General

Terms and conditions

03-2023

  1. Contract, quotation and confirmation

1.1
These general Terms and Conditions (hereinafter: General Terms and Conditions) are applicable to every offer and quotation, and to the establishment, content and execution of all contracts entered into between the Client and the contractor, GBO Innovation makers, and/ or GBO Projects B.V. (hereinafter: GBO). These General Terms and Conditions are likewise applicable to contracts with GBO, where GBO engages third parties for the execution of the contract. These General Terms and Conditions have also been written for the employees and directors of GBO. The applicability of any purchasing or other conditions of the Client are expressly rejected and excluded.

1.2
All offers and quotations are without obligation, unless a deadline for acceptance is stipulated in the offer or quotation. Prices quoted may be subject to change owing to unforeseen changes in the work. Prices quoted are exclusive of VAT and/ or other government-imposed levies, any costs incurred within the framework of the contract, including travel, accommodation, shipping and administration costs, unless otherwise agreed in writing. The rates and offers quoted will not automatically apply to future commissions. The Client is responsible for the accurateness and completeness of the information, supplied by or on behalf of the Client, on which GBO bases the quotation.

1.3
A compound quotation does not oblige GBO to deliver part of the commissioned work against a corresponding part of the price quoted for the entire work.

1.4
Assignments shall be confirmed in writing by the Client. If the Client fails to do so, but nevertheless agrees to GBO commencing the work on the assignment, then the content of the quotation and these General Terms and Conditions shall apply. Any subsequent verbal agreements and stipulations shall not be binding on GBO until after they have been confirmed in writing by GBO.

1.5
GBO cannot be held to its quotations or offers when the Client can reasonably be expected to have noticed that the quotation or offer, or any part thereof, contains a manifest mistake or error.

1.6
If acceptance (whether or not on minor points) departs from the proposition in the quotation or offer, then GBO cannot be held to it. In that case, no contract will be established on the basis of this divergent acceptance, unless GBO indicates otherwise.

1.7
Unless the nature of the contract dictates otherwise or the parties have agreed otherwise in writing, the contract between GBO and the Client shall be entered into for an indefinite period.

1.8
Departures from these General Terms and Conditions can only be agreed in writing between the Client and GBO, and shall only become binding after written confirmation by GBO. If one or more of the provisions in these Terms are invalid or are rescinded, the remaining provisions in these Terms will remain in full force and GBO and the Client will enter into negotiations to agree new provisions to replace the original provisions, which will as far as possible be consistent with the purpose and scope of the original provisions.

2. Execution of the contract

2.1
GBO shall make every effort to execute the contract conscientiously and independently, to safeguard the Client’s interests to the best of his ability and to achieve a result that is useful to the client, as can or may be expected of a reasonable and professional contractor. Insofar as is necessary, GBO will keep the Client informed about the progress of the work.

2.2
The Client shall do everything reasonably necessary or desirable to enable timely and correct delivery by GBO, such as the timely supply of complete, sound and clear information or materials, whereby GBO indicates or the Client understands or can reasonably be expected to understand, that this information/ these materials are necessary for the execution of the contract. The execution period shall not commence until the Client has fully and correctly provided GBO with the necessary information or materials.

2.3
Any deadline for completion of the commissioned work or for the delivery of certain elements, agreed between the parties, is indicative and is never an absolute deadline, unless the parties have agreed otherwise in writing. In the event of late delivery, the Client must issue GBO with written notice of default and grant GBO a reasonable period in which to fulfil its contractual obligations.

2.4
Unless agreed otherwise in writing, the following are not included GBO’s assignment:
1. the performance of tests, the request for permits, inspections/ verifications and the evaluation of whether
2. the Client’s instructions comply with statutory or quality standards;
3. the conducting of research into the existence of (intellectual property) rights, including but not limited to, patent rights, brand rights, model rights, copyrights or portrait rights of third parties;
4. the conducting of research into the possibility of potential forms of protection for the Client.


2.5
Prior to implementation, production, reproduction or publication, each party must give the other the opportunity to check the final draft, model, prototype or galley proofs of the result and to commit to it in an acceptance report and/or final sample.

2.6
Variations in the (end)result relative to that which was agreed shall not constitute grounds for rejection, discount, compensation or dissolution of the contract, when these variations, taking into account all circumstances, are in all reasonableness of minor significance, and do not prevent the result from being the put into service, in which case the Client shall be obliged to approve the result and to confirm this in writing in the acceptance report.

