15.1. "Proprietary Information" means: (a) any information, technical data or know-how in any form, including documented information, machine-readable or evaluable information, information contained in components, maskwork and artwork that is clearly marked as "confidential", "proprietary" or "business secret" or would be reasonably considered as confidential by a competent person; (b) business information, including pricing, manufacturing, or marketing, (c) the contents of any proposed or actual agreements between the parties, (d) the parties's business policies and business practices, and (e) information of others obtained by the parties pursuant to an obligation of confidentiality. The Receiving Party shall keep the protected information hereunder confidential for a period of 5 years from the date the information is made available or, if the protected information is provided under a long-term framework agreement and/or cooperation, from the expiration or termination of such long-term framework agreement/cooperation. Each party retains ownership of its Proprietary Information, including all rights to patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. Notwithstanding the expiration of the confidentiality obligations set forth herein, neither party nor any of its customers, employees or agents is hereby granted any explicit or implied right or license with respect to any Proprietary Information or patents, patent applications or other Intellectual Property Rights of the other party. RMG agrees to use Buyer's Protected Information only for the purpose of quoting, manufacturing and delivering products or providing services to the Buyer. Buyer acknowledges that it may not use or disclose RMG's Proprietary Information for any purpose other than the purchase or use of RMG's products and services. Within its organization, the buyer may only disclose Protected Information to those persons who need to know it in order to fulfill the purpose of the contract. In an appropriate manner these persons have to be obliged to maintain confidentiality.
15.2. The Receiving Party shall not be obliged to protect any information for which it is proven (a) that it was in the public domain at the time of disclosure or became public knowledge through no fault of the Recipient, (b) that it was known to the Recipient at the time of disclosure without breach of any confidentiality agreement, (c) that the Recipient obtained it from a third party without corresponding or similar confidentiality restrictions, as contained in this section, or (d) that they have been independently developed by the receiving party.