=

Articles of Association
(vedtægter)
for
International Health Terminology Standa=
rds
Development Organisation
9
March 2007
(As
amended June 30 2007)
Version
2
(IHTSDO)
Table of Cont=
ents
1. Name, Place of Business and Governing Law.. 3
2.=
Purpose, Objects and Principles of the Associat=
ion. 3
3.=
Members' Liability. 6
4.=
Members. 6
5.=
Rights and Obligations. 13
6.=
Affiliates and Sponsored Territories. 23
7.=
Fees. 24
8.=
General Assembly. 32
9.=
Association Management. 38
10. Dissolution of the Association. 59
11. Regulations. 60
12. Amendment of the Articles. 61
13. Notices. 61
14. General. 62
15. Disputes
and Arbitration. 62
16. Official Business Language. 63
17. Definitions and Interpretation. 64
18. Schedule 1 – MEMBER CONTACT Information=
span>. 71
19. Schedule 2 – FEE ALLOCATION PROVISIONS. 72
20. SCHEDULE 3 - SNOMED CT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. 80
1.1 &nbs=
p;
The name of the Association (Foreningen) =
is
the "International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisati=
on"
(forening med begrænset ansvar) (the "IHTSDO", referred to in these Articles as the "Association").
1.2 &n=
bsp;
The Association may conduct any part of its
activities under the following secondary name:
“SNOMED
SDO” (International Health Terminology Standards Development
Organisation (forening med
begrænset ansvar));
“SNOMED
Standards Development Organisation” (International Health Termino=
logy
Standards Development Organisation (forening
med begrænset ansvar));
“SSDO”
(International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation (forening med begrænset ansvar)).
1.3 &n=
bsp;
The Association has its place of business in Copenhagen, Denmark.
1.4 &nbs=
p;
The Association is established under Danish Law.
2.1 &nb=
sp;
Purpose
2.1.1
The Purpose of the Associ=
ation
is, in accordance with its Objects and Principles, to:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
acquire,
own and administer the rights to SNOMED
CT, other health terminologies and/or related
standards, and other relevant assets (collectively, the "Terminology Products");=
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
develop,
maintain, promote and enable the uptake and correct use of its Terminology
Products in health systems, services and products around the world; and
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
undertake
any or all activities incidental and conducive to achieving the Purpose of =
the
Association
for the benefit of the Members.
2.1.2 =
The
Association will not:
(a) =
distribute any of its surpluses or=
assets
to its Members, except in accordance with Schedule 2 of these Articles; or<=
o:p>
(b) =
retain accumulated surpluses that,=
in the
view of the Management Board, are not necessary or appropriate for the oper=
ation
and/or development of the Association and its activities.
2.1.3
Any excess accumulated
surpluses that are not to be retained as contemplated by clause 2.1.2 (b) s=
hall
be either:
(a) =
applied to the lowering of the Ann=
ual Fee,
in such a manner as is determined by the General Assembly in its Ordinary
Meeting; or
(b) =
if proposed by the Management Board and approved by
the General Assembly by a Super Majority, devote or contribute such surplus, or any portion there=
of, to
one or more projects or non-p=
rofit
organizations pursuing objectives consistent with the Objects of the
Association set forth in clauses 2.2.1 (a) - (b).
2.2 &nb=
sp;
Objects
2.2.1
The Objects of the Associ=
ation
are to:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
enhance
the health of humankind by facilitating better health information managemen=
t;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
contribute
to improved delivery of care by clinical and social care professions;<=
/o:p>
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
facilitate
the accurate sharing of clinical and related health information, and the
semantic interoperability of health records;
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
encourage
global collaboration and cooperation with respect to the ongoing improvemen=
t of
the Terminology Products; and
(e)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
provide
the foregoing on a globally co-ordinated basis, thereby enabling the Members
and the related organisations within their Territories to pool resources and
share benefits relating to the development and maintenance of, and their ut=
ilisation
of and reliance upon, the Terminology Products.
2.3 &nb=
sp;
Principles
2.3.1
The Association will seek=
to govern
itself and conduct all of its activities in accordance with principles of
openness, fairness, transparency and accountability to its Members.<=
/h3>
2.3.2
The Association will seek=
to conduct
all of its activities in a prudent, responsible and ethical manner that is
conducive to ensuring its long-term viability, the overall value and utilit=
y of
all of its assets and, in particular, the technical and clinical fitness of=
the
Terminology Products.
2.3.3
The Association will seek=
to
work with other parties relevant to achieving its Purpose and Objects in a
spirit of collaboration and will, as appropriate, seek to facilitate
interoperability of its Terminology Products with other relevant standards =
and
products.
2.3.4
The Association will seek=
to encourage
intellectual contributions to the Terminology Products from other entities =
upon
terms that permit such other entities to use and distribute their own work =
for
any purpose that does not conflict with the Association's Purpose and Objec=
ts.
2.3.5
The Association will stri=
ve to
avoid taking any action which is expected to confer upon certain Members or
other parties undue advantages over other Members or over the Association,
except with respect to the rights, privileges and obligations granted to the
Members specified in these Articles.
3.1 =
Members shall not be liable for any acts or omissions by the
Association or any of its Directors, or be deemed to be guarantors of any
liabilities or obligations of the Association or any of its Directors.=
3.2 =
Members shall not be liable to contribute to or account for any def=
icit
in the Association's assets, and shall not be called upon to meet, satisfy =
or
contribute towards the Association's liabilities in the event of the
liquidation, dissolution or termination of the Association.
3.3 =
Each Member's liability towards and in relation =
to
the Association shall be limited to (x) any Fees which have become due and =
payable
to the Association by such Member in accordance with the requirements set f=
orth
in these Articles and which remain outstanding and unpaid (including intere=
st
thereon, to the extent provided for herein) or, (y) if applicable, any paym=
ents
due by such Member under a Member Contract (as contemplated by clause 7.7).=
3.4 =
Without limiting the generali=
ty
of clauses 3.1 to 3.3, in no event shall a Member be liable for or in respe=
ct
of any act or omission of any Director or other Nominated Person appointed =
or
nominated by, or affiliated with, such Member.
3.5 =
The limitations set forth in =
this
clause 3 shall not apply to, or limit the liability of, any Member under any
agreement between it and the Association or in respect of any breach by any
Member of any such agreement or any of these Articles, or of the Regulation=
s.
4.1 &nb=
sp;
Membership
Categories
4.1.1
The Association will have=
the
following two categories of Member, together referred to as "Member=
s":
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Charter
Members, and
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Ordinary
Members.
4.1.2  =
;
There
shall only be one Member at any time for or in respect of a single
Territory. No person or entit=
y may
be a Member other than as a Member for or in respect of a specific Territor=
y.
4.1.3  =
;
A
country, nation or state shall be a Territory for the purposes of these
Articles (and in particular for the purposes of the definition of the term =
"Territory"),
and any geographical area shall be a Territory for the purposes of these
Articles (and in particular for the purposes of the definition of the term =
"Territory"),
only if and for so long as such country, nation, state or geographical area=
is
a voting member of the United Nations, unless otherwise determined by the
General Assembly. In the even=
t that
any such country, nation or state or geographical area ceases to be a voting
member of the United Nations, it shall cease to be a Territory for the purp=
oses
of these Articles, unless otherwise determined by the General Assembly.
4.1.4  =
;
The
country, nation, state or geography which is a Territory for purposes of th=
ese
Articles and in respect of which a Member has been admitted as a member of =
The
Association is referred to as that Member’s “Principal
Nation”. The Territory =
of a
Member may, if proposed by the Member and not disallowed by the Management
Board, be deemed to include, in addition to the Member’s Principal
Nation, any country, nation, state or geographical area (w) which is a
protectorate, colony or dependency of such Principal Nation, (x) which shar=
es
its legal system with that of such Principal Nation (y) the laws and courts=
of
which are established by, or subject to the appeal and review to, those of =
such
Principal Nation, or (z) for which the Principal Nation generally acts in
international affairs.
4.1.5  =
;
The
Management Board will keep a current and accurate record of all Members of =
the
Association.
4.1.6  =
;
A
Charter Member may, for its own reasons or as a result of applicable policy=
or
law, decline to participate in the management of the Association and declin=
e to
nominate a nominee to serve on the Management Board, and this will not abri=
dge
any rights or privileges that would otherwise be available to the Charter
Member under these Articles.
4.2 &nb=
sp;
Charter
Members
4.2.1  =
;
On
formation of the Asso=
ciation
the Charter Members shall be:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
The
National E-Health Transition Authority Ltd (ABN: 18 114 638 336) (NEHTA), a
public company limited by guarantee, as the Charter Member for Australia;=
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Canada
Health Infoway Inc., as the Charter Member for Canada;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
The
Danish National Board of Health as the Charter Member for Denmark;
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
The
Lithuanian Ministry of Health as the Charter Member for Lithuania;
(e)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Subject
to the condition subsequent set forth in clause 4.2.3, the State of the Netherlands, hereby repre=
sented
by the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (the “DMH”);
(f)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
The New
Zealand Ministry of Health, as the Charter Member for New Zealand;
(g)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
The Government of the Kingdom of Sweden, represe=
nted
by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, as the Charter Member for =
span>Sweden;
(h)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
The
Secretary of State for Health, acting through its agency NHS Connecting for
Health, as the Charter Member for =
The
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and =
the
Isle of Man; and
(i)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
The U.S.
National Library of Medicine (a unit of the National Institutes of Health,
Department of Health and Human Services) (NLM), a U.S. federal government agenc=
y, as
the Charter Member for The United =
States
of America,=
o:p>
4.2.2  =
;
Except
for Charter Members who are replaced in accordance with the procedure set o=
ut
in clause 4.4, there shall be no new or additional Charter Members beyond t=
hose
listed in clause 4.2.1 above.
4.2.3 =
While the DMH has
participated in the discussions and activities leading to the formation of =
the
Association, with the expectation (on the part of all relevant participants)
that it would be one of the Charter Members of the Association, the DMH did=
not
receive prior to the formation of the Association all internal approvals and
authorizations that are necessary for it to join the Association as a Chart=
er
Member (the “DMH Approvals=
b>”).
