Terms of Use | aretefidelis

01 Introduction & Acceptance

Welcome to aretefidelis. These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of my portfolio website and the services I provide as a freelance Full-Stack Designer & Developer.

By accessing this website, using my services, or contacting me through this website, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use this website or my services.

Legal Basis: These Terms are governed by UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2021 on Electronic Transactions and Trust Services, which recognizes the validity of electronic contracts and digital signatures. Your use of this website constitutes a legally binding agreement between you and aretefidelis.

These Terms apply to all users of this website, including visitors, clients, and any other parties interacting with my services.

02 Intellectual Property Rights

All content, designs, graphics, source code, and intellectual property on this website are the exclusive property of aretefidelis and are protected by UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights and international copyright laws.

2.1 What is Protected

Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021, the following works are protected automatically upon creation:

Source Code: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and all other programming code
User Interface Design: Visual layouts, screen designs, menu structures, and icon arrangements
Graphics & Visual Elements: All images, illustrations, animations, and graphic designs
Written Content: All text, descriptions, and documentation on this website
Software Architecture: Database schemas, API structures, and software design
Preparatory Materials: Figma designs, flowcharts, wireframes, and architecture documents

2.2 What is Not Protected

Copyright protection does not extend to:

Underlying ideas, concepts, or algorithms
Functional elements dictated by efficiency or technical constraints
Standard programming techniques or industry-standard interfaces

Important: Copyright protection is automatic upon creation — no registration is required. However, I reserve the right to register my works with the UAE Ministry of Economy's Copyright Office for enhanced enforcement.

2.3 Prohibited Uses of Intellectual Property

You may not:

Copy, reproduce, or duplicate any part of this website or its source code
Modify, adapt, or create derivative works from any content or design
Reverse engineer, decompile, or extract any portion of the source code
Republish, distribute, or commercially exploit any content without express written permission
Use any design, layout, or visual element for your own projects
Scrape, crawl, or systematically extract content from this website

Unauthorized use of any content, design, or code may result in legal action, including claims for damages, injunctive relief, and criminal prosecution under UAE law.

03 Prohibited Uses

In addition to the intellectual property restrictions above, you agree not to:

Use this website for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable laws
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of this website or its systems
Interfere with or disrupt the security, integrity, or performance of this website
Transmit any viruses, malware, or harmful code
Use this website to harass, abuse, or harm others
Impersonate any person or entity
Submit false or misleading information through the contact form

04 User Accounts & Responsibilities

This website does not require user accounts for general browsing. However, when you contact me through the website or engage my services, you agree to:

Provide accurate, current, and complete information
Maintain the confidentiality of any communications
Take responsibility for all activities conducted through your communications
Notify me immediately of any unauthorized use of your information

I reserve the right to refuse service, terminate communications, or remove content at my sole discretion.

05 Service Delivery & Payments

As a freelance professional, I offer the following services:

UI/UX Design: Figma design, prototyping, and design systems
Frontend Development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React development
Design Systems: Component libraries and token-based architectures
Motion Design: Animations and micro-interactions
Brand Strategy: Visual identity systems
Deployment & DevOps: Vercel hosting and CI/CD pipelines

5.1 Project Quotes

All project quotes are provided based on the information you provide. Quotes are valid for 30 days from the date of issue unless otherwise stated.

5.2 Payment Terms

A 50% deposit is required before work commences on any project
The remaining 50% is due upon project completion and before final delivery
Payment methods: Bank transfer, credit card, or other agreed methods
All payments are in UAE Dirhams (AED) or US Dollars (USD) as agreed

5.3 Project Timeline

Timelines are estimates based on project scope and complexity
Delays may occur due to client feedback delays or unforeseen technical challenges
I will communicate any significant timeline changes promptly

5.4 Delivery & Handover

Upon final payment, you will receive all project files and deliverables
Source code, design files, and documentation will be provided
I provide 30 days of post-launch support for bug fixes and minor adjustments

06 Refund & Cancellation Policy

I strive to ensure complete client satisfaction. However, the following policies apply:

6.1 Cancellation by Client

If you cancel a project before work commences, the deposit is refundable (minus any administrative fees)
If you cancel after work has commenced, the deposit is non-refundable
If you cancel after project completion, no refund is available

6.2 Cancellation by Service Provider

I reserve the right to cancel a project if:
- You provide inaccurate or misleading information
- You fail to respond to communications for more than 14 days
- You engage in any prohibited or unlawful conduct
In such cases, any work completed will be invoiced, and the deposit is non-refundable

Consumer Protection: These refund and cancellation provisions comply with UAE Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 on Consumer Protection (including its subsequent amendments and Executive Regulations under Cabinet Decision No. 66/2023). Terms of service cannot override statutory consumer rights. Provisions that unfairly restrict consumer rights may be unenforceable.

07 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by UAE law:

I am not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
My total liability for any claim arising from or relating to these Terms or my services shall not exceed the total amount paid by you for the specific service giving rise to the claim
I am not responsible for any damages arising from your use of or inability to use this website
I am not responsible for any third-party content, websites, or services linked from this website

Note: UAE courts may disregard overly broad exclusions, especially where negligence, misrepresentation, or consumer harm is involved. This limitation of liability is structured to be reasonable and proportionate.

08 Disclaimer of Warranties

This website and my services are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied.

I do not warrant that:

The website will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
The results obtained from using the website or services will be accurate or reliable
Any errors in the website or code will be corrected

While I strive to deliver high-quality work, I cannot guarantee that any specific outcome or business result will be achieved through my services.

09 Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates.

The following UAE laws form the legal foundation of these Terms:

Federal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2021 — Electronic Transactions and Trust Services
Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 — Protection of Personal Data (PDPL)
Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 — Consumer Protection

Jurisdiction: Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of this website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the United Arab Emirates.

These Terms are legally binding and enforceable worldwide. Users accessing this website from outside the UAE are responsible for complying with their local laws.

10 Termination

I reserve the right to terminate or suspend your access to this website and my services immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including but not limited to:

Breach of these Terms
Unauthorized use of my intellectual property
Engaging in prohibited or unlawful conduct
Failure to make required payments

Upon termination, all provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including intellectual property protections, limitations of liability, and governing law provisions.

11 Changes to These Terms

I may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in my practices, legal requirements, or operational needs.

The most current version will always be available on this page, with the "Last Updated" date at the top. Significant changes will be communicated through the website.

Your continued use of this website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

12 Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding these Terms of Use:

📧 Get In Touch

I typically respond to legal inquiries within 5 business days.

aretefidelis@gmail.com