise all vested Stock
              Options within 60 days after such termination, will not be
              entitled to receive any base salary or any continuing employee
              benefits as severance, and will forego all unvested Stock Options
              (as outlined in the Stock Option Plan); provided, however, that if
              the "Cause" event giving rise to such termination has caused
              actual monetary or financial damage to the Company, then you will
              also forego all vested Stock Options (all of which shall
              immediately cease to be exercisable).

         e)   Definition of "Cause": The term "Cause" shall mean (1) the
              willful, demonstrable and continued failure by you to
              substantially perform the material duties of your position under
              this Agreement Letter in a competent manner or to follow any
              lawful directive of the Board of Directors consistent with your
              duties hereunder (other than by reason of your disability (as
              defined below)), which failure goes unremedied for a 30-day period
              following written notice to you from the Board or the Executive
              Committee or its designee stating that you are not adequately
              performing your duties, (2) conduct by you that materially
              violates Company policies, (3) your engaging in acts that
              constitute, your written confession to, or your conviction of
              either (a) a felony, or (b) any lesser crime that involves moral
              turpitude, theft, fraud or dishonesty, in each case under
              applicable state or federal law, (4) your intentional violation of
              any confidentiality obligations to the Company, (5) declaration by
              a judicial court that you are insane or incompetent to manage your
              business affairs, or (6) your engaging in harassment of other
              employees (provided that it is understood that mere allegation of
              harassment shall not constitute "Cause" unless supported by
              reasonably probative evidence based upon legal standards or
              precedent established under applicable state or federal law).

         f)   Definition of "constructive termination": "Constructive
              termination" is defined as: (i) a significant reduction in your
              responsibilities, (ii) a change in place of your employment
              outside of the greater Los Angeles, California area, or (iii) a
              reduction in your base salary.

         g)   Definition of "disability": "Disability" is defined as your
              becoming disabled due to a medically determinable physical or
              mental condition to an extent that you are unable to perform the
              essential functions of your job as President, with or without
              reasonable accommodation, and such inability continues or can
              reasonably be expected to continue for a period of one hundred
              twenty (120) consecutive days.

         h)   Non-Solicitation, Non-Disparagement: In consideration of this
              Agreement, upon separation from the Company for any cause, you
              will, for a period of one year after the later of (1) your
              separation and (2) the expiration of the Company's severance
              obligations, if any, refrain from (i) disparaging the Company, its
              products, or its Board, management, employees, shareholders or
              agents; (ii) soliciting any employee or consultant of the Company
              to terminate or lessen the extent of his, her or its relationship
              with the Company; (iii) soliciting any customer of the Company to
              terminate or lessen the extent of his, her or its relationship
              with the Company; and (iv) engaging in any activity to interfere
              with, disrupt or damage the business of the Company or its
              relationships with any of its clients, customers, distributors,
              suppliers, investors or other financial co-venturer or other
              business relationship.

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     9.  Confidentiality Agreement: Upon execution of this Agreement you shall
         also execute the Employment, Confidential Information and Invention
         Assignment Agreement attached as Exhibit B.
                                          ---------

     10. Remedies: You acknowledge that the Company will suffer irreparable harm
         if you breach this Agreement. Accordingly, the Company will be
         entitled, in addition to any other right and remedy it may have, at law
         or equity, to a temporary restraining order and/or injunction, without
         the posting of a bond or other security, or proving of actual damages,
         enjoining or restraining you from any violations of the Agreement, and
         your consent to the Company's right to these remedies. If either party
         initiates or becomes a party to an arbitration or a formal proceeding
         in law or equity involving this Agreement, and if either party obtains
         a substantial portion of the relief requested by that party (the
         "prevailing party"), then the "non-prevailing party" will pay all
         reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any such legal proceedings on
         both sides. If neither party prevails or obtains a substantial portion
         of the relief requested, then each party will bear their respective own
         legal expenses.

     11. Entire Understanding: This Agreement constitutes the entire
         understanding and agreement between the Company and you with regard to
         the terms of your employment. This Agreement may be amended in writing
         executed by both the Company and you.

This Agreement will be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
State of California.

You will be responsible for reading, and following, the Company's Employee
Handbook and expense guidelines, except to the extent that any provision therein
is inconsistent with the Company's severance obligations hereunder.

Applicable employment regulations will require that you complete a Form W-4 and
Form I-9 upon employment providing verification of your legal right to work in
the United States.

If this Agreement Letter reflects your understanding of the matters set forth
above, please so indicate by signing the Acknowledgment below and returning the
original of this Agreement to me.

This Agreement Letter is subject to approval by the Board of Directors of the
Company, and the approval by the Company of a background check acceptable to the
Company in its sole discretion, each of which the Company will either obtain (or
approve) or fail to obtain (or disapprove) no later than June 22, 2001, and
failing which you will have the right to terminate this Agreement Letter.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Richard S. Ressler

Richard S. Ressler
Chairman of the Board
j2 Global Communications, Inc.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

         I accept the position of President of under the terms and conditions of
this Agreement. I understand and acknowledge that my employment with the Company
is for an unspecified duration and constitutes "at-will" employment. I
acknowledge that this employment relationship may be terminated at any time,
with or without good cause or for any or no cause, at the option either of the
Company or myself. This paragraph sets forth the entire agreement between the
Company and me with respect to my tenure of

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employment. I understand and agree that this employment at-will relationship may
not be modified, except in a writing signed by both me and the Chairman of the
Board of the Company.

