Source: https://www.schott.com/france/french/company/legal1.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 04:20:45+00:00

Document:
The following terms and conditions for delivery and payment shall govern all deliveries and services. Any conflicting purchasing terms and conditions of the Customer are hereby expressly rejected. Any such purchasing terms and conditions shall apply only if we expressly confirm them in writing. Acceptance of the delivered goods shall be deemed acknowledgement of our terms and conditions.
1.1 We calculate the applicable prices on the date of delivery, such prices being in EURO (EUR) unless otherwise stipulated, plus an additional amount for VAT as applicable from time to time. Unless special terms are agreed, the prices should be understood to be prices ex works, with no deduction or discount being granted for immediate payment.
1.2 If payment deadlines are not met, this will automatically give rise to all of the statutory consequences of default, without any special reminder being required. In particular, we reserve the right to charge interest at the applicable rate charged by our bank if such interest exceeds the interest rate prescribed by statute (8% above the reference interest rate). Furthermore, the entire balance shall become due and payable immediately, irrespective of any payment targets.
1.3 In the case of custom-made products, we reserve the right to increase the price by a reasonable amount and to deviate to a reasonable extent from the agreed quantity. The Customer must take delivery of surplus quantities. In respect of pressed pieces (Preßlinge) and glass feed-through headers (Glasdurchführungen), a variation of +/-10% in relation to the ordered quantity shall be deemed agreed.
We will endeavour to adhere to stipulated delivery deadlines. However, due to the hazards and peculiar features of glass processing, delivery deadlines will not be binding unless expressly agreed otherwise. Our contractual obligations are subject to our supplier delivering the correct products to us on time.
3.1 The place of performance for the delivery is the principal place of business of our respective supplying factory. The place of performance for payment is our principal place of business.
3.2 When goods are transported, the risk (of accidental loss, destruction or deterioration) (the "Risk") shall pass to the Customer as soon as we have delivered the goods to the carrier chosen by us.
Unless otherwise agreed, we will accept the return of packaging to the extent that we are obliged to do so under the German Packaging Regulation (Verpackungsverordnung).
5.1 If, despite the greatest of care being taken, the goods give rise to complaints, then, in accordance with §377 of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch, or "HGB"), obvious defects must be notified without delay, in any case no later than 14 days after receipt of the goods, and hidden defects must be notified without delay after their discovery, otherwise the goods shall be deemed accepted.
5.2 Claims on the basis of defects as to quality ("material defects") shall become statute-barred 12 months after delivery of our goods to our Customer. The foregoing provisions shall not apply to the extent that longer limitation periods are prescribed by statute pursuant to §438(1) No. 2 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, or "BGB" - Physical Structures and Physical Objects used for Physical Structures), §479 (1) BGB (Recourse Claim), and §634a (1) BGB (Construction Defects). Our consent must be obtained before any goods are returned.
5.3 If, despite all care being taken at our premises, the delivered goods contain a defect that already existed at the time that the Risk passed, then we will, at our election and subject to receiving notification of the defect within the required time, repair the goods or deliver substitute goods. We must always be given the opportunity to render subsequent performance within a reasonable time.
5.4 If subsequent performance cannot be rendered, the Customer may – notwithstanding any claims for compensatory damages – rescind the agreement or reduce the contractual fee. The Customer may not demand compensation for expenses incurred in vain.
5.5 The following shall not give rise to any claims based on defects: merely immaterial deviations from the agreed condition of the goods, merely immaterial impairments to their utility, natural wear and tear, or loss or damage that arises after the Risk has passed as a result of incorrect or careless treatment, overuse, unsuitable operating resources, defective building work, unsuitable building foundations or special external influences that are not requirements under the contract. In addition, if the Customer or a third party improperly (in a non-workmanlike manner) carries out maintenance work or modifications, then no claims based on defects may be made in respect of such work or modifications or the resulting consequences.
