|
| |
 |
Appendix 2
(30 October
2007)
|
Escrow Agreement
This Registry Data Escrow Agreement ("Agreement") is made as of
this _____ day of___________, 2007 (the "Beginning Date"), by and
between DotAsia Organization Limited, a Hong Kong limited-by-guarantee corporation
with its principle place of business located at Unit 617, Miramar Tower, 132
Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong (“Registry Operator”), Iron Mountain
Intellectual Property Management, Inc. ("Escrow Agent"), and the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN"). All
capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the
Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement dated December 6, 2006 by and between
Registry Operator and ICANN (“Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement”).
Recitals
A. Registry Operator and ICANN have entered into the Sponsored TLD Registry
Operator Agreement ("Registry Agreement"), which requires Registry
Operator, during the term of Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement, to
ensure the submission of certain domain name registration data to a reputable
escrow agent to be held in escrow.
B. Pursuant to the Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement,
Registry Operator shall ensure the periodic delivery to Escrow Agent of an
electronic copy of all Registry Data, as detailed in Subsection 3.1(c) of the
Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement (each such delivery referred to as
a "Deposit").
C. Registry Operator and ICANN each desire
Escrow Agent to hold each Deposit, and, upon certain events, release any retained
Deposits (or a copy of the Deposits) to ICANN, in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement or as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and mutual obligations contained
herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
Agreement
1. Content of Deposits. Deposits will be of two kinds: Full Deposits and
Incremental Deposits. Each Full Deposit will consist of Registry Data that
reflects the current and complete Registry Database. Incremental Deposits will
consist of data that reflects all transactions involving the database that
are not reflected in the last previous Full Deposit or Incremental Deposit,
as the case may be.
2. Schedule for Deposits. Registry Operator shall instruct the creation and
delivery to Escrow Agent of a Full Deposit once each week, according to the
schedule specified in Exhibit A of Appendix 1 to the Sponsored TLD Registry
Operator Agreement. Registry Operator shall instruct the creation and delivery
to Escrow Agent of an Incremental Deposit once each day during which a Full
Deposit is not made, according to the schedule specified in Exhibit A of Appendix
1.
3. Format of Deposits. The data in each Full Deposit and in each Incremental
Deposit shall follow the data format specified in the Escrow Deposit Format
Specification (the "Format Specification"), attached as Exhibit B
of Appendix 1.
4. Procedure for Deposits. Each properly formatted Full Deposit and Incremental
Deposit shall be processed and electronically delivered in encrypted form to
Escrow Agent according to the transfer process described in Exhibit C of Appendix
1.
5. Notification of Deposits. Simultaneous with the delivery
to Escrow Agent of any Full or Incremental Deposit, Registry Operator shall
instruct the delivery to Escrow Agent and to ICANN a written statement (which
may be by authenticated e-mail) that includes a copy of the report generated
upon creation of the Full or Incremental Deposit by the ICANN-provided software
(as described in Exhibit C of Appendix 1) and states that the Full or Incremental
Deposit (as the case may be) has been inspected by Registry Operator (or Registry
Operator’s agent at Registry Operator’s direction) according to the procedures
described in Exhibit C of Appendix 1 and is complete and accurate. Escrow Agent
shall notify ICANN of all Deposits received, within two business days of receipt.
6. Verification. Within two business days after receiving
each Full or Incremental Deposit, Escrow Agent shall verify the format and
completeness of each Deposit by performing the verification procedures specified
in Exhibit D of Appendix 1 and shall deliver to ICANN a copy of the verification
report generated for each Deposit (which may be by authenticated e-mail). If
Escrow Agent discovers that any Deposit fails the verification procedures,
Escrow Agent shall notify, including by email and fax, Registry Operator and
ICANN of such nonconformity within forty-eight hours of discovery. Upon notification
of such verification failure, Registry Operator shall instruct the beginning
of the development of modifications, updates, corrections, and other fixes
of the Full or Incremental Deposit necessary for the Deposit to pass the verification
procedures and shall instruct the delivery of such fixes to Escrow Agent as
promptly as possible. Escrow Agent shall verify the accuracy or completeness
of any such corrected Deposit pursuant to the procedures in this Section 6
and shall send ICANN a copy of the successful report within twenty-four hours.
