INTRODUCTORY

  • 1.Revisions of these Terms and Conditions shall take effect immediately after publication on the Designbull website.
  • 2.Your signature on a printed copy of this agreement is not required in order for the agreement to be legally binding on you. Your use of the services shall constitute a virtual signature, having the same force and effect as if you had actually signed a printed copy of this agreement.

DEFINITIONS

  • 3.?us, our, we?: Designbull (Andy Fuller) a freelancer based in England
  • 4.?you, your?: the client being the purchaser of the services, who enters into this contract with us.
  • 5.?the services?: the consultancy, design, marketing, internet, print management and advertising services as agreed to verbally or in writing between you and us from time to time and that we have agreed to perform at your reasonable direction.

APPOINTMENT

  • 6 .You agree to appoint us as your sole supplier to perform the services, unless or until ended by either party giving to the other not less than three (3) months? notice in writing.
  • 7 .You undertake not to use any other supplier or to perform the services internally.
  • 8. Either party may give written notice to terminate this agreement if the other:
  • 8.1. commits a material breach of this agreement which is not remedied within 14 days of being required to do so in writing
  • 8.2. goes into liquidation or has a receiver or administrator appointed.

RESPONSIBILITIES

You will:

  • 9.1. not hinder us and provide full co-operation
  • 9.2. make available as soon as is reasonably possible to us all materials required to complete work to the agreed standard and within agreed timescales
  • 9.3. provide to us in a timely manner all assistance and information and materials which we may reasonably request for the performance of the services, and understand and agree that we will not be liable for delays in performance caused by any delay or failure to provide same to us
  • 9.4. co-operate with us and comply with any agreed procedures and not to withhold or delay approvals unreasonably
  • 9.5. provide and be responsible for any data or information relating to your own products and services and for services necessary for the provision of the services
  • 9.6. not modify requirements once they have been agreed and work has commenced
  • 9.7. understand and agree that, if you do wish to modify or add to requirements, such modifications or additions may change the price of the services
  • 9.8. understand and agree that we will not be responsible for any delays to the services caused by such modifications or by any circumstances that are not within our reasonable control
  • 9.9 understand and agree that any modifications or additions to the services will be carried out at our discretion
  • 9.10 understand and agree that we accept no responsibility to ensure such modifications or additions are error free and reserve the right to charge an according amount for any correction to these or further modifications or additions
  • 9.11 understand and agree that we will not be liable for costs incurred, compensation or loss of earnings due to the failure to meet agreed deadlines
  • 10 If we provide the services for a customer of yours, you shall:
  • 10.1 make no guarantees, warranties or representations in excess of those contained herein in relation to the services;
  • 10.2 indemnify us against any claims relating to any guarantees, warranties or representations so made by you; and
  • 10.3 procure that your customer performs such obligations hereunder are as relevant to enable the project to be completed and
  • 10.4 ensure that your customer understands and agrees to these terms and conditions
  • 11 You understand and agree that we will not be liable or become involved in any disputes between you and your clients or customers.
  • 12 You understand and agree that we supply the services for contracted time not for a specific task.
  • 13 You understand and agree that your approval of copy, layouts, creative and artwork whether physical or electronic will be sufficient authority for us to purchase the agreed production materials and prepare proofs, and your approval of proofs will be sufficient authority for us to publish such materials.
  • 14 You understand and agree that your approval of television, cinema and radio scripts and / or storybooks, website layouts and advertising copy will be sufficient authority for us to enter into production contracts [and engage performers] and your approval of films and recordings will be sufficient authority for us to transmit.
  • 15 You understand and agree that your approval of schedules and estimates will be sufficient authority for us to make necessary reservations and contracts for space, time and other facilities.
  • 16 You agree to exercise due diligence in your directions to us regarding preparation of materials and must be able to substantiate all claims and representations. You are responsible for all trademarks, service mark, copyright and patent infringement clearances. You are also responsible for arranging, prior to publication, any necessary legal clearance of materials we prepare.
  • 17 You understand and agree that you must make sure that any critical functionality you require from any software is included prior to confirming an order and that you take responsibility for the suitability, accuracy, utility or function of any software used in the services. You understand and agree that all licenses and warranties are as provided by the software originators.
  • 18 Your verbal instructions, signed order form, order acknowledgement or purchase order or email are sufficient for us to purchase and install software and then you are liable for any price of the software and support agreements.
  • 19 You will be assumed to have read, understood, approved and agreed all software licensing terms and conditions if we purchase or install software on your behalf. If we have to agree to an end user license agreement on installing software on your behalf then you have fully accepted any such end user license agreement.
  • 20 You will provide or seek any information, additional software, support or co-operation pertaining to the server required in order for the application(s) to be correctly developed / deployed.