         /s/ Scott Jarus                          June 20, 2001
--------------------------------                  ---------------
         Scott Jarus                              Date

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Exhibit A
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                 j2 Global Communications Profit Sharing Plan

         j2 Global has established a profit sharing plan for its executives and
eligible managers designed to encourage and reward management for improving the
profitability of the Company. Our Compensation Committee currently administers
this plan. Payments under this plan are based on j2 Global's Adjusted
Profitability.

         For purposes of this plan, "Adjusted Profitability" means j2 Global's
net income, plus goodwill, and minus certain non-cash income. Adjusted
Profitability is measured beginning with the first month that it is greater than
zero (there are no offsets for prior months). Under this plan, which is
effective only for 2001, j2 Global will contribute $250,000 to a profit sharing
pool if the Adjusted Profitability for 2001 is at least $1 million, and will
contribute an additional $250,000 for each additional $1 million of Adjusted
Profitability for 2001 beyond the first $1 million. The total amount that can be
contributed to this pool is capped at $1 million.

         In order to allow all of j2 Global's employees to participate in the
Company's success, 10% of this pool is shifted into the Recognition and Reward
Plan that is funded by j2 Global with a percentage of non-executive salaries for
distribution to employees generally (other than those directly participating in
the profit sharing plan) based on extraordinary individual or team performance.
The balance of the profit sharing pool will be distributed among executives and
eligible management as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole
discretion.

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Exhibit B
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                   EMPLOYMENT, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND
                        INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

         As a condition of my employment with j2 Global Communications, Inc.,
its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns (together the "Company"),
and in consideration of my employment with the Company and my receipt of the
compensation now and hereafter paid to me by the Company, I, Scott Jarus, agree
to the following:

         1. At-Will Employment. I understand and acknowledge that my employment
            ------------------
with the Company is for an unspecified duration and constitutes "at-will"
employment. I acknowledge that this employment relationship may be terminated at
any time, with or without good cause or for any or no cause, at the option
either of the Company or myself.

         2. Confidential Information.
            ------------------------

              (a) Company Information. I agree at all times during the term
                  -------------------
of my employment and thereafter, to hold in strictest confidence, and not to
use, except for the benefit of the Company, or to disclose to any person, firm
or corporation without written authorization of the Board of Directors of the
Company, any Confidential Information of the Company. I understand that
"Confidential Information" means any confidential or proprietary information,
technical data, trade secrets or know-how, including, but not limited to,
research, product plans, products, services, customer lists, customers and
customer information, vendor lists, vendors and vendor information, markets,
software, developments, inventions, processes, formulas, technology, designs,
drawings, engineering, hardware configuration information, marketing
information, finances, financial information or other business information or
other subject matter, pertaining to any business of the Company or any of its
employees, clients, consultants or licensees and disclosed to me by the Company
either directly or indirectly in writing, orally or by drawings or observation
of parts or equipment. I further understand that Confidential Information does
not include any of the foregoing items which has become publicly known and made
generally available through no wrongful act of mine or of others who were under
confidentiality obligations as to the item or items involved. I acknowledge and
agree that the Confidential Information is the exclusive and valuable property
of the Company and may not be used by me for any purpose of any kind, directly
or indirectly, except during the term of my employment with the Company for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the Company in my capacity as an employee of the
Company and that the success of the Company may depend upon my observance of my
covenants in this Agreement

              (b) Former Employer Information. I agree that I will not, during
                  ---------------------------
my 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 that I will 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. I recognize that the Company has
                  -----------------------
received and in the future will receive from third parties their confidential or
proprietary information subject to a duty on the Company's part to maintain the
confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited
purposes. I agree to hold all such confidential or proprietary information 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 my work for the
Company consistent with the Company's agreement with such third party.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

              (d) Survival. The provisions of this Section 2 shall survive
                  --------
any termination of my employment with the Company for any reason. The provisions
of this Section 2 are not limited as to duration or geographic scope.

              (e) Affiliates. For purposes of this Section 2, the term "Company"
                  ----------
shall include the Company and its affiliates, including any entity that directly
or indirectly controls the business and affairs of the Company or is controlled
by or under common control with the Company.

         3. Inventions.
            ----------

              (a) Inventions Retained and Licensed. I have attached hereto,
                  --------------------------------
as Schedule 1, a list describing all inventions, original works of authorship,
   --------
developments, improvements, and trade secrets which were made by me prior to my
employment with the Company (collectively referred to as "Prior Inventions"),
which belong to me, which relate to the Company's proposed business, products or
research and development, and which are not assigned to the Company hereunder;
or, if no such list is attached, I represent that there are no such Prior
Inventions. If in the course of my employment with the Company, I incorporate
into a Company product, process or machine a Prior Invention owned by me or in
which I have 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.

