Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("you" or "user") and Southcore Labs ("we," "us," or "our"), governing your access to and use of our website at southcorelabs.com, our client console, and all related services (collectively, the "Services").

By accessing or using our Services, including signing in through Google OAuth, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use our Services.

2. Description of Services

Southcore Labs is a software consultancy. The "Services" governed by these Terms include:

2.1 Southcore Client Console

A secure, authenticated dashboard providing clients with access to project management tools, documentation, progress tracking, deliverables, and communication features for active engagements with Southcore Labs.

2.2 Southcore Pulse

An uptime monitoring and status page service that provides real-time monitoring of your web applications and services, incident tracking, and public or private status pages. Southcore Pulse is bundled with Site Care retainer packages and may also be available as a standalone service.

2.3 Consultancy Services

In addition to the above platforms, Southcore Labs provides:

• Custom software development and engineering services
• Web and mobile application development
• Platform and infrastructure consulting
• Design systems and performance optimization
• Site Care retainers for ongoing maintenance and support

3. Account Registration and Authentication

3.1 Google OAuth as Primary Authentication

Google OAuth is the primary authentication method for accessing the Southcore Client Console and Southcore Pulse. By using our Services, you agree to authenticate using your Google account and acknowledge the following:

• You must comply with Google's Terms of Service when using Google OAuth to access our Services
• Your use of Google's authentication services is also governed by Google's Privacy Policy
• We only request and access the minimum information necessary from your Google account (email, name, and profile picture) to provide our Services
• You can revoke our access to your Google account at any time by visiting your Google Account permissions

3.2 Account Responsibilities

By creating an account through Google OAuth, you agree to:

• Maintain the security of your Google account and notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur through your authenticated session
• Provide accurate and complete information when requested for service delivery
• Not share your authenticated sessions or attempt to circumvent authentication controls

3.3 Account Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in your jurisdiction (whichever is greater) to use our Services. By using our Services, you represent and warrant that you meet these eligibility requirements.

4. Acceptable Use

You agree to use our Services only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree NOT to:

• Use the Services in any way that violates any applicable local, national, or international law or regulation
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Services, other accounts, computer systems, or networks
• Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Services or related systems
• Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or any other malicious code
• Use any automated means to access the Services without our express written permission
• Impersonate or attempt to impersonate Southcore Labs, a Southcore Labs employee, or any other person or entity
• Share your account credentials or allow others to access your account
• Use the Services to transmit any unauthorized advertising or promotional materials

5. Intellectual Property Rights

5.1 Our Intellectual Property

The Services and their entire contents, features, and functionality (including but not limited to all information, software, text, displays, images, video, and audio, and the design, selection, and arrangement thereof) are owned by Southcore Labs, its licensors, or other providers and are protected by South African and international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.

5.2 Limited License

Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Services for your personal or internal business purposes. This license does not include the right to:

• Modify, copy, or create derivative works of the Services
• Reverse engineer or attempt to extract source code
• Remove any proprietary notices or labels
• Use the Services for any commercial purpose not authorized by us

5.3 Client Work and Deliverables

Intellectual property rights for custom work and deliverables created specifically for clients are governed by separate project agreements and statements of work executed between Southcore Labs and the client.

6. User Content

Our Services may allow you to submit, upload, or transmit content, including project information, feedback, and communications ("User Content"). You retain ownership of your User Content, but by submitting User Content, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, store, and process such content as necessary to provide our Services.

You represent and warrant that:

• You own or have the necessary rights to submit the User Content
• The User Content does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or any other rights of any third party
• The User Content does not contain any unlawful, defamatory, or harmful material

7. Confidentiality

Through the client console, you may have access to confidential information related to your project, including technical specifications, business strategies, and proprietary methodologies. You agree to:

• Keep all confidential information strictly confidential and not disclose it to any third party without our prior written consent
• Use confidential information only for the purpose of collaborating on your project with Southcore Labs
• Take reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality of such information

8. Payment Terms

Payment terms for consultancy services are governed by separate project agreements, proposals, or statements of work. Access to the client console is provided as part of active project engagements. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate access to the client console in the event of non-payment or breach of payment terms as outlined in your project agreement.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SOUTHCORE LABS DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT
• WARRANTIES REGARDING THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY CONTENT
• WARRANTIES THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL SOUTHCORE LABS, ITS DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, PARTNERS, AGENTS, SUPPLIERS, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION:

• Loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses
• Damages resulting from unauthorized access to or alteration of your transmissions or data
• Damages arising from your use or inability to use the Services

Our total liability for any claims arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall not exceed the amount you paid to us, if any, in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

11. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Southcore Labs and its officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, licensors, and suppliers from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your User Content
• Your violation of any rights of a third party, including intellectual property rights
• Your use of the Services

12. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to the Services immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including if you breach these Terms. Upon termination:

• Your right to use the Services will immediately cease
• We may delete or retain your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy
• All provisions of these Terms which by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity, and limitations of liability

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us at hi@southcorelabs.com.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 ("POPIA"), without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of South Africa.

Before initiating any legal proceedings, you agree to attempt to resolve any dispute informally by contacting us at hi@southcorelabs.com. We will attempt to resolve the dispute through good faith negotiations.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify or replace these Terms at any time at our sole discretion. If we make material changes, we will provide notice by posting the updated Terms on this page with a new "Last updated" date. For significant changes, we may also notify you via email or through the client console.

Your continued use of the Services after any changes to these Terms constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must stop using the Services.

15. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

16. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any separate project agreements, constitute the entire agreement between you and Southcore Labs regarding the use of our Services and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations, and warranties.

17. Waiver

No waiver by Southcore Labs of any term or condition set forth in these Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or condition or a waiver of any other term or condition. Any failure by Southcore Labs to assert a right or provision under these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

18. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us: