Terms of Service

Last updated: 31 March 2026  |  Version 2.2

Please read these terms carefully before using ForgedLink. By creating an account or using our platform, you agree to be bound by these terms.

1. About ForgedLink

ForgedLink ("ForgedLink", "we", "us", "our") is a pre-production decision infrastructure platform operated by ForgedLink Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. We help engineering teams (Manufacturers) validate additive manufacturing decisions by connecting design intent with real production experience from vetted service providers (Providers).

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website, platform, and associated services (together, the "Platform"). They form a legally binding contract between you and ForgedLink Ltd.

If you are using the Platform on behalf of a company or other legal entity ("Organisation"), you represent that you have authority to bind that Organisation to these Terms, in which case "you" refers to that Organisation.

2. Eligibility and Account Registration

To use the Platform you must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age;
  • Have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts;
  • Be acting in a professional or business capacity (not as a consumer);
  • Provide accurate, complete, and current registration information.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You must notify us immediately at security@forgedlink.co.uk if you become aware of any unauthorised access.

3. Organisation Accounts and Team Access

Manufacturers may create an Organisation workspace that allows multiple team members to share access to the Platform under a single billing entity.

3.1 Roles. Organisation members are assigned one of four roles: Owner, Admin, Member, or Viewer. Owners and Admins may invite, remove, or change the roles of other members.

3.2 Shared Wallet. All organisation members share a single connection-credit balance owned by the Organisation. Any member with at least Member role may spend credits on behalf of the Organisation.

3.3 Owner Responsibility. The Organisation Owner is responsible for: (a) all charges incurred by team members; (b) ensuring team members comply with these Terms; and (c) managing membership to ensure only authorised personnel have access.

3.4 Leaving an Organisation. You may leave an Organisation at any time. Unused credits remain with the Organisation wallet and are not transferable to an individual account.

4. Subscriptions and Payments

4.1 Subscription Model. Access to ForgedLink's core features — including Provider connections and RFQ dispatches — is governed by your subscription plan. Each plan defines a monthly allowance of connections and dispatches. Usage resets at the start of each billing cycle; unused allowances do not carry over. Full plan details and limits are set out in clause 8.

4.2 No Commission. ForgedLink does not take a commission, referral fee, or percentage of any transaction between Manufacturers and Providers. All commercial activity is directly between the parties.

4.3 Billing. Paid subscriptions are billed monthly or annually via Stripe. All prices are displayed inclusive of applicable VAT. Payment is processed immediately at the point of purchase or renewal. VAT invoices are generated automatically and available on your Billing page.

4.4 Cancellation and Downgrades. You may cancel or downgrade your subscription at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period — you retain access to paid features until then. No pro-rata refunds are issued for partial billing periods unless required by law. In the event of a failed payment, we will attempt to collect payment up to three times before downgrading the account to the free tier (see clause 8.3).

4.5 Price Changes. We may change subscription prices with at least 30 days' notice. Price changes take effect at the start of your next billing cycle. You may cancel before the new price applies.

4.6 VAT. ForgedLink Ltd charges UK VAT at the current standard rate (currently 20%) on all purchases made by UK customers. EU customers may be subject to reverse charge VAT rules. You are responsible for determining the correct VAT treatment applicable to your jurisdiction.

5. Jobs, Bids, and Job Boosts

5.1 Job Posting. Manufacturers may post procurement opportunities ("Jobs") on the Platform. Jobs must describe genuine procurement requirements. Fictitious, duplicate, or misleading Jobs are prohibited and may result in account suspension.

5.2 Bids and Job Lifecycle. Providers may submit bids on Jobs. By submitting a bid, a Provider makes a genuine commercial offer. When a Manufacturer accepts a bid, the Job status advances to Provider Selected. The Provider must then confirm they can proceed (advancing the Job to In Production). When work is complete, the Provider marks the Job as Delivered, and the Manufacturer confirms receipt to close the Job as Completed. These status transitions are recorded on the Platform and serve as an auditable record of progress, but do not by themselves create a legally binding contract between the Manufacturer and Provider — any enforceable contract is formed through the parties' own separate agreement. Manufacturers and Providers are encouraged to formalise terms in writing before work begins.