2.7
The Client is obliged to check (have checked) the relevant work, service or delivered products as soon as the products/items are made available to the Client or the relevant work/service has been conducted. With this, the Client must check whether the quality and/or quantity of the products/items/work delivered corresponds with that which has been agreed and whether it meets the criteria that the parties have agreed in this regard. Any visible deviation must be reported to GBO in writing within seven days of delivery, and any non-visible defects should be reported to GBO in writing immediately, or in any case no later than 14 days after discovery of the deviation, failing which the Client shall be deemed to have fully accepted and approved the result of the delivered products/services and the Client shall no longer be entitled to any repairs, replacement or compensation.
The aforementioned notification should contain the most detailed possible description of the defect, to enable GBO to give an adequate response.

2.8
The Client must allow GBO the opportunity to investigate (or have investigated) any complaint, as referred to in article 2.7. If it is established that a complaint is unfounded, any associated costs, including but not limited to the investigation costs incurred by GBO, shall be entirely for the Client’s account.

2.9
Even if the Client has complained in a timely manner, its payment obligation shall remain. In that case, the Client remains obliged to take delivery of and pay for the remaining products/items/services ordered and/or delivered.

2.10
Without prejudice to the provisions of articles 9.4 and 10.5 of these General Terms and Conditions, if it is established that a product/item/ service is defective and a timely complaint has been made, GBO shall, within a reasonable time after return shipment thereof or, if return shipment is not (reasonably) possible, written notification pertaining to the defect from the Client, at GBO’s discretion, replace the defective item or have it repaired, or pay a replacement fee to the Client. In the case of replacement, the Client shall be obliged to returned the replaced item to GBO and to transfer to GBO the ownership thereof, unless GBO indicates otherwise. Without its written permission, GBO is not obliged to accept return shipments from clients. Receipt of the return shipments shall in no way imply that GBO acknowledges the reason given by the Client for the return shipments.

2.11
Unless the nature of the contract dictates otherwise or the parties have agreed otherwise in writing, delivery shall take place Ex Works. The Client is obliged to take delivery of the items at the moment that they made available to the Client. If the Client refuses to take delivery of the items, or is late supplying information or instructions necessary for the delivery, GBO shall be entitled to store the items at the risk and expense of the Client.

2.12
The risk of loss, damage or depreciation in value shall be transferred to the Client at the moment that the items come under the control of the Client.

2.13
If the contract is executed in phases, GBO shall be entitled to suspend the execution of the components belonging to a subsequent stage, until the Client has approved the results of the preceding stage in writing.

2.14
If, during the execution of the contract, it becomes apparent that, for a proper execution thereof it is necessary to supplement or otherwise modify the contract, the parties shall modify the contract in mutual consultation and in a timely matter. If the nature, scope or content of the contract, whether or not at the request or instruction of the Client, the competent authorities etc., is modified and the contract is thereby amended in terms of quality and/or quantity, this may also have implications for that which was originally agreed. The fee originally agreed between the parties may increase or decrease as a result. As far as possible, GBO shall indicate the cost in advance. A change in the contract may also result in a change to the original execution period. The Client accepts the possibility of modification of the contract, including a change in the price and execution period.

2.15
If the contract is changed, including any additions, GBO shall be entitled to commence execution only after approval has been received from the authorized persons within GBO and the Client has agreed with the price quoted for the implementation and other conditions, including the then to be determined execution deadline to be adhered to. Not executing a modified contract, or not executing it immediately, does not constitute a breach of contract on the part of GBO and is not a basis for the Client to terminate the contract. Without being in default, GBO can decline a request to modify the contract, when the modification could have qualitative and/or quantitative implications, for example for the work to be conducted or the products to be delivered.

3. Engagement of third parties

3.1
GBO is entitled to have certain activities conducted by third parties under NDA.

3.2
Unless otherwise agreed, assignments for third parties within the framework of the execution of the contract, shall be issued by or on behalf of the Client. At the request of the Client, GBO can act as authorized representative of the Client, at the risk and expense of the Client. The parties may agree on a fee for such services.

3.3
When, at the request of the Client, GBO compiles a budget for costs of third parties, this budget shall be indicative. If required, GBO can request quotations on behalf of the Client.

