Terms and Conditions (AGB) — Tratext GmbH

Effective date: July 15, 2026

The German version of this document is legally authoritative.

Table of Contents

  1. §1 Scope and Applicability
  2. §2 Definitions
  3. §3 Contract Formation
  4. §4 Description of Services
  5. §5 Quotations and Pricing
  6. §6 Payment Terms
  7. §7 Delivery and Deadlines
  8. §8 Client Cooperation Duties (Mitwirkungspflichten)
  9. §9 Quality Standards and Acceptance
  10. §10 Warranty and Defect Claims (Gewährleistung)
  11. §11 Limitation of Liability (Haftungsbeschränkung)
  12. §12 Intellectual Property Rights
  13. §13 Confidentiality
  14. §14 Right of Withdrawal for Consumers (Widerrufsrecht)
  15. §15 Data Protection
  16. §16 Electronic Communication and Signatures
  17. §17 Complaints and Dispute Resolution
  18. §18 Force Majeure (Höhere Gewalt)
  19. §19 Governing Law and Jurisdiction
  20. §20 Amendments to these Terms
  21. §21 Severability Clause (Salvatorische Klausel)
  22. §22 Final Provisions

§1 Scope and Applicability

1.1 These General Terms and Conditions ("Terms" or "AGB") govern all business relationships between Tratext GmbH, Postfach 80 10 24, 51010 Köln, DE (hereinafter "Tratext", "we", or "us") and the client (hereinafter "Client" or "you") arising from the use of the Tratext translation management platform (the "Platform") and the provision of translation and language services (the "Services").

1.2 These Terms apply to all contracts concluded between Tratext and the Client, whether the Client is:

  • (a) a consumer within the meaning of §13 BGB ("Consumer Client" or "B2C Client"),
  • (b) an entrepreneur within the meaning of §14 BGB ("Business Client" or "B2B Client"), or
  • (c) a public-sector entity or government institution ("Government Client" or "B2G Client").

1.3 Where these Terms differentiate between Consumer Clients and Business Clients / Government Clients, the applicable provisions are expressly identified. Business Clients and Government Clients are collectively referred to as "Commercial Clients." Where no distinction is made, the provision applies equally to all Clients.

1.4 The Client's own general terms and conditions shall not apply, even if Tratext does not expressly object to them. Deviating, conflicting, or supplementary terms of the Client shall only become part of the contract if Tratext has expressly agreed to their applicability in writing (§305(3) BGB).

1.5 These Terms apply in their version valid at the time of the order. The Client may access, save, and print the current version of these Terms at any time on the Platform or at www.tratext.de/agb.

1.6 These Terms apply to services ordered through the Tratext web application, mobile application, or any other ordering channel provided by Tratext, unless expressly agreed otherwise in an individual contract.

§2 Definitions

For the purposes of these Terms, the following definitions apply:

  • "Order": A request by the Client for the performance of translation or language services, placed via the Platform or other agreed channels.
  • "Quotation": A non-binding cost estimate issued by Tratext in response to an Order request, detailing scope, price, estimated delivery, and other relevant terms.
  • "Source Material": All documents, texts, files, and other content provided by the Client for the purpose of translation or processing.
  • "Deliverable": The translated document(s) or other work product resulting from the Services.
  • "Platform": The Tratext translation management system, accessible via web application (tms-web) and mobile application (tms-mobile).
  • "Certified Translation": A translation bearing the certification of a sworn or officially authorized translator, as required by courts, authorities, or other official bodies.
  • "Qualified Electronic Signature" ("QES"): An electronic signature meeting the requirements of Article 3(12) of Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS Regulation).
  • "Advanced Electronic Signature" ("AdES"): An electronic signature meeting the requirements of Article 3(11) of the eIDAS Regulation.

§3 Contract Formation

3.1 Quotation Request. The Client's submission of source material and order details via the Platform constitutes an invitation to Tratext to submit a quotation (invitatio ad offerendum). It does not constitute a binding offer by the Client.

