1.1 Agreement to Terms
These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between Squire (Pty) Ltd ("Squire," "we," "us," "our," or the "Company") and you ("you," "your," or the "User") governing your access to and use of:
• Our website at https://squire.law (the "Website")
• Our legal AI platform and associated services (the "Platform")
• Any applications, tools, features, or content provided by us (collectively, the "Services")
1.2 Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use our Services.
1.3 Capacity to Contract
You represent and warrant that:
• You are at least 18 years of age
• You have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts
• If accessing on behalf of an organisation, you have the authority to bind that organisation to these Terms
1.4 Legal Compliance
These Terms are designed to comply with:
• The laws of the Republic of South Africa
• The Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA)
• Applicable laws of Namibia and other jurisdictions in which Squire operates
• Recognised industry standards for legal technology services
2. Definitions and Interpretation
2.1 Definitions
For the purposes of these Terms:
• "Account" means a registered user account on the Squire Platform.
• "Content" means any information, data, text, software, images, audio, video, or other materials.
• "Intellectual Property" means all patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and other proprietary rights.
• "Output" means any content generated by Squire's AI systems in response to User inputs.
• "Personal Information" has the meaning ascribed to it in POPIA.
• "POPIA" means the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013.
• "Services" means the Squire Platform, Website, and all associated tools, features, and content.
• "Subscription" means a paid or trial access arrangement to our Services.
• "User Content" means any Content uploaded, submitted, or transmitted by Users to the Platform.
• "Working Hours" means 08:00 to 17:00 South African Standard Time (SAST), Monday to Friday, excluding South African public holidays.
2.2 Interpretation
In these Terms:
• Headings are for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Terms
• References to statutes include all amendments to and successor legislation of those statutes
• Words in the singular include the plural and vice versa
• "Including" means "including without limitation"
• Any reference to "writing" includes electronic communication unless the context requires otherwise
3. Description and Scope of Services
3.1 Service Overview
Squire provides a legal AI platform designed to assist legal professionals with:
• Document analysis and review
• Legal research assistance
• Contract drafting and review support
• Compliance checking
• Other legal technology services as may be offered from time to time
3.2 Nature of Services
Important notice: The Services are designed to assist legal professionals. Nothing provided through the Services constitutes:
• Legal advice
• The establishment of an attorney-client relationship
• A substitute for professional legal judgment
• A guarantee of accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose
Users are responsible for independently verifying all Outputs and exercising their own professional judgment before acting on any information generated by the Platform.
3.3 Service Availability
Squire strives to maintain 99.5% uptime for the Services, excluding:
• Scheduled maintenance (notified in advance wherever reasonably practicable)
• Emergency maintenance (notified on a best-efforts basis)
• Force majeure events
• Third-party service failures outside our reasonable control
3.4 Service Modifications
We reserve the right to:
• Modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Services
• Introduce new features or remove existing features
• Change pricing with not less than 30 days' prior written notice to Users
4. Account Registration and Security
4.1 Account Creation
To access certain Services, you must create an Account by providing accurate, current, and complete information, including:
• A valid email address
• Any additional information we may reasonably require
4.2 Account Verification
We may require verification of:
• Your email address via a confirmation link
• Your professional credentials (for legal professionals)
• Your identity for security or compliance purposes
4.3 Account Security
You are solely responsible for:
• Maintaining the confidentiality of your Account credentials
• All activities that occur under your Account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorised access or suspected breach of your Account security
• Ensuring you securely log out of your Account after each session
4.4 Prohibited Account Activities
You must not:
• Share Account credentials with any third party
• Create multiple Accounts without our prior written authorisation
• Use another person's Account without their permission and our authorisation
• Attempt to circumvent any security or authentication measures
4.5 Account Suspension and Termination
We may suspend or terminate your Account if:
• You violate any provision of these Terms
• You engage in fraudulent or illegal activities
• Your Account remains inactive for more than 12 consecutive months
• We are required to do so by law or legal process
5. Subscription and Payment Terms
5.1 Subscription Plans
Squire offers various subscription plans with features and pricing as published on our Website from time to time.
