Terms of Use

Effective Date: 24 Jan 2025
Company: Thrypes GmbH
Address: Gontardstraße 11, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Website: Thrypes

1. Scope and Applicability

1.1 General Scope

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern all interactions between Thrypes GmbH, a company duly registered and operating under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, and any client or entity engaging with our services. These Terms establish a legally binding agreement between Thrypes GmbH ("Thrypes", "we", "us", or "our") and the client ("Client", "Customer", "you"), whether the engagement is initiated via direct contract, through our website, or any other formal communication channels.

These Terms apply regardless of the method or medium of service delivery, whether the services are rendered on-site, remotely, on-demand, or via long-term retainer engagements.

1.2 Covered Services

The scope of these Terms includes, but is not limited to, the following categories of professional services:

  • Custom Software Development

    Design, architecture, coding, testing, and deployment of tailored web, mobile, or enterprise applications based on the client's specific business requirements.

  • Cloud Infrastructure Consulting & Implementation

    Assessment, design, deployment, and optimization of cloud-based systems including AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, or hybrid solutions, aligned with industry best practices and cost-efficiency.

  • Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) Deployment

    Automation and version-controlled management of infrastructure resources using tools like Terraform, Ansible, or AWS CloudFormation, including secure CI/CD integration and environment reproducibility.

  • Online Presence Starter Package for Small Businesses

    Affordable turnkey digital solutions for small businesses (e.g., salons, legal offices, healthcare practices) including responsive websites, search engine visibility, Google Business profiles, and basic content creation.

  • Remote Engineering Team Extension

    Provision of skilled software engineers, DevOps professionals, and cloud consultants to augment client teams for defined periods, with flexible ramp-up and ramp-down capabilities.

  • DevOps-as-a-Service

    Setup and ongoing management of CI/CD pipelines, observability tooling, infrastructure scaling, automated deployments, and secure secrets management to ensure agile development practices and operational resilience.

1.3 Binding Agreement

By accessing our website, submitting a service inquiry, entering into a project-specific Service Agreement or Statement of Work (SOW), or by otherwise engaging with Thrypes GmbH in any formal or informal capacity, you expressly acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to be legally bound by these Terms.

These Terms apply in full unless otherwise modified or supplemented by a written agreement signed by both parties. In case of conflict between these Terms and a specific Service Agreement, the latter shall prevail only with respect to the specific engagement it governs.

1.4 Updates and Versioning

Thrypes GmbH reserves the right to amend or update these Terms periodically to reflect changes in service offerings, legal requirements, or business practices. Material changes will be communicated in writing or via prominent notice on our website. Continued use of our services after the effective date of such updates constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

2. Eligibility and Client Responsibilities

2.1 Eligibility

The services of Thrypes GmbH are available exclusively to:

  • Natural persons who are at least 18 years of age, possessing full legal capacity to enter into binding contracts under German civil law (§§ 104 ff. BGB); or

  • Legal entities and registered businesses, including freelancers, sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations, acting through authorized representatives.

  • Authorized agents or employees of a company, organization, or institution, who possess the legal authority to engage Thrypes GmbH on behalf of such entity.

By entering into an agreement with Thrypes GmbH, the Client warrants that they meet these eligibility requirements and that any information provided in connection with their identity, business status, or authority is accurate and truthful.

2.2 Client Responsibilities

To ensure successful delivery and maintain a collaborative working relationship, the Client agrees to the following responsibilities:

  • Provision of Accurate and Complete Information

  • Active and Reasonable Cooperation

  • Timely Review and Approval

  • Legal and Regulatory Compliance

  • Use of Deliverables

3. Service Agreements

3.1 General Framework

While these Terms of Use provide the general legal framework for all services provided by Thrypes GmbH, each individual engagement with a client will be further governed by a separate written agreement in the form of a Service Agreement, Statement of Work (SOW), Proposal, or Project Quotation (collectively referred to as "Service Agreement").

Each Service Agreement shall be tailored to the specific project or service engagement, and is intended to supplement, clarify, or modify the general provisions contained in these Terms for that particular engagement. In the event of any conflict between a Service Agreement and these Terms, the provisions of the Service Agreement shall prevail, but only for the scope and duration of that specific engagement.

