특허침해분쟁을 화해 종결하면서 라이선스 계약을 체결하였지만, licensee의 계약 위반을 이유로 특허실시 license 계약을 종료하고, 다시 licensee 상대로 하는 특허침해소송을 제기할 수 있다는 미국법원 판결을 소개한 적이 있습니다.

 

우리나라의 유사한 사례로는 특허권자와 전용실시권 계약을 체결한 후 실시권자의 계약위반행위를 이유로 특허침해책임을 인정할 수 있는지 여부가 문제된 사안을 살펴봅니다.

 

1. 특허권에 대한 전용실시계약 체결, 특약사항 및 등록 상황

특허권자 회사로부터 공기정화제특허발명의 등록 특허권에 대하여 전용실시권을 설정받으면서 특허권자 회사에 대해 귀사의 승낙 없이 특허를 임의대로 사용하지 않겠다는 사전승낙 조건을 추가하였습니다. 그 후 라이센시는 특허등록원부에 전용실시권 등록을 마쳤지만, 위 계약상 제한사항을 특허등록원부에 등록하지 않았습니다.

 

2. 실시권자 라이센시의 계약상 특약조항 위반

실시권자는 특허권자의 승낙 없이 임의대로 특허권을 실시하였고, 특허권자는 전용실시권 설정 계약위반, 전용실시권 설정계약범위 외의 실시행위로 특허권침해에 해당한다고 주장하면서 실시권자 라이센시를 형사고소하였습니다.

 

3. 특허법 규정

특허법 제100(전용실시권) 특허권자는 그 특허권에 대하여 타인에게 전용실시권을 설정할 수 있다. 전용실시권을 설정 받은 전용실시권자는 그 설정행위로 정한 범위에서 그 특허발명을 업으로서 실시할 권리를 독점한다.

 

특허법 101(특허권 및 전용실시권의 등록의 효력) 다음 각 호의 어느 하나에 해당하는 사항은 등록하여야만 효력이 발생한다.

1. 특허권의 이전(상속이나 그 밖의 일반승계에 의한 경우는 제외한다), 포기에 의한 소멸 또는 처분의 제한

2. 전용실시권의 설정·이전(상속이나 그 밖의 일반승계에 의한 경우는 제외한다변경·소멸(혼동에 의한 경우는 제외한다) 또는 처분의 제한

3. 특허권 또는 전용실시권을 목적으로 하는 질권의 설정·이전(상속이나 그 밖의 일반승계에 의한 경우는 제외한다변경·소멸(혼동에 의한 경우는 제외한다) 또는 처분의 제한

 

4. 법원판단 특허침해 불성립

법원은 전용실시권 설정계약상의 제한사항을 등록하지 않은 경우, 그 제한을 위반하여 특허발명을 실시한 전용실시권자에게 특허법 위반죄가 성립하지 않는다고 판결하였습니다. 법원은 실시권자의 전용실시권 설정계약을 위반한 계약상 민사책임은 인정될 수 있지만, 등록되지 않는 특약사항으로 전용실시권자의 실시권한을 제한할 수 없다는 입장에서 전용실시권자의 특허실시행위는 특허권 침해에 해당하지 않는다고 명확하게 판결하였습니다.

5. 대법원 2013. 1. 24. 선고 20114645 판결 요지

특허법 제101조 제1항은 다음 각 호에 해당하는 사항은 이를 등록하지 아니하면 그 효력이 발생하지 아니한다.”고 하면서, 2호에 전용실시권의 설정·이전(상속 기타 일반승계에 의한 경우를 제외한다변경·소멸(혼동에 의한 경우를 제외한다) 또는 처분의 제한을 규정하고 있다.

 

따라서 설정계약으로 전용실시권의 범위에 관하여 특별한 제한을 두고도 이를 등록하지 않으면 그 효력이 발생하지 않는 것이므로, 전용실시권자가 등록되어 있지 않은 제한을 넘어 특허발명을 실시하더라도, 특허권자에 대하여 채무불이행 책임을 지게 됨은 별론으로 하고 특허권 침해가 성립하는 것은 아니다.

 

6. 등록주의 여부에 따른 구별

대법원 판결은 전용실시권이 그 설정등록으로 발생, 소멸, 변경된다는 등록주의에 따른 것입니다. 그 기초인 전용실시권 설정계약 위반을 이유로 그 계약이 해지되었는지 여부와는 명확하게 구별하였습니다.

 

그런데, 미국 특허법과 우리나라 특허법은 전용실시권의 발생 및 소멸에 대해 다른 입장을 취하고 있습니다. 따라서, 실시권자 라이선시의 실시권 설정 계약위반 사안에 대해 특허침해 책임여부에 관해서도 서로 다른 결론에 도달할 수 있습니다. 예를 들어, 미국사안과 같이 전용실시권자의 라이선스 계약위반행위가 있더라도 유효한 전용실시권 등록이 존속하고 있는 한 licensee의 계약위반에 따른 책임은 별론으로 하더라도 적어도 특허침해는 성립하지 않습니다. 반면, 미국법원은 계약위반책임과 별개로 특허침해도 가능하다는 취지입니다.

 

KASAN_특허권 전용실시권 허여계약에 특허발명실시 전 특허권자의 승낙 요건 특약 존재 – 전용실시권 등록 후 실시권자의 특약위반 시 계약위반책임과 별개로 특허권침해책임 불인정 - 독립.pdf

 

[질문 또는 상담신청 입력하기]

 

 

작성일시 : 2019. 5. 14. 15:23
:

 

1. License 대상특허 범위 쟁점: 미국 Endo Pharm Opana® ER 특허분쟁 판결

특허 license에서 자주 쟁점이 되는 사항이고 실제 발생할 수 있는 사안입니다. 아래 그림에서 표시한 각 특허 사이의 관계와 License Agreement 조항의 문언표현을 살펴보시기 바랍니다.

