SOFTWARE-AS-a-SERVICE PROVISIONS

BACKGROUND: WATERSMART’s customer engagement and data analytics services are to be provided primarily by utilization of WATERSMART’s proprietary software hosted on WATERSMART’s computer systems and accessed by authorized users over the Internet. This is a shared cost software utilization model which enables customers to achieve substantial cost savings versus commissioning custom development of software or licensing software for installation and maintenance on customers’ computer systems. Companies like WATERSMART are commonly referred to as “SaaS” or “software-as-a-service” providers. Certain supplemental provisions which are customary within the SaaS sector and essential to enabling WATERSMART’s SaaS service model and providing substantial cost savings for Utility, are set forth below and incorporated by reference in the Agreement.  Also included below are additional terms applicable to bill payment, leak alert and group messenger services if such services are elected by Utility.

A. WATERSMART’s reservation of intellectual property rights
WATERSMART has created, acquired or otherwise currently has rights in, and may, in connection with the performance of this Agreement or otherwise develop, create, employ, provide, modify, acquire or otherwise obtain rights in various inventions, concepts, ideas, methods, methodologies, procedures, processes, know-how, techniques, models, templates, software, applications, documentation, user interfaces, screen and print designs, source code, object code, databases, algorithms, development framework repositories, system designs, processing techniques, tools, utilities, routines and other property or materials, including without limitation any and all subject matter protected or which may be protected under patent, copyright, mask work, trademark, trade secret, or other laws relating to intellectual property, whether existing now or in the future, whether statutory or common law, in any jurisdiction in the world (“WATERSMART IP”).  Utility acknowledges that WATERSMART owns and shall own all intellectual property rights in and to deliverables hereunder, the WATERSMART IP and derivative works of WATERSMART IP (whether independently or jointly conceived), regardless of whether or not incorporated in any print or electronic Water Reports, Customer Portal, Utility Dashboard, or other software or deliverable provided to Utility by WATERSMART, and that Utility shall acquire no right or interest in the same.

Utility agrees to assign, and hereby does assign, any right, title and interest in any suggestions, enhancement requests, or other feedback provided by Utility relating to services offered by WATERSMART.  If and to the extent any such assignment is ineffective, Utility hereby grants to WATERSMART a royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual license to use and incorporate into its services any such suggestions, enhancement requests, or other feedback provided by Utility.

Subject to the foregoing, authorized employees and customers of Utility may during the term of the Agreement access and use the WATERSMART SaaS services, print and electronic Water Reports, Customer Portal, Utility Dashboard, Extended Messaging Services, other deliverables provided to Utility by WATERSMART, and applicable bill presentment services, each as so specified by the Scope of Work, for purposes of Utility’s customer engagement program, customer billing, and for Utility’s internal purposes, so long as Utility is current with respect to its financial and other obligations under the Agreement. Such authorization is limited to Utility’s service territory and is non-exclusive, non-transferable, and non-sublicenseable. If Utility enters into an agreement with a third party contractor of WATERSMART related to bill payment services, the intellectual property provisions of such agreement shall apply with respect to intellectual property owned or controlled by such third party. Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved by WATERSMART and its licensors.

B. Utility’s cooperation in providing necessary inputs
Deliverables to be provided by WATERSMART via its proprietary software require certain data from Utility. Utility shall provide WATERSMART with those data, records, reports, approvals and other inputs identified for Utility to provide in the Scope of Work or otherwise requested by WATERSMART. Utility shall ensure that such inputs are accurate and within Utility’s legal rights to share with WATERSMART subject to the confidentiality and other applicable provisions of the Agreement. Time is of the essence, and Utility shall provide its inputs within the timeframes specified for Utility by the Scope of Work. If bill payment services are included in the Scope of Work, Utility shall cooperate with WATERSMART and its applicable third party partner(s) in timely providing the data, records, reports, approvals and other inputs requested for such services.  WATERSMART shall not be responsible for delays outside WATERSMART’s control, and deadlines for WATERSMART’s performance shall be adjusted, if necessary, to accommodate delays by Utility.