3.2 Quotation by Tratext. Tratext shall review the order request and issue a custom quotation specifying the scope of services, price, estimated delivery date, and any special conditions. Each quotation is individually tailored based on document type, language pair, volume, deadline, and complexity. The quotation constitutes a non-binding offer by Tratext and does not oblige Tratext to perform the services.

3.3 Acceptance. A binding contract is formed when the Client expressly accepts the quotation via the Platform ("Order Confirmation"). The Client's acceptance constitutes an irrevocable acceptance of the quotation and these Terms.

3.4 Commencement of Performance. Upon acceptance of the quotation and receipt of the agreed payment (§6), Tratext shall commence performance of the services. Subject to §14, the Client expressly consents to the commencement of performance before the expiry of any withdrawal period.

3.5 Written Form. Unless otherwise stated in these Terms, declarations relevant to the contract may be made in text form (§126b BGB), including via the Platform's messaging system or email.

3.6 No Obligation to Contract. Tratext reserves the right to decline any order request at its sole discretion, including but not limited to orders involving content that is unlawful, immoral, or technically infeasible.

§4 Description of Services

4.1 Tratext provides professional translation and language services, including but not limited to:

  • (a) Translation of texts and documents across various language pairs;
  • (b) Certified translations by sworn or officially authorized translators;
  • (c) Localization and cultural adaptation of content;
  • (d) Proofreading and editing of existing translations;
  • (e) Specialized translations (legal, medical, technical, financial, and other domains);
  • (f) Document formatting and layout services in connection with translation;
  • (g) Provision of the Platform for order management, communication, and document exchange.

4.2 The specific scope of services for each order is defined in the respective quotation accepted by the Client. Services not expressly included in the quotation are not part of the contract and may be subject to additional charges.

4.3 Tratext performs its services through qualified professional translators. Tratext may engage subcontractors (freelance translators or partner agencies) to fulfill orders. Tratext remains fully responsible to the Client for the proper performance of the services regardless of the use of subcontractors.

4.4 Certified translations are performed strictly by human translators who are officially authorized or sworn in accordance with the applicable German state court regulations (Landgerichtsverordnungen). No Artificial Intelligence or Machine Translation engines are used in the processing of documents ordered as Certified Translations. Certified translations may bear a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) or an Advanced Electronic Signature (AdES) in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS) where agreed between the parties.

4.5 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Translation (EU AI Act Transparency). In compliance with transparency obligations under the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, Tratext hereby discloses that it employs Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems and Machine Translation (MT) engines (such as those provided by OpenAI and Google) to assist in the analysis, translation, and formatting of source materials for standard orders. By placing an order, the Client acknowledges that the resulting Deliverables may be partially or entirely generated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of AI systems. The Client remains responsible for verifying the final output for critical or high-risk applications.

§5 Quotations and Pricing

5.1 Custom Quotations. All prices are determined on the basis of individually prepared quotations. Tratext does not operate a fixed-price or subscription-based pricing model. Each quotation reflects the specific requirements of the order, including document type, source and target languages, volume (word count or page count), requested deadline, and subject-matter complexity.

5.2 Quotation Validity. Unless otherwise stated in the quotation, each quotation is valid for a period of thirty (30) calendar days from the date of issuance. After expiry of the validity period, the quotation lapses and a new quotation may be required.

5.3 Price Components. The quoted price includes the services expressly described in the quotation. Unless otherwise stated, the price does not include:

  • (a) Additional revisions or amendments beyond the agreed scope;
  • (b) Express or rush surcharges (unless agreed in the quotation);
  • (c) Notarization, apostille, or legalization fees;
  • (d) Costs for physical shipping or postage (§7.4);
  • (e) Third-party fees (e.g., for specialized terminology consultations).

5.4 Value Added Tax (VAT). All prices are quoted net of statutory Value Added Tax (Umsatzsteuer). VAT shall be added to the quoted price at the applicable statutory rate and shown separately on the invoice, unless the Client is located outside Germany and the reverse-charge mechanism applies (§13b UStG) or the transaction is exempt from VAT.

