Terms & conditions
Last Updated: 12/18/2023
Hi! Welcome to our Terms & Conditions page, and congratulations on being the sort of person who reads the Master Services Agreement. Below, on the left, you’ll see the terms to which you must agree if you’re going to use 121eCommerce’s services. That is what counts and is what we pay our lawyers for. On the right, you’ll see how I’d explain it to my mother (Hi Mom!) or anyone else who doesn’t want to deal with the legal jargon. I hope the comments help make sense of this document, so that you can understand what you’re consenting to. Of course, my comments on the right are only intended as a summary; the formal legal terms will always be controlling. Thanks for your interest in 121eCommerce Solutions!
IMPORTANT – PLEASE CAREFULLY READ AND UNDERSTAND THESE CONTRACTUAL TERMS. BY USING OUR SERVICES AND ACCEPTING ANY STATEMENT OF WORK, SERVICE PACKAGE, OR ANY AGREEMENT IN WHICH 121ECOMMERCE PROVIDES CONSULTATIVE SERVICES FOR YOU OR THE ORGANIZATION WHICH YOU REPRESENT, YOU ARE AGREEING, ON BEHALF OF YOURSELF AND THOSE YOU REPRESENT, TO COMPLY WITH AND BE LEGALLY BOUND BY THESE TERMS AS WELL AS OUR PRIVACY POLICY (https://121ecommerce.com/privacy-policy/) AND ALL APPLICABLE LAWS. PLEASE PRINT AND RETAIN A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT FOR YOUR RECORDS.
This Master Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made between 121eCommerce LLC, an Ohio limited liability company (“121eCommerce”), and the Client as designated on the applicable Statement of Work (“CLIENT”).
WHEREAS, CLIENT is willing to engage 121eCommerce to provide the Project Services defined below.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, and for other valuable and legally sufficient consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is acknowledged by the parties, it is agreed as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
Since these Terms & Conditions, i.e., the Agreement, is a binding legal contract, clarity is important. You’ll notice that we capitalize certain words in these SOW even when the rules of grammar don’t require capitalization. We do this because in the context of this Agreement, such capitalized words have specific meanings, which can be found where they are first used, as indicated by text quotation (like “SOW” described above).
1.1 Development Environment
shall mean any methodology, devices, programming or documentation, including compilers, “Workbenches,” tools, and higher-level (or “proprietary”) languages, used by 121eCommerce for development, maintenance and implementation of the Statement of Work and related Documentation.
In simple terms
Here is where we define the terms that will continue to appear throughout the document.
1.2 Intellectual Property
1.3 Pricing Schedule”
1.4 Project Services
1.5 Statement of Work or SOW
1.6 Technical Skills
1.7 Terms
1.8 Third-Party
1.9 Work Product (also called “Deliverable”)
2. SCOPE OF SERVICES GENERALLY
2.1 Services.
In simple terms
Our services, as described in the relevant proposal, are the work we do for you.
2.2 Project Services.
In simple terms
Our services, as described in the relevant proposal, are the work we do for you.
2.3 Change Orders.
Any request by CLIENT for additional or different Project Services on an existing project (from that as laid out on an existing Statement of Work), or the deletion of Project Services from an existing project, shall be by a written Change Order accepted and agreed upon by the parties and appropriately labeled with specific reference to the Statement of Work. Any Change Order or modification shall be by default at the PROJECT SERVICES rate specified in the referenced SOW (or if not specified, as 121eCommerce’s then-current hourly rates) unless otherwise specified in the Change Order. 121eCommerce agrees to continue performance on any existing Statement of Work pending resolution of the requested Change Order, so long as continued performance shall not cause 121eCommerce to incur a material increase in cost or undue hardship based on the change in scope of performance as contemplated by the original SOW. No Change Order shall be implemented without written acceptance by both parties.
In simple terms
Sometimes things change. If you ever need to make changes after the Scope Of Work has been set, we have a system to go about those changes.
3. OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
3.1 Upon payment in full in accordance to the terms stated in the SOW, all of the Deliverables described in the SOW produced under this Agreement and any other items prepared for or submitted to CLIENT under this Agreement shall belong exclusively to CLIENT. Until such payment is received by 121eCommerce, then all the Deliverables described in the SOW belong exclusively to 121eCommerce. Once payment is received by 121eCommerce, then all of the Deliverables described in the SOW shall be deemed to be “works made for hire,” except as set forth below. To the extent that any of the Deliverables may not, by operation of law, be “works made for hire” after payment in full is received, 121eCommerce assigns to CLIENT ownership of copyright and other intellectual property rights in such Deliverables, except as set forth below. Upon payment in full, CLIENT shall have the right to obtain and hold in its own name copyrights, registrations and similar protections, which may be available in such Deliverables. Thereafter, 121eCommerce shall, at the request and cost of CLIENT, promptly sign, execute, make and do all such deeds, documents, acts and things as CLIENT and its duly authorized officers may reasonably require: (i) to apply for, obtain, register and vest in the name of CLIENT alone (unless CLIENT otherwise directs) patents, copyrights, trademarks or other analogous Intellectual Property protection in the United States relating to such Deliverables, and when so obtained or vested to renew and restore the same; and (ii) to assist in the defense of any judicial, opposition or other proceedings in respect of such applications and any judicial, opposition or other proceeding, petition or application for revocation of any such patent, copyright, trademark or other analogous Intellectual Property protection. For clarification, in connection with any cooperation or assistance provided by 121eCommerce under this Section 3.1, 121eCommerce will be entitled to reimbursement from CLIENT for any out-of-pockets costs and expenses incurred by 121eCommerce or its affiliates, principals, employees, agents, or representatives in connection with such cooperation and assistance, as well as for any time incurred in support of such cooperation or assistance, which will be chargeable and invoiced at 121eCommerce’s then-standard hourly rates. Without limiting the foregoing and so long as CLIENT is compliant with the terms of this Agreement, 121eCommerce hereby: (x) gives and grants to CLIENT the sole and exclusive right throughout the world in all languages and in perpetuity to use all Deliverables; and (y) waives any and all claims that 121eCommerce may now or hereafter have in any jurisdiction to so-called “moral rights” or rights of “droit moral” with respect to the results and proceeds of the Deliverables.
In simple terms
You have both rights and obligations. After payment you own, or have the rights to the Deliverables we provide to you.
3.2 Copyrighted Background Technology.
121eCommerce has federal copyright registrations for its proprietary extensions that it incorporates into its Deliverables described in your SOW. For further clarification, such Deliverables to you do not include any of 121eCommerce’s underlying or background software or technology, or any Intellectual Property owned or developed by 121eCommerce or its affiliates prior to the date of this Agreement or not expressly constituting a Deliverable hereunder, including to the extent incorporated into or used to develop the Developed Property (collectively, the “Background Technology”). 121eCommerce reserves all rights in and to its software, its proprietary information, and all other Background Technology not expressly granted to CLIENT in this Agreement. CLIENT agrees that it will not remove any copyright notices, trademarks or trade names of 121eCommerce from the 121eCommerce software or other Background Technology. For the duration of this Agreement and thereafter so long as CLIENT is compliant with the terms of this Agreement, including but not limited to payment obligations, 121eCommerce grants to CLIENT and its successors a perpetual, fully-paid, non-exclusive, transferable right and license to access and use any Background Technology, solely to the extent necessary for CLIENT to access or use any Deliverable in the manner contemplated hereunder or under any Statement of Work. This foregoing right and license to access does not extend to Third Party platforms, applications, or software which that require CLIENT to obtain its own license (an example of this would be Microsoft Outlook). The granting of these rights and access apply solely to the extent necessary for CLIENT to access and use the Work Product and the Deliverables in the manner contemplated hereunder and under the Statement of Work. CLIENT may not incorporate the Background Technology in any software other than software developed by 121eCommerce, LLC.
In simple terms
Whatever we use that is ours to do the work, like our secret sauce, we own, you don’t.
4. MARKETING
4.1 CLIENT hereby grants 121eCommerce the right to use the name and service marks of CLIENT in its marketing materials or other oral, electronic, or written promotions, which shall include naming CLIENT as a client of 121eCommerce and a brief scope of the services provided, subject in all cases to the confidentiality obligations set forth herein. In addition, CLIENT hereby grants 121eCommerce the right to display its logo (or other identifying information) and a hyperlink to CLIENT’s web site.
In simple terms
We reserve the right to tell our future customers that you used and loved our services.
5. FEES AND COSTS
5.1 Fees for Project Services.
The fees for the Project Services shall be set forth in each SOW and in any Change Orders executed in accordance with this Agreement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable SOW, the charges specified on any SOW shall be deemed not to have included taxes. CLIENT shall pay all taxes, duties and levies of any governmental authority, in connection with providing the Project Services (other than taxes based upon 121eCommerce’s net income). All taxes shall be collected and paid as required by law. If 121eCommerce is required to pay such taxes, the taxes shall be billed to the CLIENT and the CLIENT agrees to pay or reimburse to 121eCommerce (within thirty days) the full amount of such taxes and any interest or penalties incurred due to late payment or nonpayment of such taxes by CLIENT.
