英文契約書・覚書
ここで紹介するサンプルは 企業と個人が交わした覚書 - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) だが、同様なものが 当事者間の決意を整理するという目的で 企業と企業の間の話し合いの際にも 比較的 良く交わされる。いずれにしても、MOU がどんな意味を持ち、役割を果たすものなのかは 以下の英文の説明の通りである。
The intent of an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) is to formalize agreement to a set of principles (or resolutions) rather than to serve as a business agreement or contract.
MOU と同じような使われ方をするものに Letter of Agreement や Letter of Intent などがあるが ほとんど同様なもので ただ呼び方を変えたものと考えれば良いだろう。MOU を交わすレベルまで交渉が進んだとすれば その内容に近い契約が結べる可能性が高くなったと理解して良いだろうが、契約交渉の担当者が契約調印の権限を持っていない場合には その内容で社内 もしくは 代表者に話を繋ぎますというような意味合いになるだろう。
サンプルの MOU のように合意の具体的な内容を明記した資料、例えば、Scope of Work、図面、見積、スケジュールなどを Attachment にして添付することも一般的によく行われるが、そうした場合は 添付資料にもサイン (イニシャル) をした方が好ましいでしょう。
以上のように、二者間の理解や大筋で合意できる内容などをまとめ 契約に結び付けたい交渉のプロセスで MOU に相互にサインをすることが 実際のビジネスでは良く行われるが、社内での説明や打ち合わせ、また、第三者に交渉の経緯や進捗状況を説明するなど、様々な目的で活用できるものである。繰り返しになるが、一般的には 法的拘束力がない前提でサインをするものだと考えるべきである。
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is entered into by Taro Yamada, hereinafter referred to as "Applicant", and ABC Ltd., hereinafter referred to as "ABC" for the purpose of establishing the partnership between the parties.
The purpose of this MOU is to establish an effective partnership to develop a delivery systems described in the attachment A and B. In order to better serve the Applicant, ABC is fully committed to the goals and objectives of the programs.
I) Roles and ResponsibilitiesABC hereby commits its personnel and fiscal resources to the successful functioning and outcomes of Applicant. If selected for funding, ABC will:
Be an active member of Applicant and will attend all Collaborative meetings.
Participate in program evaluation processes as required by Applicant by maintaining records on activities and services and engaging in data collection as required.
Provide financial and other supports up to $10,000.00 per program.
If selected for funding, Applicant will:
Take ABC's training sessions as scheduled.
Participate in all the programs that ABC may ask for, provided that fees and expenses are paid to the Applicant in accordance with the attached fee schedule. These fees and expenses paid to the Applicant for individual programs are separate from the above said support.
II) Time TableThe roles and responsibilities described above are contingent upon Applicant receiving funds requested for the programs described as per the attachment A and B. Responsibilities under this MOU would coincide with the grant period, anticipated to be April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020.
We, the undersigned have read and agreed with this MOU. Further, we have fully reviewed the programs described in the attachment A and B, and approved them.
Signature: ________ Name: Taro Yamada | Signature: ________ Name: ________ Title: ______ Organization: ABC Ltd. |