  • 21 You are responsible for testing fully any application or programming relating to a site developed by us before it is available for use. If you discover any errors after a site goes live, we will endeavour, but are not obliged, to correct these issues to meet the standards of function outlined in the brief.
  • 22 You confirm that the specific representation of your marketing and advertising whether as web pages or other services are not:
  • 22.1 pornographic, sexist, extremist or glorifications of violence
  • 22.2 in violation of good taste nor national or international law
  • 22.3 in violation of trademark, patent or other third party rights and
  • 22.4 that if they are we may terminate any campaign and that you will immediately pay any and all fees due under this agreement
  • 23 You understand and agree that the minimum term of engagement for search engine optimization (SEO) shall be nine (9) months. In the event of delay for which we are not responsible, you will extend the term to cover the delay(s).
  • 24 You understand and agree that:
  • 24.1 the SEO process will take at least 3 months to show some effect
  • 24.2 achieving stable rankings can take up to 12 months and require major investment
  • 24.3 your site may drop in rankings and get less traffic from search engines.
  • 25 You understand and agree that you must inform your webmaster(s) or anyone else who has access to your web site that we are performing SEO services for the site.
  • 26 When we are performing SEO services you understand and agree that it is your responsibility to ensure that your website: 26.1 is hosted on a reliable server, based in the UK (or the country of search engine interest), with constant availability 26.2 is not hosted on free web space nor using domain forwarding (either framed or otherwise) and 26.3 is not part of a ?bad neighbourhood?
  • 27 You understand and agree that: 27.1 any SEO activities undertaken by you or 27.2 by any party other than us or 27.3 that is similar to or
  • 27.4 that involves the use of or inclusion of any product or service which might relate to what we are doing to optimize your web site might interfere with and affect the results, outcomes and positions in search engines and that if you undertake or cause to be undertaken such activities then we may terminate any campaign and you will pay all fees due under this agreement.
  • 28 You understand and agree that we give no guarantees for SEO work as to your site position in the search engines as the search engines change their ranking algorithms on a regular basis and both new and competitor sites optimised and submitted which may increase or decrease your web site?s ranking position. If rankings drop, you understand and agree that further work may be required to restore previous rankings (if possible) and may be chargeable.
  • 29 You grant authority to us at our discretion, for all SEO work, to:
  • 29.1 gain FTP access to your website
  • 29.2 add additional directories, pages and content, change link structures and menus, modify page structure and change code and use all legal, decent, honest and truthful strategies to optimise the structure and content of your site directories and web pages and produce documents that contain words or phrases to achieve the highest possible ranking within search engine results
  • submit the web site pages being promoted to search engines and directories and
  • 29.4 you understand and agree that:
  • 29.4.1 you are responsible for ensuring that your web site is always active and accessible to us
  • 29.4.2 whilst reasonable endeavours will be used so that where possible changes will not affect the design and layout of your site this cannot be guaranteed
  • 29.4.3 if your pages are light in text content (less than approximately 300 visible words per page), you agree to provide additional relevant content for the purpose of enhancing SEO ranking
  • 29.4.4 you are responsible for the payment of registration fees that might be required by any search engines or directories included in any campaign
  • 29.4.5 we may terminate any campaign and that you will pay all fees due under this agreement should you participate in actions considered undesirable (spamming) by the search engines. This includes but is not limited to hidden links, links to link-farms, FFA link pages, redirect or cloaking techniques, submitting the web pages of the site to the search engines, search directories or other websites without our consent, use of automated web site submission software or automated reciprocal link programs.
  • 30 We will:
  • 30.1 exercise reasonable care and skill in providing the services. All other warranties or conditions whether express or implied, relating to quality of the services are excluded
  • 30.2 use reasonable endeavours to complete the services within the timescales set
  • 30.3 attempt to promptly advise you of any potential or actual delays
  • 30.4 inform you as soon as reasonably possible about any circumstances that are likely to prevent us from completing the services within the timescales set out
  • 30.5 conduct our work with reasonable care
  • 30.6 comply with relevant safety and other legislation or regulatory requirements that apply to the services
  • 31 We will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that a website and any scripts or programs are free of errors.
  • 32 We will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that software products are problem free, but the ultimate responsibility lies with you to ensure that all software is functioning correctly before use.
  • 33 We will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that any developed / designed site or application will function correctly on the server on which it is installed and that it will function correctly when viewed with the web browsing software Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 6 and to an acceptable level with Mozilla browsers. We can offer no guarantees of correct function with all browser software.
  • 34 We will use reasonable endeavours whilst reselling or recommending hosting companies to ensure that they are of sound reputation but make no guarantees as to availability or interruption.
  • 35 We will take all reasonable steps to comply in the event that you request in writing any cancellation or amendment to work in progress if we can do so within our contractual obligations with media and suppliers. If this is not possible, you agree that you will reimburse us for:
  • 35.1 any charges or expenses to which we are committed 35.2 work in progress.