              (b) Assignment of Inventions. I agree that I will promptly make
                  ------------------------
full written disclosure to the Company, will hold in trust for the sole right
and benefit of the Company, and hereby assign to the Company, or its designee,
all my right, title, and interest in and to (i) any and all inventions, original
works of authorship, developments, concepts, improvements or trade secrets,
whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar laws, that I
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 I am in
the employ of the Company, and (ii) do hereby so assign any and all proprietary
information, trade secrets that underlie, are summarized, embodied or described
in, the Company's business plans prepared prior to or on the date hereof, and
all copyrights, whether or not registered, therefore, all trade secrets and/or
proprietary information and all other intellectual property rights, no matter
how described or denominated, described, contained or reflected therein or
related thereto that I have conceived, invented, created or reduced to practice
(either prior to the date hereof or at anytime during the term of my employment)
in furtherance thereof (collectively referred to as "Inventions"), provided,
however, that "Inventions" shall not include any property that is not related to
the Company's business, except if it is created in connection with the
performance of services for the Company or created using Company property. I
further acknowledge that all original works of authorship that are made by me
(solely or jointly with others) within the scope of and during the period of my
employment with the Company and which are protectible by copyright are "works
made for hire," as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act.

              (c) Inventions Assigned to the United States. I agree to assign to
                  ----------------------------------------
the United States government all my 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. I agree to keep and maintain adequate
                  ----------------------
and current written records of all Inventions made by me (solely or jointly with
others) during the term of my 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

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

Company at all times.

              (e) Patent and Copyright Registrations. I agree to 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. I further agree that my obligation to execute or cause to be
executed, when it is in my power to do so, any such instrument or papers shall
continue after the termination of my employment with the Company. If the Company
is unable to secure my 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
because of my mental or physical incapacity or because the Company is unable to
reach me after using its good faith reasonable efforts, then I hereby
irrevocably designate and appoint the Company and its duly authorized officers
and agents as my agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in my 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 me.

              (f) NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION
3, I AM HEREBY NOTIFIED BY THE COMPANY THAT SUCH PROVISIONS DO NOT APPLY TO ANY
INVENTION THAT QUALIFIES FULLY UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 2870 OF THE
CALIFORNIA LABOR CODE. BY MY SIGNATURE BELOW, I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF
SUCH NOTIFICATION.

              (g) Survival. The provisions of this Section 3 shall survive any
                  --------
termination of my employment with the Company for any reason. The provisions of
this Section 3 are not limited as to duration or geographic scope.

              (h) Affiliates. For purposes of this Section 3, the term "Company"
                  ----------
shall include the Company and its affiliates, including any entity that directly
or indirectly controls the business and affairs of the Company or is controlled
by or under common control with the Company.

         4. Conflicting Employment. I agree that, during the term of my
            ----------------------
employment with the Company, except as contemplated in paragraph 2 of the
Agreement Letter regarding my employment, I will not engage in any other
employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity, in each case
without the prior approval of the Board, nor will I engage in any other
activities that conflict with my obligations to the Company.

         5. Returning Company Documents. I agree that, at the time of leaving
            ---------------------------
the employ of the Company, I will deliver to the Company (and will not keep in
my possession, recreate or deliver to anyone else) any and all devices, records
(electronic or otherwise), data, notes, reports, proposals, lists,
correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials,
equipment, other documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned
items developed by me pursuant to my employment with the Company or otherwise
belonging to the Company, its successors or assigns or otherwise constituting,
representing or reflecting either (a) Confidential Information of the Company,
its successors or assigns or (b) Inventions. In the event of the termination of
my employment, I agree to sign and deliver the "Termination Certification"
attached hereto as Schedule 2. For purposes of this Section 5, the term
                   ----------

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

"Company" shall include the Company and its affiliates, including any entity
that directly or indirectly controls the business and affairs of the Company or
is controlled by or under common control with the Company.

         6. Notification of New Employer. In the event that I leave the employ
            ----------------------------
of the Company, I hereby grant consent to notification by the Company to my new
employer about my rights and obligations under this Agreement.

         7. Non-Disparagement; Non-Solicitation.
            -----------------------------------

              7.1 In consideration of the rights and benefits to be provided to
me by the Company, I agree that so long as I am an employee or consultant of the
Company and in addition for the Restrictive Period (as hereinafter defined) I
shall not directly or indirectly:

                  7.1.1  Disparage the Company, its products, or its Board,
management, employees, shareholders or agents.

                  7.1.2  Solicit any employee or consultant of the Company to
terminate or lessen the extent of his, her or its relationship with the Company.

                  7.1.3  Solicit any customer of the Company to terminate or
lessen the extent of his, her or its relationship with the Company (without
limiting my obligation to keep confidential and to not make any use of any
Confidential Information relating to any such customer, which obligations shall
survive the Restricted Period).

                  7.1.4  Engage in any activity to interfere with, disrupt or
damage the business of the Company or its relationships with any of its clients,
customers, distributors, suppliers, investors or other financial co-venturer or
other business relationship (without limiting my obligation to keep confidential
and to not make any use of any Confidential Information relating to any such
clients, customers, distributors, suppliers, investors or other financial co-
venturer, which obligations shall survive the Restricted Period).

