Standard Freelance Seller / Buyer Agreement
This document is a legal agreement between you, the “Seller” or “Buyer” (as defined below) and FreelanceWarriors. These Seller’s / Buyer’s Terms and Conditions (“Agreement”) sets forth the provisions under which the Seller / Buyer may register and use the web-site for the purpose of posting projects and accepting bids (Buyer) and responding to solicitations for the acquisition of software solutions, services, and products (Seller).
DEFINITIONS
Site (s): FreelanceWarriors: (if applicable) is the parent company and owner of the site also hereinafter referred to FreelanceWarriors.
Bid Requests: Users of the site desiring to purchase customer software solutions via a reverse auction make bid requests on the site to solicit bids from software developers.
Bids: Anyone that places a bid on a project in an attempt to gain employment.
Buyer" Individual (s) or a Company instigating a project in an effort to gain bids for same.
Seller: Individual (s) or a Company providing a service.
- TERM
The initial term of this Agreement shall be a period of one (1) year from the Effective Date. Thereafter, the Agreement shall automatically renew for subsequent one (1) year terms. At any time, either party may terminate this agreement, with or without cause, upon thirty (30) days prior written notice. FreelanceWarriors reserves the right to immediately terminate any Seller who commits fraud, slander, a denial-of-service attack, or commits any other action which it deems inappropriate. Neither party has made any commitments regarding the duration or renewal of this Agreement beyond those stated herein.
- SCOPE
Upon completion of the Registration Form and after accepting the site Terms of Service and this agreement, the Seller is authorized to respond to Bid Requests. Final content of all responses to Bid Request documents is at the complete and
sole discretion of the Seller. FreelanceWarriors reserves the editorial right to censor any responses that it feels are inappropriate. This is a master agreement between Seller and FreelanceWarriors and shall apply to all transactions and business conducted between the parties.
- Seller’s OBLIGATIONS
Seller will provide solutions and/or quotations via FreelanceWarriors in response to Bid Requests posted on FreelanceWarriors’s website by Buyer's. This Agreement shall govern the business relationship between FreelanceWarriors and Seller despite any different or conflicting terms and conditions in Seller’s forms or other documents.
- Seller authorizes FreelanceWarriors to treat any person using Seller’s password pair (username and password), and any resulting transactions, obligations and liabilities as if Seller used the website and/or services itself.
- Seller's information shall be true, accurate and up-to-date at all times. This includes, but is not limited to, information within a response to Bid Request documents, information concerning intellectual property ownership and rights thereto. Seller shall determine how intellectual property rights shall be transferred, if any, to Buyer. Seller is solely responsible for protecting its intellectual property rights, including works made for hire, and for negotiating all rights, title and interests therein with Buyers.
- Seller agrees to post bids for the entire project. Hourly bids are not allowed. As this site is intended for commercial purposes only...offering free services, or redirecting a Buyer to a site other than FreelanceWarriors to fulfill their needs is prohibited. Posting contact information including but not limited to phone #s, email addresses, Internet URL's, Yahoo Messenger Ids, ICQ ids, on bids or an author's profile is strictly prohibited. Violators of any of these terms can have all of their FreelanceWarriors accounts terminated, at the discretion of FreelanceWarriors.
- Advance Payments. Seller agrees not to ask for any 'Advance Payments' from Buyer. An advance payment is a risky transaction where the Buyer releases funds from his account prior to the delivery of the work (or percentage of work being accepted), is competed. Doing this completely circumvents and nullifies all the built-in Buyer protections of the FreelanceWarriors payment system, and often results in the Buyer losing part or all of their advance payment. Sellers who go against the wishes of FreelanceWarriors and receive an advanced payment from the Buyer may have their credit account debited to facilitate a partial or complete refund of any advanced payment back to the Buyer. Additionally, Sellers in violation of this rule may have their account suspended and revoked.
