Terms of Sale

Version of 24 October 2026 – applicable to all orders placed from that date

This English version is provided for convenience only. The French version (Conditions générales de vente) is the legally binding text.

Article 1 – Seller identification

These terms of sale (“Terms”) are offered by Valery Shpolansky, sole trader (Entrepreneur individuel – EI), trading as Val-U-Music Studios, micro-entrepreneur, SIREN 952 183 184, SIRET 952 183 184 00011, registered in the French National Business Register (RNE), non-regulated independent profession, established at Rue Henri Dunant, 37540 Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, France (the “Provider”).
Contact: valumusicstudios@gmail.com – +33 (0)7 81 20 10 31 (phone and WhatsApp). VAT not applicable, Art. 293 B of the French General Tax Code.

Article 2 – Scope

These Terms apply to every order placed by an individual or legal entity (the “Client”) via https://val-u-music.com (the “Site”), by email, phone, WhatsApp or at the studio, for:

• Studio Services: mixing, mastering, recording, production, audio editing, sound design, custom audio;
• Lessons: guitar, music theory and music production (Cubase) lessons, at the studio or online;
• Digital Products sold in the online shop: instrumental covers, beats, samples, sample packs, loops and other downloadable audio files.

The Client confirms they have full legal capacity (or their legal guardian’s permission if a minor) and have read these Terms before ordering; acceptance is given by ticking a box when ordering online or by accepting the quote. The Terms in force on the order date apply. A Client acting for business purposes does not benefit from the provisions reserved for consumers (withdrawal, mediation, Consumer Code guarantees).

Article 3 – Studio services

3.1 Quote and order

Every Service is subject to a quote (by email or in writing) stating the scope, number of tracks, deliverables, number of included revisions, indicative timeframe and price. The number of revisions is agreed for each project in the quote or contract before work starts; any further revision is subject to an additional quote. The order becomes binding when the Client accepts the quote in writing (email or signature) and, where applicable, pays the deposit.

3.2 Deposit

A deposit may be requested on ordering where the quote provides for it; its amount is then stated in the quote. The balance is payable on delivery of the final files, before the full-quality, non-watermarked versions are sent. The deposit counts towards the price; it is refunded if the Provider cancels the Service or if the consumer exercises the right of withdrawal (Article 9).

3.3 Material supplied by the Client

The Client supplies the files (stems, references, information) in the requested formats. The Client warrants that they hold all necessary rights to the works, recordings, vocals and material supplied and that these infringe no third-party rights, and indemnifies the Provider against any related claim. The Provider may refuse unlawful or hateful content or content infringing the rights of others.

3.4 Studio recording sessions

Sessions are booked for a specific date and duration. The Client may cancel or reschedule a session free of charge up to 48 hours before the scheduled time, by email, text message or WhatsApp. If a session is cancelled less than 48 hours in advance, or the Client does not show up without notice, the session is due (any deposit paid counts towards this amount), except in case of force majeure or a serious, duly justified impediment (e.g. illness or accident), in which case the session is rescheduled free of charge. Late arrival by the Client does not entitle them to a free extension. If the Provider has to cancel or reschedule a session, it offers a new date; failing agreement, all sums paid for that session are refunded in full.

3.5 File retention

The Provider keeps project files for 12 months after delivery, unless a different period is agreed in the quote, with no archiving obligation beyond that. The Client is responsible for backing up their deliverables.

Article 4 – Music lessons

Lessons (guitar, music theory, music production / Cubase) take place at the studio or online, individually or as a package. A lesson may be cancelled or moved free of charge up to 48 hours before the scheduled time; after that, or in case of no-show, it is due (or deducted from the package), except in case of force majeure or a serious, duly justified impediment. Packages are valid for 12 months from the first lesson; lessons not used within that period are lost unless the Provider agrees to carry them over. A lesson cancelled by the Provider is rescheduled or refunded. For a minor pupil, the order is placed by their legal guardian, who remains responsible for the child outside lesson time.

Article 5 – Digital Products: ordering online

The main characteristics of each Digital Product (content, format, length, audio preview, licence) are shown on its product page. The Client selects Products, checks the cart and total price, corrects any errors, enters their details, accepts these Terms, gives express consent to immediate supply of the content (see Article 9) and confirms the order by clicking the “Order with obligation to pay” button (or an equivalent, unambiguous wording). The contract is concluded when payment is confirmed. An order confirmation, including this information and the consent given, is sent by email (durable medium).

