GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF Lakeside IP BV
Version October 2025
1. Applicability of these general terms and conditions
1.1. These are the general terms and conditions (“Terms”) of Lakeside IP BV, a private limited company under Belgian law, registered in the Belgian Crossroads Bank for Enterprises with the number 1015.370.165, VAT BE1015.370.165, RPR/RPM Leuven (Belgium), having in its ranks a qualified Dutch & European Patent Attorney registered under the EPI-number 9290570, with its office at 3140 Keerbergen (Belgium), Ganzendreef 13, [email protected], (hereinafter “Lakeside”).
Lakeside’s activities are focused on advice and services with regard to patents and/or intellectual property rights of all sorts, and the registration, the obtaining, the protection, exploitation, and/or the commercialization thereof.
1.2. These Terms apply exclusively to all offers of Lakeside, to its quotations, to all assignments, agreements and to any commercial relationship between Lakeside and its client (whether prospective or not) (hereinafter “the Client”), as well as to the invoices of Lakeside. Lakeside considers these Terms as an essential and substantial element of any relationship and agreement between the Client and Lakeside.
These Terms may not be amended, supplemented and/or otherwise modified, or deviated from, except by a written instrument duly executed by Lakeside.
1.3. Any general terms and conditions of the Client are expressly excluded from the legal relationship between Lakeside and the Client.
1.4. An agreement with Lakeside can be concluded in English. However, for deeds and documents that are required by a Belgian law or regulation, an original is always drawn up in Dutch, in view of the location of Lakeside’s office. The Dutch version of such a document always takes precedence over any translations.
2. Offers or quotations, scope of an agreement between the Client and Lakeside, and scope of Lakeside’s services
2.1. An agreement with Lakeside is concluded either by the Client’s timely acceptance of Lakeside’s offer or quotation, or at the time Lakeside commences the underlying services. An agreement between the Client and Lakeside is deemed to have been concluded in Keerbergen (Belgium).
2.2. Lakeside’s offers and/or quotations are valid for thirty (30) calendar days, unless stated otherwise in writing or unless these are revoked by Lakeside before the acceptance thereof by the Client.
2.3. Lakeside’s offers and/or quotations include only the assignments described therein. Lakeside’s services are limited to those mentioned in its offer or quotation. Lakeside does not need to serve the interests of the Client in matters not connected with the order entrusted to Lakeside by the Client. Changes to the assignment and/or additional assignments and/or services, must be expressly accepted by Lakeside in writing and will result in an increase in the price, costs, expenses and/or will result in additional fees, with application of the usual fees of Lakeside.
2.4. Notwithstanding clause 2.3 of these Terms, an assignment to file a patent application or to take over representation or perform other work also includes the assignment to do all that is required to maintain the rights applied for or obtained.
2.5. In any case, Lakeside’s obligations under any agreement with the Client shall be best-efforts obligations only. Lakeside does not guarantee any result.
2.6. Any time limit communicated to the Client by Lakeside for the execution of its services is purely indicative. Exceeding this indicative time limit can under no circumstances lead to compensation for damages on the part of the Client or to any other compensation.
2.7. In performing its services, Lakeside shall be free to organize its work, work methods, work organization, working time and the performance of its activities. Lakeside may perform its services at any location which is deemed to be reasonably necessary or useful for performing its services.
2.8. The Client shall provide Lakeside in writing (e-mail) with all information, documents, access, assistance and support, reasonably necessary or useful to perform its services. The Client shall also immediately notify Lakeside in writing (e-mail) of any changes to the information or documents provided.
2.9. The Client acknowledges that certain services may be subject to mandatory requirements imposed by law or by third parties.
2.10. The Client acknowledges and accepts that it has no exclusivity rights of any nature whatsoever with respect to Lakeside’s services. Lakeside has and retains the right to perform, at any time, services in favor of any third party or to appoint, at any time, other consultants, agents, service providers, patent administrators, sales representatives or other intermediary persons for the purpose of rendering services in favor of a third party.
If the Client’s assignment results in a conflict of interest for Lakeside, Lakeside shall inform the Client without undue delay. Lakeside retains the right to decline such assignment, irrespective of any previous assignments or the timing thereof. If in case of a conflict of interest the assignment by the Client cannot be postponed without detriment to the Client, Lakeside will accept and perform the order only so far as immediately necessary to avoid such detriment. Thereafter Lakeside will resign immediately from the case.
