Contractor Services Agreement
This Contractor Services Agreement is part of the Contractor Contract (defined below) between the Contractor and Shape Digital Media, LLC (“Shape Digital Media”), effective upon Contractor’s acceptance of a Job on the Site. This Services Agreement incorporates all terms, conditions, rules, policies, and guidelines on the Site, including the Shape Digital Media Terms of Service. Capitalized terms not defined in this Services Agreement are defined in the Shape Digital Media Terms of Service.
This Services Agreement is effective as of April 15, 2015.
Contractor contract
Upon an extension of an offer to contract for a Job and Contractor’s acceptance of a Job, Contractor agrees to deliver the Contractor Services in accordance with the following agreements (collectively, the “Contractor Contract”): (1) the Terms of Service; (2) the Job Terms, as accepted on the Site; and (3) this Contractor Services Agreement.
Responsibilities and performance
Shape Digital Media shall make a final acceptance for satisfactory Contractor Services in accordance with the Contractor Contract in a timely and professional manner. Contractor is responsible for the performance and quality of the Contractor Services in accordance with the Contractor Contract in a timely and professional manner, consistent with industry practice. The manner and means that Contractor chooses to perform the Job are within Contractor’s sole discretion and control. Contractor shall have sole control over where, when and how the Contractor Services are performed. In performing the Job, Contractor agrees to provide its own equipment, tools, and other materials at its own expense. Shape Digital Media and Contractor each covenant and agree to act with good faith and fair dealing in performance of the Contractor Contract.
Duration of services & edits
The performance of the Contractor Services under the Contractor Contract commences and terminates on the dates specified in the Job Terms, unless both Contractor and Shape Digital Media otherwise agree and Contractor or Shape Digital Media edits the Job deadline on the Site.
A Contractor assigned to a particular Job shall be required to perform edits to a Submission twice, unless, in Shape Digital Media’s sole discretion, the submission cannot be used, the Contractor has had repeated failed edit attempts in the past, or if the Buyer does not have any edits to the first or second Submission. In the event that a submission requires edits, the first and/or second Submission shall be returned to the Contractor with comments, edits or any remarks in order to allow a Contractor to make updates to each submission.
Independent contractor relationship
Contractor is: (a) not the agent of Shape Digital Media; (b) not authorized to make any representation, contract, or commitment on behalf of Shape Digital Media, including contacting Shape Digital Media Clients; (c) not entitled to any of the benefits that Shape Digital Media makes available to its employees, such as group insurance, profit-sharing or retirement benefits (and waives the right to receive any such benefits); and (d) solely responsible for all tax returns and payments required to be filed with or made to any federal, state, or local tax authority with respect to Contractor’s performance of services and receipt of fees under the Contractor Contract.
Contractor has the right to be employed by, contract with or otherwise perform similar services for other individuals or entities (specifically including direct competitors of Shape Digital Media) during the term of this Agreement. In doing so, Contractor shall not make use of, or disclose, directly or indirectly, any confidential or proprietary information of Shape Digital Media or its clients or Buyers. Contractor shall have the right at all times to decline to provide services. Contractor shall furnish and maintain at its expense all certifications, licenses, continuing education, equipment and materials used to provide the Services, including, but not limited to a telephone, computer equipment, and high-speed internet access. Contractor is solely and exclusively liable for complying with all applicable state, federal and international laws, including laws governing self-employed individuals, and other contributions based on fees paid to Contractor under the Contractor Contract. Shape Digital Media will not withhold or make payments for social security, unemployment insurance or disability insurance contributions, or obtain workers’ compensation insurance on Contractor’s behalf. Contractor hereby agrees to indemnify and defend Shape Digital Media against any and all such taxes or contributions, including penalties and interest. Upon execution of this Agreement, Contractor shall provide a completed W-9 to Shape Digital Media and shall provide same for any year during which he or she is covered by any extension or renewal of this Agreement.
Intellectual property rights
As used in this Services Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:
“Intellectual Property Rights” has the meaning given in the Terms of Service Agreement.
“Invention” means any ideas, concepts, information, materials, processes, data, programs, know-how, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs, artwork, formulae, other copyrightable works, and techniques and all Intellectual Property Rights therein.
“Submission” means any and all Submissions developed by Contractor as part of the Contractor Services as required to complete the Job and delivered to Shape Digital Media.
