Affiliate Terms and Conditions[1]
Please read these Affiliate Terms and Conditions carefully before applying to become an Affiliate, as they set out our and your legal rights and obligations in relation our Affiliate Programme. You will be asked to agree to these Affiliate Terms and Conditions before becoming an Affiliate.
You should print a copy of these Affiliate Terms and Conditions for future reference. We will not file a copy specifically in relation to you, and they may not be accessible on our website in future.[2]
These Affiliate Terms and Conditions are available in [the English language] only.[3]
If you have any questions or complaints about our Affiliate Programme please contact us by email to info@sativaworx.com.
1. Definitions and interpretation
1.1 In the Agreement:
“Acceptance Email” means an email sent by the Merchant to the Affiliate in accordance with Clause [2.3] confirming that the Affiliate has been accepted into the Affiliate Programme;
“Affiliate” means the person (natural or legal) specified as the applicant for our Affiliate Programme on the Registration Form;
“Affiliate Programme” means the Merchant’s affiliate programme detailed in the Agreement [and on the Merchant Website];
“Affiliate Website” means the website or websites owned and operated by the Affiliate and specified by the Affiliate on the Registration Form;
“Agreement” means the agreement between the Merchant and the Affiliate incorporating these Affiliate Terms and Conditions, the Registration Form and the Acceptance Email, and any amendments to it from time to time;
“Effective Date” means the date the Agreement comes into force as specified in Clause [2];
“Force Majeure Event” means an event, or a series of related events, that is outside the reasonable control of the party affected (including failures of or problems with the internet or a part of the internet, hacker attacks, denial of service attacks, virus or other malicious software infections or attacks, power failures, industrial disputes affecting any third party, changes to the law, disasters, explosions, fires, floods, riots, terrorist attacks and wars);
“Intellectual Property Rights” means all intellectual property rights wherever in the world, whether registered or unregistered, including any application or right of application for such rights (and the “intellectual property rights” referred to above include copyright and related rights, moral rights, database rights, confidential information, trade secrets, know-how, business names, trade names, trade marks, service marks, passing off rights, unfair competition rights, patents, petty patents, utility models, semi-conductor topography rights and rights in designs);
“Link” means a hyperlink (whether in text or in an image or otherwise) from the Affiliate Website to the Merchant Website enabling the Merchant to track visitors from the Affiliate Website to the Merchant Website using its affiliate tracking system;
“Merchant” means [company name], a company incorporated in [England and Wales] (registration number [number]) having its registered office at [address];[4]
[“Merchant Website” means the website[s] accessible via the following URL[s]: [insert details][, plus any other websites notified by the Merchant to the Affiliate from time to time];
OR
“Merchant Website” means those websites specified by the Merchant [in the Acceptance Email][, plus any other websites notified by the Merchant to the Affiliate from time to time];]
“Payments” means payments of such amounts as are specified by the Merchant from time to time on the Merchant Website in respect of the relevant type of Payment Trigger;[5]
“Payment Trigger” means:
[(a) a purchase of the Merchant’s goods or services on the Merchant Website made by a user who [first] visited the Merchant Website by means of a Link and who made such purchase within [[30 / 60 / 90] days] of the date of that [first] visit][, providing that such user did not at any time between the visit and the purchase visit the Merchant Website by means of a hyperlink associated with another affiliate within the Affiliate Programme;][6]
[(b) the submission of a completed registration form on the Merchant Website by a user who [first] visited the Merchant Website by means of a Link and who submitted such registration form within [[30 / 60 / 90] days] of the date of that [first] visit][, providing that such user did not at any time between the visit and the registration visit the Merchant Website by means of a hyperlink associated with another affiliate within the Affiliate Programme; and][7]
[(c) a unique user visit to the Merchant Website made by a user through a Link[, providing that a user will not be considered a “unique” user if that user has at any previous time visited the Merchant Website;][8]
“Prohibited Materials” means content, works or other materials that constitute, or that the Merchant reasonably determines constitute:
(a) material that breaches any applicable laws, regulations or legally binding codes;
(b) material that infringes any third party intellectual property rights or other rights;
(c) indecent, obscene, pornographic or lewd material;
(d) material that is offensive or abusive, or is likely to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety to another internet user;
(e) computer viruses, spyware, trojan horses or other malicious or harmful routines, programs or software; and/or
(f) spam or unsolicited bulk email [or unsolicited commercial email].
“Registration Form” means the HTML form on the Merchant Website enabling users to apply to become Affiliates;
“Term” means the term of the Agreement; and
“Verified Payment Trigger” means a Payment Trigger that has been verified by the Merchant using its affiliate tracking system (for the avoidance of doubt, this excludes both Payment Triggers that have not been so verified and events that are not Payment Triggers but are falsely verified as such).
1.2 In the Agreement, a reference to a statute or statutory provision includes a reference to:
(a) that statute or statutory provision as modified, consolidated and/or re-enacted from time to time; and
(b) any subordinate legislation made under that statute or statutory provision.
1.3 The Clause headings do not affect the interpretation of the Agreement.
1.4 The ejusdem generis rule is not intended to be used in the interpretation of the Agreement.[9]
2. The Agreement
2.1 In order to apply to become an Affiliate, the applicant must complete and submit the Registration Form.[10]
2.2 If the applicant makes any input errors during the order process, these may be identified and corrected by the applicant before the Registration Form is submitted by [insert details].[11]
2.3 The Agreement will come into force if and when the Merchant sends to the Affiliate the Acceptance Email, following the submission of a completed Registration Form by the Affiliate.[12]
2.4 The Agreement will continue in force indefinitely, unless and until terminated in accordance with Clause [11].
3. Affiliate Programme
3.1 The Affiliate [may / will within [7] days] following the Effective Date include [at least one Link / Links] on the Affiliate Website[, and will maintain at least one Link on the Affiliate Website during the Term].
[3.2 The Affiliate will be granted access to an Affiliate control panel on the Merchant Website during the Term, from which the Affiliate will be able to:
(a) alter the Affiliate’s account details and preferences;
(b) access analytics information relating to the Affiliate’s performance; and
(c) download code to use as Links.]
4. Affiliate obligations
4.1 The Affiliate will provide the Merchant with:
(a) such co-operation as is required by the Merchant (acting reasonably) in connection with the Affiliate Programme; and
(b) all information and documents required by the Merchant (acting reasonably) in connection with the Affiliate Programme.
4.2 The Affiliate must not:
(a) include any Prohibited Materials on the Affiliate Website, or include any hyperlink to any Prohibited Materials on the Affiliate Website;
(b) market the Affiliate Website using spam or unsolicited emails or other unsolicited communications, or using any form of spyware, parasiteware, adware or similar software, or using any other antisocial or deceptive methods; and
(c) increase or seek to increase the number of Payment Trigger events using any fraudulent or deceptive method.
4.3 The Affiliate will not take any action in connection with the Affiliate Programme which might reasonably be expected to lead to the possibility of damage to the reputation and goodwill of the Merchant and/or the Merchant Website.
5. Intellectual Property Rights
5.1 The Merchant grants to the Affiliate during Term a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to reproduce the Links electronically and to publish the Links on the Affiliate Website.
5.2 The Merchant does not warrant that the use of the Links by the Affiliate will not infringe any third party Intellectual Property Rights or give rise to any other liability on the Affiliate.
6. Payments[13]
6.1 In respect of each Verified Payment Trigger, the Merchant will make a Payment to the Affiliate, subject always to the other terms of the Agreement.
6.2 The Merchant will account to the Affiliate for all Payments due in respect of [a calendar month] before the end of the following [calendar month], unless the amount due is less than [amount], in which case the Payments may be held over to the next accounting date.
