SPECIAL EVENTS
PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT, RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK
In consideration of the events at the House of Spades, their agents, owners, officers, volunteers, participants, contractors, employees, and all other persons or entities acting in any capacity on their behalf (hereinafter collectively referred to as "the Producers"), I hereby agree to release, indemnify, and discharge the Producers, on behalf of myself, my spouse, my children, my parents, my heirs, assigns, personal representative and estate as follows:
1. I agree to observe and obey all posted rules and warnings, and further agree to follow any oral instructions or directions given by the Producers or the employees, representatives or agents of the Producers.
2. I acknowledge that my participation in operation or riding as a passenger in auto driving activities entails known and unanticipated risks that could result in physical or emotional injury, paralysis, death, or damage to myself, to property, or to third parties. I understand that such risks simply cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of the activity.
The risks include, among other things: There is the possibility of rough terrain; passengers can be jolted, jarred, bounced, thrown about and otherwise shaken during rides; it is possible that riders could be injured if they come into contact with other passengers or equipment; injuries can be sustained from the equipment or from items on the road such as holes, bumps, ruts, obstacles, or rocks; major injuries are a risk as are bruises and sprains; musculoskeletal injuries including head, neck, and back injuries; exhaustion; accidents involving other vehicles; collision with fixed or movable objects; collisions, and flipping over; accidents or illness can occur in remote places without medical facilities; the machine itself may fail; and slips and falls are always a possibility.
Furthermore, the Producers employees and contractors have difficult jobs to perform. They seek safety, but they are not infallible. They might be unaware of a participant's fitness or abilities. They might misjudge the weather or other environmental conditions. They may give incomplete warnings or instructions, and the equipment being used might malfunction.
3. I expressly agree and promise to accept and assume all of the risks existing in this activity. My participation in this activity is purely voluntary, and I elect to participate in spite of the risks.
4. I hereby voluntarily release, forever discharge, and agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Producers from any and all claims, demands, or causes of action, which are in any way connected with my participation in this activity or my use of the Producers’s equipment or facilities, including any such claims which allege negligent acts or omissions of the Producers.
5. Should the Producers or anyone acting on their behalf, be required to incur attorney's fees and costs to enforce this agreement, I agree to indemnify and hold them harmless for all such fees and costs.
6. I certify that I have adequate insurance to cover any injury or damage I may cause or suffer while participating, or else I agree to bear the costs of such injury or damage myself. This includes damages to my own property or self and damages to equipment or facilities where this event is being held. I further certify that I am willing to assume the risk of any medical or physical condition I may have.
7. In the event that I file a lawsuit against the Producers, I agree to do so solely in the state of Florida, and I further agree that the substantive law of that state shall apply in that action without regard to the conflict of law rules of that state. I agree that if any portion of this agreement is found to be void or unenforceable, the remaining document shall remain in full force and effect.
Model Release & Consent
In consideration of my engagement as a model, and for other good and valuable consideration herein acknowledged as received, I hereby grant the following rights and permissions to the House of Spades, and the official photographers ("Photographer"), legal representatives, and assigns, those for whom Photographer is acting, and those acting with his/her authority and permission. They have the irrevocable, perpetual and unrestricted right and permission to take, use, re-use, publish, and republish photographic portraits or pictures of me or in which I may be included, in whole or in part, or composite or distorted in character or form, without restriction as to changes or alterations, in conjunction with my own or a fictitious name, or reproductions thereof in color or otherwise, made through any medium at his/her studios or elsewhere, and in any and all media now or hereafter known, specifically including but not limited to print media and distribution over the internet for illustration, promotion, art, editorial, advertising, trade, or any other purpose whatsoever. I specifically consent to the digital compositing or distortion of the portraits or pictures, including without restriction any changes or alterations as to color, size, shape, perspective, context, foreground or background. I also consent to the use of any published matter in conjunction with such photographs. I hereby waive any right that I may have to inspect or approve the finished product or products and the advertising copy or other matter that may be used in connection with them or the use to which they may be applied. I understand that the images of me may be used to advertise the House of Spades. I consent to this use. I hereby release, discharge, and agree to hold harmless Photographer, his/her heirs, legal representatives, and assigns, and all persons acting under his/her permission or authority or those for whom he/she is acting, from any liability by virtue of any blurring, distortion, alteration, optical illusion, or use in composite form, whether intentional or otherwise, that may occur or be produced in the taking of such photographs or in any subsequent processing of them, as well as any publication of them, including without limitation any claims for libel or violation of any right of publicity or privacy. I hereby warrant that I am of full age and have the right to contract in my own name. I have read the above authorization, release, and agreement, prior to its execution, and I am fully familiar with the contents of this document. This document shall be binding upon me and my heirs, legal representatives, and assigns.