Should a conflict of interest arise in the course of performing its services, Lakeside shall be entitled to cease its services, and terminate the agreement with the Client immediately without incurring liability for early termination or on any other grounds. In such event, the Client shall remain liable for payment of all services rendered by Lakeside up to the effective date of termination.
If the assignment solely concerns the translation, certification and/or validation of a patent, such assignment cannot constitute a conflict of interest preventing Lakeside from rendering services to another client against the Client.
If the conflict of interest consists of Lakeside having to act against a case in which it previously acted, Lakeside may execute such assignment if the Client has given permission, or if Lakeside has no cognizance of the matter and is no longer in a position to take cognizance of it. Lakeside will not permitted make use in the action of information obtained during the time the matter was previous handled, unless the information is public.
2.11. These Terms and an agreement between the Client and Lakeside do not affect the professional codes of conduct or the mandatory deontological and legal obligations that may rest on Lakeside and/or its representatives as practitioners of a regulated profession (patent attorneys), which can be consulted on the websites of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office and the Netherlands Institute of Patent Attorneys.
2.12. Lakeside may, at its discretion, engage one or more third parties – such as external consultants, patent attorneys, foreign legal counsel, technical specialists, trademark agents, or service providers handling patent administration – for the execution of its services.
3. Fees, expenses, costs, and advances - invoices
3.1. All prices mentioned in Lakeside’s offers, quotations and/or invoices are mentioned in euros and exclusive VAT, and do not include taxes, duties, costs and/or other expenses (such as, but not limited to, travel expenses), unless expressly stated otherwise in writing.
3.2. All fees and costs will always be invoiced based on the actual performances delivered conform the fees per hour and/or on the actual costs.
The Client understands that the prices mentioned in Lakeside’s offer or quotation (estimation) depend in part on the prices and/or costs set out by Lakeside’s patent agents or attorneys (subcontractors), and/or the patent bureaus, patent offices or intellectual property offices. Lakeside cannot guarantee the prices and/or costs set out by the subcontractors, or by the patent bureaus, patent offices or intellectual property offices.
If Lakeside’s offers or quotations contain an indication of the total price of the assignment (or part thereof), this is a mere estimate of the total price. Such estimate of the total price is purely indicative and not binding. Lakeside’s invoices may exceed the estimate of the offers and/or quotations.
3.3. Lakeside is entitled to change its fees, prices, and/or costs unilaterally, even after acceptance of its offer or quotation, if suppliers and/or service providers change their prices, costs or fees, if the costs are changed, or as a result of legislative changes (including, but not limited to, changes in taxes or duties), such within the limits set by the Belgian law (if and insofar these limits are applicable to the contract between the Client and Lakeside).
3.4. If two or more Clients issue an assignment to Lakeside, they shall be jointly and severally liable to Lakeside for the fees and expenses.
3.5. Lakeside may demand advance payments. In such case, Lakeside will issue an (advance) invoice. Lakeside is entitled to suspend the start of its services until the advance has been paid in full by the Client. If the execution of the assignment cannot be postponed without detriment to the Client, Lakeside will accept and perform the services only so far as immediately necessary to avoid such detriment. Thereafter, Lakeside will suspend the assignment until payment in full of the advance.
3.6. Lakeside’s services will be invoiced on a monthly basis.
3.7. The Client accepts that all invoices of Lakeside will solely be sent electronically, such by e-mail or by communication between the accountancy programs of the Client and Lakeside, or otherwise, in compliance with Belgian e-invoicing regulations.
3.8. Lakeside’s invoices must be paid in euro within thirty (30) calendar days after sending the invoice and in accordance with the other invoice details.
3.9. Should the Client wish to protest any of Lakeside’s invoices, it must done within fourteen (14) calendar days after sending the invoice, and such in writing (e-mail) and in a reasoned manner. After that period the invoice is deemed to accepted by the Client and any protest will be inadmissible.
