Definitions:
This Search Engine Optimisation and Reporting Agreement (“Agreement”) is hereby entered into between eMarkets Network Pty. Ltd (hereinafter referred to as “Company”) and the client set forth in the order form (“Client” or “you”) incorporated herein by this reference (together with any subsequent order forms submitted by Client, the “Order Form”) and applies to the purchase of all Search Engine Optimisation and Reporting Services (hereinafter collectively referred to as “SEO Services”) ordered by Client.
1. TERM AND TERMINATION.
This Agreement is entered on the date set out in the Order Form. The agreement is for the term or terms specified in the order form and client should stay with eMarkets network Pty Ltd for the minimum service period set out in order form to achieve reliable search engine position. This Agreement may be terminated by Company (i) If Client fails to pay any costs/fees hereunder within 7 days of the due date for payment; or (ii) if Client fails to cooperate with Company or hinders Company’s ability to perform the SEO Services hereunder.
In the event this Agreement is terminated Client agrees to pay interest on the outstanding amount(s) until payment is made in full @12 percent per annum and be responsible for and reimburse the Company all costs and expenses, including commissions, which may be incurred or become payable in any collection and/or legal action for recovery of monies due and owing. In this regard legal costs include legal costs on a Solicitor-Client basis.
2. SEO SERVICES.
Company agrees to provide Client with SEO Services as described in the Order Form and this Agreement. Company is authorized to use the specific keywords and/or phases set forth in the Order Form for development, improving the ranking of, and/or positioning the contents of the Client’s URL(s) (as set forth in the Order Form) in search engines and/or directories. SEO Services are intended to provide the Client with preferential positioning in selected search engines. SEO Services include:
- Research keywords and phrases to select appropriate, relevant search terms. The number of keywords is set forth in the Order Form. Additional keyword purchases will require a separate Order Form.
- Submit Client’s pages to search engines and directories as set forth in the Order Form or this Agreement.
- Forum posting and Blog posting for the website.
- Create positioning reports showing rankings in the major search engines and under which keywords at appropriate intervals during the term of this agreement.
Company does not guarantee high ranking and preferential positioning in search engines as they are not in Company’s control. However, will endeavor to secure the best ranking and positioning possible.
3. FEES: LIMITATIONS ON REFUNDS AND CANCELLATION FEES.
Client agrees to pay Company any and all costs and fee(s) as stated in Order Form. The set-up costs and first month’s fee(s) must be received prior to the commencing any SEO Services. The client may terminate / cancel the services by 30th day notice following the date of the Cancellation Notice. If the fails to notify termination of this Agreement 30 day before the end of the Minimum Term Period this agreement then this agreement will be extended to a further term of 12 months without notice to the client. any amounts paid by the Client in respect of Services Fees and Charges relating to the Minimum Service Period or the set-up fee shall not be refunded to the Client and correspondingly, the Client shall be liable for all Service Fees and Charges due and payable by the Client in respect of the Minimum Services Period and/or the set-up fee. The company is hereby authorized to deduct any amount outstanding from the client from any refunds owing to the client and to charge client’s credit card account or other payment mechanism for any amounts owed from time to time by client to company.
The client acknowledges and agrees that the Setup Costs and Minimum Service Period are calculated on the basis that a substantial amount of work is required to be undertaken by the Company for the Client in the provision of the services during the Minimum Service Period. Typically more value will be delivered in the Minimum Service Period of the services than has been accrued and the Company will incur significant loss in the event the Client terminates the agreement without cause during the Minimum Service Period. Such loss is quantified to be the balance of the Setup and service fee.
4. CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES.
For the purposes of providing these services, Client agrees:
- To provide Company with FTP access to its web sites for uploading new pages and making changes for the purpose of providing SEO Services or authority to obtain such access or information from third parties.
- To authorize the Company for use of all Client’s logos, trademarks, Web site images, etc in creating informational pages and any other uses as deemed necessary by Company for search engine positioning and Optimisation.
- That if Client’s web site(s) is limited (minimal) in textual content, Client will provide additional relevant text content in electronic format for the purpose of creating additional web pages. Client agrees to provide content, for example 200 to 500 word “articles” for each of their keywords and/or phrases.
5. SEARCH ENGINES.
Selected search engine submissions include:
- Google Australia
- All the Web
- All the Web
- MSN
- Yahoo Australia
- Alta vista *Top Major SE and SE names may change without notice
- Company has no control over the policies of search engines or directories with respect to the type of sites and/or content that they accept now or in the future. Client’s web site(s) may be excluded from any search engine or directory at any time at the sole discretion of the search engine or directory entity. Company will re- submit those pages that have been dropped from the index.
- Some search engines and directories may take as long as two (2) to four (4) months, and in some cases longer, after submission to list Client’s web site(s).