By attending this activity, I acknowledge that if anyone is hurt or property is damaged during my participation in this activity, I may be found by a court of law to have waived my right to maintain a lawsuit against the Producers on the basis of any claim from which I have released the Producers herein.
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION, INVENTIONS, NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENT
In consideration of my attendance of this event hosted by House of Spades or any of its current or future subsidiaries, parents, affiliates, successors or assigns (together, the “Company”) I hereby enter into this Proprietary Information, Inventions, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement (the “Agreement”) and agree as follows:
1. Nondisclosure.
1.1 Recognition of Company's Rights; Nondisclosure. I understand and acknowledge that my attendance creates a relationship of confidence and trust with respect to the Company’s Proprietary Information (defined below) and that the Company has a protectable interest therein. At all times during my attendance and thereafter, I will hold in strictest confidence and will not disclose, use, lecture upon or publish any of the Company's Proprietary Information unless an officer of the Company expressly authorizes such in writing. I will obtain the Company's written approval before publishing or submitting for publication any material (written, verbal, or otherwise) that relates to the Company and/or incorporates any Proprietary Information. I hereby assign to the Company any rights I may have or acquire in such Proprietary Information and recognize that all Proprietary Information shall be the sole property of the Company and its assigns. I will take all reasonable precautions to prevent the inadvertent or accidental disclosure of Proprietary Information.
1.2 Proprietary Information. The term “Proprietary Information” shall mean any and all confidential and/or proprietary knowledge, data or information of the Company, whether having existed, now existing, or to be developed during my attendance. By way of illustration but not limitation, “Proprietary Information” includes (a) trade secrets, inventions, mask works, ideas, processes, formulas, source and object codes, data, programs, other works of authorship, know-how, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs and techniques and any other proprietary technology and all Proprietary Rights therein (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Inventions”); (b) information regarding research, development, new products, marketing and selling, business plans, budgets and unpublished financial statements, licenses, prices and costs, margins, discounts, credit terms, pricing and billing policies, quoting procedures, methods of obtaining business, forecasts, future plans and potential strategies, financial projections and business strategies, operational plans, financing and capital-raising plans, activities and agreements, internal services and operational manuals, methods of conducting Company business, suppliers and supplier information, and purchasing; (c) information regarding customers and potential customers of the Company, including customer lists, names, representatives, their needs or desires with respect to the types of products or services offered by the Company, proposals, bids, contracts and their contents and parties, the type and quantity of products and services provided or sought to be provided to customers and potential customers of the Company and other non-public information relating to customers and potential customers; (d) information regarding any of the Company’s business partners and their services, including names; representatives, proposals, bids, contracts and their contents and parties, the type and quantity of products and services received by the Company, and other non-public information relating to business partners; (e) information regarding personnel, employee lists, compensation, and employee skills; and (f) any other non-public information which a competitor of the Company could use to the competitive disadvantage of the Company.[1] Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood that, at all such times, I am free to use information that is generally known in the trade or industry through no breach of this Agreement or other act or omission by me.
1.3 Third Party Information. I understand, in addition, that the Company has received and in the future will receive from third parties confidential and/or proprietary knowledge, data, or information (“Third Party 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. During my involvement and thereafter, I will hold Third Party Information in the strictest confidence and will not disclose to anyone (other than Company personnel who need to know such information in connection with their work for the Company) or use, except in connection with my work for the Company, Third Party Information unless expressly authorized by an officer of the Company in writing.
1.4 Term of Nondisclosure Restrictions. I understand that Proprietary Information and Third Party Information is never to be used or disclosed by me, as provided in this Section 1. If, however, a court decides that this Section 1 or any of its provisions is unenforceable for lack of reasonable temporal limitation and the Agreement or its restriction(s) cannot otherwise be enforced, I agree and the Company agrees that the five (5) year period after the date my attendance ends shall be the temporal limitation relevant to the contested restriction, provided, however, that this sentence shall not apply to trade secrets protected without temporal limitation under applicable law.