Ownership of Job and Intellectual Property: Contractor agrees that each Submission is a work made for hire. Upon Contractor’s Submission of a Job, any Intellectual Property Rights in the Submission will be the sole and exclusive property of Shape Digital Media, and Shape Digital Media will be deemed to be the author thereof. If Contractor has any rights to such Intellectual Property Rights that are not owned by Shape Digital Media upon Contractor’s Submission, Contractor hereby automatically irrevocably assigns to Shape Digital Media all right, title and interest worldwide in and to such Intellectual Property Rights. Except as set forth below, Contractor retains no rights to use such Intellectual Property Rights and agrees not to challenge the validity of Shape Digital Media’s ownership in such Intellectual Property Rights. Contractor hereby waives any moral rights, rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure and withdrawal or inalienable rights under applicable law in and to the Submission.
License to or Waiver of Other Rights: If Contractor has any right to such Intellectual Property Rights in the Submission that cannot be assigned by Contractor, Contractor hereby automatically upon receipt of payment from Shape Digital Media unconditionally and irrevocably grants to Shape Digital Media during the term of such rights, an exclusive, even as to Contractor, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, fully paid and royalty-free license, with rights to sublicense through multiple levels of sublicensees, to reproduce, make derivative works of, distribute, publicly perform and publicly display in any form or medium, whether now known or later developed, make, use, sell, import, offer for sale and exercise any and all such rights.
Assistance: Contractor agrees to assist Shape Digital Media in every way, both during and after the term of the Contractor Contract, to obtain and enforce United States and foreign Intellectual Property Rights relating to Submission in all countries. Shape Digital Media will reimburse Contractor for any out-of-pocket costs associated with such obtaining and enforcement. In the event Shape Digital Media is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to secure Contractor’s signature on any document needed in connection with the actions specified above in this Section “Intellectual Property Rights,” Contractor hereby designates and appoints Shape Digital Media and its duly authorized officers and agents as its agent and attorney in fact to act on its behalf to further the purposes of this Section with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Contractor.
Specific billing & payment policies for contractors
(1) How to Bill for Services Using the Payment Service
When an Assigned Contractor makes a final Submission, such request is: (1) Contractor’s representation that it has completed the applicable Contractor Services fully and satisfactorily; and (2) Contractor’s irrevocable instruction to Shape Digital Media to process a payment request in accordance with the Job terms.
(2) Partial Payment
Where a Contractor, acting in good faith and with best efforts, makes a Submission on a Job and the Buyer rejects such Submission after making one previous attempt, Shape Digital Media agrees to compensate Contractor for those services by paying Contractor 50% of the identified rate for that Job. In the event that a submission needs to be reassigned, Contractor may receive less than 50% of the identified rate for the Job. Shape Digital Media may also offer Contractor a partial payment for a Submission if it determines that it is warranted by the circumstances. All such partial payments are determined in Shape Digital Media’s sole discretion and all such determinations are final and binding on Contractors.
To the extent a Contractor makes a Submission after the posted deadline, and such Submission is accepted by Shape Digital Media, Contractor agrees that Shape Digital Media may apply, at its discretion, a late penalty between 5% – 50% of the posted rate for the Job.
(3) Withdrawal of Funds
See the Shape Digital Media Terms of Service for information on this point.
(4) Expenses
Shape Digital Media shall not be obligated to reimburse Contractor for any expenses incurred while engaged in the performance of Services under this Agreement. Contractor shall be solely responsible for all such expenses, including, but not limited to, the cost of equipment, materials, training, licenses, and insurance.
(5) Non Payment
Shape Digital Media shall not be obligated to pay Contractor for a Submission or Job where, in Shape Digital Media’s sole discretion, such Submission or Job is rejected and/or is determined to be plagiarized or contains poor content.
(6) Confidential Information
Contractor agrees that during the term of the Contractor Contract and thereafter, except as expressly authorized in writing by Shape Digital Media, Contractor (a) will not use or permit the use of Confidential Information (as defined below) in any manner or for any purpose not expressly set forth in the Contractor Contract; (b) will not disclose or publish any Confidential Information to any third party without first obtaining Shape Digital Media’s express written consent on a case-by-case basis; (c) will limit access to Confidential Information to Contractor personnel who need to know such information in connection with their work for Shape Digital Media; and (d) will not remove any tangible embodiment of any Confidential Information from Shape Digital Media’s premises without Shape Digital Media’s prior written consent.