Accordingly, the membership of DMH as a Charter Member, pursuant to clause
4.2.1, is subject to the condition that, on or prior to 10 April 2007, the =
DMH
deliver to the Association and each other Charter Member a written notice
confirming that it has obtained the DMH Approvals. If such condition is
satisfied, the DMH shall be deemed for all purposes to have been a Charter
Member from formation of the Association, with no differences or distinctio=
ns
of any kind between its status, rights and obligations with respect to the
Association and the status, r=
ights
and obligations of any other Charter Member. In the event that such conditi=
on
is not satisfied, for any reason, then (i) DMH shall be deemed for all purp=
oses
to have never been a Charter Member of the Association, and all references =
in
these Articles to DMH shall be disregarded, and (ii) thereafter DMH shall be entitled to
apply to become an Ordinary Member, but not a Charter Member, of the
Association in accordance with the requirements of clause 4.3, with no diff=
erence
between the application of such requirements and any related provision to t=
he
Articles to DMH as compared to any other applicant to become an Ordinary Me=
mber.
4.3.1  =
;
Ordinary
Members are those Members who are admitted as Members in accordance with th=
e requirements
of this clause 4.3 and who are not Charter Members or replacements of Chart=
er
Members admitted pursuant to clause 4.4.
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
either:
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
i. &nb=
sp;
an
agency of the national government of that Territory acting within its
authority; or
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ii. &n=
bsp;
a
corporation or other duly constituted body (including a regional government=
or
statutory corporation); and
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
appropriately
endorsed by the national government of that Territory, or an appropriate ag=
ency
or authority within such national government, as being:=
p>
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
i. &nb=
sp;
suitable
to be the Member for and in respect of that Territory; and
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ii. &n=
bsp;
an
organisation whose responsibilities and authorities appropriately include
establishing, monitoring, promoting or regulating concept-based systems of
clinical terminology for or within that Territory.
4.3.3  =
;
To
become an Ordinary Member, an applicant must:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
apply
in writing to the Association using such form, and accompanied by such
information, as the Management Board may prescribe (and which may vary by
applicant):
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
i. &nb=
sp;
demonstrating
fulfilment of the eligibility criteria set out in clause 4.3.2 of these Articles, and
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ii. &n=
bsp;
agreeing
to be bound by these Articles (including its appendices), any other policie=
s or
other requirements specifically referred to in these Articles, and the
Regulations;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
be
accepted as a Member of the Association by decision of the Management Board
(which decision shall be subject to the reasonable discretion of the Manage=
ment
Board, except as otherwise provided in clause 4.3.4);
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
pay
within 30 days of such acceptance by the Management Board both:<=
/span>
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
i. &nb=
sp;
a
Joining Fee as specified in clause 7.2; and
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ii. &n=
bsp;
any
of the Member's Annual Fees due for such financial year in which such Membe=
r is
admitted, as specified in clause 7.1 and subject to pro ration as set out in
clause 7.2.3;
4.3.4  =
;
Where an applicant seeks =
to be
admitted as a Member for or in respect of a Territory where the prior Member
for or in respect of that Territory has been cancelled pursuant to clause 4=
.5.3,
then the Management Board may require the applicant to provide such additio=
nal
information, surety or guarantees as it deems necessary or appropriate (in =
its
discretion) in light of the circumstances which led to the previous members=
hip
being cancelled. The Management Board has sole discretion in determining wh=
ether
to approve any such application.
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
demonstrates
fulfilment of the eligibility criteria set out in clause 4.3.2 of these Articles (irrespective of whether the Me=
mber
is a Charter Member or an Ordinary Member);
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
agrees
to be bound by these Articles (including its appendices), any other policie=
s or
other requirements specifically referred to in these Articles, and the Regu=
lations;
and
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
agrees
to assume all rights and obligations of the Member which it is replacing, in
relation to the Association and/or under those Articles and the other
instruments referred to in clause 4.4.1(b).
A Nominee shall, when admitted, be=
a
Member of the same membership category as the Member that it replaces (i.e.
Charter Member if replacing a Charter Member, and otherwise an Ordinary Mem=
ber).
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Member is replaced by another Member in accordance with clause 4.4 of these Articles;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Member's membership is cancelled in accordance with clause 4.5.3 of these
Articles; or
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Member's resignation is presented and takes effect in accordance with claus=
e 4.5.5
of these Articles.
4.5.2  =
;
Membership
may only be transferred in accordance with the process for replacement of a
Member set out in clause 4.4 of these Articles.
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Member:
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
i. &nb=
sp;
has
committed a material breach of these Articles, any other policies, instrume=
nts
or requirements referred to in these Articles, or the Regulations;
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ii. &n=
bsp;
has in
a material respect acted in a manner detrimental to the Association or the
interests of the Association;
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
iii. &=
nbsp;
is
subject to an Insolvency Event, or becomes legally incapable of meeting the
obligations of a Member; or
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
iv. &n=
bsp;
fails
to pay any part of the Member's Fees (including accrued interest thereon) w=
hen
due, in the case of Fees other than the Annual Fee, or in the case of the
Annual Fee, by 30 June of the year in which such Annual Fee is due; and
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Management Board has notified the Member in writing that it considers that =
an
event specified in paragraph (a) has occurred; and
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
in
the case of an event specified in sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii) of paragraph (=
a),
the breach or action is either incapable of remedy or is not remedied withi=
n 30
days following notice under paragraph (b); and
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
disputes resolution procedure set out in clause 15 of these Articles has been duly applied, if it has
been invoked; and
(e)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Management Board, having examined the actions of the Member concerned, any
other relevant information and the outcome of any applicable dispute resolu=
tion
process, by a two-thirds majority of all Directors makes a recommendation to
the General Assembly, that the Member's membership be cancelled; and=
(f)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the Member has been given a reasona=
ble
opportunity to respond to the recommendation of the Management Board at the
meeting of the General Assembly in which the vote is taken.
4.5.4  =
;
In
the event of cancellation of its membership, the Member concerned will:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
not
be entitled to any reimbursement of fees or other monies paid by it to the
Association;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
remain
obliged to pay any unpaid fees and other monies (including accrued interest
thereon) owing by it to the Association;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
receive
no part of the assets of the Association; and
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
remain
bound by the obligations specified in clauses 5 of these Articles.
4.5.5  =
;
A
Member may resign from the Association by giving 90
days' prior written notice to the Management Board. A notice of resignation must be se=
nt by
registered mail and addressed to the Management Board at the Association's
place of business. The notice
period shall commence upon receipt of the notice by the Management Board.=
span>
4.5.6
A
Member resigning in accordance with clause 4.5.5 will:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
not
be entitled to any reimbursement of fees or other monies paid by it to the
Association;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
remain
obliged to pay any unpaid fees and other monies (including accrued interest
thereon) owing by it to the Association;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
receive
no part of the assets of the Association; and
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
remain
bound by any obligations specified in clause 5 of these Articles.
4.5.7
If an Annual Fee falls du=
e for
payment during a period of notice given by a Member under clause 4.5.5, the
Member shall be liable to pay only a pro rata portion of that Annual Fee, b=
ased
on the portion of the year to which that Annual Fee relates during which the
Member's membership will remain in effect.
4.6=
=
Cessation of Member's Ter=
ritory
4.6.1
In the event the Territor=
y in
respect of which a Member has been appointed ceases to be a Territory (for =
the
purposes of these Articles) the Management Board or the General Assembly may
terminate such Member's membership, with immediate effect or on such other
basis as may be specified, and the provisions set forth in clause 5.6 shall
apply. The provisions of clause 4.5.6 shall also apply to such Member as if=
such
Member had resigned from the Association.
5.1 &nb=
sp;
Effect
of the Articles
5.1=
.1 =
These Articles have binding effect among:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Association and each Member; and
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Association and each Director and Executive of the Association,<=
/span>
and each such person agrees to be bound by the =
terms
of these Articles and to perform their obligations under these Articles.
5.1.2
No contract of service en=
tered
into by the Association with a Director or Executive may abrogate or dimini=
sh
the obligations, duties or liabilities of such Director or Executive under
these Articles.
5.1.3
Any specific right of a M=
ember or
of the Association regarding any of the Association's Terminology Products
shall only enter into force if and to the extent that, and for so long as, =
the
Association has acquired or otherwise holds the rights and interests with
respect to or affecting such Terminology Products which are necessary to en=
able
the Association to grant such specific rights to such Member.
5.1.4
When such rights as refer=
red to
in clause 5.1.3 of these Articles have been acquired by the Association, the
Management Board will inform each Member of the acquisition and stating that
the related rights and obligations of each Member according to these Articl=
es
have entered into force.
5.2 &nb=
sp;
Rights
of Members
5.2.1
Each Member has the right=
s and
obligations in respect of the Association's Terminology Products that are s=
et
out in Schedule 3 to these Articles.
5.2.2
While remaining a Member,=
the
Member is entitled, b=
ut not
required:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to be
represented at, to participate fully in and to vote at meetings of the Gene=
ral
Assembly; and
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
nominate candidates for appointment to the Management Board, Committees and
Working Groups of the Association.
5.3 &nb=
sp;
Additional
Rights of Charter Members
(a) =
is
entitled but, as set out in Article 4.1.6, not required to have its nominee
hold one of the positions on the Management Board until the conclusion of t=
he
first meeting of the General Assembly after 31 December 2011;
(b) =
may
remove or replace any such nominee from time to time at its own discretion.=
5.4 &nb=
sp;
Obligations
of Members
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
comply with the Regulations in force from time to time;=
p>
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
use best endeavours to ensure that any use, adaptation and distribution of =
the
Terminology Products and use of the Association's trade marks within the Me=
mber's
Territory is in accordance with these Articles (including the Intellectual
Property Terms);
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
pay within the required time, all Fees properly due to the Association in
accordance with these Articles;
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
confirm to the Association, at the same time as making each payment of its =
Annual
Fee, that the Member continues to meet the eligibility criteria specified in
clause 4.3.2 (irrespective of whether the Member is a Charter
Member or an Ordinary Member);
(e)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
provide to the Association, in a timely manner, documentation detailing any
recommendations that the Member has regarding proposed enhancements, change=
s,
updates and corrections to the Terminology Products that are needed to bett=
er
suit the requirements for clinical terminologies and associated products wi=
thin
the Member's Territory;
(f)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
provide and publicise effective services allowing Affiliates and other expe=
rts
to provide recommendations for enhancements, changes, updates and correctio=
ns
to the Terminology Products in accordance with clause 5.4.1(e) of these Articles;
(g)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
advise the Association of the contact details listed in Schedule 1 to
these Articles, and to provide the Association with timely advice of any ch=
ange
to such details;
(h)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
maintain a register of all licences granted by the Member to Affiliates wit=
hin
the Member's Territory (to include, in the case of each licence, the identi=
ty
of the Affiliate the products provided under the licence and the payment te=
rms
under the licence), and to make that register available to the Association =
upon
request;
(i)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
encourage experts and other appropriate persons to contribute to the work of
the Association;
(j)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
assist the Association in communicating with Affiliates and experts entitled
and wishing to be enrolled as Affiliates of the Association;
(k)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
collaborate with other Members in ensuring that sufficient numbers of
appropriate persons are nominated, supported and funded to serve on the
Management Board, Standing Committees and in other governance functions of =
the
Association;
(l)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
ensure that:
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
i. &nb=
sp;
any person
nominated or appointed by the Member to serve on the Management Board, Stan=
ding
Committees and for other governance functions within the Association (a &qu=
ot;Nominated Person") have the
capacity, support and funding to perform those duties;
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ii. &n=
bsp;
when
a Nominated Person of such Member is unavailable, and if so permitted by the
Articles and Regulations, a deputy, alternate or substitute is provided at =
such
Member's expense; and
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
iii. &=
nbsp;
there
is effective communication between any Nominated Person of a Member and any
wider stakeholder community from which the Nominated Person is drawn (in
particular, with representatives of other Members from Territories in the
Geographical Constituency (as defined in clause 9.1.4) that includes the
Territory of the Member who has appointed such Nominated Person).
