Terms of Service

These terms define code ownership, milestone delivery, data handling, and engagement continuity for client projects.

1. Code ownership & exclusivity

All custom code written specifically for the client project becomes the sole intellectual property of the client upon full payment of the relevant milestone. I do not reuse, resell, repurpose, or share client-specific code in other projects. This exclusivity includes business logic, architecture decisions, and proprietary implementations built for the client.

Exception: Open-source libraries, frameworks, and third-party dependencies remain under their original licenses and are not owned by either party.

2. Milestone-based delivery & payment

The project is divided into agreed milestones. After full payment of each milestone, the client receives complete source code for that milestone plus technical documentation. Paid milestone code is never withheld. Unpaid milestone code remains my property until payment is received. I may pause development if payment is overdue by more than 7 days.

3. Client withdrawal or partner transition

If the client chooses to discontinue or move to another development partner, I deliver all fully paid milestone code within 5 business days with handover documentation for smooth transition. Code from unpaid milestones is not transferred.

4. Data privacy & storage

All client and end-user data is stored only on infrastructure owned or controlled by the client. I do not store, sell, or transmit client data beyond what is strictly required for development and testing. Any test data used during development is synthetic or anonymized and deleted at project completion.

5. First milestone pricing

To establish trust and demonstrate quality, the first milestone may be priced below standard rates. This introductory milestone is scoped to deliver a tangible, functional product component so the client can evaluate process, communication, and output before full engagement.

6. Scope & change requests

Each milestone has a written agreed scope before work starts. Requests outside that scope are separately scoped, priced, and approved before implementation. I proactively flag scope changes instead of absorbing them silently.

7. Right to exit

If I must terminate an engagement, the client receives at least 14 days notice, complete delivery of all paid milestone code, and documented handover materials to minimize disruption.