Terms of Service

Overview

These terms govern the use of the Hearthline Studio website and the general framework for our client engagements. Specific project terms are outlined in individual statements of work. By using our website or engaging our services, you agree to these terms.

Website Use

The content on this website is provided for general information about our services and company. You may view, download, and print pages from this website for your personal, non-commercial use. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our website content without our written permission.

Intellectual Property

Hearthline Studio retains ownership of our methodologies, frameworks, tools, and pre-existing intellectual property used in delivering our services. Upon full payment, clients receive ownership of the final deliverables specified in their statement of work, including custom designs, source code, and documentation created specifically for their project.

We retain the right to reference completed projects in our portfolio and case studies unless otherwise agreed in writing. We may also reuse general-purpose code libraries, components, and techniques developed during a project, provided they do not contain client-specific business logic or confidential information.

Project Scope and Changes

Each engagement begins with a statement of work that defines the scope, deliverables, timeline, and pricing. Work outside the agreed scope may require a change order with adjusted timeline and pricing. We communicate proactively about scope changes and will always seek your approval before proceeding with additional work.

Payment Terms

Payment terms are specified in each statement of work. Generally, we structure payments around project milestones or monthly installments for ongoing engagements. Invoices are due within 30 days of the invoice date. Late payments may incur interest at a rate of 1.5% per month.

We require a deposit before beginning work on fixed-price projects. The deposit amount and payment schedule are detailed in the project proposal.

Client Responsibilities

Successful projects require active collaboration. Clients are responsible for providing timely feedback, necessary access to systems and stakeholders, and decisions within agreed timeframes. Delays in client responsiveness may affect project timelines, and we will communicate any schedule impacts promptly.

Confidentiality

We treat all client information as confidential. We do not disclose client information, business details, or project specifics to third parties without consent, except as required by law. Both parties agree to protect each other's confidential information during and after the engagement.

Warranties

We warrant that our services will be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with industry standards. We warrant that deliverables will substantially conform to the specifications agreed upon in the statement of work.

We do not warrant that software will be error-free or that it will meet every possible use case. Software development inherently involves complexity, and we provide our services on an "as is" basis beyond the specific warranties stated here.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Hearthline Studio shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from or related to our services or these terms. Our total liability for any claim arising from an engagement shall not exceed the total fees paid by the client for the specific project giving rise to the claim.

Termination

Either party may terminate an engagement with written notice if the other party materially breaches the terms of the statement of work and fails to cure the breach within 15 days of notice. Upon termination, the client is responsible for payment of all work completed through the termination date. We will provide all completed deliverables upon receipt of final payment.

Dispute Resolution

We prefer to resolve disagreements through direct conversation and good-faith negotiation. If a dispute cannot be resolved informally, both parties agree to seek resolution through mediation before pursuing litigation. These terms are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which Hearthline Studio operates.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these terms from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of our website or services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

Contact

For questions about these terms, please contact us: