GWS Independent Mastery™
User Agreement (Consumers / Private Individuals)
Last updated: 29.6.2026
This version applies to Users who purchase the GWSIM Program as private individuals (consumers). Mandatory provisions of Finnish consumer protection legislation apply regardless of any contrary term herein, and nothing in this Agreement limits the User's mandatory statutory rights as a consumer.
1. PARTIES
This User Agreement ("Agreement") governs the enrolment in the GWS Independent Mastery™ program ("GWSIM Program") offered by SEO-AKATEMIA OY (Business ID: 3342731-8, address: Kairiskulmantie 12, 20760 Piispanristi, Finland) ("Service Provider"), as accessed and used by you ("User").
2. THE AIM AND CONTENT OF THE PROGRAM
The GWSIM Program is a 6 month online course that offers course participants concrete and comprehensive skills to do search engine optimization, repeatable and working processes as well as ready-made templates for different areas of search engine optimization. The GWSIM Program aims to cover, according to the Service Provider's knowledge, the most important areas and tasks of SEO.
i) The aims of the GWSIM Program are:
a) to teach the User how to do search engine optimization ("SEO") to a level whereby the User obtains the requisite knowledge and skills to use SEO in their own work, and
b) to enable the User to offer SEO as a service through their own company, or for example as a freelance service or side business.
ii) The GWSIM Program includes:
a) access to the training platform ("Platform") for the User,
b) digital training and support materials ("Training Materials"), and
c) joint remote or live online meetings with the User and other program participants, which may from time to time include themed clinics (such as side-business clinics) and guest expert sessions, held at the Service Provider's discretion.
The User acknowledges that although the Service Provider grants the User access to all the Training Materials, the User undertakes to do the actual work to learn SEO. SEO skills can always be developed and deepened, and new learnings are discoverable through the work. The Service Provider gives no guarantee of any particular income, business result or outcome; any examples are illustrative and not a promise of results.
3. TOOLS USED IN THE GWSIM PROGRAM
The GWSIM Program requires the use of the SEMrush tool, which shall be purchased by the User at their own expense when the User starts the GWSIM Program. The cheapest version of the SEMrush tool is sufficient for participation. Other tools used in the GWSIM Program are free of charge.
4. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GWSIM PROGRAM
The User shall have the following:
a) basic understanding of the field of digital marketing,
b) basic knowledge of the content management system of the website to be optimized, and
c) at least one website at the User's disposal for the optimization of search engines during the GWSIM Program.
5. DURATION OF THE GWSIM PROGRAM
The GWSIM Program shall commence on the start date agreed between the User and the Service Provider, on which the Service Provider grants the User access to the Platform ("Start Date").
The duration of the GWSIM Program including access to the Training Materials is six (6) months from the Start Date ("Subscription Term").
The Service Provider takes a one-month vacation during the summer (between June and August) and a 1–2 week vacation during the Christmas season (specific dates announced separately). During vacation periods: a) no live meetings will be held; b) all Training Materials remain accessible to the User. Vacation periods do not count toward the duration of the GWSIM Program; if a vacation period overlaps with the User's active Subscription Term, the program end date is extended by the duration of the vacation period.
6. LICENSE
The Service Provider grants the User a limited, non-transferable license, without the right to grant sublicenses, to use and access the software, Training Materials and systems used in the GWSIM Program during the Subscription Term ("License"). This License grants the User the right to download the Training Materials provided by the Service Provider solely for their own internal use.
7. RIGHT OF WITHDRAWAL AND ITS EXPIRY (CONSUMERS)
7.1 Right of withdrawal. The User has the right to withdraw from this Agreement within fourteen (14) days without giving any reason. The withdrawal period expires fourteen (14) days from the day on which the Agreement was concluded (the day of purchase).
7.2 How to exercise. To exercise the right of withdrawal, the User must inform the Service Provider (SEO-AKATEMIA Oy, [email protected]) of the decision by an unequivocal statement (e.g. an email). The User may use the model withdrawal form provided below, but it is not obligatory. To meet the deadline it is sufficient to send the communication before the withdrawal period has expired.
