Last updated: October 29, 2026. These terms replace, for orders placed from that date, the General Contracting Terms and Conditions previously published on this site.
1. Scope
1.1 Who the terms bind. These General Terms and Conditions (the “Terms”) govern the services Technitrad inc. (“Technitrad”, “we”) supplies to an organization (the “Client”, “you”) under a purchase order or statement of work issued or accepted on the basis of a Technitrad quote (each an “Order”).
1.2 Which document prevails. If documents conflict, the first one listed prevails: (a) a framework agreement signed by both parties; (b) the Order; (c) Technitrad’s quote; (d) these Terms. Terms printed on a Client purchase order or invoice do not apply unless Technitrad accepts them in writing.
1.3 Language. These Terms are drawn up in French. Every quote links to the French version first. A Client that wishes to be bound by this English version says so expressly when it accepts the quote.
2. Services
2.1 Human translation. Translation by a qualified translator, revised by a second qualified linguist, under ISO 17100 and CAN/CGSB-131.10.
2.2 Post-editing. Review and correction, by a qualified linguist, of a machine or AI draft produced through the Client’s own provider account (see 7.2), until it meets the agreed quality, under ISO 18587.
2.3 Terminology. Research, approval workflow and maintenance of the Client’s term base.
2.4 Formats. Drawings, specifications and other files are delivered in the formats stated in the Order. Where French runs longer than the source, Technitrad adjusts text blocks to fit; some manual layout work may still be needed, and the Order states who does it.
2.5 Self-serve AI draft. The self-serve AI draft in NEOLO also runs on the Client’s own provider key. The NEOLO platform is governed by the NEOLO terms of service, which the Client accepts separately when it opens a NEOLO account; they do not bind the Client before that acceptance. Where Technitrad review is ordered on a NEOLO draft, these Terms govern the review and the NEOLO terms govern the platform.
3. Quotes and orders
3.1 Quotes. A quote is based on the files and information received. It is valid for 30 days unless it states otherwise.
3.2 Order confirmation. Every quote refers and links to these Terms. An Order is binding once the Client accepts the quote, in writing or by sending a purchase order, and Technitrad confirms it. Accepting the quote accepts these Terms.
3.3 Discrepancies. If the files received differ from those quoted (volume, file type, legibility of scans, or anything else that affects price or deadline), Technitrad tells the Client before starting, and the quote is revised with the Client’s agreement.
3.4 Changes. The Client may change an Order in writing. A minor change is made at no charge. For a larger change, Technitrad sends a revised price and deadline, which apply once the Client accepts them in writing.
3.5 Cancellation. The Client may cancel an Order at any time in writing. Technitrad invoices the work completed up to the cancellation, and nothing more.
4. What we need from you
4.1 Final source. Final, legible source files. Changes made to the source after work starts are treated as a change under 3.4.
4.2 Reference material. Glossaries, past translations, style guides and project contacts, when they exist. Technitrad uses them as instructions.
4.3 Terminology decisions. A contact who can approve or reject proposed terms within the agreed time. A term the Client approves is applied to every later document.
4.4 Rights. The Client warrants that it has the right to have the material translated and that the material does not infringe anyone’s rights.
5. Delivery, quality and corrections
5.1 Delivery. Technitrad delivers on or before the date and time in the Order, by the agreed method. If a delay becomes likely, Technitrad tells the Client as soon as it knows. If the Client is late with files, answers or term approvals (4.1 to 4.3), the delivery date moves by at least the same time.
5.2 Quality standard. A translation is correct when it conveys the meaning of the source accurately, follows the Client’s instructions, approved terms and style guide, and is grammatically correct by generally accepted conventions. A change of wording in a translation that already meets these three criteria is a preference, not an error.
5.3 Corrections. The Client may report errors within 30 days of delivery, listing each error as precisely as it can. Where the report is justified, Technitrad corrects the errors at no charge and as quickly as possible. For a very large delivery, a longer review period may be agreed in the Order. After that period, Technitrad still corrects at no charge any error it caused that is reported promptly once found. Errors that come from the source itself (an error, a gap or an ambiguous passage) are not covered.
5.4 Professional responsibility. Technitrad translates the content it receives. Responsibility for the technical content of a document, including any document an engineer or architect seals or issues, remains with its author and with the professional who seals or issues it.
6. Fees and payment
6.1 Fees. Fees are those in the Order, charged per word or per hour as the quote states. They change only with both parties’ written agreement. Applicable taxes, such as GST and QST, are added.
6.2 Invoicing. Technitrad invoices on delivery, or as the Order sets out for long projects. Each invoice details the services and how the fees were calculated.
6.3 Payment. Invoices are payable within 30 days of receipt. Overdue amounts bear simple interest at 1% per month (12% per year) from the due date. If an undisputed invoice is overdue, Technitrad may suspend work and deliveries under that Order until it is paid. The Client raises any dispute about an invoice in writing within 30 days of receiving it, and pays the undisputed part.