 

 

 

(1) license 대상특허 범위 및 쟁점

License 계약서에 라이선스 대상특허 '250 및 그 후속특허 "including any continuation, continuation-in-part and divisional patent applications that claim priority to Opana® ER Patents"로 표현되어 있습니다. 여기서 '250 특허가 Opana® ER Patents에 해당합니다.

 

계약체결 후 등록된 위 '216 특허와 '122 특허가 위와 같은 계약문언의 범위에 해당하는지 여부가 쟁점입니다. 그림에서 보듯 노란색 '250 특허와 녹색의 쟁점 특허 2건은 직접 연결된 관계가 아닙니다.

 

다만, 청색으로 표시한 '357 출원이 중간에 개입되어 있습니다. 그것을 매개로 녹색표시특허들도 노란색 특허와 동일하게 license 대상특허로 해석할 수 있는지 문제됩니다.

 

(2) 미국법원 판결

CAFC 판결은 위와 같은 상황에서 '216 특허와 '122 특허는 license 대상 특허범위에 포함되지 않는다고 판결하였습니다. 기타 묵시적 license도 인정하지 않았습니다. , licensor Endolicensee Actavis, Roxanegeneric 제품 발매에 대해 기존 등록특허에 관하여 체결한 license의 존재에도 불구하고 다시 추가 등록한 '216 특허와 '122 특허에 기초한 특허권을 행사할 수 있다고 보았습니다.

 

Generic 제품발매 회사로서는 불의타에 해당하는 황당한 상황을 맞았습니다. CAFC 3인 합의재판부 중 1명의 소수의견 Dissent Opinion에서는 license 대상을 특허로 표현한 것과 제품으로 표현한 것을 엄격하게 구별해야 하고, 적어도 제품을 기준으로 라이선스 계약을 체결한 경우 위 특허도 라이선스 대상특허에 해당한다는 의견 설시가 흥미롭습니다. 공감할 내용이 많은데도 불구하고 아쉽게도 소수의견에 그쳤습니다. 특허 라이선스 실무공부 삼아 읽어 보시기 바랍니다.

 

(3) No Implied License 조항

CAFC 판결에서는 계약서의 다음과 같이 묵시적 라이선스를 허용하지 않는다는 계약조항을 중요한 판단근거로 삼았습니다. 라이선스 계약 실무상 매우 중요한 포인트입니다.

 

“Endo does not grant to Actavis [or Roxane] . . . any license, right or immunity, whether by implication, estoppel or otherwise, other than as expressly granted herein.”

 

참고자료로 다른 계약서에서 표준형식의 조항을 인용합니다. "No Other Rights. No rights, other than those expressly set forth in this Agreement are granted to either Party hereunder, and no additional rights will be deemed granted to either Party by implication, estoppel, or otherwise. All rights not expressly granted by either Party to the other hereunder are reserved."

 

Licensee의 묵시적 라이선스 주장은 부제소조항(not to sue)에도 근거를 두고 있습니다. licensee에 대한 소송을 제기하지 않는다는 계약조항은 곧 후속 등록 특허권에 대한 license 합의로도 해석할 수 있다는 주장입니다.

 

그라나, CAFC 판결은 위와 같이 묵시적 허락을 배제하는 명시적 계약조항을 우선해야 한다고 명확하게 밝혔습니다. 묵시적 라이선스 이론이 적용될 수 있고, 따라서 상충되는 해석이 가능한 상황에서도, 처분문서에 해당하는 계약서에 명시적으로 기재된 묵시적 라이선스를 배제한다는 문언이 훨씬 더 강력한 효력을 발휘한다는 점을 명확하게 판시하였습니다.

 

위 판결은 Licensee 입장에서 조금 억울한 면이 있을 것입니다. 실무적 대응방안으로는 특허만을 라이선스 대상범위의 기준으로 설정하는 것보다 여기에 더하여 제품기술을 라이선스 범위설정의 기준으로 함께 설정한다면 안정할 것입니다.

 

기술이전이나 license 당시에는 등록되지 않았고 독립된 특허출원도 아니었으나 그 후 분할출원, 연속출원 등을 통해 등록되는 특허문제는 매우 중요합니다. 관련 쟁점에 관한 좋은 참고가 될 분쟁사례와 판결입니다. CAFC 판결문을 소수의견까지 모두 꼼꼼하게 살펴보시길 권합니다.

 

2. 영문계약조항 사례 샘플

(1) Example Definition, 계약대상 특허정의 조항

Patent Rights” means, with respect to each country in the Territory (except as otherwise stated to be with respect to any country in or outside the Territory), (a) patent applications (including provisional applications) pending in such country, (b) any patents issuing in such country from such patent applications (including certificates of invention), (c) all patents and patent applications issued or pending, as applicable, in such country based on, corresponding to or claiming the priority date(s) of any of the foregoing, (d) rights in such country derived from any of (a), (b) or (c), including any substitutions, extensions (including supplemental protection certificates), registrations, confirmations, reissues, divisionals, continuations, continuations in part, reexaminations, renewals, revalidations, revivals, patents of addition, and (e) all patents and patent applications issued or pending, as applicable, in such country claiming overlapping priority therefrom.

 

(2) Example 라이선스 계약조항 샘플

9. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MATTERS.

9.1 Existing Intellectual Property.

(a) Other than as provided in this Agreement, neither Party grants any right, title, or interest in any Patent Right, information, or other intellectual property right Controlled by such Party to the other Party.

 

(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, Licensor shall be responsible for the preparation, filing, prosecution (including, without limitation, any interferences, inter partes proceedings, reissue proceedings, cancellations, oppositions, and reexaminations), and maintenance of any and all Licensed Serenity Patent Rights. Licensor shall consult with Licensee, and consider Licensee’s comments, in good faith with respect to the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of any Licensed CPEX Patent Rights or Licensed Reprise Patent Rights to the extent that Licensor has the right, under any agreement with any applicable licensor, to file, prosecute, and maintain such Licensed Patent Rights.

