Software as a Service Terms and
Conditions
Customer and TreeRing Workforce Solutions agree that the terms and conditions set forth below shall apply to the TreeRing Workforce Solutions supply of the commercially available version of the TreeRing Time® SaaS Applications in TreeRing Workforce Solutions' hosting environment, the services related thereto, and the sale or rental of Equipment (if any) specified on a TreeRing Workforce Solutions Order Form. The Applications described on the Order Form shall be delivered by means of Customer's permitted access to the TreeRing Workforce Solutions infrastructure hosting such Applications.
BY MANUALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY EXECUTING AN INITIAL ORDER FORM REFERENCING THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OR TO WHICH THESE TERMS ARE ATTACHED, CUSTOMER AGREES TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ALL ORDER FORMS. THE INDIVIDUAL ACCEPTING THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ON BEHALF OF CUSTOMER REPRESENTS THAT HE/SHE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CONTRACTUALLY BIND CUSTOMER. THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND THE ORDER FORM(S) (AND ANY ATTACHMENTS THERETO) TOGETHER FORM A BINDING AND EXECUTED WRITTEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CUSTOMER AND TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS.
1. DEFINITIONS
"Agreement" means these terms and conditions and the Order Form(s).
"Application(s)" or "SaaS Application(s)" means those TreeRing Workforce Solutions software application programs set forth on an Order Form which are made accessible for Customer to use under the terms of this Agreement. "Billing Start Date" means the date the billing of the Monthly Service Fees commences as indicated on the applicable Order Form. The Billing Start Date of the Monthly Service Fees for any Services ordered by Customer after the date of this Agreement which are incremental to Customer's then-existing Services shall be the date the applicable Order Form is executed by TreeRing Workforce Solutions and Customer.
"Confidential Information" means any non-public information of a party or its Suppliers relating to such entity's business activities, financial affairs, technology, marketing or sales plans that is disclosed pursuant to this Agreement and reasonably should have been understood by the receiving party, because of (i) legends or other markings, (ii) the circumstances of disclosure or (iii) the nature of the information itself, to be proprietary and confidential to the disclosing party or its Suppliers.
"Customer Content" means all content Customer, or others acting on behalf of or through Customer, posts or otherwise inputs into the Services.
"Documentation" means technical publications published by TreeRing Workforce Solutions relating to the use of the Services.
"Educational Content" has the meanings ascribed in Section 7.3.
"Equipment" means the TreeRing Workforce Solutions equipment purchased or rented by Customer under this Agreement.
"Initial Term" means the initial term of the Services as indicated on the Order Form.
"Minimum Contract Value" means the total of all Monthly Service Fees to be invoiced during the Initial Term or a Renewal Term, as applicable.
"Monthly Service Fee(s)" means the monthly fees described in an Order Form. Monthly Service Fees include fees for usage of the Applications, the Services, and Equipment rental, if any. Billing of the Monthly Service Fee(s) commences on the Billing Start Date.
"Order Form" means an order form mutually agreed upon by TreeRing Workforce Solutions and Customer setting forth the items ordered by Customer and to be provided by TreeRing Workforce Solutions and the fees to be paid by Customer.
"Personally Identifiable Data" means information concerning individually identifiable employees of Customer that is protected against disclosure under applicable law or regulation.
"Renewal Term" means the renewal term of the Services as indicated on the Order Form.
"Services" means (i) accessibility to the commercially available version of the Applications by means of access to the password protected customer area of a TreeRing Workforce Solutions website, and all such services, items and offerings accessed by Customer therein, and (ii) the Equipment rented hereunder, if any.
"Supplier" means any contractor, subcontractor or licensor of TreeRing Workforce Solutions providing software, equipment and/or services to TreeRing Workforce Solutions which are incorporated into or otherwise related to the Services. "Term" means the Initial Term and any Renewal Terms thereafter.
2. TERM
2.1 The Services shall commence on the Billing Start Date, and shall continue for the Initial Term or until terminated in accordance with the provisions hereof. At the expiration of the Initial Term and each Renewal Term as applicable, the Services shall automatically renew for additional Renewal Terms until terminated in accordance with the provisions hereof.
2.2 Customer may terminate the Services and this Agreement for convenience upon ninety (90) days prior written notice subject to Customer's payment of the Minimum Contract Value. TreeRing Workforce Solutions may terminate the Services and this Agreement to be effective at the expiration of the then current Term upon no less than sixty (60) days prior written notice.
2.3 Either party may terminate the Services and the Agreement upon a material breach of the Agreement by the other party if such breach is not cured within fifteen (15) days after receipt of written notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, TreeRing Workforce Solutions may suspend the Services immediately upon notice in the event of any Customer breach of Sections 4 (Rights to Use), 5 (Acceptable Use), or 15 (Confidential Information).