7.3 Agreed Start Date and the effect on the right of withdrawal. The Start Date of the GWSIM Program is agreed individually between the User and the Service Provider, and access to the Platform and digital content is granted on that Start Date.
a) If the agreed Start Date falls after the 14-day withdrawal period, the User retains the full right of withdrawal under Section 7.1 until that period expires. The User may withdraw and receive a full refund of payments made.
b) If the agreed Start Date falls within the 14-day withdrawal period (an early start at the User's request), the User is asked, in connection with the purchase, to give their express prior consent to the supply of digital content and the commencement of the service before the end of the withdrawal period, and to acknowledge that they thereby lose their right of withdrawal once the Service Provider has granted access to the content on the Start Date. The Service Provider confirms the consent given to the User on a durable medium (order confirmation).
7.4 Withdrawal before access is granted. As long as access to the content has not yet been granted, the right of withdrawal under Section 7.1 remains in force until it expires. If the User has expressly requested that the service begin during the withdrawal period and then withdraws after performance has begun, the User shall pay an amount proportionate to the service performed up to the withdrawal.
7.5 Effects of withdrawal. Where the User validly withdraws, the Service Provider reimburses payments received without undue delay, subject to Section 7.4. Upon withdrawal the License terminates and the User must cease all use of, and erase, the Training Materials.
8. PAYMENTS
Upon registration, the User shall pay the fees using the payment methods displayed by the Service Provider. The terms and conditions of third-party payment service providers apply to payments processed by them.
The fees may be paid in a single payment or in instalments in accordance with the payment plan displayed at the time of purchase. The number and amount of instalments are those shown at the time of purchase and may vary between offers; the Service Provider and the User may also agree on a different instalment arrangement. Subject to mandatory consumer protection legislation and to Sections 7 and 9, the User undertakes to pay all agreed instalments. Subject to the User's statutory right of withdrawal in Section 7, fees are non-refundable once access to the Platform has been granted.
The payment term for fees and invoices is fourteen (14) days. Late payment accrues interest pursuant to the Finnish Interest Act 633/1982 as amended. The consequences of late payment in instalment-based purchases are specified in Section 9.
9. LATE PAYMENT AND ACCELERATION OF OUTSTANDING DEBT
This Section applies where the User has agreed to pay the fees in instalments.
If the User fails to pay an instalment by its due date, the Service Provider shall send the User a payment reminder. Late payments accrue statutory interest in accordance with the Finnish Interest Act 633/1982 as amended, and the Service Provider is entitled to charge reminder and collection fees as permitted by law.
Where the delay in payment has lasted at least one (1) month and the overdue amount is at least ten (10) per cent of the total payment plan — or at least five (5) per cent in the case of a recurring delay — the Service Provider shall be entitled to accelerate the entire remaining balance of the outstanding debt, making it immediately payable in full. Acceleration requires that the Service Provider has sent the User a written notice of the intent to accelerate at least fourteen (14) days in advance, and the User has not paid the overdue instalment together with interest and costs within that period.
The acceleration of the outstanding debt does not release the User from any other obligations under this Agreement, nor is the Service Provider obliged to refund any instalments already paid, subject to Section 7. The User retains the right to use the GWSIM Program once the outstanding debt has been paid in full. The provisions of this Section shall be applied in accordance with mandatory consumer protection legislation, in particular Chapter 7 of the Finnish Consumer Protection Act (38/1978, as amended).
10. OWNERSHIP
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the ownership of any and all rights in and to any copyright, patents, designs, conceptual solutions, analyses, processes, inventions, software, databases, know-how, confidential information, any other rights in intellectual property (whether registered or unregistered) or otherwise ("Intellectual Property"), other than third party rights in the Training Materials produced and provided by the Service Provider to the User in connection with the provision of the GWSIM Program shall remain the exclusive property of the Service Provider. The Service Provider shall grant the User a non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited license to use the Intellectual Property solely in accordance with this Agreement.
The User agrees and acknowledges that the User shall not obtain any intellectual property right in or to the Training Materials, other than the rights of use specifically granted in this Agreement. The User shall be entitled to download, use and keep all Training Materials provided by the Service Provider to the User, but without any other license to exercise any of the intellectual property rights therein, all of which are expressly reserved to the Service Provider. In particular and without limitation, the Training Materials shall not be modified, redistributed, disclosed to third parties, borrowed, hired out, made available to the public, sold, offered for sale, shared or transferred in any other way. Templates and models that can be copied and used freely shall be separately indicated by the Service Provider in the Training Materials. All Service Provider trademarks, trade names, logos and notices present on the Training Materials will be preserved.