 

(c) Licensee agrees and acknowledges that Licensor intends to continue to use, in Licensor’s discretion, patent counsel currently retained by Licensor to prosecute and maintain the Licensed Serenity Patent Rights. Licensee shall execute, acknowledge and deliver any instruments, and to do all such other acts, as may be necessary or appropriate in order to enable such patent counsel to continue to prosecute and maintain such Licensed Serenity Patent Rights. The Parties shall reasonably consult with each other, and shall consider any comments from each other in good faith, with respect to the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of such Licensed Serenity Patent Rights and patent strategy for the Licensed Serenity Patent Rights. Licensee shall reimburse Licensor for all costs and expenses incurred by Licensor after the Effective Date in the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of any Licensed Serenity Patent Rights in the Territory, up to an amount not to exceed [*] Dollars ($[*]), which is the estimated cost set forth on Schedule 9.1(c). Licensor shall provide to Licensee copies of any papers relating to the filing, prosecution or maintenance of the Licensed Serenity Patent Rights promptly upon their being filed or received. Licensee shall not knowingly take any action during prosecution and maintenance of the Licensed Serenity Patent Rights.

 

(d) Licensor shall not knowingly permit any of the Licensed Serenity Patent Rights to be abandoned in any country in the Territory without Licensor first giving Licensee an opportunity to assume full responsibility for the continued prosecution and maintenance thereof. In the event that Licensee decides not to continue the prosecution or maintenance of a Licensed Serenity Patent Rights in any country in the Territory, Licensor will provide Licensee with notice of this decision at least thirty (30) days prior to any pending lapse or abandonment thereof. In the event that Licensee elects to assume responsibility for such prosecution and maintenance within thirty (30) days of Licensor’s notice, Section 9.1(c) shall thereafter apply to such Licensed Serenity Patent Rights except that the role of Licensee and Licensor shall be reversed thereunder (except further that Licensee will continue to be responsible for all costs and expenses thereafter incurred in the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of any Licensed Serenity Patent Rights). Any such Serenity Patent Right that is subject to such election by Licensee shall otherwise continue to be subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement in the same way as the other Licensed Serenity Patent Rights.

 

9.2 Inventions by Licensee.

Disclosure. Licensee shall promptly disclose to Licensor the invention of any Licensee Inventions.

 

Ownership. As between the Parties, all Licensee Inventions will be owned and Controlled by Licensee.

 

Patent Filings.

(i) Licensee, at its expense, will have sole discretion and responsibility to prepare, file, prosecute, and maintain any patent applications and patents claiming Licensee Inventions. The Parties’ respective patent counsel shall meet no fewer than once per Calendar Year to discuss strategies for the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of any such patent applications and patents claiming Licensee Inventions. Licensee shall consider in good faith any comments provided by Licensor with respect to the foregoing. In the event of any dispute between Parties with respect to such strategies, either Party may notify the Alliance Managers for purposes of resolving such dispute; provided, however, that Licensee shall have the final decision-making authority with respect to any such dispute.

 

(ii) Licensee shall not knowingly permit any Patent Rights with claims to any Licensee Inventions to be abandoned in any country without Licensee first giving Licensor an opportunity to assume full responsibility for the continued prosecution and maintenance thereof. In the event that Licensee decides not to continue the prosecution or maintenance of any Patent Right claiming a Licensee Invention in any country, Licensee will provide Licensor with notice of this decision at least thirty (30) days prior to any pending lapse or abandonment thereof. In the event that Licensor elects to assume responsibility for such prosecution and maintenance within thirty (30) days of Licensor’s notice, Section 9.1(c) shall thereafter apply to such Patent Right claiming such Licensee Invention except that the role of Licensee and Licensor shall be reversed thereunder.

 

9.3 Infringement, Violation, or Misappropriation by Third Parties.

 

(a) Notice. Each Party shall promptly notify the other Party in writing of any alleged or threatened infringement, violation, or misappropriation by any Third Party of the Licensed Rights or the Sublicensed Rights of which it becomes aware, and following such notification, the Parties shall confer as to any response thereto. The notice shall set forth the facts of such infringement, violation, or misappropriation in reasonable detail.

 

(b) Response to Infringement, Violation, or Misappropriation by Third Parties.

(i) If a Third Party is infringing, violating, or misappropriating, or either Party reasonably believes a Third Party may be infringing, violating, or misappropriating any Enforceable IP Right in any country in the Territory, Licensee shall have the first right, but not the obligation, to institute, prosecute, and control any action or proceeding with respect to such infringement, violation, or misappropriation by counsel of its own selection, at its expense. Licensor shall have the right to participate in such action and be represented, if it so desires, by counsel of its own selection and at its own expense. To the extent required by Applicable Laws, Licensor agrees to be joined as a party plaintiff (with Licensor having the right to be represented, if it so desires, by counsel of its own selection and at its own expense) if necessary for Licensee to bring and prosecute such action or proceeding, and to give Licensee reasonable assistance and authority to bring and prosecute such action or proceeding. If Licensee fails to bring an action or proceeding within ninety (90) days after receiving or giving written notice pursuant to Section 9.3(a), then Licensor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to bring and control any such action by counsel of its own selection, at its expense (with Licensee having the right to participate in such action and be represented, if it so desires, by counsel of its own selection and at its own expense). To the extent required by Applicable Laws, Licensee agrees to be joined as a party plaintiff (with Licensee having the right to be represented, if it so desires, by counsel of its own selection and expense therein) if necessary for Licensor to bring and prosecute such action or proceeding, and to give Licensor reasonable assistance and authority to bring and prosecute such action or proceeding. No settlement of any such action or consent judgment or other voluntary final disposition which restricts the scope, or adversely affects the enforceability, of an Enforceable IP Right may be entered into by either Party without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