2.4 In the event that either party becomes insolvent, makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, is adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, commences a case under applicable bankruptcy laws, or files a petition seeking reorganization, the other party may request adequate assurances of future performance. Failure to provide adequate assurances, in the requesting party's reasonable discretion, within ten (10) days of delivery of the request shall entitle the requesting party to terminate the Agreement immediately upon written notice to the other party. 2.5 If the Agreement is terminated for any reason:
a) Customer shall pay TreeRing Workforce Solutions within thirty (30) days of such termination, all fees accrued under this Agreement prior to the effective date of such termination, provided however, if Customer terminates for material breach of the Agreement by TreeRing Workforce Solutions, TreeRing Workforce Solutions shall refund Customer any pre-paid fees for services not delivered by TreeRing Workforce Solutions;
b) Customer's right to access and use the Applications shall be revoked and be of no further force or effect and return rented Equipment as provided in Section 9.1 below;
c) No more than fifteen (15) days after termination (or upon Customer's written request at any time during the Term), TreeRing Workforce Solutions will provide to Customer, at no charge to Customer, the Customer Content. After such time period, TreeRing Workforce Solutions shall have no further obligation to store or make available the Customer Content and will securely delete any or all Customer Content without liability;
d) Customer agrees to timely return all TreeRing Workforce Solutions-provided materials related to the Services to TreeRing Workforce Solutions at Customer's expense or, alternatively, destroy such materials and provide TreeRing Workforce Solutions with an officer's certification of the destruction thereof; and
e) All provisions in the Agreement, which by their nature are intended to survive termination, shall so survive.
3. FEES AND PAYMENT
3.1 Customer shall pay TreeRing Workforce Solutions the Setup Fees, the Monthly Service Fees and any additional one time, setup or recurring fees, all as defined on the Order Form or subject to Section 17.9 below. Billing will commence on the Billing Start Date with the Monthly Service Fees to be billed on the frequency set forth on the Order Form ("Billing Frequency"). Unless otherwise indicated on the Order Form, TreeRing Workforce Solutions will bill Customer for all implementation services in advance. Purchased Equipment will be billed upon shipment of such Equipment. Customer authorizes TreeRing Workforce Solutions to charge the debit card or credit card on file with TreeRing Workforce Solutions in an amount equal to the Monthly Service Fees as all such fees become due under this Agreement. For all other payments and fees due under this Agreement, payment shall be due 30 days following date of invoice unless otherwise indicated on an Order Form. Except as expressly set forth in the Agreement, all amounts paid to TreeRing Workforce Solutions are non-refundable. Customer is responsible for all applicable taxes relating to the goods and services provided by TreeRing Workforce Solutions hereunder (including without limitation GST and/or VAT if applicable), excluding taxes based on TreeRing Workforce Solutions' income or business privilege.
3.2 The Setup Fees shall be invoiced upon execution of the Agreement and shall be due net 30 days following date of invoice. Customer acknowledges that setup fees may be charged to Customer by third parties for Add-on Features. Third party setup and monthly fees shall be set forth on an Order Form or subject to Section 17.9 below. Monthly Service fees shall be based on monthly periods that begin on the Billing Start Date. Monthly Service Fees shall include fees for Equipment rental, if any. Monthly Service Fees for Services added on or before the 15th day of a given month will be charged for that full monthly period and each monthly period of the Term thereafter; Monthly Service Fees for Services added after the 15th day of a given month will begin to accrue as of the 1st day of the following month and will be charged for each monthly period of the Term thereafter. Monthly Service Fees shall be invoiced promptly following the end of the calendar month in which the Monthly Service Fees were accrued. TreeRing Workforce Solutions will monitor Customer's "Usage" of the Services (as defined below) in order to calculate the Usage portion of the Monthly Service Fees to be charged. Usage of the Services, depending on applicable features, components, or services, shall be priced as identified on the Order Form either on a: (a) per month basis; (b) per active employee (herein "Active Employee") per month usage basis; (c) per transaction basis (e.g.: pay statement); or, (d) per access point. For purposes of the Agreement, an employee shall be deemed an Active Employee during any applicable billing period if through the Services: (i) time has been entered for such employee; (ii) records have been included for such employee for the purpose of processing payroll; (iii) records have been included for such employee within an import/export process; (iv) such employee has accessed the Services, regardless of the purpose; (v) benefit time has been accrued for such employee; or (vi) such employee has been marked by Customer as having an "Active" status during the period.
3.3 Customer agrees that except in those circumstances in which Customer is entitled to invoke the termination for cause provision set forth in Section 2.3 above, in consideration of TreeRing Workforce Solutions' delivery of the Services on a variable fee basis, Customer agrees to pay TreeRing Workforce Solutions each month during the Term in which charges accrue no less than the minimum monthly fees ("Minimum Monthly Fees") which shall be calculated by TreeRing Workforce Solutions based the amounts identified on all Order Forms for Customer's Usage of the Services, plus Equipment rental fees, if any. In the event that Customer does not reach the anticipated Usage upon which the Minimum Monthly Fees was based for any given month during the Term, Customer shall remain responsible for paying the Minimum Monthly Fees for that month. If an Order Form or the Agreement is suspended by TreeRing Workforce Solutions for non-payment or otherwise terminated by TreeRing Workforce Solutions for cause, Customer shall remain liable to pay the applicable Minimum Monthly Fees up to and including the last day of the month in which the effective date of termination occurs.
