Terms of Service

1. About Accord Compliance

Accord Compliance is a division of Accordix Group Private Limited, a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 in India. Accord Compliance operates as an independent digital accessibility audit and regulatory compliance institution. We provide accessibility audits, compliance assessments, audit advisory services, remediation support guidance, and training and fellowship programmes aligned with global accessibility standards and jurisdiction-specific regulatory frameworks.

Accord Compliance is not a government body, regulatory authority, certification body, or legal advisory firm. We do not issue regulatory approvals, compliance certifications, or legal opinions. Our services are professional and technical in nature, and all findings, reports, and guidance should be reviewed in conjunction with qualified legal, regulatory, and technical advisors as appropriate.

2. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Accord Compliance website (accordcompliance.org), submitting an enquiry, requesting an audit, engaging our services, or downloading any content from this website, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy.

If you are accessing or using this website on behalf of an organisation, company, or other legal entity, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity to these Terms. References to 'you' or 'the Client' include both individuals and the organisations they represent.

If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use this website or engage our services.

3. Services Offered

3.1 Accessibility Audits

Accord Compliance conducts independent digital accessibility audits of websites, web applications, mobile applications, digital documents, and other ICT assets. Audits are conducted against globally recognised standards including WCAG 2.1, WCAG 2.2 (ISO/IEC 40500), and applicable jurisdiction-specific frameworks including but not limited to ADA (US), Section 508 (US), EAA and EN 301 549 (EU), AODA and ACA (Canada), DDA (Australia), and Indian standards including SEBI requirements, RPwD Act, GIGW, and IS 17802.

3.2 Regulatory Compliance Assessments

We provide assessments of an organisation's digital accessibility posture against specific regulatory and statutory requirements. These assessments are compliance-oriented and evidence-based, but do not constitute legal advice or regulatory interpretation.

3.3 Remediation Support

Accord Compliance provides remediation guidance and advisory support as a non-audit service, delivered separately from and subsequent to any audit engagement. We do not undertake code implementation, design execution, or development work. Remediation guidance is advisory in nature.

3.4 Audit Advisory and Governance

We provide advisory services to organisations seeking to establish or improve internal accessibility governance, audit readiness, and compliance programmes.

3.5 Training and Fellowship Programmes

Accord Compliance offers structured accessibility training and fellowship programmes. Credentials issued upon completion of training are professional development recognitions and do not constitute regulatory certifications, government approvals, or legal qualifications.

3.6 Website Tools

Certain tools accessible through this website (including, where applicable, the Audit Report PDF Formatter) are utility tools intended to support documentation workflows. These tools do not conduct accessibility audits, generate compliance findings, or certify compliance with any standard or regulation.

4. Scope and Limitations of Services

4.1 No Guarantee of Compliance

An accessibility audit conducted by Accord Compliance represents an expert, evidence-based assessment of a digital asset against applicable standards at a specific point in time. An audit report does not constitute a guarantee of legal compliance, nor does it guarantee that all accessibility barriers have been identified.

Accessibility standards and regulatory requirements evolve. Digital assets change over time. An audit reflects the state of the asset at the time of assessment only. We recommend periodic re-auditing to maintain ongoing compliance assurance.

4.2 No Legal Advice

Nothing in our audit reports, compliance assessments, guidance documents, website content, or communications constitutes legal advice. Accord Compliance is not a law firm and does not practise law. Clients should obtain independent legal counsel for any matter involving regulatory obligations, enforcement risk, litigation, or legal strategy.

4.3 No Regulatory Authority

Accord Compliance is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any regulatory body, government authority, or standards organisation. We do not have authority to grant regulatory approvals, enforce compliance, or act as a regulator.

4.4 Audit Independence

Accord Compliance maintains strict independence between audit services and remediation delivery. We do not perform remediation on assets we have audited within the same engagement, in order to preserve audit objectivity and credibility.

5. Engagement and Client Obligations

5.1 Engagement Terms

Specific terms governing individual audit or service engagements — including scope, deliverables, timelines, fees, and responsibilities — are set out in a separate Engagement Letter or Statement of Work agreed between Accord Compliance and the Client. These Terms of Service apply alongside and not in place of such engagement-specific terms.

5.2 Client Responsibilities

Clients are responsible for:

  • Providing accurate and complete information regarding the assets to be audited and the regulatory context applicable to their organisation
  • Ensuring Accord Compliance has appropriate access to the digital assets within the agreed scope
  • Reviewing audit findings and seeking appropriate legal, regulatory, and technical advice before taking action on audit recommendations
  • Ensuring that any action taken in reliance on Accord Compliance's findings, recommendations, or guidance is appropriate for their specific legal and regulatory circumstances

5.3 Accuracy of Information

You represent that all information you provide to Accord Compliance in connection with an enquiry, engagement, or service request is accurate, complete, and not misleading. Accord Compliance relies on client-provided information to determine audit scope and regulatory context, and accepts no liability for findings or guidance based on inaccurate information.