 

(ii) Each Party shall share in any recoveries obtained in connection with any action or proceeding described in Section 9.3(b)(i) as follows:

(A) each Party’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with bringing and prosecuting any such action or proceeding, including without limitation attorneys’ fees, first shall be reimbursed from such recoveries, and if such recovery is insufficient to cover all such costs and expenses of both Parties, it shall be shared in proportion to the total of such costs and expenses incurred by each Party, and

(B) if Licensee controlled such action or proceeding Licensee shall receive one hundred percent (100%) of such remaining recoveries, provided that such recoveries shall be deemed Net Sales for purposes of Section 8.3(a)(i); and if Licensor controlled such action or proceeding, each Party shall receive fifty percent (50%) of such remaining recoveries, provided that Licensee’s portion shall not be deemed as Net Sales for purposes of Section 8.3(a)(i) in such case.

 

(c) Withdrawal. If either Party brings an action or proceeding under Section 9.3(b)(i) and subsequently ceases to pursue or withdraws from such action or proceeding, it shall promptly notify the other Party and the other Party may substitute itself for the withdrawing Party under the terms of Section 9.3(b)(i).

 

(d) Oppositions by Parties. If either Party desires to bring an opposition, action for declaratory judgment, nullity action, interference, reexamination, inter partes proceeding, or other attack upon the validity, title, or enforceability of any intellectual property right Controlled by a Third Party that Covers the Product in the Field in any country in the Territory, such Party shall so notify the other Party and the Parties shall promptly confer to determine whether to bring such action or the manner in which to settle such action. Each Party shall be entitled to separate representation in any such action by counsel of its own choice and at its own expense, and shall cooperate fully with the other Party. The costs of any such action shall be borne by the Party bringing the action, and such Party shall retain any recoveries obtained in connection therewith.

 

9.4 Infringement of Third Party Rights.

(a) Notice. If the Exploitation of the Product pursuant to this Agreement results in a claim, action, suit, or proceeding that such activity infringes or misappropriates the intellectual property rights of a Third Party (“Third Party Infringement Claim”), the Party first receiving notice thereof shall promptly notify in writing the other Party thereof. The notice shall set forth the facts of the Third Party Infringement Claim in reasonable detail.

 

(b) Litigation.

(i) Licensee shall have the sole right, but not the obligation, to defend, at its expense, against any Third Party Infringement Claim. Licensee shall have full control over the defense and settlement of such Third Party Infringement Claim, provided that Licensee shall not settle any Third Party Infringement Claim that is subject to indemnification pursuant to Section 11.1 without the prior written consent of Licensor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned. Licensor shall cooperate with Licensee, at Licensee’s expense and reasonable request, in such defense and shall have the right to be represented by counsel of its own choice, at Licensor’s expense. Licensee will pay any losses incurred in defense or settlement of, or imposed pursuant to settlement of or judgment on, such Third Party Infringement Claim.

 

(ii) If Licensee decides not to commence a defense against any Third Party Infringement Claim pursuant to Section 9.4(b)(i), then Licensee will promptly notify Licensor of such decision in a timely manner so as to allow Licensor, who shall have the right, but not the obligation, to commence such a defense by counsel of its own selection, at its expense (with Licensee having the right to participate in such defense and be represented, if it so desires, by counsel of its own selection and at its own expense). Licensor shall thereupon have full control over the defense and settlement of such Third Party Infringement Claim, provided that Licensor shall not settle any Third Party Infringement Claim without the prior written consent of Licensee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned. Licensee shall cooperate with Licensor, at Licensor’s expense and reasonable request, in such defense and shall have the right to be represented by counsel of its own choice, at Licensee’s expense. Licensor will pay any losses incurred in defense or settlement of, or imposed pursuant to settlement of or judgment on, such Third Party Infringement Claim, subject to Section 11.1.

 

(iii) Notwithstanding any provisions set forth herein to the contrary, Licensor shall be responsible for continuing to manage, at Licensor’s expense, that certain litigation with Ferring Pharmaceuticals that is described in Schedule 10.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any settlement of any such action or consent judgment or other voluntary final disposition with respect to the litigation with Ferring Pharmaceuticals described in Schedule 10.2, which restricts the scope, or adversely affects the enforceability, of an Enforceable IP Right may not be entered into by Licensor without the prior written consent of the Licensee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

 

(c) Oppositions by Third Parties. If any patent, trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property right within the Licensed Rights or the Sublicensed Rights becomes after the Effective Date the subject of any proceeding commenced by a Third Party in connection with an opposition, reexamination request, action for declaratory judgment, nullity action, interference, inter partes proceeding, or other attack upon the validity, title, or enforceability thereof, then Licensee shall control such defense at its sole cost. Licensee shall permit Licensor to participate in the proceeding to the extent permissible under Applicable Laws, and to be represented by its own counsel in such proceeding, at Licensor’s expense. If Licensee elects not to defend against such action with respect to any such intellectual property right with the Licensed Rights or the Sublicensed Rights within ninety (90) days after first receiving notice or otherwise becoming aware of such action or proceeding, then Licensor shall have the right to assume defense of such Third Party action at its own expense. Any awards or amounts received in bringing any such action shall be first allocated to reimburse the Parties’ expenses in such action, and any remaining amounts shall be retained by the Party defending against such proceeding.