- Third Party Code. Seller is responsible for ensuring that all code, algorithms, ideas and/or any other item used to create their deliverables to the Buyer are completely of their own making. If the Seller wishes to use 3rd party items (including but not limited to 3rd party components, GNU licensed code, etc.), then the Seller agrees to first confer with the Buyer and:
- Explain which items in the bid request the Seller wishes to use 3rd party items for, and which 3rd party items would be involved. This must be documented on the site via the site bidding system.
- Explain to the Buyer the cost, copyright, distribution and licensing issues concerned with the use of such items. (For example, many Buyers do not want GNU licensed code in their deliverables once they understand the licensing issues involved therefore it needs to be explained to them what they would be receiving). This must be documented on the site via the site bidding system.
- Have the Buyer confirm agreement, to the use of any 3rd party items which the two parties agree to. This must be documented on the site via the site bidding system.
- Should arbitration occur and the Seller not follow these rules, FreelanceWarriors may immediately arbitrate in favor of the Buyer, as well as consider punitiveactions against the Seller.
- As most Buyers are not technologically savvy, the Seller is also responsible for creating an install package that will install the software, in 100% ready-to-run condition, on the platform (s) specified by the Buyer on the bid request. Note that this requirement can be waived by the Seller if documented via the bidding system or the bid request description.
- As FreelanceWarriors provides its service in return for a Fee, the Seller agrees not to contact any Buyer outside of the site (by email, phone, etc.) before payment is made . Doing so can result in immediate account termination and expulsion, at the discretion of FreelanceWarriors.
- The Seller shall not be responsible for FreelanceWarriors’s transaction fees. However, in the event that FreelanceWarriors procures, or is the procuring cause of, a solution for Buyer’s Bid Request, and Buyer and Seller do not use the FreelanceWarriors website or services to transact their business and/or use other means to transact their business, Seller shall be considered guilty of 'fraud'. The Seller shall also be considered guilty of fraud should they find a Buyer in an 'open auction' and attempt to cheat FreelanceWarriors out of the 'open auction' fee by redirecting the Buyer to repost he auction as a cheaper auction such a 'one-on-one', even though the Buyer made full use of the open auction. In either case the Seller shall pay FreelanceWarriors a penalty fee in the amount of twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount paid to Seller. Such fees may be deducted from the Seller's outstanding credits on the site, at FreelanceWarriors's option. FreelanceWarriors reserves the right to terminate any Seller who circumvents the site in this manner.
- The anonymous nature of the Internet makes it possible for a Seller who has had their account involuntarily terminated (or who received unfavorable ratings on that account) to create another account on the site and resume transacting business on the site, against the will of FreelanceWarriors. FreelanceWarriors regularly monitors site profiles for this sort of action, and should the Seller be determined by FreelanceWarriors to have done this, they will forfeit the balance of all of their accounts, and all funds will be returned back to the original Buyer.
- Seller understands and agrees that FreelanceWarriors may be called upon by the Buyer, a third party, or a self-initiated investigation to audit the work that was performed. Seller agrees to make available to FreelanceWarriors all source code related to the questioned bid requests. FreelanceWarriors agrees not to copy, acquire, sell, barter, trade, or use this source code in any manner other than to verify that work was performed as contracted. If a non disclosure is required by the Buyer to view the source code, FreelanceWarriors and the Buyer will make all resonable arrangements.
- Should a Buyer dispute delivery, Seller agrees to upload the entire and complete deliverables at the time of work (or each stage) completion. Should a Seller choose not to do so (despite this agreement) and the Buyer disputes delivery, Seller agrees that they, not FreelanceWarriors, will be liable for the entire amount. FreelanceWarriors will deduct all such disputed monies from the Seller's account. If the Seller's account is insufficient to cover the funds the Seller will be asked to cover the remainder from their personal funds. If Seller cannot or will not cover the reamainder from their private funds, FreelanceWarriors may pursue all and any means at its disposal to collect the funds including prosecution.
