Terms and Conditions

Last Updated: 10th of July 2025

1. Introduction and Acceptance

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of this website and any services provided by Green Heron ("we," "us," or "our"), a freelance web design and development agency based in Portugal, specializing in sustainable and slow tech web solutions.

By accessing this website or engaging our services, you ("Client" or "you") agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our website or services.

2. Services Description

We provide sustainable web design and development services to individuals and companies across Europe, including:

• Branding: Logo design, brand identity development, and visual guidelines
• Integrated Design: A design procesess which integrates development, with the goal of making the final product as sustainable as possible. Custom assets in lightweight formats is one example.
• Development: Website coding, implementation, and technical development
• Delivery: Final website deployment and handover

Our approach follows slow tech principles, emphasizing social awareness, environmental sustainability, and ethical considerations over rapid consumption patterns.

3. Service Process

1. Initial Contact: Clients submit inquiries through our contact form and questionnaire
2. Consultation: We discuss project requirements and provide a proposal
3. Contract Signing: Formal agreement executed before work begins
4. Project Phases: Work proceeds through branding, design, and development phases as applicable
5. Delivery: Final website delivery and documentation provided

4. Client Responsibilities

You agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information during the inquiry process
• Supply all necessary content, images, and materials in a timely manner
• Respond to communications and requests for feedback within reasonable timeframes
• Ensure you own or have permission to use all content you provide
• Respect intellectual property rights and not reproduce our work without permission
• Make timely payments according to agreed terms

5. Intellectual Property

• Your Content: You retain ownership of all content, images, and materials you provide
• Our Work: We retain intellectual property rights to our design methods, code frameworks, and proprietary techniques
• Final Website: Upon full payment, you receive ownership of the final website files, with exceptions for any third-party components or our proprietary frameworks
• Portfolio Rights: We reserve the right to showcase completed work in our portfolio and marketing materials

6. Prohibited Uses

You may not use our website or services to:

• Engage in illegal activities or promote illegal content
• Distribute malware, spam, or harmful code
• Violate intellectual property rights
• Create websites that promote discrimination, hate speech, or harmful activities
• Attempt to reverse-engineer our proprietary methods or code

7. Pricing and Payment

• Pricing is provided in formal proposals following initial consultation
• Payment terms will be specified in individual service contracts
• Services are provided to clients primarily within Europe, including the EU, UK, and Norway
• All prices are in Euros unless otherwise specified

8. Project Timeline and Delivery

• Project timelines are estimates and may vary based on project complexity and client responsiveness
• Delays caused by client feedback, content provision, or change requests may extend delivery dates
• We strive to meet agreed deadlines but cannot guarantee specific delivery dates due to the custom nature of our work

9. Revisions and Changes

• The scope of revisions included in each project phase will be specified in individual contracts
• Additional revisions beyond the agreed scope may incur additional charges
• Significant changes to project requirements may require contract amendments

10. Disclaimers and Limitations

• No Warranty: Our services are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind
• Third-Party Services: We are not responsible for the performance or availability of third-party services integrated into your website
• Limitation of Liability: Our liability is limited to the amount paid for our services

11. Cancellation and Refunds

• Cancellation policies will be specified in individual service contracts
• Work completed prior to cancellation is non-refundable
• Refund eligibility depends on project phase and work completed

12. Data Protection and Privacy

• We process personal data in accordance with GDPR and Portuguese data protection laws
• Our Privacy Policy details how we collect, use, and protect your information
• Client data is handled securely and confidentially

13. Sustainability Commitment

As a sustainable web agency, we:

• Design for longevity and minimal environmental impact
• Follow slow tech principles emphasizing social awareness, environmental sustainability, and ethical considerations
• Optimize websites for energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprint
• Encourage sustainable practices in web development and maintenance

14. Force Majeure

We are not liable for delays or failures caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, government actions, or technical failures of third-party services.

15. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by Portuguese law. Any disputes will be resolved in Portuguese courts. However, we will make reasonable efforts to resolve disputes amicably before pursuing legal action.

16. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. Continued use of our website after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

18. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact us:

Green Heron
Email: hei@green-heron.design

These Terms and Conditions are effective as of the date last updated above.