3.2 Content of Service Agreements

Each Service Agreement issued by Thrypes GmbH shall include, at a minimum, the following elements:

  • Scope of Work

  • Deliverables

  • Timeline and Milestones

  • Payment Terms

  • Confidentiality Provisions

  • Intellectual Property (IP) Rights Allocation

3.3 Binding Nature

Each Service Agreement forms an integral part of the contractual relationship between the Client and Thrypes GmbH and is subject to these Terms of Use. By signing or electronically accepting a Service Agreement, the Client acknowledges their binding legal obligation to comply with the specific terms therein, as well as these overarching Terms.

The Client may not transfer or assign rights or obligations under any Service Agreement without the prior written consent of Thrypes GmbH.

4. Fees and Payment

4.1 Pricing Structure

All services provided by Thrypes GmbH are subject to fees as specified in the Service Agreement, Statement of Work (SOW), or relevant Service Package Description. Prices are calculated based on the complexity, duration, and scope of the requested service. These may be structured as:

  • Fixed-price agreements (typically for well-defined, one-off projects)

  • Time-and-materials billing (based on hourly or daily rates)

  • Retainer contracts (recurring monthly fees for ongoing services)

  • Packaged offerings (e.g., standardized services for small businesses)

All stated prices are net amounts and will be subject to applicable statutory Value-Added Tax (VAT) in accordance with German tax regulations, unless expressly stated otherwise.

4.2 Payment Terms

Unless otherwise specified in the Service Agreement, all invoices issued by Thrypes GmbH are payable in full within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of invoice issuance. Payment shall be made to the bank account or payment method indicated on the invoice.

Payments must be made in euros (EUR) unless agreed otherwise in writing. Any bank transfer or currency conversion fees shall be borne by the Client.

4.3 Upfront and Milestone Payments

For certain service packages and one-time projects, especially those involving pre-defined deliverables (e.g., the Online Presence Starter Package), the following standard payment schedule applies:

  • 50% upfront upon acceptance of the proposal or Service Agreement and prior to commencement of work

  • 50% balance payable upon delivery or completion of the final agreed-upon deliverables

Alternative milestone-based payment structures may apply for longer-term or multi-phase projects and will be clearly defined in the applicable Service Agreement.

4.4 Late Payment and Statutory Interest

In the event that payment is not received by the due date, Thrypes GmbH reserves the right to charge statutory default interest in accordance with § 288 of the German Civil Code (BGB):

  • For business clients: 9 percentage points above the base interest rate of the Deutsche Bundesbank

  • A one-time reminder fee of €40 may also apply (pursuant to § 288 Abs. 5 BGB)

Thrypes GmbH also reserves the right to:

4.5 Disputed Charges

If the Client disputes any part of an invoice, the Client must notify Thrypes GmbH in writing within 7 days of the invoice date, clearly identifying the disputed item(s) and the reason. All undisputed charges must still be paid on time. Both parties shall work in good faith to resolve any disputes promptly.

4.6 Refunds and Cancellations

Fees paid for completed phases of work or digital deliverables are non-refundable, except where otherwise mandated by applicable consumer protection laws. In the event of early cancellation of a project by the Client, Thrypes GmbH shall be entitled to compensation for work already performed, including any preparatory effort and third-party costs incurred.

5. Intellectual Property Rights

5.1 Pre-Existing and Background IP

Thrypes GmbH retains all rights, title, and interest—both now and in the future—to any and all:

  • Pre-existing intellectual property, including but not limited to proprietary code libraries, APIs, templates, scripts, configuration files, design systems, development frameworks, cloud automation modules, DevOps playbooks, and AI/ML model components developed independently of a specific client engagement.

  • Tools and platforms created or licensed by Thrypes GmbH prior to, or during, an engagement but not developed specifically and exclusively for the Client.

These assets (collectively referred to as "Background IP") remain the sole and exclusive property of Thrypes GmbH and may be reused, enhanced, and redeployed across other client projects, subject to any license or confidentiality obligations.

The Client is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Background IP as embedded within or required to operate the custom deliverables, for the intended use defined in the Service Agreement.

5.2 Ownership of Deliverables

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, and subject to full and final payment of all outstanding fees, the Client shall receive full rights to all custom deliverables specifically created for the Client during the engagement. This includes:

  • Custom source code and documentation

  • User interface designs and branding materials

  • Infrastructure configurations (e.g. Terraform, Ansible scripts)

  • Technical architecture diagrams and reports

  • Website content and assets developed under the Online Presence Starter Package

  • Any other tangible or digital output uniquely tailored for the Client

This ownership transfer may take the form of:

Thrypes GmbH waives any claim to moral rights in custom software where legally permissible but reserves the right to restrict or limit reuse of deliverables in conflict with its Background IP protections.