6. Intellectual Property

6.1 Website Content

All content on the Accord Compliance website, including text, design, structure, methodology descriptions, framework explanations, and other materials, is the intellectual property of Accordix Group Private Limited or its licensors and is protected under applicable Indian and international intellectual property laws.

6.2 Audit Reports and Deliverables

Audit reports and other written deliverables produced by Accord Compliance for a specific Client engagement are owned by Accordix Group Private Limited and licensed to the Client for internal use, compliance documentation, and regulatory submission purposes. Clients may not distribute, publish, or commercially exploit audit deliverables without prior written consent from Accord Compliance.

6.3 Restrictions

You may not reproduce, modify, distribute, transmit, republish, or create derivative works from any content on this website or from any deliverables produced by Accord Compliance without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial review purposes.

7. Fees and Payment

Fees for audit and service engagements are agreed in advance and set out in the relevant Engagement Letter or Statement of Work. Accord Compliance reserves the right to withhold delivery of audit reports and other deliverables until all applicable fees have been received in full.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, fees are quoted exclusive of applicable taxes including Goods and Services Tax (GST) as applicable under Indian law. Clients are responsible for all applicable taxes in their own jurisdiction.

8. Confidentiality

Accord Compliance treats all client information, audit findings, and engagement-related data as confidential. We will not disclose client information to third parties except:

  • Where required by applicable law or a competent court or regulatory authority
  • With the prior written consent of the Client
  • To sub-contractors or partners engaged under confidentiality obligations to support delivery of agreed services
  • In anonymised form for professional development, methodology improvement, or industry knowledge purposes

Clients acknowledge that Accord Compliance may reference the existence of a client relationship for general business purposes (e.g., describing the industries and sectors we serve) without disclosing confidential engagement details, unless the Client specifically objects in writing.

9. Limitation of Liability

9.1 No Consequential Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Accord Compliance and Accordix Group Private Limited shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or in connection with the use of this website, reliance on website content, or any audit, service, or deliverable, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

9.2 Cap on Liability

Where liability cannot be excluded, our total aggregate liability to any Client in connection with any engagement shall not exceed the total fees paid by that Client to Accord Compliance in respect of the specific engagement giving rise to the claim.

9.3 No Liability for Third-Party Actions

Accord Compliance accepts no liability for the actions, decisions, or omissions of clients, third-party remediation providers, regulatory bodies, or courts in response to or in reliance on our audit findings or recommendations.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

This website and all content, reports, guidance, and services are provided 'as is' and 'as available'. Accord Compliance makes no warranties, express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

We do not warrant that the website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from viruses or other harmful components. We do not warrant that our audit findings will identify every accessibility barrier or that following our recommendations will result in full legal compliance with any applicable law or regulation.

11. Third-Party Links and Content

This website may contain links to third-party websites, regulatory resources, standards documents, or other external content. These links are provided for informational convenience only. Accord Compliance does not endorse, control, or accept responsibility for any third-party content, accuracy, or practices. Visiting third-party websites is at your own risk and is subject to those websites' own terms and privacy policies.

12. Use of Website

By using this website, you agree not to:

  • Use the website for any unlawful, fraudulent, or unauthorised purpose
  • Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the website or its underlying systems
  • Transmit or upload any content that is harmful, offensive, defamatory, or in violation of any law
  • Use automated means to scrape, crawl, or extract data from the website without prior written permission
  • Misrepresent your identity or affiliation when submitting enquiries or accessing services

Accord Compliance reserves the right to restrict or terminate access to the website for any user who violates these Terms.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

13.1 Governing Law

These Terms of Service are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of India. For clients engaging Accord Compliance from other jurisdictions, these Terms shall apply to the extent permissible under applicable local law, without prejudice to any mandatory consumer or regulatory protections in the Client's jurisdiction.

13.2 Jurisdiction

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms or the use of this website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts at [City, India — to be specified by legal counsel], except where alternative dispute resolution is agreed between the parties.

13.3 Dispute Resolution

Where a dispute arises in connection with an engagement, the parties agree to first attempt to resolve the matter in good faith through direct negotiation. If resolution cannot be achieved within thirty (30) days of written notice, either party may initiate formal dispute proceedings.

14. Amendments

Accord Compliance reserves the right to update or modify these Terms of Service at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of this website or our services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

15. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid under applicable law, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, or severed from these Terms, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

16. Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service, together with any applicable Engagement Letter, Statement of Work, and our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Accord Compliance with respect to your use of this website and engagement of our services. They supersede all prior understandings, representations, or agreements.

17. Contact

For questions about these Terms of Service or any aspect of your engagement with Accord Compliance, please contact us at:

Accordix Group Private Limited
Trading as: Accord Compliance