3.4
When, in the execution of the contract, GBO obtains products or services from third parties, after which these products or services are passed onto the Client, the provisions of the general Terms and Conditions of and/or separate agreements with the third party regarding the warranty and liability, shall also apply to the Client.

3.5
When GBO, whether or not on behalf of the Client, issues assignments or instructions to production companies or other third parties, the Client shall, at the request of GBO, confirm its approval in writing, as referred to in articles 2.6 and 2.7 of these General Terms and Conditions.

3.6
The Client shall not engage third parties without consulting with GBO, when this can have implications for the execution of the contract as agreed with GBO. If necessary, the parties shall discuss which third parties are to be engaged and which activities are to be assigned to these third parties.

3.7
Under no circumstances shall GBO be held liable for errors of defects in the products (including software) or services of third parties engaged by or on behalf of GBO and/or the Client unless the liability is part of the written agreement.

 

4. Intellectual property and ownership rights

 

4.1
Unless parties have agreed otherwise in writing and after the completion of mutual contractual obligations, all intellectual property rights arising from the assignment, including but not limited to patent rights, trademark rights, design or model rights, and copyrights, belong to the Client. If such a right can only be obtained through filing or registration, only the Client is authorized to do so unless parties have agreed otherwise in writing.

 

4.2
The parties can agree in writing that the rights referred to in article 4.1 be transferred to the Client, fully or partially, by GBO. This transfer and any conditions under which the transfer takes place, must at all times be documented in writing, in an agreement pertaining to the transfer of the rights in question. Until the moment of transfer, only a right to use is conferred on the Client by GBO, as provided for in article 5 of these General Terms and Conditions.

4.3
Once both GBO and the Client have fulfilled the contractual conditions, the Client is free to use the outcome of the assignment at their discretion. GBO and the Client agree in good faith that GBO may use the result for promotional purposes, provided that the publication is not sensitive to intellectual property (IP) and is already visible in the public domain.


4.4
Unless otherwise agreed and once both GBO and the Client have fulfilled the contractual conditions, the results created by GBO within the framework of the assignment (including, but not limited to, designs, design sketches, drafts, recommendations, reports, budgets, projections, working drawings, illustrations, photographs, prototypes, scale models, templates, (partial) products, films, (audio and video) presentations, codes and other materials or (electronic) files) shall become the property of the Client, regardless of whether they have been made available to the Client or to third parties. Source codes and files, unprocessed files and originals will not be made available to the Client or to third parties.

4.5
After completion of the assignment, neither the Client nor GBO shall have a retention obligation with regard to the materials and information used, unless the parties have agreed otherwise in writing. GBO maintains a retention period of at least 12 months for all physical materials resulting from the assignment. Afterward, GBO is free to apply a selection process.

4.6
GBO is entitled to use the knowledge that it accrued during the execution of the contract also for other purposes, provided that no strictly confidential information relating to the Client is thereby disclosed to third parties.

5. Use of the result

5.1
Only when the Client has completely fulfilled its obligations towards GBO arising from all the agreements entered into with GBO, the Client shall receive the right to use the result of the assignment for the purpose already agreed between the parties. If no agreements have been made regarding the purpose of use, then the right of use shall be restricted to the use for which the assignment was (evidently) granted. Unless the nature of the contract dictates otherwise or the parties have agreed otherwise in writing, the right of use shall be exclusive.

5.2
When the result partly involves works that are subject to the rights of third parties, the parties shall make supplementary written agreements regarding how the use of these works will be arranged.

5.3
The Client will not (or no longer) be permitted to use the results made available and any right to use granted to the Client in the context of the work commissioned will expire, unless the consequences would be contrary the principles of reasonableness and fairness:
1. from the moment that the Client fails to (fully) fulfil its (payment) obligations towards GBO or is otherwise in default;
2. if the assignment is prematurely terminated for reasons stated in article 8 of these General Terms and Conditions;
3. in the event of bankruptcy of the Client, unless the rights referred to in article 4.2 of these General Terms and Conditions have been transferred to the Client.

5.4
With due consideration of the interests of the Client, GBO is at liberty to use the results for its own publicity, to win contracts and for promotional purposes, including competitions and exhibitions and suchlike, and where results are physical items, to borrow these items from the Client.
5.5
GBO can maintain possession of all items, information and documents received or generated, despite an existing obligation to surrender these, until the Client has paid all sums owed to GBO.

