Terms and Conditions

1. Definitions and Services

1.1 Definitions

  • "The Company" refers to Silk Words Ltd, registered in England and Wales (Company No: 17083683, whose registered office is at 20 Wenclock Road, London, N1 7GU, and trading as Silk Words Limited.).

  • "The Client" refers to the person, firm, or corporate body instructing the Company to provide Services.

  • "Services" refers to the translation, localization, proofreading, cultural consultation, or any other linguistic services agreed upon between the Company and the Client.

  • "Material" refers to any documents, digital files, images, or assets provided by the Client to the Company for the purpose of performing the Services.

  • "Project" refers to the specific task or set of tasks defined in the Quote or project correspondence.

1.2 Provision of Services

  • The Company agrees to provide the Services using reasonable skill and care, in accordance with the professional standards of the translation industry.

  • The Company specializes in fashion and lifestyle content; however, the Client is responsible for providing specific brand style guides, glossaries, or previous lookbooks to ensure stylistic consistency.

  • Any additional services requested by the Client that fall outside the original Project scope will be subject to a new Quote and additional fees.

1.3 Nature of Creative Translation

  • The Client acknowledges that translation—particularly for fashion marketing and brand storytelling—is a creative process. While the Company strives for linguistic accuracy, stylistic preferences are subjective. The Company will work with the Client to reflect their specific "brand voice," provided such instructions are given in writing before the Project begins.

2. Quotations, Fees and Payment

2.1 Quotations

  • All quotations provided by the Company are valid for a period of 30 days from the date of issue.

  • Quotations are based on the specific Material and instructions provided by the Client at the time of the request. Any subsequent changes to the word count, technical complexity, or delivery deadline may result in a revised Quote.

  • A binding contract is formed only when the Client provides written acceptance of the Quote (via email or a signed purchase order).

2.2 Fees

  • Fees are calculated based on the agreed rate per word, per hour, or per project, as specified in the Quote.

  • All fees are quoted in GBP (£) unless otherwise stated in writing.

  • The Company reserves the right to apply a "Rush Fee" (typically 20-30%) for projects requiring weekend work or an exceptionally fast turnaround that falls outside standard working hours.

2.3 Payment Terms

  • For new Clients or projects exceeding a certain value (e.g., £500), the Company may require a non-refundable deposit of 30% before work commences.

  • Standard invoices must be settled within 30 days of the invoice date.

  • Payments should be made via BACS or bank transfer to the account details specified on the invoice. All bank charges associated with the transfer are the responsibility of the Client.

2.4 Late Payments

  • In accordance with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, the Company reserves the right to charge interest on any overdue accounts at a rate of 8% above the Bank of England base rate, plus a fixed compensation fee for debt recovery costs.

  • The Company may suspend work on any ongoing Projects if the Client has an outstanding undisputed invoice.

3. Intellectual Property and Confidentiality

3.1 Intellectual Property (IP) Rights

  • All Intellectual Property rights in the Material provided by the Client remain the property of the Client.

  • Upon full payment of all fees due to the Company, the copyright and any other Intellectual Property rights in the completed Services (the "Work") shall transfer to the Client.

  • The Company retains ownership of the Work until all outstanding invoices related to that Project have been paid in full.

  • The Company reserves the right to use the Client’s name and logo on its website and marketing materials as a "portfolio reference," unless the Client expressly requests otherwise in writing.

3.2 Confidentiality

  • The Company acknowledges that the Material provided by the Client may be confidential, sensitive, or involve unreleased fashion collections, marketing strategies, or business plans.

  • The Company agrees to maintain strict confidentiality and will not disclose, copy, or use any such Material for any purpose other than the performance of the Services.

  • This obligation of confidentiality shall not apply to information that is already in the public domain or information that the Company is required to disclose by law.

3.3 Data Protection

  • Both parties agree to comply with their respective obligations under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for details on how we process personal data.

4. Quality, Liability and Complaints

4.1 Quality of Service

  • The Company warrants that the Services will be carried out with reasonable skill and care and to a high professional standard.

  • While the Company makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the Work, the Client acknowledges that a translation may be a matter of stylistic opinion.

  • The Company is not responsible for errors in the Work that result from inaccuracies, ambiguities, or errors in the original Material provided by the Client.

4.2 Complaints and Corrections

  • The Client must notify the Company in writing of any alleged inaccuracies or errors in the Work within 14 days of delivery.

  • If a complaint is valid, the Company will, at its own expense, make the necessary corrections to the Work as quickly as possible.

  • If the Client fails to notify the Company of any issues within this 14-day period, the Work shall be deemed to have been accepted as satisfactory.

4.3 Limitation of Liability

  • The Company maintains Professional Indemnity Insurance with a reputable UK insurer to a limit of £1,000,000 for any one claim.

  • To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Company's total liability to the Client for any breach of contract, negligence, or otherwise, shall be limited to the amount of the Company’s Professional Indemnity Insurance cover as specified above.

  • Where the insurance does not cover a specific claim, the Company's liability shall be limited to the total amount paid by the Client for the specific Project in question.

  • The Company shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential loss, including but not limited to loss of profits, loss of business, or damage to brand reputation.

5. Cancellation, Termination, and Governing Law

5.1 Cancellation by the Client

  • If the Client cancels or reduces the scope of a Project after work has commenced, the Client shall pay the Company for all work completed up to the date of cancellation, plus any expenses already incurred.

  • In addition to the work completed, the Company reserves the right to charge a "Cancellation Fee" of 25% of the remaining Project value to compensate for the reserved studio time that cannot be reallocated at short notice.

5.2 Termination for Cause

  • Either party may terminate a Project immediately by written notice if the other party:

    • Commits a material breach of these Terms and fails to remedy it within 7 days of being notified.

    • Becomes insolvent, enters into liquidation, or has a receiver appointed.

  • Upon termination, the Client must immediately pay all outstanding invoices and fees for work in progress.

5.3 Force Majeure

  • Neither party shall be liable for any failure or delay in performing their obligations where such failure or delay results from any cause that is beyond the reasonable control of that party (including, but not limited to: power failure, internet service provider failure, industrial action, civil unrest, fire, flood, storms, earthquakes, acts of terrorism, or acts of war).

5.4 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

  • These Terms and Conditions and the relationship between the Client and the Company shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of England and Wales.

  • Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.