5.5 Price Adjustments. After the Client has accepted a quotation, the price is binding. Tratext may issue a revised quotation if the scope of the order changes materially after acceptance (e.g., additional documents, changed language pairs, shorter deadlines). A revised quotation requires the Client's renewed acceptance before the adjusted scope is performed.

§6 Payment Terms

6.1 Payment Obligation. The Client shall pay the full amount stated in the accepted quotation. Payment is due as specified in the quotation or, absent a specific provision, upon acceptance of the quotation and prior to the commencement of services.

6.2 Payment Method. Payments are processed through the Stripe online payment platform (which supports credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay), PayPal, Klarna, or via bank transfer. The Client shall provide valid payment information and authorizes Tratext to charge the agreed amount via the selected payment method. For bank transfers, the following account details apply:

  • Account Holder: Tratext GmbH
  • IBAN: DE80 1001 0123 9010 0313 14
  • BIC/SWIFT: QNTODEB2XXX

Tratext does not store credit card data directly; all online payment data is processed by Stripe in accordance with PCI DSS standards.

6.3 Invoicing. Tratext shall issue an invoice for each order. Invoices are generated automatically and made available to the Client via the Platform and/or email in PDF format. Invoices comply with the requirements of §14 UStG.

6.4 Due Date and Default.

  • (a) For Commercial Clients: Unless otherwise agreed, invoices are due immediately upon receipt without deduction. The Client is in default (Verzug) if payment is not received within thirty (30) days of the invoice date and receipt of the invoice (§286(3) BGB). Default interest accrues at a rate of nine (9) percentage points above the base rate of the European Central Bank per annum (§288(2) BGB).
  • (b) For Consumer Clients: The Client is in default after expiry of thirty (30) days following the due date and receipt of the invoice, provided the invoice contained a notice of the consequences of late payment (§286(3) BGB). Default interest accrues at a rate of five (5) percentage points above the base rate of the European Central Bank per annum (§288(1) BGB).

6.5 Right of Retention. Tratext is entitled to withhold delivery of the Deliverables until full payment has been received, unless withholding would be disproportionate in the circumstances.

6.6 Set-Off and Retention by the Client. The Client may only set off claims against Tratext's payment claims if the Client's counterclaims are undisputed, legally established, or acknowledged by Tratext. The Client's right of retention is limited to counterclaims arising from the same contractual relationship. This restriction does not apply to Consumer Clients insofar as it would impair their mandatory statutory rights.

6.7 Currency. All prices and payments are denominated in Euros (EUR), unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing.

6.8 Right to Suspend Services. If the Client is in default of payment, initiates an unjustified chargeback or payment dispute, or otherwise breaches material obligations under these Terms, Tratext reserves the right to immediately suspend the Client's access to the Platform, withhold any pending Deliverables, and pause all ongoing Services without prior notice until the outstanding balance or dispute is fully resolved. Such suspension does not relieve the Client of their obligation to pay for Services already rendered.

§7 Delivery and Deadlines

7.1 Estimated Delivery. Delivery dates stated in the quotation are estimated dates and are non-binding, unless the quotation expressly designates a delivery date as a binding deadline (Fixtermin) in writing.

7.2 Binding Deadlines. Where a binding deadline has been expressly agreed, Tratext shall use commercially reasonable efforts to meet such deadline. If Tratext determines that a binding deadline cannot be met, Tratext shall inform the Client without undue delay and propose a revised delivery date. The Client's statutory rights in the event of delay remain unaffected.

7.3 Digital Delivery. The standard method of delivery is digital delivery through the Platform. The Client will receive a notification when the Deliverables are available for download. Delivery is deemed complete upon availability of the Deliverables on the Platform.

