GS1 UK and the Member entered into a framework agreement (“Framework Agreement”), allowing the Member to request services from GS1 UK.
As part of the Membership Services, GS1 UK offers Members the option to use QR Codes Powered by GS1 on Member Products. Members may (i) receive the basic QR code service which is included as part of the Membership at no additional cost, and which permits the Member to add a one-to-one single web link to their QR code (the “Basic QR Code Service”) or (ii) choose to subscribe to GS1 UK’s premium QR code service which will, for payment of a subscription fee, entitle the Member to additional features and functionality, including (without limitation) the ability to add multiple/dynamically changeable web links to their QR code (the “Premium QR Code Service”).
Pursuant to the Framework Agreement, the Basic QR Code Service and the Premium QR Code Service shall be deemed to be “Additional Services”, and GS1 UK agrees to provide such Additional Services to a Member in accordance with these Service Contract Terms and Conditions.
Agreed terms
1. Interpretation
1.1. All capitalised terms used in these Service Contract Terms and Conditions which are not defined in these Service Contract Terms and Conditions shall have the meaning given to those terms in the Framework Agreement.
1.2. In the event of any inconsistency between the Framework Agreement and these Service Contract Terms and Conditions, the following order of precedence shall apply: (1) these Service Contract Terms and Conditions, and (2) the Framework Agreement.
2. Access to the Additional Services
2.1. Access to the Additional Services is conditional upon acceptance of these Service Contract Terms and Conditions. By using the Additional Services, the Member expressly agrees to be bound by these Service Contract Terms and Conditions.
2.2. The Member agrees that where its employees and/or agents access the Additional Services on its behalf, such employees and/or agents will also be bound by these Service Contract Terms and Conditions and that the Member will be responsible for the actions and omissions of such employees and/or agents in relation to the Additional Services.
2.3. To access the Additional Services, the Member will be required to ensure it can access the members’ area (“My GS1”) and the My Numberbank User Interface. The Member acknowledges that the Additional Services are accessible via the single My GS1 password assigned to its user account (“My GS1 Password”).
2.4. The Member agrees to:
2.4.1. use only the My GS1 Password provided to the Member to access My GS1, the My Numberbank User Interface, and the Additional Services;
2.4.2. keep its My GS1 Password secure and accept responsibility for all activity under its account;
2.4.3. follow all laws and rules when using the Additional Services and its contents;
2.4.4. use the Additional Services and its contents only for the Member’s own business or internal purposes;
2.4.5. comply with any reasonable instructions or guidelines relating to the use of the Additional Services that GS1 UK may communicate to the Member from time to time; and
2.4.6. not attempt to slow, deny others’ access, or bring down the Additional Services through unauthorised testing.
2.5. Before the Member creates the QR Code Powered by GS1, the Member will need to set up the domain that it points to. The Member shall have the option to use its own branded domain or to use a GS1 UK domain. The Member acknowledges and accepts that:
2.5.1. if it uses a GS1 UK domain, then it does not own the domain, and therefore it will lose control over which solutions the QR Code Powered by GS1 can interface with or use in the future, potentially limiting flexibility and resilience; and
2.5.2. if it uses its own branded domain, it is the Member’s responsibility to complete the set-up with CNAME redirect using its own domain management system.
2.6. GS1 UK may collect, generate, and use data and information derived from the Member’s use of the Additional Services, including (without limitation) technical data, usage statistics, and performance metrics, provided that such data is aggregated and anonymised so that it does not identify the Member or any individual. GS1 UK may use this aggregated data for any lawful purpose, including (without limitation) to operate, maintain, improve, develop, and market the Additional Services, and for analytics, benchmarking, and reporting. All intellectual property rights in such aggregated data belong to GS1 UK.
3. Trademark Licence
3.1. Pursuant to clause 10.1 of the Framework Agreement, GS1 UK hereby grants to each Member for the term of its Membership a non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, royalty-free licence to use the GS1 UK registered trade mark ‘GS1’ (the “GS1 UK Trade Mark”) on Member Products which feature QR Codes Powered by GS1 in accordance with the licence granted under clause 5.2 of the Framework Agreement, on condition that such Member complies with the terms of these Service Contract Terms and Conditions and the Framework Agreement.