3.10. In the absence of a timely and full payment of any fee, cost, expense or any other compensation, the Client shall, automatically and without prior notice of default, owe Lakeside an interest on arrears equal to 11,5%, or to the interest rate of the Belgian law of 2 August 2002 on combating late payment in commercial transactions if it is higher, as well as a fixed compensation for damages in the amount of 10% of the invoiced amount, without prejudice to Lakeside’s right to claim higher compensation should its damage (including, but not limited to, reasonable lawyers’, experts’, consultants’ and other professionals’ fees and expenses) be greater (in derogation of article 5.88, §1 of the Belgian Civil Code), notwithstanding any other right of Lakeside based on the agreement with the Client and/or the law.
3.11. The possibility to a unilateral price reduction by the Client in the event of a culpable breach by Lakeside of the agreement between the Client and Lakeside, or of the agreement, is excluded.
4. Duration of an agreement - termination
4.1. The duration of any agreement between the Client and Lakeside shall be agreed in the offer, quotation, order letter, order form, special conditions or any other written document showing the express agreement of both parties.
In the absence of a duration indicated in writing, and if Lakeside’s services concern a specific and defined assignment, as described in its offer or quotation, the agreement between the Client and Lakeside will be for a definite duration, and will end once the specific and defined assignment is executed.
In all other cases, the agreement between the Client and Lakeside shall have an indefinite duration. In such case, each party is entitled to terminate the agreement in writing (e-mail) with a notice period of at least two (2) months during which Lakeside takes the necessary measures to enable the Client to avoid disadvantage. In all cases, the Client shall compensate Lakeside for all services rendered, including such measures, as well as for all costs and expenses.
4.2. Without prejudice to the other clauses of these Terms, either party may terminate an agreement between the Client and Lakeside at all times, unilaterally, without any prior court approval, with immediate effect, without any notice period or indemnification in lieu, by means of a e-mail in any of the following events (without the other party having a claim for any damages or otherwise by reason of such termination):
(i) The other party has ceased to carry on its business, or has become the subject of a petition in bankruptcy or any proceeding relating to insolvency, receivership, dissolution, liquidation or composition for the benefit of its creditors or any measure similar as the measures within the framework of Book XX into the Belgian Code of Economic Law, or any person is appointed over all or substantially of its assets and/or undertakings; or
(ii) The other party is no longer controlled (whereby the concept of ‘controlled’ has the meaning ascribed thereto in article 1:14 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations or managed by the same person(s) as at start of the agreement; or
(iii) Lakeside would be unable to provide its services due to, including the departure (i.e. no longer rendering services to Lakeside), death, illness, injury or permanent disability of its representative, for a consecutive period of ninety (90) business days; or
(iv) There is a serious and sustainable breach in the relationship and trust between parties (including, without any limitation, its officers, directors or personnel), which does make it reasonably impossible to maintain and continue the relationship between the parties; or
(v) The other party commits a serious breach of or a serious default (misconduct or negligence) in the due and proper performance of or compliance with any of its obligations or undertakings contained in the agreement between the parties or provided by the applicable laws and, if such breach is capable of being remedied, the other has not remedied such breach within a term of ten (10) business days after having been notified in writing (e-mail) of such breach or default.
Reliance on this clause 4.2 of these Terms by a party shall in no way prevent such party from claiming compensation from the other party for any damages as a result of the circumstances giving rise to the immediate termination of the agreement under this clause 4.2.
Reliance on this clause 4.2 of these Terms does not affect the fact that Lakeside will take measures to safeguard the interests of the Client. In all cases, the Client shall compensate Lakeside for all services rendered, including such safeguards, all costs and expenses.
4.3. Upon the termination of an agreement (for any reason whatsoever) in accordance with the provisions thereof, at the moment of its effective termination: Lakeside shall promptly cease to render its services and all parties’ rights and obligations shall immediately, by operation of law and entirely cease upon, except that (i) Lakeside will make sure it has taken the necessary measures to enable the Client to avoid disadvantage – conform the Codes of Conduct, (ii) the obligations and undertakings under clauses 4.3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of these Terms shall survive, and (iii) neither party shall be relieved of (1) its obligation to pay any amount due, or which become due, as of or after the date of termination of the agreement, and (2) any other obligation set forth in the agreement which is to take effect after date of termination thereof. Every obligation or liability of either party incurred up to the moment of effective termination of the agreement shall continue and remain in existence until paid or settled.
