The Amendment clause defines the conditions for changing changing the terms of an agreement. It typically applies the parol evidence rule and requires a written document signed by both parties.

Standard Language

Alternative Examples

1. Bilateral Amendment Clauses

No amendment to this agreement will be effective unless it is in writing and signed by both parties. (Ken Adams)

2. Unilateral Amendment Clauses

Sophos may amend the terms and conditions of this End-User Licence Agreement at any time by reasonable notice, including without limitation by posting revised terms on its website at the URL www.sophos.com/legal/, which amended terms and conditions shall be binding upon You.

3. One-Party Amendment--the Party against whom the amendment is enforced

The parties may not amend this agreement, except in a writing executed by the party against whom the amendment is sought to be enforced.

4. Authorization Person

The parties may not amend this agreement, except by written agreement executed by [TITLE OR POSITION OF AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUAL] of each party.

5. Acquisition Agreement--Approval

This Agreement may be amended by action taken by Parent and by action taken by or on behalf of the respective boards of directors of Merger Sub and the Company at any time before the Effective Time; provided, however, that after the adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company, no amendment shall be made which under the DGCL requires further approval by such stockholders without obtaining such further approval. This Agreement may be amended only by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.
Agreement and Plan of Merger among Conexant Systems, Inc., Gold Holdings, Inc. and Gold Acquisition Corp., dated as of February 20, 2011 (Law Firms: O’Melveny & Myers LLP; Kirkland & Ellis LLP).

Discussion

1. Laundry List Approach

The amendment clause sometimes contains a laundry list of words such as: "amended, changed, modified, supplemented, rescinded, terminated or discharged." Tina Stark writes: "Case law seems not to distinguish among the terms amend, change or modify....However, there is a view that thhe omission of the word 'rescind' would permit the parties to rescind their agreement. Similar arguments could be made for supplemented, terminated and discharged." Page 528, Negotiating and Drafting Contract Boilerplate, Tina Stark.

2. Enforceability of Unilateral Amendment Clauses

Unilateral amendment clauses my be enforceable upon notice and continuing performance by the parties. For example, if you recieve notice of changed terms of your credit card agreement, and you continuing using the card, you will be bound by the changes. However, such clauses are "illusory" and not enforceable where the  amendment purports to apply to events arising prior to the date of the amendment.

(a) Enforceable with Notice. In Re Halliburton Company and Brown & Root Energy Services, the Texas Supreme Court held that the arbitration agreement at issue was not illusory because, although the employer “explicitly reserved the right to unilaterally modify or discontinue the dispute resolution program,” a ten-day notice provision and another provision which stated any amendment could only apply prospectively functioned as a “savings clause” which prevented the employer from avoiding its contractual obligation to arbitrate. In Re Halliburton Company and Brown & Root Energy Services ().

(b) Unenforceable without Notice.

In Carey v. 24 Hour Fitness, USA, Inc., (5th Cir. Jan. 25, 2012) (http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-5th-circuit/1592311.html), the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit found an arbitration agreement to be illusory because one party to the agreement retained the unilateral right to modify or terminate the arbitration provision at any time. The Fifth Circuit stated:

"Carey argues that the arbitration clause in the Handbook is illusory because the Change-in-Terms Clause would allow 24 Hour Fitness to unilaterally avoid its promise to arbitrate by modifying the Handbook. The Acknowledgment gives 24 Hour Fitness the “right to revise, delete, and add to the employee handbook” in which the arbitration provision is located. As in Morrison, there is no “Halliburton type savings clause” in the Acknowledgment that limits 24 Hour Fitness’s ability to make retroactive modifications to the arbitration provision. If a 24 Hour Fitness employee sought to invoke arbitration with the company pursuant to the agreement, nothing would prevent 24 Hour Fitness from changing the agreement and making those changes applicable to that pending dispute if it determined that arbitration was no longer in its interest. In effect, the agreement allows 24 Hour Fitness to hold its employees to the promise to arbitrate while reserving its own escape hatch." (links added).

(c) Is Posting on a Web Site Sufficient Notice

Douglas v. US District Court ex rel Talk America No. 06-75424 (9th Cir. July 18, 2007). Ninth Circuit struck down an AOL contract term permitting unilateral amendment that lacked any notice requirement. The court stated: "Parties to a contract have no obligation to check the terms on a periodic basis to learn whether they have been changed by the other side."

In Roling v. E*Trace,  the plaintiffs contested an alledged unilateral imposition of an account maintenance fee for imposed on customers that do not make at least one quarterly trade. The brokerage agreement amendment clause read:

"E*TRADE Securities may modify the fee structure at any time by posting a modified structure on its Web site."

The agreement also required customers to check the web site for changes. In deniying E*Trade motion for summary judgement, Judge Patel said: "plaintiffs allege that E*Trade’s unilateral ability to change contract terms, without notice, and the requirement that they periodically check the terms of the contract is problematic. Although magic words are not used, the allegations are sufficient to allege a claim for unenforceability." Another Ruling Challenging "Check the Website for Amendments" Contract Provisions--Roling v. E*Trade (http://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2010/11/another_ruling.htm)

(d) Additional References

See also: They Can Do What!? Limitations on the Use of Change-of-Terms Clauses (http://scholarship.law.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1300&context=facpubs)