General terms and conditions

1. User obligations

In using this website or engaging Ordinal 42 for consulting services, you agree to:

• 1.1 Provide accurate, complete, and current information when making enquiries or entering into an engagement.
• 1.2 Comply with all applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction, including those related to export controls, data protection, and anti-corruption.
• 1.3 Not use any output or deliverable from an engagement for unlawful purposes, including any purpose that would constitute a violation of applicable trade or sanctions law.
• 1.4 Maintain appropriate confidentiality over any information shared with you that is marked or understood to be confidential.
• 1.5 Pay agreed fees in accordance with the payment terms set out in your engagement agreement.

2. Prohibited conduct

The following are not permitted in connection with this website or any engagement:

• 2.1 Reproducing, distributing, or publishing any deliverable or website content beyond permitted personal or internal use without written consent.
• 2.2 Representing our work as your own, or misattributing the source of any analysis or research we provide.
• 2.3 Using website content or engagement outputs to develop competing products or services.
• 2.4 Any conduct that is harmful, discriminatory, or unlawful.

3. Disclaimers and limitations

• 3.1 No warranty: the information on this website and any outputs produced by Ordinal 42 are provided on an "as is" basis. While we take care to ensure accuracy and relevance, we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding completeness, accuracy, fitness for a particular purpose, or timeliness.
• 3.2 Not professional advice: nothing on this site or in any deliverable constitutes legal, financial, investment, regulatory, or other professional advice. You should verify findings with qualified advisors before making commercial decisions.
• 3.3 Market conditions: Japan's business environment is subject to change. Information accurate at the time of delivery may become outdated. Ordinal 42 accepts no liability for decisions made on the basis of information that has since changed.
• 3.4 Limitation of liability: to the extent permitted by applicable law, Ordinal 42's total liability arising from or in connection with any engagement or use of this website shall not exceed the fees paid for the relevant service. We exclude liability for indirect, consequential, or incidental loss.
• 3.5 Exclusion of consequential damages: Ordinal 42 shall not be liable for any loss of profit, loss of business, loss of data, or other indirect or consequential losses arising from reliance on our services or website content.

4. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold Ordinal 42 harmless from and against any claims, liabilities, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal costs) arising from your breach of these terms, your use of this website, or your violation of any applicable law or third-party rights.

5. Force majeure

Neither party shall be liable for any failure or delay in performance resulting from circumstances beyond their reasonable control, including natural disasters, acts of government, civil unrest, communications failures, or other events that could not reasonably have been anticipated and prevented.

6. Dispute resolution

• 6.1 In the first instance, any dispute should be raised directly with us via our contact form. We will make a genuine effort to resolve concerns promptly and informally.
• 6.2 Where informal resolution is not possible, disputes shall be subject to mediation before formal proceedings are initiated, unless urgency requires otherwise.
• 6.3 These terms are governed by the laws of Japan. Any proceedings that proceed to court shall be brought in the courts of Osaka, Japan, subject to any mandatory provisions of consumer protection law in your country of residence.

7. Severability and entire agreement

If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, that provision shall be severed or modified to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force.

For consulting engagements, the specific client agreement takes precedence over these general terms where they conflict. These terms apply to website use and any matters not addressed in a client agreement.