5. Liability
5.1. In the context of contractual liability, Lakeside shall only be liable for its willful misconduct (the Belgian concept of opzet) or gross error (the Belgian concept of zware fout), or that of its agents (the Belgian concept of lasthebber), or for failure to perform one of the essential obligations that are the subject of the agreement between the Client and Lakeside, i.e. the execution of its services, except in cases of force majeure.
Any non-contractual liability of Lakeside is excluded, with the exception of willful misconduct (the Belgian concept of opzet) or gross error (the Belgian concept of zware fout) on the part of Lakeside or its agents (the Belgian concept of lasthebber), without prejudice to the legal liability according to Belgian law in the event of death or physical injury resulting from an act or omission on the part of Lakeside or its agents, except in cases of force majeure.
Insofar as Lakeside would be liable, without prejudice to the aforementioned, its liability shall in any event be limited to direct and foreseeable proven damage of the Client.
Without prejudice to the aforementioned, Lakeside 's liability shall also always be limited to a maximum of the amount effectively paid by the Client under the relevant agreement between the Client and Lakeside. Moreover, if Lakeside’s insurance ( Lloyd’s Insurance Company NV, Bastion Tower, Marsveldplein 5, 1050 Brussels, Belgium) intervenes Lakeside’s liability is always limited to the amount for which its insurance intervenes, which is in any case limited to an amount of 1.000.000,00 EUR (one million euros) (worldwide coverage) and if Lakeside’s insurance does not intervene up to a maximum of 10.000,00 EUR (ten thousand euros). The amounts specified in this clause are estimated by the sum of each of one or more claims by the Client.
5.2. Any claim by the Client for damages and/or compensation shall lapse if it is not reported in writing (e-mail) to Lakeside immediately, and in any case no later than fourteen (14) calendar days after the moment the damage was actually discovered or reasonably should have been discovered, and in any case once twelve (12) months have passed since the event that caused the damage for which Lakeside is liable.
5.3. The Client acknowledges and accepts that it cannot hold the corporate bodies, legal representative, current or future shareholders, directors, employees, subcontractors and/or trainees of Lakeside (hereafter collectively the "Lakeside’s Implementation Agents") directly liable extra-contractually, except in the event of an intentional act by one of Lakeside's Implementation Agents to cause damage or in the event of an impairment of physical or psychological integrity (but without prejudice to the application of force majeure). The Client agrees not to bring or be able to bring a claim against one or more of Lakesides Implementation Agents arising out of, or related to, the (commercial) relationship between the Client and Lakeside, including the agreement between the Client and Lakeside, whether contractual, extra-contractual or otherwise. However, the exclusion in this clause does not apply to any liability that cannot be excluded under Belgian law. In the event that an Implementation Agent is held liable despite the exclusions set forth in this clause, the maximum liability of such Implementation Agent shall not exceed the liability cap as set forth in clause 5.1 of these Terms.
5.4. In its contractual relations with third parties (including but not limited to customers and/or suppliers of the Client), the Client undertakes to stipulate the immunity of Lakeside as the Client’s executive agent (the Belgian concept of uitvoeringsagent), without prejudice to any liability which cannot be excluded under Belgian law. The Client therefore undertakes, inter alia, to stipulate that third parties cannot bring a claim against Lakeside and/or one or more of Lakeside’s Implementation agents, arising from, or relating to, the contract between the Client and the third party, whether on contractual, extra-contractual or any other grounds. In its contractual relations with third parties (including but not limited to customers and/or suppliers of the Client), the Client undertakes to stipulate that in the event that Lakeside IP and/or one or more of its Implementation Agents is held liable, despite the stipulation of the immunity as set forth in this clause, the maximum liability of Lakeside IP and/or one or more of its Implementation Agents shall not exceed the liability cap as set forth in clause 5.1 of these Terms.