INTELLECTUAL_PROPERTY

All copyright and intellectual property rights in all work written, provided or produced by us for the services does vest or shall vest solely in us immediately and unconditionally upon being developed, produced or written and remains our copyright and may only be commercially reproduced or resold with our permission unless the rights have been assigned by us to you.

  • 37 If you request and on payment of an agreed sum and provided that all obligations arising from this agreement (including those relating to payment and the period of notice) have been met, we may agree to assign such copyright and other intellectual property rights as we do hold to you on termination of this agreement.
  • 38 For avoidance of doubt, we shall retain the copyright and other intellectual property rights in any material contained in any presentation or submission prepared by us for you.
  • 39 The copyright and other intellectual property rights in all software programs used to process data and lists shall remain our exclusive property.
  • 40 You acknowledge and agree that any identifiable and original idea or concept presented by us in relation to any promotion or campaign invented or developed by us shall be available only for such a promotion or campaign and shall not be used for any other purposes whatsoever without our express prior agreement given in writing.
  • 41 The copyright and other intellectual property rights in creative work commissioned by us from third parties will normally vest in the supplier. We will use reasonable endeavours to ensure appropriate usage rights in respect of this material. If required, and at your expense, we shall use reasonable endeavours to obtain extended rights or assignment of copyright and other intellectual property rights.
  • 42 You take responsibility for any copyright infringements caused by materials submitted by you to us. We reserve the right to refuse any material of a copyrighted nature unless you give adequate proof of permission to use such material.

PROTECTION-&-CONFIDENTIALITY

  • Even where no work is agreed, the ideas and concepts presented to you shall remain strictly confidential and you shall not use them in any way, including communication to any third party, without our express prior consent.
  • 44 We acknowledge a duty not to disclose without your permission during or after the term of appointment, any confidential information resulting from studies or surveys commissioned and paid for by you. You, in turn, acknowledge our right to use as we see fit any general marketing or advertising intelligence in the field of your product or service, which we have gained in the course of our appointment.
  • 45 During the period of this agreement and at all times thereafter, each party shall treat as confidential and not reproduce or disclose to any other party all information, including but not limited to:
  • 45.1 software programs whether in source or object code format 45.2 technical data 45.3 correspondence 45.4 the details of this agreement or the services or estimates and 45.5 other material which is stated to be the confidential and / or trade secret information of the other party or 45.6 which may be reasonably presumed to be so
  • 46 Each party shall safeguard such information to the same extent that it safeguards its own confidential and proprietary information and in any event with not less than a reasonable degree of protection.
  • 47 Notwithstanding the foregoing, we shall be entitled to provide to third parties such information as is necessary for it to perform their obligations in relation to the services, or as may be required by law.
  • 48 The obligation of the parties not to disclose information shall not apply to:
  • 48.1 information which was already in the public domain or 48.2 in the rightful possession of the other party, at the time of its disclosure or 48.3 which is disclosed as a matter of right by a third party or
  • 48.4 which passes into the public domain by acts other than the unauthorised acts of the other party
  • 49 Both parties agree that in the event of a breach of confidentiality, money or damages may not be an adequate remedy, and therefore, in addition to any other legal or equitable remedies, either party shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief to prevent an anticipated breach of confidentiality.
  • 50 Within ten (10) days of the completion of the services, each party shall return all originals and any copies thereof of any confidential information of the other party

