Terms of Service
These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of LinguaNova Online's educational services. By creating an account or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. Please read them carefully.
1. Definitions
"We", "Us", "Our": Linguist GmbH (Bergmannstrasse 102-103, 10961 Berlin, Germany), operating as LinguaNova Online. "Services": Online language courses (German, English, Spanish, Turkish), learning platform, and related educational services. "User", "You", "Your": Any individual or entity using our Services. "Platform": The website linguanovaonline.com and associated applications. "Course": Any educational program, lesson, or class offered through our Platform.
2. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using our Services, you confirm that: (a) You are at least 16 years old (or have parental/guardian consent); (b) You have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts; (c) You agree to comply with these Terms and all applicable laws; (d) All information you provide is accurate and complete. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use our Services.
3. Our Services
We provide: (a) Online language courses in group and individual (1:1) formats; (b) Interactive learning materials and resources; (c) Communication with instructors via the Platform and Telegram; (d) Progress tracking and performance assessment; (e) Customer support. Our Services are provided "as is" and may be modified, suspended, or discontinued at any time with reasonable notice.
4. User Accounts
To access most Services, you must create an account. You agree to: (a) Provide accurate, current, and complete information; (b) Maintain the security and confidentiality of your login credentials; (c) Not share your account with others; (d) Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access; (e) Be responsible for all activities under your account. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or engage in fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activities.
5. Course Enrollment and Attendance
When you enroll in a course: (a) You commit to attending scheduled sessions; (b) You agree to complete any prerequisites or placement tests; (c) Course availability is subject to minimum enrollment numbers; (d) We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule courses with reasonable notice; (e) Missed classes without proper notice may not be refunded or rescheduled.
6. Pricing and Payment
(a) All prices are listed in EUR and include applicable VAT; (b) Payment is required before course commencement unless otherwise agreed; (c) We accept payment methods listed on our Platform; (d) Prices are subject to change, but changes will not affect courses already purchased; (e) You are responsible for any bank fees, currency conversion charges, or transaction costs; (f) Invoices will be provided electronically.
7. Right of Withdrawal (EU Consumers)
EU consumers have the right to withdraw from their purchase within 14 days of contract conclusion without giving reasons. To exercise this right: (a) Send written notice to: info@linguanovaonline.com (b) Refunds will be processed within 14 days via the original payment method (c) If you request services to begin during the withdrawal period and then withdraw, you must pay a proportionate amount for services already provided (d) The withdrawal right is forfeited if the service is fully performed with your express consent before the period ends.
8. Refunds and Cancellations
(a) Cancellations more than 7 days before course start: full refund minus administrative fee (5%); (b) Cancellations 3-7 days before start: 50% refund; (c) Cancellations less than 3 days before start or after course begins: no refund, unless exceptional circumstances; (d) We may cancel courses due to insufficient enrollment, instructor unavailability, or force majeure—you will receive a full refund or course transfer option; (e) No-shows without prior notice (at least 24 hours) will not be refunded.
9. Rescheduling
(a) You may reschedule individual lessons with at least 24 hours' notice; (b) Rescheduling is subject to instructor availability; (c) Repeated rescheduling may result in booking restrictions; (d) Group course schedules cannot be modified for individual participants; (e) We may reschedule classes for valid reasons (instructor illness, technical issues) with advance notice.
10. Intellectual Property
All course materials, content, trademarks, logos, and software ("Content") are owned by LinguaNova Online or our licensors and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may: (a) Access and use Content solely for personal, non-commercial educational purposes; (b) Download materials for offline study where permitted. You may not: (a) Copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works of our Content; (b) Remove copyright notices or proprietary markings; (c) Use our Content for commercial purposes; (d) Reverse engineer or decompile any software; (e) Share course access or materials with non-enrolled users.
11. User-Generated Content
You may submit assignments, participate in discussions, and share content ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you: (a) Grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute it for educational purposes; (b) Confirm you own or have rights to the content; (c) Agree not to submit content that is unlawful, defamatory, infringing, or harmful; (d) Acknowledge we may moderate, remove, or refuse to publish User Content that violates these Terms.
12. Acceptable Use Policy
You agree not to: (a) Use the Services for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any regulations; (b) Harass, threaten, impersonate, or intimidate other users or instructors; (c) Transmit viruses, malware, or any harmful code; (d) Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts; (e) Interfere with the proper functioning of the Platform; (f) Scrape, crawl, or collect data from the Platform using automated means; (g) Share your account credentials or purchase access for others; (h) Use the Services to compete with or replicate our business. Violations may result in immediate account termination and legal action.
13. Student Conduct
We expect respectful, professional behavior. You must: (a) Treat instructors and fellow students with courtesy; (b) Arrive on time for scheduled sessions; (c) Participate actively and constructively; (d) Follow instructor guidance and course requirements; (e) Not disrupt classes or engage in discriminatory, offensive, or inappropriate behavior. We reserve the right to remove students from courses for misconduct without refund.
14. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law: (a) Our Services are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind; (b) We do not guarantee uninterrupted, error-free, or secure access; (c) We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages; (d) Our total liability for any claim is limited to the amount you paid for the relevant course; (e) We are not liable for third-party services (payment processors, communication platforms); (f) We are not responsible for your internet connectivity or device compatibility. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for death, personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or other liability that cannot be excluded by law.
15. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless LinguaNova Online, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from: (a) Your use of the Services; (b) Your violation of these Terms; (c) Your infringement of any third-party rights; (d) Your User Content.
16. Termination
We may suspend or terminate your access to the Services at any time for: (a) Violation of these Terms; (b) Fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity; (c) Non-payment; (d) Prolonged inactivity; (e) Any other legitimate reason with notice where required by law. You may terminate your account at any time by contacting: info@linguanovaonline.com Upon termination: (a) Your right to use the Services ceases immediately; (b) You remain liable for any outstanding payments; (c) Provisions that should reasonably survive termination will continue to apply.
17. Dispute Resolution
Before initiating formal proceedings, we encourage you to contact us at info@linguanovaonline.com to resolve disputes amicably. If resolution is not possible: (a) Business users agree to submit disputes to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Berlin, Germany (b) Consumer users retain the right to bring proceedings in their country of residence as provided by mandatory consumer protection laws (c) We do not participate in alternative dispute resolution procedures unless legally required.
18. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). For consumers, mandatory consumer protection laws of your country of residence also apply where they provide greater protection.
19. Online Dispute Resolution (ODR)
The European Commission provides an Online Dispute Resolution platform at: https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr. We generally do not participate in alternative dispute resolution procedures, but you may use this platform to file complaints.
20. Force Majeure
We are not liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including: natural disasters, war, terrorism, labor disputes, government actions, internet outages, pandemics, or other force majeure events.
21. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision will be replaced with a valid provision that most closely reflects the original intent.
22. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other policies referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and LinguaNova Online regarding the Services and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.
23. Changes to Terms
We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will: (a) Post the updated Terms on our Platform with a new "Effective Date"; (b) Notify you by email or prominent website notice of material changes; (c) Provide at least 30 days' notice before changes take effect. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree, you must stop using the Services and may cancel your account.
24. Contact Information
For questions, concerns, or notices regarding these Terms, contact us at: Email: info@linguanovaonline.com Support: support@linguanovaonline.com Legal Address: Linguist GmbH Bergmannstrasse 102-103 10961 Berlin, Germany Operational Office: Giorgi Brtskinvale St., 109–111 Batumi 6010, Georgia Phone: +995 568 814 480 Website: linguanovaonline.com
Effective Date: October 31, 2024