5.2 Fees
All fees are:
• Quoted in South African Rand (ZAR) unless otherwise specified
• Exclusive of value-added tax (VAT) unless expressly stated otherwise
• Subject to change on not less than 30 days' written notice
5.3 Payment Terms
The following payment terms apply:
• Payment is due in advance for the relevant subscription period
• We accept payment via credit card, debit card, and electronic funds transfer
• All payment processing is handled by PCI-DSS compliant third-party payment processors
• Squire does not store complete payment card details
5.4 Billing and Invoicing
In respect of billing and invoicing:
• Invoices are issued electronically to your registered email address
• Payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date
• Late payments may result in suspension of access to the Services
• Interest on overdue amounts will accrue at 2% per month or the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, whichever is lower
5.5 Subscription Changes and Cancellations
The following terms apply to changes and cancellations:
• You may upgrade or downgrade your Subscription at any time through your Account settings
• Downgrades take effect at the commencement of the next billing cycle
• Cancellations must be submitted at least 7 days before the next billing date
• No refunds are provided for partial subscription months or unused portions of a subscription period
5.6 Free Trials
Where free trials are offered:
• Free trials may be offered at Squire's discretion
• Payment details may be required for trial activation
• Trials will automatically convert to paid Subscriptions unless cancelled before the trial period expires
• Only one free trial is permitted per individual or organisation
6. User Content and Data
6.1 Ownership of User Content
You retain all ownership rights in User Content you submit to the Platform. By submitting User Content, you represent and warrant that:
• You own or have obtained all necessary rights, licences, and permissions in respect of the User Content
• The User Content does not infringe any third-party intellectual property, privacy, or other rights
• The User Content complies with all applicable laws and regulations
6.2 Licence Grant to Squire
By submitting User Content, you grant Squire a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to:
• Process User Content solely for the purpose of providing the Services to you
• Store User Content on our secure infrastructure
• Create backups of User Content for disaster recovery purposes
This licence terminates upon the deletion of your User Content or the termination of your Account, subject to our data retention obligations.
6.3 Data Protection Commitments
Critical terms - please read carefully:
No AI training: Squire expressly confirms that:
• Your User Content will never be used to train, develop, or improve any AI models
• No data you submit to the Platform will be incorporated into any machine learning training datasets
• Our AI systems do not learn from, or retain information derived from, your submissions
No third-party sharing: Squire confirms that:
• We do not sell, rent, or lease your User Content to third parties
• We do not share your User Content with third parties for their own commercial or marketing purposes
• Where third-party processors are engaged, they are contractually bound to the same restrictions as set out in these Terms
Data sovereignty: Squire commits to:
• Processing and storing data within applicable sovereign jurisdictions
• Implementing appropriate safeguards for any necessary cross-border transfers
• Full compliance with POPIA and other applicable data protection legislation
6.4 User Content Restrictions
You must not submit User Content that:
• Is unlawful, fraudulent, or deceptive
• Infringes any third-party intellectual property or other rights
• Contains malware, viruses, or any other harmful or disruptive code
• Is defamatory, obscene, or harassing in nature
• Contains Special Personal Information as defined in POPIA, unless you are authorised to process such information
6.5 Content Monitoring
We reserve the right to:
• Monitor User Content for compliance with these Terms
• Remove or disable access to User Content that violates these Terms
• Report unlawful User Content to appropriate authorities
• Cooperate with law enforcement agencies as required by applicable law
7. Intellectual Property
7.1 Squire's Intellectual Property
All Intellectual Property in and to the Services, including the following, is and remains the exclusive property of Squire or its licensors:
• Software, code, and algorithms
• AI models and training methodologies
• User interfaces and designs
• Documentation and training materials
• Trademarks, logos, and brand elements
Nothing in these Terms transfers any Intellectual Property rights in the Services to you.
7.2 Licence to Users
Subject to these Terms, Squire grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to:
• Access and use the Services for your internal business purposes during the Subscription period
• Download and print materials for personal, non-commercial use
• Use Outputs in accordance with these Terms
7.3 Restrictions
You must not:
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Services
• Copy, reproduce, or create derivative works based on the Services or any part thereof
• Remove or alter any proprietary notices, labels, or marks on the Services
• Use the Services to develop competing products or services
• Sub-license, sell, resell, transfer, or otherwise exploit the Services for commercial purposes without our prior written consent
7.4 Ownership and Use of Outputs
Ownership: You retain ownership of Outputs generated in direct response to your specific inputs. Squire retains ownership of the underlying AI technology, methodologies, and systems used to generate Outputs.
Limitations: Please note that:
• Outputs may not be eligible for copyright protection in all jurisdictions
• Squire makes no representations regarding the eligibility of any Output for copyright protection
• Similar or identical Outputs may be generated for other users
• You are solely responsible for verifying the accuracy, completeness, and appropriateness of all Outputs before reliance or use
7.5 Feedback
Any feedback, suggestions, or recommendations you provide to Squire regarding the Services may be used by us for any purpose without restriction or compensation to you.
