Legal Framework

1. Data Controller

CrystalDesignWorks ("we", "us", "our"), registered at Rua do Castelo 18, 4660-221 Resende, Portugal, is the data controller responsible for the processing of personal data collected through our website and services. For any privacy-related inquiries, contact us at [email protected].

2. Data We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal data when you interact with our platform:

• Identity Data: Full name, email address, and any information you provide in contact forms or project inquiries.
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, and access timestamps — collected automatically for security and performance monitoring.
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, navigation patterns, and interaction events — used solely for improving service quality.
• Project Data: Business requirements, workflow specifications, and technical documents you voluntarily share during project engagement.

3. Purpose of Processing

Your personal data is processed for the following lawful purposes under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Execution of contractual obligations (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR) — delivering the web development services you have requested.
• Legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) — website security, fraud prevention, and service improvement.
• Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) — marketing communications, which you may withdraw at any time.

4. Data Retention

Personal data is retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected. Project-related data is retained for 24 months after project completion. Contact form submissions are retained for 12 months. Technical logs are retained for 90 days.

5. Your Rights Under GDPR

As a data subject within the European Economic Area, you have the following rights:

• Right of Access (Art. 15): Request a copy of all personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification (Art. 16): Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Erasure (Art. 17): Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal retention obligations.
• Right to Restriction (Art. 18): Request limitation of processing in specific circumstances.
• Right to Data Portability (Art. 20): Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Right to Object (Art. 21): Object to processing based on legitimate interests, including direct marketing.

6. Data Security

CrystalDesignWorks implements appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data, including TLS encryption for all data in transit, encrypted storage for data at rest, access controls based on the principle of least privilege, and regular security audits of our infrastructure.

7. International Data Transfers

If data is transferred outside the European Economic Area, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission or adequacy decisions as applicable.

8. Contact

For any privacy-related requests or to exercise your rights under GDPR, contact our Data Protection officer at [email protected] or write to: CrystalDesignWorks, Rua do Castelo 18, 4660-221 Resende, Portugal.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the services provided by CrystalDesignWorks ("we", "us", "our"), located at Rua do Castelo 18, 4660-221 Resende, Portugal, you ("Client", "you") agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, you must not use our services.

2. Scope of Services

CrystalDesignWorks provides bespoke web development, full-stack platform architecture, customer portal design, e-commerce solutions, API integration, cloud infrastructure setup, and related digital services. The specific scope, deliverables, timeline, and pricing for each engagement are defined in a separate Project Agreement or Statement of Work (SOW) executed between both parties.

3. Project Engagement Process

• Discovery: Initial consultation to define project requirements, scope, and technical specifications.
• Proposal: Detailed written proposal including deliverables, timeline, milestones, and pricing.
• Milestone Payments: Projects are divided into defined milestones with corresponding payment schedules as specified in the SOW.
• Delivery: Final deliverables are provided upon completion of all milestones and receipt of full payment.

4. Intellectual Property

Upon receipt of full payment for a project, CrystalDesignWorks assigns to the Client all intellectual property rights in the final deliverables, including source code, design assets, and documentation. CrystalDesignWorks retains the right to use anonymized case studies and portfolio samples unless otherwise agreed in writing.

5. Client Obligations

The Client agrees to: (a) provide timely access to all necessary systems, accounts, and information required for project execution; (b) review and provide feedback within agreed-upon review periods; (c) make payments according to the agreed schedule; (d) ensure all provided content and materials do not infringe third-party rights.

6. Limitation of Liability

CrystalDesignWorks' total liability for any claim arising out of or related to these Terms or our services shall not exceed the total amount paid by the Client for the specific project giving rise to the claim. CrystalDesignWorks shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, including lost profits or business interruption.

7. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to maintain the confidentiality of all proprietary information exchanged during the course of engagement. This obligation survives termination of the agreement for a period of 24 months.

8. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Portuguese Republic. Any disputes shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Porto, Portugal.

1. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites function efficiently, provide information to site owners, and enhance the user experience. CrystalDesignWorks uses cookies in compliance with the ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

2. How We Use Cookies

CrystalDesignWorks uses a minimal number of cookies. We do not use tracking cookies, advertising cookies, or any form of invasive user profiling. Our cookie usage is strictly limited to:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic site functionality, including session management, security tokens, and navigation state. These cannot be disabled as the site will not function without them.
• Preference Cookies: Used to remember your cookie consent choice (via localStorage) so you are not prompted again on subsequent visits.

3. Third-Party Services

CrystalDesignWorks does not embed third-party tracking scripts, advertising pixels, or analytics tools that set cookies on your device. The only external resources loaded are Google Fonts (for typography) and Google Maps (on the contact page), which may set their own cookies in accordance with their respective privacy policies.

4. Managing Cookies

You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. Note that disabling essential cookies may impair the functionality of this website. The cookie consent banner allows you to accept or decline non-essential cookies at any time.

5. Data Retention

Essential cookies are session-based and expire when you close your browser. Preference cookies (consent state) are stored in localStorage and persist until you manually clear your browser data or until 365 days have elapsed.

6. Contact

For questions about our cookie practices, contact us at [email protected] or write to: CrystalDesignWorks, Rua do Castelo 18, 4660-221 Resende, Portugal.

1. General Policy

CrystalDesignWorks provides bespoke digital services tailored to each client's specific requirements. Due to the custom nature of our work, refunds are evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the European Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU) and applicable Portuguese consumer protection law.

2. Right of Withdrawal

Under EU consumer protection law, you have the right to withdraw from a distance contract within 14 days of execution without providing any reason. However, as our services involve the commencement of work (digital content delivery and custom development), by requesting project commencement before the end of the withdrawal period, you acknowledge that: (a) you expressly request the start of service delivery; (b) you understand that the right of withdrawal is lost once the service has been fully performed; and (c) if the service is only partially performed, you may receive a proportionate refund for the unperformed portion.

3. Milestone-Based Refunds

For milestone-based projects, refunds are calculated as follows:

• Before Project Commencement: Full refund of any advance payment minus administrative fees (5% of payment amount).
• During Active Milestone: Refund proportional to uncompleted work within the current milestone, assessed upon written request.
• After Milestone Completion: Completed milestones are non-refundable. Payment for completed work is due regardless of subsequent project termination.

4. Non-Refundable Items

• Domain registration and hosting fees paid to third-party providers.
• Third-party software licenses procured on behalf of the client.
• Work completed and approved during formal milestone reviews.
• Consultation fees for discovery sessions and technical assessments.

5. Refund Request Process

To request a refund, send a written request to [email protected] including: (a) your project reference number; (b) the reason for the refund request; (c) the specific amount requested. We will acknowledge receipt within 2 business days and provide a resolution within 14 business days of receipt.

6. Dispute Resolution

In the event of a dispute regarding refunds, both parties agree to attempt resolution through good-faith negotiation before initiating formal proceedings. Unresolved disputes shall be submitted to the competent courts of Porto, Portugal. As an EU consumer, you may also use the European Commission's Online Dispute Resolution platform at https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr.

7. Contact

For refund inquiries, contact us at [email protected] or write to: CrystalDesignWorks, Rua do Castelo 18, 4660-221 Resende, Portugal.