 

KASAN_기술이전, 라이선스 계약서에서 License 대상 IP 및 특허 정의조항, 적용범위, 계약체결 후 발명 출원 및 특허 쟁점, 제3자의 이의신청 또는 침해소송대응 관련 계약서 샘플.pdf

 

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작성일시 : 2019. 5. 14. 13:36
:

 

1. 구매조건부 신제품 기술개발과제 협약 체결

 

 

2. 기술개발과제 수행 및 경과

(1) 원고회사 주관기관 - 국책과제 기술개발과제 선정 - 정부출연금 184백만원 + 자기 부담금 투입

(2) 개발과제 수행 완료 후 성공 판정

(3) 그러나 발주처 지자체에서 신제품 구매계약 체결 거절

(4) 피고 지자체 상대로 민사소송 제기

(5) 원고 회사의 주장 요지 구매계약체결을 전제로 지자체의 채무불이행 책임 주장 + 예비적으로 구매계약 채결이 없다면 지자체의 계약체결상 과실 책임 내지 불법행위 책임 주장

 

3. 법원의 판단

1심 판결 수원지방법원 성남지원 2018. 1,. 26. 선고 2016가합1096 판결

2심 판결 서울고등법원 2018. 12. 19. 선고 20182013675 판결

판단 요지 계약성립 불인정, 채무불이행 책임 불인정 but 지자체의 불법행위 책임 인정 지자체에 대한 약 83백만원 손해배상 명령

 

4. 판결이유

(1) 계약체결 불인정

 

 

(2) 계약체결 과정상 불법행위 책임 인정

 

첨부: 서울고등법원 2018. 12. 19. 선고 20182013675 판결

 

KASAN_중소기업지원 구매조건부 신제품 기술개발과제, RFP 과제에 선정된 주관연구기관의 과제 수행 및 성공 판정 후 발주처 지자체와 개발제품 구매계약 체결 불발 상황에서 손해배상청구 소.pdf

서울고등법원 2018. 12. 19. 선고 2018나2013675 판결.pdf

 

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작성일시 : 2019. 5. 13. 16:00
:

 

10. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, AND COVENANTS.

 

10.1 Mutual Representations and Warranties. Licensor and Licensee (each, a “Representing Party”) each hereby represents and warrants to each other, as of the Effective Date and except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 10.2 (in the case of Licensor) and Schedule 10.3 (the case of Licensee), that:

(a) such Representing Party is a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, duly organized and subsisting under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization;

(b) such Representing Party has the power, authority, and legal right, and is free, to enter into this Agreement on behalf of itself and its Affiliates and to perform its respective obligations hereunder and to cause its Affiliates to perform their respective obligations hereunder;

(c) such Representing Party has the power, authority, and legal right to own and operate its property and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as it is contemplated to be conducted by this Agreement;

(d) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid, and binding obligation of such Representing Party and is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, or other laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditor rights and judicial principles affecting the availability of specific performance and general principles of equity, whether enforceability is considered a proceeding at law or equity;

(e) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of such Representing Party’s and its Affiliates’ obligations hereunder (i) have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action by such Representing Party, and all necessary consents, approvals, and authorizations of all Regulatory Authorities and other Third Parties required to be obtained by such Representing Party in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder have been obtained; (ii) do not conflict with or violate any requirement of Applicable Laws or any provision of the articles of incorporation, bylaws, limited partnership agreement, or any similar instrument of such Representing Party, as applicable, in any material way; and (iii) do not, and will not, conflict with or otherwise interfere with in such a manner as to result in a violation, breach, or default under or require any consent that has not been obtained under any contract between such Representing Party and any Third Party;

(f) there are no, and shall be no, liens, conveyances, mortgages, assignments, encumbrances, or other agreements that would prevent or impair such Representing Party’s or any of its Affiliates’ full and complete exercise of the terms and conditions of the Agreement;

(g) such Representing Party and its Affiliates shall at all times comply with all Applicable Laws relating or pertaining to their obligations under the Agreement;

(h) with respect to the services provided hereunder to the other Party, its Affiliates, and their respective employees, officers, contractors and agents who perform such services have the experience, capability, and resources to efficiently and skillfully perform the services, and shall perform, where applicable, all such services in a professional and workmanlike manner and in accordance with the generally accepted then-current standards, forms, procedures, and techniques established from time to time by the industry;

(i) all of such Representing Party’s employees, officers, contractors, and consultants have executed agreements requiring assignment to such Representing Party of all inventions created by such persons in the course of their employment by such Representing Party and obligating each such employee, officer, contractor, and consultant to maintain and safeguard the confidentiality of (i) any information that is confidential to such Representing Party or (ii) any information that is confidential to any other Person and that such Representing Party is obligated to maintain and safeguard as confidential; and

(j) neither such Representing Party, nor any of its employees, officers, subcontractors, or consultants who have rendered or will render services relating to the Product: (i) has ever been debarred or is subject or debarment or convicted of a crime for which an entity or person could be debarred under 21 U.S.C. Section 335a or (ii) has ever been under indictment for a crime for which a person or entity could be debarred under said Section 335a.

 

10.2 Additional Representations, Warranties, and Covenants of Licensor. Licensor hereby represents, warrants, and covenants to Licensee, as of the Effective Date and except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 10.2, that:

(a) Licensor is entitled to grant the rights and licenses purported to be granted to Licensee under this Agreement, and to assign the rights purported to be assigned to Licensee under this Agreement, and is not currently bound by any agreement with any Third Party, or by any outstanding order, judgment, or decree of any court or administrative agency, that restricts it from granting to Licensee the rights, licenses and sublicenses purported to be so granted in this Agreement;

(b) Licensor is the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title, and interest, in, to, and under the Licensed Rights and has the right under the Licensed CPEX Patent Rights and the Licensed Reprise Patent Rights to grant the sublicenses thereunder in accordance with Section 2.2;

(c) the Licensed Rights are free and clear of any liens, charges, encumbrances, or judgments, and Licensor has sufficient rights to grant the licenses and rights purported to be granted herein, free and clear of any security interests, claims, encumbrances, or charges of any kind;

(d) Licensor has not granted, and will not grant during the term of this Agreement, any right, option, license, or interest in or to any of the Licensed Rights that is in conflict with the rights assigned or granted to Licensee under this Agreement;