5.4.2
Each Member shall establi=
sh
arrangements for the management of the use of the Association's Terminology
Products within its Territory that will, at a minimum, undertake the follow=
ing
functions in accordance with the Intellectual Property Terms:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
being
the primary point of liaison with the Association with regard to all aspect=
s of
the management of the Terminology Products within the Member's Territory;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
establishing
and maintaining processes for distributing and licensing the Terminology
Products within the Member's Territory;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
being
the principal contact point within the Member's Territory for persons to
contact in relation to the Terminology Products, including licensing of the
Terminology Products and obtaining updates and enhancements to the Terminol=
ogy
Products;
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ensuring
that any products and their releases that the Member deploys within its
jurisdiction that are based on the Association's Terminology Products, are
prepared, checked and managed in conformance with the Association's standar=
ds;
(e)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
maintaining
a record of problems and other issues reported within the Member's Territor=
y in
connection with the Terminology Products;
(f)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
documenting,
submitting and supporting requests for proposed updates and enhancements to=
the
Terminology Products; and
(g)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
monitoring
the distribution and applications of the Association's Terminology Products,
trade marks and other Intellectual Property within the Member's Territory a=
nd
reporting to the Association on the same.
5.5 =
Protecti=
on
of Association's Rights
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
assist the Association in maintaining and enforcing any or all of its right=
s in
the Terminology Products, its trade marks and any of its other Intellectual
Property, and in protecting the same from any infringement, misrepresentati=
on,
passing off, unlicensed use, unlicensed adaptation or unlicensed distributi=
on
within the Member's Territory (each being a "Contravention");
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
assist the Association in protecting itself against any action to oppose, d=
eregister
or dispossess the Association of any part of its Terminology Products, trad=
e marks
or any of its other Intellectual Property especially but not exclusively wi=
thin
the Member's Territory;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
assist the Association in protecting itself against any claim that any part=
of
the Terminology Products, trade marks or any of its other Intellectual Prop=
erty
infringes the rights of any third party in the Member's Territory;
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
notify the Association as soon as the Member becomes aware that:=
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
i. &nb=
sp;
a
Contravention;
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ii. &n=
bsp;
any
action described in paragraph (b) or any claim described in paragraph (c);<=
o:p>
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
iii. &=
nbsp;
a
dispute with any third party (including any licensee) in the Member's Terri=
tory
concerning the Association's Terminology Products, its trade marks or any of
its other Intellectual Property;
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
iv. &n=
bsp;
any
claim or attempted registration in the Member's Territory of Intellectual
Property that competes with the Association's interests in its Terminology
Products, trade marks or any other of its Intellectual Property; or
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
v. &nb=
sp;
any
claim or allegation that any of the trade marks is liable to cause deceptio=
n or
confusion to the public within the Member's Territory,
&n=
bsp;  =
; has
occurred, is reasonably likely to occur or is threatened; and
(e)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
to
provide all information and assistance to the Association in the event that=
the
Association commences or defends proceedings in relation to any matter list=
ed
in clause 5.5.1(d).
=
Any
external or out-of-pocket costs reasonably incurred by a Member in discharg=
ing
its obligations under this clause 5.5.1 shall be reimbursed by the Associat=
ion.
5.5.2
A Member shall be entitle=
d to
bring proceedings, at its own expense, in respect of any matter listed in
clause 5.5.1(d) arising in its Territory, provided the Association has not
brought, is not currently bringing nor made any indication of an intention =
to
bring such proceedings itself. Any
proceedings the Member brings shall be under the Member’s control, and
the Association shall not be entitled to intervene in those proceedings unl=
ess:
(a) the
Association considers, acting reasonably, that the matter in respect of whi=
ch
the proceedings are brought presents or is likely to present a significant
threat to the interests of the Association; or
(b) the m=
atter
in respect of which the proceedings are brought arise from the same or
substantially the same facts and circumstances as one or more matters arisi=
ng
in one or more other Members’ Territories.
5.5.3
If the Association is ent=
itled
to intervene in any proceedings under clause 5.5.2 of these Articles, the
Association may, provided that it is acting reasonably:
(a) assume
control of those proceedings from the Member; or
(b) requi=
re the
Member to discontinue those proceedings.
5.5.4
Any proceedings brought b=
y the
Association under clause 5.5.1, or in respect of which the Association assumes
control under clause 5.5.3(a), will from that point forward be under t=
he
control and, at the expense of the Association.
5.6 &nb=
sp;
Rights
and Obligations on Cessation of Membership
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
have the rights and oblig=
ations
in respect of the Association's Terminology Products that are set out in
paragraph 6 of Schedule 3 to these Articles.
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
no
more than 14 Business Days after ceasing to be a Member, notify every Affil=
iate
with which the former Member has a license agreement in force for use of the
Terminology Products:
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
i. &nb=
sp;
that
it has ceased to be a Member;
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ii. &n=
bsp;
that,
as a result of its ceasing to be a Member, it will be unable to distribute
future versions of the Association's Terminology Products to Affiliates;
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
iii. &=
nbsp;
of
any significant implications and proposed changes in arrangements for conti=
nued
use or support of the Terminology Products in the former Member's Territory;
and
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
iv. &n=
bsp;
of
any further statements that the Management Board has directed it to communi=
cate
to Affiliates provided that the content of any such statement is either fir=
st
agreed with the former Member, or is distributed under the name of the
Management Board along with any response from the former Member;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
take
reasonable steps to minimise any unnecessary cost, damage or injury suffere=
d by
Affiliates within the former Member's Territory or by any other third parti=
es
as a result of the former Member ceasing to be a Member; and
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
give
all reasonable co-operation to the Association, Affiliates in the former Me=
mber's
Territory and any Member replacing the former Member in the former Member's
Territory (whether immediately pursuant to clause 4.4 or subsequently) in facilitating an orderly
transition of the former Member's Affiliates to such arrangements as are pu=
t in
place for those Affiliates' continued use or support of the Terminology
Products.
5.6.2
Any directive from the
Management Board to a former Member in relation to Article 5.6.1(b)(iv) is not to unreasonably prejudice the right=
s of
the former Member under clause 5.6.1 of these Articles, but in issuing such a directiv=
e,
the Management Board may take into account any or all of the following:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Purpose, Objects and Principles of the Association;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
need to ensure that Affiliates and end-users of the Association's Terminolo=
gy
Products, trade marks and other Intellectual Property have access to effect=
ive
support and services in all Members' Territories;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
need to protect the rights, property and reputation of the Association; and=
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
need to protect the rights and property of its other Members, including any=
new
Member in the former Member's Territory.
5.6.3
On request of an Affiliate
operating in a former Member's Territory or of the Association, the former
Member shall novate any license agreement with that Affiliate to the
Association or to the current Member as directed by the Management Board.=
span>
5.7 &nb=
sp;
Business
of the Association
5.7.1
The Association shall dev=
elop,
maintain, license and distribute the International Release of SNOMED CT.
5.7.2
In addition to any other
obligations under these Articles, the Association shall, subject to any
resolution of the Members in a meeting of the General Assembly:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
acquire
and obtain title to the SN=
OMED CT
and associated trade marks and other Intellectual Property;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
from
time to time consider and, where justified, acquire other Terminology Produ=
cts
including associated trade marks and other Intellectual Property required f=
or
their operation, exploitation, support and maintenance;=
p>
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
specify,
commission and/or directly provide the services necessary for undertaking
and/or supporting the development and maintenance of Terminology Products in
accordance with the Purpose, Objects and Principles of the Association;
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
provide
regular (at least twice yearly) International Releases of SNOMED CT;=
o:p>
(e)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
provide
up-to-date documentation of other terminology products in line with specific
policies and procedures;
(f)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
arrange
and support meetings of experts through Standing Committees and Working Gro=
ups;
(g)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
produce,
manage and share all documentation to support the functions of the Associat=
ion
in line with specific requirements detailed in the Articles, regulations and
policies and procedures, in particular, those concerned with General Assemb=
ly,
Management Board, Harmonisation Bodies and Committee Meetings;=
span>
(h) =
provide
a public website on which the current and archived versions of the Associat=
ion's
Articles, Regulations and other artefacts are published along with informat=
ion
on the Association and the contact details of the Members and the members of
each Standing Committee in an up-to-date and easy-to-use form; and
(i)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
take
any action required to protect the rights, assets and property of the
Association in relation to the Terminology Products, trade marks and any ot=
her
Intellectual Property of the Association.
5.7.3
The Association shall ope=
rate
an International Product Management Centre, the functions of which shall
include:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
being
the primary point of liaison with the Association with regard to all aspect=
s of
the management of the international distribution of the Terminology Product=
s;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ensuring
the availability of SNOMED=
CT
to Members by managing its on-going maintenance and regular International R=
eleases;
and
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
providing
a secure online collaboration facility to support Standing Committee and
Working Group activities and development of the Terminology Products.<=
/o:p>
5.7.4
In the
event that any Member reasonably determines that work performed by or for t=
he
Association, or any material product or service provided by the Association=
to
the Members (including, without limitation, any International Releases), is
defective or deficient in a material respect (collectively, a “Work
Defect”), such Member may deliver a written notice to the Association=
(a “Defect
Notice”) informing it of such determination by such Member and the ba=
sis
thereof.