6. Fee, costs and price change

6.1
GBO is entitled to a fee for the execution of the assignment. This may comprise an hourly tariff, a consultancy fee, a fixed sum, whether or not related to the project’s value, or any other form of payment agreed in writing between the parties.

6.2
Besides the agreed fee, the costs that GBO incurs in the execution of the assignment, such as, travel and accommodation expenses, costs of prototypes, and the costs of engaging third parties for advice, production, support and suchlike, are also eligible for reimbursement. These costs shall be specified in advance as far as possible, except when a surcharge is agreed in writing.

6.3
If GBO is required to perform more or other work due to late delivery or non-delivery of complete, sound and clear information, data and/or materials by the Client, or due to any change or error in instructions or briefings or due to external circumstances, such additional work will be charged separately on the basis of GBO’s usual fees. GBO shall inform the Client about this beforehand in writing, unless circumstances prevent it or if the nature of the work does not permit postponement.

6.4
When the execution of the assignment is delayed or interrupted through circumstances that cannot be attributed to GBO, the Client shall be obliged to reimburse any corresponding costs incurred. GBO shall endeavour to limit the costs as much as possible.

6.5
If GBO has agreed a fixed price with the Client, GBO shall nevertheless be entitled at all times to increase this price without the Client being entitled to terminate the contract on this ground, when the price increase results from a legal right or obligation under the law or regulations or is caused by an increase in the price of raw materials, wages etc. or any other reason that, on commencement of the contract, was not reasonably foreseeable.

6.6
If the price increase, caused by something other than a change in the contract, is more than 10% and takes place within three months of the signing of the contract, then it is only the Client who is entitled to invoke article 5, paragraph 3, book 6 of the Civil Code who is entitled to terminate the contract via a written statement, unless GBO is still prepared to execute the contract on the basis of that which the parties originally agreed, or where the price increase results from a right or an obligation of GBO under the law or regulations or where it has been stipulated that delivery will take place more than three months after the purchase.

7. Payment, suspension and retention of title


7.1
All payments by the Client must be made, without deduction, offsetting or deferment, no later than 30 days after the invoice date, unless the parties have agreed otherwise in writing or a different payment term is stated on the invoice. GBO is entitled to execute the contract in different phases and to invoice separately for the parts that have already been conducted.


7.2

Any objections to the amount invoiced do not suspend the Client’s payment obligation. The Client that is not entitled to invoke section 6.5.3 (articles 231 to 247 (inclusive), book 6 of the Dutch Civil Code) is likewise not entitled to suspend payment of an invoice for other reasons.

7.3

All products/ items delivered and still to be delivered shall remain the exclusive property of GBO until all amounts owed or that will be owed by the Client to GBO, including but not limited to amounts owed under article 3:92, paragraph 2 of the Dutch Civil Code (interest and (extra)judicial costs) and culpable failure, have been paid in full.

7.4

Until ownership of the products/ items delivered has been transferred to the purchaser, the Client shall not be permitted to pledge the products/ items or to encumber them with any other right for the benefit of a third party.

7.5

If a third party seizes the items that are subject to retention of title, or wishes to establish a right to or lay claim to these items, the Client has a duty to inform GBO of this immediately.

7.6

The products/ items delivered that are subject to retention of title may be sold and transferred to third parties by GBO, provided this takes place within the normal course of the Client’s business. In the event of sale on credit, the Client is obliged to require retention of title from its customers, based on the provisions of article 7 of these General Terms and Conditions.

7.7

The Client is obliged to store the products/ items subject to retention of title, that have been delivered by GBO, with the necessary care and clearly recognizable as the property of GBO.

7.8

As long as the products/ items are subject to retention of title, the Client is obliged to insure these against fire, explosion and water damage, and against theft. On first request, the Client shall provide GBO with (a copy of) the insurance policies.

7.9

All claims by the Client against the insurers of the products/ items on the basis of the insurance policies referred to in article 7.8, shall be pledged to GBO as soon as GBO requests it, as additional security for all claims that GBO has towards the Client, for whatever reason.

7.10

Should the Client fail to fulfil its obligations towards GBO or if GBO has well-founded reason to think that the Client will fail to fulfil its obligations, GBO shall be entitled to repossess the products/ items delivered that are subject to retention of title, after which the Client shall be credited for the market value, which in no case shall exceed the original purchasing price, minus the costs associated with the repossession, and without prejudice to all other rights to which GBO shall be entitled in that case, including but not limited to, the right to reimbursement for any damage suffered by GBO. Should GBO wish to exercise its ownership rights as described in this article, the Client shall grant its unconditional and irrevocable permission to GBO and to third parties designated by GBO, to access all locations where the property of GBO is located and to repossess that property.