(e) there is no legal, administrative, arbitration, or other proceeding, suit, claim, or action of any nature, judgment, decree, decision, injunction, writ, or order pending, or to Licensor’s knowledge threatened by, against or involving Licensor, regarding the Licensed Rights, whether at law or in equity, before or by any Third Party, and Licensor has not received any written communications alleging that it has violated, through the manufacture, Development, import, or other exploitation of the Product, any intellectual property rights of any Third Party;

(f) to Licensor’s knowledge:

(i) the patents in the issued Licensed Serenity Patent Rights, the Licensed CPEX Patent Rights, and the Licensed Reprise Patent Rights are valid and enforceable; and

(ii) no Third Party has asserted that any of the Licensed Rights or the Sublicensed Rights is invalid or unenforceable;

(g) all applications, registrations, maintenance and renewal fees due in respect of any of the Licensed Serenity Patent Rights and, to Licensor’s knowledge, the Licensed Reprise Patent Rights and the Licensed CPEX Patent Rights, have been paid and all documents and certificates required to be filed with the relevant agencies for the purpose of maintaining such Licensed Serenity Patent Rights, and to Licensor’s knowledge, the Licensed Reprise Patent Rights and Licensed CPEX Patent Rights have been filed;

(h) none of the Licensed Serenity Patent Rights, the Licensed Serenity Know-How and, to Licensor’s knowledge, none of the Licensed CPEX Patent Rights and the Licensed Reprise Patent Rights were developed with funding from any Governmental Authority such that any Governmental Authority has any march in rights or other rights to use the Licensed Serenity Patent Rights, the License Serenity Know-How, the Licensed Reprise Patent Rights, or the Licensed CPEX Patent Rights;

(i) to Licensor’s knowledge, no Third Party has infringed or misappropriated any of the Licensed Rights or the Sublicensed Rights;

(j) all inventors of any inventions included within the Licensed Serenity Patent Rights and, to the knowledge of Licensor, the Licensed CPEX Patent Rights and the Licensed Reprise Patent Rights have assigned their entire right, title, and interest in and to such inventions and the corresponding patents and patent applications to Licensor, Reprise, or CPEX, as applicable, and have been listed as inventors in the Licensed Serenity Patent Rights, the Licensed CPEX Patent Rights, and the Licensed Reprise Patent Rights, as applicable;

(k) no agreements that Licensor or its Affiliates may have with any Third Party provide such Third Party with any rights of first offer, rights of first refusal, or any other rights to make, have made, use, conduct Clinical Studies for, sell, offer for sale, have sold, import, export, or otherwise Exploit the Product in the Field in the Territory or the right to use the Licensed Rights or the Sublicensed Rights in connection with the Exploitation of the Product in the Field in the Territory; and Licensor has received no notice from a Third Party of any suit, action, proceeding, or arbitration pending or threatened against it that the proposed terms and conditions of this Agreement, and the Parties’ performance in accordance therewith, do or shall conflict or interfere with in a manner resulting in a breach or default under, or other violation of, any agreements that Licensor or its Affiliates may have with any Third Party;

to Licensor’s knowledge,

(i) each of the CPEX License Agreement and the Reprise License Agreement is valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms, is in full force and effect, and there are no approvals or consents required to make it effective, (ii) Licensor has supplied Licensee with a true and correct copy of the CPEX License Agreement and the Reprise License Agreement , together with all amendments, waivers, or other changes thereto, (iii) Licensor has performed all material obligations required to be performed by it in connection with the CPEX License Agreement and the Reprise License Agreement, (iv) Licensor shall not materially breach and is not in material breach of the CPEX License Agreement or the Reprise License Agreement, (v) Licensor is not in receipt of any claim of default, cure notice, or show cause notice under the CPEX License Agreement or the Reprise License Agreement, and (vi) there is no current material breach or anticipated material breach by any other party to the CPEX License Agreement or the Reprise License Agreement;

(m) (i) Licensor is the named sponsor of the First Approved NDA for the Product; and (ii) with respect to all Regulatory Documentation to obtain Regulatory Approvals for the Product in the Field: (A) the data, information and/or all other documents in Licensor’s or its Affiliates submissions were, are and shall be free from fraud or material falsity, and neither Licensor nor its Affiliates has made any material misrepresentation or omission in connection with such data; (B) the Regulatory Approvals have not been and will not be obtained either through bribery or the payment of illegal gratuities by Licensor; (C) the data, information and/or all other documents in Licensor’s or its Affiliates’ submissions are, were and shall be accurate and reliable for purposes of supporting approval of the submissions; and (D) the Regulatory Approvals shall be obtained without illegal or unethical behavior of any kind by Licensor or its Affiliates; provided that Licensor shall not be deemed to be in breach of this Section 10.2(m) if the violation of this Section 10.2(m) results from the action or omission of Licensee of Licensee’s Affiliates, Sublicensees, or contractors (other than Licensor);

(n) Licensor believes in good faith, based on the information set forth in Schedule 10.2(n), that FDA will consider amending or supplementing the First Approved NDA (or the related IND) in the manner described in Schedule 10.2(n); provided, however, that Licensor cannot assure that FDA will approve such amendment or supplement.

(o) except as expressly permitted hereunder, Licensor agrees not to, and agrees to cause its Affiliates and Sublicensees not to (i) assign, transfer, convey or otherwise encumber any right, title or interest in or to the Licensed Rights, the Sublicensed Rights, or any Regulatory Approvals and Documentation in respect of the Product, (ii) grant in any manner any license or other right, title or interest in or to any of the Licensed Rights, the Sublicensed Rights, or the Regulatory Approvals and Documentation in respect of the Product, or (iii) agree to or otherwise become bound by any covenant not to sue for any infringement, misuse or other action or inaction with respect to any of the Licensed Rights, the Sublicensed Rights, or the Regulatory Approvals and Documentation in respect of the Product; and

(p) other than the CPEX License Agreement, the Reprise License Agreement, the Renaissance Supply Agreements, and the other Third Party Supply Agreements, Licensor and/or its Affiliates have not entered into any agreements with any Third Party, pursuant to which any Third Party has granted to Licensor, or Licensor has granted to any Third Party, any rights to licenses to, in or under any of the Licensed Rights or the Sublicensed Rights or other intellectual property rights that relate to the Product, or relating to the manufacture of the Product.