CHARGES/FEES

  • 51 We charge based on the following:
  • 51.1?time, services and materials including but not limited to:
  • 51.1.1?the time spent on the matter
  • 51.1.2?the importance and value of the matter to you
  • 51.1.3?the complexity of the matter or the difficulty or novelty of the issues raised
  • 51.1.4?the skill, labour, specialist knowledge and responsibility involved
  • 51.1.5?considering facts relevant to your strategy and campaigns
  • 51.1.6 reading and considering relevant information and the number and importance of the documents prepared or perused
  • 51.1.7 creative and development work
  • 51.1.8?the place where and the circumstances in which the matter or any part of it is transacted
  • 51.1.9?personal and telephone attendances on you and on your behalf
  • 51.1.10?correspondence with you
  • 51.1.11?attendances upon, dealing with and instructing third parties
  • 51.1.12 time spent travelling
  • 51.2 Postage, other transportation charges, telecommunications charges and copying costs especially incurred in carrying out your instructions and safeguarding your interests charged at net cost.
  • 51.3 Travel, subsistence and hotel expenses of our employees or sub-contractors especially incurred in carrying out your instructions and safeguarding your interests charged at net cost.
  • 51.4 All goods and services, purchased by us on your behalf will be subject to a minimum mark up of 25%.
  • 51.5 Any original source files requested will be subject to a fee based on the total costs paid.

PAYMENT_TERMS

  • 52 When you as a new client, commission work, a deposit of 50% is required from you on receipt. We will then bill you monthly for ongoing costs. You are obliged to pay any outstanding balance in full once work is completed.
  • 53 You must pay outstanding accounts for work carried out by us or on our behalf in full no later than 7 days from the date of the invoice. We may contact you via email and telephone to remind you of such payments if they are not received when due.
  • 54 We will not publish in media nor assign intellectual property until cleared funds are available to us. For the avoidance of doubt, we regard domain names, website hosting and pay per click advertising as media.
  • 55 Until payment is received for all outstanding bills and for unbilled work in progress, we may exercise a lien or charge over certain property belonging to you which has come into our possession in the course of our engagement and access to online media may be denied and / or online media removed.
  • 56 We reserve the right to terminate or suspend the services if you are overdue with payments at any time.
  • 57 In the event that we do not receive payment on the due date, we will charge you interest at the rate of 4% above the base rate of HSBC Bank plc from the date the payment was due to the date we receive payment.
  • 58 Following consistent non-payment of an invoice our solicitors will contact you with a view to taking the matter further and if need be to seek payment through legal procedures and if necessary court summons.

BUSINESS_MEDIA_and_SUPPLIERS_TERMS

  • 59 For the avoidance of doubt, we regard domain names, website hosting and pay per click advertising as media.
  • 60 The levy of 0.1% payable by advertisers through agencies to the Advertising Standards Board of Finance applies to all gross media rates on press display, advertisements (excluding classified lineage and semi-display), on outdoor, cinema and direct mail appearing in the UK and is not subject to commission.
  • 61 If we purchase media on your behalf, unless otherwise stated, we make contracts with the media and suppliers in accordance with media rate card or other standard conditions or at such prices or conditions as may be negotiated separately.
  • 62 Your rights and liabilities shall correspond to those between us and the various media and other suppliers under such standard conditions.
  • 63 If you purchase media then you are responsible for ensuring that it is fit for purpose and meets any technical specifications demanded by any software, programs or processes.