The failure of any Full or Incremental Deposit to meet verification procedures
and any efforts by Registry Operator to remedy such failure shall not delay
the delivery of any subsequent scheduled Full or Incremental Deposits pursuant
to the schedule in Exhibit A of Appendix 1. Escrow Agent shall deliver, on
the first business day of each month, (i) a written certification to ICANN
that Escrow Agent has performed such verification procedures on each Deposit
received during the last month, and (ii) copies of the verification reports
generated for each Deposit received during the last month.
7. Retention and Confidentiality.
7.1 Retention. Escrow Agent shall hold and maintain the
Deposits in a secure, locked, and environmentally safe facility which is accessible
only to authorized representatives of Escrow Agent. Escrow Agent shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to protect the integrity of the Deposits. ICANN
and Registry Operator shall have the right to inspect Escrow Agent's written
records with respect to this Agreement upon reasonable prior notice and during
normal business hours.
7.2 Destruction of Deposits. At all times, Escrow Agent
shall retain the four most recent Full Deposits and all Incremental Deposits
after the earliest of those four Full Deposits, all of which must have passed
the verification procedures specified in Exhibit D of Appendix 1. Escrow Agent
may destroy any Deposits prior to these four most recent Full Deposits.
7.3 Confidentiality. Escrow Agent shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to protect the confidentiality of the Deposits. Except as
provided in this Agreement, Escrow Agent shall not disclose, transfer, make
available, or use any Deposit (or any copies of any Deposit). Should Escrow
Agent be put on notice that it is required to disclose any Deposits by statute,
rule, regulation, order, or other requirement of a governmental agency, legislative
body, court of competent jurisdiction, or binding arbitral body (other than
any requirement pursuant to Sections 9.1.6, 11.2, and 13 of this Agreement),
Escrow Agent shall notify Registry Operator and ICANN within seven days or
as soon as practicable and reasonably cooperate with Registry Operator and/or
ICANN in any contest of the disclosure. Should any contest prove unsuccessful,
Escrow Agent shall not be held liable for any disclosure pursuant to such governmental,
legislative, judicial, or arbitral order, statute, rule, regulation, or other
requirement.
8. Duplication. Escrow Agent may duplicate any Deposit by
any commercially reasonable means in order to comply with the terms and provisions
of this Agreement, provided that Registry Operator shall bear the expense of
such duplication. Alternatively, Escrow Agent, by notice to Registry Operator,
may reasonably require Registry Operator to promptly oversee the duplication
of any Deposit. In the event the Registry Operator is unable or unwilling to
produce the copy or bear the expense of copying, the party requesting the copy
shall bear the cost.
9. Release of Deposit. Within five business days after receipt
of any required documents and/or notices specified in this Section 9, Escrow
Agent shall deliver (i) a copy of the Deposit to Registry Operator in the event
of a release pursuant to any of Sections 9.1.2, or 9.1.5 or 9.1.6 or (ii) the
Deposit to ICANN in the event of a release pursuant to Sections 9.1.1, or 9.1.7,
or a copy of the Deposit to ICANN in the event of a release pursuant to Section
9.1.4, (iii) the Deposit to the party requesting it, in the event of a release
pursuant to Section 9.1.8, provided, however, that the other party shall be
notified of such release or (iv) a copy of the Deposit to the party designated
in the event of a release pursuant to Section 9.1.3, in the event that the
Escrow Agent receives all of the items required by Sections 9.1, 9.2, 9.3,
and 9.4 below:
9.1 One of the following notices:
9.1.1 A written notice by ICANN that the Sponsored TLD
Registry Operator Agreement has: (i) expired without renewal, pursuant to Section
4.1 of the Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement, or (ii) been terminated,
in accordance with Article VI of the Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement;
or
9.1.2.