3.4 If any amount owing under this or any other agreement between the parties is thirty (30) or more days overdue, TreeRing Workforce Solutions may, without limiting TreeRing Workforce Solutions' rights or remedies, suspend Services until such amounts are paid in full. TreeRing Workforce Solutions will provide at least seven (7) days' prior written notice that Customer's account is overdue before suspending Services.
3.5 At the later of (i) one (1) year after the effective date of this Agreement, or (ii) expiration of the Initial Term, and at each annual anniversary of that date thereafter, TreeRing Workforce Solutions may increase the Monthly Service Fee rates in an amount not to exceed four percent (4%). The increased Monthly Service Fees will be reflected in the monthly invoice following the effective date of such increase without additional notice.
3.6 Customer agrees that except if Customer terminates for material breach of the Agreement by TreeRing Workforce Solutions, if Customer has not paid the Minimum Contract Value to TreeRing Workforce Solutions prior to the expiration or termination of the Initial Term or a Renewal Term, as applicable, Customer shall pay within thirty (30) days of the date of such expiration or termination, the difference between the total Monthly Service Fees then paid by Customer for the Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable, and the Minimum Contract Value.
4. RIGHTS TO USE
4.1 Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, TreeRing Workforce Solutions hereby grants Customer a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable right to use during the Term and for internal business purposes only: a) the Applications and related services, including the Documentation and training materials; and, b) any embedded third party software, libraries, or other components, which form a part of the Services. The Services contain proprietary trade secret technology of TreeRing Workforce Solutions and its Suppliers. Unauthorized use and/or copying of such technology are prohibited by law, including United States and foreign copyright law. Customer shall not reverse compile, disassemble or otherwise convert the Applications or other software comprising the Services into uncompiled or unassembled code. Customer acknowledges and agrees that the right to use the Services is limited based upon authorized Usage and the amount of the Monthly Service Fees to be paid by Customer. Customer agrees to use only the modules and/or features described on the Order Form. Customer agrees not to use any other modules or features unless Customer has licensed such additional modules or features. Customer may not relicense or sublicense the Services, or otherwise permit use of the Services (including timesharing or networking use) by any third party. Customer may not provide service bureau or other data processing services that make use of the Services without the express prior written consent of TreeRing Workforce Solutions. No license, right, or interest in any TreeRing Workforce Solutions trademark, trade name, or service mark, or those of TreeRing Workforce Solutions' licensors or Suppliers, is granted hereunder. When using and applying the information generated by the Services, Customer is responsible for ensuring that Customer complies with applicable laws and regulations.
4.2 Customer may authorize its third party contractors and consultants to access the Services through Customer's administrative access privileges on an as needed basis, provided Customer: a) abides by its obligations to protect Confidential Information as set forth in this Agreement; b) remains responsible for all such third party usage and compliance with the Agreement; and c) does not provide such access to a competitor of TreeRing Workforce Solutions who provides workforce management services.
4.3 Customer acknowledges and agrees that, as between Customer and TreeRing Workforce Solutions, TreeRing Workforce Solutions retains ownership of all right, title and interest to the Services, all of which are protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, and that, other than the express rights granted herein and under any other agreement in writing with Customer, Customer shall not obtain or claim any rights in or ownership interest to the Services or any associated intellectual property rights in any of the foregoing. Customer agrees to comply with all copyright and other intellectual property rights notices contained on or in any information obtained or accessed by Customer through the Services.
4.4 TreeRing Workforce Solutions will make updates and upgrades to the Services (tools, utilities, improvements, third party applications, general enhancements) available to Customer at no charge as they are released generally to its customers as part of the Services. Customer agrees to receive those updates automatically as part of the Services. TreeRing Workforce Solutions also may offer new products and/or services to Customer at an additional charge. Customer shall have the option of purchasing such new products and/or services under a separate Order Form or in accordance with Section 17.9 below.
4.5 TreeRing Workforce Solutions reserves the right to change the Services, in whole or in part, including but not limited to, the Internet based services, technical support options, and other Services-related policies. Customer's continued use of the Services after TreeRing Workforce Solutions posts or otherwise notifies Customer of any changes indicates Customer's agreement to those changes.
5. ACCEPTABLE USE
5.1 Customer shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that no unauthorized persons have access to the Services, and to ensure that no persons authorized to have such access shall take any action that would be in violation of this Agreement.
5.2 Customer represents and warrants to TreeRing Workforce Solutions that Customer has the right to publish and disclose the Customer Content in connection with the Services. Customer represents and warrants to TreeRing Workforce Solutions that the
Customer Content: (a) does not infringe or violate any third-party right, including but not limited to intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights, (b) is not abusive, profane, or offensive to a reasonable person, or, (c) is not hateful or threatening.
