Cross-cultural partnership template

CROSS-CULTURAL PARTNERSHIP TEMPLATE (draft) Version and authors... Version 0.1 drafted by Joline Blais, Charlene D. Francis, gkisedtanamoogk, Jon Ippolito, James Leach, Miigam'agan, Neeru Paharia, and Wendy Seltzer, November 2006. Version 0.2 edited for the Web with examples by Joline Blais and Jon Ippolito. More on contributors.

Partnership title.

[Insert partnership title]

Identification of the partners.

[Insert the names and roles of the parties], ("Partners")

Each partner comes to this agreement with the following authority:

[Insert authority to enter the agreement]

Common aims.

The Partners agree to the general aim of entering into a mutually respectful and beneficial relationship. The partners also agree to the specific aims of: [Insert specific aims] Example... Specific aims could include:

   * sharing stories or other oral heritage across cultures;
   * creating a documentary film to advocate for an indigenous group;
   * distributing native medicines to a larger public;
   * research creative collaborations in art and technology.

Prior work.

We consider that work conducted before entering this Partnership has the following relevance to this agreement and status for each Partner:

[Insert prior work, revelance, and status]

Specific duties.

The Partnership imposes the following obligations on each partner:

   * [Insert obligations for first Partner.]
   * [Insert obligations for second Partner.]

In addition, the following obligations shall survive dissolution of the partnership.

   * [Insert obligations for first Partner.]
   * [Insert obligations for second Partner.]

Outcomes and benefits.

The Partners agree on the following ways to distribute the results of the Partnership:

   * Forms of outcome to be circulated
   * Fair and correct attribution

The Partners may draw differential benefits after or as part of the pursuit of their Common Aims. [Insert differential benefits.] Example...

Differential benefits might recognize the different strengths and needs of each Partner.

   * A book might draw on Native experience to promote awareness of their cultural distinctiveness while supplying academic credentials for its author.
   * A research project might provide an engineer with a new technical challenge while providing an artist with the tools necessary to create a new form of interactive installation.

Management.

The Partners will coordinate their efforts for the Partnership according to the following expectations: [Insert description of how Partners will manage the project jointly.] Example...

Management choices might include disclosure of interests relevant to the subject of the Partnership, either:

   * via continual or periodic face-to-face contact (as in Native settings);
   * via periodic written reports (as in academia or industry).

Breach.

Apart from the standard breaches of fiduciary duty, the following events shall constitute breaches of the Partnership.

[Insert explanation of possible breaches].

Remedies.

In the event of a breach, the non-breaching Partner(s) shall be entitled to:

[Insert explanation of possible remedies].

Choice of law.

Partners agree that this partnership will be governed by the law of:

[Insert nation or legal entity.]

and disputes will be arbitrated by: [Insert court or organization.] Example... Partners could turn to governmental or nongovernmental organizations to decide conflicts, such as:

   * American Arbitration Association
   * Penobscot Council of Elders
   * American Medical Association

Term and termination.

This Partnership shall remain in effect until: [Insert end condition.] Example... End conditions could include:

   * for a period of time, such as five years;
   * until an outcome is accomplished, such as a publication.

So Agreed:

[Insert signatures and dates]