7. Confidentiality and security
7.1 Confidential information. Everything the Client sends, including source files, drawings, prices, project information, translation memories and term bases, is confidential. Technitrad uses it only to perform the services and discloses it only to its employees and subcontractors who need it for that purpose and who are bound by written confidentiality obligations at least as strict as these. Confidentiality does not cover information that is public through no fault of Technitrad, or that Technitrad must disclose by law. Technitrad names a Client or its project publicly only with the Client’s written consent.
7.2 Machine translation and AI: your own key. Technitrad does not supply machine translation or AI, and does not buy, resell or manage AI usage for the Client. Machine translation or AI is used on the Client’s content only through the Client’s own account with a provider it chooses, using a key the Client supplies. That processing is governed by the Client’s agreement with its provider, and the Client pays the provider directly. Technitrad uses the key only for the Client’s work, keeps it secret, never shares it, and stops using it as soon as the Client revokes it or asks. If the Client supplies no key, no machine translation or AI is used. Technitrad never enters Client content into any machine translation or AI service other than the one on the Client’s key.
7.3 Security. Technitrad protects Client files with technical and organizational measures that include access control, encrypted transfer, regular backups and a tested business continuity plan, and scans every deliverable for malicious code before sending it. Where Technitrad gives the Client access to a portal, the Client keeps its credentials secret and reports any suspected misuse promptly.
7.4 Personal information. Where the Client’s material contains personal information, Technitrad processes it only to perform the services, in accordance with Quebec’s Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector and other applicable law, and tells the Client without delay of any confidentiality incident affecting it.
7.5 Keeping and returning material. Translation memories and term bases are kept for the Client’s later Orders until the Client asks for their export or deletion. If no Order is placed for 36 months, Technitrad offers the Client their export, and deletes them 60 days after the offer if the Client does not ask for them. Other Client material is returned or deleted at the end of an Order or on request, except for accounting and tax records Technitrad must keep by law, which remain confidential and are destroyed when that legal period ends.
8. Ownership
8.1 Your material and deliverables. The Client keeps all rights in its source material. Once the Order is paid, the Client owns the deliverables and the rights in them, and Technitrad assigns any rights it holds in them to the Client.
8.2 Your term base and translation memories. The term base and translation memories built from the Client’s documents belong to the Client, whether or not the Client continues to work with Technitrad. On request, Technitrad exports them in a standard format.
8.3 Our tools and know-how. Technitrad keeps its methods, software, templates and general terminology resources, including its National Master Specification resources, and anything it developed outside the scope of an Order. Nothing in these Terms transfers them to the Client.
9. Liability
9.1 Limit. To the extent the law allows, Technitrad’s total liability for all claims arising from an Order is limited to the fees paid or payable for that Order.
9.2 Excluded damages. Neither party is liable for loss of profit, loss of business or indirect damages.
9.3 Exceptions. (a) 9.1 and 9.2 do not apply to bodily or moral injury or to intentional or gross fault. (b) For a breach of confidentiality, 9.2 does not apply, and the 9.1 limit is the higher of three times the fees for the Order or Technitrad’s professional liability insurance limit.
9.4 Insurance. Technitrad maintains commercial general liability insurance and professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance.
10. Force majeure
A party is not in default when an event beyond its control (fire, flood, epidemic, strike, war, government action, a widespread outage of power or networks) prevents it from performing, for as long as the event lasts, provided it tells the other party promptly. Payment obligations are not suspended.
11. Term and termination
11.1 Term. A framework agreement runs for the term it states. Without one, these Terms apply to each Order until it is completed and paid.
11.2 Termination. Either party may end a framework agreement with 90 days’ written notice, without affecting Orders in progress and, for Technitrad, never at a time inopportune for the Client. Either party may end an Order or a framework agreement by written notice if a serious breach is not remedied within 30 days of notice describing it.
11.3 Payment on termination. The Client pays for the work performed up to the termination date, never more than the total of the Order.
11.4 What survives. Sections 6 (payment of amounts owed), 7 (confidentiality), 8 (ownership), 9 (liability) and 12 (disputes) continue to apply after an Order or a framework agreement ends.
12. Disputes and governing law
12.1 Governing law. These Terms are governed by the laws of Quebec and the federal laws of Canada that apply there.
12.2 Negotiation first. The parties try in good faith to settle any dispute by discussion between their representatives before starting any proceeding.
12.3 Courts. Failing an agreement, any dispute is submitted to the courts of the judicial district of Montréal, unless the parties agree in writing to arbitration.
13. General
13.1 Independent contractor. Technitrad acts as an independent contractor. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, partnership or agency relationship.
13.2 Subcontracting. Technitrad may use qualified subcontractors bound by the obligations in section 7. It remains responsible for their work.
13.3 Assignment. Neither party may assign an Order without the other’s written consent, except to a successor of all or most of its business.
13.4 Notices. Notices are given in writing, by email to the contact named in the Order or by mail to the party’s address.
13.5 Severability. If a clause is held invalid, the rest of these Terms remains in force.
13.6 Entire agreement. The documents listed in 1.2 are the entire agreement between the parties on an Order and replace any earlier discussion or proposal about it.
13.7 Changes to these Terms. Technitrad may update these Terms. The version in force on the date an Order is confirmed applies to that Order.
Questions about these terms: info@technitrad.com or +1 450 300 0360.