6.3 If the Affiliate is registered for VAT in the European Union then:
(a) all Payments amounts stated in or in relation to the Agreement or on the Merchant Website are stated inclusive of VAT payable by the Merchant to the Affiliate;
(b) the Affiliate is solely responsible for accounting for such VAT to the relevant tax authorities; and
(c) the Affiliate must provide to the Merchant within [30] days following the making of a Payment under this Clause [6] a valid VAT receipt in respect of such Payment.
6.4 If the Merchant is required by law to deduct withholding tax or any other taxes or duties from any Payments, then the Merchant will deduct such amounts from the Payments before paying them to the Affiliate.
6.5 Payments to the Affiliate will be made in [UK Pounds Sterling] by [ PayPal or bank transfer (using such payment details as are provided by the Affiliate on the Registration Form)].
6.6 If the Merchant does not pay any amount properly due to the Affiliate under or in connection with the Agreement, the Affiliate may charge the Merchant simple interest on the overdue amount at the rate of [3]% per year above the UK base rate of [HSBC Bank Plc] from time to time.[14]
6.7 No Payments will be due in respect of:
[(a) any visits to or actions upon the Merchant Website made by or on behalf of:
(i) the Affiliate;
(ii) any parent undertaking or subsidiary of the Affiliate;
(iii) any employee, agent or officer of the Affiliate or any parent undertaking or subsidiary of the Affiliate; or
(iv) any natural person related to any of the above;]
[(b) any amount received by the Merchant by means of the fraudulent or unlawful use of a credit, debit or other payment card, or by any other fraudulent or unlawful means; or]
[(c) any purchases on the Merchant Website which are subsequently cancelled, refunded, reversed, or charged-back,]
and the Merchant will be entitled to require repayment of Payments made as a result of such visits, actions and purchases.
6.8 Both before and after termination, the Merchant will be entitled to set off any amount owed to the Affiliate against any amount the Affiliate owes to the Merchant whether under the Agreement or otherwise, and against any loss or damage suffered by the Merchant whether in relation to the Agreement or otherwise arising out of the Affiliate’s acts or omissions.
7. Warranties
7.1 Each party warrants to the other party:
(a) that it has the legal right and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Agreement; and
(b) that it will perform its obligations under the Agreement with reasonable care and skill.
7.2 All of the parties’ liabilities and obligations in respect of the subject matter of the Agreement are expressly set out in the terms of the Agreement. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and subject to Clause [9.1], no other terms concerning the subject matter of the Agreement will be implied into the Agreement or any related contract.
8. Indemnity
The Affiliate will indemnify and keep indemnified the Merchant, and the Merchant’s officers, employees, representatives, agents and subcontractors, against all damages, liabilities, losses, costs and expenses (including legal expenses) arising out of or as a result of any breach by the Affiliate of any term of the Agreement.
9. Limitations and exclusions of liability[15]
9.1 Nothing in the Agreement will:[16]
(a) limit or exclude the liability of a party for death or personal injury resulting from negligence;
(b) limit or exclude the liability of a party for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation by that party;
(c) limit any liability of a party in any way that is not permitted under applicable law; or
(d) exclude any liability of a party that may not be excluded under applicable law.[17]
9.2 The limitations and exclusions of liability set out in this Clause [9] [and elsewhere in the Agreement]:
(a) are subject to Clause [9.1];
(b) govern all liabilities arising under the Agreement [or any collateral contract] or in relation to the subject matter of the Agreement [or any collateral contract], including liabilities arising in contract, in tort (including negligence) and for breach of statutory duty; and
[(c) will [not limit or exclude / limit and exclude] the liability of the parties under the express indemnities set out the Agreement.]
9.3 The Merchant will not be liable to the Affiliate in respect of any loss of profits, income, revenue, use, production or anticipated savings.[18]
9.4 The Merchant will not be liable to the Affiliate for any loss of business, contracts or commercial opportunities.
9.5 The Merchant will not be liable to the Affiliate for any loss of or damage to goodwill or reputation.
9.6 The Merchant will not be liable to the Affiliate in respect of any loss or corruption of any data, database or software.
9.7 The Merchant will not be liable to the Affiliate in respect of any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage.[19]
9.8 The Merchant will not be liable to the Affiliate for any losses arising out of a Force Majeure Event.
9.9 The Merchant’s liability to the Affiliate in relation to any event or series of related events will not exceed the greater of:
(a) [amount]; and
(b) the total amount paid and payable by the Merchant to the Affiliate under the Agreement during the [number] month period immediately preceding the event or events giving rise to the claim.
10. Force Majeure Events
10.1 Where a Force Majeure Event gives rise to a failure or delay in either party performing its obligations under this Agreement, those obligations will be suspended for the duration of the Force Majeure Event.
10.2 A party who becomes aware of a Force Majeure Event which gives rise to, or which is likely to give rise to, any failure or delay in performing its obligations under this Agreement, will promptly notify the other.
10.3 The affected party will take reasonable steps to mitigate the effects of the Force Majeure Event.
11. Termination
11.1 Either party may terminate the Agreement immediately at any time by giving written notice to the other party.
11.2 The Merchant may terminate the Agreement immediately [by cancelling the Affiliate’s account on the Merchant Website or] by giving written notice to the Affiliate if the Affiliate:
(a) commits any [material] breach of any term of the Agreement;
(b) becomes insolvent or bankrupt or enters into any insolvency or bankruptcy process or procedure; or
(c) (where the Affiliate is an individual) the Affiliate dies or as a result of illness or incapacity becomes incapable of managing his or her own affairs.
12. Effects of termination
12.1 Upon termination all the provisions of the Agreement will cease to have effect, save that the following provisions of the Agreement will survive and continue to have effect (in accordance with their terms or otherwise indefinitely): [Clauses 1, 8, 9, 12 and 13.3 to 13.11].
12.2 If the Agreement is terminated by the Merchant under Clause [11.2] or in the circumstances described in Clause [11.2], the Merchant will not have any obligation to make any further Payments to the Affiliate.
12.3 Subject to Clause [12.2]:
(a) the Merchant will pay to the Affiliate all Payments arising from Verified Payment Triggers activated on or before the date of effective termination of the Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Agreement; and
(b) termination of the Agreement will not affect either party’s accrued rights as at the date of termination.
13. General
13.1 Any notice given under the Agreement must be in writing (whether or not described as “written notice” in the Agreement) and must be delivered personally, sent by [recorded signed-for] post, or sent by fax [or email],[20] for the attention of the relevant person, and to the relevant address, fax number or [email address] specified on the Registration Form (in the case of the Affiliate) or the Merchant Website (in the case of the Merchant) (or as notified by one party to the other in accordance with this Clause).
13.2 A notice will be deemed to have been received at the relevant time set out below:
(a) where the notice is delivered personally, at the time of delivery;
(b) where the notice sent by [recorded signed-for] post, [48 hours] after posting; and
(c) where the notice sent by fax [or email], at the time of the transmission (providing the sending party retains written evidence of the transmission).
13.3 No breach of any provision of the Agreement will be waived except with the express written consent of the party not in breach.
13.4 If a Clause of the Agreement is determined by any court or other competent authority to be unlawful and/or unenforceable, the other Clauses of the Agreement will continue in effect. If any unlawful and/or unenforceable Clause would be lawful or enforceable if part of it were deleted, that part will be deemed to be deleted, and the rest of the Clause will continue in effect (unless that would contradict the clear intention of the parties, in which case the entirety of the relevant Clause will be deemed to be deleted).
13.5 Nothing in the Agreement will constitute a partnership, agency relationship or contract of employment between the parties. The Affiliate will not make any statement on the Affiliate Website or otherwise which expressly or impliedly suggest that there is any such relationship between the parties.
13.6 The Agreement may be varied by the Merchant posting a new version of the Agreement on the Merchant Website [and notifying the Affiliate in writing that the Agreement has been varied]. The Affiliate’s continued participation in the Affiliate Programme after receipt of such a notice will constitute the Affiliate’s acceptance of the varied Agreement.
