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Advanced Patent Search order confirmation, item #SP05
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Terms of Service Agreement
DEFINITIONS.
"Website" includes any information contained in, or accessible
from, http://www.BayAreaIP.com or other mirror websites thereof.
"Viewer" includes any entity or person that, in electronic
or physically printed form, views, prints, copies or otherwise manipulates
information contained on this website.
"Advanced prior-art search" consists of a U.S. And International
Patent prior-art search conduced by way of the United States Patent
and Trademark's (USPTO) patent database.
"Search Report" consists of a search results, which includes
identifying information of prior-art references found during the prior-art
search procured by Viewer.
"Invention disclosure document" is a written document that
sufficiently describes the invention and related contextual information
which is the subject of a advanced prior-art search.
"PPA" - Provisional Patent Application.
This is an agreement between Bay Area
Intellectual Property Group, a Nevada LLC (BAIP) and Viewer ("INVENTOR") for patent search services that INVENTOR has
retained BAIP to provide.
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The scope of BAIPs services shall
be limited performing an advanced United States (U.S.) And International
prior-art patent search ("Advanced Search") , and delivering
to INVENTOR the corresponding Search Report. In particular, BAIP is
not a 37 CFR §1.31 representative before the USPTO, and INVENTOR
is completely responsible and liable for meeting all legal
bar dates and applying for and prosecuting INVENTORs PPA
and/or any nonprovisional patent application, even if BAIP advises
INVENTOR that INVENTOR's invention is believed to be patentable and/or
BAIP later prepares, modifies, and/or files INVENTOR's PPA on behalf
of INVENTOR. Moreover, INVENTOR and BAIP acknowledge that that neither
of submitting this form with or without subsequent payment, nor submitting
invention disclosure(s), nor receiving an initial consultation, nor
communicating by phone or email creates an attorney/agent-client relationship.
All acts under this agreement are understood not to create an attorney/agent-client
relationship and, therefore, are not an attorney/agent-client communication.
- INVENTOR and BAIP acknowledge that BAIP cannot begin
the Advanced Search for INVENTOR until INVENTOR executes this service
agreement, any required payment is honored by the bank, and INVENTOR
provides BAIP with a written invention disclosure document. The payment
shall be deposited in BAIPs bank account and will be used to pay
BAIPs fees, charges, and expenses incurred in connection with
the services rendered hereunder.
- Fees are only for BAIPs Advanced Search service,
and do not include any other related costs (e.g., courier, copying,
etc.). There are no additional fees if all communications are done electronically.
INVENTOR agrees to pay for any work or product ordered, and that all
orders are irrevocable, and that failure to pay within 15 days of when
promised shall be breach and accept judgment on the basis of that breach;
9.5% plus APR shall be charged on all fees over 15 days late. BAIP maintains
no obligation to perform additional work once the order has been completed;
BAIP shall impose a $40 returned check charge.
- BAIP certifies that only a Patent Search professional
possessing at least Bachelors in Electrical and Computer Engineering
shall perform the Advanced Search for INVENTOR.
- FLAT RATE FEE. INVENTOR and BAIP acknowledge that the
flat-fee, Advanced Search service of this agreement is only for inventions
of relatively simple, moderate, or average, complexity. INVENTOR
and BAIP acknowledge that BAIP, generally, has a fix amount of time
allotted for performance of the Advanced Search, thus the flat-rate.
Higher complexity inventions require more time and expertise to perform
an effective prior-art Patent Search, whereby, the Advanced Search level
of service may result in substantially less quality search results.
BAIP initially, in good faith, assumes INVENTOR has properly assessed
the relative complexity INVENTOR's invention. However, if the actual
invention complexity, as determined by BAIP, is deemed to be significantly
higher than a relatively high complexity invention, BAIP shall notify
INVENTOR, and offer INVENTOR the option of either paying the difference
between the appropriate flat-rate patent searching service, or to have
BAIP spend the time allotted for performance of the Advanced Search.
- INVENTION DISCLOSURE. INVENTOR shall supply BAIP with
a written disclosure document before BAIP will conduct the Advanced
Search. Furthermore, INVENTOR agrees that the quality of a prior-art
search depends on some factors controlled by INVENTOR. Such factors
include the ability of INVENTOR to "teach," in a written disclosure
document submitted to BAIP, how to make and use the invention sufficiently
to identify the similarities to and differences from the prior art.
If INVENTOR's written invention disclosure is in error, or otherwise
insufficient, BAIP cannot be held responsible or liable for the corresponding
faulty Search Report delivered by BAIP, and INVENTOR agrees to accept
such a faulty Search Report as performance of the Advanced Search service
procured by INVENTOR according to this agreement, when the report is
based INVENTOR's inadequate or inaccurate written invention disclosure.
- PROPRIETARY MATTER. All materials and information
related to the invention disclosed by INVENTOR to BAIP, including written
and verbal descriptions, samples, drawings, photos, recordings, and
videos, as identified by INVENTOR's signed invention disclosure shall
be accepted, and confirmed received, by BAIP under the terms of any
confidentiality agreement entered between BAIP and INVENTOR, and the
following conditions: a) the information contained or identified in
the invention disclosure shall be used by BAIP solely for purposes
requested, or authorized by INVENTOR. b) BAIP shall exercise best
efforts to diligently safeguard INVENTOR's proprietary matter (i.e.,
nonpublic knowledge) from unauthorized access by others persons. c)
BAIP shall only copy INVENTOR's proprietary matter as needed for work
requested by INVENTOR. d) BAIP will return INVENTOR's proprietary matter,
including any copies, to INVENTOR after BAIP receives such a request
in writing by INVENTOR. e) The nondisclosure terms herein shall not
apply to any information which BAIP can document has become part of
the general public knowledge through no fault of BAIP, or after publication
by a patent office disclosing the PROPRIETARY MATTER.
