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日期 Date |
課程內容 Content |
備註 Note |
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1 |
2/22 |
2. What can "a Contractual Agreement" look like?
o 2.1. Basic requirements for a contract
o 2.2. A short letter agreement might well be enough
o 2.3. Even emails can form binding contracts
o 2.4. Contracts by IM or text message?
o 2.5. Will all written agreements be legally binding?
o 2.6. Reminder: Many oral contracts can be binding
o 2.7. But: The Statute of Frauds might say otherwise
o 2.8. Agreement to agree? Or "open terms"?
o 2.9. Battle of the Forms
o 2.10. Exercises & discussion questions
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2 |
3/1 |
3. Setting up the contract framework:
o 3.1. Finding existing contract forms
o 3.2. Mindless copy-and-paste can be dangerous
o 3.3. A clean sheet of paper has its own hazards
o 3.4. Title: How will a title look in a list?
o 3.5. Preamble: Front-load some useful information
o 3.6. Background of the Agreement: No "Whereas"!
o 3.7. Signature blocks
o 3.8. Signature mechanics
o 3.9. Electronic signatures
o 3.10. Backdating a contract - danger!
o 3.11. Signature authority
o 3.12. Notary certificates (skim)
o 3.13. Exercises and discussion questions
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3 |
3/8 |
4. Defined Terms:
o 4.1. The benefits of "in-line" definitions
o 4.2. Have a separate section for general definitions?
o 4.3. Pro tip: Include cross-references
o 4.4. Some defined-terms style preferences
o 4.6. Caution: Consistency in capitalization can be crucial
5. Exhibits, Schedules, etc.:
o 5.1. Exhibits: Standalone documents (generally)
o 5.2. Schedules: For disclosures of exceptions from a benchmark
o 5.3. Appendixes, addenda, annexes
18. Exclusive Remedies:
o 18.1. Defect correction can be an "exclusive remedy" …
o 18.2. But failure of "exclusive" remedies might blow the doors open
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4 |
3/15 |
8. Ambiguity and its Dangers:
o 8.1. What is "Ambiguity" — and why is it bad for causing disputes?
o 8.2. Example: A date-related Ambiguity
o 8.3. How do courts "construe" Ambiguous terms?
o 8.4. Courts apply specific Rules of Interpretation
o 8.5. The W.I.D.D. Rule: （即 When In Doubt, Define!）
o 8.6. The A.T.A.R.I. Rule （即 Avoid The Argument; Rewrite It!）
o 8.7. Vagueness is a type of ambiguity – what to do about it?
o 8.8. Special case: D.R.Y. - （即 Don't Repeat Yourself！）
o 8.9. Exercises & discussion questions
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5 |
3/22 |
9. General Writing Rules:
o 9.1. Style guide for Numbers
o 9.2. Parallelism in lists: Be consistent
o 9.3. Avoid gobbledygook
o 9.4. Active Voice is better — usually
o 9.5. Streamline your sentences
o 9.6. Word order might matter in the meaning of your contract
o 9.7. "May" and "Might" are different
o 9.8. Exercises and discussion questions
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6 |
3/29 |
11. Drafting Tips:
o 11.1. False imperatives: Who is responsible?
o 11.2. Roadblock clauses
o 11.3. Sunset provisions
o 11.4. Conspicuousness: Go easy on the All-Caps
o 11.5. Safe-harbor clauses
o 11.6. Boomerang clauses could hurt you later
o 11.7. Jerks: Drafting for them
o 11.8. Terms to avoid
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7 |
4/5 |
12. Litigation Planning:
o 12.1. Draft the Preamble to help out trial counsel
o 12.2. Use bright-line standards for significant triggers
o 12.3. Acknowledgements: Like an admission in court
o 12.4. Consider contract clauses to promote settlement
o 12.5. Litigation preparation: Include "Demonstrative Exhibits"?
o 12.6. Remember the Burden of Proof in contract enforcement
o 12.7. Watch out for "optics"
o 12.8. Exercise: Acknowledgement
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希望同學們能夠有時間實體補課，或使用綫上的TronClass。 |
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8 |
4/12 |
16. Getting to Signature quickly:
o 16.1. Balanced terms get signed sooner
o 16.2. How to kill a deal: Insist on using your contract form
o 16.3. Combat Barbie: Consider using "distractor" terms
o 16.4. Which to use: Shall? Will? Must?
o 16.5. Incorporation by reference
o 16.6. Exercises and discussion questions
The Different Types of Damages:
o Compensatory damages
o Incidental damages
o Consequential damages
o Nominal damages
o Liquidated damages
o Punitive damages
o Reliance damages
o Statutory damages
o Treble damages
17. Limitations of liability
o 17.1. Try risk by risk limitations of liability
o 17.2. Negotiate variable limitations of liability?
