Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") set forth the conditions for using the website ("Site") operated by techandchips ("we," "our," or "the Company"). Please read these Terms carefully before using the Site. By accessing or using this Site, you agree to be bound by all provisions of these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please refrain from using this Site.

1. Definitions

The following terms used in these Terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

• "Site" refers to the website operated by the Company (including https://techandchips.com and its subdomains).
• "User" refers to any individual who browses or uses this Site.
• "Content" refers to all information published on this Site, including but not limited to text, images, photographs, charts, videos, audio, logos, icons, designs, source code, programs, and all other materials.
• "Services" refers to all services provided by the Company through this Site, including information provision, inquiry handling, blog content, and related services.

2. Scope of Application

These Terms apply to all pages and content on this Site. If we establish separate terms or policies for specific services on this Site (including our Privacy Policy), those separate terms shall form part of these Terms.

In the event of any conflict between these Terms and any separate terms or policies, the separate terms or policies shall prevail.

3. Description of Services

The Company provides information and service guidance relating to AI and IoT solutions for the manufacturing industry in the Kumamoto Semiconductor Cluster. This Site provides information about the following services:

• Equipment monitoring systems
• Predictive maintenance and anomaly detection solutions
• Traceability systems
• AI document automation
• RISC-V migration support
• Other AI/IoT-related services for manufacturing

Information on this Site provides a general overview of our services and does not constitute the terms of any individual contract. The specific terms and conditions of services shall be defined in individual agreements.

4. Copyright

Copyright and other intellectual property rights in the content on this Site (including text, images, photographs, charts, logos, designs, and programs) belong to the Company or to third parties who hold legitimate rights, unless otherwise indicated. Such content is protected under copyright law and other intellectual property laws.

Copyright in all original works of the Company that constitute this Site (logo marks, designs, proprietary icons, fonts, programs, etc.) belongs to the Company pursuant to Article 23 (Right of Public Transmission) of the Copyright Act of Japan.

The following acts are prohibited with respect to works on this Site, by any means or medium, without the prior written consent of the Company:

• Reproduction or republication in whole or in part
• Modification, adaptation, or translation
• Redistribution, sale, or lending
• Combination with other works or secondary use
• Reverse engineering

5. Trademark Protection

The trade names, trademarks, logos, service marks, and other marks used on this Site belonging to the Company or other entities are protected by trademark law and other applicable laws. Unauthorized use of such marks without express permission is prohibited.

6. Prohibited Activities

Users shall not engage in the following activities when using this Site:

• Actions that violate or may violate applicable laws, regulations, or public order and morals
• Actions connected to criminal activities
• Actions that infringe on intellectual property rights (including copyrights, trademarks, and patents) of the Company or third parties
• Actions that infringe on the privacy, reputation, credit, or other rights of the Company or third parties
• Actions that interfere with or may interfere with the operation of this Site
• Actions that place an excessive load on the servers or network of this Site
• Transmitting or posting computer viruses or other harmful programs
• Unauthorized access or attempts thereof
• Unauthorized collection of information from this Site (including scraping, crawling, etc.)
• Submitting false or misleading information
• Commercial use of our services or this Site without prior approval from the Company
• Displaying Content of this Site within frames or similar methods to make it appear as part of another website
• Implying that third-party products or services are endorsed or recommended by the Company
• Any other actions the Company reasonably deems inappropriate

7. User Responsibility

Users shall use this Site at their own responsibility. If a user causes damage to the Company or any third party arising from or in connection with the use of this Site, the user shall compensate for such damage at their own expense and responsibility.

If any claim is made against the Company or any dispute arises due to a user's violation of these Terms, the user shall resolve such matter at their own expense and responsibility and shall hold the Company harmless from any and all damages.

8. Access Logs

This Site collects access logs. The information collected is used solely for the purpose of analyzing and improving the operation of this Site and ensuring security. It will not be used for any other purposes. For details regarding access analytics, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

9. Use of Inquiry Form

When users submit information through the inquiry form on this Site, they shall be deemed to have agreed to the following:

• That the submitted information is accurate and truthful
• That a reasonable period of time may be required before the Company responds
• That the Company may not be able to respond depending on the nature of the inquiry
• That personal information submitted will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy

10. Disclaimer

The Company makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, usefulness, timeliness, or reliability of information published on this Site, including technical information, product information, and blog articles.

Furthermore, the Company assumes no liability for the following:

• Direct or indirect damages arising from the use of or inability to use this Site (including loss of profits and business opportunities)
• Results of decisions or actions taken by users based on information on this Site
• Interruption, discontinuation, modification, or termination of this Site
• Damages arising from unauthorized access to this Site or intrusion of computer viruses
• Hardware or software issues caused by use of this Site
• Corruption or loss of data on this Site
• Content, privacy policies, or security of externally linked websites
• Damages caused by communication line or system failures, natural disasters, or other force majeure events

The content on this Site is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute professional advice for any specific situation. We recommend consulting appropriate professionals for individually specific matters.

11. Limitation of Liability

Even in the event that the Company is held liable for damages to a user, such liability shall be limited to direct and ordinary damages attributable to causes for which the Company is responsible. The Company shall not be liable for indirect damages, special damages, lost profits, or punitive damages, except in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the Company.

12. Links

You are generally free to link to this Site. However, the Company does not permit and may take appropriate measures to remove the following types of links:

• Displaying Content of this Site within frames or similar methods to make it appear as part of another website
• Implying that third-party products or services are endorsed or recommended by the Company
• Unauthorized use of the Company's trademarks
• Infringement of the Company's or third parties' copyrights or other intellectual property rights
• Including links to this Site in content containing offensive, aggressive, or otherwise objectionable material that may violate public order and morals
• Links in any form that may damage the reputation or credibility of the Company

This Site may contain links to third-party websites. The Company assumes no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, accuracy, or security of linked websites. Use of linked websites is at the user's own risk and responsibility.

13. Changes, Interruption, and Termination of Service

The Company may, without prior notice to users, interrupt, suspend, modify, or terminate the operation of this Site for any of the following reasons:

• Maintenance, inspection, or update of this Site's systems
• Force majeure events such as earthquakes, lightning, fire, power outages, or natural disasters that make operation of this Site difficult
• Communication line failures or computer system failures
• Discovery of security issues
• Any other circumstances where the Company determines that interruption is necessary

The Company assumes no liability for any damages incurred by users as a result of such interruption, suspension, modification, or termination of this Site.

14. Handling of Personal Information

The handling of personal information on this Site shall be governed by our separately established Privacy Policy. By using this Site, users shall be deemed to have consented to the Privacy Policy.

15. Severability

If any provision or part of any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, the remaining provisions and the remaining parts of such provision shall continue in full force and effect.

16. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

The interpretation and application of these Terms shall be governed by the laws of Japan, unless otherwise specified.

All disputes arising from the use of this Site shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Kumamoto District Court as the court of first instance, unless otherwise specified.

17. Changes to These Terms

The Company may revise these Terms as necessary. When changes are made, users will be notified by posting the revised Terms on this Site.

Revised Terms shall take effect upon posting on this Site. Continued use of this Site after such changes shall constitute acceptance of the revised Terms. While we will endeavor to provide prominent notice of significant changes on this Site, we recommend that users review these Terms periodically.

18. Contact

For inquiries regarding these Terms, please contact us at:

Established May 30, 2025