C. Confidentiality and WATERSMART’s use of aggregated data
All data, documents and other information received or accessed by one party (“Receiver”) from the other party or its end users (collectively, “Discloser”) for performance of this Agreement, including without limitation personally identifiable information and financial information, are deemed confidential.  Such information shall not be used or disclosed by the Receiver without the prior written consent of the Discloser or owner (which may include without limitation consent by end users to share any information with additional users they authorize), except to the Receiver’s employees and contractors on a need-to-know basis for performance of this Agreement with appropriate confidentiality protections.   For this purpose, protected confidential information shall not include (i) information that, at the time of disclosure, is publicly available or generally known or available to third parties, or information that later becomes publicly available or generally known or available to third parties through no act or omission by the Receiver; (ii) information that the Receiver can demonstrate was in its possession prior to receipt from the Discloser; (iii) information received by the Receiver from a third party who, to the Receiver’s knowledge and reasonable belief, did not acquire such information on a confidential basis from the Discloser; (iv) information the Receiver can demonstrate was independently developed by it or a third party; or (v) information that the Receiver is legally required or compelled by a court to disclose.

The foregoing confidentiality obligations are subject to the following clarification
of the parties’ rights and obligations with respect to aggregated and anonymous data. Utility hereby gives its permission to WATERSMART to use and disclose on an anonymous and/or aggregated basis (excluding any personally identifiable information) any data pertaining to Utility end customers and their water consumption, including without limitation derivative data and data combined with the data of other utilities, for purposes of project evaluation and any research, product development, marketing, or other legitimate business purposes.  This Section C shall survive any termination or expiration of the Agreement.

Each party shall post and comply with its applicable privacy policy.

D. Software corrections and third party acts; limitation of liability for SaaS services
In the event that WATERSMART’s services fail to meet specifications or other requirements specified by the Scope of Work, Utility shall promptly notify WATERSMART and WATERSMART shall promptly correct any defect or substitute services, software, or products to achieve the functionality and benefits originally specified. If WATERSMART promptly makes such correction or substitution, WATERSMART shall have no further liability with respect to said defect(s), notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement. All warranties not expressly stated in the Agreement are disclaimed. Utility understands that Utility’s use of WATERSMART’s services provided online may be interrupted by circumstances beyond WATERSMART’s control involving third parties, including without limitation computer, telecommunications, network, Internet service provider or hosting facility failures or delays involving hardware, software, networks, or power systems not within WATERSMART’s possession or direct control, and network intrusions or denial of service attacks (collectively, “Third Party Acts”). WATERSMART shall not be responsible or otherwise liable for any Third Party Acts, including, without limitation, any delays, failures, or security breaches and damages resulting from or due to any Third Party Acts, provided that WATERSMART has exercised due care. However, in the case of any Third Party Act which will delay or prevent WATERSMART from providing online services to Utility, WATERSMART will promptly notify Utility and assist in mitigating any impact. Neither party will be liable to the other, under any non-indemnity claim relating to this Agreement, for any indirect, incidental, exemplary, special, reliance or consequential damages, including loss of profits or loss of data, even if advised of the possibility of these damages. Under no circumstances or event shall WATERSMART’s total cumulative liability for losses or damages of any kind arising under or relating to this Agreement and under any theory (contract, tort, defense and indemnity, or otherwise), exceed (i) the fees received by WATERSMART for the services that give rise to the liability in the twelve months preceding the accrual of such liability, or (ii) available insurance proceeds from WATERSMART’s carriers, whichever is higher. The foregoing limited remedy and limitation of liability provisions shall apply notwithstanding any conflicting provisions or any failure of essential purpose with respect to a limited remedy or limitation of liability, and shall survive any termination or expiration of the Agreement. Utility acknowledges that pricing for WATERSMART’s services would be substantially higher without the aforementioned limitations.

E. Technology and services infrastructure vendors
WATERSMART as a SaaS provider utilizes the secure cloud hosting platform of a third party industry leader in cloud computing with state-of-the art security to host the data of all WATERSMART customers.  WATERSMART utilizes a reputable third party vendor to perform printing and mailing services when included within the scope of WATERSMART’s work.  For bill payment services, including credit card, debit card, and ACH payments and authentication, WATERSMART works with leading edge, reputable third party vendors specializing in such functions.  Since the referenced cloud hosting platform, printing and mailing vendors, bill payment services providers, and certain other vendors performing similar or related functions, are integral components of WATERSMART’s technology and services infrastructure used across its pertinent customer base and are not specific to Utility and services under this Agreement, Utility acknowledges that such utilization or collaboration is not considered subcontracting of WATERSMART’s services under this Agreement.

If Utility elects to make bill payment services available to its end customers, the pertinent end users and Utility assume all risks associated with such services, and no indemnity provisions in favor of Utility shall apply to such services, except in the event of WATERSMART’s willful misconduct.  In the absence of willful misconduct by WATERSMART, Utility’s sole remedies related to bill payment services shall be from the independent third party provider of such services in accordance with any contract between Utility and such provider. If Utility enters into an agreement with any third party contractor of WATERSMART for any other services ancillary or related to the services provided by WATERSMART during the term of this Agreement, Utility shall first seek and exhaust all remedies from such third party contractor prior to seeking any remedy from WATERSMART with respect to such services.