In simple terms
Here’s where we discuss fees and payment. In a nutshell, we prefer that clients pay their invoices on time.
5.2 Deposits.
5.3 Costs Applicable to Project Services.
5.4 Project Services Invoicing.
5.5 Invoice in Dispute.
5.6 Failure to Pay
6. ANTI-RAIDING
6.1 Hiring of Personnel.
In simple terms
If you love our employees and want them for yourself, we’re going to have to talk.
7. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
7.1 Confidentiality Obligation.
In simple terms
Good friends keep secrets.
7.2 Exclusions.
7.3 Receiving Party also agrees that its obligation to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information received from Disclosing Party shall continue until such time as each such Confidential Information disclosed to Receiving Party becomes publicly known through no action or fault of Receiving Party (as set forth above), or such Confidential Information disclosed to Receiving Party is no longer a “trade secret,” as defined under Ohio’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act or applicable Ohio statute; and promptly upon the request of the Disclosing Party, return and confirm in writing the return of all originals, copies, reproductions and summaries of Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party or, at the option of the Disclosing Party, destroy and confirm in writing the destruction of the Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party; Provided, however that nothing herein shall restrict in any manner the ability of either Party to use or disclose Confidential Information owned by it in any manner whatsoever, and the obligations of confidentiality herein shall apply to each Party only to the extent that the Confidential Information or portion thereof is not owned by that particular Party.
8. WARRANTIES
8.1 Limited Warranty.
In simple terms
Uh oh, this part looks serious. Basically, you agree that the only things 121eCommerce accepts liability for are those which we explicitly mention.
9. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY
9.1 Neither Party Shall Be Liable to the Other for Any Special, Indirect, Punitive, Exemplary, Consequential or Incidental Damages, Arising in Connection With This Agreement or the Project Services Provided Hereunder, Even if Advised of the Possibility of Same. Notwithstanding Any Contrary Term Contained Herein or in Any Statement of Work, in No Event Shall 121ecommerce Be Liable for Damages With Regard to Project Services Performed or Deliverables Provided Under Any Single Sow in Excess of the Total Amount Paid to 121ecommerce Under the Terms of Such Sow During the Twelve (12) Months Immediately Preceding the Facts or Circumstances Giving Rise to the Claim for Liability or Damages. The Foregoing Exclusions and Limitations on Liability Shall Not Apply to Claims Based Upon a Party’s Gross Negligence or Willful Misconduct.
9.2 121ecommerce and Its Affiliates Shall Not Be Responsible to the Extent of Any Damages to Client Caused by Client or Any Third Parties Unaffiliated With 121ecommerce. Client Assumes Total Responsibility for Client’s Use of the Project Services, Software, or Other Work Product Provided by 121ecommerce. No Advice or Information Given by 121ecommerce, Its Affiliates or Its Contractors or Their Respective Employees and Not Expressly Set Forth Herein or in the Applicable Sow Shall Create a Warranty. Any Claim by Client Arising From, or Relating to, This Agreement or Any Sow Must Be Brought Within One (1) Year From the Date Such Claim or Liability Arose. The Parties Acknowledge That a Sow May Provide for Certain Credits or Offsets to Be Applied Toward or Against Amounts Owed by Client to 121ecommerce in Case of Unavailability of the Project Services Above Permitted Thresholds. Except in Case of Fraud, Willful Misconduct, or Third-party Claims Giving Rise to a Claim for Indemnification Under Section 11, These Credits or Offsets Constitute Client’s Sole Remedy for Any Contractual Damages Incurred Due to the Unavailability of the Project Services or Any Deliverable to Client or Any of Its End Users.
In simple terms
Let’s work together to resolve any questions or issues.
10. TERM AND TERMINATION
10.1 Term.
In simple terms
On the off chance you would like to end our services, here are the terms.
10.2 Termination.
10.2.1 For convenience.
10.2.2 Unpaid Service Fees.
10.2.3 Material Breach.
10.2.4 Insolvency.
10.3 Rights on Termination.
10.3.1 Fees.
10.3.2 Expenses.
10.3.3 Fee Payments.
10.3.4 121eCommerce Design Agents.