5.5. Neither party shall liable and obliged to fulfil any obligation in the event of force majeure. ‘Force majeure’ means the situation in which the performance of an obligation is prevented in whole or in part, temporarily or otherwise, by circumstances beyond the control of the concerned party. In case of an contractual obligation, an event of force majeure is applicable even if this circumstance was already foreseeable at the time the agreement between the Client and Lakeside was concluded. Examples of force majeure case are (non-exhaustive): delay in or failure to deliver or perform by Lakeside’s suppliers and/or service providers, strike, lock-out, fire, flood, electrical failure, computer failure or cyber incident, internet or telecommunication failure, utility failure, governmental decision or intervention (including the refusal or cancellation of a permit or license), pandemic, epidemic, error or delay attributable to a third person, and/or destruction of goods due to an accident.
6. Intellectual property
6.1. Any training material issued by Lakeside is protected by its copyright and may not be disclosed or reproduced unless express prior written approval from Lakeside.
7. Non-solicitation
7.1. The Client shall not, and shall cause (‘sterkmaking’) its staff, employees, advisers and agents, not to, for the term of the agreement with Lakeside and for a period of 12 (twelve) months following its termination for whatever reason (starting, however after expiry of any notice period, when applicable), within Europe, with regard to activities concerning patents, directly or indirectly, actively or passively, either on its own behalf or on behalf of any other person, alone, together with or in conjunction with or on behalf of or through or any other person, in any other capacity and in any other manner whatsoever:
(i) interfere or seek to interfere with the continuance of services to Lakeside by any person who is or shall be a supplier of services to Lakeside;
(ii) solicit or entice away or attempt to solicit or entice away from Lakeside, or offer employment to or employ, or (offer to) conclude any contract of services with any person who is employed by Lakeside; or
(iii) solicit or entice away or attempt to solicit or entice away from Lakeside, or offer employment to or employ, or (offer to) conclude any contract of services (fulltime and/or with exclusivity) with any person who is engaged in a consultancy, management, employment, subcontracting or service agreement with Lakeside or in a supervisory, technical or sales capacity, to Lakeside.
If Lakeside becomes aware of the any infringement of the provisions in this clause 7 by the Client, it shall give notice to Client requiring it to cease any such infringement within 5 (five) calendar days. In case of failure to comply with this notice, the Client shall have to pay to Lakeside a lump sum amount equal to 50.000,00 EUR (fifty thousand euros), to be increased with 5.000,00 EUR (five thousand euros) for each day, or part of a day, that such infringement continues after the expiry of the 5 calendar days-term mentioned hereabove in this clause without the need to serve notice on the Client or the need of a court order. The aforementioned lump sum amounts will be – in derogation of article 5.88, first paragraph of the Belgian Civil Code – without prejudice to any right of Lakeside to recover actual damages in excess of the aforementioned lump sum amount and to any other remedies available to Lakeside under any applicable law, the agreement with the Client and/or otherwise. The aforementioned lump sump is reasonable given the scope of the agreement with the Client, and the interests of Lakeside.
8. Confidentiality - Processing & protection of personal data - Use of digital tools
8.1. Lakeside shall not disclose information accepted by it in confidence in the exercise of his services, unless it is released from this obligation by the Client, unless such disclosure is needed for the execution of Lakeside’s services and/or Lakeside’s rights, or for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims, or unless Lakeside is required to disclose such information by law or pursuant to an order or decision of any competent judicial, regulatory or other authority. Lakeside is automatically released from any confidentiality obligation if the confidential information becomes public.
8.2. During the agreement between the Client and Lakeside, and for a period for a period of three (3) years following its termination for whatever reason (starting, however after expiry of any notice period, when applicable), the Client is deemed and required to treat and process Lakeside’s (business) information and data, including its fees, as strictly confidential. The Client will not disclose Lakeside’s (business) information and data (including its fees) to a third party, unless it is required to disclose such information by law or pursuant to an order or decision of any competent judicial, regulatory or other authority. If Lakeside becomes aware of the any infringement of the provisions in this clause 8.2 by the Client, the Client shall have to pay to Lakeside a lump sum amount equal to 50.000,00 EUR (fifty thousand euros). The aforementioned lump sum amounts will be – in derogation of article 5.88, first paragraph of the Belgian Civil Code – without prejudice to any right of Lakeside to recover actual damages in excess of the aforementioned lump sum amount and to any other remedies available to Lakeside under any applicable law, the agreement with the Client and/or otherwise. The aforementioned lump sump is reasonable given the scope of the agreement with the Client, and the interests of Lakeside.