13.7 The Affiliate hereby agrees that the Merchant may freely assign [any or all of] its rights and[/or] obligations under the Agreement [to any successor to all or substantial part of the business of the Merchant from time to time]. The Affiliate may not without the prior written consent of the Merchant assign, transfer, charge, license or otherwise dispose of or deal in the Agreement or any of its rights or obligations under the Agreement.
13.8 Save as provided for in Clause [8], the Agreement is made for the benefit of the parties, and is not intended to benefit any third party or be enforceable by any third party. The rights of the parties to terminate, rescind, or agree any amendment, waiver, variation or settlement under or relating to the Agreement are not subject to the consent of any third party.[21]
13.9 The Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties in relation to the subject matter of the Agreement, and supersedes all previous agreements, arrangements and understandings between the parties relating to the subject matter of the Agreement. Subject to Clause [9.1], each party acknowledges that no representations or promises not expressly contained in the Agreement have been made by or on behalf of the other party.
13.10 The Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [England and Wales].[22]
[13.11 The courts of [England and Wales][23] will have exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate any dispute arising under or in connection with the Agreement.]
Information to be included in Registration Form
– Affiliate name, address and contact details
– Affiliate company name, registration number and registered office (where applicable)
– Contact details for sending notices (if different)
– URL of Affiliate Website
– Payment details allowing payments to be made to Affiliate (e.g. PayPal email address)
– The Registration Form should also incorporate a checkbox or other acceptance mechanism for the Affiliate Terms and Conditions, ensuring that all Affiliates give their express acceptance of the Affiliate Terms and Conditions. The Merchant should keep a record of such acceptances.
[1] This template is designed for use in connection with a website affiliate programme where: (i) affiliates apply to join the programme online (and there is therefore no signed paper copy of the Agreement); and (ii) payments to affiliates are made in respect of purchases on the website, visits to the website and/or registrations on the website. The template may be adapted for use with other types of goal.
The template includes numerous optional clauses. Generally, the template has been drafted to favour the interests of the merchant (i.e. person operating the affiliate programme).
[2] The Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 (aka the Ecommerce Regulations) require that, subject to any agreement between businesses to the contrary, an information society service provider must provide certain information where a contract is concluded online. That information includes: “whether or not the concluded contract will be filed by the service provider and whether it will be accessible” (Regulation 9(1)(b)).
[3] See footnote 2. The information required by the Ecommerce Regulations also includes: “the languages offered for the conclusion of the contract” (Regulation 9(1)(d)).
[4] Where the Merchant is a sole trader or partnership rather than a company, the following definitions of Merchant may be used instead:
sole trader: “… means [individual name] trading as [business name], which has its principal place of business at [address]”
partnership: “… means [partnership name], a partnership established under [English] law having its principal place of business at [address]”
[5] Details of payments should be set out on the Merchant Website. The levels of payments can then be varied without amending the Affiliate Terms and Conditions. You should ensure that payments are detailed in respect of each type of Payment Trigger specified in the next definition.
Any bonus payments will fall under the “Payments” definition, and accordingly should be detailed on the Merchant Website.
[6] This element of the Payment Trigger definition may be used where payments to the Affiliate arise when a referred user makes a purchase on the Merchant Website.
[7] This element of the Payment Trigger definition may be used where payments to the Affiliate arise when a referred user submits a registration form on the Merchant Website.
[8] This element of the Payment Trigger definition may be used where payments to the Affiliate arise when a visitor is referred to the Merchant Website.
[9] Where the ejusdem generis rule applies, the meaning of a general provision may be restricted by the listing of particular examples. This is usually undesirable.
[10] See footnote 2. The information required by the Ecommerce Regulations also includes: “the different technical steps to follow to conclude the contract” (Regulation 9(1)(a)).
[11] See footnote 2. The information required by the Ecommerce Regulations also includes: “the technical means of identifying and correcting input errors prior to the placing of the order” (Regulation 9(1)(c)).