5.3 Third-Party Components and Open Source

Where open-source software, third-party APIs, libraries, SDKs, or SaaS platforms are integrated into the project:

  • The Client agrees to comply with all applicable open-source licenses (e.g., MIT, GPL, Apache) or third-party license terms.

  • Thrypes GmbH will make reasonable efforts to identify such components in the project documentation or SOW.

  • Thrypes GmbH is not liable for restrictions, fees, or obligations imposed by such third-party providers.

5.4 Portfolio and Marketing Rights

The Client grants Thrypes GmbH a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide right to reference the engagement in its portfolio, promotional materials, pitch decks, or case studies in anonymized or generalized form, unless otherwise requested in writing by the Client.

This may include:

  • High-level project summaries

  • Screenshots (excluding confidential or client-branded data)

  • Industry sector, service type, and technologies used

  • Success metrics (where publicly shareable)

Thrypes GmbH will never publish confidential or identifying information (e.g., customer names, internal documentation, or proprietary content) without explicit prior consent.

5.5 Infringement Claims and Liability

Each party represents that it owns or has the legal right to use all materials provided to the other. If a third party brings a claim alleging that any deliverable infringes their IP rights, the Client agrees to promptly notify Thrypes GmbH.

  • Thrypes GmbH shall have the first right to defend such claims and, if necessary, may modify the deliverable or substitute it with a non-infringing equivalent.

  • Thrypes GmbH is not liable for IP infringement resulting from:

6. Data Protection and Privacy

6.1 Regulatory Compliance

Thrypes GmbH is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of its Clients and their end users. We process all personal data in accordance with:

  • The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679)

  • The German Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz – BDSG)

  • Applicable EU and national data privacy and cybersecurity regulations

Where applicable, we also observe sector-specific standards (e.g. healthcare or finance) if mandated by a project.

6.2 Data Processing Scope

Thrypes only processes personal data that is necessary for:

  • Performing contractual obligations related to service delivery

  • Communicating with the Client during project lifecycles

  • Managing invoicing, legal compliance, and internal operations

  • Improving internal systems, services, or infrastructure (where permitted)

  • Fulfilling legal obligations such as documentation and tax compliance

We do not sell, lease, or otherwise disclose Client personal data to unauthorized third parties.

6.3 Confidentiality and Access Control

Thrypes ensures that all personnel who may have access to Client data are:

  • Bound by strict confidentiality obligations, either by contract or statutory requirements

  • Regularly trained on GDPR principles and secure data handling practices

  • Limited in access based on the principle of least privilege

Data is stored and transmitted using secure methods (e.g. encrypted channels, role-based access, firewalled storage) and hosted in data centers located within the European Economic Area (EEA), unless otherwise agreed.

6.4 Data Processing Agreement (DPA)

Where required by Article 28 of the GDPR, Thrypes will enter into a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with the Client when:

  • Thrypes processes personal data on behalf of the Client

  • The Client acts as a Data Controller and Thrypes as a Data Processor

  • Such data involves personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive data, or user activity logs

The DPA will outline the nature, purpose, duration, and categories of data processed, along with specific obligations related to technical and organizational security measures (TOMs), data breach notifications, subcontractor management, and data subject rights.

6.5 Subprocessors

Thrypes may engage subprocessors (e.g., hosting providers, email platforms, deployment services) to fulfill service obligations. All subprocessors are:

  • Diligently selected and vetted for GDPR compliance

  • Bound by written agreements that enforce equivalent data protection standards

  • Listed transparently in the DPA or upon Client request

Clients will be notified in advance of any intended changes to the list of subprocessors that materially affect the processing of their data.

6.6 Data Subject Rights

Clients and their end users (where applicable) retain all rights afforded under GDPR, including:

  • The right to access, rectify, or erase their personal data

  • The right to restrict or object to processing

  • The right to data portability

  • The right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

Thrypes will assist the Client in fulfilling any legitimate data subject requests as required, within reasonable timeframes and contractual boundaries.

6.7 Retention and Deletion

Client data will be retained only for as long as is necessary to fulfill contractual, legal, or operational requirements. After project closure, personal data will be:

  • Securely deleted or anonymized, unless required for legal or tax purposes

  • Retained in backups only for the duration defined in the DPA or internal policies

  • Deleted upon Client request, subject to statutory obligations

6.8 Privacy Policy

Additional details on how we collect, use, store, and protect personal data are outlined in our comprehensive Privacy Policy, which forms an integral part of these Terms. Clients are advised to review this policy to understand their rights and obligations in more detail.