(a) &nb=
sp;
As promptly as reasonably
practicable of its receipt of a
Defect Notice, and in any event within 60 days of such receipt, the Associa=
tion
will (i) notify the Member delivering the Defect Notice that the Work Defect
has been remedied, or is in the process of being remedied, and provide an
explanation of the steps that have been or are being taken in this regard, or (ii) noti=
fy
such Member either that the Association has determined either (x) that the
work, product or service that was the subject of the Defect Notice is not
defective or deficient in a material respect or (y) that it is not reasonably practical, or=
not appropriate or consistent with=
the
interests of the Association, to
remedy the defect or deficiency cited in the Defect Notice, and in either c=
ase
provide an explanation of such determination.
(b) &nb=
sp;
If the Association fails =
to
deliver any notice as required by clause 5.7.4(a), or if the Member receivi=
ng such
notice disagrees with the position taken by the Association in any such
notice, the Member may (but i=
s not
required to) deliver a written
demand to the Association (a “Defect Demand”) that steps or act=
ions
specified by the Member in its Defect
Demand be taken by the Association (which may directly relate to
remedying the relevant defect or deficiency or may involve changes in the
policies, management or personnel of the Association) and that a meeting of the General
Assembly be convened to adopt=
a
resolution requiring that such steps or actions are taken. If a Defect Demand is so rec=
eived,
an Extraordinary Meeting of the General Assembly for such purpose shall be
convened as promptly as practical, in accordance with the notice and other
requirements contained in clause 8.
(c) &nb=
sp;
All members of the Manage=
ment
Board shall, at a minimum and without limiting the roles or powers of the
Management Board in any respect, receive copies of any Defect Notice, any
notice by the Association in response to any Defect Notice, any Defect Dema=
nd,
and any related written communications between the Association and a Member=
who
have delivered a Defect Notice.
(d) &nb=
sp;
In the event that the
Association fails in a material respect to take actions required to be take=
n by
it pursuant to clause 5.7.4 in
response to the valid delivery of a Defect Notice or Defect Demand from a
Member, and does not correct such failure within 30 days following notice
thereof from such Member, then such Member may within 60 days thereafter re=
sign
from the Association in accor=
dance
with clause 4.5.5 and require that
such resignation be treated as a resignation "for cause".<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> A former Member whose
resignation is treated as a resignation&nb=
sp;
"for cause" pursuant to the foregoing shall have the same
rights and obligations as any other former Member who has resigned in
accordance with clause 4.5.5 , provided that for purposes of paragraphs 6.1=
.2
and 6.2 of Schedule 3 such former Member shall be deemed to have not ceased=
to
be a Member until the earlier of (a) the first anniversary of its resignati=
on
"for cause", and (b) the date (if any) on which paragraph 6.3
applies.
6.1 &n=
bsp;
Affiliat=
es
<=
![if !supportLists]>6.1.1
One of the principal func=
tions
and roles of the Association is to license the Terminology Products to pers=
ons
having any need or interest in utilising the Terminology Products, and to
support and facilitate the use of the Terminology Products by such
persons. The Association may
provide in any such licence that the licensee shall be an affiliate of the
Association (an "Affiliate"), and any licensee so identifi=
ed
shall be an Affiliate for as long as its licence remains in effect.<=
/span>
6.2 &n=
bsp;
Sponsore=
d Territories
<=
![if !supportLists]>6.2.1
The Association may recog=
nise
and designate any Territory as a “Sponsored Territory<=
/b>”, if such Te=
rritory
satisfies the conditions set forth in clause 6.2.3 and is not a Member.
<=
![if !supportLists]>6.2.2
If a Territory is recogni=
sed
and designated as a Spons=
ored
Territory, any Affi=
liates
in such Territory will be entitled to reduced fees in respect of their use =
of
the Terminology Products, as specified in Schedule 3 of these Articles.
<=
![if !supportLists]>6.2.3
To be eligible to be reco=
gnised
and designated as a Spons=
ored
Territory, a Territ=
ory must:
(a) =
have a World Bank GNI atlas value that is less than or equal to
18,000,000,000; and<=
/o:p>
(b) =
agree to pay, or have paid on its behalf by any person, to the
Association a one-off fee equal to 8 times the amount of the Annual Fee tha=
t would
be payable by the Territory (without regard to any pro ration) if such
Territory were to become a Member (the "Sponsored Territory Fee"); and
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
have the approval of its Ministry of Health or similar relevant
authority with respect to its becoming a Sponsored Territory=
.
The Man=
agement
Board may waive the requirement in clause 6.2.3(a) with respect to the
recognition and designation of a Territory as a Sponsored Territory=
,
if either (x) no World Bank GNI atlas value is available for the Territory =
and
the Management Board reasonably concludes that, were such statistic availab=
le,
it would satisfy the requirement in clause 6.2.3(a), or (y) the Management
Board reasonably concludes that the Territory would, but for the larger size
and/or population of the Territory relative to other Territories which are =
or
could be Sponsored Territories, satisfy the requirement in clause 6.2.=
3(a).
7.1 &nb=
sp;
Annual
Fees
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
a
draft of the Association's strategic, business and operational plans for su=
ch
next financial year;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
a
statement of the total amount of funding required for such next financial y=
ear;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
a statement
of the aggregate amount of the Annual Fees of all Members (before applying =
any Fee
Offsets) for such next financial year (the "Aggregate Annual Fee"), as proposed by the Management Boar=
d,
together with a schedule of the Annual Fee payable by each Member if the
Aggregate Annual Fee is approved by the General Assembly and the extent to
which the cash amount payable by any such Member in respect of its Annual F=
ee
will be reduced due to a Fee Offset requested by such Member and accepted by
the Management Board; and
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
information
regarding any Special Fees being proposed by the Management Board or then
expected to be proposed by the Management Board during such next financial =
year.
7.1.2
The Aggregate Annual Fee =
for
such next financial year, as proposed by the Management Board, will be
established by taking into account projected licence fees and revenues from=
Affiliates
(those with direct Licenses from the International Health Terminology SDO),
anticipated Joining Fees any anticipated Special Fees, other anticipated
revenues, the reduction in the cash amount to be received in respect to Ann=
ual
Fees due to Fee Offsets, and any anticipated retained surplus at the end of=
the
current financial year, with a view to assuring a level of financial resour=
ces
necessary or appropriate to cover the following:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the normal
business activities of the Association to be undertaken in furtherance of t=
he
Purpose, Objects and Principles of the Association for the coming financial
year,
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
such
special projects as the Management Board considers appropriate to support t=
he
future development of the Association, its Intellectual Property and its ot=
her assets;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
such
other projects or activities as are identified in the Association's strateg=
ic,
business and operational plans for the coming financial year; =
span>
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
fixed
or known liabilities of the Associations; and
(e)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
reasonable
reserves for contingencies, liabilities and uncertainties that cannot be pr=
ecisely
budgeted for in advance.
The Aggregate Annual Fee shall be comprised of =
the aggregate
cash amounts paid or payable by Members in respect of their Annual Fees, pl=
us
any amounts not payable or paid in cash due to the application of Fee Offse=
ts. The Aggregate Annual Fee shall be
allocated among the Members pursuant to a Fair Share Allocation (as specifi=
ed
in Schedule 2 to these Articles).&nbs=
p;
The amount allocated to each Member will be such Member's Annual Fee=
.
7.1.3
At the Ordinary Meeting o=
f the
General Assembly, the Members shall, in accordance with clause 8 of these
Articles and subject to clauses 7.3.2 and 7.3.3 of these Articles, consider=
and
vote upon a resolution approving the items listed in clauses 7.1.1(a) and (c) of these Articles.
7.1.4
The Annual Fees of Member=
s will
correspond to, and be for, the financial year of the Association to which t=
hey
relate. Except as provided in
clause 4.3.3(c), each Member's Annual Fee in respect of a financial ye=
ar
will be due and payable in full by 15 February of the financial year to whi=
ch
they relate.
7.1.5
If any part of the Annual=
Fee
payable by a Member remains unpaid after 30 March of the year in which=
the
Fee is due, the Member will be in default and interest shall accrue on the
outstanding amount at the rate of 500 basis points above the national base =
rate
in the Territory of the Member or, if higher or if such national base rate =
is
not determinable, 500 basis points above 3 month EURIBOR, calculated daily =
from
the date on which payment was initially due and compounding at the end of e=
ach
calendar month.
7.1.6
If any part of a Member's=
Fees
(including accrued interest thereon) remains unpaid after 30 June of the ye=
ar
in which those Fees are due, the Management Board may, at its sole discreti=
on,
advise the Member, by way of registered mail, of the outstanding amount as =
at
30 June, and at any time thereafter commence action under clause 4.5.3 of these Articles to have the Member's membership
cancelled.
7.2.2
The Joining Fee shall be =
in
addition to a Member's Annual Fee, and payment thereof in no way absolves t=
he
new Ordinary Member from its obligation to pay the Annual Fee for the finan=
cial
year in which it becomes a Member.
7.2.3
An Ordinary Member's first
Annual Fee will be pro-rated on a monthly basis if commencement of membersh=
ip
occurs after the first three months of the relevant financial year.<=
/h3>
7.2.4
The General Assembly may, in its absolute discretion, waive any new
Ordinary Member's obligation to pay a Joining Fee. Such waiver shall neither
relieve any other Ordinary Member of its obligation to pay a Joining Fee nor
entitle any other Ordinary Member to reimbursement of a Joining Fee already
paid to the Association.
7.2.5
The payment of an initial=
Annual
Fee by a new Ordinary Member in respect of the financial year during which =
it
becomes a Member shall not entitle the other Members to a reduction or refu=
nd
of any part of the Annual Fees paid or payable by them in respect of such
financial year, to the extent that the Aggregate Annual Fee in respect of s=
uch
financial year has already been allocated among such other Members to deter=
mine
the amounts of their respective Annual Fees.
7.3 &nb=
sp;
Approval of Annual Fee =
span>
7.3.1
The Aggregate Annual Fee =
in
respect of each financial year shall be proposed by the Management Board to=
the
General Assembly, and any resolution to amend the Aggregate Annual Fee duri=
ng or
in respect of a financial year may only be presented to the General Assembl=
y by
the Management Board.