“Confidential Information” means all information related to Shape Digital Media and/or a Buyer’s business and its actual or anticipated research and development or related to a Submission delivered or agreed to be delivered from Contractor to Shape Digital Media, including without limitation (i) trade secrets, inventions, ideas, processes, computer source and object code, formulae, data, programs, other works of authorship, know-how, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs, and techniques; (ii) information regarding products or plans for research and development, marketing and business plans, budgets, financial statements, contracts, prices, suppliers, and customers; and (iii) information designated by Shape Digital Media, either in writing or orally, as Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood that Contractor is free to use information that is generally known in the trade or industry, information that is not gained as a result of a breach of the Contractor Contract, and Contractor’s own skill, knowledge, know-how, and experience. Confidential Information shall not include information that was known to Contractor prior to Shape Digital Media’s disclosure hereunder or that becomes publicly available through no fault of Contractor.
Contractor representations and warranties
Contractor hereby represents and warrants that (a) the Submission will be an original work of Contractor and Contractor will have executed assignment agreement(s) consistent with this Agreement prior to being allowed to participate in the development of the Submission; (b) the Submission will fully conform to the requirements and terms set forth on the Site and in the Contractor Contract; (c) neither the Submission nor any element thereof will infringe or misappropriate the Intellectual Property Rights of any third party; (d) neither the Job nor any element thereof will be subject to any restrictions or to any mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests, or encumbrances; (e) Contractor will not grant, directly or indirectly, any rights or interest whatsoever in the Submission to third parties; (f) Contractor has full right and power to enter into and perform the Contractor Contract without the consent of any third party; (g) Contractor will comply with all laws and regulations applicable to Contractor’s obligations under the Contractor Contract; (h) Contractor is solely responsible for the acquisition and payment of any and all third-party clearances, permissions, fees, and licenses that are necessary in connection with Contractor Services including with respect to the use of any copyrighted or trademarked materials and the use of any names, likenesses or biographical materials; (i) Contractor shall perform the services in a professional manner and all Submissions or Jobs shall use proper English spelling, proper grammar and punctuation and shall contain factually correct statements. , In addition, Contractor will verify all facts in each Submission. Contractor agrees that Contractor will not hold himself, herself or itself out as being an employee of Shape Digital Media or its clients or buyers to any third party, including, but not limited to, any state unemployment agency. Contractor agrees that he, she or it is an independent contractor with respect to all Services provided pursuant to this Agreement.
Indemnification
Contractor will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Shape Digital Media, its affiliates, licensees (in particular, any Buyers that contracted with Shape Digital Media for the Job concerning the Submission at issue), directors, employees, agents and advisors against any damage, cost, loss or expense arising from a claim, suit or proceeding brought against Shape Digital Media (i) alleging that any Submission that Contractor delivers pursuant to the Contractor Contract or the Job infringes upon any Intellectual Property Rights (provided, however, the infringement claim does not pertain to revisions to the Submission performed by Shape Digital Media or others); (ii) alleging that any Submission that Contractor delivers pursuant to the Contractor Contract misappropriates any trade secret, of any third party; [iii] any activity performed by Contractor under this Agreement of in performance of the Services, or (iv) arising from Contractor’s breach of the terms of this Agreement.
Termination
Termination with Cause. Either party has the right to terminate the Contractor Contract in connection with a Job immediately in the event that the other party has materially breached the Contractor Contract and fails to cure such breach within fifteen (15) days of receipt of notice sent by the non-breaching party, setting forth in reasonable detail the nature of the breach. Shape Digital Media may also terminate the Contractor Contract immediately in its sole discretion in the event of an assigned Contractor’s material breach of the Sections titled “Intellectual Property Rights,” “Contractor Representations and Warranties,” and “Confidential Information.”
Return of Property. Upon termination of the Contractor Contract or upon Shape Digital Media’s request at any other time, Contractor will deliver to Shape Digital Media all of Shape Digital Media’s property together with all copies thereof, and any other material containing or disclosing any Confidential Information.
