Lifecycle of a Technology Company: Step-by-Step Legal Background and Practical Guide from Startup to Sale

Lifecycle of a Technology Company: Step-by-Step Legal Background and Practical Guide from Startup to Sale

by Edwin L. Miller
Released January 2008
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470223925

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Book description

Praise for Lifecycle of a Technology Company

"Lifecycle of a Technology Company is a comprehensive business and legal handbook for all but the most experienced technology entrepreneurs. I shared my copy with a few colleagues at MIT who have either started or are contemplating launching their own companies, and I had a real problem retrieving it. The data supports my opinion that this book will attain 'handbook' status on the desks of technology entrepreneurs."

-Dr. George B. Kenney, Associate Director Materials Processing & Microphotonics Centers at MIT

"This book will help entrepreneurs avoid the pitfalls on the long road to success for venture-backed technology companies. It distills a lifetime of experience in advising technology companies in a concise and understandable way."

-Howard Berke, Serial Entrepreneur and Venture Capitalist

"Lifecycle of a Technology Company provides a valuable resource for lawyers at a variety of experience levels. The junior lawyer will use this resource for the basics. More experienced lawyers with a broad practice will use this for a 'sanity check' relative to market terms and business rationale. In the trenches, it will assist lawyers by providing practical, plain speaking explanations for why things operate as they do in the finance, intellectual property, and merger & acquisition segments of the technology world. If you expect to represent technology clients, keep this book nearby."

-James O'Hare, Partner Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis, Boston

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. PREFACE
  3. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  4. ABOUT THE WEB SITE
  5. 1. START-UP PHASE
    1. 1.1. FOUNDERS' CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS AND MECHANICS OF THE INCORPORATION PROCESS
      1. 1.1.1. MECHANICS OF ORGANIZING THE CORPORATION (FOR LAWYERS ONLY)
      2. 1.1.2. HOUSEKEEPING
      3. 1.1.3. STOCK SPLITS, DIVIDENDS, REPURCHASES, AND REDEMPTIONS
      4. 1.1.4. MECHANICS OF ORGANIZATION: OTHER ENTITIES
    2. 1.2. CHOICE OF ENTITY
    3. 1.3. STOCK OPTION PLANS AND OTHER EQUITY COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS
    4. 1.4. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
    5. 1.5. APPENDICES
  6. 2. FINANCING THE VENTURE
    1. 2.1. VENTURE CAPITAL FINANCINGS
    2. 2.2. BASICS OF DEBT FINANCING
    3. 2.3. BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE STRUCTURE AND OPERATION OF VENTURE CAPITAL AND BUYOUT FUNDS
    4. 2.4. APPENDICES
  7. 3. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION
    1. 3.1. BASICS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION
    2. 3.2. LICENSE AGREEMENTS
      1. 3.2.1. License Grant
      2. 3.2.2. Permitted Uses and License Restrictions
      3. 3.2.3. Exclusivity
      4. 3.2.4. Territory
      5. 3.2.5. Markets/Fields of Use
      6. 3.2.6. Duration
      7. 3.2.7. Right to Sublicense; Right to Distribute
    3. 3.3. TECHNOLOGY LICENSING: ADVANCED TOPICS
      1. 3.3.1. Practical Tips
      2. 3.3.2. Practical Tips
      3. 3.3.3. Practical Tips
      4. 3.3.4. Practical Tips
      5. 3.3.5. Practical Tips
      6. 3.3.6. Industry–University Sponsored Research: Principal Provisions of the SRA
      7. 3.3.7. Industry–Industry Sponsored Research
      8. 3.3.8. Industry–Government Sponsored Research
      9. 3.3.9. Publication of Results
      10. 3.3.10. Who Owns What
      11. 3.3.11. Indemnification; Insurance
      12. 3.3.12. Care
      13. 3.3.13. Notice
      14. 3.3.14. Proper Collateral
      15. 3.3.15. Posttransfer Support (and Control)
      16. 3.3.16. Shift Risks to Third Parties
      17. 3.3.17. Copyrights
      18. 3.3.18. Trade Secrets
      19. 3.3.19. Trademarks
      20. 3.3.20. Patents
      21. 3.3.21. Express Warranties
      22. 3.3.22. Disclaimer of Warranties
      23. 3.3.23. Exclusive Remedies
      24. 3.3.24. Limit Liability
      25. 3.3.25. Licensee/Reseller Indemnification
      26. 3.3.26. Control Features
      27. 3.3.27. Private Statutes of Limitations
      28. 3.3.28. Alternative Dispute Resolution
      29. 3.3.29. Indemnify and Hold Harmless
      30. 3.3.30. Exclusions
      31. 3.3.31. Notice and Defense
      32. 3.3.32. Control
      33. 3.3.33. Indemnities
      34. 3.3.34. Security
      35. 3.3.35. Insurance
    4. 3.4. APPENDICES
  8. 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENTS, INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS, AND PUBLIC COMPANY REGULATION
    1. 4.1. BASICS OF SECURITIES REGULATION FOR PRIVATE COMPANIES
      1. 4.1.1. PRACTICALITIES OF SALES OF SECURITIES TO FOUNDERS, EMPLOYEES, AND INVESTORS
    2. 4.2. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS
    3. 4.3. PUBLIC COMPANY REGULATION
      1. 4.3.1. PERIODIC SEC REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
      2. 4.3.2. Form 10-K: Annual Report
      3. 4.3.3. Form 10-Q: Quarterly Report
      4. 4.3.4. Form 8-K: Report of Material Events
      5. 4.3.5. rule 10B-17 Report
      6. 4.3.6. Registration Statement on Form S-8
      7. 4.3.7. EDGAR-Mandated Filings
      8. 4.3.8. How to Use EDGAR
      9. 4.3.9. Implementing Methodology to Comply with EDGAR
      10. 4.3.10. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
      11. 4.3.11. Director Independence Requirements
      12. 4.3.12. Independent Directors Must Conduct Executive Sessions
      13. 4.3.13. Determination of Executive Compensation by Independent Directors
      14. 4.3.14. Nomination of Directors by Independent Nominations Committee
      15. 4.3.15. Heightened Independence Standards for Audit Committee Membership
      16. 4.3.16. Audit Committee Financial Expert
      17. 4.3.17. Duties and Responsibilities of Audit Committee
      18. 4.3.18. Approval of Related Person Transactions
      19. 4.3.19. Codes of Conduct Must be Adopted and Disclosed
      20. 4.3.20. Shareholder Approval of Equity Compensation Plans
      21. 4.3.21. Notice Requirements
      22. 4.3.22. Disclosure Provisions
      23. 4.3.23. Executive Officers, Directors and 10 Percent Shareholders
      24. 4.3.24. 5 Percent Shareholders
    4. 4.4. APPENDICES
  9. 5. ACQUISITIONS
    1. 5.1. MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS: STRUCTURING CONSIDERATIONS
      1. 5.1.1. STRUCTURING CONSIDERATIONS
    2. 5.2. OVERVIEW OF AN ACQUISITION AGREEMENT
    3. 5.3. ADVANCED TOPICS
    4. 5.4. APPENDICES

Product information

  • Title: Lifecycle of a Technology Company: Step-by-Step Legal Background and Practical Guide from Startup to Sale
  • Author(s): Edwin L. Miller
  • Release date: January 2008
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470223925