8. Acceptable Use Policy
8.1 Permitted Use
You may use the Services only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. Permitted uses include:
• Legal research and document analysis for professional purposes
• Contract review and drafting support
• Compliance checking within your authorised scope of use
• Educational and professional training purposes
8.2 Prohibited Conduct
Illegal activities. You must not:
• Use the Services for any unlawful purpose or in contravention of any applicable law or regulation
• Facilitate or assist in any criminal activity
• Use the Services in contravention of any applicable professional conduct rules or ethical obligations
Security violations. You must not:
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Services, our systems, or the accounts of other users
• Interfere with or disrupt the Services, our servers, or related networks
• Transmit malware, viruses, or any other harmful or disruptive code
• Conduct penetration testing or vulnerability assessments without our prior written authorisation
• Use automated scripts, bots, or other automated tools to systematically access or extract data from the Services without our prior written consent
Abuse of services. You must not:
• Use the Services to generate or distribute spam or unsolicited communications
• Impersonate any person, entity, or professional body
• Harvest or collect information about other users of the Services
• Circumvent or attempt to circumvent any usage limits or restrictions
• Resell, sublicense, or otherwise provide access to the Services to any third party without our prior written authorisation
AI misuse. You must not:
• Attempt to manipulate, jailbreak, or compromise the integrity of our AI systems
• Use the Services to generate harmful, deceptive, or misleading content
• Create synthetic media or deepfakes for deceptive purposes
• Generate content that infringes any third-party rights
• Systematically generate Outputs for the purpose of building or developing competing products or services
Professional obligations. If you are a legal professional using the Services, you must:
• Exercise independent professional judgment when using or relying on Outputs
• Comply with all applicable professional conduct rules and ethical obligations
• Not represent AI-generated Outputs as your own independent professional work without appropriate review and verification
• Ensure that your use of the Services complies with your obligations to your clients and your regulatory body
8.3 Enforcement
Squire reserves the right to investigate and take appropriate action in response to any violation of this Acceptable Use Policy. Such action may include:
• Immediate suspension or termination of your Account
• Removal of violating User Content
• Legal action for damages or other relief
• Reporting of the relevant conduct to appropriate regulatory or law enforcement authorities
We will cooperate fully with any law enforcement authorities or court orders requesting or directing us to disclose the identity or activities of any user in connection with actual or suspected violations of applicable law.
9. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability
9.1 Services Provided "As Is"
The Services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied.
9.2 Disclaimer of Warranties
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Squire disclaims all warranties, including:
• Implied warranties of satisfactory quality and fitness for a particular purpose
• Warranties of non-infringement
• Warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the Services or any Output
• Warranties that the Services will meet your specific requirements
• Warranties of uninterrupted or error-free service
9.3 AI Output Disclaimer
Critical notice: Outputs generated by Squire's AI systems:
• May contain errors, inaccuracies, or outdated information
• Do not constitute legal advice or a professional legal opinion
• Must be independently reviewed and verified by a qualified legal professional before reliance
• May vary between similar queries or users
You assume full responsibility for any decisions made in reliance on AI Outputs generated by the Services.
9.4 Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law:
• Squire's total aggregate liability to you shall not exceed the total amount paid by you to Squire for the Services in the 12-month period immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim
• Squire shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Squire shall not be liable for any loss of profits, revenue, data, goodwill, or business opportunities
• Squire shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from unauthorised access to your Account
9.5 Exceptions
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability:
• For death or personal injury caused by negligence
• For fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
• For any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under applicable law
10. Indemnification
10.1 User Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Squire and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or relating to:
• Your use of the Services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property or privacy rights
• Your User Content
• Your negligent or wrongful conduct
10.2 Indemnification Procedure
In respect of any claim subject to indemnification, Squire will:
• Notify you promptly in writing of the claim
• Cooperate reasonably in the defence of the claim at your expense
• Allow you to control the defence and settlement of the claim, subject to our right to participate at our own cost and to withhold consent to any settlement that imposes obligations on Squire
11. Term and Termination
11.1 Term
These Terms commence on the date you first access the Services and continue until terminated in accordance with this clause.