7. Confidentiality

7.1 Mutual Obligation

Each party (Thrypes and the Client) agrees to treat as confidential all non-public, proprietary, or business-sensitive information (hereafter, "Confidential Information") received from the other party during the course of the engagement. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Technical specifications, business processes, or source code

  • Product roadmaps, strategies, pricing models, or internal documentation

  • Client data, third-party data, and contractual terms

7.2 Permitted Disclosures

Confidential Information shall not be disclosed to any third party without the prior written consent of the disclosing party, except:

  • To employees, agents, or subcontractors who need the information for the purpose of fulfilling obligations and are bound by equivalent confidentiality obligations;

  • As required by law, regulation, or competent authority, provided that the disclosing party is informed (unless prohibited) and the disclosure is limited to the minimum necessary.

7.3 Duration and Survival

The obligation of confidentiality shall survive the termination or expiry of the contractual relationship for a period of five (5) years, unless:

  • Longer retention is required by law (e.g. tax, compliance),

  • Trade secrets are involved, in which case protection remains indefinite under the German Trade Secrets Act (GeschGehG).

8. Warranties and Limitations of Liability

8.1 Warranties

Thrypes GmbH warrants that:

  • All services will be performed using qualified personnel and with reasonable skill, diligence, and care as per applicable industry standards;

  • Software solutions will conform to the specifications agreed upon in the Service Agreement or Statement of Work (SOW), provided the Client fulfills its cooperation obligations;

  • Any defects or deviations reported within a reasonable period after delivery will be corrected at no additional cost, provided they are not due to misuse or third-party interference.

8.2 Exclusions

Thrypes does not warrant:

  • That the services will be completely error-free or uninterrupted;

  • Compatibility with third-party systems unless explicitly agreed;

  • Outcomes or commercial success derived from the use of its deliverables.

8.3 Limitations of Liability

In accordance with Sections §276 and §280 BGB:

  • Liability for ordinary negligence is limited to direct, foreseeable damages and only where a material contractual obligation (Kardinalpflicht) has been breached;

  • Thrypes is not liable for indirect, consequential, or financial damages (e.g., lost profits, loss of business, lost savings, or data loss), except where caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct;

  • Liability for damages resulting from injury to life, body, or health, and liability under mandatory product liability laws, remain unaffected (§309 No. 7 BGB).

8.4 Liability Cap

Unless otherwise stated in a Service Agreement, Thrypes' total liability per engagement is capped at the total amount paid by the Client under the respective project, subject to mandatory statutory limits.

9. Client Obligations and Indemnity

9.1 Client Representations

The Client represents and warrants that:

  • All content, materials, data, or instructions provided to Thrypes for use in the project are lawful, do not violate applicable regulations (e.g. copyright, GDPR), and are free from malware or harmful code;

  • It has obtained all necessary rights, licenses, or permissions to use and share such materials with Thrypes;

  • It will not use the services for any unlawful, unethical, or unauthorized purposes.

9.2 Cooperation Duties

The Client shall:

  • Timely provide all necessary access, feedback, approvals, and resources required for Thrypes to perform the services;

  • Designate a point of contact or project coordinator;

  • Avoid causing delays or project scope changes without prior agreement.

9.3 Indemnification

The Client agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Thrypes GmbH, its employees, and subcontractors from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from:

  • The Client's breach of these Terms or applicable law;

  • The use or publication of any Client-supplied content that infringes the intellectual property or privacy rights of third parties;

  • Any misuse of the software, platform, or services by the Client or its agents.

This indemnification obligation shall remain in force even after the termination of the service agreement.

10. Service Availability and Support

10.1 Project Timelines and Delivery

All project timelines provided in proposals, Service Agreements, or Statements of Work (SOWs) are estimates based on the information available at the time of planning. While Thrypes GmbH will make all reasonable efforts to adhere to agreed schedules, delays may occur due to:

  • Client-side dependencies or lack of timely feedback

  • Changes in scope or requirements

  • Third-party service outages or provider delays

  • Force majeure events, including but not limited to natural disasters, political unrest, cyberattacks, or pandemics

Where applicable, updated delivery schedules will be discussed and agreed upon in good faith between both parties.

