Appen Contributor Portal

These Terms of Service (these "Terms of Service") is agreed to between Appen Butler Hill Inc., and its affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively, "Appen") and you, or if you represent an entity or other organization, that entity or organization (in either case, "You" or "Your").  APPEN offers users who abide by these Terms of Service ("Users") the ability to access and configure human-in-the-loop jobs, job task tools, and other related information, data, communications, and other content ("Content"), as well as account registration, and other functionality and services (“Services”) described on the APPEN platform in which these Terms of Service are located (the "Platform"). You may access the Platform through this website https://annotate.appen.com/register or other websites operated by APPEN (each, a "Website").  These Terms of Service applies to the Platform, Content, and Services available through the Platform, regardless of the Website through which You access or use the Platform, Content, or Services.

PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THESE TERMS OF SERVICE.  BY ACCESSING OR USING THE PLATFORM, CONTENT, OR SERVICES, YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS OF SERVICE.  IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS OF SERVICE, APPEN IS NOT WILLING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ACCESS TO OR USE OF THE PLATFORM, CONTENT, OR SERVICES AND YOU MUST NOT ACCESS OR USE THE PLATFORM, CONTENT, OR SERVICES.

These Terms of Service include the terms and conditions below and the applicable privacy policy(ies) located at https://www.appen.com/legal-policies (the "Privacy Policy") as they relate to the Platform, Content, Services, and Website.  You are responsible for compliance with these Terms of Service (including the Privacy Policy).

Unless You later enter into any other agreements with APPEN regarding the Platform, Content, or Services, these Terms of Service are the complete and exclusive agreement between You and APPEN regarding Your access to and use of the Platform, Content, and Services.  These Terms of Service supersede any prior agreement or proposal, oral or written, and any other prior communications between You and APPEN relating to Your use of the Platform, Content, or Services as a User of the Platform. Any superseding of these Terms of Service will pertain only to those terms that directly and only to the extent they conflict with these Terms of Service.

Terms used in these Terms of Service have the definitions given in these Terms of Service or, if not defined in these Terms of Service, have their plain English meaning as commonly interpreted in the United States, even if APPEN provides a translated version of these Terms of Service.  To the extent any ambiguity or inconsistency exists between the English version of these Terms of Service and a version in any other language, the English (as interpreted in the United States) version of the Terms of Service controls.

These Terms of Service are entered into as of the earlier of the date You first accessed the Website or used the Platform, Content, or Services (the "Effective Date") and will continue until terminated as set forth herein.

APPEN reserves the right, at any time, to modify the Platform, Content, or Services, with or without notice to You, by making those modifications available on the Platform. APPEN also reserves the right, at any time, to modify these Terms of Service. APPEN will inform You of the presence of any changes to these Terms of Service by posting those changes on the Platform or by providing You with notice through the Platform. You are encouraged to review these Terms and Conditions and check for any updates from time to time. Any modifications will be effective immediately upon posting on the Platform or delivery of such notice through the Platform. You may terminate these Terms of Service as set forth below or as otherwise agreed in writing between You and Appen if You object to any such modifications.  However, You will be deemed to have agreed to any and all modifications through Your continued use of the Platform, Content, or Services following such notice period.

1. Content Access Through Accounts.  Subject to the terms of these Terms of Service, access to the Platform requires that You register as a User of the Platform and establish a User account on the Platform (an “Account”).  Approval of Your request to establish and maintain any Account will be at the sole discretion of APPEN.  
2. Accounts.  Upon Your request, APPEN may provide You with the ability to establish an Account on the Platform.  Your Account and the User identification and password for Your Account (Your “Account ID”) is personal in nature.  Your Account is for Your personal use and Your Account ID may be used only by You alone.  You may not distribute or transfer Your Account or Account ID or provide a third party with the right to access Your Account or Account ID.  You are solely responsible for all use of the Platform and all Content and Services through Your Account. You will ensure the security and confidentiality of Your Account ID and will notify APPEN immediately if Your Account ID is lost, stolen, or otherwise compromised.  You are fully responsible for all liabilities and damages incurred through the use of Your Account or under Your Account ID (whether lawful or unlawful) and any transactions completed through Your Account or under Your Account ID will be deemed to have been lawfully completed by You.
3. Account Information.  In connection with establishing Your Account, You will be asked to submit certain information about Yourself (“Account Information”).  You agree that: (a) all Account Information You provide will be accurate, complete, and current; and (b) You will maintain and promptly update Your Account Information to keep it accurate, complete and current.  You may not: (i) select or use an Account ID of another person with the intent to impersonate that person; and (ii) use an Account ID that APPEN, in its sole discretion, deems offensive.  You are solely responsible for confirming the set-up and configuration of Your Account in all respects and for making all changes and updates thereto through these Terms of Service. Please note that we may share certain Account Information with third parties in accordance with the Privacy Policy.