- Occasionally, search engines and directories will stop accepting submissions for an indefinite period of time.
- Occasionally, search engines and directories will drop listings for no apparent or predictable reason. Often listing will “reappear” without any additional submissions. Should the listing not reappear, Company will re- submit the website(s) based on the current policies of the search engine or directory in question.
Some search engines and directories offer expedited listing services for a fee. Company encourages Client to take advantage of these expedited services. Client is responsible for all expedited service fees unless otherwise noted in the Order Form.
6. CLIENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Client understands, acknowledges and agrees that:
7. DIRECTOR’S GUARANTEE
If the client is a company, in consideration of the Company having at the request of the director(s) of the client (Guarantors) entering into this agreement with the client, the Guarantors HEREBY GUARANTEE to the Company the due and punctual payment by the client of the monies and interest payable thereon as detailed in this agreement and all other monies that are payable or may become payable by the client AND ALSO the due performance and observance by the client of all the covenants provisions and stipulations contained or implied in this Agreement and on the part of the client to be performed and observed and in the event of the client fails to pay the Company as and when due the monies referred to in this Agreement, the Directors/Guarantors will immediately pay such monies to the Company. Should the company require this agreement to be supported by a director’s guarantee, the directors agree to have the guarantee completed, signed and bound by its terms.
8. WEB SITE CHANGES.
Company is not responsible for changes made to Client’s web site(s) by other parties that adversely affect the search engine or directory rankings of Client’s web site(s).
9. ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
Additional services not listed herein or in Order Form will be provided for up to $100.00 per hour. Company is not responsible for Client’s overwriting SEO Services work to Client’s web site(s). Client will be charged an additional fee for re-constructing meta-tags, keywords, content, etc. based on the hourly rate of up to $100.00 per hour.
10. INDEMNIFICATION.
Client shall indemnify and hold harmless Company (and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents, co- branders or other partners, and employees) from any and all claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and all related costs and expenses) incurred by Company as a result of any claim, judgment, or adjudication against Company related to or arising from (a) any photographs, illustrations, graphics, audio clips, video clips, text, data or any other information, con- tent, display, or material (whether written, graphic, sound, or otherwise) provided by Client to Company (the “Client Content”), or (b) a claim that Company’s use of the Client Content infringes the intellectual property rights of a third party. To qualify for such defense and payment, Company must: (i) give Client prompt written notice of a claim; and (ii) allow Client to control, and fully cooperate with Client in, the defense and all related negotiations.
11. DISCLAIMER OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES.
Company does not guarantee that the SEO services will meet the client’s expectations or requirements. The entire risk as to the quality and performance is with client. Except as otherwise specified in this agreement, company provides its services “as is” and without warranty of any kind. The parties agree that (a) the limited warranties set forth in this section are the sole and exclusive warranties provided by each party, and (b) each party disclaims all other warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, relating to this agreement, performance or inability to perform under this agreement, the content, and each party’s computing and distribution system. If any provision of this agreement shall be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from this agreement and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.
12. LIMITED LIABILITY.
In no event shall company be liable to client for any indirect, special, exemplary or consequential damages, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or implied warranties arising from course of dealing or course of performance, lost profits, whether or not foreseeable or alleged to be based on breach of warranty, contract, negligence or strict liability, arising under this agreement, loss of data, or any performance under this agreement, even if such party has been advised of the possibility of such dam- ages and notwithstanding the failure of essential purpose of any limited remedy provided herein. There shall be no refunds. Company makes no warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, with regard to any third party products, third party content or any software, equipment, or hardware obtained from third parties.
13. CLIENT REPRESENTATIONS.
Client makes the following representations and warranties for the benefit of Company: a) Client represents to Company and unconditionally guarantees that any elements of text, graphics, photos, designs, trademarks, or other artwork furnished to Company are owned by Client, or that Client has permission from the rightful owner to use each of these elements, and will hold harmless, protect, and defend Company and its subcontractors from any claim or suit arising from the use of such elements furnished by Client. b) Client guarantees any elements of text, graphics, photos, designs, trademarks, or other artwork provided to Company for inclusion on the website above are owned by Client, or that Client has received permission from the rightful owner(s) to use each of the elements, and will hold harmless, protect, and defend Company and its subcontractors from any liability or suit arising from the use of such elements. c) From time to time governments enact laws and levy taxes and tariffs affecting Internet electronic commerce. Client agrees that the client is solely responsible for complying with such laws, taxes, and tariffs, and will hold harmless, protect, and defend Company and its subcontractors from any claim, suit, penalty, tax, or tariff arising from Client’s exercise of Internet electronic commerce.