Survival. In addition to the provisions of the Terms of Service that will survive, the following provisions will survive termination of the Contractor Contract: Sections titled “Intellectual Property Rights,” “Confidential Information,” “Contractor Representations and Warranties,” “Indemnification,” “Return of Property,” “Survival,” “Exclusion and Limitations of Liability,” “Arbitration Agreement” and “General Provisions.”
Disclaimer of warranties
OTHER THAN THE WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN OR IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE, Shape Digital Media DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, ACCURACY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARISING BY STATUTE OR OTHERWISE IN LAW OR FROM A COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OR TRADE.
Exclusions and limitations liability
IN NO EVENT SHALL Shape Digital Media BE LIABLE TO CONTRACTOR FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES PURSUANT TO THE CONTRACTOR CONTRACT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES OR LOSS OF GOODWILL, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT, IN NO EVENT WILL Shape Digital Media BE LIABLE TO CONTRACTOR FOR ANY ACTION OR CLAIM RELATED TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED FOR THE JOB, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY, IN AN AMOUNT IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT THAT Shape Digital Media PAID TO THE CONTRACTOR THROUGH THE SITE DURING THE ONE (1) YEAR PERIOD IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DETERMINATION OF SUCH LIABILITY.
Arbitration agreement
(a) Contractor and Shape Digital Media agree and acknowledge that they will utilize final and binding arbitration to resolve all disputes that may arise out of or relate to this Agreement, the Services and Contractor’s relationship with Shape Digital Media, including retroactively requiring the use of arbitration for any dispute that may have arisen from the time that Contractor began providing services to Shape Digital Media. Both Shape Digital Media and Contractor agree that any claim, dispute, and/or controversy that either Contractor may have against Shape Digital Media (or its owners, directors, officers, managers, employees, agents, and parties affiliated with its employee benefit and health plans) or Shape Digital Media may have against Contractor, arising from, related to, or having any relationship or connection whatsoever with Contractor’s contract relationship with Shape Digital Media, including the classification of Contractor as an independent contractor shall be submitted to and determined exclusively by binding arbitration. This Arbitration Agreement is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, and Contractor acknowledges that this Agreement evidences a transaction in commerce. Included within the scope of this Arbitration Agreement are all disputes, whether based on tort, contract, statute (including, but not limited to, any claims of discrimination and harassment, whether they be based on the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, or any other state or federal law or regulation), equitable law, or otherwise (excluding workers compensation, state disability insurance and unemployment insurance claims). Claims may be brought before an administrative agency but only to the extent applicable law permits access to such an agency notwithstanding the existence of an agreement to arbitrate. Such administrative claims include without limitation claims or charges brought before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the National Labor Relations Board. Nothing in this Arbitration Agreement shall be deemed to preclude or excuse a party from bringing an administrative claim before any agency in order to fulfill the party’s obligation to exhaust administrative remedies before making a claim in arbitration. Disputes that may not be subject to predispute arbitration agreement as provided by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 111-203) are excluded from the coverage of this Agreement.
(b) The location of the arbitration proceeding shall be no more than 45 miles from the place where Contractor last provided services for Shape Digital Media, unless each party to the arbitration agrees in writing otherwise. If Contractor no longer resides in the general geographical vicinity where Contractor last provided contract services for Shape Digital Media, the parties shall agree to a location of the arbitration within 45 miles of where the Contractor resides. Claims in arbitration must be brought within the applicable statute of limitations period.
(c) In arbitration, the parties will have the right to conduct adequate civil discovery, bring dispositive motions, and present witnesses and evidence as needed to present their cases and defenses, and any disputes in this regard shall be resolved by the Arbitrator. However, there will be no right or authority for any dispute to be brought, heard or arbitrated as a class, collective or representative action (“Class Action Waiver”). Notwithstanding any other clause contained in this Agreement, the preceding sentence shall not be severable from this Agreement in any case in which the dispute to be arbitrated is brought as a class, collective or representative action. Although Contractor will not be retaliated against, disciplined or threatened with discipline as a result of exercising Contractor’s rights under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act by the filing of or participation in a class, collective or representative action in any forum, Shape Digital Media may lawfully seek enforcement of this Agreement and the Class Action Waiver under the Federal Arbitration Act and seek dismissal of such class, collective or representative actions or claims. Notwithstanding any other clause contained in this Agreement, any claim that all or part of the Class Action Waiver is unenforceable, unconscionable, void or voidable may be determined only by a court of competent jurisdiction and not by an arbitrator.
