Terms & Conditions

1. Scope & Definitions

These General Terms and Conditions ("Terms") apply to all proposals, agreements, and services provided by Hipodo (KvK: 96200618), unless agreed otherwise in writing.

In these Terms:

• "Hipodo" / "we" / "us" refers to Hipodo, registered in Zaamslag, the Netherlands.
• "Client" / "you" refers to the natural or legal person who enters into an agreement with Hipodo.
• "Services" means all work performed by Hipodo, including but not limited to web design, development, optimization, strategy, and consulting.
• "Deliverables" means all outputs created during an engagement, such as designs, code, copy, reports, and audits.
• "Project" means a defined scope of Services as described in a Proposal or order confirmation.
• "Content" means text, images, logos, brand assets, and any materials provided by the Client for use in the Project.

2. Services & Deliverables

Hipodo provides digital services that help businesses convert more website visitors into customers. Our services include, but are not limited to:

• Free website audits and conversion assessments
• Conversion strategy and positioning
• Web design and user experience (UX) design
• Front-end and full-stack web development
• Search engine optimization (SEO) and performance optimization
• Hosting setup and deployment (e.g., Vercel)
• Post-launch support and ongoing optimization

The specific deliverables, scope, and timeline for each engagement are defined in the Proposal or order confirmation. Any work outside the agreed scope is subject to a separate agreement.

3. Free Audit

Hipodo offers a free website conversion audit. By requesting an audit, you agree to the following:

• The audit is provided free of charge, with no purchase obligation.
• The information you provide (name, email, website URL) is used solely to produce and deliver the audit.
• Audit results are based on professional analysis and are provided "as-is" without warranty of completeness or accuracy.
• Data handling is governed by our Privacy Policy.

4. Proposals & Acceptance

All proposals are valid for 30 days from the date of issue, unless stated otherwise. A proposal becomes a binding agreement when:

• The Client accepts in writing (email is sufficient), or
• The Client makes a payment toward the engagement, or
• Hipodo begins work at the Client's request.

After acceptance, Hipodo sends an order confirmation summarizing the agreed scope, timeline, and pricing. This confirmation, together with these Terms, forms the complete agreement.

5. Pricing & Payment

All prices are quoted in euros (EUR) and are exclusive of VAT unless stated otherwise.

• Payment terms: Invoices are due within 14 days of the invoice date, unless agreed otherwise.
• Payment milestones: For larger projects, payment may be split into milestones as defined in the Proposal (e.g., 50% upfront, 50% on delivery).
• Late payment: If payment is not received within the agreed term, Hipodo reserves the right to charge statutory commercial interest and suspend work until payment is received.
• Price adjustments: Hipodo may adjust rates annually. Changes apply to new engagements only and will be communicated at least 30 days in advance.

6. Client Responsibilities

To ensure timely and successful delivery, the Client is responsible for:

• Providing content (text, images, logos, brand guidelines) within agreed timelines.
• Providing access credentials to relevant platforms (hosting, domain registrar, analytics) as needed.
• Reviewing deliverables and providing feedback within 5 business days of each review round, unless agreed otherwise.
• Providing written approval before the Project goes live or is published.
• Ensuring that all Content provided does not infringe third-party intellectual property rights.

Delays caused by late content delivery, feedback, or approvals may impact the project timeline and are not Hipodo's responsibility.

7. Delivery & Timeline

Timelines stated in the Proposal are estimated and made in good faith. They are not firm deadlines unless explicitly agreed in writing.

• Approval stages: The Project may include defined approval stages (e.g., design concept, development review, final sign-off).
• Launch: Final launch or go-live only happens after the Client provides written approval.
• Delays: If Hipodo anticipates a delay, we will inform the Client as soon as possible and propose an adjusted timeline.

8. Change Requests

If the Client requests changes that fall outside the agreed scope, Hipodo will:

• Assess the impact on timeline and price.
• Provide a written estimate or revised proposal for the additional work.
• Only proceed with the change after the Client approves the estimate in writing.

Minor adjustments within the agreed scope (e.g., small text edits, color tweaks) are included as part of the normal review process.

9. Intellectual Property

Upon full payment, the Client receives a non-exclusive, perpetual license to use the Deliverables for their intended purpose.

• Ownership: Hipodo retains ownership of all Deliverables until full payment is received. After payment, custom designs and client-specific code are licensed to the Client.
• Reusable components: Generic templates, frameworks, tools, and components developed by Hipodo remain Hipodo's intellectual property and may be reused in other projects.
• Open-source: Projects may include open-source software components. These remain subject to their respective licenses.
• Portfolio rights: Hipodo reserves the right to showcase the Project in its portfolio, case studies, and marketing materials, unless the Client objects in writing.