1. Restricted Access. This Website is not directed at children under 18years of age. You may only use this Website if you are at least 18 year of age.  By using this Website, you represent that you are at least 18 years of age.
2. To the Platform.  Subject to Your compliance with these Terms of Service, APPEN will permit You to access and use the Platform, Content, and Services solely for lawful purposes and only in accordance with these Terms of Service and any other agreement You agree to with APPEN before being given access to any specific aspects of the Platform.  Any other provisions that are more favorable to Appen in any other agreements, including but not limited to a Master Services Agreement executed between you and Appen, is in addition to these Terms of Service and will govern Your use of the portions of the Platform to which the additional agreement applies in the event of a conflict between the terms of these Terms of Service and the additional agreement.

1. Content. You assume all risks associated with the use of APPEN's Content, including any reliance on the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the Content that makes You or any third party personally liable.  The Appen name, logo, and all product and service names associated with the Platform, Content, and Services are trademarks of Appen, its affiliates, or their respective licensors and third party providers and You are granted no right or license to use them unless expressly stated otherwise by Appen.
2. To Third-Party Services.  The Platform may provide You with the choice to access certain Services developed, provided, or maintained by other third-party service providers ("Third Party Services").  In addition to the terms of these Terms of Service, Your access to and use of any Third Party Services is also subject to any other agreement You may agree to before being given access to the Third Party Services (each, a "Third Party Service Agreement").  The terms of any Third Party Service Agreement (which may include payment of fees) will apply to the applicable Third Party Services provided under that Third Party Service Agreement in addition to the terms of these Terms of Service, but will not apply to any other Services You may access through the Platform.  Except as set forth in these Terms of Service, the terms of any Third Party Service Agreement will control in the event of a conflict between the terms of these Terms of Service and that Third Party Service Agreement.

Subject to any other written agreement made between the parties, such as a Master Services Agreement, these Terms of Service may be terminated by either party at any time, in that party’s sole discretion, upon notice to the other party as permitted under these Terms of Service.  Except as otherwise stated in these Terms and Conditions or other written agreement, upon termination or expiration of these Terms of Service for any reason: (1) all rights and subscriptions granted to You under these Terms of Service will terminate; and (2) You will immediately cease all use of and access to the Platform and all Content and Services (including, without limitation, all Content You obtained prior to termination).  Sections titled Definitions, Termination, Suspension, Platform Technology, Ownership, Representations and Warranties, No Warranties; Disclaimer, Confidentiality, Indemnity, Limitation on Liability, Data Privacy, Feedback, Claims of Infringement, Disputes, Governing Law and Venue; Class Action Waiver, Notices, Linked Sites, and Additional Terms will survive any expiration or termination of these Terms of Service. Furthermore, any other terms or conditions of these Terms of Service that naturally should survive termination shall survive termination.

Without limiting APPEN’s right to terminate these Terms of Service, APPEN may also suspend Your access to the Platform or any Content or Services, with or without notice to You, upon any actual, threatened, or suspected breach of these Terms of Service or applicable law or upon any other conduct deemed by APPEN, in its sole discretion, to be inappropriate or detrimental to the Platform, Services, APPEN, or any other User or third party.

The Platform, Content, Services, and the databases, software, hardware, and other technology used by or on behalf of APPEN to operate the Platform, and the structure, organization, and underlying data, information and software code thereof (collectively, the "Technology"), constitute valuable trade secrets of APPEN.  You will not, and will not permit any third party to: (1) access or attempt to access the Technology except as expressly provided in these Terms and Use; (2) use the Technology in any unlawful manner or in any other manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair the Technology; (3) use automated scripts to collect information from or otherwise interact with the Technology; (4) alter, modify, reproduce, or create derivative works of the Technology; (5) distribute, sell, resell, lend, loan, lease, license, sublicense, or transfer any of Your rights to access or use the Technology or otherwise make the Technology available to any third party; (6) reverse engineer, disassemble, decompile, or otherwise attempt to derive the method of operation of the Technology; (7) attempt to circumvent or overcome any technological protection measures intended to restrict access to any portion of the Technology; (8) monitor the availability, performance, or functionality of the Technology; or (9) interfere with the operation or hosting of the Technology.