7.4 Physical Delivery. Where the Client requests physical delivery of documents (e.g., certified translations with original signatures), delivery shall be effected via postal or courier service (DHL). The costs of physical delivery are borne by the Client unless the quotation provides otherwise. Risk of accidental loss or deterioration of the physical documents passes to the Client:

  • (a) For Commercial Clients: upon handover to the shipping carrier (§447 BGB);
  • (b) For Consumer Clients: upon delivery to the Client (§475(2) BGB).

7.5 Delayed Performance by Tratext. If Tratext is in delay (Verzug), the Client must set a reasonable additional deadline (Nachfrist) before exercising any right to rescind the contract, unless the additional deadline is dispensable under statutory law (§323(2) BGB). This does not apply to binding deadlines (Fixtermine) where delay gives rise to immediate rescission rights.

7.6 Partial Deliveries. Tratext is entitled to make partial deliveries if this is reasonable for the Client and does not impair the overall usability of the Services. Each partial delivery may be invoiced separately.

§8 Client Cooperation Duties (Mitwirkungspflichten)

8.1 The proper and timely performance of the Services depends on the Client's cooperation. The Client shall:

  • (a) provide complete, legible, and unambiguous source material in a format that can be processed (e.g., editable text files, high-resolution scans);
  • (b) specify all relevant requirements at the time of the order request, including the intended purpose of the translation, target audience, preferred terminology, and any style guides;
  • (c) inform Tratext of the intended use of certified translations (e.g., court proceedings, immigration applications) so that Tratext can ensure compliance with applicable formal requirements;
  • (d) respond to queries and requests for clarification from Tratext without undue delay;
  • (e) review and provide feedback on Deliverables within the acceptance period specified in §9;
  • (f) ensure that all content provided for translation does not infringe any third-party rights and is lawful.

8.2 If the Client fails to fulfill its cooperation duties or fails to do so in a timely manner, delivery dates are extended by the duration of the delay caused by the Client. Tratext is not liable for delays, quality deficiencies, or additional costs resulting from the Client's failure to cooperate.

8.3 If the Client's failure to cooperate renders performance of the Services impossible or unreasonable, Tratext may rescind the contract after setting a reasonable deadline. In such case, Tratext is entitled to compensation for the services already performed and expenses incurred.

§9 Quality Standards and Acceptance

9.1 Quality Standards. Tratext is committed to delivering translations of professional quality. Tratext strives to perform translation services in accordance with recognized industry standards, in particular DIN EN ISO 17100:2016-05 (Translation services — Requirements for translation services, Reg.-Nr. 7U589). The applicability of DIN EN ISO 17100 to a specific order depends on the service type and is indicated in the quotation where relevant.

9.2 Acceptance Period. The Client shall review the Deliverables upon receipt and notify Tratext of any defects without undue delay.

  • (a) For Commercial Clients: The Client must notify Tratext of any apparent defects in writing within fourteen (14) calendar days of delivery. Failure to notify Tratext within this period constitutes acceptance of the Deliverables (§640(2) BGB applied by analogy). Hidden defects must be reported without undue delay upon discovery.
  • (b) For Consumer Clients: The statutory provisions on defect notification apply. Consumer Clients are encouraged to notify Tratext of any defects promptly to enable swift resolution.

9.3 Nature of Defects. A defect exists if the Deliverable materially deviates from the specifications agreed in the quotation or is not fit for the purpose expressly communicated by the Client at the time of order placement. Minor deviations, stylistic preferences, or subjective perceptions of quality do not constitute defects. In particular, the existence of multiple correct translation options for a given passage does not render the chosen translation defective.

9.4 Rectification. If the Client reports a defect in a timely and justified manner, Tratext shall, at its discretion, rectify the defect by way of correction or re-translation (Nachbesserung). Tratext is entitled to two (2) attempts at rectification before the Client may exercise further rights.

9.5 Client-Induced Errors. Tratext is not responsible for errors or inaccuracies in the translation that are attributable to incorrect, incomplete, or illegible source material provided by the Client, or to the Client's failure to fulfill its cooperation duties under §8.