- Seller has the right to rate Buyers on completed transactions and transactions that are cancelled in Seller's favor. However should FreelanceWarriors, at its sole discretion, determine that a Seller's rating is inaccurate or in any way retaliatory in nature, then FreelanceWarriors may amend, replace or delete the Seller's rating, and a note about such may be placed as a public rating on the Seller's account. A Seller who practices retaliatory ratings may be found in default of this agreement and banned from the site.
- FreelanceWarriors RULES OF ARBITRATION
These rules of arbitration exist to ensure a fair and safe environment for the buying and selling of computer software and related systems. Should a dispute arise over the completion of a project, the allocation of funds, or any other issue, both Buyer, Seller andFreelanceWarriors agree to the following rules:
1) Should the Buyer and Seller not be able to come to agreement on acceptance, whether deliverables have been met, or any other matter, both sides agree to designate FreelanceWarriors as mediator and arbitrator. FreelanceWarriors agrees to
mediate and arbitrate fairly and impartially according to the rules in this section, as they apply. Buyer and Seller agree that FreelanceWarriors's decision is final and binding to them.
2) Arbitration of the bid request will be based solely on whether or not the Seller met the conditions specified in the Buyer's bid request. Only the contents of the bid request as posted on the site will be used in this determination. Since discussions outside of the site (including email, chat and oral conversations) are not legally binding, they will not be taken into account. If there is any ambiguity in the bid request, FreelanceWarriors will be the final determiner of the meaning and will attempt to do so in the most
impartial method possible.
3) Buyer agrees to be prompt in corresponding with Seller and FreelanceWarriors, including final acceptance of 'Work complete'. Should a Buyer not respond to FreelanceWarriors emails or requests for Work Complete within a timely basis (3 business days and 5 business days, respectively), FreelanceWarriors may at its discretion award funds to the Seller.
4) Seller agrees to be prompt in responses to Buyer and to FreelanceWarriors. Should a Seller not complete status reports or respond to FreelanceWarriors emails within a timely basis of 3 business days, FreelanceWarriors may cancel the Seller's bid and/or assign the bid requests to another Seller. This may be done with or without notice to the original Seller.
5) If the Buyer charges that the Seller is not making sufficient progress on a bid request, the Seller must supply specific demonstrable proof to the contrary or FreelanceWarriors may cancel the Seller's bid and/or assign the bid requests to another Seller. Examples of demonstrable proofs of progress are (depending on the level of progress expected) programming requirements, designs, prototype, code and/or test cases.
6) If either party threatens or harasses the other party or FreelanceWarriors, attempts to manipulate or unduly influence the arbitration process, or breaks any rules in the Buyer or Seller agreement or in the site terms and conditions, then FreelanceWarriors may choose to automatically rule in favor of the opposite party.
7) If the Seller is deemed as not having fulfilled the bid request according to the 'deliverables' specified by the Buyer...the Buyer may, at his/her/their option, apply the entire amount to a new Seller at no charge. FreelanceWarriors will offer the Buyer options (if available) of switching to other Sellers on the original bid, opening a new bid request to get new Seller bids, or otherwise offering to connect the Buyer with Sellers for the purpose of completing the project. The Buyer also has the option to cancel the bid request and request a refund of funds. As FreelanceWarriors incurs certain fixed financial institution costs with transferring and refunding funds, all refunds of this nature are subject to a 3.5% cancellation charge to offset these charges.
8) To prevent 'retaliatory ratings', the losing party in an arbitration forfeits the right to rate the other party. FreelanceWarriors reserves the right to suspend rating rights on the bid request to either or both parties, and/or to remove ratings it judges to be retaliatory.
9) If a Seller does not upload completed code to the site by the delivery deadline posted by the Buyer, then Seller forfeits all rights to arbitration and FreelanceWarriors may at its discretion award funds back to the Buyer immediately.
- Seller’S REPRESENTATIONS.
