Terms and conditions

Terms of Service

Effective Date: August 2, 2026

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Terms of Service

Welcome to Francois Creative Designs (FCD).

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your use of this website and any products or services provided by Francois Creative Designs. By using this website or engaging FCD for services, you agree to these Terms.

If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use this website or our services.

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1. About Francois Creative Designs

Francois Creative Designs provides professional digital services including, but not limited to:

• Custom websites
• Custom web applications
• Business software
• Workflow consulting
• Technical planning
• Software maintenance
• User interface and experience design
• Digital consulting

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1. Project Proposals

Every project begins with a discussion of your goals and requirements.

A written proposal or quotation will outline:

• Scope of work
• Estimated timeline
• Deliverables
• Pricing
• Payment schedule
• Assumptions
• Any agreed revisions

Only the items included in the approved proposal are considered part of the project.

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1. Changes to Project Scope

Projects naturally evolve. Requests that substantially expand or change the agreed scope may require:

• A revised estimate
• Additional fees
• Timeline adjustments
• A separate project agreement

FCD will discuss these changes before additional work begins.

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1. Client Responsibilities

Clients agree to provide, in a timely manner:

• Required content
• Images
• Branding assets
• Feedback
• Approvals
• Access to required systems or accounts (where applicable)

Delays in providing required information may affect project timelines.

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1. Payments

Unless otherwise agreed in writing:

• Invoices are payable according to the approved proposal.
• Work may begin after any required deposit is received.
• Final deliverables may be released after outstanding balances are paid.

Late payments may delay ongoing work or future support.

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1. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise agreed:

Client Ownership

Upon full payment, the client owns the completed custom work created specifically for their project.

This generally includes:

• Website content
• Custom designs
• Project-specific source code
• Graphics created for the project

FCD Ownership

Francois Creative Designs retains ownership of:

• Internal frameworks
• Reusable libraries
• Development tools
• Templates
• Utility code
• Proprietary systems
• Bridge CMS and related ecosystem components, unless licensed otherwise

These may be reused across multiple projects.

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1. Third-Party Software

Projects may include third-party software, libraries, plugins, APIs, fonts, or services.

Their use remains subject to their respective licenses and terms.

FCD cannot guarantee the future availability or continued operation of third-party services.

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1. Open Source Components

Some projects may incorporate open-source software.

Open-source components remain governed by their original licenses.

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1. Hosting and Domain Names

Unless specifically included in a proposal:

• Clients are responsible for domain registration.
• Clients are responsible for hosting accounts.
• Clients retain ownership of domains purchased in their own name.

FCD can assist with setup and configuration where requested.

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1. Maintenance and Support

After project completion:

• Support is available through separate maintenance agreements or hourly work.
• New features, redesigns, or major enhancements are not included unless specifically agreed upon.

Maintenance plans may include updates, security reviews, backups, monitoring, and content changes, depending on the selected plan.

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1. Consulting Services

Recommendations provided during consulting or workflow audits are based on information available at the time.

Clients remain responsible for their business decisions and implementation choices.

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1. Warranties

FCD strives to deliver reliable, professional work.

However, software is complex, and no software can be guaranteed to be completely free from defects or compatible with every future environment.

Except where required by law, services are provided “as is” without warranties of any particular business outcome, uninterrupted operation, or fitness for a specific purpose.

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1. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Francois Creative Designs will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to:

• Lost profits
• Lost revenue
• Lost business opportunities
• Business interruption
• Loss of data
• Loss of goodwill

FCD’s total liability relating to a project will not exceed the amount paid by the client for the specific services giving rise to the claim.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot legally be excluded.

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1. Confidentiality

Any confidential business information shared during a project will be treated with reasonable care and used only as necessary to perform the agreed services.

Both parties agree not to disclose confidential information unless required by law or with written permission.

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1. Portfolio Rights

Unless a written confidentiality agreement states otherwise, FCD may display completed work in its portfolio, case studies, marketing materials, or social media after the project is publicly launched.

Confidential or unreleased projects will not be showcased without permission.

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1. Acceptable Use

You agree not to use this website or FCD services for activities that are unlawful or harmful, including:

• Fraud
• Malware or malicious software
• Copyright infringement
• Unauthorized access to systems
• Spam or abusive behavior
• Activities that violate applicable laws or regulations

FCD reserves the right to decline or terminate projects that conflict with these principles.

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1. Termination

Either party may terminate a project in writing.

The client remains responsible for payment for work completed up to the termination date.

Any prepaid amounts for work not yet performed will be handled according to the project agreement.

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1. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws applicable in the jurisdiction where Francois Creative Designs operates, unless otherwise required by applicable law.

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1. Changes to These Terms

FCD may update these Terms from time to time.

The most current version will always be published on this website with an updated effective date.

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1. Contact

Questions about these Terms or FCD services can be submitted through the website’s Contact page.