5.6 Claims on the part of the Customer for expenses necessary to enable subsequent performance, particularly transport, infrastructure (e.g., tolls) and labour costs and the cost of materials, are excluded to the extent that such expenses are higher because the goods delivered by us were subsequently taken to a location other than the Customer's business premises, unless such transportation is consistent with the authorised use of the goods.
5.7 Any recourse claims on the part of the Customer against us shall exist only to the extent that the Customer has not entered into any agreements with its customers going beyond the mandatory statutory claims based on defects. Item 5.6 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the scope of the Customer's recourse claim against the supplier.
5.8 Claims based on material defects on the part of the Customer against us or our vicarious agents that go beyond or are not included in the claims governed by Item 5 are excluded.
5.9 The provisions of Item 7 shall otherwise apply to any other claims on the part of the Customer for compensatory damages or the reimbursement of costs.
5.10 If, a defect is fraudulently concealed or a warranty in the sense of § 443 BGB is given (seller's representation that the subject matter of the sale has a particular characteristic at the time the Risk passes and that the seller wishes to be held responsible for all consequences flowing from the fact that the characteristic is absent, regardless of fault) with respect to the condition of the goods as at the time the Risk passes, the Customer's rights shall be exclusively governed by the statutory provisions.
a) At our election and at our own expense, we will either secure a licence for the goods concerned, modify them so that the Proprietary Right is not infringed, or exchange them. If we are unable to do any of the above on reasonable terms, then the Customer shall be entitled to the statutory rights of rescission and reduction of the contract price. The Customer may not demand compensation for expenses incurred in vain.
b) The provisions of Item 7 shall apply to any claims for compensatory damages.
c) Our obligations as described above shall exist only on the condition that the Customer notifies us in writing without delay of the claims asserted by the third party, the Customer does not admit to the infringement and leaves in our hands any defence of the claims and settlement negotiations. If the Customer discontinues using the delivered goods in order to mitigate loss or for any other good reason, then the Customer shall bring to the attention of the third party the fact that discontinuing use of the goods in no way constitutes an admission of an infringement of Proprietary Rights.
6.2 Claims on the part of the Customer are excluded if the Customer is responsible for the infringement of Proprietary Rights.
6.3 Claims on the part of the Customer shall be further excluded if the infringement of Proprietary Rights is a result of special instructions issued by the Customer, an application or use of the goods that was not foreseeable by us, or as a result of the Customer modifying the goods or using them together with goods not delivered by us.
6.4 In the event of an infringement of Proprietary Rights, the provisions set forth under Items 5.3 and 5.7 shall otherwise apply mutatis mutandis to the Customer's claims governed by Item 6.1a).
6.5 If other title defects exist, then the provisions of Item 5 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
6.6 Claims based on title defects on the part of the Customer against us or our vicarious agents that go beyond or are not included in the claims governed by Item 6 are excluded.
6.7 If, a defect is fraudulently concealed or a warranty in the sense of § 443 BGB is given (seller's representation that the subject matter of the sale has a particular characteristic at the time the Risk passes and that the seller wishes to be held responsible for all consequences flowing from the fact that the characteristic is absent, regardless of fault) with respect to the condition of the goods as at the time the Risk passes, the Customer's rights shall be exclusively governed by the statutory provisions.
7.1 In the event of a breach of a pre-contractual, contractual and/or non-contractual obligation, including unsatisfactory delivery, tortious conduct and manufacturer's liability, we shall be liable for compensatory damages and the reimbursement of costs – subject to further contractual or statutory liability requirements – only in the case of wilful conduct, gross negligence or breach of a material contractual duty ("condition") (contractual duty, the infringement of which jeopardises the ultimate purpose of the contract) where such breach was due to ordinary negligence. However, except in the case of wilful conduct, our liability shall be limited to typical contractual loss or damage that was foreseeable at the time the contract was entered into. The Customer is not permitted to make a claim for expenses incurred in vain.
7.2 For loss or damage caused by delay due to ordinary negligence, we shall be liable for up to only 5% of the purchase price agreed with us.
7.3 Except in the case of breach of a condition, liability for ordinary negligence is excluded. This shall not affect Item 7.2.