APPEN retains all right, title, and interest, including, without limitation, all intellectual property rights, proprietary rights, rights of publicity, rights of privacy, and any and all other legal rights protecting data, information, or intangible property throughout the world, including, without limitation, any and all copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade secrets, patent rights, moral rights, sui generis rights in databases, and contract rights (“IPR”), in and to the Technology and any additions, improvements, updates, and modifications thereto.  You receive no ownership interest in or to the Technology and You are not granted any right or license to use the Technology itself, apart from Your ability to access the Platform, Content, and Services under these Terms of Service or a Master Services Agreement.

1. Mutual.  Each party hereby represents and warrants to the other party that: (a) it has the legal right and authority to enter into these Terms of Service; (b) these Terms of Service forms a binding legal obligation on behalf of such party; and (c) it has the legal right and authority to perform its obligations under these Terms of Service and to grant the rights and licenses described in these Terms of Service.
2. Compliance with Laws. You acknowledge that the Platform is a general purpose online service and is not specifically designed to facilitate compliance with any specific law.  You represent, warrant, and covenant to APPEN that Your use of and access to the Platform, including any Content or Services, will comply with all applicable laws, rules, or regulations (“Laws”) and will not cause APPEN itself or any other third party to violate any applicable Laws.  APPEN is not responsible for notifying You of any such Laws, enabling Your compliance with any such Laws, or for Your failure to comply.  You agree that you will not use this Website to transmit any false, inaccurate, or misleading information; upload any viruses or malicious code; engage in behavior that is defamatory, obscene, indecent, threatening, or harassing; solicit login information, access protected data or intercept personal information belonging to someone else; or use this website or its content in connection with unsolicited commercial messages.

1. THE PLATFORM, CONTENT, AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE."  APPEN DOES NOT WARRANT OR GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, ADEQUACY, OR CURRENCY OF THE PLATFORM, CONTENT, OR THE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES ADVERTISED ON THE PLATFORM AND DOES NOT ENDORSE THE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, VIEWS OR OPINIONS THAT MAY BE EXPRESSED IN THE CONTENT OR OTHER DATA, INFORMATION OR THIRD PARTY CONTENT THAT MAY BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE PLATFORM.
2. APPEN EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO THE PLATFORM, CONTENT, SERVICES AND OTHER SUBJECT MATTER OF THESE TERMS OF SERVICE, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, MERCHANTABILITY, TITLE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.  NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY APPEN, ITS EMPLOYEES, OR SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL INCREASE THE SCOPE OF, OR CREATE ANY NEW WARRANTIES IN ADDITION TO THE WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION. APPEN MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT (a) THE PLATFORM OR CONTENT WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS; (b) THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE; (c) THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF THE PLATFORM WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE; (d) THE QUALITY OF ANY CONTENT OR SERVICES OBTAINED BY YOU THROUGH THE PLATFORM WILL MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS; OR (e) ANY ERRORS IN THE TECHNOLOGY WILL BE CORRECTED.  ANY CONTENT OR SERVICES DOWNLOADED OR OTHERWISE OBTAINED THROUGH THE USE OF THE PLATFORM IS DONE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK AND YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM OR LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM THE DOWNLOAD OF ANY SUCH MATERIAL.  SOME STATES AND JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.  THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS SHALL BE ENFORCEABLE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

Unless otherwise expressly specified by Appen, all non-public information You receive shall be treated as confidential. You must:

(b)      maintain and take all steps necessary to maintain all Confidential Information in strictest confidence;

(c)      not disclose any Confidential Information to any person without the prior written consent of Appen or as required by law; and

(d)      notify Appen immediately if You at any time become aware of facts, information or matters which may constitute or result in a breach of Your obligations under this Confidentiality Section."Confidential Information" means any information not generally known to the public or what a reasonable recipient would deem as confidential, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any customer identifies, data, reports, interpretations, forecasts, know-how, technology, compositions, devices, plans, strategies, legal or compliance statuses, technical statuses, studies, personnel information, intellectual property, the substance of agreements with clients, suppliers and others, marketing arrangements, strategic partnerships and the existence of such discussions between the parties, customer lists, vendor lists, pricing, costs, profit margins, trade secrets, product development plans, research, inventions, ideas, concepts, prototypes, designs, formulas, methods or processes, whether or not patented or patentable, channels of distribution, legal information, information relating to compliance statuses, financial records and/or inventory records of Appen or its customers, and such other information normally understood to be confidential or otherwise designated as such in writing by Appen or its customers, as well as information discerned from, based on or relating to any of the foregoing which may be prepared by, all of which You expressly acknowledge and agree shall be confidential and proprietary information belonging to Appen or Appen’s customers, vendors, partners, or other party that has an agreement concerning the confidentiality of information.  