10. Third-Party Services

Our Services may involve the use of third-party platforms and tools, including but not limited to:

• Vercel (hosting and deployment)
• Google Analytics and Google Search Console
• Google Fonts and other font services
• Supabase (database and server-side functions)
• External APIs and integrations as specified in the Proposal

Hipodo is not responsible for the availability, performance, or terms of use of third-party services. The Client may need to accept separate terms from these providers.

11. AI Usage in Services

Hipodo uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance efficiency and quality in our work. Here is how we handle AI responsibly:

• Zero-data-training guarantee: Your business data is never used to train public AI models. We configure all AI tools to prevent data sharing.
• Human-in-the-loop: All AI-generated content (text, code, designs) is reviewed and refined by a human expert before delivery or publication.
• No sensitive data: We never input personal data (e.g., client lists, passwords) into public AI tools without first anonymizing the data.
• Transparency: If you have questions about how AI is used in your project, we are happy to explain our process in detail.

12. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to keep confidential any information marked as confidential, or that should reasonably be considered confidential, and not disclose it to third parties.

• Duration: Confidentiality obligations remain in effect for 2 years after the end of the engagement.
• Exceptions: Information that is publicly available, independently developed, or required to be disclosed by law is excluded.
• Subcontractors: If Hipodo uses subcontractors, they are bound by the same confidentiality obligations.
• NDA: If your project requires additional confidentiality protections, we can arrange a separate Non-Disclosure Agreement.

13. Warranties & Disclaimers

Hipodo provides its Services with professional skill and care, in accordance with industry standards. However:

• We do not guarantee specific business results (such as conversion rates, traffic increases, or revenue growth) unless explicitly agreed in writing.
• Free services (such as audits) are provided "as-is," without any warranty of fitness for a particular purpose.
• We warrant that Deliverables do not knowingly infringe on third-party intellectual property rights.
• Compatibility with all browsers, devices, and future platform updates is not guaranteed, although we design for current best practices.

14. Liability Limitations

To the fullest extent permitted by Dutch law:

• Cap: Hipodo's total liability for any engagement shall not exceed the total amount paid by the Client for that specific engagement.
• Exclusions: Hipodo is not liable for indirect, consequential, or special damages, including lost profits, loss of data, or business interruption.
• Force majeure: Hipodo is not liable for delays or failures caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including internet outages, natural disasters, pandemics, or government actions.
• Mandatory law: Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be excluded under Dutch mandatory law.

15. Indemnification

The Client indemnifies Hipodo against all claims, damages, and costs arising from Content or materials provided by the Client, including claims related to intellectual property infringement, defamation, or violation of applicable laws. This indemnification survives the termination of the agreement.

16. Termination

• By either party: Either party may terminate the agreement with 14 days' written notice (email is sufficient), unless the Proposal specifies different terms.
• Immediate termination: Either party may terminate immediately if the other party materially breaches the agreement and fails to remedy the breach within 14 days of written notice.
• Work in progress: Upon termination, the Client pays for all work performed up to the termination date. Hipodo delivers all completed Deliverables (subject to payment).
• Post-termination: Confidentiality obligations and intellectual property provisions survive termination.

17. Post-Delivery Support

• Bug fixes: Hipodo provides a 30-day bug fix period after final delivery. Bugs (defined as deviations from the agreed specifications) are fixed at no additional cost.
• Maintenance: Ongoing maintenance and optimization beyond the bug fix period can be arranged under a separate maintenance agreement.
• Hosting: If Hipodo manages hosting on behalf of the Client, terms and pricing for hosting are specified separately.

18. Communication

• Official channel: All formal communication (approvals, change requests, termination notices) must be sent via email.
• Response times: Hipodo aims to respond to emails within 1 business day during regular business hours (Mon-Fri, 09:00-17:00 CET).
• Language: Communication is in Dutch or English, as preferred by the Client.

19. Amendments

Hipodo reserves the right to update these Terms. When we make changes:

• The updated date at the top of this page will reflect the latest revision.
• For material changes, we will notify affected Clients via email at least 30 days before the changes take effect.
• Continued use of our Services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
• Existing engagements continue under the Terms that were in effect at the time of agreement, unless both parties agree otherwise.

20. Governing Law & Disputes

• Applicable law: These Terms are governed by the laws of the Netherlands.
• Mediation first: In the event of a dispute, both parties will first attempt to resolve it through good-faith negotiation or mediation.
• Competent court: If mediation fails, disputes will be submitted to the competent court in Middelburg, the Netherlands.