7.11
If the Client is in default with the full or partial payment of the sums owed, the Client shall owe to GBO the statutory commercial interest and the extrajudicial debt recovery costs, which shall amount to at least 15% of the invoice amount per year, with a yearly minimum of € 150 excluding VAT.


7.12
GBO shall ensure that its invoices are issued in a timely manner. In consultation with the Client, GBO is entitled to invoice the agreed fee and costs in advance, provisionally or periodically.

7.13
GBO may suspend the execution of the contract:

1. after the payment term has lapsed and the Client, after being sent a written reminder to settle the invoice within 14 days, fails to do so or fails to fulfil, or fails to fulfil fully or in a timely manner, any other obligation under the contract;

2. when GBO, due to communication from or conduct of the Client, is led to understand that payment will not be made;

3. if, after entering into the contract, GBO becomes aware of circumstances that present good reason to suspect that the Client will not fulfil its obligations;

4. if, due to the delay on the part of the Client, GBO can no longer be expected to fulfil the contract against the conditions originally agreed.

8. Termination and dissolution of the contract

8.1
GBO is at all times entitled to terminate the contract without, to the extent permitted by law, being obliged to pay compensatory damages to the Client.

8.2
The Client is entitled, on the grounds of mandatory legislative provisions, to terminate the contract at all times. If the Client terminates the contract without there being any culpable failure on the part of GBO, or if GBO terminates the contract due to an imputable shortcoming in the fulfilment of the contract on the part of the Client, then the Client shall be liable to pay compensatory damages, as well as the fee and the costs incurred associated with the work conducted up to that point in time. In this context, any conduct by the Client on the grounds of which GBO cannot reasonably be required to complete the work commissioned will also be regarded as imputable shortcoming.

8.3
The compensatory damages referred to in article 8.2 shall cover at least all the costs incurred by GBO (including, but not limited to, transport, dispatch and delivery costs), costs arising from any obligations entered into by GBO with third parties for the fulfilment of the assignment, plus the (remaining part of the) fee that the Client would owe to GBO upon full execution of the assignment.

8.4
If the contract is prematurely terminated by GBO, GBO shall, in consultation with the Client, arrange for the transfer to third parties of the work still to be conducted, unless the termination of the contract is attributable to the Client. If the transfer of the work brings extra costs for GBO, these shall be charged to the Client. The Client shall be obliged to settle these costs within the stated time period, unless GBO indicates otherwise.

8.5
GBO is entitled to terminate the contract immediately and with immediate effect, fully or partially, or to cancel an order or contract, in the event:
1. of liquidation of the Client;
2. that the Client terminates its business activities;
3. of (application for provisional) suspension of payments or bankruptcy;
4. that the Client is subject to attachment – if and insofar as the attachment is not lifted within three months;
5. of debt restructuring or another circumstance whereby the Client can no longer freely dispose of its assets;
6. that the Client fails to fulfil its obligations arising from the contract and this non-fulfilment justifies termination of the contract, in which case all the sums owed by the Client shall immediately be payable.

8.6
If GBO proceeds to suspension, termination or cancellation of the contract, as referred to in article 8 of these General Terms and Conditions, GBO shall in no way be required to pay any costs, damage compensation or indemnification, while the Client, on account of breach of contract, shall be obliged to pay damage compensation or indemnification.

8.7
When the work of GBO consists of the repetition of similar activities, then the contract shall be deemed to be a long-term contract, unless the parties have agreed otherwise in writing. This long-term contract can only be terminated in writing, with due observance of a reasonable notice period of at least three months, during which time the Client shall continue to purchase the usual amount of work from GBO, or shall compensate GBO financially.

9. Warranties and indemnities

9.1
GBO guarantees that the work delivered has been designed by or on behalf of GBO and that, when the result is protected by copyright, GBO is considered to be the creator within the sense of the Copyright Act and as copyright owner has the power of disposition of the work, or at any rate is entitled/ authorized to use, distribute, disclose, reproduce and/ or edit the work subject to copyright of a third party.