The Provider may refuse an order in case of a previous dispute or suspected fraud.

Article 6 – Prices

Prices are in euros, net. VAT not applicable, Art. 293 B of the French General Tax Code. Digital Products carry no delivery charges. Service prices are those of the accepted quote; the Provider may change its rates at any time without affecting orders already accepted. An invoice is provided to the Client.

Article 7 – Payment

• Online shop: secure payment in full when ordering, by bank card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and the other accepted cards shown at checkout), through the WooPayments service operated with Stripe. Card details are entered on the payment provider’s secure interface and are never received or stored by the Provider.
• Services and lessons: bank transfer (details sent with the quote), PayPal or any other method stated on the quote or invoice.

For business Clients, late payment incurs penalties at three times the French legal interest rate plus a fixed €40 recovery fee (Arts. L441-10 and D441-5 French Commercial Code). The Provider may suspend performance or delivery in case of non-payment.

Article 8 – Delivery and performance

Digital Products: made available immediately after payment is confirmed, via a download link sent by email and available in the customer account, within any limits stated in the confirmation email (number of downloads or link validity); a new link is supplied on request if it expires. Before buying, the Client checks that the formats are compatible with their equipment and software. In case of download problems, the Client contacts the Provider, who supplies a new link.

Services: performed within the timeframe stated in the quote (best-efforts obligation), subject to receipt of the Client’s material. Deliverables are sent via a secure download link. If no timeframe was agreed, the Service is performed no later than 30 days after the contract is concluded. If this is exceeded for reasons other than force majeure or the Client’s actions, the consumer may terminate the contract under Articles L216-6 et seq. of the French Consumer Code; sums paid are then refunded within 14 days.

Article 9 – Right of withdrawal (consumers)

9.1 Digital Products

Under Article L221-28, 13° of the French Consumer Code, the right of withdrawal does not apply to the supply of digital content not supplied on a tangible medium where performance has begun with the consumer’s prior express consent and express waiver of the right of withdrawal. When ordering, the Client ticks a box to request immediate supply of the digital content and acknowledge losing the right of withdrawal; this consent is confirmed in the order confirmation email. Without this consent, the Client has 14 days to withdraw, as set out in Article 9.3, and the content is only made available once that period ends.

9.2 Services and lessons concluded at a distance

When the contract is concluded at a distance (Site, email, phone, WhatsApp) or off-premises, the consumer has 14 days from the conclusion of the contract to withdraw, without giving reasons or paying penalties (Art. L221-18). The consumer notifies the decision as set out in Article 9.3.

If the consumer expressly asks for performance to start before the period ends, they owe an amount proportionate to what has been provided up to the withdrawal (Art. L221-25). The right of withdrawal can no longer be exercised once the Service has been fully performed before the end of the period, at the consumer’s express request and after they acknowledged losing that right (Art. L221-28, 1°).

Contracts concluded with both parties physically present at the studio carry no right of withdrawal.

9.3 How to withdraw

To exercise the right of withdrawal, the consumer informs the Provider of their decision before the 14-day period expires, by an unequivocal statement: email to valumusicstudios@gmail.com (stating their first and last name, the order or contract number or date, and the service or product concerned), a letter to the address in Article 1, or the withdrawal form in the appendix (its use is not mandatory). The Provider acknowledges receipt of the withdrawal by email without delay. The burden of proving that the right of withdrawal was exercised lies with the consumer (Arts. L221-21 and L221-22 French Consumer Code).

The Provider refunds all sums paid without undue delay and at the latest within 14 days of being informed of the withdrawal, using the same means of payment as for the initial transaction unless the consumer expressly agrees to another means at no cost (Art. L221-24), less, where applicable, the amount due under Art. L221-25 (Article 9.2). After withdrawing from a Digital Product, the consumer must stop using it and must not make it available to third parties; the Provider may deactivate the download link (Art. L221-26-1).

Article 10 – Legal guarantees

The Provider, whose details are in Article 1, is liable for lack of conformity and hidden defects under the law. To use a guarantee, the Client writes to valumusicstudios@gmail.com describing the defect.

For Services, artistic choices made in line with the brief and approved during the included revisions do not constitute a lack of conformity; additional changes are quoted separately.

