terms & Conditions
Purpose. The parties wish to explore a business opportunity of mutual interest and in connection with this opportunity, each party may disclose to the other certain confidential technical and business information that the disclosing party desires the receiving party to treat as confidential.
1. “Confidential Information” means any information disclosed by either party to the other party, directly or indirectly, in writing, orally, or by inspection of tangible objects (including documents, prototypes, samples, plant, and equipment), which is designated as “Confidential,” “Proprietary,” or some similar designation. Confidential Information will include the items set forth in any Appendix attached to this Agreement, whether or not appropriately designated upon disclosure. Information communicated orally will be considered Confidential Information if the information is confirmed in writing as being Confidential Information within a reasonable time after the initial disclosure. Confidential Information may also include information disclosed to the disclosing party by third parties. Confidential Information will not, however, include any information that (i) was publicly known and made generally available in the public domain prior to the time of disclosure by the disclosing party; (ii) becomes publicly known and made generally available after disclosure by the disclosing party to the receiving party through no action or inaction of the receiving party; (iii) is already in the possession of the receiving party at the time of disclosure by the disclosing party, as shown by the receiving party’s files and records; (iv) is obtained by the receiving party from a third party without a breach of the third party’s obligations of confidentiality; or (v) is independently developed by the receiving party without use of or reference to the disclosing party’s Confidential Information, as shown by documents and other competent evidence in the receiving party’s possession.
2. Non-use and Nondisclosure. Each party will not use the other party’s Confidential Information for any purpose except to evaluate and engage in discussions concerning a potential business relationship between the parties. Each party will not disclose the other party’s Confidential Information to third parties or to such party’s employees, except to those employees of the receiving party who are required to have the information in order to evaluate or engage in discussions concerning the contemplated business relationship. A party may disclose the other party’s Confidential Information if required by law so long as the receiving party gives the disclosing party prompt written notice of the requirement prior to the disclosure and assistance in obtaining an order protecting the information from public disclosure. Neither party will reverse engineer, disassemble, or decompile any prototypes, software, or other tangible objects that embody the other party’s Confidential Information and that are provided to the party in accordance with this Agreement.
3. Maintenance of Confidentiality. Each party will take reasonable measures to protect the secrecy of and avoid disclosure and unauthorized use of the other party’s Confidential Information. Without limiting the foregoing, each party will take at least those measures that it takes to protect its own most highly confidential information and, prior to any disclosure of the other party’s Confidential Information to its employees, will have the employees sign a non-use and nondisclosure agreement that is substantially similar in content to this Agreement. Neither party will make any copies of the other party’s Confidential Information unless approved in writing by the other party. Each party will reproduce the other party’s proprietary rights notices on any approved copies.
4. No Obligation. Nothing in this Agreement will obligate either party to proceed with any transaction between them, and each party reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate the discussions contemplated by this Agreement.
5. No Guarantees for Services. In purchasing services with Roots Detectives, you are contracting professional genealogists to perform research on your behalf. Roots Detectives conducts research with the highest professional standards in accordance to Roots Detectives Code of Ethic and the Code of Ethics published by the Association of Professional Genealogists. Because of the variables that can limit success (time allotted, time period and place, records availability, common surnames) during research, there is no guarantee that any specific or positive results will be attained. Root Detectives researchers promise to do their best work, and that is all that we can offer.
6. No Warranty. ALL CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED “AS IS.” NEITHER PARTY MAKES ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR OTHERWISE, REGARDING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR PERFORMANCE OF ITS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
7. Return of Materials. All documents and other tangible objects containing or representing Confidential Information and all copies of them will be and remain the property of the disclosing party. Upon the disclosing party’s request, the receiving party will promptly deliver to the disclosing party all Confidential Information, without retaining any copies.
8. No License. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to grant any rights to either party under any patent, copyright, or other intellectual property right of the other party, nor will this Agreement grant any party any rights in or to the Confidential Information of the other party, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.
9. Term. The obligations of each receiving party under this Agreement will survive until all Confidential Information of the other party becomes publicly known and made generally available through no action or inaction of the receiving party.
10. Remedies. Each party acknowledges that any violation or threatened violation of this Agreement may cause irreparable injury to the other party, entitling the other party to seek injunctive relief in addition to all legal remedies.
11. Miscellaneous. This Agreement will bind and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and assigns. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the state of Delaware, without reference to conflict of laws principles. This document contains the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. Neither party will have any obligation, express or implied by law, with respect to trade secret or proprietary information of the other party except as set forth in this Agreement. Any failure to enforce any provision of this Agreement will not constitute a waiver of that provision or of any other provision. This Agreement may not be amended, nor any obligation waived, except by a writing signed by both parties. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original, but all of which constitute the same agreement.
Privacy
Roots Detectives takes reasonable measures to protect the secrecy of and avoid disclosure and unauthorized use of any party’s Confidential Information. Without limiting the foregoing, each party will take at least those measures that it takes to protect its own most highly confidential information and, prior to any disclosure of the other party’s Confidential Information to its employees, will have the employees sign a non-use and nondisclosure agreement that is substantially similar in content to this Agreement. Neither party will make any copies of the other party’s Confidential Information unless approved in writing by the other party. Each party will reproduce the other party’s proprietary rights notices on any approved copies.
Cancellations & Refunds
Refunds are applied to portions of advancements. There is no refund on retainers. When there is a credit to the client’s account the amount may be applied to future research or a refund will be sent within 30 days as per the client’s instruction. In the event that the completed services total less than the agreed upon hours, unused funds will be reimbursed to the client, less miscellaneous fees and expenses as invoiced.