14. CONFIDENTIALITY.
The parties agree to hold each other’s Proprietary or Confidential Information in strict confidence. “Proprietary or Confidential Information” shall include, but is not limited to, written or oral contracts, trade secrets, know-how, business methods, business policies, memoranda, reports, records, computer retained information, notes, or financial information. Proprietary or Confidential Information shall not include any information which: (i) is or becomes generally known to the public by any means other than a breach of the obligations of the receiving party; (ii) was previously known to the receiving party or rightly received by the receiving party from a third party; (iii) is independently developed by the receiving party; or (iv) is subject to disclosure under court order or other lawful process. The parties agree not to make each other’s Proprietary or Confidential In- formation available in any form to any third party or to use each other’s Proprietary or Confidential Information for any purpose other than as specified in this Agreement. Each party’s proprietary or confidential information shall remain the sole and exclusive property of that party. The parties agree that in the event of use or disclosure by the other party other than as specifically provided for in this Agreement, the non-disclosing party may be entitled to equitable relief. Notwithstanding termination or expiration of this Agreement, Company and Client acknowledge and agree that their obligations of confidentiality with respect to Proprietary or Confidential Information shall continue in effect for a total period of three (3) years from the effective date.
15. FORCE MAJEURE.
Neither party will be liable for, or will be considered to be in breach of or default under this Agreement on ac- count of, any delay or failure to perform as required by this Agreement as a result of any causes or conditions that are beyond such Party’s reasonable control and that such Party is unable to overcome through the exercise of commercially reasonable diligence. If any force majeure event occurs, the affected Party will give prompt written notice to the other Party and will use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the impact of the event.
16. RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES.
Company, in rendering performance under this Agreement, shall be deemed an independent contractor and nothing contained herein shall constitute this arrangement to be employment, a joint venture, or a partner- ship. Client does not undertake by this Agreement, the Order Form or otherwise to perform any obligation of Company, whether by regulation or contract. In no way is Company to be construed as the agent or to be acting as the agent of Client in any respect, any other provisions of this Agreement notwithstanding.
17. NOTICE AND PAYMENT.
Any notice required to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered personally to the other designated party at the addresses listed in the Order Form mailed by certified, registered or express mail, return receipt requested or by Federal Express. Either party may change its address to which notice or payment is to be sent by written notice to the other under any provision of this paragraph.
18. JURISDICTIONIDISPUTES.
This Agreement shall be governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Victoria. All disputes under this Agreement shall be resolved by litigation in the courts of the State of Victoria including the federal courts therein and the Parties all consent to the jurisdiction of such courts, agree to accept service of process by mail, and hereby waive any jurisdictional or venue defenses otherwise available to it.
19. AGREEMENT BINDING ON SUCCESSORS.
The provisions of the Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto, their heirs, administrators, successors and assigns.
20. ASSIGNABILITY.
Client may not assign this Agreement or the rights and obligations there under to any third party without the prior express written approval of Company. Company reserves the right to assign subcontractors as needed to this project to ensure on-time completion.
21. WAIVER.
No waiver by either party of any default shall be deemed as a waiver of prior or subsequent default of the same of other provisions of this Agreement.
22. SEVERABILITY.
If any term, clause or provision hereof is held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the validity or operation of any other term, clause or provision and such invalid term, clause or provision shall be deemed to be severed from the Agreement.
23. INTEGRATION.
This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the Parties, and revokes and supersedes all prior agreements between the Parties and is intended as a final expression of their Agreement. It shall not be modified or amended except in writing signed by the Parties hereto and specifically referring to this Agreement. This Agreement shall take precedence over any other documents which may conflict with this Agreement.
24. NO INFERENCE AGAINST AUTHOR.
No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted against any Party because such Party or its legal representative drafted such provision.
25. DISPUTES.
Client and Company agree to make a good-faith effort to resolve any disagreement arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement through negotiation. Should the parties fail to resolve any such disagreement within ten (10) days, The arbitration shall be conducted by one arbitrator, who shall be (a) selected in the sole discretion of both parties and (b) a licensed attorney with at least five (5) years’ experience in the practice of law and at least five (5) years’ experience in the negotiation of technology contracts or litigation of technology disputes. The arbitrator shall have the power to enter any award that could be entered by a judge of the state courts of Victoria sitting without a jury, and only such power, except that the arbitrator shall not have the power to award punitive damages, treble damages, or any other damages which are not compensatory, even if permitted under the laws of the State of Victoria or any other applicable law. The arbitrator must issue his or her resolution of any dispute within thirty (30) days of the date the dispute is submitted for arbitration. The written decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding and enforceable in any court having jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter of the arbitration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section shall not preclude either party from seeking temporary, provisional, or injunctive relief from any court.
26. READ AND UNDERSTOOD.
Each Party acknowledges that it has read and understands this Agreement and agrees to be bound by its terms and conditions.