                  7.1.5  For the purposes of this Section 7.1, the term
"Restrictive Period" shall mean the period from the date of this Agreement (or
any predecessor thereof) through one year after the later of (1) my separation
from the Company and (2) the expiration of the Company's severance obligations
to me, if any.

              7.2 Following termination of my employment by the Company for any
reason, I shall continue to observe and be bound by the covenants under Section
7.1 for the Restrictive Period. The provisions of Section 7.1 are not limited as
to geographic scope.

              7.3 For purposes of this Section 7, the term "Company" shall
include the Company and its affiliates, including any entity that directly or
indirectly controls the business and affairs of the Company or is controlled by
or under common control with the Company.

         8. Conflict of Interest Guidelines. I agree to diligently adhere to the
            -------------------------------
Conflict of Interest Guidelines attached as Schedule 3 hereto.
                                            ----------

         9. Representations. I agree to execute any proper oath or verify any
            ---------------
proper document required to carry out the terms of this Agreement. I represent
that my performance of all the terms of this Agreement will not breach any
agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information acquired by me in

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

confidence or in trust prior to my employment by the Company. I have not entered
into, and I agree I will not enter into, any oral or written agreement in
conflict herewith.

         10. Equitable Relief.
             ----------------

               I agree that it would be impossible or inadequate to measure
and calculate the Company's damages from any breach of the covenants set forth
in Sections 2, 3, 5 and 7 herein. Accordingly, I agree that if I breach any of
such Sections, the 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 of this Agreement. I further agree that no
bond or other security shall be required in obtaining such equitable relief and
I hereby consent to the issuance of such injunction and to the ordering of
specific performance.

         11. General Provisions.
             ------------------

               (a)  Governing Law; Consent to Personal Jurisdiction. This
                    -----------------------------------------------
Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of California, without
reference to choice of laws or conflict of laws principles. I hereby expressly
consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in
California for any lawsuit filed there against me by the Company arising from or
relating to this Agreement.

               (b)  Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire
                    ----------------
agreement and understanding between the Company and me relating to the subject
matter herein and merges all prior discussions between us. 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. Any
subsequent change or changes in my duties, salary or compensation will not
affect the validity or scope of this Agreement.

               (c)  Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or any
                    ------------
part hereof or the application hereof to any person or circumstance shall be
finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or by any arbitration
panel to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this
Agreement, or the remainder of such provision or the application of such
provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it has been
held invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby and each provision
of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent
permitted by law. The parties also agree that if any portion of this Agreement,
or any part hereof or application hereof, to any person or circumstance shall be
finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitration panel to
be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, then such objectionable provision
shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary so as to make it valid,
reasonable and enforceable.

               (d)  Successors and Assigns. This Agreement will be binding
                    ----------------------
upon my heirs, executors, administrators and other legal representatives and
will be for the benefit of the Company, its successors, and its assigns.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereby execute this Agreement as of the date
written below.

                                -----------------------------------
                                   Scott Jarus

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

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

                                   Date

------------------------
Witness

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 1
                                  ----------

                           LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS
                       AND ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP

                                          Identifying Number or
    Title                   Date          Brief Description
  ---------               --------        -----------------------

____ No inventions or improvements

____ Additional Sheets Attached

Signature of Employee: __________________________

Print Name of Employee: _________________________

Date:

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 2
                                  ----------

                           TERMINATION CERTIFICATION

     This is to certify that I do not have in my possession, nor have I failed
to return, any devices, records (electronic or otherwise), data, notes, reports,
proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints,
sketches, materials, equipment, other documents or property, or reproductions of
any aforementioned items belonging to j2 Global Communications Inc., its
subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns (together, the "Company") or
otherwise constituting, representing or reflecting either Confidential
Information (as defined in my Employment, Confidential Information and Invention
Assignment Agreement ) of the Company or Inventions (as defined in my
Employment, Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement ).

     I further certify that I have complied with all the terms of the Company's
Employment Confidential Information and Invention Assignment 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 Employment, Confidential
Information and Invention Assignment Agreement, I will preserve as confidential,
and will make no use of, any confidential or proprietary information, technical
data, trade secrets or know-how, including, but not limited to, research,
product plans, products, services, customer lists, customers and customer
information, vendor lists, vendors and vendor information, markets, software,
developments, inventions, processes, formulas, technology, designs, drawings,
engineering, hardware configuration information, marketing information,
finances, financial information or other business 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 until one year after the later of (1) my separation
from the Company and (2) the expiration of the Company's severance obligations
to me, if any, I will not undertake any actions in violation of Section 7 of my
Employment, Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement.

Signature of Employee: __________________________

Print Name of Employee:

Date:  ____________, ______

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 3
                                  ----------

                        CONFLICT OF INTEREST GUIDELINES

     It is the policy of j2 Global Communications, Inc. 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 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
the Company. The following are potentially compromising situations which must be
avoided. Any exceptions must be reported to the President or Chief Executive
Officer 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 the
Company is intended. (The Employment, Confidential Information and Invention
Assignment Agreement elaborates on this principle and is a binding agreement.)