1.5 No Improper Use of Information of Prior Employers and Others. During my attendance of this event I will not improperly use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former event or any other person to whom I have an obligation of confidentiality, and I will not bring onto the premises of the Company any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former event organizer or any other person to whom I have an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by that former event organizer or person.
2. Assignment of Inventions.
2.1 Proprietary Rights. The term “Proprietary Rights” shall mean all trade secrets, patents, copyrights, trademarks, mask works and other intellectual property rights throughout the world.
2.2 Assignment of Inventions. Subject to Subsections 2.3 and 2.5, I hereby assign and agree to assign in the future (when any such Inventions or Proprietary Rights are first reduced to practice or first fixed in a tangible medium, as applicable) to the Company all my right, title and interest in and to any and all Inventions (and all Proprietary Rights with respect thereto) whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes, made or conceived or reduced to practice or learned by me, either alone or jointly with others, during the period of my involvement with the Company. Inventions assigned to the Company, or to a third party as directed by the Company pursuant to this Section 2, are hereinafter referred to as “Company Inventions.”
2.3 Unassigned or Nonassignable Inventions. I recognize that this Agreement will not be deemed to require assignment of any Invention that I developed entirely on my own time without using the Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities, trade secrets, or Proprietary Information, except for those Inventions that either (i) relate to the Company’s actual or anticipated business, research or development, or (ii) result from or are connected with work performed by me for the Company. In addition, this Agreement does not apply to any Invention which qualifies fully for protection from assignment to the Company under any specifically applicable state law, regulation, rule, or public policy (“Specific Inventions Law”).
2.4 Obligation to Keep Company Informed. During the period of my involvement and for six (6) months after termination of my involvement with the Company, I will promptly disclose to the Company fully and in writing all Inventions authored, conceived or reduced to practice by me, either alone or jointly with others. In addition, I will promptly disclose to the Company all patent applications filed by me or on my behalf within a year after termination of my involvement. At the time of each such disclosure, I will advise the Company in writing of any Inventions that I believe fully qualify for protection under the provisions of a Specific Inventions Law; and I will at that time provide to the Company in writing all evidence necessary to substantiate that belief. The Company will keep in confidence and will not use for any purpose or disclose to third parties without my consent any confidential information disclosed in writing to the Company pursuant to this Agreement relating to Inventions that qualify fully for protection under a Specific Inventions Law. I will preserve the confidentiality of any Invention that does not fully qualify for protection under a Specific Inventions Law.
2.5 Government or Third Party. I also agree to assign all my right, title and interest in and to any particular Company Invention to a third party, including without limitation the United States, as directed by the Company.
2.6 Works for Hire. I acknowledge that all original works of authorship which are made by me (solely or jointly with others) within the scope of my involvement and which are protectable by copyright are “works made for hire,” pursuant to United States Copyright Act (17 U.S.C., Section 101).
2.7 Enforcement of Proprietary Rights. I will assist the Company in every proper way to obtain, and from time to time enforce, United States and foreign Proprietary Rights relating to Company Inventions in any and all countries. To that end I will execute, verify and deliver such documents and perform such other acts (including appearances as a witness) as the Company may reasonably request for use in applying for, obtaining, perfecting, evidencing, sustaining and enforcing such Proprietary Rights and the assignment thereof. In addition, I will execute, verify and deliver assignments of such Proprietary Rights to the Company or its designee. My obligation to assist the Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Company Inventions in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of my involvement, but the Company shall compensate me at a reasonable rate after my termination for the time actually spent by me at the Company's request on such assistance.
In the event the Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to secure my signature on any document needed in connection with the actions specified in the preceding paragraph, I hereby irrevocably designate and appoint the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as my agent and attorney in fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for and in my behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of the preceding paragraph with the same legal force and effect as if executed by me. I hereby waive and quitclaim to the Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, which I now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assigned hereunder to the Company.
3. Records. I agree to keep and maintain adequate and current records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings and in any other form that may be required by the Company) of all Proprietary Information developed by me and all Inventions made by me during the period of my involvement at the Company, which records shall be available to and remain the sole property of the Company at all times.