LIMITATION_of_LIABILITY

  • 64 We shall provide the services in a professional manner with due care, skill and competence at a level commensurate with industry standards. No warranty or guarantee is given that the services will be successful in whole or in part. We shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, special or incidental loss or damage suffered by you or any third party, including loss of property, of data or of profits even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damage arising directly or indirectly from the provision of the services. Our liability to you or any third party, for a claim of any kind arising as a result of or related to any product or service, whether in contract, in tort (including negligence or strict liability) or otherwise, under any warranty, condition or guarantee or otherwise, shall be limited to monetary damages and the aggregate amount thereof for all claims relating to any particular project or product provided shall in any event be limited to a sum equivalent to the aggregate amount paid to us under the relevant project or for the relevant product which gave rise to the claim. You will indemnify us against any claim that exceeds this figure. This limit will not apply in the case of death or personal injury caused by our negligence. You may bring no?action, regardless of form, more than one (1) year after the events that gave rise to the cause of the action.
  • 65 We shall not be liable to you for any delay in, or omission of, publication or transmission or any error in any advertisement, nor delay in posting or delivery, in the absence of default or neglect on our part.
  • 66 Notwithstanding anything contained in the agreement, we will not be liable for any increased costs, loss of profits, consequential, economic, or indirect loss arising in any way in connection with the performance (or non performance) of the obligations related to this agreement.

YOUR_INDEMNITY_TO_US

  • 67 You will indemnify us against any loss incurred as the result of any civil claims or proceedings brought against us based upon any advertising and other work prepared for you by us and approved by you before publication.

ADVERTISING_STANDARD

  • 68 We use reasonable endeavours to comply with the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion, administered by the ASA, and with the DMA (UK) Direct Marketing Codes of Practice and other codes of advertising standards laid down on a self- regulatory basis.
  • 69 You will provide a list warranty confirming that any data supplied to us for use in your marketing campaigns has been appropriately obtained and registered under the Data Protection Act 1998.

GENERAL_PROVISIONS

  • 70 We reserve the right to refuse to handle in any way, material which may be deemed offensive, illegal or in any way controversial
  • 71 The agreement represents the complete and exclusive statement of the agreements concerning between the parties and supersedes and replaces all prior communications, drafts, contracts, representations, warranties, undertakings and agreements of whatever nature whether oral or written, between the parties.
  • 72 The headings of this agreement shall not affect its interpretation.
  • 73 We shall be entitled to subcontract any or all of the services to suitably qualified personnel or organisations. In this event, our rights and obligations hereunder shall not be diminished.
  • 74 Any notices or other communication required to be given under this agreement shall be given in writing and sent by recorded delivery mail or facsimile transmission confirmed by hard copy letter to the address of the relevant party as given in the quotation and shall be deemed received forty-eight (48) hours after dispatch.
  • 75 The waiver or failure of either party to exercise in any respect any right or remedy pursuant to this agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of any further rights or remedies.
  • 76 The relationship between you and us is that of independent contractors and nothing in this agreement shall be construed to:
  • 76.1 give either party the power to direct or control the activities of the other party
  • 76.2 constitute the parties as employer and employee, principal and agent, partners, joint venturers, co-owners or otherwise participants in any joint undertaking
  • 76.3 allow either party to create or assume any obligations on behalf of the other party for any purpose
  • 77 During the term of the services and for a period of two (2) years thereafter, you shall not, without our prior written consent offer employment to or enter into any contract for services with any of our employees or subcontractors who have provided the services.
  • 78 If any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction shall find any provision of this agreement to be invalid or unenforceable, the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the other provisions of this Agreement and all provisions not affected by such invalidity or unenforceability shall remain in full force and effect.
  • 79 This Agreement and the relevant quotation constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all previous negotiations and agreements, written or oral, express or implied between the parties with respect to the services. No amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless specifically stated to amend this Agreement and executed by authorised representatives of both parties.
  • 80 In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and any purchase order or other document issued by you the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.
  • 81 If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable it shall be considered severable and the remaining provisions shall not be impaired. Any such provision shall be interpreted to the extent possible to give effect to its intended purpose.
  • 82 Upon termination of the services:
  • 82.1 you shall pay us for all work performed up to the date of termination by us and we shall provide to you any materials for which you have so paid
  • 82.2 each party shall return to the other all materials and property including proprietary data which has been provided to it for the purposes of this Agreement and / or the services

LAW

  • 83 This agreement is subject to the law of England and Wales and the parties agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales in respect of any dispute or difference arising under the agreement.