§10 Warranty and Defect Claims (Gewährleistung)

10.1 Statutory Framework. The warranty for the Services is governed by the statutory provisions for contracts for work and services (Werkvertrag, §§631 ff. BGB), subject to the modifications set forth in this §10.

10.2 Consumer Clients. For Consumer Clients, the statutory warranty rights apply without restriction. The limitation period for defect claims is two (2) years from delivery of the Deliverables (§634a(1) No. 3 BGB).

10.3 Commercial Clients. For Commercial Clients:

  • (a) The limitation period for defect claims is one (1) year from delivery of the Deliverables, except in cases of intentional misconduct (Vorsatz) or gross negligence (grobe Fahrlässigkeit), injury to life, body, or health, or fraudulent concealment of a defect.
  • (b) The Client must inspect the Deliverables immediately upon receipt and give notice of any apparent defects without undue delay in accordance with §9.2(a). §377 HGB applies to commercial transactions.
  • (c) The Client's right to reduce the price (Minderung) or rescind the contract (Rücktritt) is excluded unless the defect is substantial and Tratext has failed to rectify it within a reasonable period despite two (2) attempts.

10.4 Exclusion of Warranty. No warranty is given for defects that arise from:

  • (a) incorrect, incomplete, or illegible source material provided by the Client;
  • (b) the Client's failure to comply with its cooperation duties under §8;
  • (c) modifications made to the Deliverables by the Client or third parties after delivery without Tratext's written consent;
  • (d) the Client's failure to specify the intended purpose or target audience of the translation.

§11 Limitation of Liability (Haftungsbeschränkung)

11.1 Unlimited Liability. Tratext is liable without limitation for:

  • (a) damages arising from injury to life, body, or health caused by intentional or negligent breach of duty by Tratext, its legal representatives, or its vicarious agents;
  • (b) damages caused by intentional misconduct (Vorsatz) or gross negligence (grobe Fahrlässigkeit) by Tratext, its legal representatives, or its vicarious agents;
  • (c) liability under the Product Liability Act (Produkthaftungsgesetz);
  • (d) liability arising from the assumption of a guarantee (Garantie).

11.2 Liability for Material Contractual Obligations (Kardinalpflichten). In cases of negligent breach of material contractual obligations — obligations whose fulfillment is essential for the proper performance of the contract and on whose compliance the Client regularly relies and may reasonably rely (Kardinalpflichten) — Tratext's liability is limited to the foreseeable, contract-typical damages.

11.3 Liability Cap for Commercial Clients. Subject to §11.1, Tratext's total aggregate liability to any Commercial Client in connection with a specific order shall not exceed the total net price of that order, or a maximum of EUR 5,000.00 (five thousand Euros), whichever is higher. This limitation aligns with standard industry practice for professional language services.

11.4 Exclusion of Indirect Damages for Commercial Clients. Subject to §11.1, Tratext shall not be liable to Commercial Clients for indirect damages, consequential damages, loss of profit, loss of data, loss of use, or loss of business opportunities, unless such damages result from intentional misconduct or gross negligence.

11.5 Consumer Clients. The statutory liability provisions apply to Consumer Clients without restriction. The limitations and exclusions in §11.3 and §11.4 do not apply to Consumer Clients.

11.6 Liability for Third-Party Content. Tratext is not liable for the accuracy of factual statements contained in the source material. The translation reflects the content of the source material as provided by the Client; Tratext does not verify the factual or legal accuracy of the source content.

11.7 Contributory Negligence. If the Client has contributed to the occurrence of damages through its own negligent conduct, including failure to fulfill cooperation duties under §8, the Client's claim for damages shall be reduced proportionally in accordance with §254 BGB.

§12 Intellectual Property Rights

12.1 Client's Source Material. The Client retains all intellectual property rights in the source material provided to Tratext. By submitting source material, the Client grants Tratext a non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited right to use the source material solely for the purpose of performing the contracted Services.

12.2 Rights to Deliverables. Upon full payment of the agreed price, the Client receives an unrestricted, transferable, non-exclusive right of use (Nutzungsrecht) in the Deliverables for all purposes, without limitation as to time, territory, or medium.