 

10.3 Additional Representations, Warranties, and Covenants of Licensee. Licensee hereby represents, warrants, and covenants to Licensor, as of the Effective Date and except as otherwise stated in Schedule 10.3, that:

(a) if, during the term of this Agreement Licensee has reason to believe that it or any of its employees, officers, subcontractors, or consultants rendering services relating to the Product: (i) is or will be debarred or convicted of a crime under 21 U.S.C. Section 335a, or (ii) is or will be under indictment under said Section 335a, then Licensee shall immediately notify Licensor in writing;

(b) as of the Effective Date, there is no legal, administrative, arbitration, or other proceeding, suit, claim, or action of any nature, judgment, decree, decision, injunction, writ, or order pending or, to the knowledge of Licensee’s senior management, threatened by, against Licensee regarding this Agreement, whether at law or in equity, before or by any Third Party; and Licensee shall provide notice of any of the foregoing to the extent it affects Licensee’s performance of its obligations under this Agreement;

(c) except for information provided by Licensor, its Affiliates or Sublicensees: (i) the data and information in Licensee’s submissions and modifications of Regulatory Documentation relating to the Product shall be free from fraud or material falsity; (ii) Regulatory Approvals for the Product hereafter obtained will not be obtained either through bribery or the payment of illegal gratuities by Licensee; (iii) the data and information in Licensee’s submissions and modifications of any Regulatory Documentation shall be accurate and reliable; and (iv) any such the Regulatory Approvals will be obtained without illegal or unethical behavior of any kind by Licensee; provided that Licensee shall not be deemed to be in breach of this Section 10.3(c) if the violation of this Section 10.3(c) results from the action or omission of Licensor or its Affiliates, Sublicensees (other than Licensee), or contractors; and

(d) except as expressly permitted hereunder, Licensee agrees not to, and agrees to cause its Affiliates and Sublicensees not to (i) assign, transfer, convey or otherwise encumber any right, title or interest in or to the Licensed Rights, the Sublicensed Rights, or any Regulatory Approvals and Documentation in respect of the Product, (ii) grant in any manner any license or other right, title or interest in or to any of the Licensed Rights, the Sublicensed Rights, or the Regulatory Approvals and Documentation in respect of the Product, (iii) agree to or otherwise become bound by any covenant not to sue for any infringement, misuse or other action or inaction with respect to any of the Licensed Rights, the Sublicensed Rights, or the Regulatory Approvals and Documentation in respect of the Product, or (iv) bring any action or proceeding or otherwise assert any claim under any Applicable Law in the event any licensee (or sublicensee or any entity or person acting on its behalf) initiates any proceeding or otherwise assert any claim in any court, administrative agency, or other forum with jurisdiction over such proceeding or claim, that any of the Licensed Rights or Sublicensed Rights are invalid, unenforceable, or not infringed, violated, or misappropriated. In the event that Licensee or any Affiliate or Sublicensee of Licensee initiates any proceeding or otherwise asserts any claim in violation of clause (iv) of this Section 10.3, and the result thereof is a final decision, ruling, holding, award, or other disposition to the effect that any of the Licensed Rights or Sublicensed Rights are valid, enforceable, or infringed, violated, or misappropriated, then each of the royalty rates set forth in the table in Section 8.3(a) will each be increased by [*] and the party initiating such proceeding or otherwise asserting such claim shall pay the attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by Licensor in defending against such proceeding or claim.

 

10.4 Inaccuracies. Without limiting either Party’s rights and remedies at law, in equity or under this Agreement, if, at any point in time (not just at the times when the warranties are deemed granted), either Party becomes aware of any inaccuracies in the foregoing warranties and representations, such Party shall promptly notify the other Party of such inaccuracies, with a detailed written explanation.

 

KASAN_제약분야 기술이전 및 독점라이선스 계약서 중에서 진술보증 조항 REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVEANTS – 권리진술 및 독점권 보장의무 등 상세한 내용을 매우 구체적으로 기재하는 방식의 .pdf

 

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작성일시 : 2019. 5. 13. 13:00
:

 

1. 진술 및 보증조항 관련 분쟁

정유회사의 M&A 주식양수도계약서에서 '양도인은 양수인에게 주식양수도계약 체결일 및 양수도 실행일에 일체의 행정법규를 위반한 사실이 없고, 이와 관련하여 행정기관으로부터 조사를 받고 있거나 협의를 진행하는 것은 없다는 내용의 진술 및 보증조항, 나아가 '양수도 실행일 이후 보증 위반사항이 발견된 경우나 약속사항 위반으로 손해가 발생할 경우 500억원을 초과하지 않는 범위 내에서 배상하기로 한다'는 책임조항이 포함되어 있었습니다.

 

그런데, 양도인 회사는 군용유류 구매입찰에서 담합행위 등 공정거래법을 위반했다는 이유로 거액의 과징금 납부명령을 받았고 거액의 손해배상청구소송까지 제기 받았습니다. 이에 양수인이 진술 및 보증조항 위반을 이유로 책임조항을 적용하여 양도인에 대한 손해배상청구 소송을 제기하였습니다.