10.2 Service Level Agreements (SLA)

For infrastructure-related services (e.g. cloud deployment, IaC, DevOps support), specific Service Level Agreements (SLAs) may be defined separately in the Service Agreement. Such SLAs may cover:

  • System uptime and availability targets (e.g., 99.9%)

  • Response and resolution time for incidents (e.g., Severity 1-3 categorizations)

  • Monitoring and alert protocols

  • Maintenance and update schedules

Where no specific SLA is agreed upon, services will be provided on a best-effort basis in line with professional standards.

10.3 Post-Delivery Support

  • Following the completion and delivery of any project or packaged service, Thrypes GmbH provides a standard 30-day post-delivery support window to address:

  • This support does not include:

  • Extended support may be made available through a separate Support & Maintenance Agreement, tailored to the Client’s operational needs (e.g. 24/7 support, proactive monitoring, security patching, etc.).

10.4 Communication Channels

Thrypes GmbH offers support via:

  • Email (support@thrypes.com)

  • Project management tools (e.g., Jira, Trello, or as agreed)

  • Video conferencing or scheduled check-ins for ongoing engagements

Support response times are typically within 1 business day for non-critical requests. Emergency response protocols (if any) will be outlined separately within SLAs or support addenda.

11. Termination

11.1 Termination by Either Party

Either party—the Client or Thrypes GmbH—may terminate the service engagement under the following conditions:

  • For open-ended or ongoing contracts:

    Either party may terminate the agreement by providing at least 14 calendar days’ written notice to the other party. This notice must be submitted in writing (e.g., email or letter) and specify the intended termination date. During this notice period, both parties are expected to continue fulfilling their contractual obligations unless otherwise agreed.

  • For fixed-term contracts or project-based agreements:

    Termination before the contract or project completion date may only occur in accordance with the specific terms stated in the relevant Service Agreement or Statement of Work. If no such provision exists, the 14-day notice applies.

11.2 Immediate Termination for Just Cause

Thrypes GmbH reserves the right to terminate the engagement immediately, without prior notice, under circumstances that constitute just cause, including but not limited to:

  • Material breach of these Terms or the Service Agreement by the Client, such as failure to pay invoices, violation of confidentiality obligations, or misuse of services.

  • Insolvency or bankruptcy of either party.

  • Unlawful or unethical conduct, including but not limited to use of the services for illegal activities, infringement of intellectual property rights,or activities that materially harm Thrypes GmbH’s reputation or operations.

  • Any event or circumstance that legally justifies immediate termination under German law.

11.3 Client’s Financial Obligations Upon Termination

Upon termination of the engagement for any reason:

  • The Client remains fully liable to pay for all services and deliverables rendered by Thrypes GmbH up to the effective date of termination, including work in progress, preparatory work, and any non-cancellable expenses incurred.

  • Any prepaid fees for services not yet rendered maybe subject to refund or forfeiture according to the terms specified in theService Agreement or applicable law.

  • Thrypes GmbH will provide the Client with access to all completed deliverables and project materials for which full payment has been received, subject to any applicable intellectual property or confidentiality restrictions.

11.4 Effects of Termination

  • Termination shall not affect any rights or liabilities accrued prior to termination.

  • Obligations regarding confidentiality, intellectual property rights,data protection, and indemnification shall survive termination.

  • Both parties agree to cooperate reasonably to ensure a

12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

12.1 Governing Law

These Terms, and any Service Agreements executed under them, are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

12.2 Jurisdiction

Any disputes arising from or in connection with these Terms or the underlying services shall fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Berlin, Germany, unless otherwise agreed in writing by both parties.

12.3 Informal Resolution

Before initiating formal legal proceedings, both parties agree to attempt informal resolution of any dispute through good-faith negotiations. This includes a reasonable effort to settle the issue via written communication or a virtual meeting within 30 days of the dispute being raised.

13. Amendments and Severability

13.1 Amendments

Thrypes GmbH reserves the right to amend these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in the law, service offerings, or business practices.

  • The current version will always be available on our website.

  • Material changes will be communicated to Clients with active engagements via email or client portal, and will take effect 30 days after notification, unless otherwise stated.

If the Client continues to use Thrypes services after the updated Terms have taken effect, this constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

13.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, such provision shall be severed or reformed to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

14. Contact

For any questions or legal concerns:

Thrypes GmbH
📍 Gontardstraße 11, 10178 Berlin, Germany
📧 legal@thrypes.com
🌐 Thrypes

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