     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 the Company.

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

     4.   Initiating or approving personnel actions affecting reward or
punishment of employees or applicants where there is a family relationship or is
or appears to be a personal or social involvement (other than as officers of the
Company appointed by the Board of Directors).

     5.   Initiating or approving any form of personal, sexual or social
harassment of employees.

     6.   Making a material investment in 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 the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I shall be
permitted to make wholly passive investments in any publicly-held entity so long
as such investment does not exceed 1% of the outstanding voting capital stock of
such entity.

     7.   Borrowing from or lending to employees, customers or suppliers.

     8.   Acquiring real estate of interest to the Company.

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

     10.  Discussing prices, costs, customers, sales or markets with competing
companies or their employees, except as may be required during the normal course
of mergers, acquisitions, strategic alliances or other similar joint business
opportunities.

     11.  Making any unlawful agreement with distributors with respect to
prices.

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

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

     13.  Engaging in any conduct which is not in the best interest of the
Company.

     Each officer, employee 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 the involuntary termination of your employment
with the Company.

                                      -17-<PAGE>

Exhibit 10.2 - Jarus Promissory Note Secured by Deed of Trust

                   PROMISSORY NOTE SECURED BY DEED OF TRUST
                   ----------------------------------------

U.S. $500,000.00                                                   July 19, 2001

                             W I T N E S S E T H:
                              - - - - - - - - - -

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, SCOTT JARUS and REBECCA JARUS, each an individual
residing at 1711 6th Street, Manhattan Beach, California 90266 (collectively,
"Borrowers"), hereby promise, jointly and severally, to pay J2 GLOBAL
 ---------
COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a Delaware corporation having an office at 6922 Hollywood
Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, California 90028 or any subsequent assignee of
this Note ("Lender"), the principal sum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
            ------
($500,000.00), with interest on the unpaid balance of such amount from the date
of this Note until repaid, at the rate of interest specified herein. This Note
evidences Borrowers' obligation to repay a loan (the "Loan") made by Lender to
                                                      ----
Borrowers in the principal amount hereof on the date hereof and is secured by
(a) a Deed of Trust, dated as of July 19, 2001, made by Borrowers in favor of
Lawyers Title Company for the benefit of Lender (the "Deed of Trust"), on the
                                                      -------------
premises commonly known as 1711 6th Street, Manhattan Beach, California 90266
(the "Property"), and more fully described in the Deed of Trust, and (b) all
      --------
other security given to Lender by Borrowers and other related parties as
collateral for the Loan (such documents, as they may be amended from time to
time, and other documents which may hereafter be given to Lender by Borrowers
and other related parties as further security for, or in connection with, the
Loan (including, without limitation, any Uniform Commercial Code Financing
Statements) being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Security
                                                               --------
Documents", and the Security Documents and this Note being hereinafter
---------
collectively referred to as the "Loan Documents.")
                                 --------------

     As used herein: "Business Day" means a day other than (i) a Saturday or
                      ------------
Sunday, or (ii) a day on which banking institutions located in Los Angeles,
California are required or authorized by law or other government action to be
closed; "Applicable Rate" means (i) at any time prior to the Without Cause
         ---------------
Anniversary Date (as hereinafter defined), 4.88%, (ii) on or after the Without
Cause Anniversary Date but prior to the Without Cause 18-month Anniversary Date,
the sum of the Prime Rate plus 1.00%, and (iii) on or after the Without Cause
18-month Anniversary Date, the sum of the Prime Rate plus 3.00% ; "Prime Rate"
                                                                   ----------
means, on any date, the current "base rate" of interest announced by Bank of
America, N.A. as its prime rate of interest, provided that if such bank shall
cease to publish such a base rate, then the "Prime Rate" shall be the rate
                                             ----------
announced as the prime rate of interest by the largest bank in California (as
measured by deposits) that publishes a prime rate of interest; "Without Cause
                                                                -------------
Anniversary Date" means the date that is that is exactly one (1) year following
----------------
Scott Jarus' last day of employment with the Company (as hereinafter defined);
"Without Cause 18-month Anniversary Date" means the date that is exactly six (6)
 ---------------------------------------
calendar months following the Without Cause Anniversary Date; and "Interest
                                                                   --------
Period" means any of the following periods, as applicable: (i) the period
------
beginning on the date of this Note and ending on July 31, 2001; and (ii) each
succeeding calendar month beginning with the first day of such calendar month
and ending with the last day of such calendar month, to and including the
Maturity Date.

