Knowledge Base
Structured definitions and concise explanations to speed up your understanding of document and compliance concepts relevant to freelancers, agencies, and founders operating in DACH.
Legal Fundamentals
NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement)
A binding contract that restricts one or more parties from disclosing defined confidential information to third parties. NDAs are common before client negotiations, hiring, or sharing proprietary processes. They typically specify scope, duration, and remedies for breach.
EULA (End User License Agreement)
A license agreement granting end users specific rights to use software, while retaining ownership and setting restrictions for the licensor. EULAs define permitted use cases, prohibited actions, and warranty disclaimers. They are required for any distributed software product.
GDPR
The EU General Data Protection Regulation — a comprehensive legal framework governing how organisations collect, process, and store personal data of EU residents. It requires a lawful basis for every data processing activity and grants individuals rights including access, deletion, and portability. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to €20M or 4% of global annual turnover.
Terms of Service
A legal agreement between a service provider and its users defining the rules of engagement, acceptable use, liability limitations, and grounds for termination. Required for any web-based product or SaaS. Should be reviewed whenever core product features change.
Service Agreement
A contract between a service provider (e.g. freelancer or agency) and a client specifying scope of work, deliverables, payment terms, IP ownership, and dispute resolution. More detailed than an NDA and forms the foundation of most B2B engagements.
DACH Compliance
DSGVO (Datenschutz-Grundverordnung)
The German implementation of GDPR. Any website or app collecting personal data from German-speaking users must have a compliant Datenschutzerklärung (privacy policy) outlining data types, legal bases, and retention periods. This includes contact forms, analytics tools, and newsletter signups.
Impressum
A mandatory legal notice required by German law (TMG/DDG) for any commercial website or online presence. It must include the operator's full name or legal entity name, postal address, and contact details. Failure to display an Impressum can result in costly cease-and-desist letters.
Auftragsverarbeitung (AV-Vertrag)
A Data Processing Agreement (DPA) required under DSGVO whenever a third party processes personal data on your behalf — for example, a CRM, email tool, or analytics provider. The contract must specify the categories of data processed, the purpose, and technical/organisational security measures.
Freelancer Essentials
Scope of Work
A section of the service agreement that precisely defines deliverables, milestones, timelines, and acceptance criteria. A well-defined scope prevents scope creep and provides a basis for change-order pricing. Ambiguous scope is the most common source of client disputes.
Payment Terms
The schedules and conditions under which invoices are issued and payment is due. Common structures include net-30, milestone-based, or retainer arrangements. Clear payment terms reduce late payment disputes and support cash flow predictability.
IP Ownership Clause
Defines who owns the intellectual property created during the engagement — the freelancer or the client. Work-for-hire arrangements typically transfer all rights to the client upon payment, whereas licensing models retain authorship with the freelancer. This clause must be explicit to be enforceable.