3.2. Any use by a Member of the GS1 UK Trade Mark on, with or in proximity to QR Codes Powered by GS1 must comply with the ‘GS1 UK QR Codes Powered by GS1 design guidelines’, a copy of which can be found on GS1’s website at www.gs1uk.org (the “Design Guidelines”).
3.3. It is acknowledged and agreed that GS1 UK may update the Design Guidelines from time to time on reasonable notice.
3.4. The Member shall notify GS1 UK as soon as practicable at company.secretary@gs1uk.org of any suspected unauthorised use of the GS1 UK Trade Mark (or any confusingly similar mark) of which it becomes aware, and shall provide GS1 UK with such documents, information and assistance as it can in relation to any such use.
3.5. The Member acknowledges that the provision of the Additional Services (including, without limitation, the Premium QR Code Service) and/or any use by the Member of the GS1 UK Trade Mark does not and shall not constitute, represent or imply:
3.5.1. any certification, verification, validation, accreditation, approval, or endorsement by GS1 UK of any Member Product, claim, statement, content, or information made available via any QR Codes Powered by GS1; or
3.5.2. that the Member and the Member Products meet any standards set by GS1 UK.
3.6. GS1 UK makes no representations or warranties in relation to the Member’s use of the GS1 UK Trade Mark, and the Member must not present such use in a way that could reasonably suggest certification, endorsement or approval.
4. Prohibited Uses
4.1. The Member must not use the Additional Services:
4.1.1. to send spam or to interfere with or degrade the Additional Services in any way;
4.1.2. for any unlawful purpose or activity whatsoever, including (without limitation) fraud or terrorism, or to promote any unlawful act, or in any way which:
4.1.2.1. causes or is intended to cause annoyance, inconvenience, or needless anxiety;
4.1.2.2. is abusive, harmful, threatening, or defamatory or may otherwise cause offence (including (without limitation) uploading any material that contains a virus or other malicious code);
4.1.2.3. does or could potentially breach a legal duty to anyone else (including (without limitation) a duty of confidentiality) or infringe a person’s right to privacy;
4.1.2.4. promotes discrimination or is likely to incite hatred; or
4.1.2.5. may infringe the intellectual property rights (e.g. copyright, trade marks, patents, database rights) or any other rights of anyone (including (without limitation) GS1 UK).
4.2. The Member will not:
4.2.1. use, register or apply to register any trade mark which contains ‘GS1’, any GS1 UK Trade Mark, or anything confusingly similar, anywhere in the world;
4.2.2. distribute, license, sell, rent, lease, transfer, assign, display, disclose, commercially exploit, or otherwise deal in or encumber the Additional Services or any outputs created from the Additional Services;
4.2.3. modify, add to, or otherwise enhance the Additional Services;
4.2.4. copy or decompile, reverse-engineer, alter, or in any way tamper (or attempt to do so) with all or part of the Additional Services or any software or solution comprised therein or connected thereto, nor cause, permit, or assist any other person directly or indirectly to do any of the above;
4.2.5. infringe or copy GS1 UK’s code or content or the design of the Additional Services; or
4.2.6. introduce viruses, trojans, worms, logic bombs, or other material that is malicious or technologically harmful.
5. Liability
5.1. The Member agrees and accepts that it is solely responsible and liable for:
5.1.1. the web links added to; and
5.1.2. the information and content made available via,
the QR Codes Powered by GS1 which are allocated to its Member Products (the “Member Weblinks and Information”).
5.2. The Member warrants and represents that the Member Weblinks and Information:
5.2.1. comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry requirements, including (without limitation and where applicable) consumer protection, product labelling, advertising, sustainability, environmental, and data protection laws;
5.2.2. do not give rise to any obligation on GS1 UK to monitor, verify, approve, or validate any content;
5.2.3. are not linked to and do not contain any content which may be deemed offensive, illegal, obscene, discriminatory, or defamatory; and
5.2.4. are owned by the Member or the Member has obtained all necessary rights, licences, consent and permissions to use and make them available.