- SEARCH LIMITATIONS. The Advanced Search does not cover:
a) unpublished pending patents, which are not available for searching.
b) foreign patents and c) non-patent publications. Furthermore, due
to the complexity of patent prior-art searching, BAIP does not make
any guarantee of results including the accuracy and/or comprehensiveness
of any prior-art search.
- WARRANTY. The information provided in the Search Report
is for informational purposes only, indicating, at best, the general
nature of the U.S. And International Patent prior-art. INVENTORS
USE OF THE Search Report AND/OR BAIPS WEBSITE IS AT INVENTORS
SOLE RISK. The Search Report and website are provided on an "AS
IS" and AS AVAILABLE basis. BAIP EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS
ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, and FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
- While BAIP believes that the information in the Search
Report, and/or Patentability Opinion is accurate and safe, INVENTOR
acknowledges that BAIP cannot be held responsible or liable for the
accuracy, completeness, timeliness, reliability, availability, or accessibility
of Search Report, and/or Patentability Opinion content (including, but
not limited to, transmission, transmission methods, or manipulation
of the information) accessed or received by INVENTOR. All responsibility
and/or liability for any damages caused by corruption, viruses, and
etcetera contained within the electronic files of the Search Report,
and/or Patentability Opinion are disclaimed. No advice, information,
or work product whether oral or written, performed on behalf of, or
obtained by INVENTOR from BAIP will create any warranty not expressly
stated in this agreement. Furthermore, INVENTOR expressly understands
and agrees that BAIP will not be liable to INVENTOR for any indirect,
incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, including but
not limited to, damages for loss of profits, goodwill, use, data or
other intangible losses (even if BAIP has been advised of the possibility
of such damages), resulting from: (a) the use or the inability to use
BAIP service(s), website, and/or Search Report, and/or Patentability
Opinion; (b) the cost of procurement of substitute goods and/or service(s)
resulting from any goods, data, information or service(s) purchased;
(c) unauthorized access to or alteration of INVENTOR's transmissions
or data; (d) failure to insure the compatibility of INVENTOR's system
(i.e., the equipment, devices, and software that INVENTOR provide to
receive BAIP service(s) and/or Search Report, and/or Patentability Opinion)
with BAIP service(s) and/or Search Report, and/or Patentability Opinion;
(e) action or inaction by third party service provider(s) that BAIP
relies upon (e.g., without limitation, online payment service(s), web
hosting, and the us postal service); or (f) any other matter relating
to BAIP service(s), website, and/or Search Report, and/or Patentability
Opinion. INVENTOR should be aware that USPTO fees, laws, rules, and
USPTO procedures frequently change. INVENTOR should validate that all
information INVENTOR uses is accurate. INVENTOR's sole remedy and exclusive
remedy for any dispute with BAIP in connection with BAIP service(s)
and/or Search Report, and/or Patentability Opinion is by way of: (1)
BIAP's determination of the validity of inventor's dispute, and resolution
thereof, if any; or (2) the USPTO's complaint resolution procedure,
which may result in a full refund of our fees in connection with the
complaint. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain
warranties or the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental
or consequential damages. Accordingly, some of the above limitations
of this section may not apply to INVENTOR.
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NOTICE: Notices to INVENTOR may be
made via either email or regular mail. BAIP may also provide notices
of general matters by sending email, or by posting material on http://www.BayAreaIP.com
Notices by INVENTOR to BAIP must be given by calling: 1-415-515-3005;
LEGAL NOTICES must be given by letter delivered by first class US
mail to Bay Area IP, P.O. Box 210459, San Francisco CA, 94121-0459.
- We do not anticipate having any disagreements with
INVENTOR about the quality, cost or appropriateness of our product or
services, but if any concerns about these matters arise, please notify
us immediately. We would endeavor to resolve any disagreements in a
fair and amicable manner. If, for some reason, we were not able to resolve
any disputes ourselves, the parties will try in good faith to settle
it through mediation conducted by a mediator to be mutually selected.
The parties will share the costs of the mediator equally. Each party
will cooperate fully and fairly with the mediator and will attempt to
reach a mutually satisfactory compromise to the dispute. If the dispute
is not resolved within 30 days after it is referred to the mediator,
it will be arbitrated by an arbitrator to be mutually selected. Judgment
on the arbitration award may be entered in any court that has jurisdiction
over the matter. Costs of arbitration, including lawyers' fees, will
be allocated by the arbitrator.
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The validity, interpretation, and
performance of this Agreement will be controlled and construed under
the laws of the State of Nevada. Venue in any action in law or equity
arising from the terms of this Agreement shall be the court of appropriate
jurisdiction nearest to Reno and within Nevada. Any and all clauses,
or parts of this Agreement found by a court of law to be unenforceable
shall not affect the enforceability of the rest of this Agreement.
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