10.3.5 Infringement of Background Technology.
10.3.6 Confidential Information.
10.4 Survival.
10.5 SOWs.
11. INDEMNIFICATION
11.1 CLIENT shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless 121eCommerce (and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, managers, members, agents, co-branders or other partners, and employees) from any and all claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and all related costs and expenses) (collectively “Losses”) incurred by 121eCommerce and such other indemnified parties as a result of, related to, or arising from (a) any photographs, illustrations, graphics, audio clips, video clips, text, data or any other information, content, display, or material (whether written, graphic, sound, or otherwise) provided by CLIENT to 121eCommerce (the “Client Content”), (b) any infringement of the Client Content upon the Intellectual Property rights of a third party, (c) CLIENT’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement hereunder or under any SOW; or (d) the misconduct or negligence of CLIENT or its agents, employees, contractors, representatives, or affiliates, including to the extent arising out of or related to CLIENT’s operation or use of the Project Services or the Services, but excluding, in all cases, any Losses to the extent based upon 121eCommerce’s own negligence, misconduct, or breach of this Agreement or any SOW.
In simple terms
On the off chance you would like to end our services, here are the terms.
11.2 121eCommerce shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless CLIENT (and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, managers, directors, agents, co-branders or other partners) from any and all Losses incurred by CLIENT and such other indemnified parties as a result of, related to, or arising from: (a) 121eCommerce’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement hereunder or under any SOW; or (b) the misconduct or negligence of 121eCommerce or its agents, employees, contractors, representatives, or affiliates, but excluding, in all cases, any Losses to the extent based upon CLIENT’s own negligence, misconduct, or breach of this Agreement or any SOW.
11.3 In the case of any third party claim or action giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder: (a) the indemnified party shall provide the indemnifying party with prompt written notice of any such third-party claim or action; (b) the indemnifying party shall have sole control of selecting legal counsel in any defense proceedings (provided that such counsel is reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party); and (c) the indemnifying party shall conduct and control the defense of any such claim or action, consistent with the indemnified party’s rights hereunder. Said indemnification shall be subject to Section 9 and the limitations herein, and in any event shall not include punitive, special, or consequential damages.
12. GENERAL
12.1 Relationship of the Parties.
In simple terms
Our relationship with each other is purely contractual. The parties are not partners or joint venturers to each other, and 121eCommerce and its personnel are not your employees.
12.2 Notices.
Any notice, offer, demand, request, consent, approval or other instrument which may or is required to be given or made under this Agreement shall be given or be made in writing and shall be served personally, or transmitted by e-mail or facsimile transmission, or mailed by prepaid registered post and shall be addressed as follows:
If to 121eCommerce:
121eCommerce LLC
2940 Noble Rd, Suite 205
Cleveland Heights, OH 44121
Attention: Point of Contact
Daniel Gross
CEO
tel no.: (216) 586-6656
email: daniel@121ecommerce.com
If to CLIENT:
To the notice address as set forth on the applicable Statement of Work.
or to such other address as any of them may from time to time advise the others by notice given in the manner provided for in this Section.
A notice delivered by regular or certified U.S. Mail will be deemed to have been delivered on the third business day after the post-mark, if affixed by the U.S. Postal Service. Any other notice will be deemed to have been received on the date and time of the signed receipt or confirmation of delivery or transmission thereof, unless that receipt or confirmation date and time is not a business day or is after 5:00 p.m. local time on a business day, in which case such notice will be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding business day. The Parties agree all documents, notices, and correspondence between the Parties concerning this Agreement or the Project shall be in the English language.
In simple terms
This section establishes how a party can send notices or communications to the other.
12.3 121eCommerce strives to meet or exceed all project milestones and deadlines. This requires a commitment both from 121eCommerce and CLIENT. Timely responses on decisions, feedback, and information requests are imperative to meeting these goals. As such, the understanding is that for every day’s delay in CLIENT’s response, each applicable project deadline (as set forth in the applicable SOW) may be extended by up to TWO (2) days to offset both the actual time delay and the time that it may take 121eCommerce to reallocate project resources.
12.4 Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of the State of Ohio without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
In simple terms
The laws of Ohio govern this agreement and anything related to it.