 

2. 항소심 서울고등법원 200819678 판결

항소심 법원은 양수인도 진술 및 보증위반 사항을 알면서도 계약을 체결했다는 이유로 양도인의 책임을 인정하지 않았습니다. 판결문 중 핵심부분을 인용하면 다음과 같습니다. "양수인도 이 사건 담합행위에 직접 참여했던 탓에 주식양수도계약 체결 당시에 이미 이 사건 진술 및 보증 조항의 위반사실을 알고 있었고, 계약협상 및 가격산정에 반영할 수 있었음에도 방치하였다가 이후 위반사실이 존재한다는 사정을 들어 양도인 피고에게 책임을 묻는 것은 공평의 이념 및 신의칙상 허용될 수 없으므로, 양도인 피고는 위와 같은 악의의 주식양수인인 원고에 대하여 이 사건 진술 및 보증 조항의 위반에 따른 책임을 부담하지 않는다."

 

3. 대법원 201264253 판결

원심판결을 파기 환송하였습니다. "이 사건 주식양수도계약의 양수도 실행일 이후에 이 사건 진술 및 보증 조항의 위반사항이 발견되고 그로 인하여 손해가 발생하면, 원고가 그 위반사항을 계약체결 당시 알았는지 여부와 관계없이, 피고들이 원고에게 그 위반사항과 상당인과관계 있는 손해를 배상하기로 하는 합의를 한 것으로 봄이 상당하다.

 

양수인 원고가 이 사건 진술 및 보증조항과 관련된 이 사건 담합행위를 알고 있었고 이 사건 담합행위로 인한 공정거래위원회의 제재 가능성 등을 이 사건 주식양수도대금 산정에 반영할 기회를 가지고 있었다고 하더라도 그러한 점만으로 원고의 손해배상청구가 공평의 이념 및 신의칙에 반한다고 볼 수 없다."

 

4. 실무적 함의

대법원 판결은 계약서 문언이 가장 중요하다는 원칙을 다시 한번 확인하였습니다. 비록 계약체결 당시 당사자가 진술 및 보증 조항의 위반사실을 알고 있었다고 해도 계약서 효력을 함부로 부정할 수 없다고 명확하게 판결하였습니다.

 

처분문서인 계약서의 계약문언이 그 객관적 의미가 명확하다면 특별한 사정이 없는 한 문언대로의 의사표시의 존재와 내용을 인정하여야 합니다. 설령 공평의 이념이나 신의칙을 적용해야 할 사정이 있다고 하더라도, 이과 같은 일반원칙에 근거하여 계약의 효력을 부정하거나 계약상 책임을 제한하는 것은 사적 자치의 원칙이나 법적 안정성에 대한 중대한 위협이 될 수 있으므로 신중을 기하여 극히 예외적으로 인정하여야 한다는 입장입니다.

 

, 무엇보다 계약서 문언을 가장 중시하고 신의칙이나 공평이념 등을 아주 예외적으로 극히 신중하게 적용하라는 취지입니다. 가능성을 완전히 배제하는 것은 아니지만 현실적으로 실제 사례에서 그와 같은 특별한 경우는 인정되기 어렵다는 의미입니다.

 

5. 진술 및 보증 조항 위반과 손해배상책임 범위: 대법원 2018. 7. 20. 선고 2015207044 판결

(1) M&A 계약에서 진술 및 보증 조항을 둔 목적은, 계약 종결과 이행 이후 진술 및 보증하였던 내용과 다른 사실이 발견되어 일방 당사자에게 손해가 발생한 경우에 상대방에게 그 손해를 배상하게 함으로써, 불확실한 상황에 관한 경제적 위험을 배분하고 사후에 현실화된 손해를 감안하여 매매대금을 조정할 수 있게 하기 위한 것이다.

 

(2) M&A 대상회사에 대한 소송이나 분쟁의 존재는 우발채무에 따른 손실로 이어질 가능성이 있어 진술 및 보증의 대상으로 삼는 것이다.

 

(3) 매도인이 대상회사에 대한 소송이나 분쟁을 고지하지 않았고 이후 대상회사에 실제로 우발채무가 발생한 경우 언제나 그 전부가 손해배상의 범위에 포함된다고 볼 수는 없다. 3자가 대상회사를 상대로 터무니없는 소송을 제기하였음에도 매도인이 이를 알리지 않은 상태에서 M&A 계약이 종결, 이행되었는데, 매도인에게 책임을 물을 수 있으므로 매수인으로서는 실질적 피해가 없다는 이유로 대상회사로 하여금 별다른 다툼 없이 거액의 합의금을 지급하도록 하는 경우와 같이, 매도인에게 과도한 책임을 지우는 결과를 초래할 수 있기 때문이다.

 

(4) 그러나 소송 또는 분쟁으로부터 직접 그리고 자연스럽게 도출되거나 합리적으로 예상가능한 범위의 손해에 관하여는 매도인이 그에 관한 배상책임을 부담하여야 한다.

 

(5) 매수인이 거래 종결 후 대상회사 주식을 매각하는 경우 대부분 매수인은 후속 매수인에게 진술 및 보증을 하고 그 위반으로 인한 책임을 부담하게 된다.

 

(6) 만약 매도인의 진술 및 보증 조항 위반으로 매수인의 주식 매각 이후 대상회사에 손실이 발생하고, 그로 인해 매수인이 새로운 매수인에 대하여 책임을 부담하게 되었음에도, 매수인이 주식을 매각하여 주주의 지위에 있지 않다는 이유로 당초의 매도인에게 책임을 물을 수 없는 결과에 이른다면 경제적 위험의 적정한 배분이라는 진술 및 보증 조항의 목적에 반하게 된다.

 

(7) 따라서 당사자들 사이에 특별한 합의가 없다면 매수인이 대상회사의 주식을 처분하더라도 손해배상청구 및 액수 산정에 별다른 영향을 미치지 않는다.

 

KASAN_진술보증 조항 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 관련 분쟁 - M&A 계약서 중 진술 및 보증조항 위반 및 손해배상책임 범위.pdf

 

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작성일시 : 2019. 5. 13. 11:30
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