     1.   Maturity Date. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
          -------------
the entire amount remaining due hereunder (including all principal (including
all Capitalized Deferred Interest (as hereinafter defined)) and accrued but
unpaid interest thereon (including all interest accrued on all Capitalized
Deferred Interest) shall be due and payable to Lender on July 8, 2006 (the
"Maturity Date") or on such earlier date as may be required or permitted under
 -------------
the terms of this Note; provided, however, that (a) if Scott Jarus' employment
                        --------  -------
with j2 Global Communications, Inc. (hereinafter referred to, in its capacity as
Mr. Jarus' employer, as the "Company") either is terminated by the Company
                             -------
without "Cause" (as such term is defined in the employment agreement letter
<PAGE>

dated June 12, 2001 between Mr. Jarus and the Company (the "Employment
                                                            ----------
Agreement")) or is "constructively terminated" (as defined in the Employment
---------
Agreement), in each case prior to July 8, 2004, then the Maturity Date shall be
accelerated to the date that is exactly two (2) years following Mr. Jarus' last
day of employment with the Company; and (b) if Mr. Jarus either voluntarily
terminates his employment with the Company (without constructive termination
under the Employment Agreement) or is terminated by the Company with "Cause" (as
defined in the Employment Agreement), in each case prior to May 9, 2006, then
the Maturity Date shall be accelerated to the date that is exactly sixty (60)
days following Mr. Jarus' last day of employment with the Company.

     2.   Interest Rate.
          -------------

     (a)  Rate. Outstanding balances of principal of the Loan shall, subject to
          ----
subsection (b) of this Section 2, bear interest for each day at a rate equal to
the Applicable Rate for such day.

     (b)  Calculations. The interest rate hereunder (i) shall be based on a year
          ------------
of 365 days and actual days elapsed and (ii) when based on the Prime Rate, shall
change automatically from time to time effective as of the effective date of
each change in the Prime Rate.

     3.   Payment of Interest and Principal.
          ---------------------------------

     (a)  All interest on the outstanding principal balance hereof (including,
without limitation, all Capitalized Deferred Interest (as hereinafter defined))
shall be due and payable in arrears on the last day of each Interest Period
(each such date, a "Payment Date"); provided, however, that with respect to each
                    ------------    --------  -------
Payment Date occurring prior to the Without Cause Anniversary Date, Borrowers
will not be required to pay installments of interest otherwise due and payable
hereunder on such Payment Date.

     (b)  The amount of interest that accrues on the outstanding principal
balance hereof during each Interest Period prior to the Without Cause
Anniversary Date shall be known as "Deferred Interest" and on the Payment Date
                                    -----------------
immediately preceding the Without Cause Anniversary Date shall be capitalized
into, added to and become a part of, the outstanding principal balance hereof,
and thereafter interest on the amount of the Deferred Interest so capitalized
(such Deferred Interest so capitalized, the "Capitalized Deferred Interest")
                                             -----------------------------
shall accrue at the Applicable Rate in accordance with Section 2.

     4.   Prepayment. Borrowers shall have the right to prepay this Note in
          ----------
whole or in part at any time, without premium or penalty. Borrowers shall give
Lender not less than five (5) days' prior written notice of prepayment,
specifying the prepayment date and the principal amount to be prepaid. Such
prior notice of prepayment having been given, on the date specified in such
notice, the principal portion of the Note so specified, together with interest
thereon to such date, shall become due and payable on such prepayment date. In
certain circumstances described in the Deed of Trust following a casualty or
condemnation with respect to the Property, Borrowers shall be required to prepay
this Note in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.

     5.   Payment. All payments of principal and interest on this Note shall be
          -------
paid to Lender, or as Lender may otherwise designate, on the date the same is
due, in lawful money of the United States which shall be legal tender for the
payment of all debts and dues, public and private, at the time of payment
without any counterclaim, set-off or deduction whatsoever (except as herein
expressly provided) and without any prior demand therefor. All references to
"Dollars" or "$" herein refer to United States of America dollars. All payments
of principal and interest on this Note are payable at Lender's office or at such
other place as Lender shall notify Borrowers in writing upon not less than three
(3) Business Days' prior written notice. Any payment required to be made
hereunder which is due on a day which is not a Business Day shall not be due on
such day, but shall be due on the next Business Day. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, Lender

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

reserves the right to require any payment on this Note, whether such payment is
of a regular installment or represents a prepayment or final payment of
principal, to be paid by wired federal funds, certified check, bank check,
treasurer's check or cashier's check or other immediately available funds or to
be paid at a place other than the address as set forth in Section 15 herein
pursuant to instructions given to Borrowers by Lender not less than three (3)
Business Days prior to the date such payment is payable.

     6.   Application of Payments.
          -----------------------

     (a)  Lender shall apply all payments received hereunder as follows: first,
to interest currently due and payable; second, to any portion of the outstanding
principal balance currently due and payable. To the extent there is any
delinquency in the payment of any amount due hereunder, Lender shall apply all
payments first to the payment of said delinquency and the balance in accordance
with the terms of this Note.

     (b)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, in the
event that there shall have occurred an event of default under the Deed of
Trust, Lender, in its discretion, may apply any payment under this Note in
accordance with the provisions of the Deed of Trust.

     7.   Default Rate. In the event Borrowers (i) fail to pay when due any
          ------------
installment of interest within three (3) Business Days after due hereunder, or
(ii) fail to pay when due the principal hereof as required hereunder, in
addition to the rights Lender has as set forth in Section 8 hereof, such sums
shall bear interest at a rate (the "Default Rate") equal to the greater of (a)
                                    ------------
the then applicable Applicable Rate or (b) the rate of ten percent (10.0%) per
annum, computed from the date such payment was due and payable to the date of
receipt of such installment by Lender in good and immediately available funds.