5.3 Customer will not (a) use, or allow the use of, the Services in contravention of any federal, state, local, foreign or other applicable law, or rules or regulations of regulatory or administrative organizations; (b) introduce into the Services any virus or other code or routine intended to disrupt or damage the Services, or alter, damage, delete, retrieve or record information about the Services or its users; (c) excessively overload the TreeRing Workforce Solutions systems used to provide the Services; (d) perform any security integrity review, penetration test, load test, denial of service simulation or vulnerability scan; (e) use any tool designed to automatically emulate the actions of a human user (e.g., robots); or, (f) otherwise act in a fraudulent, malicious or negligent manner when using the Services.
6. CONNECTIVITY AND ACCESS
Customer acknowledges that Customer shall (a) be responsible for securing, paying for, and maintaining connectivity to the Services (including any and all related hardware, software, third party services and related equipment and components); and (b) provide TreeRing Workforce Solutions and TreeRing Workforce Solutions' representatives with such physical or remote access to Customer's computer and network environment as TreeRing Workforce Solutions deems reasonably necessary in order for TreeRing Workforce Solutions to perform its obligations under the Agreement. Customer will make all necessary arrangements as may be required to provide access to Customer's computer and network environment if necessary for TreeRing Workforce Solutions to perform its obligations under the Agreement. TreeRing Workforce Solutions is hereby (i) granted access to such Customer data to perform its obligations under the Agreement and (ii) authorized to audit the number of Active Employee counts or other transactions that have occurred to measure Usage.
7. IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORT
7.1 Implementation. TreeRing Workforce Solutions will configure the Services utilizing scheduled remote resources. Software module configuration will be based on information and work flows obtained from Customer during the discovery portion of the implementation. Customer shall provide TreeRing Workforce Solutions with necessary configuration related information in a timely manner to ensure that mutually agreed implementation schedules are met. TreeRing Workforce Solutions and Customer's implementation responsibilities are described more specifically in the Services Implementation Guideline set forth in “Project Orientation Packet”
7.2 Standard Support. TreeRing Workforce Solutions will provide telephone support 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., local time, Monday - Friday. Customers also shall be provided the capability to log questions online via the TreeRing Workforce Solutions Customer Portal.
7.3 Equipment Support. If Equipment is rented in accordance with Section 9.1 below or if Equipment Support Services are purchased for Equipment purchased in accordance with Section 9.2 below, TreeRing Workforce Solutions will provide the following Depot Exchange Support Services to Customer:
a) Upon the failure of installed Equipment, Customer shall notify TreeRing Workforce Solutions of such failure and TreeRing Workforce Solutions will provide remote fault isolation at the FRU (Field Replacement Unit) or subassembly level and attempt to resolve the problem. Those failures determined by TreeRing Workforce Solutions to be Equipment related shall be dispatched to a TreeRing Workforce Solutions Depot Repair Center, and Customer will be provided with a Return Material Authorization Number (RMA) for the failed Equipment if Customer is to return the failed Equipment to TreeRing Workforce Solutions, as reasonably determined by TreeRing Workforce Solutions. Customer must return the failed Equipment with the supplied RMA number. Hours of operation, locations and other information related to TreeRing Workforce Solutions' Depot Repair Centers are available upon request and are subject to change. Return and repair procedures for failed Equipment shall be provided based on the Depot option - Depot Exchange or Depot Repair - selected by Customer on the applicable Order Form and as specified herein and in TreeRing Workforce Solutions' then-current Support Services Policies.
b) TreeRing Workforce Solutions will provide a replacement for the failed Equipment at the FRU or subassembly level on an "advanced exchange" basis, utilizing a carrier of TreeRing Workforce Solutions' choice. Replacement Equipment will be shipped the same day, for delivery to Customer's location as further described in the Support Policies. REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT MAY BE NEW OR RECONDITIONED. Customer shall specify the address to which the Equipment is to be shipped. All shipments will include the TreeRing Workforce Solutions provided RMA designating the applicable TreeRing Workforce Solutions Depot Repair Center, as the recipient. Customer, upon receipt of the replacement Equipment from TreeRing Workforce Solutions, shall package the defective Equipment in the materials provided by TreeRing Workforce Solutions, with the RMA supplied and promptly return failed Equipment directly to TreeRing Workforce Solutions.
c) Equipment support also includes Customer access to Equipment service packs via the TreeRing Workforce Solutions Customer Portal.
7.4 Educational Materials and Content. Customer will have access to certain educational materials and content (the "Educational Content") within the Services. Customer recognizes and agrees that the Educational Content is copyrighted by TreeRing Workforce Solutions. Customer is permitted to make copies of the Educational Content provided in *pdf form solely for Customer's internal training purposes and may not disclose such Educational Content to any third party other than Customer's employees. Customer may not edit, modify, revise, amend, change, alter, customize or vary the Educational Content without the written consent of TreeRing Workforce Solutions, provided that Customer may download and modify contents of Training Kits solely for Customer's internal use
8. CUSTOMER CONTENT
Customer shall own all Customer Content. TreeRing Workforce Solutions acknowledges that all of the Customer Content is deemed to be the Confidential Information of Customer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Customer grants TreeRing Workforce Solutions permission to combine Customer's business data with that of other customers in a manner that does not identify the Customer or any individual in order to evaluate and improve the services TreeRing Workforce Solutions offers to customers. In addition, TreeRing Workforce Solutions may, but shall have no obligation to, monitor Customer Content from time to time to ensure compliance with the Agreement and applicable law.