(d) Resolution of the dispute shall be based solely upon the law governing the claims and defenses pleaded, and the arbitrator may not invoke any basis other than such controlling law. The arbitrator shall have the immunity of a judicial officer from civil liability when acting in the capacity of an arbitrator, which immunity supplements any other existing immunity. Awards shall include the arbitrator’s written reasoned opinion. Contractor and Shape Digital Media understand and agree to this binding arbitration provision, and both Contractor and Shape Digital Media give up our right to trial by jury of any claim Contractor and Shape Digital Media may have against each other.
(e) The parties shall each bear their respective costs for legal representation at any such arbitration, except to the extent attorney’s fees are explicitly provided by law. The parties shall split any initial administrative fee charged by the Arbitrator, up to a maximum cost to Contractor of two hundred fifty dollars (US$250.00). The cost of the arbitrator and court reporter, if any, shall initially be borne by Shape Digital Media; however, the Arbitrator shall have the discretion to award appropriate costs to the prevailing party, as provided by law, and/or to require the parties to split the costs associated with the arbitrator and/or court reporter.
(f) Except as stated in Paragraph M(c), if any term or provision, or portion of this Arbitration Agreement is declared void or unenforceable it shall be severed and the remainder of this Arbitration Agreement shall be enforceable.
CONTRACTOR’S SIGNATURE, ELECTRONIC OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A JOB AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SERVICES, ATTESTS TO THE FACT THAT CONTRACTOR HAS READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREED TO BE LEGALLY BOUND TO ALL OF THE ABOVE TERMS OF THE ARBITRATION AGREEMENT, SPECIFICALLY INCLUDING THE CLASS ACTION WAIVER.
General provisions
Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to its conflicts of law principles. Any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement between Contractor and Shape Digital Media (including their respective assignees, affiliates, attorneys and/or agents), or their relationship, either during the existence of the relationship or afterwards, shall be resolved solely and exclusively by the courts in such state.
Severability. If any provision of the Contractor Contract is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unenforceable, the other provisions of the Contractor Contract will be unimpaired and the invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed modified so that it is valid and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.
No Assignment. The Contractor Contract, and the party’s rights and obligations herein, may not be assigned or otherwise transferred by either party without the other’s prior written consent, and any attempted violation of the foregoing will be null and void. The terms of the Contractor Contract will be binding upon assignees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Shape Digital Media may, without the consent of Contractor, assign any rights and obligations under the Contractor Contract. Any permitted assignment of the Contractor Contract shall be binding upon and enforceable by and against Shape Digital Media’s and Contractor’s successors and assigns, provided that any unauthorized assignment shall be null and void and constitute a breach of the Contractor Contract.
Notices. Each party must deliver all notices or other communications required or permitted under the Contractor Contract to the other party at the contact information identified in these terms or elsewhere on the Site.
Injunctive Relief. Contractor acknowledges that, because its services are personal and unique and because Contractor will have access to Confidential Information of Shape Digital Media, any breach of the Contractor Contract by Contractor would cause irreparable injury to Shape Digital Media for which monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy and, therefore, will entitle Shape Digital Media to injunctive relief (including specific performance). The rights and remedies provided to each party in the Contractor Contract are cumulative and in addition to any other rights and remedies available to such party at law or in equity.
Waiver. Any waiver or failure to enforce any provision of the Contractor Contract on one occasion will not be deemed a waiver of any other provision or of such provision on any other occasion.
Execution and Delivery; Binding Effect. The parties will evidence execution and delivery of the Contractor Contract with the intention of becoming legally bound, by accepting the Terms of Service on the Site.
Entire Agreement. The Contractor Contract is the final, complete and exclusive agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matters hereof and supersedes and merges all prior discussions between the parties with respect to such subject matters. No modification of or amendment to the Contractor Contract, or any waiver of any rights under the Contractor Contract, will be effective unless accepted by Contractor and Shape Digital Media.
Contacting us
If you have any questions or complaints regarding these Terms, please submit your questions or complaints via an email to contact@shapedigitalmedia.com and if you need an address use 535 Mission St, 14th floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, United States.