A written notice by Registry Operator that the Sponsored TLD Registry Operator
Agreement has expired without renewal or been terminated; or
9.1.3 A written notice by Registry Operator, and ICANN requesting Escrow
Agent to effect such delivery to Registry Operator, ICANN, or A replacement
escrow agent; or
9.1.4 A written notice by ICANN that it has received no successful verification
report from Escrow Agent relating to a Full Deposit reflecting the Registry
Database as of any date within the past month; or
9.1.5 A written notice by Registry Operator that all of the following have
occurred:
9.1.5.1 Registry Operator failed, with respect to (a)
any Full Deposit or (b) five Incremental Deposits within any calendar month,
to receive, within five calendar days after the Deposit's scheduled delivery
date, notification of receipt from Escrow Agent; and
9.1.5.2 Registry Operator gave notice to Escrow Agent
of that failure; and
9.1.5.3 Registry Operator has not, within seven calendar
days after the notice under Section 9.1.5.2, received notice from Escrow Agent
that the Deposit has been received; or
9.1.6 A written notice by Registry Operator that all
of the following have occurred:
9.1.6.1 Registry Operator has received notification
from Escrow Agent of failed verification of a Full Deposit or of failed verification
of five Incremental Deposits within any calendar month; and
9.1.6.2 Registry Operator gave notice to Registry Operator’s
agent of that receipt; and
9.1.6.3 Registry Operator has not, within seven calendar
days after the notice under Section 9.1.6.2, received notice from Escrow Agent
of verification of a remediated version of the Deposit; or
9.1.7 A written notice by ICANN that release of the Deposits
is mandated by non-payment of any fees due to Escrow Agent, pursuant to Section
15 of this Agreement; or
9.1.8 A written notice by ICANN or Registry Operator
that a court, arbitral, legislative, or government agency of competent jurisdiction
has issued an order, rule, statute, regulation, or other requirement that mandates
the release of the Deposits to ICANN and/or Registry Operator; and
9.2 Copies of notices with proof of delivery submitted
to Escrow Agent that ICANN or Registry Operator (whichever gave the notice
under Section 9.1) has previously notified the other party in writing; and
9.3 Written instructions from ICANN or a replacement escrow
agent (see Section 9.1.3) that the Deposits be released and delivered to whichever
of them provided such written instructions; and
9.4 A written undertaking by the party(ies) receiving the
Deposits (ICANN or a replacement escrow agent) that the Deposits will be used
only as permitted under the terms of the Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement
and undertakings made in writing to the registrants at registration including
with respect to the collection and use of personal information about the registrant
for marketing purposes. Upon release of any Deposits to ICANN, Registry Operator
or a replacement escrow agent, Escrow Agent shall at the same time deliver
to Registry Operator a photostatic copy of the notice it received from Registry
Operator and/or ICANN under Sections 9.1.1 to 9.1.8, as applicable.
10. Release of Deposit to Registry Operator. Escrow Agent
shall deliver all Deposits to Registry Operator upon termination of this Agreement
in accordance with Sections 14.1 and 14.2.1 of this Agreement.
11. Procedure After Release.
11.1 Right to Use Deposits. Upon release of any Deposits
to Registry Operator pursuant to Section 9, Registry Operator (or its assignee
in accordance with the Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement), and subject
to Section 9.4 above, shall immediately have the right to exercise or have
exercised all rights in the Deposits necessary to provide registry services.
Upon release of any Deposits to ICANN pursuant to Section 9, ICANN (or its
assignee in accordance with the Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement)
shall immediately have the right, subject to Section 9.4 above, to exercise
or have exercised all rights in the Deposits pursuant to the Sponsored TLD
Registry Operator Agreement, including as necessary to provide registry services.
11.2 Objection Notice. Upon release of any Deposits to
ICANN pursuant to Section 9, Registry Operator shall have thirty calendar days
to notify Escrow Agent and ICANN in writing (the "Objection Notice")
of its objection to the release of the Deposits to ICANN and request that the
issue of entitlement to the Deposits be resolved pursuant to the dispute resolution
procedures in the Sponsored TLD Registry Agreement. Registry Operator and ICANN
agree to resolve any disputes they may have as between or among themselves
under this Agreement in according to Section 17.2. The parties agree that (i)
Registry Operator shall have no rights (other than pursuant to this Section
11.2) to object to any release of the Deposits, and (ii) the delivery of an
Objection Notice and the commencement of Dispute Resolution Procedures shall
not delay release of any Deposits to ICANN pursuant to Section 9.
11.3 Dispute Resolution Procedures. Registry Operator
and ICANN each agrees that it may not challenge, in proceedings for the resolution
of disputes between or among those parties under this Agreement, the resolution
of any issues, claims, or defenses that were decided, or which it has a reasonable
opportunity and motive to raise, in proceedings to which it was a party under
the Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement.
11.4 Withdrawal of Objection Notice. A party providing
an Objection Notice may, at any time, notify the other parties that it wishes
to withdraw its Objection Notice. Upon receipt of notice of such withdrawal,
Escrow Agent shall promptly deliver to Registry Operator and/or ICANN any Deposits
that have not been previously delivered.
11.5 Dispute Resolution Decisions.
11.5.1 If the release of Deposits under Section 9 is
determined in dispute resolution procedures to have been proper, Escrow Agent
shall promptly deliver, in accordance with the instructions specified in Section
9.3, any Deposits that have not previously been delivered.