12.5 Dispute Resolution.
If a dispute arises between the parties relating to this Agreement or any SOW, the parties agree that a meeting shall be held promptly between the parties, attended by individuals with decision-making authority regarding the dispute, to attempt in good faith to negotiate a resolution of the dispute. During such discussions, the parties will discuss ways in which to address the dispute, such as Change Order, rebates, refunds or credits, all of which are discretional, as solely determined by 121eCommerce on a case by case baiss. If, within fifteen (15) days after such meeting, the parties have not succeeded in negotiating a resolution of the dispute, then the parties agree to submit the dispute to binding arbitration in Cleveland, Ohio in accordance with the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The AAA will apply the Commercial Arbitration Rules to the arbitration of any dispute pursuant to this Agreement. CLIENT can get procedures (including the process for beginning an arbitration), rules, and fee information from the AAA website (www.adr.org). The party seeking to commence arbitration must first notify the other party in writing at least 30 days in advance of initiating the arbitration. Notice to 121eCommerce should be sent to: 121eCommerce LLC, Attn: Benjamin Chafetz, CEO, 2940 Noble Road, Cleveland Heights, OH 44121. 121eCommerce will provide notice to CLIENT via its email address(es) and street address(es), if any, associated with CLIENT’s account at the time the notice is sent. The notice must describe the nature of the claim and the relief being sought. The arbitrator, if a sole arbitrator, or the chairman, if a panel of three (3) arbitrators, will be a lawyer with experience in handling disputes in the software industry and, if a panel, the other two panel members will each have a background or training in computer law, computer science or the computer software industry. The decision of the arbitrator(s) will be final and can be enforced by any court of proper jurisdiction. Although arbitration procedures are different from court or chargeback procedures, an arbitrator can aware you individually the same damages and relief as a court, and judgment on that aware may be entered and enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing in this Section 12.5 shall prohibit either party from applying to the AAA for temporary or preliminary injunctive relief in order to preserve the status quo or prevent irreparable harm, in which case the hearing on any such application will be held in Cleveland, Ohio.
In simple terms
If we disagree about anything, we talk. If we can’t work it out, then we agree to arbitration.
12. 5.1 Agreement to Arbitrate and Not To Initiate Credit Card Chargebacks.
CLIENT agrees to the above described dispute resolution provisions (i.e., discuss with 121eCommerce, and if unresolved, arbitrate). CLIENT agrees that if it violates such agreed upon dispute resolution terms and initiates a credit card chargeback to attempt to resolve a dispute that it has with 121eCommerce, then CLIENT agrees that 121eCommerce can invoice it for its time to research, draft and respond to such chargeback at an hourly rate of $200 per hour, billed out in 0.25 hourly increments. Additionally, CLIENT agrees that 121eCommerce can also invoice it for any of its incurred chargeback response expenses, including but not limited to, attorneys fees. Upon receipt of such time and expense invoice(s) in response to chargebacks, CLIENT agrees to pay 121eCommerce for the stated invoiced amount within 15 days of receipt of each such invoice. CLIENT agrees that reimbursement of 121eCommerce’s time and incurred expenses to respond to unagreed upon chargebacks is reasonable and enforceable because the parties have agreed that arbitration is their sole dispute resolution mechanism.
12.5.2 Intellectual Property and Computer Trespass Claims Exception.
Notwithstanding the above, the foregoing mandatory arbitration provision shall not apply in the event 121eCommerce bring a claim against CLIENT for infringement of 121eCommerce’s intellectual property rights, computer trespass, or related claims, in which event CLIENT agrees that venue is proper and personal jurisdiction exists over CLIENT in the state or federal courts located in Cleveland, Ohio.
In simple terms
If we disagree about anything, we talk. If we can’t work it out, then we agree to arbitration.
12.6 Assignment.
121eCommerce’s duties to perform Project Services and the Deliverables are expressly agreed to be personal and not to be assignable or transferable; provided; however, that 121eCommerce will be permitted to transfer or assign its rights and duties hereunder or under any SOW in connection with a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, equity securities, or business (by merger or otherwise). Additionally, 121eCommerce will be permitted to delegate or subcontract its duties to perform Project Services and the Deliverables to an affiliate or to a contracted consultant or firm under its direction, so long as 121eCommerce remain directly responsible to the CLIENT for the performance of Project Services and Deliverables in accordance with this Agreement.
12.7 Non-Exclusivity.
Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude 121eCommerce from providing similar services or Deliverables to another company, client, or customer, provided 121eCommerce maintains the CLIENT’s Confidential Information in accordance with the terms hereof and any NDA.
12.8 Waiver.
12.9 Binding Effect.
12.10 Headings.
12.11 Severability.
12.12 Entire Agreement.
12.13 Force Majeure.
In simple terms
If something wild and outside of our control interrupts 121eCommerce’s services, neither you nor we, are liable.
12.14 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed as an original, which together shall constitute one original. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. Federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.