8.3. Lakeside respects the (personal) information and data of the Client and other parties involved in the assignment and ensures that the information is processed confidentially.
The Client is deemed and required to treat and process the (personal) information and data of Lakeside and other parties involved in the assignment in an equally confidential manner.
8.4. Lakeside qualifies as the data controller for the processing of personal data in the context of (the execution of) its services and processes such data in accordance with its privacy policy and in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR). The manner in which Lakeside processes personal data is specified in its privacy policy, which also applies to each relationship between the Client and Lakeside. This privacy policy can be consulted at https://lakeside-ip.eu/general-terms-and-conditions/privacy-policy.
8.5. In the course of its services, Lakeside uses digital tools and cloud computing. The Client expressly consents to Lakeside’s use of digital tools and services, including cloud-based solutions, for the storage and transmission of data. Lakeside implements appropriate technical and organizational measures to secure personal data. Lakeside shall not be liable for any loss of or unauthorized access to data if this occurs despite the implementation of such measures, nor in cases where data are transmitted via public networks or third-party systems and infrastructure.
8.6. Notwithstanding Lakeside’s reasonable efforts to safeguard its e-mails and the other electronic files from viruses and/or other defects that may affect computers or an IT-system, it remains the Client's sole responsibility to take appropriate measures to protect its computers and IT-system from such viruses or defects. Lakeside shall not be liable for any loss or damage of any kind resulting from the receipt or use of electronic communications and files originating from Lakeside.
8.7. Lakeside may use (generative) artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools in the performance of its services unless the parties expressly agree otherwise in writing with respect to a specific assignment. Lakeside strives for compliance with guidelines issued by Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (EPI) regarding the use of AI -based tools. This means amongst others that, to the best of its abilities, Lakeside will use adequate confidentiality of training datasets, instruction prompts and other content transmitted to AI models, Lakeside will check any product using such AI for errors and omissions and Lakeside, if this is warranted by the nature of confidentiality in the model employed, will establish mutually independent user accounts for the work of individual Clients.
9. Applicable law and jurisdiction
9.1. The offer, quotations, invoices, as well as the relationship, agreements and/or disputes between the Client and Lakeside, shall be governed exclusively by Belgian law (excluding conflicts of law provisions).
9.2. In the event of a dispute, the Dutch-speaking courts in Brussels (Belgium) are solely and exclusively competent, without prejudice to Lakeside’s right to file the claim and bring it before any other court. The legal language of such a procedure shall always be Dutch, regardless of the language of the contract between the Client and Lakeside.
10. Miscellaneous
10.1. The invalidity or unenforceability of any one stipulation or article, or part thereof, of these Terms shall not result in the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision as a whole, or of any other provision of the Terms, or of the Terms as a whole. In the event that the validity or enforceability of any provision, or part thereof, of these Terms is jeopardized or seriously challenged, the jeopardized or challenged part will be replaced, including the restructuring of the provision in question, so as to be able to lawfully maintain such provision in full force and effect or to replace such provision by a valid and enforceable provision as comes closest to the terms, purpose and effect of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, subject to the operation of this article not negating the purpose and/or equilibrium of the present Terms.
10.2. No clause of these Terms and/or the agreement between the Client and Lakeside is to be interpreted against a party solely as a result of the fact that such party was responsible for the drafting thereof.
10.3. The Client acknowledges that the allocation of economic and legal risks in these Terms does not create an apparent imbalance (the Belgian concept of kennelijk onevenwicht) between their respective rights and obligations.
10.4. Any failure or delay in exercising any right under these Terms, the exercise or the partial exercise of any right under these Terms, or any reaction or absence of reaction in the event of breach of one or more provisions of these Terms shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of the rights under these Terms or under said provisions or preclude the further exercise of any such rights. Any waiver of a right must be express and in writing. Even if there has been a waiver following a specific failure, this waiver cannot be invoked in favor of either a new failure similar to the prior one, or a failure of any other nature.
10.5. Nothing in the present Terms, nor an agreement between the Client and Lakeside, nor the execution and/or the performance of services by Lakeside shall constitute, or be deemed to constitute, a company, association, organization, legal entity, joint venture or partnership between the Client and Lakeside.
All correspondence between the Client and Lakeside will be done electronically (by e-mail).