5.3 Job Boosts. Manufacturers may boost the visibility of a Job. The cost and duration vary by boost tier. If a Critical-tier boost receives zero bids before expiry, a partial refund is applied automatically. No other refunds apply to boost payments.

6. Intelligent Technical Briefings (ITB)

ForgedLink offers an AI-assisted job creation workflow ("Intelligent Technical Briefing" or "ITB") that analyses uploaded design files and generates structured opportunity descriptions.

6.1 AI Outputs. ITB analysis is generated by large language models (currently OpenAI GPT-4o). AI outputs are provided as a convenience and may contain inaccuracies. You must review all AI-generated content before publishing a Job. ForgedLink is not liable for errors in AI-generated content.

6.2 Uploaded Files. Design files and other documents uploaded through the ITB wizard are stored securely and used solely to generate the analysis. We do not share your design files with Providers without your explicit authorisation through the platform's direct-invite feature.

6.3 Confidentiality of Uploaded Files. Manufacturers retain all intellectual property rights in their uploaded design files. ForgedLink's obligation to keep design files confidential is set out in our Privacy Policy and the NDA terms below.

7. Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)

7.1 Click-Through NDA. Before unlocking a Provider's full profile and contact details, Manufacturers are required to sign a click-through mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement ("NDA"). The current NDA version (v1.0) is presented at the point of signing and governs confidential information exchanged between the Manufacturer and the specific Provider.

7.2 Binding Effect. By clicking "Sign & Continue" on the NDA page, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the NDA. Electronic acceptance constitutes a legally binding signature under the Electronic Communications Act 2000 (UK) and applicable EU law.

7.3 Record-Keeping. ForgedLink records the timestamp, IP address, user agent, and NDA version for each click-through signature. These records may be provided to either party in the event of a dispute.

7.4 Organisation NDAs. An NDA signed by any member of an Organisation binds that Organisation as a whole. The Organisation Owner accepts responsibility for ensuring team members understand and comply with NDA obligations.

7.5 NDA Updates. We may update the NDA template (incrementing the version number). You will be prompted to sign the new version before unlocking any new Providers if the version has changed since your last signature.

7.6 Disclaimer. ForgedLink provides the NDA template as a convenience. We are not a law firm and the NDA does not constitute legal advice. You should seek independent legal counsel if you require advice on your confidentiality obligations.

8. Subscriptions, Certifications, and Onboarding

8.1 Provider Subscription Tiers. Providers may subscribe to paid tiers (Starter is free; Pro and Enterprise are paid) to access enhanced features including priority listing, analytics, featured placement, and direct messaging. Subscription terms and pricing are set out on the Provider subscription page.

8.2 Manufacturer Subscription Plans. Manufacturers may subscribe to a plan that determines the number of Provider connections and RFQ dispatches permitted per month: Explore (free; 1 connection, 1 RFQ), Starter, Pro, and Enterprise. Monthly usage resets on the first day of each billing cycle. Unused allowances do not carry over. Plan limits are enforced at the point of unlocking a Provider or dispatching an ITB. If a limit is reached, the Manufacturer must upgrade their plan to continue.

8.3 Recurring Billing. Paid subscriptions (Provider and Manufacturer) are billed monthly or annually via Stripe. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled before the renewal date. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. In the event of a failed payment, we will attempt to collect payment up to three times before downgrading the account to the free tier.

8.4 Certifications. Providers may upload quality certifications (e.g. ISO 9001, AS9100D, NADCAP). Uploaded certifications are marked "self-declared" until verified by a ForgedLink administrator. ForgedLink does not independently audit certifications and makes no warranty as to their validity. Manufacturers should conduct their own supplier qualification processes.

8.5 Provider Onboarding and VettedTrustScore. New Providers are invited to complete the ForgedLink Onboarding Programme, which awards points (0–120) across five tasks. Accumulated points determine a badge tier (Vetted Starter, Vetted Partner, Verified Expert, Fully Vetted) displayed on the Provider's marketplace profile. Completion of onboarding tasks is voluntary but may affect marketplace visibility and ranking. ForgedLink reserves the right to adjust scoring criteria and badge thresholds with reasonable notice.

