Membership Agreement
Established October 1, 2011
Revised December 7, 2011
This agreement stipulates items that are related to the members defined in the articles of incorporation for the International Universal Menu Association (Hereinafter the “Association”).
Article 1 Membership Types
1．Corporate members
[Corporation members] must be corporations, and have joined the Association after agreeing with the purposes of the Association. There are 5 types of corporation memberships:
(1) The first type of membership: Corporations whose initial capital was more than 1 billion yen.
(2) The second type of membership: Corporations whose capital was more than 100 million yen and less than 1 billion yen.
(3) The third type of membership: Corporations whose capital was more than 10 million yen and less than 100 million yen.
(4) The fourth type of membership: Corporations whose capital was less than 10 million yen.
(5) Special supporting members: Corporations that the Association has recognized as having a special membership, or corporations that have helped construct the foundation of the Open UM.
2． Central Government, Municipality, and University’s employee members
Central Government, Municipality, and University’s employee members must be individuals, and have joined the Association after agreeing with the purposes of the Association.
3． Individual members
Individual members shall be individuals who have joined the Association after agreeing with the purposes of the Association. There are two types of individual memberships.
（1）Individual members: Individuals who are not students.
（2）Student members: Student members who belong to a school or research institute.
Article 2 Membership Application
Those who wish to apply for membership shall follow the designated application procedures and make the monthly membership payment depending on the membership type that you wish to apply for.
There are members who have been waived from having to pay the monthly membership fee.
Article 3 Activation of Membership Qualifications
Membership qualifications shall begin upon the completion of the defined procedure, and after being notified by the Association that your membership fees have been received.
Article 4 Term of Membership Qualifications
The effective term of membership qualifications shall be counted from the month of joining, and is applicable for the number of months that the monthly membership fees that have been paid.
Article 5 Temporary discontinued from the membership
Individual members who wish to temporarily discontinue their membership due to an oversea transfer, medical treatment, or other reasons, can do so by proceeding with the defined procedures for temporary cancelation. During the period that the membership is discontinued, the member services that is provided by the Association will not be available.
In the case of discontinuing your membership, the monthly membership fee for the month that you discontinued will not be refunded.
In the event that a member who has paid for multiple months of membership fees, and whose temporary discontinued membership application has proceeded within the valid membership period, the Association shall refund the membership fees for the months that have not yet passed. A fee will be deducted from the refund.
Article 6 Extra Membership Fees
If the board of directors of the Association decides that an additional budget for management is needed, an extra membership fee may be collected from the members.
Article 7 Members’ Participation in the Project
Members can participate in the activities that the Association conducts for the purpose of dispersing the Universal Menu and to contribute to society.
Article 8 Members’ Rights
Members are entitled to receive the services that the Association provides within the valid terms of the membership.
Article 9 Member responsibilities
Members must adhere to the following items:
（1）Members are not allowed to transfer or lend their membership qualifications.
（2）Members shall promptly notify the Association in the event of any changes in the member’s name, address, or other items that have been submitted to the Association.
（3）Members shall conform to a social norm and must not cause troubles to others.
（4）Members shall follow the Association’s instructions and rules when using the Universal Menu and other services that the Association provides.
Article 10 Exemption
Members shall be responsible for compensation for the entire sum of any loss or damages that are caused from using the Universal Menu and other services that the Association provides, unless the loss or damage was due to the Association’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Article 11 Withdrawal Procedure
When members withdraw from the Association, the specified withdrawal procedure must be followed:
（1）Members shall submit the specified withdrawal form when withdrawing from the Association.
（2）In the event that there is difficulty in proceeding with the previously mentioned procedure, members can notify the Association by phone or fax.
Article 12 Loss of Membership Qualification
Members can be disqualified from membership for the following reasons:
（1）Members have applied for their withdrawal from the Association.
（2）Members have been accepted under the bankruptcy law, Civil Rehabilitation Law, or Corporate Rehabilitation Law.
（3）Members have been made an adult ward, or have become a person under curatorship.
（4）Members have been proven to be a member or a former member of organized crime, such as an organized crime group, or have been related to the anti social groups, such as an organized crime group.
（5）Members do not pay the required membership fee within the payment period that is defined in the articles of incorporation.
（6）A consensus of the association for membership disqualification.
（7）Member’s death, or the Association’s dissolution
（8）Expelled from the Association in accordance with the articles of incorporation.
Article 13 Forfeiture of the rights of membership
In the event that a member loses membership qualifications based on the stipulations prescribed in the preceding article, he or she will lose all rights as a member of the Association. After losing the membership qualification, using any intellectual properties which are owned by the Association, including the Universal Menu and any other similar acts, are prohibited.
The membership fees that have already been paid to the Association shall not be refunded. In the event that a member that has paid for multiple months of membership, and whose membership withdrawal application has taken place within the valid membership period, the Association shall refund the membership fees for the months that have not yet passed. A fee will be deducted from the refund.
Article 14 Amendment of these Agreements
The Association may amend these agreements without prior notice to members only in the event that the board of directors deems it as objective and reasonable.
Supplementary Provisions (October 1, 2011)
This agreement shall come into force on the date of October 1, 2011.