11.5.2 If the release of Deposits under Section 9 is
determined in dispute resolution procedures to have been improper, the party(ies)
receiving the Deposits shall promptly return or destroy, at Registry Operator's
discretion, the Deposits received under Section 9.
12. Indemnity. Registry Operator and ICANN shall, jointly
and severally, indemnify and hold harmless Escrow Agent and each of its directors,
officers, agents and employees ("Escrow Agent Indemnitees") absolutely
and forever, from and against any and all claims, actions, damages, suits,
liabilities, obligations, costs, fees, charges, and any other expenses whatsoever,
including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, that may be asserted by a third
party against any Escrow Agent Indemnitees in connection with this Agreement
or the performance of Escrow Agent or any Escrow Agent Indemnitees hereunder
(with the exception of any claims based on the misrepresentation, negligence,
or misconduct of Escrow Agent, its directors, officers, agents, employees,
contractors, and stockholders). Escrow Agent shall likewise indemnify and hold
harmless Registry Operator and ICANN, and each of their respective directors,
officers, agents and employees ("Indemnitiees") absolutely and forever,
from and against any and all claims, actions, damages, suits, liabilities,
obligations, costs, fees, charges, and any other expenses whatsoever, including
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, that may be asserted by a third party
against any Indemnitee in connection with the misrepresentation, negligence,
or misconduct of Escrow Agent, its directors, officers, agents, employees or
contractors.
13. Interpleader.
13.1 Escrow Agent may submit any dispute under this Agreement
to any court of competent jurisdiction in an interpleader or similar action.
Any and all costs incurred by Escrow Agent in connection therewith, including
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, shall be borne equally by each of Registry
Operator and ICANN that are parties to such interpleader or similar action
unless that court of competent jurisdiction decides differently.
13.2 Escrow Agent shall perform any acts ordered by any
court of competent jurisdiction, without any liability or obligation to any
party hereunder by reason of such act.
14. Term and Termination.
14.1 Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall be
one year, commencing on the Beginning Date (the "Initial Term").
This Agreement shall be automatically renewed for an additional term of one
year ("Additional Term") at the end of the Initial Term and each
Additional Term hereunder unless, on or before ninety days prior to the end
of the Initial Term or an Additional Term, a party notifies the other parties
that it wishes to terminate this Agreement at the end of such term. In the
event a party gives the other parties such notice of termination, and Registry
Operator and ICANN cannot agree to resolve, by the end of the then-current
term, any disputes regarding the renewal of this Agreement or the establishment
of a replacement escrow agent: (i) Registry Operator and ICANN shall resolve
any such disputes through Section 5.1 of the Sponsored TLD Registry Agreement;
(ii) this Agreement shall continue to remain in effect during the resolution
of any such disputes; and (iii) Escrow Agent shall have the right to invoice
either Registry Operator or ICANN for the data escrow services provided during
this dispute resolution period at the rates listed in Exhibit E to this Appendix
1.
14.2 Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon
the occurrence of any of the following:
14.2.1 Termination of this Agreement by Registry Operator
and ICANN upon having delivered to Escrow Agent a written notice signed by
ICANN stating their common intent to terminate this Agreement upon ninety days'
notice;
14.2.2 Termination of this Agreement by Escrow Agent
pursuant to Section 15; or
14.2.3 As provided in Section 14.1.
15. Fees and Payments. Registry Operator shall pay to Escrow
Agent the applicable fees and charges listed in Exhibit E as compensation for
Escrow Agent's services under this Agreement. If Registry Operator fails to
pay any fees or charges invoiced by Escrow Agent by the due date(s), Escrow
Agent shall give written notice to Registry Operator of non-payment of any
such past-due fees hereunder and, in that event, the Registry Operator shall
have the right to pay the past-due fee(s) within ten business days after receipt
of the notice from Escrow Agent. Upon payment of the past-due fee by Registry
Operator, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. If Registry
Operator fails to pay the past-due fee(s) within the applicable periods under
this Section 15, Escrow Agent shall have the right to terminate this Agreement
immediately by sending notice of termination to all other parties, and, upon
termination, Escrow Agent shall deliver to ICANN all Deposits held by Escrow
Agent.
16. Ownership of Deposit. Subject to the provisions of the
Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement (including Section 6.5) the parties
recognize and acknowledge that ownership of the Deposit materials during the
effective term of this Agreement shall remain with the Registry Operator at
all times.