12.3 Retention of Title (Eigentumsvorbehalt). Until full payment has been received, the Deliverables remain the intellectual property of Tratext. The transfer of usage rights under §12.2 is subject to the condition precedent (aufschiebende Bedingung) of full payment.

12.4 Tratext's Proprietary Rights. Tratext retains all rights in its translation tools, platforms, technologies, translation memories, glossaries, methodologies, and other proprietary assets, including the registered trademark "Tratext" (DPMA Registration No. 302021000164). The Client does not acquire any rights in or to these assets through the contract.

12.5 Translation Memories, Glossaries, and Source Materials. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, translation memories, terminology databases, and glossaries created in the course of performing services for the Client are the property of Tratext. Tratext may use such assets for the Client's future orders but shall not use them for competing clients without the Client's consent. Translation Memories, glossaries, and uploaded source materials are stored indefinitely on our servers to facilitate future orders and maintain translation consistency, unless the Client explicitly requests deletion.

§13 Confidentiality

13.1 Duty of Confidentiality. Tratext undertakes to treat all source material, Deliverables, and any other information provided by the Client in connection with an order as strictly confidential. This obligation applies to all employees, translators, subcontractors, and agents of Tratext who have access to the Client's information.

13.2 Translator Confidentiality. All translators and subcontractors engaged by Tratext are bound by written confidentiality agreements. Tratext ensures that all persons involved in the processing of an order are subject to confidentiality obligations that are at least as protective as those set out in this §13.

13.3 Exceptions. The duty of confidentiality does not apply to information that:

  • (a) is or becomes publicly available through no fault of Tratext;
  • (b) was already known to Tratext prior to disclosure by the Client, as evidenced by written records;
  • (c) is independently developed by Tratext without reference to the Client's confidential information;
  • (d) must be disclosed due to a binding legal obligation, court order, or regulatory requirement — in which case Tratext shall inform the Client of the disclosure obligation without undue delay to the extent legally permissible;
  • (e) is transmitted to third-party AI providers (e.g., OpenAI, Google) for processing. The Client acknowledges and agrees that documents are transmitted to these third-party AI providers and that these providers may use the data to train their models. Therefore, strict confidentiality cannot be guaranteed for data processed through these AI systems, and the Client is responsible for anonymizing highly sensitive trade secrets or personal data before submission;
  • (f) is transmitted via the Platform's chat messaging system, as push notifications containing the sender's name and partial message content are routed through third-party push notification servers (e.g., Apple APNs, Google Firebase). The Client acknowledges that strict confidentiality cannot be guaranteed for information placed directly into chat messages.

13.4 Non-Disclosure Agreement. Upon the Client's request, Tratext shall enter into a separate Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) tailored to the Client's specific requirements.

13.5 Duration. The confidentiality obligations under this §13 survive the termination of the contract for a period of five (5) years from the date of the last order, unless a longer period is agreed or required by law.

§14 Right of Withdrawal for Consumers (Widerrufsrecht)

14.1 Applicability. This §14 applies exclusively to Consumer Clients who have concluded a distance contract (Fernabsatzvertrag) or off-premises contract (Außergeschäftsräumenvertrag) within the meaning of §§312c, 312b BGB.

14.2 Withdrawal Right. Consumer Clients have the right to withdraw from the contract within fourteen (14) days without giving any reason. The withdrawal period expires fourteen (14) days after the day of the conclusion of the contract. The detailed withdrawal instructions and the model withdrawal form are provided separately to the Consumer Client in accordance with Article 246a §1(2) EGBGB.

14.3 Expiry of Withdrawal Right. The right of withdrawal expires prematurely if Tratext has fully performed the Services and the Client has given prior express consent to the commencement of performance before the expiry of the withdrawal period and has acknowledged that the right of withdrawal is lost upon complete performance of the Services (§356(4) BGB).