The Service Provider has the right to cancel the User's right to use and access the Training Materials, the Platform and related systems, if the User has not paid the fees and invoices in accordance with the payment terms in this Agreement, subject to mandatory consumer protection legislation.
11. CONFIDENTIALITY
Each party agrees that it shall treat as confidential, and not disclose to any third party, any information provided to it ("Receiving Party") by the other party ("Disclosing Party") that is marked "Confidential" or that reasonably should be known to be confidential ("Confidential Information") except to the extent expressly permitted or required under applicable laws. Confidential Information shall not be used for any purpose not permitted under this Agreement. The foregoing a) shall not apply to information that is publicly available other than as a result of a breach of confidentiality; b) shall not prevent disclosure or use to the extent necessary to perform the obligations under this Agreement; and c) shall not prevent disclosures permitted or required under applicable law.
12. TERMINATION
The Service Provider reserves the right to terminate this Agreement in case of non-payment of any fees and invoices in Section 8, upon notice to the User and subject to mandatory consumer protection legislation. The Service Provider may terminate this Agreement in case of breach of intellectual property rights under Section 10.
In the event of termination by the Service Provider:
a) the License granted to the User will terminate;
b) the User must cease all use of the Platform and Training Materials and destroy or erase all copies of the Training Materials in the User's possession or control; and
c) Sections 10 (Ownership), 11 (Confidentiality), 12 (Termination), 14 (Limitation of Liability) and 15 (Applicable Law and Dispute Resolution) will survive any such termination.
13. MISCELLANEOUS
a) The Service Provider collects personal data that the User provides for use of the Platform, including but not limited to name, email address and background data, as described in the SEO-akatemia Privacy Policy.
b) The Service Provider has the right to use subcontractors in the provision of the services.
c) Videos of training sessions. The User acknowledges and agrees that from time to time the User may appear in recordings of live training sessions, if the User decides to participate.
d) The User grants the Service Provider permission to use the User as an anonymous reference, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
e) If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remainder will remain in full force, and the remaining provisions will be amended to achieve as closely as possible the effect of the original term.
f) The User may not assign or transfer this Agreement, or any rights under it, without the prior written consent of the Service Provider, and any attempted assignment without such consent will be void.
g) Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement with respect to the GWSIM Program and supersedes all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral.
14. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
The GWSIM Program is provided as is, except as required by mandatory law. Nothing in this Section limits or excludes the Service Provider's liability where such limitation or exclusion is not permitted under mandatory Finnish consumer protection legislation, including liability for non-conformity of the digital content or service.
Subject to the foregoing, in no event shall the Service Provider be liable for any indirect or consequential damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, loss of anticipated earnings or loss of data, arising out of or connected with the GWSIM Program or inability to access it. Subject to mandatory law, the aggregate liability of the Service Provider arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the GWSIM Program shall not exceed the total fees the User has paid to the Service Provider for the GWSIM Program.
15. APPLICABLE LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
This Agreement is governed by the laws of Finland.
If a dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation, the User as a consumer may bring the matter before the Consumer Disputes Board (kuluttajariitalautakunta, www.kuluttajariita.fi). Before doing so, the User may contact the Consumer Advisory Services (kuluttajaneuvonta). The User also always has the right to bring the dispute before the general court of first instance of their domicile in Finland. The language of any proceedings is Finnish.
16. CONTACT
All queries regarding this Agreement shall be sent to the following contact person:
SEO-AKATEMIA Oy, Jutta Lehtinen, [email protected]
MODEL WITHDRAWAL FORM / MALLIPERUUTTAMISLOMAKE
Täytä ja palauta tämä lomake vain, jos haluat peruuttaa sopimuksen (jos sopimuksen teosta on kulunut alle 14 vrk etkä ole aloittanut vielä ohjelmaa).
– Vastaanottaja: SEO-AKATEMIA Oy, Kairiskulmantie 12, 20760 Piispanristi / [email protected]
– Ilmoitan, että haluan peruuttaa tekemäni sopimuksen, joka koskee GWS Independent Mastery -ohjelmaa
– Tilauksen päivämäärä:
– Kuluttajan nimi ja osoite:
– Päiväys ja allekirjoitus (jos lomake toimitetaan paperilla):