[12] This should be sent without “undue delay” (Ecommerce Regulations, Regulation 11(1)(a)).
[13] You should take advice from your accountant or tax adviser in relation to the taxation of payments made to affiliates.
[14] This is intended to protect the Merchant – as it is more advantageous to the Merchant than the default position under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
[15] Contractual limitations and exclusions of liability are regulated and controlled by law, and the courts often rule that particular limitations and exclusions of liability in contracts are unenforceable. The courts are particularly likely to intervene where a party is seeking to rely on a limitation or exclusion of liability in its standard T&Cs, but will also sometimes intervene where a term has been individually negotiated. You should consider taking legal advice if you may wish to rely upon a limitation or exclusion of liability. Please note that the guidance notes to this Clause provide only an incomplete and basic overview of this complex subject.
The limitations of liability have been drafted from the point of view of the Merchant, not the Affiliate.
The courts may be more likely to rule that provisions excluding liability – as opposed to those merely limiting liability – are unenforceable.
If there is a risk that any particular limitation or exclusion of liability will be found to be unenforceable by the courts (for example, because it may be unreasonable under UCTA – see below), that provision should be drafted as an independent term, and be separately numbered from the other provisions.
It may improve the chances of a limitation or exclusion of liability being found to be enforceable if the party seeking to rely upon it specifically drew it to the attention of the other party before the contract was entered into.
[16] Exclusions and limitations of liability in UK B2B contracts are primarily regulated by the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (“UCTA”).
B2B contracts regulated by UCTA cannot exclude or restrict a party’s liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence (Section 2(1)).
Except insofar as the relevant term satisfies the requirements of reasonableness, nor can such contracts exclude or restrict liability: (i) for “negligence” (which includes a breach of an express or implied contractual obligation to take reasonable care or exercise reasonable skill) (Section 2(2)); or (ii) for misrepresentation (Section 3, Misrepresentation Act 1967).
In addition, where a B2B contract is regulated by UCTA, and one of the parties is dealing on the other’s written standard terms of business, then except insofar as the relevant contractual term satisfies the requirements of reasonableness the other party cannot: (i) exclude or restrict his liability in respect of a breach of contract; or (ii) claim to be entitled to render a contractual performance substantially different from that which was reasonable expected of him; or (iii) claim to be entitled, in respect of the whole or any part of his contractual obligation, to render no contractual performance at all (see Section 3).
Note that UCTA includes various other restrictions, particularly in the case of contracts for the sale of goods and contracts under which possession or ownership of goods pass.
[17] Do not delete this Clause (except upon legal advice). Without this Clause, the specific limitations and exclusions of liability will not usually be enforceable.
[18] You should consider carefully the particular kinds of loss you want to try to limit or exclude.
If you wish to try to limit/exclude for liability in respect of reckless, deliberate, personal and/or repudiatory breaches of contract, you should specify this in relation to the relevant Clause (for example, using the following wording: “The limitations and exclusions of liability in this Clause [number] will apply whether or not the liability in question arises out of any reckless, deliberate, personal and/or repudiatory conduct or breach of contract”). In some circumstances the courts will find these types of limitations and exclusions to be unenforceable (e.g. because unreasonable under UCTA).
[19] “Consequential loss” has a special meaning in English law: it means losses that, whilst not arising naturally from the breach, were specifically in the contemplation of the parties when the contract was made.
[20] If you decide that contractual notices may not be served by email, you should delete the references to “email” in Clauses 13.1 and 13.2.
[21] This provision is designed to exclude any rights a third party may have under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (subject to the indemnity in Clause 8).
[22] This template has been drafted to work in the English law context. If you plan to change the governing law, you should have the document reviewed by someone with expertise in the law of the relevant jurisdiction.
[23] As a practical matter, it makes sense for the courts with expertise in the relevant law to have the right to adjudicate disputes. Where Affiliates may be is outside the England and Wales, you may want to delete the jurisdiction clause, as this could ease enforcement in some circumstances