9. EQUIPMENT
If Customer purchases or rents Equipment from TreeRing Workforce Solutions, a description of such Equipment (model and quantity), the applicable pricing, and delivery terms shall be listed on the Order Form.
9.1 Rented Equipment. The following terms apply only to Equipment Customer rents from TreeRing Workforce Solutions:
a) Rental Term and Warranty Period. The term of the Equipment rental and the "Warranty Period" for such Equipment shall run conterminously with the Term of the other Services provided under the Agreement.
b) Insurance. Customer shall insure the Equipment for an amount equal to the replacement value of the Equipment for loss or damage by fire, theft, and all normal extended coverage at all times. No loss, theft or damage after shipment of the Equipment to Customer shall relieve Customer from Customer's obligations under the Agreement.
c) Location/Replacement. Customer shall not make any alterations or remove the Equipment from the place of original installation without TreeRing Workforce Solutions' prior written consent. TreeRing Workforce Solutions shall have the right to enter Customer's premises to inspect the Equipment during normal business hours. TreeRing Workforce Solutions reserves the right, at its sole discretion and at no additional cost to Customer, to replace any Equipment with newer or alternative technology Equipment as long as the replacement Equipment at least provides the same level of functionality as that being replaced.
d) Ownership. All Equipment shall remain the property of TreeRing Workforce Solutions. All Equipment is, and at all times shall remain, separate items of personal property, notwithstanding such Equipment's attachment to other equipment or real property. Customer shall not sell or otherwise encumber the Equipment. Customer shall furnish any assurances, written or otherwise, reasonably requested by TreeRing Workforce Solutions to give full effect to the intent of terms of this paragraph (d).
e) Equipment Support. TreeRing Workforce Solutions shall provide to Customer the Equipment support services described in Section 7.
f) Return of Equipment. Upon termination of the Agreement or the applicable Order Form, Customer shall return, within thirty (30) days of the effective date of termination and at Customer's expense, the Equipment subject to this Section 9.1. Equipment will be returned to TreeRing Workforce Solutions in the same condition as and when received, reasonable wear and tear excepted. If Customer fails to return Equipment within this time period, upon receiving an invoice from TreeRing Workforce Solutions, Customer shall pay TreeRing Workforce Solutions the then list price of the unreturned Equipment.
9.2 Purchased Equipment. The following terms apply only to Equipment Customer purchases from TreeRing Workforce Solutions:
a) Ownership and Warranty Period. Title to the Equipment shall pass to Customer upon delivery to the carrier. The "Warranty Period" for the Equipment shall be for a period of ninety (90) days from such delivery (unless otherwise required by law).
b) Equipment Support. TreeRing Workforce Solutions shall provide to Customer the Equipment support services described in this Agreement if purchased separately by Customer as indicated on the applicable Order Form. If purchased, Equipment support services have a term of one (1) year commencing upon expiration of the Warranty Period. Equipment support services will be automatically extended for additional one year terms on the anniversary of its commencement date ("Renewal Date"), unless either party has given the other thirty (30) days written notification of its intent not to renew. TreeRing Workforce Solutions may change the annual support charges for Equipment support services effective at the end of the initial one (1) year term or effective on the Renewal Date, by giving Customer at least thirty (30) days prior written notification.
10. SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT
TreeRing Workforce Solutions shall: (a) provide basic support for the Services at no additional charge, (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to make the Services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except for: (i) planned downtime (when it shall give at least 8 hours notice via the Services and shall schedule to the extent practicable during the weekend hours from 6:00 p.m. Friday to 3:00 a.m. Monday, Eastern Time), or (ii) any unavailability caused by circumstances beyond TreeRing Workforce Solutions' reasonable control, including without limitation, acts of nature, acts of government, floods, fires, earthquakes, civil unrest, acts of terror, strikes or other labor problems (other than those involving TreeRing Workforce Solutions employees), internet service provider failures or delays, or denial of service attacks, and (iii) provide Services in accordance with applicable laws and government regulations.
11. LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMERS OF WARRANTY
11.1 TreeRing Workforce Solutions represents and warrants to Customer that the Services, under normal operation as specified in the Documentation and when used as authorized herein, will perform substantially in accordance with such Documentation during the Term.
11.2 TreeRing Workforce Solutions' sole obligation and Customer's sole and exclusive remedy for any breach of the foregoing warranty is limited to TreeRing Workforce Solutions' reasonable commercial efforts to correct the non-conforming Services at no additional charge to Customer. In the event that TreeRing Workforce Solutions is unable to correct material deficiencies in the Services arising during the Warranty Period, after using TreeRing Workforce Solutions' commercially reasonable efforts to do so, Customer shall be entitled to terminate the then remaining Term of the Agreement as Customer's sole and exclusive remedy. TreeRing Workforce Solutions' obligations hereunder for breach of warranty are conditioned upon Customer notifying TreeRing Workforce Solutions of the material breach in writing, and providing TreeRing Workforce Solutions with sufficient evidence of such non-conformity to enable TreeRing Workforce Solutions to reproduce or verify the same.