You hereby indemnify, defend, and hold harmless APPEN and its officers, directors, shareholders, affiliates, employees, agents, service providers, contractors, assigns, users, customers, providers, licensees, and successors in interest ("Indemnified Parties") from any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees, expenses, and costs (including attorneys' fees, court costs, damage awards, and settlement amounts) that result from any claim or allegation (“Claim”) against any Indemnified Party arising in any manner from: (1) Your access to or use of the Platform, or any Content or Services; (2) Your collection and disclosure of any Content or Services, (3) Your violation of applicable Laws; and (4) Your breach of any representation, warranty, or other provision of these Terms of Service. APPEN will use reasonable efforts to provide You with notice of any such claim or allegation, and APPEN will have the right to participate in the defense of any such claim at its expense.

APPEN WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, HOWEVER CAUSED, UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE), ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH OR OUT OF THE ACCESS TO OR USE OF THE PLATFORM, CONTENT, OR SERVICES, EVEN IF APPEN HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY LOSS OF YOUR CONTENT, OPPORTUNITY, REVENUES, PROFITS OR REPUTATION, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, OR PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE CONTENT, GOODS OR SERVICES. APPEN’S TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THESE TERMS OF SERVICE AND ALL CONTENT AND SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THESE TERMS OF SERVICE OR THROUGH THE PLATFORM, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE, WILL NOT EXCEED $10. YOU AGREE THAT APPEN WOULD NOT ENTER INTO THESE TERMS OF SERVICE WITHOUT THESE LIMITATIONS ON ITS LIABILITY. IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES IS NOT PERMITTED, APPEN’S LIABILITY IS LIMITED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

You expressly consent to the use and disclosure of Your personally identifiable information and other data and information as described in APPEN’s Privacy Policy. Notwithstanding anything in the Privacy Policy, APPEN will have the right to collect, extract, compile, synthesize, and analyze non-personally identifiable data or information (data or information that does not identify an entity or natural person as the source thereof) resulting from Your access to and use of the Platform, Services, or Content. To the extent any such non-personally identifiable data or information is collected or generated by APPEN, the data and information will be solely owned by APPEN and may be used by APPEN or its customers for any lawful business purpose without a duty of accounting to You, provided that the data and information is used only in an aggregated form, without directly identifying You or any other entity or natural person as the source thereof.

If You provide APPEN any feedback or suggestions regarding the Platform, Content, or Services (“Feedback”), You hereby assign to APPEN all rights in the Feedback and agree that APPEN shall have the right to use such Feedback and related information in any manner it deems appropriate without a duty of accounting to You. APPEN will treat any Feedback You provide to APPEN as non-confidential and non-proprietary. You agree that You will not submit to APPEN any information or ideas that You consider to be confidential or proprietary.

APPEN respects Your copyrights and other intellectual property rights and those of other third parties. If You believe in good faith that Your copyrighted work has been reproduced on the Platform without Your authorization in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, You may notify our designated copyright agent by mail and e-mail to:

APPEN
Attention: APPEN Legal Department
12131 113th Ave NE 12027 Suite #100,
Kirkland, WA 98034
(866) 673-6996
legal@appen.com

Please provide the following information to the APPEN Copyright Agent: (1) the identity of the allegedly infringing work; (2) Your name, address, daytime phone number, and email address, if available; (3) a statement that You have a good-faith belief that the use of the copyrighted work is not authorized by the owner, his or her agent, or the law; (4) a statement that the information in the notification is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that You are authorized to act on behalf of the owner; and (5) Your electronic or physical signature. APPEN will take whatever action, in its sole discretion, it deems appropriate, including the removal of the allegedly infringing work from the Platform. You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with all of the above requirements of this Section, your notice may not be valid.