4. Duty of Loyalty During Involvement. I agree that during the period of my involvement with the Company I will not, without the Company's express written consent, directly or indirectly engage in any employment or business activity which is directly or indirectly competitive with, or would otherwise conflict with, my involvement with the Company.
5. No Solicitation of Employees, Consultants, Contractors, or Customers or Potential Customers. I agree that during the period of my involvement and for the five year period after the date my involvement ends for any reason, including but not limited to voluntary termination by me or involuntary termination by the Company (as extended pursuant to Section 10.3, if applicable), I will not, as an officer, director, employee, consultant, owner, partner, or in any other capacity, either directly or through others, except on behalf of the Company:
5.1 solicit, induce, encourage, or participate in soliciting, inducing, or encouraging any employee of the Company to terminate his or her relationship with the Company;
5.2 hire, employ, or engage in business with or attempt to hire, employ, or engage in business with any person employed by the Company or who has left the employment of the Company within the preceding three (3) months or discuss any potential employment or business association with such person, even if I did not initiate the discussion or seek out the contact; or
5.3 solicit, induce or attempt to induce any Customer or Potential Customer, or any consultant or independent contractor with whom I had direct or indirect contact or whose identity I learned as a result of my involvement with the Company, to terminate, diminish, or materially alter in a manner harmful to the Company its relationship with the Company.
The parties agree that for purposes of this Agreement, a “Customer or Potential Customer” is any person or entity who or which, at any time during the five year period prior to either (a) if I am still involved with the Company, the date on which any of the actions specified in this Section 5 occurs or (b) if I am no longer involved with the Company, the two year prior to the date my involvement with the Company ends, (i) contracted for, was billed for, or received from the Company any product, service or process with which I worked directly or indirectly during my involvement with the Company or about which I acquired Proprietary Information; or (ii) was in contact with me or in contact with any other employee, owner, participant or agent of the Company, of which contact I was or should have been aware, concerning any product, service or process with which I worked directly or indirectly during my involvement with the Company or about which I acquired Proprietary Information; or (iii) was solicited by the Company in an effort in which I was involved or of which I was or should have been aware.
6. Non-Compete Provision. I agree that for the five year period after the date my involvement ends for any reason, including but not limited to voluntary termination by me or involuntary termination by the Company (as extended pursuant to Section 10.3, if applicable), I will not, directly or indirectly, as an officer, director, employee, consultant, owner, partner, or in any other capacity solicit, perform, or provide, or attempt to perform or provide Conflicting Services anywhere in North America, nor will I assist another person to solicit, perform or provide or attempt to perform or provide Conflicting Services anywhere in North America.
The parties agree that for purposes of this Agreement, “Conflicting Services” means any product, service, or process of any person or organization other than the Company that is substantially similar to or competitive with a product, service, or process or the like of the Company with which I witnessed directly or indirectly during my involvement by the Company or about which I acquired Proprietary Information during my involvement with the Company.
7. REASONABLENESS OF RESTRICTIONS.
7.1 I agree that I have read this entire Agreement and understand it. I agree that the restrictions contained in this Agreement are reasonable, proper, and necessitated by the Company’s legitimate business interests, including without limitation the Company’s Proprietary Rights, Proprietary Information and the goodwill of its customers. I represent and agree that I am entering into this Agreement freely and with knowledge of its contents with the intent to be bound by the Agreement and the restrictions contained in it.
7.2 In the event that a court finds this Agreement, or any of its restrictions, to be ambiguous, unenforceable, or invalid, I and the Company agree that the court shall read the Agreement as a whole and interpret the restriction(s) at issue to be enforceable and valid to the maximum extent allowed by law.
7.3 Furthermore, the parties agree that the market for the Company’s products is North America. If, however, after applying the provisions of subsections 7.2, a court still decides that this Agreement or any of its restrictions is unenforceable for lack of reasonable geographic limitation and the Agreement or restriction(s) cannot otherwise be enforced, the parties hereby agree that the one hundred (100) mile radius from any location at which I was involved with the Company on either a regular or occasional basis during the one (1) year immediately preceding termination of my involvement with the Company shall be the geographic limitation relevant to the contested restriction.