7.3.2
Should any proposed Aggre=
gate Annual
Fee be 103% or less than the then current Aggregate Annual Fee, then the
resolution at the General Assembly to approve such Aggregate Annual Fee sha=
ll
require approval by a simple majority of votes cast by Members voting on the
matter.
7.3.3
Should any proposed Aggre=
gate Annual
Fee be more than 103% of the then current Aggregate Annual Fee, then the
resolution at the General Assembly to approve such Aggregate Annual Fee sha=
ll
require approval by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast by Members voti=
ng
on the matter.
7.3.4
In the event that the
resolution at the General Assembly to approve Aggregate Annual Fee for the =
next
financial year is not approved by the necessary votes, the Aggregate Annual=
fee
for such next financial year shall be deemed to be equal to the then current
Aggregate Annual Fee, pending passage of a resolution setting such Aggregat=
e Annual
Fee at any different amount
7.3.5
For the purposes of this =
clause
7.3, the current Aggregate Annual Fee in 2007 shall be deemed to be $7,591,=
812.
7.4=
=
Set-up Payments
7.4.1
Independent of any Fees, =
each
Charter Member shall be obligated to make a payment to the Association in t=
he
amount set out in Table 2 of Schedule 2 (the "Set-up Payments"), which
payments will fund the Association’s initial acquisition of SNOMED CT=
IP
from the College of American
Pathologists, as well as certain organisational and start-up costs of the
Association.
7.4.2
Immediately following
establishment of the Association, the Association shall issue invoices to e=
ach
Charter Member in respect of its Set-up Payment, and such Set-up Payment wi=
ll
be due and payable in full within 30 days of the date on which such invoice=
is
issued or such later date as may be specified in such invoice, provided that
such Set-up Payment shall in no event be due and payable prior to the execu=
tion
of a definitive agreement between the Association and College
of American Pathologists to transfer the SNOMED CT IP and associated
Intellectual Property Rights from the College of American Pathologists to t=
he
Association.
7.5=
=
Special Fees
7.5.1
The Management Board may =
at any
time, or from time to time, propose that additional non-recurring fees be
required to be paid by the Members to the Association, for the purpose of
funding capital expenditures by the Association, funding the prosecution,
defence or settlement of legal claims involving the Association or any of i=
ts
Intellectual Property, or funding any other costs or expenditures that are
non-recurring in nature or otherwise could not, in the view of the Manageme=
nt
Board, be appropriately and/or adequately funded through Annual Fees or the
Association's other sources of revenue. Any fee of the type described in th=
is
clause 7.5.1 paid or payable by a Member is referred to as a "Speci=
al
Fee", and the aggregate amount of such fees paid or payable by all=
Members
in any one instance (including amounts not paid in cash due for the applica=
tion
of Fee Offsets) is referred to as an "Aggregate Special Fee&quo=
t;.
7.5.2
Any proposal of the Manag=
ement
Board for a Special Fee shall be presented to the Members for their approva=
l at
an Ordinary or Extraordinary Meeting of the General Assembly. Such proposal (a "Special =
Fee
Proposal") shall be accompanied by (i) a description of the plans,
events or developments giving rise to such proposal; (ii) a statement as to=
the
amount of the Aggregate Special Fee and how this amount was determined; (ii=
i) a
schedule of the Special Fees proposed to be payable by each Member (includi=
ng,
if applicable, the extent to which the cash amount payable by any Members m=
ay
be reduced due the application of Fee Offsets in accordance with clause 7.6=
); and
(iv) the timing of, and any other terms, conditions or contingencies relati=
ng
to, such Special Fee, including whether it will be payable in a single sum =
or
in instalments over time or based upon the satisfaction of certain conditio=
ns. A Special Fee will only become pay=
able
if the resolution approving the Special Fee Proposal is approved by a Super
Majority.
7.5.3
With respect to any Speci=
al
Fees, the Aggregate Special Fee shall be allocated among the Members pursua=
nt
to a Fair Share Allocation (in accordance with Schedule 2 to these Articles=
).
7.5.4
A Special Fee that has be=
en
duly approved as required will be due and payable as and in the manner
specified in the Special Fee Proposal, provided that no Special Fee or port=
ion
thereof shall become due and payable earlier than 60 days following the
distribution or disclosure of the Special Fee Proposal (and the related
information required by clause 7.5.2) to the Members.
7.6=
=
Fee Offsets
7.6.1
Any Member may, with resp=
ect to
any Annual Fee or Special Fee to become payable by it, submit a request to =
the
Management Board that the amount of such Fee payable by such Member be redu=
ced
(a "Fee Offset") by an amount up to, but not exceeding, su=
ch
Member's Fee Offset Balance, as defined in clause 7.6.2, at such time. The Management Board may in its
discretion accept or reject any such request, in whole or in part, and/or t=
o a
differing extent as among requesting Members; provided, however=
u>,
that if multiple Members request Fee Offsets with respect to any specific F=
ee
and any such request is to be accepted, the allocation among those Members =
of
the value of the accepted Fee Offsets shall be determined in accordance with
paragraph 2 of Schedule 2.
7.6.2
The "Fee Offset B=
alance"
of a Member at any particular time means the sum of (x) the aggregate amoun=
t of
such Member’s Approved Direct Set-up Costs (as defined below in clause
7.6.4) and (y) the aggregate of the cash amounts previously paid by such Me=
mber
to the Association as its Set-up Payment or as Special Fees, less the aggre=
gate
amount by which the cash amounts paid or payable by such member were previo=
usly
reduced pursuant to the acceptance of requests by it for a Fee Offsets.
7.6.3
Any proposal by the Manag=
ement
Board to the General Assembly for the approval of the Annual Fees or any
Special Fee will specify, in the information provided to the Members in
connection with their consideration of such proposal, whether and to what
extent cash amounts otherwise payable by any Members will be reduced due to=
the
acceptance of requests for Fee Offsets. The acceptance or rejection of any
request for a Fee Offset will not be subject to separate approval by the
General Assembly.
7.6.4
Prior to the establishmen=
t of
the Association, the entities which have become the Charter Members agreed upon certain
external expenses that have been or were being incurred directly by such
entities in connection with the initial establishment of the Association an=
d related
matters and in respect of which the Charter Members will effectively be
reimbursed through reductions in the cash amounts payable by them for their
Annual Fees (such external expenses being referred to as “Direct
Set-Up Costs”). A description of the Direct Set-Up Costs, together
with agreed estimates of the amounts thereof, are set forth in paragraph 5 =
of Schedule
2 to these Articles. Within 90 days following the initial establishment of =
the
Association, each Charter Member who has incurred Direct Set-Up Costs may
submit to the Management Board such relevant information and documentation,
including invoices, as the Management Board may request, and the Management
Board will review such documentation and determine the amount of each such
Charter Member’s claimed external expenses that the Management Board =
will
treat as Direct Set-Up Costs, which determination by the Management Board s=
hall
be made on a reasonably consistent basis as among the Charter Members, and<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> reflect the agreed items and estim=
ates
reflected in paragraph 5 of Schedule 2 and the pre-establishment agreement =
and
understanding among the Charter Members reflected therein. The amount so
determined for each such Charter Member by the Management Board is referred=
to
as that Charter Member’s “Approved Direct Set-Up Costs=
8221;.
7.6.5
Notwithstanding the other
provisions of this clause 7.6, each Charter Member will be entitled to a Fee
Offset in the amount of its Approved Direct Set-Up Costs with respect to the
Annual Fee payable by it for 2008, provided that the Management Board may determine=
, on a
pro rata basis among all Charter Members, to postpone all or any part of su=
ch Fee Offsets until the Annual Fees =
for
2009 and/or to apply all or any part of such Fee Offsets to any Special Fee
that becomes due and payable prior to the time that the Annual Fees for 2009
become payable.
7.7&=
nbsp;
Member
Contracts
7.7.1 =
The Association may, with the
approval of the Management Board, enter into a separate contract, arrangeme=
nt
or instrument with any Member (a “Member Contract”), whi=
ch
may provide for rights and obligations not inconsistent with or beyond, in =
any
substantive respect, the rights and obligations of a Member, and which requ=
ires
such Member to make payments to the Association, and any such Member Contra=
ct
will relieve the Member that is a party to such Member Contract from any or=
all
of its payment obligations under this clause 7, as and to the extent provid=
ed
in such Member Contract. The
Management Board shall appropriately take into account any amounts paid or
payable under any Member Contract in determining the amounts and/or allocat=
ions
of any Fees, other payments or Fee Offsets contemplated by this clause 7, w=
ith
a view towards assuring that, and the provisions of this clause 7 shall be
applied and interpreted such that, from the point of view of the Association
and all Members other than the Member who is a party to such Member Contrac=
t, all such amounts and allocations a=
re
substantially the same as they would have been in the absence of any Member
Contracts. <=
/span>
8.1 &nb=
sp;
Function
and Purpose
8.1.1
The General Assembly is t=
he
highest authority of the Association and can make binding decisions regardi=
ng
all matters relating to the Association, subject to and in accordance with =
the
provisions of these Articles.
8.1.2
The General Assembly is
collectively charged with assuring that the Purpose, Objects and Principles=
of
the Association are pursued and that the interests of the Association are
safeguarded.
8.1.3
To assist the General Ass=
embly
in discharging this role, the General Assembly may elect an Internal Auditor
from among its Members. The Internal Auditor will be directed to follow ter=
ms
of reference set or developed by or at the direction of the General Assembl=
y,
and in addition will be directed to comply with any mandatory provisions of
Danish Law applicable to it or the Association.
8.1.4
The General Assembly shal=
l be a
forum in which or through which Members may, individually or jointly, choos=
e to
exercise the various powers granted within and by these Articles. Meetings =
of
the General Assembly will serve as an opportunity for the Members to discuss
and debate fully any aspect of the business and affairs of the Association.=
8.1.5
All General Assembly meet=
ings
shall be presided over by a Chair who will be elected by the General Assemb=
ly, and
may be a Nominated Person of a Member, or any other person. <=
/b>
8.1.6
The Chair shall not be en=
titled
to vote in General Assembly meetings unless the Chair is also the Nominated
Representative of a Member, in which case she shall be entitled to vote onl=
y in
her capacity as a Nominated Representative and shall have one vote only. =
span>
8.1.7
Except as otherwise
specifically required by these Articles, all resolutions considered at any
meeting of the General Assembly will be decided by a simple majority of vot=
es
cast by Members voting on the resolution. If a vote is tied, the resolution
will not be passed.