With respect to all bill payment services, as well as any services provided by independent third party contractors not in contract with WATERSMART, including without limitation any such services which at Utility’s request or direction are integrated by WATERSMART into its electronic interfaces for Utility, WATERSMART shall not be responsible for services provided by such third parties. In furtherance of the foregoing, Utility shall hold harmless, defend and indemnify WATERSMART and its officers, directors, employees, contractors, representatives and volunteers from and against all claims, damages, losses and expenses, including without limitation any statutory damages, penalties, and attorney’s fees, arising out of or relating to such third party services, except in the event of WATERSMART’s willful misconduct.

F. Compliance With Laws
WaterSmart shall comply with all federal, state and local laws, regulations, regulatory rulings, and ordinances as may be applicable to the performance of its services under this Agreement. Utility shall comply with all federal, state and local laws, regulations, regulatory rulings, and ordinances related to this Agreement, and shall have sole responsibility for securing any necessary regulatory approvals, if any, for this Agreement and/or the services hereunder.

Utility shall be responsible for obtaining from its end customers any consents and providing any notices, if any are legally required, for the services to be provided by WaterSmart hereunder, as well as any bill payment or other third party services elected by Utility.

G. Extended Messaging Services
If Utility elects to utilize WATERSMART’s leak alert or group messenger services, certain supplemental legal terms shall apply.  These supplemental terms (“Extended Messaging Terms”) are set forth below and shall prevail in the event of any conflict or inconsistency.  For avoidance of doubt, the Extended Messaging Terms apply to all WATERSMART services involving automated phone calls (conventional and mobile), pre-recorded messages, text messages, and other such bulk communications (including emails outside of WATERSMART’s core customer engagement offerings) (collectively, “Extended Messaging Services”).

  1. Utility shall be solely responsible for the content of any messages or communications to end customers which Utility initiates or authorizes in connection with the Extended Messaging Services, as well as Utility’s selection of any vehicle (ie., conventional phone, mobile phone, text, email) for such messages or communications. WATERSMART shall have no responsibility or liability of any kind with respect to messages or communications initiated or authorized by Utility or its representatives.  In furtherance of the foregoing, Utility shall hold harmless, defend and indemnify WATERSMART and its officers, directors, employees, contractors, representatives and volunteers from and against all claims, damages, losses and expenses including without limitation any statutory damages, penalties, and attorney’s fees, arising out of or relating to the Extended Messaging Services or any breach by Utility of the Agreement including without limitation these Extended Messaging Terms, except in the event of WATERSMART’s willful misconduct.  For avoidance of doubt, if the Agreement has other indemnity provisions in favor of Utility such provisions shall not apply to the Extended Messaging Services, except in the event of WATERSMART’s willful misconduct.
  2. If Utility elects to make available to its end customers Extended Messaging Services offered by WATERSMART to alert end users of potential leaks or high water usage, the pertinent end users and Utility assume all risks associated with such alerts, and no indemnity provisions in favor of Utility shall apply to such risks (including without limitation any liability claims for failure to alert or inaccurate alerts), except in the event of WATERSMART’s willful misconduct.
  3. With respect to Extended Messaging Services, WATERSMART’s role is limited to delivering via its technology platform Utility’s communications through vehicles selected by Utility; accordingly, compliance with applicable laws (which may vary by state and locale) is strictly Utility’s responsibility with respect to Extended Messaging Services notwithstanding any provision to the contrary.
  4. Utility is encouraged to consult legal counsel of its own with respect to this Agreement and in reference to Federal Communications Commission Declaratory Ruling FCC 16-88 (released August 4, 2016), any Extended Messaging Services, and compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and regulatory rulings, and ordinances. Utility shall not rely on WATERSMART or WATERSMART’s representatives for legal advice or guidance concerning the content or appropriate vehicles (ie., conventional phone, mobile phone, text, email) for communications with Utility end customers.
  5. In order to provide the Extended Messaging Services at efficient cost and with optimal levels of security and reliability, WATERSMART may utilize one or more third party communications technology and communications services providers. Since such providers are utilized across WATERSMART’s pertinent customer base and are not specific to Utility and service choices by Utility under the Agreement, Utility acknowledges that such utilization is not considered subcontracting of WATERSMART’s services under the Agreement.

Last updated 3.7.2018