     8.   Default. Borrowers will be in default under this Note should any of
          -------
the following occur:

          a.   Borrowers fail to pay any amounts due under this Note when due;

          b.   Borrowers fail to observe any other term or condition of this
     Note, the Deed of Trust, or any other Loan Document;

          c.   Borrowers become insolvent or any proceeding in bankruptcy or
     insolvency is commenced against Borrowers;

          d.   Borrowers take advantage of any insolvency law; or

          e.   A receiver or conservator for the property of Borrowers is
     appointed.

If Borrowers are in default, Lender shall have the right, in its sole
discretion, to declare all outstanding principal, accrued and unpaid interest,
and all other outstanding sums, fees, and charges due under this Note to be
immediately due and payable in full, without notice or further grace except to
the extent required by the Deed of Trust. Upon such default, Lender will also
have all rights and remedies available under law, including without limitation
under the Deed of Trust with respect to the Property and under the California
Uniform Commercial Code with respect to any other collateral provided by
Borrowers to Lender. Borrowers also agree to pay Lender's cost of collection and
attorneys' fees.

     9.   Expenses of Collection. Borrowers agree to pay all costs and expenses
          ----------------------
of collection incurred by Lender (including, without limitation, reasonable
attorneys' fees and disbursements) resulting from a default, in addition to
principal, interest and late or delinquency charges, and including all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the pursuit by Lender of any of its rights
or remedies referred to herein or the protection of or realization of collateral
or in connection with any of Lender's collection efforts, and all such costs and
expenses

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

shall be payable on demand (and all such costs and expenses actually paid by
Lender shall bear interest at the Default Rate from the date of such demand
until the date such sums are paid to Lender) and also shall be secured by the
Deed of Trust and all other collateral at any time held by Lender as security
for Borrower's obligations to Lender. If Lender institutes a suit in connection
with its collection efforts, Lender shall not be reimbursed for its costs and
expenses in connection with any such suit unless Lender shall prevail in such
suit and obtain a final and non-appealable judgment in connection therewith, or
if no appeal is filed, then the period for filing an appeal shall have expired.

     10.  No Waiver by Lender. No failure on the part of Lender or other holder
          -------------------
hereof to exercise any right or remedy hereunder, whether before or after the
happening of a default, shall constitute a waiver of such default, any future
default or of any other default. No failure to accelerate the debt evidenced
hereby by reason of default hereunder, or acceptance of a past due installment,
or indulgence granted from time to time shall be construed to be a waiver of the
right (a) to insist upon prompt payment or (b) to impose late or delinquency
charges thereafter or (c) to impose such charges retroactively, nor shall it be
deemed to be a novation of this Note or as a reinstatement of the debt evidenced
hereby or as a waiver of such right of acceleration or any other right, nor be
construed so as to preclude the exercise of any right which Lender may have,
whether by the laws of the state governing this Note, by agreement or otherwise,
and each of Borrowers hereby expressly waive the benefit of any statute or rule
of law or equity which would produce a result contrary to or in conflict with
the foregoing. This Note may not be changed orally, but only by an agreement in
writing signed by the party against whom such agreement is sought to be
enforced.

     11.  Waiver of Presentment, Protest, etc. Borrowers, for themselves and
          ------------------------------------
their respective heirs, successors and assigns, hereby waive presentment,
protest, demand, diligence, notice of dishonor and of nonpayment, and waive and
renounces all rights to the benefits of any statute of limitations and any
moratorium, appraisement, exemption and homestead now provided or which may
hereafter be provided by any federal or state statute, including, but not
limited to, exemptions provided by or allowed under any federal or state
bankruptcy or insolvency laws, both as to themselves and as to all of their
individual and jointly-owned property, whether real or personal, against the
enforcement and collection of the obligations evidenced by this Note and any and
all extensions, renewals and modifications hereof.

     12.  Maximum Amount. It is the intention of Borrowers and Lender to conform
          --------------
strictly to the usury and other laws relating to interest from time to time in
force, and all agreements among Borrower and Lender, whether now existing or
hereafter arising and whether oral or written, are hereby expressly limited so
that in no contingency or event whatsoever, whether by acceleration of maturity
hereof or otherwise, shall the amount paid or agreed to be paid in the aggregate
to Lender as interest hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or in any
other security agreement given to secure the indebtedness of Borrowers to
Lender, or in any other document evidencing, securing or pertaining to the
indebtedness evidenced hereby, exceed the maximum rate permissible under
applicable usury or other laws (the "Maximum Rate"). If under any circumstances
                                     ------------
whatsoever fulfillment of any provision hereof, or any of the other Loan
Documents, at the time performance of such provision shall be due, shall involve
exceeding the Maximum Rate, then, ipso facto, the obligation to be fulfilled
                                  ---- -----
shall be reduced by an amount such that the Maximum Rate is not exceeded. For
the purposes of calculating the actual amount of interest paid and/or payable
hereunder, in respect of laws pertaining to usury or such other laws, all sums
paid or agreed to be paid to the holder of this Note for the use, forbearance or
detention of the indebtedness of Borrowers evidenced hereby, outstanding from
time to time shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be amortized,
prorated, allocated and spread from the date of disbursement of the proceeds of
this Note until payment in full of all of such indebtedness, so that the actual
rate of interest on account of such indebtedness is uniform through the term
hereof. The terms and provisions of this Section 12 and Section 13 hereof shall
control and supersede every other provision of all agreements between or among
Borrower or any endorser and Lender.