Article 11 – Digital Product licence

Unless a different licence is stated on the product page, buying a Digital Product grants the Client a non-exclusive, personal, non-transferable, worldwide licence with no time limit, allowing them to:

• use samples and loops (not covers or beats) in their own original musical and audiovisual works, for commercial or non-commercial purposes;
• use instrumental covers (stems, instrumental mix, MIDI files) for personal, private use only: practice, study, rehearsal, singing and private recording, under the conditions below.

It is forbidden to resell, redistribute, rent, lend, share or make the Digital Products available as such or in packs, free or paid; to upload them to a sound library or a content-identification system (such as Content ID); or to claim authorship of them.

Covers: the covers offered are original recordings, fully re-played and produced by the Provider (playing, arrangement, production); no original artist recording (master) is used. The song itself (music and lyrics) belongs to its authors, composers and publishers. The Client acquires only a licence to use the Provider’s recording and production (stems, instrumental mix, MIDI files) for personal, private use. No rights in the song (composition, lyrics, original artist’s recording) are assigned or licensed. Any public, commercial or online use of a work made from a cover (release or distribution, posting on a platform or social network, monetised or not, synchronisation, advertising, public performance or broadcast) requires the Client to clear the song rights first, at their own cost: in particular the publisher’s permission for any arrangement or adaptation, and a mechanical licence from SACEM/SDRM or the equivalent collecting society abroad. Artist names and song titles are used only to identify the work covered and imply no affiliation or endorsement.

Beats: beats sold in the shop are offered under a non-exclusive licence (“lease”), governed by the licence terms summarised on each product page and supplied with the download; synchronisation (film, TV, advertising, games, apps) is not included and requires a separate paid licence. An exclusive licence may be granted on quotation, under a separate written contract. The terms of each licence (permitted uses, any streaming or sales limits, “Prod. by Valery Shpolansky – VAL-U-MUSIC.COM” credit, split of authors’ and publishing rights, deliverables) prevail over this Article. When an exclusive licence is sold, the beat is withdrawn from sale; non-exclusive licences granted earlier remain valid until they expire.

Any use outside the licence is infringement and terminates the licence immediately, without refund.

Article 12 – Intellectual property and Client rights

The Client keeps all rights in their own works and recordings. After full payment, the Provider assigns to the Client, for the deliverables of a Service (mix, master, edits), the economic rights needed to exploit them, worldwide and for the legal term of protection, unless the quote provides otherwise. When credits are published, the Client mentions “Mixed / Mastered / Produced by Val-U-Music Studios” where possible. No rights are assigned until payment is complete. The Provider may mention the Service and share an excerpt as a reference (portfolio, social media) unless the Client objects in writing before delivery. The Provider’s own sounds, samples and presets used in a production remain its property and are licensed for that production only.

Article 13 – Liability

The Provider has a best-efforts obligation. It is not liable for misuse of deliverables, data loss attributable to the Client, technical incompatibility disclosed before purchase, or breach of the Client’s warranties (Article 3.3). Towards business Clients, the Provider’s liability is limited to the amount paid for the order concerned and excludes indirect losses. Nothing in these Terms limits consumers’ statutory rights.

Article 14 – Force majeure

Neither party is liable for a failure caused by force majeure within the meaning of Article 1218 of the French Civil Code. Obligations are suspended while it lasts; if it exceeds 30 days, either party may terminate the contract, and sums paid for Services not performed are refunded.

Article 15 – Personal data

Client data is processed to manage orders, invoicing and customer relations, as set out in the Privacy & Cookie Policy, which details purposes, retention periods and the Client’s rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection, portability, complaint to the CNIL).

Article 16 – Complaints and mediation

Complaints should first be sent to the Provider: valumusicstudios@gmail.com or by post to the address in Article 1. An answer is given within 15 days.

Under Articles L611-1 et seq. of the French Consumer Code, if no amicable solution is found, consumers have the right to refer the dispute free of charge to a consumer mediator for an amicable settlement. The consumer must first have tried to resolve the dispute directly with the Provider through a written complaint, and must refer it to the mediator within one year of that complaint.

Article 17 – Governing law and language

These Terms are governed by French law, without prejudice to more protective mandatory provisions of the law of the consumer’s country of habitual residence. They are written in French; in case of translation, only the French version is binding. Failing an amicable agreement or mediation, disputes go to the courts with jurisdiction under ordinary rules; for business Clients, the courts of Tours have exclusive jurisdiction.

Appendix – Withdrawal form