8.2 &nb=
sp;
Meetings
8.2.1
All meetings of the Gener=
al
Assembly will be held at such location as stated in the notice convening the
General Assembly meeting and, subject to clause 8.2.6, will be convene=
d by
the Management Board. At leas=
t one
of the meetings of the General Assembly in each year will be held in Copenhagen.=
8.2.2
The Management Board will=
prepare,
produce and distribute to the Members, not less than eight weeks prior to t=
he
General Assembly Meeting, notice of and an agenda for the General Assembly
Meeting being convened.
8.2.3
The quorum for a General
Assembly meeting will be achieved when more than 50% of all Members of the
Association are present in the meeting, whether in person, by proxy or in t=
he
manner permitted by clause 8.2.12.
8.2.4
The proceedings of all Ge=
neral
Assembly meetings shall be recorded in the form of minutes.
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Electronic
draft copies of these minutes will be prepared by or at the direction of the
Chair and sent to Members within 14 days of the close of the meeting.
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Members
may submit any comments on the minutes within 14 days of receipt.
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
The
Chair shall seek to promptly address or resolve such comments so received w=
ith
a view towards signing and circulating final copies of the minutes to all
Members within 14 days of expiry of the period allowed for Members' comment=
s.
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
The
signed final minutes shall be made available to the public by posting them =
on
the Association's website. The signed final copy of the minutes shall also =
be
made available for inspection at the Association's place of business.<=
/o:p>
8.2.5
The General Assembly will=
hold
two Ordinary Meetings, one in April and one in October of each year.
8.2.6
The General Assembly will=
hold
Extraordinary Meetings at the request of:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Management Board; or
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
External Financial Auditor; or
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
one-third
of all Members if such request, together with an agenda setting out the
specific business to be dealt with at the Extraordinary Meeting, is deliver=
ed
in writing to the Management Board.
8.2.7
Every Member is entitled =
to:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
have
specific business or matters referred for discussion by or decision of the =
General
Assembly;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
attend
meetings of the General Assembly; and
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
speak
at such meetings. =
8.2.8
Each Member shall have on=
e vote
on each item presented in meetings of the General Assembly.
8.2.9
The attendance by a Membe=
r of a
meeting of the General Assembly shall be through the attendance of its Nomi=
nated
Representative. Each Member w=
ill
provide written notice to the Management Board as to the identity of its
Nominated Representative.
8.2.10
Each Member should choose=
its
Nominated Representative from among persons most qualified by their technic=
al
competence and experience with respect to health systems, nomenclature syst=
ems,
representative roles or directorship abilities. A Member's Nominated
Representative may be changed or replaced by the Member at any time, by wri=
tten
notice to the Management Board, without any requirement as to advanced noti=
ce.
8.2.11
Member's Nominated
Representatives are also entitled to attend General Assembly meetings by
proxy. The use of proxies mus=
t be
advised to the Management Board in writing or by e-mail, in advance of the
meeting that the proxy is to attend and the proxy must present a written po=
wer
of attorney from the Member (in form and substance reasonably acceptable to=
the
Chair of the General Assembly) before or at the General Assembly. All proxi=
es
must by their terms be freely revocable by the granting Member, and will be
deemed revoked if the Member's Nominated Representative attends and votes at
the meeting or at any adjournment of the meeting.
8.2.12
The Management Board will
ensure that Members, at their choice, are able to participate in and attend
meetings of the General Assembly through the medium of conference telephone=
or
similar form of communications equipment, provided that all persons
participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other
throughout the meeting. Members participating by these mechanisms will be
considered present at the meeting, entitled to vote and will count towards =
the
quorum. The meeting will take place and will be deemed to take place in the
location where the notice convening the meeting states it will take place. =
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
public discussion or disclosure of which is or may be contrary to the inter=
ests
of the Association; or
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
relate
to an individual or a specific Member who could be identified by members of=
the
public.
8.2.15
The Management Board will
ensure that meetings of the General Assembly (other than meetings which wil=
l be
closed to the public in their entirety pursuant to clause 8.2.14) are annou=
nced
on the Association's website at least eight weeks in advance of the date on
which it is to be held.
<=
![if !supportLists]>8.2.16
Prior to any meeting of t=
he
General Assembly, each Member shall fully and fairly disclose to the Chair =
or
to the General Assembly any material conflict of interest it has with respe=
ct
to any matter being discussed or voted at such meeting of the General Assem=
bly (above
and beyond the interest the Member will have as a Member of the Association=
in
common with all other Members). The further disclosure of such
information to the General Assembly shall be within the discretion of the C=
hair.
8.2.17
The Association's Conflic=
t of
Interest Policy may prohibit a Member from voting on a matter as to which s=
uch
Member has a conflict of interest of the type described in clause 8.2.16.=
span>
8.2.18
The Ordinary Meeting of t=
he
General Assembly taking place in October will consider and vote on resoluti=
ons
concerning:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
presentation and adoption of:
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
i. &nb=
sp;
the Management
Board's annual strategic, business and operational plans for the next finan=
cial
year; and
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ii. &n=
bsp;
the Management
Board's proposed Aggregate Annual Fee for the next financial year.
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
election of the:
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
i. &nb=
sp;
the
members of the Management Board (other than those appointed pursuant to
clause 9.1.3) whose terms are then expiring;
=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ii. &n=
bsp;
those
members of any Committees (other than who are not required to be elected by=
the
General Assembly) whose terms are then expiring;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
any
general or special business referred to the General Assembly by the Managem=
ent
Board for consideration in the Ordinary Meeting; and
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
any
other business referred to the General Assembly by any Member for considera=
tion
in the Ordinary Meeting.
8.2.19
The Ordinary Meeting of t=
he
General Assembly taking place in April will consider and vote on resolutions
concerning:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the Management
Board's annual report for the prior financial year;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the Association's
financial accounts, including the External Financial Auditor's Report for t=
he
prior financial year;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the appointment
of (or ratification of the appointment of) an External Financial Auditor for
the current financial year;
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
any
general or special business referred to the General Assembly by the Managem=
ent
Board for consideration in the Ordinary Meeting; and
(e)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
any
other business referred to the General Assembly by any Member for considera=
tion
in the Ordinary Meeting.
8.2.20
At the request of any Mem=
ber,
and provided the Management Board considers it may do so without any
significant detriment to the Association, the Management Board will disclos=
e to
the General Assembly prior to or at any meeting of the General Assembly, any
information:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
concerning
the annual accounts or the financial position of the Association;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
status or progress of any legal issues or proceedings relevant to the
Association or its Intellectual Property;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
that
is or may be relevant to any resolution on which a vote is to be taken at t=
hat
General Assembly meeting.
8.2.21
If information requested =
in
clause 8.2.20 of these Articles is not disclosed due to it not being availa=
ble at
the time of such General Assembly meeting, such information will be sent to=
the
Members as soon as it becomes available. Unless such information is of the t=
ype
referred to in clause 8.2.14 of these Articles, such information will be po=
sted
on the Association's website at the same time as it is sent to the Members.=
8.2.22
Relevant materials relati=
ng to matters
to be addressed at any meeting of the General Assembly will be provided to
Members as far in advance of such meeting as is reasonably practicable.
8.2.23
All material and informat=
ion
relating to any General Assembly meeting that is made available for public
inspection will be provided both at the Association's place of business and=
on
the Association's website.
8.2.24
Any Member is entitled to=
have
specific business considered at a General Assembly meeting if:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
issue has not been adequately addressed by Management Board action to the r=
easonable
satisfaction of the Member, and
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Member submits a specific and reasonably detailed written request to the
Management Board no less than three weeks (or such shorter period as the
Management Board may require in any particular instance) in advance of the
General Assembly meeting.
9. =
Association
Management=
9.1 &nb=
sp;
The
Management Board
9.1.1  =
;
The
Management Board has overall responsibility for the management and directio=
n of
the Association. The Management Board, and each Director individually, has a
duty to act in a manner which it or she, reasonably believes is in the best
interests of the Association and is consistent with the pursuit and protect=
ion
of the Purpose, Objects and Principles of the Association.
9.1.2
As shall
be more fully set out in the Association's Conflicts of Interest Policy, wh=
ich is
to be prepared by the Management Board and approved by the General Assembly,
and in accordance with the procedures to be set out in such policy:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Directors have a duty of
impartiality.
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Every Director will fully=
and
fairly disclose to the Chair of the Management Board any actual or potential
conflict of interest, whether held directly or indirectly, she or the Member
with which she is affiliated has in relation to any matter being addressed =
by
the Management Board (above and beyond the interest the Member will have as=
a
Member of the Association in common with all other Members).<=
span
style=3D'mso-bookmark:_Ref152326419'>
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
The Chair to whom such a
declaration is made shall determine, in her reasonable discretion, whether =
there
is in fact a conflict of interest and, if so determined, the extent to whic=
h it
is necessary or appropriate to disclose such conflict to all other Directors
and/or to require that the relevant Director shall not be entitled to take =
part
in discussions of, and/or cast any vote in relation to, the matter in which=
the
Director has the conflict. The Directors s=
hall
be required to adhere to any such determinations by the Chair.
(d) &=
nbsp;
If the Chair has a confli=
ct of
interest of the kind described in clause 9.1.2 (b), the disclosure required=
by
clause 9.1.2 (b) will be by the Chair to the Management Board and the
determinations contemplated by clause 9.1.2 (c) will be by the Management B=
oard
rather than the Chair.
9.1.3
Until the conclusion of t=
he
first meeting of the General Assembly after 31 December 2011, the Association will have a Management =
Board
of up to twelve Directors (but no less than three Directors), comprised as
follows:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Each
Charter Member shall be entitled to appoint one Director and one substitute=
for
such Director to the Management Board.
(b) &nb=
sp;
An
appointed Director's substitute may attend meetings of the Management Board=
when
the Director cannot attend, and in such circumstances the substitute will h=
ave
the same rights and obligations as the appointed Director.
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Each
Ordinary Member shall be entitled to nominate a person for election as Dire=
ctor
to the Management Board and nominate a person for election as substitute to=
the
Management Board.
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
In
the event that there would be one or more vacant positions in the Managemen=
t Board
assuming the election of all persons nominated pursuant to clause 9.1.3. (c=
),
each Charter Member will be entitled to nominate a maximum of two persons e=
ach
for election to fill such vacancy.