7.4 The exclusions and limitations of liability set forth under Items 7.1 to 7.3 shall not apply in the event that a warranty is given with respect to the condition of the goods in the sense of § 443 BGB, a defect is fraudulently concealed, or in the event of injury to life, physical injury or injury to health, or strict liability under the German Product Liability Act (Produkthaftungsgesetz).
Drawings, diagrams, measurements and weights are approximate only, unless they are expressly stipulated to be binding. The Customer must guarantee that working drawings (construction diagrams) supplied by it do not infringe the Proprietary Rights of third parties. The Customer must hold us harmless in the event that rights of recourse are asserted.
Documents supplied by us may not be copied or made available to third parties, or used for any purpose other than the agreed purpose.
If the goods are further processed or remodelled by the Customer, then we shall be deemed the manufacturer within the meaning of §950 BGB and shall acquire title to the intermediate or final products. The processor shall be merely the custodian.
If the goods subject to the reservation of title ("reserved goods") are mixed or processed with other property not belonging to us, then we shall acquire a co-ownership interest in the new item proportionate to the value of the reserved goods to the other property.
10.2 The goods may be sold only in the normal and ordinary course of business and only if claims deriving from their resale are not assigned to third parties beforehand. The Customer's claims deriving from resale of the goods shall, upon execution of the purchase agreement between us and the Customer, be deemed assigned to us to the extent that our goods are mixed or inter-processed with other property. In such a case, the assigned claims shall serve as our security only up to the value of the reserved goods sold in each case. We will not collect on the assigned claims for as long as the Customer complies with its payment obligations. However, the Customer has an obligation to disclose to us the identity of the third party debtor at our request and to notify such debtor of the assignment. The Customer may collect on the claims itself unless and until it receives instructions (to the contrary) from us. The Customer must immediately transfer the amounts collected by it to the extent that our claims are due.
10.3 Pledges or the granting of security interests in the reserved goods or the assigned claims are not permitted. The Customer must inform us immediately of any action by third parties affecting the goods delivered subject to a reservation of title or the assigned claims. We agree to release the assigned claims at our election if they exceed the value of our claims to be secured by more than 20% and are derived from fully paid goods.
10.4 In the event of breach of duty by the Customer, particularly in the case of default on payment, we are entitled to rescind the agreement and recover the goods. The Customer has an obligation to deliver up the goods. It is not necessary for us to rescind the agreement in order to recover the goods or enforce a reservation of title. Such actions or any pledge of the reserved goods by us shall not constitute rescission of the agreement unless expressly declared by us.
10.5 If, in the case of non-domestic sales, the reservation of title agreed under Item 10 is not permitted with the same effect as under German law, then we shall retain title to the goods until payment of all of our claims arising out of the contractual relationship formed through the sale of the goods. If the foregoing reservation of title is not permitted with the same effect as under German law either, but it is permissible to reserve other rights in respect of the goods, then we are authorised to exercise all of these rights. The Customer shall cooperate in all actions we may wish to take in order to protect our ownership interest or alternative right in the goods.
In case we use electronic means for the conclusion of a contract with regard to the supply of goods or rendering of services (“e-commerce”) in the sense of Sec. 312e of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch) the Customer waives its rights regarding a) availability and explanation of a system to recognize and correct input errors before submitting an order and b) the supply of information regarding (i) the necessary steps to conclude a contract, (ii) electronic storage of the contract so concluded and its accessibility to the Customer, (iii) the possible languages available for contract conclusion.
12.1 With the exception of choice of law rules under German private international law and the provisions of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods ("UN-CISG"), the substantive law of the Federal Republic of Germany shall apply to all legal relationships and transactions established by this purchase agreement.
12.2 The judicial forum for both parties, including for bill of exchange matters, is our principal place of business (registered office). If we become the plaintiff in litigation, then we are also entitled to bring an action in the jurisdiction of the Customer's principal place of business (registered office).

References: §377
 §438
 §479
 §634
 § 443
 § 443
 § 443
 §950