Seller represents that it has the full power and authority to execute this Agreement. Seller is the owner of, and/or has received all appropriate consent from the owners of, any and all material, information, intellectual property in any form, or other data that Seller makes available to FreelanceWarriors.
- ACCEPTANCE
Upon Buyer’s receipt and acceptance of Seller’s service or product, they will promptly indicate acceptance via the web site. Upon acceptance, FreelanceWarriors shall credit the Seller's account with the final amount, minus the FreelanceWarriors Fee. The Fee is calculated as a percentage of the amount of the funds and is based on the bidding type of the auction. If the FreelanceWarriors Fee falls below the minimum fee of
($5), theminimum FreelanceWarriors Fee will be charged.
Should there be any dispute regarding acceptance, both Seller and Buyer designate FreelanceWarriors as the final binding authority and arbiter of the dispute, and agree to abide by its decision.
- Taxes
FreelanceWarriors does not collect taxes, duties, fees or other governmentally imposed excises, so Seller and Buyer agree to assume their respective responsibilities under the law.
- TRADEMARKS AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
Trademarks. FreelanceWarriors may use Buyer’s Trademarks in Bid Requests, or related documentation. FreelanceWarriors’s or Seller’s use of Trademarks shall be consistent with proper trademark usage. Neither party grants to the other any right, title, or interest in any Trademarks except as provided in this Section. Seller is responsible for appropriately attributing any of its Trademarks or the trademarks of third parties.
Access to and Use of Confidential Information. A party receiving Confidential Information agrees (i) that it is claimed to be a trade secret of the other party, (ii) not to disclose or use any of such Confidential Information for any purpose except as necessary and consistent with the terms of this Agreement, (iii) to limit the use of and access to such Confidential Information to only those employees who have a need to know, and (iv) that it will immediately notify the other party in writing of any unauthorized disclosures and/or use thereof. Such notice shall include a detailed description of the circumstances of the unauthorized disclosure or use and the parties.
Exclusions. A party shall have no obligation as to Confidential Information that (i) is provided in a tangible form and not labeled as confidential or proprietary, or if provided orally, not designated as confidential or proprietary at the time of disclosure, (ii) is known to the receiving party at the time of disclosure, as evidenced by documentation in the receiving party's possession at the time of such disclosure, (iii) is independently developed by the receiving party (provided the receiving party can show that such development was accomplished by or for the receiving party without the use of or any reference to Confidential Information), (iv) becomes rightfully known to the receiving party from another source without confidentiality restrictions, (v) is or becomes part of the public domain through no wrongful act of the receiving party, or (vi) is furnished by the disclosing party to a third party without confidentiality restrictions. A receiving party may disclose Confidential Information pursuant to a competently authorized judicial or governmental request, requirement or order, provided that the receiving party takes reasonable steps to give the disclosing party sufficient notice to contest such request, requirement or order and/or to seek a protective order.
Return of Confidential Information. In any event of termination or expiration of this Agreement, each party will, within five (5) business days return to the other party such party’s Confidential Information.
- INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INFRINGEMENT INDEMNITY
Infringement Claims. Seller will defend and hold FreelanceWarriors harmless in any suit or proceeding based on a claim that any equipment, products or services transacted under this Agreement, constitutes infringement of any copyright, patent or trademark. Seller will pay all settlements or damages awarded against FreelanceWarriors, provided that FreelanceWarriors (i) informs Seller of such suit or proceeding in writing and within thirty (30) days of actual notice of a claim, and provides Seller with all related information, (ii) grants Seller the authority to settle or litigate such suit or proceeding, and (iii) provides all necessary assistance to Seller.
- LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNITY.
IN NO EVENT SHALL FreelanceWarriors BE LIABLE TO Buyer's, Seller's, OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE COST OF COVER, LOSS OF PROFIT, USE, SAVINGS OR REVENUE, OR THE CLAIMS OF THIRD PARTIES, WHETHER OR NOT FreelanceWarriors HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS. THE LIMITATIONS IN THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY LIMITED REMEDY.
