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Opcelerate Neural Inc. • Strictly Confidential
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Independent Contractor Agreement

For subcontractors and freelance service providers — IP assignment, confidentiality, and PIPA compliance
⚠️ DRAFT TEMPLATE — NOT A LEGAL DOCUMENT. This draft must be reviewed and finalized by a lawyer licensed by the Law Society of Alberta. Contractor vs. employee classification must be validated per CRA guidelines (RC4110) and Alberta legislation. Estimated legal cost: $300 CAD.
Effective Date
[DATE]
Company
Opcelerate Neural Inc. (the "Company")
Contractor
[CONTRACTOR NAME / BUSINESS NAME] (the "Contractor")
Contractor Address
[ADDRESS]
Jurisdiction
Province of Alberta, Canada

1 Engagement & Services

1.1 Engagement

The Company engages the Contractor to provide the services described in Schedule A (the "Services") on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement. The Contractor accepts the engagement and agrees to perform the Services diligently, competently, and in accordance with industry best practices.

1.2 Schedule A — Statement of Work

The specific scope, deliverables, timelines, milestones, and acceptance criteria for the Services are detailed in Schedule A attached hereto. Each new project or phase may be documented in a subsequent Schedule, which shall be incorporated into this Agreement upon execution by both parties.

1.3 Standard of Care

The Contractor shall perform the Services with the degree of skill, care, and diligence expected of a qualified professional in the same field. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards.

2 Independent Contractor Status

2.1 Not an Employee

The Contractor is an independent contractor and not an employee, partner, agent, or joint venturer of the Company. Nothing in this Agreement creates an employment relationship. The Contractor shall not represent themselves as an employee of the Company.

2.2 Control

The Company shall not control the manner and means by which the Contractor performs the Services. The Contractor determines their own working hours, methods, tools, and equipment, subject to agreed deliverables and deadlines.

2.3 No Benefits

The Contractor is not entitled to any employee benefits, including health insurance, vacation pay, workers' compensation, CPP employer contributions, or EI premiums. The Contractor is solely responsible for their own income tax, CPP self-employment contributions, GST/HST registration (if applicable), and any other statutory obligations.

2.4 Substitution

The Contractor may, with the Company's prior written approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), engage sub-contractors to assist in performing the Services, provided that: (a) the Contractor remains responsible for the quality and timeliness of all work; (b) any sub-contractor is bound by confidentiality and IP obligations no less restrictive than those in this Agreement.

3 Compensation

3.1 Fees

The Company shall pay the Contractor for the Services as follows:

(Check applicable compensation model)

3.2 Invoicing

The Contractor shall submit invoices on the [1st / 15th] of each month (or upon milestone completion) with detailed records of work performed. Invoices shall include: date(s) of service, description of work, hours worked (if hourly), and applicable taxes.

3.3 Payment Terms

Invoices are due Net 30 from the date of receipt. Late payments accrue interest at 1.5% per month. All amounts are in Canadian dollars (CAD).

3.4 Taxes

The Contractor is responsible for all applicable taxes on payments received. If the Contractor is a GST/HST registrant, they shall charge applicable taxes on invoices and provide their GST/HST registration number. The Company will issue a T4A to the Contractor if required by the Income Tax Act.

3.5 Expenses

The Contractor is responsible for all costs and expenses incurred in performing the Services, unless specifically pre-approved in writing by the Company. Pre-approved expenses will be reimbursed at cost with receipts.

4 Intellectual Property

4.1 Assignment

All work product, deliverables, inventions, software, code, algorithms, designs, models, documentation, and other materials created, conceived, or developed by the Contractor in connection with the Services (collectively, "Work Product") shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company from the moment of creation.

The Contractor hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company all right, title, and interest in and to all Work Product, including rights under the Copyright Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-42, the Patent Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-4, and the Trademarks Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. T-13.

4.2 Work Made for Hire

To the extent permitted by Canadian law, all Work Product is considered "work made in the course of employment" as contemplated by Section 13(3) of the Copyright Act. The assignment in Section 4.1 applies to any Work Product for which this doctrine does not automatically apply.

4.3 Moral Rights Waiver

The Contractor irrevocably waives all moral rights (as defined in Section 14.1 of the Copyright Act) in all Work Product, to the maximum extent permitted by law.

4.4 Pre-Existing IP

Any pre-existing intellectual property of the Contractor that is incorporated into the Work Product must be identified in Schedule B and is licensed to the Company on a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide, non-exclusive basis. If Schedule B is blank, the Contractor represents that no pre-existing IP is incorporated.

4.5 Open Source

The Contractor shall not incorporate any open-source software into the Work Product without prior written approval from the Company, which shall include disclosure of the applicable open-source license and its implications.

4.6 Cooperation

The Contractor agrees to execute all documents and take all actions reasonably necessary to perfect the Company's ownership of Work Product, at the Company's expense, both during and after the term of this Agreement.

5 Confidentiality

5.1 Obligations

The Contractor shall not, during or after the term of this Agreement, use or disclose any Confidential Information except as expressly required for the performance of the Services. "Confidential Information" means all non-public information of the Company, including:

5.2 Exclusions

Confidential Information does not include information that: (a) is publicly available through no fault of the Contractor; (b) was known to the Contractor before disclosure; (c) is independently developed without use of Confidential Information; or (d) is disclosed pursuant to a legal requirement, provided the Contractor gives prompt notice to the Company.

5.3 Return of Materials

Upon termination of this Agreement, the Contractor shall immediately return or destroy (with written certification of destruction) all Company materials, data, documents, and Confidential Information in any form.

5.4 Injunctive Relief

The Contractor acknowledges that breach of this Section 5 would cause irreparable harm, and the Company is entitled to seek injunctive relief without proof of actual damages, in addition to any other available remedies.

5.5 Survival

Confidentiality obligations survive termination indefinitely for trade secrets and five (5) years for all other Confidential Information.

6 Privacy (PIPA Compliance)

6.1 Data Handling

If the Services involve access to personal information (as defined in PIPA, S.A. 2003, c. P-6.5), the Contractor shall:

  1. Access personal information only as necessary to perform the Services
  2. Implement appropriate safeguards to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, or loss
  3. Not disclose personal information to any third party without prior written consent from the Company
  4. Report any suspected privacy breach to the Company immediately (and no later than 24 hours after becoming aware)
  5. Return or securely destroy all personal information upon completion or termination of the Services

6.2 Sub-Processors

The Contractor shall not engage any sub-contractor or sub-processor to handle personal information without the Company's prior written approval. Approved sub-processors must be bound by equivalent privacy and data protection obligations.

7 Non-Solicitation

During the term and for twelve (12) months following termination, the Contractor shall not, directly or indirectly:

  1. Solicit or endeavour to entice away any client or prospective client of the Company with whom the Contractor had material contact during the engagement
  2. Recruit, solicit, or interfere with any employee, contractor, or consultant of the Company

8 Representations & Warranties

The Contractor represents and warrants that:

  1. They have the legal right and ability to enter into this Agreement
  2. The Services will be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner
  3. The Work Product will be original and will not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights
  4. They are not subject to any agreement that would prevent or restrict performance of the Services
  5. All information provided to the Company is accurate and complete
  6. They carry appropriate insurance (if applicable to the nature of the Services)

9 Indemnification

The Contractor shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Company, its officers, directors, and shareholders from and against any claims, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from: (a) the Contractor's breach of this Agreement; (b) the Contractor's negligence or willful misconduct; (c) any claim that the Work Product infringes third-party IP rights; or (d) any claim arising from the Contractor's misclassification as an independent contractor (including employment-related claims and tax liabilities).

10 Term & Termination

10.1 Term

This Agreement commences on the Effective Date and continues until: (a) completion of the Services; (b) expiry of the term specified in Schedule A; or (c) termination in accordance with this Section.

10.2 Termination by Either Party

Either party may terminate this Agreement by providing 14 days' written notice.

10.3 Termination for Cause

Either party may terminate immediately upon written notice if the other party: (a) materially breaches this Agreement and fails to cure within 10 days of notice; (b) becomes insolvent or enters bankruptcy proceedings.

10.4 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

  1. The Contractor shall deliver all completed and in-progress Work Product
  2. The Company shall pay for all Services performed and accepted through the termination date
  3. The Contractor shall comply with return/destruction obligations (Sections 4 and 5)
  4. Sections 4 (IP), 5 (Confidentiality), 7 (Non-Solicitation), and 9 (Indemnification) survive

11 General Provisions

11.1 Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Alberta and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Disputes shall be resolved through the dispute resolution process set out in the Company's standard terms, with arbitration in Edmonton, Alberta.

11.2 Entire Agreement

This Agreement, together with its Schedules, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior negotiations, representations, and agreements.

11.3 Amendment

This Agreement may only be amended in writing signed by both parties.

11.4 Severability

If any provision is found unenforceable, it shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions continue in full force.

11.5 Assignment

The Contractor may not assign this Agreement without the Company's prior written consent. The Company may assign this Agreement in connection with a merger, acquisition, or corporate reorganization.

A Schedule A — Statement of Work

[Insert scope, deliverables, timelines, milestones, acceptance criteria, and compensation details]

B Schedule B — Pre-Existing IP

[List any pre-existing IP incorporated into Work Product, or write "NONE"]

Opcelerate Neural Inc.

Allen [LAST NAME], Managing Partner
Date

Contractor — Accepted & Agreed

[CONTRACTOR NAME]
Title / Business Name
Date