9. Acceptable Use

You agree not to use the Platform to:

  • Post false, misleading, or fraudulent content;
  • Infringe any third party's intellectual property, privacy, or other rights;
  • Circumvent the Platform (e.g. contacting Providers outside ForgedLink to avoid credit charges after discovering them through the Platform);
  • Scrape, index, or systematically download Platform data without our written consent;
  • Introduce malware, viruses, or other harmful code;
  • Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any account or system;
  • Use the Platform in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations, including export control laws and sanctions.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these rules without notice or refund.

10. Data Protection and GDPR

10.1 Data Controller. ForgedLink Ltd acts as the data controller for personal data collected through the Platform. Our full privacy practices are set out in our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms.

10.2 Data Processor Role. When Manufacturers upload design files or brief information that may contain personal data about third parties, ForgedLink acts as a data processor on the Manufacturer's behalf. The Manufacturer is the data controller for such data and is responsible for ensuring a lawful basis exists for its upload and processing.

10.3 UK GDPR / EU GDPR. We comply with the UK GDPR and, where applicable, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation 2016/679). EU users have the rights described in Article 15–22 GDPR, including rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, and objection.

10.4 Data Retention. We retain personal data for as long as your account is active and for a further period as required by law or legitimate business interests (typically 7 years for financial records). NDA signature records are retained for the duration of the NDA's 3-year term plus 2 years for dispute resolution purposes.

10.5 International Transfers. Some of our sub-processors (including OpenAI and Stripe) may process data outside the UK/EEA. Where this occurs, appropriate safeguards (Standard Contractual Clauses or UK adequacy decisions) are in place.

10.6 Data Subject Requests. To exercise your data rights, email privacy@forgedlink.co.uk. We will respond within 30 days.

11. Intellectual Property

11.1 Platform IP. The ForgedLink platform, brand, software, and all content created by us are owned by ForgedLink Ltd and protected by UK and international intellectual property law. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works without our written consent.

11.2 Your Content. You retain ownership of content you submit to the Platform (job descriptions, bids, uploaded files, etc.). By submitting content you grant ForgedLink a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, store, display, and process that content solely to operate and improve the Platform.

11.3 Feedback. If you provide feedback or suggestions about the Platform, we may use that feedback without restriction or compensation to you.

12. Limitation of Liability

12.1 Platform as Intermediary. ForgedLink is a decision-support platform that facilitates pre-production validation. We do not endorse any Provider or Manufacturer, and we are not party to any contract formed between them. We do not guarantee the quality, safety, legality, or fitness for purpose of any goods or services offered through the Platform.

12.2 Cap on Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by law, ForgedLink's aggregate liability to you for any claims arising under or in connection with these Terms shall not exceed the greater of: (a) the total fees paid by you to ForgedLink in the 12 months before the claim arose; or (b) £500.

12.3 Excluded Losses. In no event shall ForgedLink be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to: loss of profits, loss of data, business interruption, or reputational damage — even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

12.4 Exceptions. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits our liability for: (a) death or personal injury caused by our negligence; (b) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or (c) any other liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless ForgedLink Ltd, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any third-party right, including intellectual property or privacy rights; or (d) any content you submit to the Platform.

14. Termination

14.1 By You. You may close your account at any time by contacting support@forgedlink.co.uk. Unused credits are forfeited on account closure and are non-refundable.

14.2 By Us. We may suspend or terminate your account immediately if you breach these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or if required by law. We may also terminate with 30 days' written notice for any other reason.

14.3 Effect of Termination. Upon termination: (a) your licence to use the Platform ceases; (b) your data may be deleted subject to our retention policy; (c) any outstanding obligations (including NDA obligations) survive termination.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by email and/or by displaying a prominent notice on the Platform at least 14 days before the changes take effect. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must stop using the Platform and may close your account.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms, and any non-contractual obligations arising from or in connection with them, are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising from or in connection with these Terms, except that either party may apply to any competent court for injunctive or other interim relief.

17. General

17.1 Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any NDA signed through the Platform, constitute the entire agreement between you and ForgedLink regarding your use of the Platform and supersede all prior agreements.

17.2 Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, and all remaining provisions shall continue in full force.

17.3 No Waiver. Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not be deemed a waiver of that right or provision.

17.4 Assignment. We may assign our rights and obligations under these Terms to any successor entity or in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets. You may not assign your rights under these Terms without our prior written consent.

17.5 Force Majeure. Neither party shall be liable for failure to perform obligations where such failure results from causes beyond that party's reasonable control.

18. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us: