Terms of Service.

1. Use of the website.

The Cardinal Source provides this website and its content for general informational purposes. You agree to use the site for lawful purposes only and not to interfere with its operation, attempt to access non-public areas, or use automated systems to scrape content beyond reasonable use.

2. Research and editorial content.

Articles, analysis, and other editorial content published on the site reflect our opinion based on the data and sources available at time of publication. We make every effort to ensure accuracy but make no warranty that any specific claim, recommendation, or analysis is correct, complete, or applicable to your specific situation. Always validate against your own counsel before making procurement decisions.

3. Engagement services.

Sourcing engagements (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 as described on the site) are provided on a supplier-paid basis. The buyer is not invoiced. The Cardinal Source is compensated by residual commission paid by the supplier the buyer eventually contracts with. Detailed engagement terms — including the scope of work, deliverables, and commission disclosure — are documented in a written engagement agreement provided at the start of any Tier 2 or Tier 3 engagement.

4. No legal, accounting, or investment advice.

Nothing on this site or in any deliverable constitutes legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice. The Cardinal Source is a technology sourcing advisory firm, not a law firm, accounting firm, or registered investment advisor. Consult qualified professionals for matters in those domains.

5. Intellectual property.

All content on the site — including The Cardinal Method, The Cardinal Index, the scoring rubric, published articles, deliverable templates, and the Cardinal Source brand and logo — is the property of The Cardinal Source. You may share excerpts with attribution and a link. You may not reproduce substantial portions of our research without written permission.

6. Limitations.

The site and its content are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. To the maximum extent permitted by law, The Cardinal Source shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the site or any deliverable.

7. Governing law.

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles.

8. Changes to these terms.

We may update these terms from time to time. Material changes will be reflected in the "last updated" date above. Continued use of the site after a change constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

9. Contact.

Questions about these terms can be sent via our contact form.

These terms are provided for informational purposes. They do not constitute legal advice. The Cardinal Source recommends consulting a qualified attorney for specific legal questions.