Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions govern the relationship between Amber Wolf Studios (“we”, “our”, or “the Studio”) and our clients (“you” or “the Client”).

By engaging our services, approving a quote, or paying a booking fee, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms.

1. Acceptance of Terms
1.1. Your written acceptance of a quote, invoice approval, or payment of a booking fee constitutes acceptance of these Terms.
1.2. Any variation or amendment to these Terms must be agreed upon in writing by both parties.

2. Project Scope and Additional Charges
2.1. The project scope, timeline, and deliverables will be clearly outlined in a formal proposal or quotation.
2.2. Work outside the agreed scope (including additional concepts, design revisions, or strategy sessions) will incur additional fees, communicated before proceeding.
2.3. We reserve the right to adjust timelines where additional work or client delays occur.

3. Payment Terms
3.1. A 50% non-refundable booking fee is required to secure your project and commence work.
3.2. The remaining balance is due prior to the release of final deliverables.
3.3. Website projects: 50% to begin, 25% upon design approval and before development, and the final 25% prior to handover.
3.4. Print projects: 100% payment upfront before production.
3.5. Late payments may result in paused work or withheld deliverables until full payment is received.

4. Ownership & Usage Rights
4.1. Upon full payment, you receive ownership of the final approved deliverables (e.g., exported design files, website, or brand assets).
4.2. Open working files (e.g., Adobe, Figma, or layered design files) remain the intellectual property of Amber Wolf Studios unless otherwise agreed in writing. These can be purchased for an additional fee.
4.3. All concepts, unused designs, and drafts remain the property of Amber Wolf Studios and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.

5. Brand Strategy & Retainers
5.1. Retainer agreements are governed by a separate written agreement detailing the scope, billing cycle, and deliverables.
5.2. Unused hours or services within a monthly retainer period do not roll over unless otherwise agreed in writing.
5.3. Strategy sessions, brand documentation, and frameworks remain proprietary to Amber Wolf Studios unless full ownership transfer is included in the project scope.

6. Website Design and Development
6.1. Websites are built according to the specifications approved by the Client.
6.2. We ensure that the website functions correctly at the time of handover.
6.3. Amber Wolf Studios is not responsible for downtime, errors, or loss of data caused by hosting providers, servers, plugins, or third-party tools.
6.4. Post-launch updates, maintenance, or edits not included in the project scope will be billed separately.
6.5. If third-party changes or updates cause functionality issues, repairs can be quoted and billed additionally.

7. Revisions & Feedback
7.1. Each design package includes a set number of revisions as outlined in your proposal.
7.2. Additional revisions, concept changes, or new creative directions requested after approval will be billed at the hourly or per-item rate.
7.3. Timely feedback is required to maintain project timelines. Delays in feedback may result in adjusted delivery dates.

8. Cancellation & Refunds
8.1. The booking fee is non-refundable under any circumstance, as it covers time allocated and initial creative work.
8.2. If the Client cancels a project mid-way, any completed work will be invoiced.
8.3. Should Amber Wolf Studios cancel the project due to unforeseen circumstances, the Client will be refunded the booking fee minus the value of work already completed.

9. Confidentiality & Portfolio Use
9.1. Both parties agree to maintain confidentiality regarding project materials, discussions, and shared data.
9.2. Amber Wolf Studios may display completed projects (excluding confidential information) in our portfolio, marketing materials, or case studies unless otherwise agreed in writing.
9.3. If a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is required, this must be requested before the commencement of work.

10. Intellectual Property & Legal Rights
10.1. The Client is responsible for ensuring that any materials provided (logos, imagery, fonts, or copy) do not infringe on third-party rights.
10.2. Amber Wolf Studios will not be held liable for copyright or trademark issues arising from assets supplied by the Client.
10.3. We reserve the right to include credits or a discreet footer link on websites we design, unless agreed otherwise.

11. Liability
11.1. Amber Wolf Studios will not be held liable for any loss of income, data, or reputation resulting from project delays, technical issues, or external factors.
11.2. While we take all reasonable steps to deliver professional and effective results, we make no guarantees of specific business outcomes such as sales or traffic increases.
11.3. The Client agrees to provide accurate, timely information and approvals to ensure project success.

12. AI & Third-Party Tools
12.1. The Studio may use licensed AI-assisted or third-party design tools to enhance workflow efficiency and creative output.
12.2. Any such use will not affect the originality of your final deliverables.

13. Termination
13.1. Either party may terminate this agreement if the other materially breaches any term and fails to remedy it within seven (7) days of written notice.
13.2. Upon termination, all completed work will be invoiced and all outstanding balances must be settled immediately.

14. Dispute Resolution
14.1. Any disputes will first be addressed through good-faith discussions between the parties.
14.2. If unresolved, disputes shall be referred to mediation in accordance with South African law.

15. Project Inactivity & Reinstatement
15.1. If the Client becomes unresponsive or fails to provide required feedback, content, or approvals for a period of 30 days or more, the project will be considered on hold.
15.2. Projects placed on hold for more than 60 days without communication will be deemed abandoned, and Amber Wolf Studios reserves the right to close the project file.
15.3. Should the Client wish to restart an abandoned or inactive project, a reinstatement fee may apply to cover time spent reacquainting with the project, re-opening files, or updating software and resources.
15.4. The reinstatement fee will be calculated based on the project size and time elapsed, and must be paid before any further work resumes.
15.5. Amber Wolf Studios cannot guarantee the same timelines, creative direction, or resources for reinstated projects as originally agreed, particularly if significant time has passed.

16. Governing Law
16.1. These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
16.2. Any legal proceedings shall take place in a court of competent jurisdiction within South Africa.

17. Amendments
17.1. Amber Wolf Studios reserves the right to update or amend these Terms at any time.
17.2. The latest version will always be available on our website and will apply to all ongoing and future projects.