Terms and Conditions
Rooted Web Design Studio (Pty) Ltd
Effective Date: March 2026
These Terms and Conditions govern your use of this website and any services provided by Rooted Web Design Studio (Pty) Ltd (“Rooted”, “we”, “us”, or “the Designer”).
By using this website or engaging our services, you agree to these Terms.
1. Services
Rooted Web Design Studio provides services including, but not limited to:
- Website design and development
- WordPress, WooCommerce, and Shopify development
- E-commerce setup
- SEO implementation
- Website maintenance
- Domain and hosting assistance
All projects are subject to a separate signed Web Design Agreement and approved Proposal, which take precedence over this website’s general terms.
2. Project Engagement & Payment
Project-specific payment terms are governed by the signed Web Design Agreement.
Standard structure includes:
- 50% non-refundable deposit prior to commencement
- 50% balance payable prior to launch or file transfer
- No website access, credentials, or final files are released until full payment is received
Failure to make payment may result in suspension of services or website access.
3. Intellectual Property
3.1 Ownership Transfer
Upon full and final payment:
- The Client owns the final approved website design and agreed deliverables created specifically for the project.
- Ownership includes the right to use and modify the final product for business purposes.
3.2 Designer Retained Rights
Rooted retains ownership of:
- Pre-existing templates
- Frameworks
- Code libraries
- Development systems
- Processes and tools
These remain the intellectual property of Rooted Web Design Studio.
4. Portfolio & Attribution
Rooted retains the right to:
- Display completed work in portfolios
- Share projects on websites, social media, and marketing materials
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, website footer credit may appear in the form of:
“Website designed by Rooted Web Design Studio” (with optional hyperlink).
Removal of credit without written consent may result in additional fees as outlined in the signed Agreement.
5. Warranty & Maintenance
Rooted provides a 30-day limited warranty from the official website launch date covering:
- Technical errors directly caused by development
- Broken internal links
- Layout inconsistencies
The warranty excludes:
- Client-requested content changes
- Plugin or platform updates
- Hosting-related issues
- Third-party conflicts
- Security breaches outside reasonable control
Ongoing support after 30 days is only provided under a Maintenance Retainer Agreement.
6. Domain & Hosting
Where Rooted assists with domain handling:
- The Client remains the legal owner and registrant.
- The Client is responsible for renewal fees.
- Rooted is not liable for domain expiry due to non-payment or registrar issues.
Where hosting is provided:
- Hosting is billed separately.
- Rooted is not liable for downtime or data loss caused by third-party hosting providers.
If the Client hosts independently, Rooted is not responsible for server configuration, uptime, or security.
7. Third-Party Tools
Websites may include third-party plugins, payment gateways, or integrations.
Rooted does not guarantee:
- Continued availability
- Compatibility after updates
- Third-party system performance
Clients are responsible for maintaining valid licenses and compliance with third-party provider requirements.
8. Legal Compliance (South Africa)
The Client is solely responsible for ensuring their website complies with applicable laws, including but not limited to:
- Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)
- Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECTA)
- Consumer Protection Act (CPA)
- Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA)
- Rooted may implement technical elements such as cookie banners or consent tools but does not provide legal advice and does not warrant the legal sufficiency of Client-supplied policies.
The Client remains the responsible party for:
- Privacy policies
- Terms and conditions
- E-commerce disclosures
- Refund policies
- Industry-specific compliance
9. Limitation of Liability
Rooted Web Design Studio shall not be liable for:
- Loss of profits
- Business interruption
- Indirect or consequential damages
- Search engine ranking outcomes
- Security breaches outside reasonable control
Total liability shall not exceed the total project fee paid.
10. Termination
Termination terms are governed by the signed Web Design Agreement.
Where applicable:
- Deposits remain non-refundable.
- Work completed up to termination may be invoiced proportionally.
- Rights to unfinished work may be revoked in cases of breach or non-payment.
11. Confidentiality
Both parties agree to keep confidential any sensitive business information shared during a project.
12. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
13. Contact
Rooted Web Design Studio (Pty) Ltd
Email: info@rootedwebdesignstudio.co.za
Website: www.rootedwebdesignstudio.co.za