8. No Conflicting Agreement or Obligation. I represent that my performance of all the terms of this Agreement and as an attendee of the Company’s event does not and will not breach any agreement or obligation of any kind made prior to my involvement with the Company. I have not entered into, and I agree I will not enter into, any agreement either written or oral in conflict herewith.
9. Return of Company Property. When I leave the event of the Company, or at any time at the Company’s request, I will deliver to the Company any and all drawings, notes, memoranda, specifications, devices, formulas, and documents, together with all copies thereof, and any other material containing or disclosing any Company Inventions, Third Party Information or Proprietary Information of the Company, as well as any other Company property. I further agree that any property situated on the Company's premises and owned by the Company, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets or other work areas, is subject to inspection by Company personnel at any time with or without notice. Prior to leaving, I will cooperate with the Company in completing and signing the Company's event termination statement if requested to do so by the Company.
10. Legal and Equitable Remedies.
10.1 I agree that it may be impossible to assess the damages caused by my violation of this Agreement or any of its terms. I agree that any threatened or actual violation of this Agreement or any of its terms will constitute immediate and irreparable injury to the Company and the Company shall have the right to enforce this Agreement and any of its provisions by injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief, without bond and without prejudice to any other rights and remedies that the Company may have for a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement.
10.2 I agree that if the Company is successful in whole or in part in any legal or equitable action against me under this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to payment of all costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees, from me.
10.3 In the event the Company enforces this Agreement through a court order, I agree that the restrictions of Sections 5 and 6 shall remain in effect for a period of twelve (12) months from the effective date of the Order enforcing the Agreement.
11. Notices. Any notices required or permitted hereunder shall be given to the appropriate party at the address specified below, at my address as listed in the Company event records, or at such other address as the party shall specify in writing. Such notice shall be deemed given upon personal delivery to the appropriate address or if sent by certified or registered mail, three (3) days after the date of mailing.
12. Notification of New Event Organizer. In the event that I leave the involvement with the Company, I authorize the Company to provide notice of my rights and obligations under this Agreement to my subsequent event organizer and to any other entity or person to whom I provide services.
13. General Provisions.
13.1 Governing Law; Consent to Personal Jurisdiction. This Agreement will be governed by and construed according to the laws of the state of Florida as such laws are applied to agreements entered into and to be performed entirely within Florida between Florida residents. I hereby expressly consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in Florida for any lawsuit filed there against me by Company arising from or related to this Agreement.
13.2 Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions, subsections, or sentences contained in this Agreement shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. If moreover, any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to duration, geographical scope, activity or subject, it shall be construed by limiting and reducing it, so as to be enforceable to the extent compatible with the applicable law as it shall then appear.
13.3 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is for my benefit and the benefit of the Company, its successors, assigns, parent corporations, subsidiaries, affiliates, and purchasers, and will be binding upon my heirs, executors, administrators and other legal representatives.
13.4 Survival. The provisions of this Agreement shall survive the termination of my involvement, regardless of the reason, and the assignment of this Agreement by the Company to any successor in interest or other assignee.
13.5 Involvement At-Will. I agree and understand that nothing in this Agreement shall change my at-will involvement status or confer any right with respect to continuation of involvement with the Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with my right or the Company's right to terminate my involvement at any time, with or without cause or advance notice.
13.6 Waiver. No waiver by the Company of any breach of this Agreement shall be a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach. No waiver by the Company of any right under this Agreement shall be construed as a waiver of any other right. The Company shall not be required to give notice to enforce strict adherence to all terms of this Agreement.
13.7 Advice of Counsel. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, IN EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL, AND I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD ALL OF THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AGAINST ANY PARTY BY REASON OF THE DRAFTING OR PREPARATION HEREOF.
13.8 Entire Agreement. The obligations pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 (except Subsection 2.7) of this Agreement shall apply to any time during which I was previously engaged, or am in the future engaged, by the Company as a consultant or participant if no other agreement governs nondisclosure and assignment of inventions during such period. This Agreement is the final, complete and exclusive agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and from the date hereof supersedes and merges all prior agreements and 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 and signed by the party to be charged. Any subsequent change or changes in my involvement, attendance, duties or compensation will not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be effective as of the first day of my involvement with the Company.