11.2 Termination by User
You may terminate these Terms at any time by:
• Cancelling your Subscription through your Account settings
• Deleting your Account
• Ceasing all use of the Services
11.3 Termination by Squire
Squire may terminate or suspend these Terms with immediate effect if:
• You breach any material provision of these Terms and fail to remedy such breach within 5 business days of written notice
• You fail to make payment when due
• Your conduct creates a risk of legal liability for Squire or harm to other users
• We are required to do so by law or legal process
11.4 Effect of Termination
Upon termination of these Terms:
• All licences granted to you under these Terms cease immediately
• You must immediately cease all use of the Services
• We will delete or anonymise your User Content in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data retention obligations
• Provisions that by their nature are intended to survive termination shall remain in full force and effect
11.5 Data Retrieval
Following termination, you may request an export of your User Content within 30 days of the termination date. After this period, User Content will be deleted in accordance with our data retention policies.
12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
12.1 Governing Law
These Terms are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa, without regard to its conflict of law principles.
12.2 Jurisdiction
Subject to clause 12.3, any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Republic of South Africa.
12.3 Dispute Resolution
Before commencing any legal proceedings, the parties agree to:
• Attempt to resolve the dispute through good faith negotiation for a period of 20 business days following written notice of the dispute
• Consider mediation if good faith negotiation fails, with the mediator to be agreed between the parties or, failing agreement, appointed by the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA)
• Participate in arbitration administered by AFSA if agreed by both parties in writing
12.4 Injunctive Relief
Nothing in this clause 12 prevents either party from seeking urgent or interim injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
13. General Provisions
13.1 Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and any applicable End User Licence Agreement, constitute the entire agreement between you and Squire with respect to the Services and supersede all prior or contemporaneous agreements, representations, and understandings.
13.2 Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found by a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, that provision shall be severed from the remainder of the Terms, which shall continue in full force and effect.
13.3 Waiver
Our failure or delay in enforcing any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision or of any other provision of these Terms.
13.4 Assignment
You may not assign or transfer any of your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. Squire may assign these Terms, in whole or in part, without restriction, including in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets.
13.5 Force Majeure
Squire shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under these Terms to the extent that such failure or delay is caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, acts of government, civil unrest, or failures of third-party infrastructure providers.
13.6 Notices
All notices under these Terms are subject to the following:
• Notices to Squire must be sent in writing to contact@squire.law
• Notices to you will be sent to your registered email address
• Notices sent by email are deemed received on the next business day following transmission, unless the sender receives a delivery failure notification
13.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries
These Terms do not create any third-party beneficiary rights.
13.8 Language
These Terms are drafted in English. In the event of any translation, the English language version shall prevail.
14. Data Protection Addendum
14.1 Compliance with POPIA
Squire processes all Personal Information in compliance with POPIA. Our commitments include:
• Implementing appropriate technical and organisational security safeguards
• Respecting Data Subject rights as set out in POPIA
• Maintaining transparency about our processing activities
• Ensuring a lawful basis exists for all processing of Personal Information
14.2 Information Officer
Squire has appointed an Information Officer responsible for ensuring POPIA compliance across our operations. Contact details for our Information Officer are set out in our Privacy Policy.
14.3 Data Breach Notification
In the event of a Personal Information breach, Squire will:
• Notify affected Data Subjects without undue delay where there is a risk of harm
• Notify the Information Regulator within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach
• Take appropriate remedial action to contain the breach and prevent recurrence
• Maintain a record of all breaches and our response thereto
14.4 Cross-Border Transfers
Any transfer of Personal Information to a recipient outside the Republic of South Africa will comply with section 72 of POPIA. Squire will implement appropriate safeguards, including standard contractual clauses or adequacy determinations, for all such transfers.
14.5 Namibian Data Subjects
Where Squire processes Personal Information of data subjects located in Namibia, we apply POPIA-equivalent standards in anticipation of the enactment of Namibia's Data Protection Bill, 2023. We monitor developments in Namibian data protection law and will update our practices accordingly upon enactment.
15. Changes to These Terms
15.1 Modifications
Squire may modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of any material changes by:
• Email to your registered address
• Prominent notice on our Website
• In-platform notification
15.2 Notice Period
Changes will take effect 30 days after the date of notification, unless immediate changes are required by law or to address a security risk, in which case changes will take effect immediately.
15.3 Continued Use
Your continued use of the Services after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must cease using the Services before the changes take effect.
16. Contact Information
For questions, concerns, or notices relating to these Terms, please contact us:
Legal Department
• Email: contact@squire.law
Support
• Email: contact@squire.law
• Website: https://squire.law/support