o 17.3. Discussion questions: Limitations of liability
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9 |
4/19 |
1A. Drafting a workable Contractual Agreement:
o 1A.1. Do what Stephen Colbert did
o 1A.2. Contract clauses to preserve relationship to prevent lawsuits
o 1A.3. Deferring decisions: Sensible practice, or lighting the fuse of a bomb?
o 1A.4. Don’t get blown up by your own bomb
o 1A.5. Don’t “assume a can-opener” (or, Hope is not a Plan)
o 1A.6. Business planning for Contract Drafters: Checklist to ask about the Business
1B. Getting to Signature sooner:
o 1B.1. Which side’s contract documents should be used?
o 1B.2. Specific drafting tips to speed up the other side’s legal review
o 1B.3. To keep your “steak” intact, offer the guard dog some “hamburger”
o 1B.4. Give the other side’s reviewer something to reject (that’s close to OK with you)
o 1B.5. Put “variable” terms in a Schedule (upfront) for faster review and editing
o 1B.6. Red-line and explain all of your proposed changes
o 1B.7. When you can’t just say “No” to a contract: Creative compromises
o 1B.8. Negotiable limitations of liability: Risk-by-Risk, not One-Size-Fits-All
o 1B.9. Negotiate limitations of liability that vary with Time or Circumstances
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10 |
4/26 |
21. Selected special topics:
o 21.1. Acceleration of due date
o 21.2. Background section in Settlement Agreements
o 21.5. Inspections: Why they're worthwhile
o 21.6. Interest charges
o 21.7. Liquidated damages
o 21.8. Master agreements
o 21.9. Non-Disclosure Agreements for VCs & other potential investors
o 21.11. Price fixing (Resale Price Maintenance)
o 21.12. Privacy
o 21.19. Writing around the Law might not work
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11 |
5/3 |
22. The Tango Terms:
o 22.1. Acknowledgement Effect
o 22.7. Arbitration
o 22.9. As-Is Disclaimer Definition
o 22.17. Audits
o 22.20. Best Efforts Definition
o 22.28. Certify Definition
o 22.30. Clear and Convincing Evidence Definition
o 22.32. Commercially Reasonable Efforts Definition
o 22.35. Consequential Damages Exclusion
o 22.37. Contra Proferentem Disclaimer
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12 |
5/10 |
22. The Tango Terms:
o 22.39. Damages Cap General Terms
o 22.43. Deadline Definition
o 22.44. Deceptive Practices Prohibition
o 22.46. Defense of Third-Party Claims
o 22.49. Discretion Definition
o 22.51. Disparagement Prohibition
o 22.53. Effective Date Definition
o 22.56. Equitable Relief
o 22.58. Evergreen Extensions
o 22.60. Exclusivity
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13 |
5/17 |
22. The Tango Terms:
o 22.63. Forum Selection
o 22.69. Good Faith Definition
o 22.70. Governing Law
o 22.73. Gross Negligence Definition
o 22.74. Guaranties
o 22.75. Hold Harmless Definition
o 22.76. If Definition
o 22.77. Including Definition
o 22.81. Information Purges
o 22.82. Infringement Remedies
o 22.83. Infringement Warranty
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14 |
5/24 |
22. The Tango Terms:
o 22.84. Inspections Protocol
o 22.85. Intellectual property definitions
o 22.87. Intellectual Property Rights Challenges
o 22.89. JURY TRIAL WAIVER
o 22.90. Knowledge Definition
o 22.99. Limitation of Liability Effect
o 22.102. Material & Material Breach Definition
o 22.103. May and May Not Definition
o 22.110. Non-competition
o 22.111. Non-solicitation
o 22.123. Pricing adjustment options
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15 |
5/31 |
22. The Tango Terms:
o 22.124. Privacy Law Definition
o 22.125. Prompt (adjective) Definition
o 22.127. Reasonable Efforts Definition
o 22.128. Reckless Definition
o 22.133. Reliance Waiver
o 22.134. Representation Definition
o 22.138. Responsible Definition
o 22.141. Settlement-Discussion Confidentiality
o 22.142. Shall Definition
o 22.144. Site Visits
o 22.150. Survival of terms
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16 |
6/7 |
22. The Tango Terms:
o 22.152. Termination
o 22.155. Time of Day Definition
o 22.156. Timely Definition
o 22.157. Trademark Use
o 22.160. Usury Savings
o 22.162. Waivers
o 22.163. Warranty Definition
o 22.164. Warranty Disclaimer General Terms
o 22.165. Will Definition
o 22.166. Willful Definition
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17 |
6/14 |
審閲實際 Commercial Lease 商業租賃契約 between Stanford University（史丹佛大學）and Tesla Motors (特斯拉汽車)。 |
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18 |
6/21 |
審閲實際 Employment Agreement 聘雇契約 between Facebook（臉書） and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg（臉書的首席營運官）。 |
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