11.3 TreeRing Workforce Solutions warrants to Customer that each item of Equipment shall be free from defects in materials and workmanship during the Warranty Period. In the event of a breach of this warranty, Customer's sole and exclusive remedy shall be TreeRing Workforce Solutions' repair or replacement of the deficient Equipment, at TreeRing Workforce Solutions' option, provided that Customer's use, installation and maintenance thereof have conformed to the Documentation for such Equipment. This warranty is extended to Customer only and shall not apply to any Equipment (or parts thereof) in the event of:
a. damage, defects or malfunctions resulting from misuse, accident, neglect, tampering, (including without limitation modification or replacement of any TreeRing Workforce Solutions components on any boards supplied with the Equipment), unusual physical or electrical stress or causes other than normal and intended use;
b. failure of Customer to provide and maintain a suitable installation environment, as specified in the published specifications for such Equipment; or
c. malfunctions resulting from the use of badges or supplies not approved by TreeRing Workforce Solutions.
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS SECTION 11, TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, CONDITIONS, GUARANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS RELATING TO THE SERVICES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ORAL OR IN WRITING, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND WHETHER OR NOT ARISING THROUGH A COURSE OF DEALING. THE SERVICES ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO BE ERRORFREE OR UNINTERRUPTED. EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS MAKES NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS CONCERNING THE COMPATIBILITY OF THE SERVICES, THE SAAS APPLICATIONS OR THE EQUIPMENT NOR ANY RESULTS TO BE ACHIEVED THEREFROM.
12.0 DATA
SECURITY
12.1 As part of the Services, TreeRing Workforce Solutions shall provide administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for the protection of the security, confidentiality and integrity of Customer data. Customer acknowledges that such safeguards endeavor to mitigate security incidents, but such incidents may not be mitigated entirely or rendered harmless. Customer should consider any particular TreeRing Workforce Solutions supplied security-related safeguard as just one tool to be used as part of Customer's overall security strategy and not a guarantee of security. Both parties agree to comply with all applicable privacy or data protection statutes, rules, or regulations governing the respective activities of the parties under the Agreement.
12.2 As between Customer and TreeRing Workforce Solutions, all Personally Identifiable Data is Customer's Confidential Information and will remain the property of Customer. Customer represents that to the best of Customer's knowledge such Personally Identifiable Data supplied to TreeRing Workforce Solutions is accurate. Customer hereby consents to the use, processing or disclosure of Personally Identifiable Data by TreeRing Workforce Solutions and TreeRing Workforce Solutions' Suppliers wherever located only for the purposes described herein and only to the extent such use or processing is necessary for TreeRing Workforce Solutions to carry out TreeRing Workforce Solutions' duties and responsibilities under the Agreement or as required by law.
12.3 Prior to initiation of the Services under the Agreement and on an ongoing basis thereafter, Customer agrees to provide notice to TreeRing Workforce Solutions of any extraordinary privacy or data protection statutes, rules, or regulations which are or become applicable to Customer's industry and which could be imposed on TreeRing Workforce Solutions as a result of provision of the Services. Customer will ensure that: (a) the transfer to TreeRing Workforce Solutions and storage of any Personally Identifiable Data by TreeRing Workforce Solutions or TreeRing Workforce Solutions' Supplier's data center is permitted under applicable data protection laws and regulations; and, (b) Customer will obtain consents from individuals for such transfer and storage to the extent required under applicable laws and regulations.
13. INDEMNIFICATION
13.1 TreeRing Workforce Solutions shall defend Customer and its respective directors, officers, and employees (collectively, the "Customer Indemnified Parties"), from and against any and all notices, charges, claims, proceedings, actions, causes of action and suits, brought by a third party (each a "Claim") alleging that the permitted uses of the Services infringe or misappropriate any United States or Canadian copyright or patent and will indemnify and hold harmless the Customer Indemnified Parties against any liabilities, obligations, costs or expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees) actually awarded to a third party as a result of such Claim by a court of applicable jurisdiction or as a result of TreeRing Workforce Solutions' settlement of such a Claim. In the event that a final injunction is obtained against Customer's use of the Services by reason of infringement or misappropriation of such copyright or patent, or if in TreeRing Workforce Solutions' opinion, the Services are likely to become the subject of a successful claim of such infringement or misappropriation, TreeRing Workforce Solutions, at TreeRing Workforce Solutions' option and expense, will use commercially reasonable efforts to (a) procure for Customer the right to continue using the Services as provided in the Agreement, (b) replace or modify the Services so that the Services become non-infringing but remain substantively similar to the affected Services, and if neither (a) or (b) is commercially feasible, to (c) terminate the Agreement and the rights granted hereunder after provision of a refund to Customer of the Monthly Service Fees paid by Customer for the infringing elements of the Services covering the period of their unavailability.
