Article 1 - Applicability of the General Terms and Conditions

These General Terms and Conditions apply to all offers and contracts concluded between Lighthouse Projects srl, hereinafter referred to as "Lighthouse Projects srl", and a Client, hereinafter referred to as "the Client", who has been informed of these terms and conditions by Lighthouse Projects srl. The General Terms and Conditions of Lighthouse Projects srl take precedence over those of the Client. The latter waives the right to apply its own terms and conditions, unless expressly agreed otherwise.

Article 2 - Offers, formation of the contract

All quotes and offers from Lighthouse Projects srl are non-binding.

The contract is formed by written acceptance of the offer from Lighthouse Projects srl by the Client or by written confirmation from Lighthouse Projects srl of an order placed by the Client. However, in the event that Lighthouse Projects srl was unable to view the text in its entirety before making its offer, it may still revoke the proposed rate and the deadlines indicated after acceptance of the offer by the Client.

Lighthouse Projects srl may consider as its Client any person who has placed an order with Lighthouse Projects srl, unless such person has expressly indicated that he/she is acting under a mandate, in the name and on behalf of a third party and provided that the name and address of this third party have been communicated at the same time to Lighthouse Projects srl.

Article 3 - Modification or cancellation of orders

If, after formation of the contract, the Client makes significant changes to the order, Lighthouse Projects srl shall be entitled to adjust the turnaround time or the fees or both or to refuse the order.

In the event of cancellation of the order by the Client, the latter shall pay Lighthouse Projects srl for the completed part of the work and shall pay Lighthouse Projects srl an hourly rate for any document analysis or terminological research carried out for the remaining part.

In the event that Lighthouse Projects srl has reserved time for performance of the service and is no longer able to allocate this time to another service, the Client would be obliged to compensate Lighthouse Projects srl for 50% of the fees corresponding to the part of the service not performed.

Article 4 - Performance of the contract, professional confidentiality

Lighthouse Projects srl is obliged to perform the service to the best of its knowledge and ability, taking into account the purpose specified by the Client.

Lighthouse Projects srl is obliged to keep the information provided by the Client confidential. Unless otherwise expressly agreed between the parties, Lighthouse Projects srl may have an order executed, in whole or in part, by a third party, without prejudice to its responsibility for the confidentiality and proper execution of the order. Lighthouse Projects srl will impose professional confidentiality on this third party.

On request, the Client will provide information regarding the content of the text to be translated, as well as documents and lists of terms. These documents are always sent on behalf of and at the risk of the Client.

Lighthouse Projects srl is not responsible for the accuracy of the information provided by the Client and accepts no liability for damages of any kind whatsoever when it has relied on inaccurate or incomplete information provided by the Client, even if provided in good faith.

Article 5 - Turnaround time and delivery date

The delivery time agreed with the Client in the quote shall commence upon receipt by Lighthouse Projects srl of the source text and the final translation order. Lighthouse Projects srl shall not be held liable for any delay in performance of the work due to illness, accident, temporary incapacity to work or force majeure. However, Lighthouse Projects srl is obliged to inform the Client of any such delay within a reasonable period of time.

Similarly, Lighthouse Projects srl shall not be held liable if the delay is due to late delivery by third parties (courier services, post office, etc.) or to damage to the source text and/or translation during transport.

Likewise, Lighthouse Projects srl cannot be held responsible for the loss by third parties (post office, courier services) of the source text or translation.

Lighthouse Projects srl accepts no responsibility for any defects or errors in the text supplied by the Client, the content of the documents supplied or the text to be translated.

Lighthouse Projects srl is responsible for the quality of the translation, provided that it is used in its entirety and without modification.

Delivery is deemed to have taken place at the time of personal delivery or dispatch by electronic or ordinary mail.

Article 6 - Intellectual property

Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing between the parties, Lighthouse Projects srl retains the copyright on the translations it has produced and the other texts it has written.

The Client is deemed to act as the author of the text to be translated and explicitly authorises the translation, in accordance with article 12 of law of 22 March 1986 regarding copyright. The Client shall indemnify Lighthouse Projects srl against any claims by third parties alleging infringement of property rights, patent rights, copyrights or any other intellectual property rights in connection with the execution of the contract.

Article 7 - Termination

In the event that the Client fails to honour its commitments, is in a state of bankruptcy, suspension of payments or liquidation, Lighthouse Projects srl may, without compensation, terminate the contract in part or in full or postpone its performance. It could then demand immediate payment of what is owed to it.

Article 8 - Complaints and disputes

The Client must notify Lighthouse Projects srl in writing of any complaints about the work delivered as soon as possible, and in any case within eight days of delivery. The lodging of a complaint does not relieve the Client of its obligation to pay and does not suspend the payment deadline.

Complaints or objections relating to the non-conformity of the translation, made within the contractual deadline, must be substantiated in detail by reference to dictionaries, glossaries or equivalent texts written by native speakers.

If the complaint is justified, Lighthouse Projects srl will improve or replace the work delivered within a reasonable period of time or, if Lighthouse Projects srl cannot reasonably make the desired improvement, it will grant a price reduction.

The Client loses all rights of complaint if it has modified the work delivered or had it modified and then transmitted it to a third party.

Article 9 - Fees and payment

A deposit against the cost of the translation may be requested when the order is placed (Acceptance of quote). The balance will be paid either in full on delivery, or in instalments in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the quote.

Invoices are payable within 30 days of date of issue. In the event of non-payment by the due date of the invoice, default interest at a rate of 1% per month, calculated on the amount due (+VAT), will be payable ipso jure and without prior formal notice, in application of articles 1226 and 1229 of the Civil Code.

All administrative and collection costs incurred by Lighthouse Projects srl for the collection of arrears and any other damage suffered as a result of non-payment will be invoiced in full to the customer from the 60th day following the invoice date. This is also in application of articles 1226 and 1229 of the Civil Code. In the event of non-payment within 15 days of the due date for payment, Lighthouse Projects srl shall be entitled, ipso jure and without prior notice, to terminate the contract immediately and at the customer's expense. In this case, Lighthouse Projects srl will send the customer formal notice by registered mail and will inform the customer of the date on which the contract will be considered terminated.

Article 10 - Force majeure 

In these General Terms and Conditions, force majeure shall mean, in addition to what is understood by law and jurisprudence, any external cause, foreseen or unforeseen, over which Lighthouse Projects srl has no control, but which prevents it from fulfilling its commitments. This includes, but is not limited to: fire, accident, illness, strike, riot, war, measures taken by public authorities and obstruction to transport.

The obligations of Lighthouse Projects srl are suspended in the event of force majeure and for the entire duration thereof. If the period during which Lighthouse Projects srl is unable to fulfil its commitments due to force majeure lasts longer than two months, either party may terminate the contract without being liable for compensation. If, at the time of the occurrence of a force majeure event, Lighthouse Projects srl has already partially fulfilled its obligations or can only partially fulfil its obligations, it may invoice the completed part separately and the Client shall be obliged to pay this invoice as if it were a separate contract.

Article 11 - Applicable law

Any dispute arising from the performance of this agreement will be settled amicably between the parties. Should the parties fail to reach an agreement, the courts of Nivelles shall have sole jurisdiction, even in the event of an application to join as a third party and indemnifier and in the event that there are several defendants. This contract is governed by Belgian law.