17. Miscellaneous.
17.1 Remedies. For the purposes of fulfilling its obligations
under this Agreement, Escrow Agent may act in good faith reliance on, and shall
not be held liable for, any written notice, instruction, instrument, or other
writing signed or presented by a person with apparent authority to act on behalf
of Registry Operator or ICANN, as applicable.
17.2 Dispute Resolution. Registry Operator and ICANN further
agree to resolve any disputes they may have as between themselves under this
Agreement pursuant to the dispute-resolution procedures in the Sponsored TLD
Registry Operator Agreement.
17.3 Limitation of Liability. The parties shall not be
liable to each other for special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages
hereunder. As between Registry Operator and ICANN the liability limitations
of the Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement also apply. Neither Registry
Operator nor ICANN shall be liable to each other for monetary damages under
this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything else herein, all liability, if any,
whether arising in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise of any
party to this Agreement shall be limited to the amount equal to one (1) year
of fees paid or owed to Escrow Agent under this Agreement.
17.4 Independent Contractor. Escrow Agent is an independent
contractor and is not an employee or agent of either Registry Operator or ICANN.
17.5 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall
not be construed to create any obligation by Registry Operator, ICANN, or Escrow
Agent to any non-party to this Agreement, including but not limited to any
domain-name holder or registrar.
17.6 Amendments. This Agreement shall not be modified
or amended except in writing executed by each of the parties.
17.7 Assignment. Neither Registry Operator nor ICANN may
assign or transfer this Agreement (by merger, sale of assets, operation of
law, or otherwise), except that the rights and obligations of Registry Operator
or ICANN automatically shall be transferred to the assignee of one of those
parties' rights and obligations under the Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement.
Escrow Agent may not assign or transfer this Agreement without the prior written
consent of Registry Operator and ICANN.
17.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including all exhibits
referenced herein, supersedes all prior discussions, understandings, and agreements
between Escrow Agent and the other parties with respect to the data escrow
services. Registry Operator and ICANN acknowledge and agree that, as between
themselves, the Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement (including all appendices)
is intended to co-exist with this Agreement; this Agreement is supplementary
to the Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement; and the Sponsored TLD Registry
Operator Agreement shall control in the event of any conflict between this
Agreement and the Sponsored TLD Registry Operator Agreement.
17.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of
which when taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
17.10 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without
regard to its conflicts-of-laws principles. The parties consent and agree that
jurisdiction and venue for any legal proceedings relating to this Agreement
shall lie with the state and federal courts of Los Angeles County in the State
of California.
17.11 Notices. All notices, requests, demands or other
communications required or permitted to be given or made under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand, by commercial overnight
delivery service which provides for evidence of receipt, by certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, by facsimile, or by e-mail (e-mail
to be followed promptly at receiver's request by a copy delivered by one of
the other means of delivery) to the corresponding addresses listed on the signature
page of this Agreement. If delivered personally, by commercial overnight delivery
service, by facsimile, or by e-mail, the date on which the notice, request,
instruction or document is delivered shall be the date on which delivery is
deemed to be made, and if delivered by mail, the date on which such notice,
request, instruction or document is received shall be the date on which delivery
is deemed to be made. Any party may change its address for the purpose of this
Agreement by notice in writing to the other parties as provided herein.
17.12 Survival. The obligation of confidentiality in
Section 7, Sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17.3 and this Section 17.12 shall survive
any termination of this Agreement.
17.13 No Waiver. No failure on the part of any party
hereto to exercise, and no delay in exercising any right, power or single or
partial exercise of any right, power or remedy by any party will preclude any
other or further exercise of that or any other right, power, or remedy. No
express waiver or assent by any party to any breach of or default in any term
or condition of this Agreement shall constitute a waiver of or an assent to
any succeeding breach of or default in the same or any other term or condition.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF each of the parties has caused its duly authorized officer
to execute this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
Escrow Agent
Iron Mountain Intellectual Property Management, Inc.
9210 Sky Park CT
Suite 220
San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: 858-499-2400
Fax: 858-499-1607 |
Registry Operator
DotAsia Organization Limited
Address: ___________________
_____________________
_____________________
E-mail: ____________________
Phone: ____________________
Fax: _____________________
|
ICANN
4676 Admiralty Way
Suite 330
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
E-mail:
Phone: 1-310-823-9358
Fax: 1-310-823-8649 |
By:____________________________ |
By:____________________________ |
By:_____________________________ |
Name:____________________________ |
PrintName: ________________ |
John Jeffrey, General Counsel
|
|
Title: _____________________ |
|
|