13.2 TreeRing Workforce Solutions shall have no liability to indemnify or defend Customer to the extent the alleged infringement is based on: (a) a modification of the Services by anyone other than TreeRing Workforce Solutions; (b) use of the Services other than in accordance with the Documentation for such Service or as authorized by the Agreement; (c) use of the Services in conjunction with any data, equipment, service or software not provided by TreeRing Workforce Solutions, where the Services would not otherwise itself be infringing or the subject of the claim; or (d) use of the Services by Customer other than in accordance with the terms of the Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to infringement claims based upon software created or provided by a licensor to TreeRing Workforce Solutions or Suppliers, TreeRing Workforce Solutions' maximum liability will be to assign to Customer TreeRing Workforce Solutions' or Supplier's recovery rights with respect to such infringement claims, provided that TreeRing Workforce Solutions or TreeRing Workforce Solutions' Supplier shall use commercially reasonable efforts at Customer's cost to assist Customer in seeking such recovery from such licensor.
13.3 Customer shall defend TreeRing Workforce Solutions, its Suppliers and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and independent contractors (collectively, the "TreeRing Workforce SolutionsIndemnified Parties") harmless, from and against any and all Claims alleging that: (a) employment-related claims arising out of Customer's configuration of the Services; (b) Customer's modification or combination of the Services with other services, software or equipment not furnished by TreeRing Workforce Solutions, provided that such Customer modification or combination is the cause of such infringement and was not authorized by TreeRing Workforce Solutions; or, (c) a claim that the Customer Content infringes in any manner any intellectual property right of any third party, or any of the Customer Content contains any material or information that is obscene, defamatory, libelous, or slanderous violates any person's right of publicity, privacy or personality, or has otherwise caused or resulted in any tort, injury, damage or harm to any other person. Customer will have sole control of the defense of any such action and all negotiations for its settlement or compromise. TreeRing Workforce Solutions will cooperate fully at Customer's expense with Customer in the defense, settlement or compromise of any such action. Customer will indemnify and hold harmless the TreeRing Workforce Solutions Indemnified Parties against any liabilities, obligations, costs or expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees) actually awarded to a third party as a result of such Claims by a court of applicable jurisdiction or as a result of Customer's settlement of such a Claim.
13.4 The Indemnified Party(ies) shall provide written notice to the indemnifying party promptly after receiving notice of such Claim. If the defense of such Claim is materially prejudiced by a delay in providing such notice, the purported indemnifying party shall be relieved from providing such indemnity to the extent of the delay's impact on the defense. The indemnifying party shall have sole control of the defense of any indemnified Claim and all negotiations for its settlement or compromise, provided that such indemnifying party shall not enter into any settlement which imposes any obligations or restrictions on the applicable Indemnified Parties without the prior written consent of the other party. The Indemnified Parties shall cooperate fully, at the indemnifying party's request and expense, with the indemnifying party in the defense, settlement or compromise of any such action. The indemnified party may retain its own counsel at its own expense, subject to the indemnifying party's rights above.
14. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
14.1 EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS AND ITS SUPPLIERS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR INJURIES CAUSED BY THE USE OF THE SERVICES OR BY ANY ERRORS, DELAYS, INTERRUPTIONS IN TRANSMISSION, OR FAILURES OF THE SERVICES.
14.2 EXCEPT FOR TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS' INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 13 ABOVE, THE TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS OR TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS' SUPPLIERS TO CUSTOMER AND/OR ANY THIRD PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE AGREEMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO DIRECT DAMAGES PROVEN BY CUSTOMER, SUCH DIRECT DAMAGES NOT TO EXCEED AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE TOTAL NET PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS FOR THE SERVICES IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTH PERIOD IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE IN WHICH SUCH CLAIM ARISES.
14.3 EXCEPT FOR TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS' INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 13 ABOVE, IN NO EVENT SHALL TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS OR TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS' SUPPLIERS, THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, SERVICE PROVIDERS, OR AGENTS BE LIABLE TO CUSTOMER OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER INDIRECT DAMAGES OR FOR ANY LOST OR IMPUTED PROFITS OR REVENUES, LOST DATA OR COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE SERVICES RESULTING FROM DELAYS, NONDELIVERIES, MISDELIVERIES OR SERVICES INTERRUPTION, HOWEVER CAUSED, ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE SERVICES OR THE AGREEMENT, REGARDLESS OF THE LEGAL THEORY UNDER WHICH SUCH LIABILITY IS ASSERTED, WHETHER BREACH OF WARRANTY, INDEMNIFICATION, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, AND WHETHER LIABILITY IS ASSERTED IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS OR SUPPLIER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY SUCH LIABILITY, LOSS OR DAMAGE.
14.4 EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO LIABILITY ARISING FROM TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS' GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, TREERING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LIABILITY RELATED TO A BREACH OF DATA SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY OBLIGATIONS, RESULTING FROM ANY EXTERNALLY INTRODUCED HARMFUL PROGRAM (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION VIRUSES, TROJAN HORSES, AND WORMS), CUSTOMER'S CONTENT OR APPLICATIONS, THIRD PARTY UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS OF EQUIPMENT, SAAS APPLICATIONS OR SYSTEMS, OR MACHINE ERROR.
15. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
15.1 Each Party shall protect the Confidential Information of the other Party with at least the same degree of care and confidentiality, but not less than a reasonable standard of care, which such Party utilizes for its own information of similar character that it does not wish disclosed to the public. Neither Party shall disclose to third parties the other Party's Confidential Information, or use it for any purpose not explicitly authorized herein, without the prior written consent of the other Party. The obligation of confidentiality shall survive for five (5) years after the return of such Confidential Information to the disclosing party or five (5) years after the expiration or termination of the Agreement, whichever is later, as applicable.
15.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, a party may disclose Confidential Information to the extent required: (a) to any subsidiary or affiliate of such Party, or (b) to any consultants, contractors, and counsel who have a need to know in connection with the Agreement and have executed a non-disclosure agreement with obligations at least as stringent as this Section 15, or (c) by law, or by a court or governmental agency, or if necessary in any proceeding to establish rights or obligations under the Agreement; provided, the receiving party shall, unless legally prohibited, provide the disclosing party with reasonable prior written notice sufficient to permit the disclosing party an opportunity to contest such disclosure. If a party commits, or threatens to commit, a breach of this Section 15, the other party shall have the right to seek injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
15.3 This Agreement imposes no obligation upon either Party with respect to the other Party's Confidential Information which the receiving Party can establish: (a) is or becomes generally known through no breach of the Agreement by the receiving party, or (b) is already known or is independently developed by the receiving party without use of or reference to the Confidential Information.
16. EXPORT
Customer understands that any export of the Equipment may require an export license and Customer assumes full responsibility for obtaining such license. Customer must obtain TreeRing Workforce Solutions' prior written consent before exporting the Equipment.
17. GENERAL
17.1 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state, province and country in which TreeRing Workforce Solutions is incorporated without regard to any conflict of law provisions. The parties waive the application of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods as to the interpretation or enforcement of the Agreement and waive and "opt out" of the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA), or such other similar law.
17.2 The invalidity or illegality of any provision of the Agreement shall not affect the validity of any other provision. The parties intend for the remaining unaffected provisions to remain in full force and effect.
17.3 Customer shall not assign the Agreement or the rights to use the Services without the prior written consent of TreeRing Workforce Solutions and any purported assignment, without such consent, shall be void.
17.4 Neither Party shall be responsible for any failure to perform or delay in performing any of its obligations under this Agreement (other than a failure to comply with payment obligations) where and to the extent that such failure or delay results from an unforeseeable event beyond a party's reasonable control, including but not limited to, acts of war; acts of nature; earthquake; flood; embargo; riot; sabotage; labor shortage or dispute; changes in government codes, ordinances, laws, rules, regulations or restrictions; failure of the Internet; terrorist acts; failure of data, products or services controlled by any third party, including the providers of communications or network services; utility power failure; material shortages or unavailability or other delay in delivery not resulting from the responsible party's failure to timely place orders therefor, or lack of or delay in transportation (each a "Force Majeure Event").
17.5 All notices given under the Agreement shall be in writing and sent postage pre-paid, if to TreeRing Workforce Solutions, to the TreeRing Workforce Solutions address on the Order Form, or if to Customer, to the billing address on the Order Form.
17.6 No action regardless of form, may be brought by either party more than two (2) years after the cause of action has arisen.
17.7 The section headings herein are provided for convenience only and have no substantive effect on the construction of the Agreement.
17.8 The parties agree that if the Agreement is accepted by the parties and that acceptance is delivered via fax or electronically delivered via email or the internet it shall constitute a valid and enforceable agreement. 17.9 Use of the Service includes the ability to enter into agreements and/or to make transactions electronically. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WHEN IT INDICATES ACCEPTANCE OF AN AGREEMENT AND/OR TRANSACTION ELECTRONICALLY, THAT ACCEPTANCE WILL CONSTITUTE ITS LEGAL AGREEMENT AND INTENT TO BE BOUND BY AND TO PAY FOR SUCH AGREEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS. THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT CUSTOMER INTENDS TO BE BOUND BY SUCH ELECTRONIC ACCEPTANCE APPLIES TO ALL AGREEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS CUSTOMER ENTERS INTO THROUGH THE SERVICE, SUCH AS ORDERS, CONTRACTS, STATEMENTS OF WORK, AND NOTICES OF CANCELLATION.
17.10 This Agreement and any information expressly incorporated by reference herein, together with the applicable Order Form, constitute the entire agreement between the parties for the Services described herein and supersede all prior or contemporaneous representations, negotiations, or other communications between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended only in writing signed by authorized representatives of both parties. Customer understands and acknowledges that while TreeRing Workforce Solutions may disclose to customers certain confidential information regarding general Service or product development direction, potential future Services, products or product enhancements under consideration, Customer is not entitled to any Services, products or product enhancements other than those contained on the Order Form. Customer has not relied on the availability of any future version of the Services (including SaaS Applications or equipment) identified on an Order Form, nor any other future product in executing the Agreement.