Indemnification by Seller. Seller shall indemnify, defend (with counsel approved in writing by FreelanceWarriors) and hold FreelanceWarriors, its officers, directors, shareholders, employees, insurers, attorneys, successors and assigns harmless against any and all claims for cost, damage, expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) or liability arising out of or related to the acts or omissions of Seller, its employees, representatives or agents.
- DEFAULT AND TERMINATION.
Default. Should the Seller default, their account may be terminated by FreelanceWarriors. Seller shall be considered to have defaulted under the Agreement for any failure to perform its obligations to Buyer under any Bid request awarded to Seller and/or if FreelanceWarriors discovers any material misrepresentation or omission that Seller has made in this Agreement or its Registration. In the case of either party, the failure by such party to observe or perform any material covenant or obligation under this Agreement shall constitute default. Seller may also be considered in default if they violate the site terms of service, or violate the Custom Software Buyer Agreement (if they are also a Buyer), or if their service to Buyers is poor (defined as receiving 2 or more below average ratings and/or complaints).
Survival. The parties' obligations under Sections 7, 8 and 9 shall survive any termination and/or expiration of this Agreement.
- GENERAL.
Assignment. Seller shall not assign or transfer this Agreement without FreelanceWarriors’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any attempted assignment shall be null and void.
Relationship of the Parties. This Agreement does not create a franchise, joint venture or partnership between the parties. Neither party hereunder is the agent, broker, partner, employee, or legal representative of the other for any
purpose, except that FreelanceWarriors is the agent for Seller and Buyer in bringing the two, or more, parties together using the FreelanceWarriors website. FreelanceWarriors shall act as a fiduciary for Buyer and Sellers for the limited purpose of collecting and disbursing funds. For all other purposes, the parties are independent contractors.
Excused Performance. Neither party shall be liable for failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement for causes beyond its reasonable control.
No Waiver. The failure of either party to enforce any of the provisions hereof shall not be construed to be a waiver of the right of such party to thereafter enforce any such provision.
Unenforceable Provisions. If any term of this Agreement is found to be illegal or unenforceable, the remaining portions of this Agreement shall remain in effect, provided that the parties agree to negotiate in good faith substitute enforceable terms.
Modifications; Special Agreements; Entire Agreement. Note that FreelanceWarriors reserves the right from time to time to amend, modify or change this agreement. When this happens, FreelanceWarriors shall notate the new information clearly and post a notice in the 'news' section of the site about the update. Due to the majority of parties requesting not to be contacted via email about updates to the site, email notice will not always be given. Additionally, due to the financial costs associated with written notices...written notice will not always be given. If you are interested in keeping abreast of the latest changes to this agreement, then please bookmark this page and review it from time to time, or monitor the 'news' section of the site.
IF ANY MODIFICATION IS UNACCEPTABLE TO YOU, YOUR ONLY RECOURSE IS TO TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT BY PROVIDING NOTICE TO US. YOUR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM FOLLOWING OUR POSTING OF A CHANGE NOTICE OR NEW AGREEMENT ON OUR SITE WILL CONSTITUTE BINDING ACCEPTANCE OF THE CHANGE.
Should FreelanceWarriors and the Seller come to a special understanding not outlined in this agreement it will be laid out in writing and signed by both parties.
This Agreement is the entire understanding between Seller and FreelanceWarriors with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersedes all (i) proposals, oral or written, (ii) negotiations, conversations or discussions between the parties and (iii) industry custom or past course of dealing, relating to the subject matter.
WITHDRAWALS VIA PAYPAL
Both Sellers and Buyers can request a withdrawal from their
FreelanceWarriors account, equal or greater than the minimum and less then
or equal to the current account balance after fees. These withdrawal requests
are processed within 3 business days and cleared funds are deposited to the
member's paypal account using the paypal email address provided at the time of
the withdrawal request.
FreelanceWarriors Admin
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