9.2
When the Client uses the results of the assignment, the Client indemnifies GBO and/ or the third party/ies engaged by GBO in the execution of the assignment, from all claims by third parties resulting from the applications or the use of the result of the assignment. This has no effect on the liability of GBO towards the Client for failure to fulfil the guarantees as referred to in article 9.1 and the remaining liability as referred to in article 10 of these General Terms and Conditions.

9.3
The Client indemnifies GBO against all claims relating to intellectual property rights on all materials and/ or information provided by the Client, used in the execution of the assignment.

9.4
The products/ items delivered by GBO comply with all the customary requirements and standards that can reasonably be set at the time of delivery and for which they are intended in normal use within the Netherlands. The warranty referred to in this article is applicable to products/ items that are intended for use within the Netherlands. When used outside the Netherlands, the Client itself must verify whether the use of the products/ items is suitable for use in that location and whether the products/ items comply with the corresponding conditions set. In that case, GBO can stipulated a different warranty and other conditions relating to the items to be delivered or work to be conducted. This warranty referred to in this article does not include hardware and/ or software used by GBO (in its products/ items). GBO issues no form of warranty whatsoever on the aforementioned hardware and/ or software.

9.5
The warranty referred to in article 9.4 is valid for a period of six months after delivery, unless the nature of the products/ items delivered dictates otherwise or the parties have agreed otherwise in writing. If the defect concerns a (part of a) product/ item that was (partly) produced by a third party, the warranty shall be limited to that which is issued by the manufacturer of the product/ item in question, unless the parties have agreed otherwise in writing.

9.6
Every form of warranty shall expire in the event that the product/ item is used in any other manner than prescribed, and if the defect in the product/ item is caused by or ensues from injudicious or inappropriate use or use after the expiry date, incorrect storage or maintenance by the Client and/ or third parties when, without written permission from GBO, the Client or third parties have made or attempted to make changes to the product/ item, have attached other items to the product/ item that should not be attached or where these were handled or manipulated in any manner other than prescribed. Neither is/are the Client and/ or third parties entitled to claim under a guarantee when the defect in the product/ item is caused by or ensures from circumstances over which GBO has no influence, including, but not limited to, weather conditions (including, but not limited to, extreme rainfall or temperatures etc.).

9.7
After expiry of the warranty period, all costs for repair or replacement, including but not limited to, administration, shipping and call-out charges, shall be charged to the Client.

9.8
The Client indemnifies GBO against any claims by third parties who suffer damage in connection with the execution of the contract, where the cause is attributable to a party other than GBO. If GBO does receive a claim by a third party, the Client shall be required to assist GBO in both extrajudicial and judicial proceedings, and to do everything that might be expected of the Client without delay. Should the Client fail to take adequate measures, then GBO shall be entitled to take action itself, without notice of default being required. All costs and damage on the part of GBO and third parties that arises as a result, shall be entirely for the account and risk of the Client.

10. Liability

10.1
In the event of culpable failure, GBO must first be issued written notice of default, and granted a reasonable period to fulfil its obligations, or to repair any faults or limit or undo any damage.

10.2
GBO is exclusively liable towards the Client for direct damage attributable to GBO. Any liability of GBO for indirect damage, including consequential damage, loss of profit, lost savings, damaged or lost data or materials, or damage due to business interruption, is expressly excluded. Direct damage is exclusively understood to mean the reasonable costs of ascertaining the cause and extent of the damage, insofar as the ascertaining relates to damage within the sense of these General Terms and Conditions, any reasonable costs incurred to bring the defective performance of GBO into compliance with the contract, insofar as this can be attributed to GBO, and reasonable costs incurred in the prevention or limitation of damage, insofar as the Client demonstrates that these costs have led to limitation of direct damage as referred to in these General Terms and Conditions.

10.3
Except in the event of intent or deliberate recklessness of GBO or its managers and/ or directors, the liability of GBO is limited to GBO’s fee for the assignment, or in any case the fee for that part of the assignment to which the liability relates. This amount shall not exceed €25.000,- (twenty-five thousand Euro) and in any case shall at all times be limited to no more than the sum that the insurance provider, where applicable, pays to GBO. The amount for which GBO, when applicable, is liable, shall be reduced by any amounts that have been insured by the Client.

10.4
GBO is not liable for damage, of any nature whatsoever, resulting from the fact that GBO relied on incorrect and/or insufficient data supplied by or on behalf of the Client.