The parties will resolve all disputes, controversies, or claims arising under, out of, or relating to these Terms of Service, including the formation, validity, binding effect, interpretation, performance, breach or termination, of these Terms of Service and the arbitrability of the issues submitted to arbitration hereunder and non-contractual claims relating to these Terms of Service (each, a "Dispute"), in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section. If any Dispute cannot be resolved through negotiations between the parties within twenty (20) days of notice from one party to the other of the Dispute, such Dispute will be finally settled through binding arbitration under the arbitration of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") then in effect (the "Rules"). Either party may commence the arbitration by delivering a request for arbitration as specified in the Rules. The arbitration will be conducted before a sole neutral arbitrator selected by agreement of the parties. If the parties cannot agree on the appointment of a single arbitrator within 30 days (the "Initial Period") after either party to these Terms of Service delivers a request for arbitration, a neutral arbitrator will be selected as provided in the Rules.  The arbitration will be conducted exclusively in the English language at a site specified by APPEN in King County in the State of Washington, U.S.A.  The award of the arbitrator will be the exclusive remedy of the parties for all claims, counterclaims, issues or accountings presented or pled to the arbitrator.  The award of the arbitrators will require payment of the costs, fees, and expenses incurred by the prevailing party in any such arbitration by the non-prevailing party. Judgment upon the award may be entered in any court or governmental body having jurisdiction thereof.  Any additional costs, fees, or expenses incurred in enforcing the award may be charged against the party that resists its enforcement.

The interpretation of the rights and obligations of the parties under these Terms of Service, including, to the extent applicable, any negotiations, arbitrations or other proceedings hereunder, will be governed in all respects exclusively by the laws of the State of Washington, U.S.A., as such laws apply to contracts between residents of Washington without regard to conflict of laws provisions thereof.  Subject to the Section titled “Disputes”, each party will bring any action or proceeding arising from or relating to these Terms of Service exclusively in a federal or state court in the State of Washington, U.S.A., and You irrevocably submit to the personal jurisdiction and venue of any such courts in any such action or proceeding brought in such courts by APPEN. You hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court. You and Appen each agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated or representative action. If for any reason a claim proceeds in court rather than in arbitration we each party waives any right to a jury trial.

Unless otherwise specified in these Terms of Service, any notices required or allowed under these Terms of Service will be provided to APPEN by postal mail to the address for APPEN listed on the Platform. APPEN may provide You with any notices required or allowed under these Terms of Service by sending You an email to any email address You provide to APPEN, provided that in the case of any notice applicable both to You and other Users of the Platform, APPEN may instead provide such notice by posting on the Platform. Notices provided to APPEN will be deemed given when actually received by APPEN.  Notice provided to You will be deemed given 24 hours after posting to the Platform or sending via e-mail, unless (as to e-mail) the sending party is notified that the e-mail address is invalid.

The Platform, Content, or Services may contain links to third-party sites or content that are not under the control of APPEN.  If You access a third-party site or content from the Platform or Services, then You do so at Your own risk and APPEN is not responsible for any content on any linked site. You may establish a link to the Website, provided that the link does not state or imply any sponsorship or endorsement of Your site by APPEN or any group or individual affiliated with APPEN.  You may not use on Your site any Content or marks appearing on the Website or Platform in establishing the link. You may not frame or otherwise incorporate into another site the content or other materials on the Platform without prior written consent.

Unless otherwise amended, these Terms of Service will exclusively govern Your access to and use of the Platform, Content, and Services, and is the complete and exclusive understanding and agreement between the parties, and supersedes any oral or written proposal, agreement or other communication between the parties, regarding Your access to and use of the Platform, Content, and Services. All waivers by APPEN under these Terms of Service must be expressly stated in writing referencing these Terms of Service, or as such later acknowledged by APPEN in writing. Any waiver or failure by APPEN to enforce any provision of these Terms of Service on one occasion will not be deemed a waiver by APPEN of any other provision or of such provision on any other occasion. If any provision of these Terms of Service is held to be unenforceable, that provision will be removed to the extent necessary to comply with the law, replaced by a provision that most closely approximates the original intent and economic effect of the original to the extent consistent with the law, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force. The prevailing party in any lawsuit or proceeding arising from or related to these Terms of Service will be entitled to receive its costs, expert witness fees and reasonable attorneys’ fees, including costs and fees on appeal. You agree that each of APPEN’s customers, partners, and vendors shall be considered a third party beneficiary of the above provisions, with all rights to enforce such provisions as if a service provider were a party to these Terms of Service. Neither these Terms of Service nor any rights or obligations of You hereunder may be assigned or transferred by You (in whole or in part and including by sale, merger, consolidation, or other operation of law) without the prior written approval of APPEN. Any assignment in violation of the foregoing will be null and void. APPEN may assign these Terms of Service to any party that assumes APPEN’s obligations hereunder. The parties hereto are independent parties, not agents, employees or employers of the other or joint venturers, and neither acquires hereunder any right or ability to bind or enter into any obligation on behalf of the other. Any reference herein to "including" will mean "including, without limitation".