2017 IT Procurement Summit

This program will explore how to draft and negotiate software-as-a-service (SaaS) and other cloud computing agreements. It will explain the difference between software licensing and cloud computing contracts and focus on six central clauses contract-drafters tend to misunderstand:    • Effective date vs. go-live: start dates for maintenance and other services  • IP indemnities and their deadly exceptions  • Data breach indemnities (and related confusion)  • Data security clauses (which does not involve NDA's)  • SaaS escrows  • The central role of specifications

• Cloud computing agreements do not involve copyright licenses. 
• SaaS escrows are generally useless. 
• Indemnities are often misdrafted, rendering them close to useless. 
• The exceptions to IP indemnities are confusing and, if mishandled, can cost the customer protection. 
• Data security clauses are entirely separate from NDA's, and using one for the other is a mistake.