     13.  Payment in Excess of Maximum Rate. If under any circumstances Lender
shall ever receive an

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

amount of interest such that the Maximum Rate would be exceeded, such amount
shall be deemed a payment in reduction of the principal amount owing hereunder
and shall be so applied or shall be applied to the principal amount of other
indebtedness secured by the Deed of Trust or other Loan Documents, and not to
the payment of interest, or if such excessive interest exceeds the unpaid
balance of principal of this Note and any other indebtedness of Borrowers in
favor of Lender, the excess shall be deemed to have been a payment made by
mistake and shall be refunded to Borrowers.

     14.  Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction.
          --------------------------------------

     (a)  This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of California applicable with respect to agreements to be
performed wholly within such state.

     (b)  Any legal suit, action or proceeding against Borrowers (or either of
them) or Lender arising out of or relating to this Note shall be instituted in
any federal or state court in Los Angeles, California, and each of Borrowers and
Lender waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of
venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and each of Borrowers and Lender
hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any such court in any suit,
action or proceeding.

     15.  Notices. Any communications, requests or notices given
          -------
under this Note or the Deed of Trust shall be in writing and either personally
delivered, delivered by overnight courier, or mailed by certified, registered,
or express mail, return receipt requested, deposited in the United States mail
postage pre-paid, addressed to the party for whom the notice is intended and its
attorney as follows:

   To Borrowers:

     Scott and Rebecca Jarus
     1711 6/th/ Street
     Manhattan Beach, California 90266

   To Lender:

     j2 Global Communications, Inc.
     6922 Hollywood Blvd, Suite 800
     Los Angeles, California 90028
     Attention:  General Counsel

These addresses may be changed by notice as provided herein. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, no notice from Borrowers to Lender hereunder
shall be effective unless signed by both Borrowers. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained above, notice of default hereunder shall be given only by
personal delivery or by overnight courier, addressed in the manner provided
above. All notices shall be deemed to have been received on the earlier of
actual receipt, or, if given by mail, four (4) Business Days following the
postmark date thereof unless sent by overnight mail in which event they shall be
deemed to have been received one (1) Business Day following the postmark date
thereof. Any indicated copies of any notice are courtesy copies only, and
failure to deliver any such copy shall not be deemed to be a failure to deliver
notice to Borrowers or Lender. Lender's attorney(s) and Borrowers' attorney(s)
may serve any notice under this Note on behalf of their respective clients.

     16.  Construction. Whenever reference is made herein to
          ------------
"Borrowers", such reference shall be deemed to be to "Borrowers or any of
Borrowers", unless the context clearly requires a contrary meaning. Each
Borrower is fully and personally obligated to keep all of the promises made in
this Note, including the promise to pay the full amount owed. Lender may enforce
its rights under this Note against each Borrower

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

individually or against Borrowers together. This means that any one of Borrowers
may be required to pay all of the amounts owed under this Note.

     17.  Recourse. This Note represents a full recourse obligation of
          --------
Borrowers. Accordingly, Borrowers shall remain personally liable for payment of
this Note, and any assets of Borrowers may be applied to the satisfaction of
Borrowers' obligations hereunder.

     18.  Transfer of Note by Lender. Lender shall have the right to assign,
          --------------------------
pledge or transfer its interest in this Note, the Deed of Trust and any other
Loan Document without the consent of Borrowers. Notwithstanding the above,
Lender shall notify Borrower in writing of such assignment, pledge or transfer
of interest within ten (10) business days of such action.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrowers have executed this instrument as of the date
first above written.

                    /s/ Scott Jarus
            ---------------------------------------
            SCOTT JARUS

                   /s/ Rebecca Jarus
            ---------------------------------------
            REBECCA JARUS

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

STATE OF CALIFORNIA      )
                   ) ss:
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES    )

     On July ___, 2001 before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for
said State, personally appeared Scott Jarus, personally known to me (or proved
to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence) to be the person whose name is
subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged to me that he executed the
same in his authorized capacity, and that by his signature on the instrument the
person, or the entity upon behalf of which the person acted, executed the
instrument.

WITNESS my hand and official seal

SIGNATURE:________________________     (This area for official
                                       notarial seal)

STATE OF CALIFORNIA        )
                           ) ss:
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES      )

     On July ___, 2001 before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for
said State, personally appeared Scott Jarus, personally known to me (or proved
to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence) to be the attorney-in-fact for
Rebecca Jarus, the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, and
acknowledged to me that he executed the same in his authorized capacity on her
behalf, and that by his signature on the instrument the person, or the person
upon behalf of which he acted, executed the instrument.

WITNESS my hand and official seal

SIGNATURE:________________________        (This area for official
                                          notarial seal)

                                      -7-

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