10.5
GBO can never be held liable by the Client for defects and/ or damage to products/ items or any other form of damage in the broadest sense of the word, resulting from the application of materials, products and/ or software and/ or hardware of third parties in the products/ items in question. GBO takes responsibility for the products supplied by it, and a QC (Quality Control) check is conducted on these parts/assemblies provided by GBO. Quality Control procedures will be carried out by GBO Projects B.V. either on-site or elsewhere according to agreed specifications and ANSI/ASQ Z1.4-2003 standards.

 

10.6

Both parties agree that GBO is designing to the specifications provided by the Client and both parties in good faith agree that they advise to the best of their knowledge of relevant industry and safety standards or concerns.


10.7
In departure from the statutory limitation period, all liability of GBO and the third parties engaged by GBO in the execution of the contract shall expire one year after the assignment ends, whether by completion, cancellation or termination.

10.8
If the Client defaults in the correct execution of its duties towards GBO, then the Client shall be liable for all of GBO’s damages thereby caused (also including costs in the broadest sense of the word), be that direct or indirect.

11. Force Majeure

11.1
GBO shall not be required to fulfil any obligation towards the Client if it is prevented from doing so as a consequence of a circumstance not attributable to fault and which is not regarded as GBO’s responsibility by virtue of the law, legal action or according to generally accepted standards.

11.2
In these General Terms and Conditions, the term ‘force majeure’ shall be taken to mean – in addition to its definition in law and legal precedent – all external causes, foreseen or unforeseen, which GBO cannot influence, but as a result of which GBO is unable to fulfil its obligations. This includes industrial action in GBO’s company or in the companies of third parties. GBO also has the right to invoke force majeure if the circumstance that prevents (further) fulfilment of the contract occurs after the date that GBO should have fulfilled the contract.

11.3
During the period of force majeure, GBO can suspend its contractual obligations. If this period lasts for more than two months, either of the parties shall be entitled to terminate the contract, without any obligation to pay compensatory damages to the other party.

11.4
Insofar as GBO has already partially fulfilled its contractual obligations or will be able to fulfil them at the time that the force majeure commences, and separate value can be attributed to the part already fulfilled or still to be fulfilled, GBO shall be entitled to invoice the Client separately for the part already fulfilled or still to be fulfilled. The Client is obliged to pay this invoice as if it were a separate contract.

12. Other provisions

12.1
When the Client wishes to simultaneously award the same contract to parties other than GBO, or when it has already awarded the contract to a third party, the Client shall inform GBO of this fact, stating the name(s) of this/ these third party/ies.

12.2
The Client is not permitted to transfer to third parties any of the rights under a contract entered into with GBO, save in the event and as part of a transfer of the whole of the Client’s business, or with prior written permission from GBO.

12.3
Under no circumstances is the Client entitled to offset any amounts that it owes to GBO.

12.4
The parties have a duty to uphold the confidentiality of all (confidential) information, facts and circumstances about the other party or from another source, brought to their attention within the context of the contract, where it can reasonably be assumed that disclosure or communication to third parties could harm GBO or the Client. The same duty of confidentiality with respect to such facts and circumstances must be imposed on any third parties engaged within the context of the execution of the contract.

12.5
If any provision of these General Terms and Conditions is null and void or annulled, the other provisions of these General Terms and Conditions shall remain in full force. In that event, the parties shall enter into consultations for the purpose of agreeing new provisions to replace the void or annulled provisions, whilst observing the intent and the scope of the void or annulled provisions of these General Terms and Conditions as much as possible.

12.6
The headings in these General Terms and Conditions are included to facilitate reference only and do not constitute part of these General Terms and Conditions. If uncertainty exists regarding the interpretation of one or more provisions of these General Terms and Conditions, then the explanation shall be found “in the spirit” of the provisions in question.

12.7
If a situation occurs between the parties which is not provided for in these General Terms and Conditions, then this situation should be evaluated “in the spirit” of these General Terms and Conditions.

12.8
If GBO does not always require the strict observance of these General Terms and Conditions, this does not mean that the provisions therein do not apply or that GBO loses the right to require the strict observance of these General Terms and Conditions in other cases.

12.9
All contracts between GBO and the Client shall be governed by Dutch law.

The applicability of the Vienna Sales Treaty is expressly excluded. Any disputes arising from or associated with this contract, or contracts derived from this contract, shall be brought before the competent court of Oost Brabant (East Brabant), the Netherlands.