14.4 Partial Performance. If the Client exercises the right of withdrawal after having consented to the commencement of performance but before the Services are fully completed, the Client shall pay Tratext an amount proportionate to the services already provided up to the point of withdrawal, based on the total price agreed in the contract (§357(8) BGB).

14.5 Reference. The complete Right of Withdrawal Policy (Widerrufsbelehrung) and the model withdrawal form are provided as a separate document at the time of order placement and are available on the Platform at www.tratext.de/widerruf.

§15 Data Protection

15.1 Tratext processes personal data in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR), the German Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz, BDSG), and all other applicable data protection laws.

15.2 Detailed information on how Tratext collects, uses, stores, and protects personal data is set forth in Tratext's Privacy Policy, which is available on the Platform at www.tratext.de/datenschutz and forms an integral part of the contractual relationship.

15.3 By using the Platform and placing orders, the Client acknowledges that the processing of personal data is necessary for the performance of the contract (Article 6(1)(b) GDPR).

15.4 Where the Client provides personal data of third parties as part of the source material (e.g., names, addresses, health data in documents to be translated), the Client warrants that it has obtained all necessary consents or has a sufficient legal basis for the transfer of such data to Tratext. The Client shall indemnify Tratext against any claims arising from the unauthorized provision of third-party personal data.

15.5 Data Processing Agreement. Where Tratext processes personal data on behalf of the Client (Auftragsverarbeitung, Article 28 GDPR), the parties shall conclude a Data Processing Agreement. The Client may request a Data Processing Agreement at any time.

15.6 Data Protection Officer. Tratext's Data Protection Officer can be contacted at:

§16 Electronic Communication and Signatures

16.1 Electronic Communication. The Client agrees to communicate with Tratext electronically. Communications may be conducted through the Platform's messaging system, email, SMS, WhatsApp, or push notifications. Electronic communications satisfy any legal requirement for text form (Textform, §126b BGB) where applicable.

16.2 Notifications. The Client is responsible for providing and maintaining a valid email address and, where applicable, a mobile phone number for the receipt of notifications. Notifications are deemed received if sent to the contact details provided by the Client on the Platform, regardless of actual receipt, unless Tratext is aware of the non-delivery.

16.3 Electronic Signatures. Tratext uses Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) and Advanced Electronic Signatures (AdES) for certified translations and other documents where a heightened level of authenticity is required. QES and AdES are provided through a certified trust service provider (Swisscom Trust Services AG) in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS Regulation). As an official Swisscom Trust Partner, Tratext ensures that an electronic document bearing a QES has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature (§126a BGB, Article 25(2) eIDAS Regulation).

16.4 The Client accepts that Deliverables bearing a QES or AdES are valid for their intended purpose (e.g., submission to courts and authorities) and do not require an additional handwritten signature, unless required by law or the receiving authority.

§17 Complaints and Dispute Resolution

17.1 Internal Complaint Process. The Client may submit complaints regarding the quality or performance of the Services through the complaint function available on the Platform, or by contacting Tratext at info@tratext.de. Tratext shall acknowledge receipt of the complaint without undue delay and endeavor to resolve it within a reasonable timeframe.

17.2 Escalation. If the Client is not satisfied with the outcome of the internal complaint process, the Client may escalate the matter as set forth in §17.3 or §17.4, as applicable.

17.3 Consumer Dispute Resolution. For Consumer Clients:

  • (a) Tratext is neither obligated nor willing to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board (Verbraucherschlichtungsstelle) within the meaning of the German Consumer Dispute Resolution Act (Verbraucherstreitbeilegungsgesetz, VSBG).
  • (b) The European Commission provides an Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform at: https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr. The Client may use this platform to attempt to resolve consumer disputes online. Tratext's email address for this purpose is: info@tratext.de.

17.4 Commercial Dispute Resolution. For Commercial Clients, disputes arising from or in connection with these Terms or the contractual relationship may, prior to initiating court proceedings, be referred to mediation in accordance with the German Mediation Act (Mediationsgesetz). Participation in mediation is voluntary. This provision does not restrict either party's right to seek interim or injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction at any time.