(e)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
In
the event that there would be one or more vacant positions in the Management
Board assuming the election of all persons nominated pursuant to clause 9.1=
.3 (c)
and (d), each Charter Member and each Ordinary Member will be entitled to n=
ominate
a furth=
er two
persons each for election to fill such vacancy.
(f)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
In
the event that there would be one or more vacant positions in the Management
Board assuming the election of all persons nominated pursuant to clause 9.1=
.3 (c)-(e),
the appointed Management Board members may nominate persons for election to
fill such vacancy, whether from internal and external sources, whom such
members reasonably believe has competent or relevant experience and/or
expertise and can be expected to appropriately and adequately contribute to=
the
Management Board's discharge of its functions and duties.
(g)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Once
each Charter Member has exercised its right to appoint a Director to the
Management Board (or waived its right to do so), the General Assembly, in i=
ts Ordinary
Meeting, shall elect the remaining Directors from among the persons nominat=
ed
pursuant to clause 9.1.3(c)-(f).
(h)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Any
person nominated for election as a Director may, but shall not be required =
to,
be nominated together with a person who will serve as the substitute for th=
at
Director. An elected Director's substitute may attend meetings of the
Management Board when the Director cannot attend, and in such circumstances=
the
substitute will have the same rights and obligations as the appointed Direc=
tor.
(i) &nb=
sp;
If an
elected Director, as per clause 9.1.3 (c)-(g), resigns from the Management
Board or otherwise ceases to be a Director before the end of her term, the
substitute of the Director (if any), shall replace her as Director and if t=
here
is no such substitute, such vacancy shall be filled by a person appointed by
the Management Board.
(j) &nb=
sp;
If a Director appointed b=
y a
Charter Member, as per clause 9.1.3(a), resigns from the Management Board or
otherwise ceases to be a Director before the end of her term, the substitut=
e of
the Director (if any), shall replace her.
(k) &nb=
sp;
If there is no such subst=
itute
or if the Charter Member who appointed such Director prefers otherwise, such
vacancy will be filled by a person appointed by such Charter Member.=
9.1.4
From and
after the meeting of the General Assembly in October 2012, the Association =
will
have a Management Board of up to twelve Directors (but no less than three
Directors), elected by the General Assembly and which will be intended to b=
e comprised
of a maximum of three Directors from each of the following four geographical
areas:=
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Africa;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the Americas=
st1:place>;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Europe; and
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Asia
and Oceania ((a), (b), (c) and (d) toget=
her
being the "Geographical
Constituencies").
9.1.5
The
procedure for the election of Directors from and after 2012 will be as foll=
ows:
=
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Each Member will be entit=
led to
nominate one candidate on behalf of such Member's Geographical Constituency=
.
=
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
At the meeting of the Gen=
eral
Assembly in which Directors are to be elected, each Member will be entitled=
to
vote for up to twelve nominees, provided that in no event will a Member be
entitled to cast more than one vote for any nominee.
=
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
The nominees elected to
Director will be the three nominees for each Geographical Constituency who
receive the highest number of votes among all the nominees from such
Geographical Constituency.
=
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
In the event that there a=
re
less than three nominees for a Geographical Constituency, then the vacancy =
that
would result there from will be filled by the nominee for any other
Geographical Constituency who received the highest number of votes but was =
not
elected as a Director pursuant to the foregoing.
=
(e)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
In the event that any Dir=
ector
resigns from the Management Board or otherwise ceases to be a Director befo=
re
the end of her term as a Director, the vacancy resulting there from will be
filled by an appointment of a successor Director by the Management Board, w=
ith
such successor Director being a person representing the same Geographical
Constituency as the person who resigned or ceased to be a Director, except =
in
the case of the resignation of a Director elected pursuant to clause 9.1.5 =
(d).
=
(f)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
In the event of the resig=
nation
of a Director elected pursuant to clause 9.1.5 (d) the vacancy will be fill=
ed
by an appointment of a successor Director by the Management Board, with such
successor Director being a person representing the Geographical Constituency
with the lowest representation of Directors. If there is no one such
Geographical Constituency, then the Management Board shall appoint such per=
son
as it deems most appropriate for the appointment irrespective of their
Geographical Constituency.
9.1.6  =
;
At
all times, all Directors will be elected to terms of two years, subject to =
the
exceptions set forth in this clause 9.1.&n=
bsp;
At the first Management Board meeting, half of the elected Directors
shall be randomly assigned to an initial term of one year such that at no o=
ne
point in time before 31 December 2011, will more than half of the Directors=
be
up for election in the same year. If an uneven number of elected Directors =
are
elected for the first term, then one more shall be assigned to the Directors
with an initial term of two years.
=
The
term of all Directors will expire upon the election of members of the Management Board
of the Ordinary Meeting of the General Assembly in October 2012. In the election of the members of =
the
Management Board in October 2012, the Directors elected who were nominees of
the Geographical Constituencies of Africa and the Americas will have an ini=
tial
term of one year, such that in each year after 2012 Directors on behalf of =
only
two of the four Geographical Constituencies, on an alternating basis, will =
be
up for election. If a Director
resigns or otherwise ceases to be a Director before the expiration of her t=
erm,
the person replacing her (regardless of how appointed) will have a term as a
Director continuous with, and expiring at the same time as, the Director who
she replaced.
9.1.7  =
;
No
Director (regardless of whether she was appointed or elected) shall serve a=
s a
Director for more than 6 consecutive years, or for more than 72 months in a=
ny
period of 96 months.
9.1.8  =
;
It is
intended that the per=
sons
serving as members of the Management Board will, ideally, be persons with
relevant and appropriate clinical, managerial or terminological backgrounds=
.
9.1.9  =
;
Unless
waived by the Management Board, a Director may not serve as the Nominated
Representative of a Member while she is a Director.
9.1.10
The
Management Board will elect a Chair from among its members for a term of two
years. The Chair should have sufficient availability to ensure effective
running of the Management Board.
9.1.11 =
span>Subject to Clause 9.1.7, an elected
Director may be re-elected as a Director, an appointed Director may be
re-appointed as a Director, and an appointed Director may be elected as a
Director following the end of her appointment.
9.1.12
A
quorum of the Management Board will be achieved when half or more of all
Directors participate in any Management Board meeting, whether in person, by
proxy or in a manner permitted by clause 9.1.14.
9.1.13
Without limitation as to =
the
ability of a Director to utilise the arrangements contemplated in 9.1.15 and
without limitation as to the duties of Directors as set out in clause 9.1.1=
, if
a Director cannot attend a Management Board meeting, the Director may appoi=
nt a
proxy (a person who will be present at the meeting and is authorized to cast
any vote that the appointing Director could have cast had she been present =
at
the meeting, and to do so in accordance with instructions issued by the
appointing Director). The use=
of
proxies must be advised to the Managem=
ent
Board in writing or by e-mail, in advance of the meeting that the proxy is =
to
attend and the proxy must present a written power of attorney from the Dire=
ctor
before or at the Management Board meeting. Any such proxy will be freely
revocable, and will be deemed revoked if a Director attends and votes at the
meeting or at any adjournment of the meeting if they find themselves able t=
o do
so.
9.1.14
The
Management Board will ensure that Directors, at their choice, are able to
participate in and attend meetings of the Management Board through the medi=
um
of conference telephone or similar form of communications equipment if all
persons participating in the meeting are able to =
hear
and speak to each other through out the meeting. Directors participating by
these mechanisms will be considered present at the meeting, entitled to vote
and will count towards the quorum. The meeting will take place and will be
deemed to take place in the location where the notice convening meeting sta=
tes
it will take place.
9.1.15
Without limitation as to =
the duties
of Directors as set out in clause 9.1.1 and without limitation to the abili=
ty
of a Director to utilise the arrangements contemplated by clause 9.1.13, any
Director (other than an alternate director) may, by written notice given to=
the
Management Board, appoint any person to be her alternate director, and may =
in
like manner at any time terminate such appointment. The appointment of an a=
lternate
director shall terminate on the happening of any event which if she were a
Director would cause her to vacate such office or if her appointer ceases t=
o be
a Director. A Director may not appoint any person as an alternate director
unless such Director reasonably believes that such person is reasonably
competent to undertake such role.
9.1.16
An alternate director sha=
ll be
entitled to receive notice of all meetings of boards and committees her app=
ointer
is a member of and shall be entitled to vote as a Director at any such meet=
ing
at which her appointer is not personally present and generally at such meet=
ings
to perform all the functions of her appointer as a Director in her absence =
and
for the purposes of proceedings at such meeting the provisions of these
Articles shall apply as if she were a Director.
9.1.17 =
span>The Management Board will, at the =
expense
of the Association, obtain and keep current an appropriate level of liabili=
ty
insurance for each and every Director.
9.1.18 =
span>The Management Board is responsibl=
e for
the financial position of the Association and has an obligation to take such
steps as it deems necessary or appropriate to ensure that the accounting and
management of the Association's assets are controlled in a proper manner in
compliance with applicable rules of law and internationally accepted accoun=
ting
standards and principles.
9.1.19
The
Management Board may, subject to the other provisions of these Articles, ma=
ke
Regulations delegating to one or more Directors, Executive Officers or
Committees any and all powers of operation that it deems appropriate to ena=
ble
the efficient and effective operation of the Association. The Management Board may also be
assisted by the Executive Officers in fulfilling its duties.
9.1.20 =
span>The Chair of the Management Board =
will
ensure, except in cases of urgency, that all Directors receive 14 days' pri=
or
written notice of Management Board meetings, which will occur:=
span>
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
at
least four times per year, at least one of which will be held in Copenhagen; <=
/o:p>
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
as
requested by two or more appointed Directors;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
as
requested by the Chief Executive Officer; and
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
as
frequently as the Chair of the Management Board considers appropriate.=
9.1.21 =
span>The Chair of the Management Board =
will
ensure that:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
formal
minutes of Management Board meetings are recorded, circulated to Management
Board members in draft, discussed, amended as necessary, agreed at the next
meeting of the Management Board and signed by the Chair;<=
/p>
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
minutes contain a record of all Directors present either physically or by
alternative means;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
any
Director who does not agree to a resolution at the time it is made by the
Management Board is entitled to have her dissenting views recorded in the
minutes; and
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
minutes
of meetings of the Management Board are published on the Association's webs=
ite,
except those parts of the minutes of the Management Board which include
information or materials of the type referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) of
clause 8.2.14 of these Articles.