§18 Force Majeure (Höhere Gewalt)

18.1 Neither party shall be liable for failure to perform or delay in performing its obligations under the contract if and to the extent that such failure or delay is caused by events beyond the party's reasonable control ("Force Majeure Events"), including but not limited to: natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics, acts of war or terrorism, civil unrest, government sanctions or embargoes, strikes or industrial action (except among the party's own workforce), failure of public infrastructure (telecommunications, power, internet), or cyberattacks on essential systems.

18.2 The affected party must notify the other party of the Force Majeure Event without undue delay and take all reasonable steps to mitigate its effects.

18.3 If a Force Majeure Event continues for more than sixty (60) calendar days, either party may terminate the affected order(s) by written notice. In such case, the Client shall pay for services already performed, and Tratext shall deliver all work completed up to the date of termination.

§19 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

19.1 Governing Law. The contractual relationship between Tratext and the Client is governed exclusively by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). For Consumer Clients residing within the European Union, mandatory consumer protection provisions of the law of the Consumer Client's habitual residence apply in addition to the extent they provide a higher level of protection.

19.2 Jurisdiction for Commercial Clients. For all disputes arising from or in connection with the contractual relationship with Commercial Clients, the exclusive place of jurisdiction is Cologne (Köln), Germany (the registered seat of Tratext GmbH), provided that the Commercial Client is a merchant (Kaufmann), a legal entity under public law (juristische Person des öffentlichen Rechts), or a public-law special fund (öffentlich-rechtliches Sondervermögen).

19.3 Jurisdiction for Consumer Clients. For disputes with Consumer Clients, the statutory provisions on jurisdiction apply. In particular, suits against Consumer Clients shall be brought before the courts of the Consumer Client's domicile (§§17, 29 ZPO), unless mandatory EU law provides otherwise.

§20 Amendments to these Terms

20.1 Tratext reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time with prospective effect.

20.2 Notification. In the event of material amendments, Tratext shall notify Clients of the changes by email and/or through the Platform at least thirty (30) calendar days before the amended Terms take effect.

20.3 Existing Orders. Amendments to these Terms do not affect orders that were placed and accepted under the previous version. Such orders continue to be governed by the Terms in effect at the time of order acceptance.

20.4 Consumer Consent. For ongoing contractual relationships with Consumer Clients, amendments to material contractual terms require the Consumer Client's express consent, unless the amendment is required by law or the amendment is exclusively to the Consumer Client's benefit.

§21 Severability Clause (Salvatorische Klausel)

21.1 Should any provision of these Terms be or become invalid, void, or unenforceable in whole or in part, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected.

21.2 The invalid or unenforceable provision shall be replaced by a valid and enforceable provision that most closely approximates the economic purpose intended by the parties. The same applies in the event of a contractual gap (Vertragslücke).

21.3 If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable against Consumer Clients under §§307–309 BGB, the provision shall be replaced by the applicable statutory provision.

§22 Final Provisions

22.1 Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with the accepted quotation, the Privacy Policy, and any individually negotiated agreements, constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter of the respective order. Oral side agreements do not exist.

22.2 Assignment. The Client may not assign its rights or obligations under the contract to third parties without Tratext's prior written consent. Tratext may assign its rights and obligations to affiliated companies or in the event of a business transfer.

22.3 Language. These Terms are drafted in English. In the event that a German-language version is also provided and there is a conflict between the two versions, the German-language version shall prevail.

22.4 Contact. For questions regarding these Terms, the Client may contact:

Tratext GmbH Postfach 80 10 24, 51010 Köln DE

CEO: Anas Rahman Commercial Register: Amtsgericht Köln, HRB 104022 VAT ID: DE341211510 Central Hotline (Toll-free): +49 800 8728398 Phone: +49 221 95673 200 / +49 1573 5996 200 WhatsApp: +49 1573 5996 200

These Terms and Conditions are effective as of July 15, 2026.