9.1.22 =
span>At the discretion of the Managemen=
t Board,
individuals in addition to the Directors may attend and speak at Management
Board meetings.
9.1.23 =
span>Business transacted by the Managem=
ent
Board shall be determined by a simple majority of votes cast at a meeting at
which there is a quorum, unless otherwise stated in these Articles. Each Director shall have one vote =
on
each item or resolution presented and voted upon by the Directors at a meet=
ing.
9.1.24
The
Management Board will develop, formally adopt and document in the Regulatio=
ns
of the Association, specific rules of procedure relating to the exercise of=
its
powers.
<=
![if !supportLists]>9.1.25
Any
procedural requirements relating to meetings or actions by or involving the
Management Board, other than those which may not be waived as a matter of
applicable law, may be waived in any instance, and on a case by case basis
only, by adoption of a resolution to such effect by the Management Board ap=
proved
by a unanimous vote of all Directors.
No such waiver will, and may not be deemed to, alter or waive any of=
the
duties of the Management Board or any Director under clause 9.1.1.=
span>
9.2=
=
The Executive Officers
9.2.1  =
;
The
Management Board may appoint, without limitation as to their ability to app=
oint
further or different Executive Officers, the following Executive Officers:<=
o:p>
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
a
Chief Executive Officer;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
a
Chief Financial Officer;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
a
Chief Terminologist;
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
a
Chief Technical Architect;
(e)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
a
Chief Quality Assurance Officer; and
(f)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
a
Chief Research and Innovation Officer.
A person can hold more than one of these positi=
ons at
any one time, except that a single person may not hold the positions of Chi=
ef
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer simultaneously. Although not
generally intended, Directors may be appointed to hold one or more of these=
positions
on a temporary basis. =
o:p>
The
Association can enter into agreements obliging the other party to provide o=
ne
of its employees to hold a position as Executive Officer in the Association=
on
behalf of the other party. Such agreements can not be entered into regarding
the position as Chief Executive Officer.
9.2.2  =
;
The
Executive Officers are responsible for, and may undertake, any transactions
related to the day-to-day business of the Association, subject to Management
Board directions and guidelines, and in accordance with the Principles, Obj=
ects
and Purpose of the Association.
9.2.3  =
;
The
Executive Officers will bring items of "exceptional significance"=
to
the Management Board for direction prior to taking action. The Management B=
oard
may at any time or from time to time deem certain types or classes of matte=
rs
or items to be of "exceptional significance". In addition, any it=
em
as to which any Executive Officer has or may have a conflict of interest of=
the
kind referred to in clause 9.2.4 will be deemed to be an item of "exce=
ptional
significance", and any item will be deemed of "exceptional
significance" as soon as any one Executive Officer reasonably consider=
s it
to be such and requests that the other Executive Officers treat it as such.=
If an
item of exceptional significant requires urgent resolution, and the Managem=
ent
Board direction cannot be obtained in a reasonable time, the Executive Offi=
cers
may act without such direction, provided they document their decision and
notify the Management Board on a timely basis of the action taken.
9.2.4<=
span
style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> =
Each Executive Officer will be obl=
igated
to fully and fairly disclose to the Chair of the Management Board any real =
or
potential conflict of interest such Executive Officer has or may have with
respect to any matter or item being considered, discussed or addressed by t=
he
Management Board. Disclosure =
of
such information to the entire Management Board will be within the reasonab=
le
discretion of the Chair.
9.2.5  =
;
Regulations
made in accordance with clause 9.1.19 of these Articles, and/or resolutions
adopted by the Management Board, may delegate to one or more Executive Offi=
cers
the authority to represent and act for and in the name of the Association in
relation to dealings with third parties, and/or may limit any such authorit=
y. By virtue of any such delegation, =
the
Association shall be bound by legal obligations entered into on its behalf =
by
Executive Officers acting within and in accordance with their delegated
authority.
9.3 &nb=
sp;
Harmonisation
Bodies
9.3.1
The Ass=
ociation
will seek to establish and maintain optimum mechanisms and organisational
structures aimed at developing and achieving a high degree of interoperabil=
ity
and harmonisation between =
SNOMED
CT and standards produced by International
Standards Development Organisations other than the Association ("ISDOs").
9.3.2
It is
intended that the matters described in clause 9.3.1 will be pursued wi=
th individual ISDOs
sequentially and through the creation with each such ISDO of a working body=
(a
“Harmonisation Body”) comprised of representatives of the Association and
representatives of the ISDO.
Subject to the approval of the General Assembly the Management Board
will select each ISDO with whom the Association will seek to form a
Harmonisation Body, and there is neither a requirement nor an expectation t=
hat
the formation of a Harmonisation Body will be pursued simultaneously with
multiple ISDOs.
9.3.3
For eac=
h Harmonisation
Body, the Association will seek to enter into an agreement, charter or other
instrument with the ISDO setting out the agreed agenda and objectives of the
Harmonisation Body and the responsibilities, obligations, rights and benefi=
ts
each, of the Association and the ISDO, has to the other in relation to the
Harmonisation Body.
9.3.4
From the
perspective of the Association, the functions of a Harmonisation Body will =
be,
as applicable and without limitation, to:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ensure any work has:
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
i. &nb=
sp;
a robust and detailed requirement
including a development plan which describes the deliverables and the timin=
g of
their production;
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
ii. &n=
bsp;
a detailed specification of the
product(s);
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp;
iii. &=
nbsp;
clear implementation guidance in all
the necessary domains, which may include the clinical,
managerial/organisational and technical communities;
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp;
iv. &n=
bsp;
any conformance criteria to assess
whether the standard has indeed been implemented appropriately;<=
/span>
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
develop any rules, undertakings or
arrangements regarding whether and how SNOMED CT and the standard produced=
by an
ISDO may refer to each other and/or may define or be subject to mutually
exclusive scopes;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
represent both organisations;<=
/o:p>
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
provide overall management and gove=
rnance
of joint work;
(e)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
clarify and describe the Intellectu=
al
Property implications of the joint work; and
(f)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
secure funding for the joint work,
including its initiation, creation and maintenance.
9.3.5
Each Harmonisation Body w=
ill include
such representatives on behalf of the Association as the Management Board m=
ay
select, and who may be removed or replaced by the Management Board in its
discretion. Each Harmonisation Body will include such representatives of the
ISDO as such ISDO may determine.<=
o:p>
9.3.6
The representatives of the
Association on each Harmonisation Body will take such steps as are availabl=
e to
them to ensure that: =
o:p>
(a) &=
nbsp;
the business plan for the
Harmonisation Body is considered and approved by the Management Board and is
part of the Association’s strategic, business and operational plans
submitted annually to the General Assembly for its approval;
(b) &=
nbsp;
the Harmonisation Body pr=
ovides
an annual report which will form part of the Association's Annual Report;=
span>
(c) &=
nbsp;
minutes and publicity
associated with the Harmonisation Body and its activities are published by =
the
Association and communicated to all Members;
(d) &=
nbsp;
all work of the Harmonisa=
tion
Body is appropriately and adequately funded;
(e) &n=
bsp;
any significant risks ari=
sing
in respect of the joint work of the Association and the ISDO through the
Harmonisation Body are resolved or mitigated by the Harmonisation Body inte=
rnally.
9.4 &nb=
sp;
Committees
– General Provisions
9.4.1  =
;
Not
limiting the powers of the Management Board, the Association shall have
committees.
9.4.2  =
;
There
are two categories of Committee:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Standing
Committees; and
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Ad
hoc committees.
9.4.3
The
Standing Committees are established under these Articles, and are as follow=
s:
(a)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Content Committee, as defined in clause 9.5;
(b)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Technical Committee, as defined in clause 9.6;
(c)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Research and Innovation Committee, as defined in clause 9.7; and
(d)&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
the
Quality Assurance Committee, as defined in clause 9.8.
9.4.4  =
;
Ad
hoc Committees may be established by the Management Board from time to time=
in
accordance with clause 9.9.
9.4.5  =
;
Every
Committee will have terms of reference, which will be set out in Regulations
made by the Management Board, including rules regarding substitutes. Every
Committee shall comply with its terms of reference.
9.4.6  =
;
The
Committees are subordinate to the Management Board, and every Committee sha=
ll
act in accordance with any directive issued by the Management Board, whether
specifically to that Committee or generally.
9.4.7  =
;
No
Committee, whether acting as a whole or through any number of its members, =
will
have the power to bind or relinquish the Association to or of any obligatio=
n,
duty or right.
9.4.8  =
;
If approved by the Manage=
ment
Board each Standing Committee can create Working Groups that shall, subject=
to
any terms of reference set by the Committee, address business specific to t=
he
function of that Committee. More than one Standing Committee may jointly cr=
eate
a Working Group, in which case the Working Group’s terms of reference
will be jointly determined by those Committees.
9.4.9
Membership of Working Gro=
ups
shall be open to interested parties who can demonstrably contribute to the =
work
of those bodies. Responsibility for some activities and deliverables may be
assigned to specific individuals by the relevant Standing Committee.=
<=
/o:p>
9.4.10 =
span>Business transacted by a Committee=
, which
is specific to the function of that Committee as per clause 9.4.5, shall be
determined by a simple majority of votes.&=
nbsp;
Each member of a Committee shall have one vote per item presented and
voted on at a meeting. In cas=
e of a
tied vote, the Chair of the Committee will have a casting vote.<=
/span>
9.4.11 =
span>Each Committee will ensure that its
members, at their choice, are able to participate in and attend Committee
meetings through the medium of conference telephone or a similar form of
communications equipment, provided that all persons participating in the
meeting can adequately do so. Committee members participating by these means
will be considered present and entitled vote and will count towards the quo=
rum.
9.4=
.12 A quorum for each Committee will be reached with more than 50%=
of
such Committee's members are present, whether in person or as permitted by
clause 9.4.11.
9.4.13 =
span>Each Committee will meet at least =
three
times per year, at least one of which will be held in Copenhagen
9.4.14 =
span>The Management Board is responsibl=
e for
setting the timetable for all Committee meetings.=
9.5 &=
nbsp;
The
Content Committee=
9.5.1  =
;
There
will be a Content Committee, whose members have to meet the Association sta=
ndard
for an acceptable level of terminology modelling experience and expertise.<=
o:p>
9.5.2  =
;
The
Content Committee will be responsible for and shall advise the Management B=
oard
on priorities and issues pertaining to the definition and maintenance of the
clinical content and structure of