5.3. The Member shall indemnify GS1 UK and its parent company, GS1 AISBL, against all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including (without limitation) reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with any third-party claim due to: (i) any Member Weblinks and Information; or (ii) any defects in the Member Products on which the GS1 UK Trade Mark is featured.
5.4. The Member acknowledges and accepts that, except as otherwise expressly set out in these Service Contract Terms and Conditions:
5.4.1. the Additional Services are provided on an ‘as is’ and ‘as available’ basis; and
5.4.2. GS1 UK does not warrant or guarantee that the Additional Services, or any QR Codes Powered by GS1, will be available at all times, uninterrupted, error-free, or on a timely and secure basis or that any QR Code Powered by GS1 will resolve successfully in all circumstances.
5.5. Without prejudice to any other limitation of liability herein, GS1 UK gives no guarantee as to uptime, availability, performance, resilience, or response times of the Additional Services, not does it guarantee any commercial, consumer, marketing, or operational outcome arising from the Member’s use of the QR Codes Powered by GS1.
5.6. The liability of GS1 UK in connection with the Additional Services and/or these Service Contract Terms and Conditions to the Member, whether in contract, tort (including, without limitation, negligence), breach of statutory duty or otherwise shall not exceed an amount, in aggregate, equal to the Fees that are paid by the Member for the Additional Services.
5.7. GS1 UK shall not be liable for any delayed, partial, or total non-performance of the Additional Services arising directly or indirectly from any event outside GS1 UK’s control, including (without limitation) failure by the Member to comply with any of its obligations hereunder.
5.8. The Member acknowledges and accepts that the QR Codes Powered by GS1 will be made available through the My Numberbank Service in PNG, JPG, PDF and EPS formats only. It is the Member’s responsibility to check they have compatible software to enable the QR Codes Powered by GS1 to be downloaded effectively and GS1 UK shall not be liable to the Member for its failure to check it has compatible software.
5.9. GS1 UK warrants that the QR Codes Powered by GS1 generated by its authorised methods and used in accordance with these Service Contract Terms and Conditions and the Framework Agreement will be fit for purpose. If the Member generates, uses or reproduces the QR Codes Powered by GS1 in an unauthorised manner, including (without limitation) by amending the QR Codes Powered by GS1 or printing the QR Codes Powered by GS1 on packaging contrary to the instructions of GS1 UK, then such warranty shall be void.
5.10. GS1 UK shall not be responsible or liable for the performance, compatibility, behaviour, or availability of the QR Codes Powered by GS1 when scanned using third-party devices, operating systems, browsers, camera applications, scanning software, or network services, all of which are outside GS1 UK’s control.
5.11. GS1 UK’s responsibility for the accuracy of the QR code is limited strictly to the image of the QR code as at the point of generation and its download from My GS1. All risk in, and responsibility for, the QR code (including, without limitation, its integrity, functionality, scannability and performance) passes to the Member immediately upon the download and the Member assumes sole responsibility for all use, reliance on, and outcomes arising from the QR code from that point onwards.
5.12. GS1 UK shall have no liability whatsoever for any loss, damage, defect, or failure in any QR code arising out of or in connection with any act or omission after it is made available for download, including (without limitation) any cropping, resizing, scaling, editing, reformatting or other modification.
6. Fair and High-Volume Usage
6.1. The Member shall at all times comply with fair and reasonable usage of the Additional Services. The Member shall not use the Additional Services for activities that may generate sudden, unpredictable, or extreme spikes in scanning activity, including, without limitation, competitions, voting mechanisms, prize draws, or other short duration events that are likely to cause abrupt or abnormal surges in traffic.
6.2. The Member shall be responsible for ensuring that its use of the Additional Services remains consistent with its operational capabilities and intended purpose. This includes circumstances in which scanning activity is expected to be high or sustained, such as nationwide or other large scale marketing initiatives.
6.3. GS1 UK may, at its sole discretion, determine that the Member’s ongoing or sustained high volume usage (whether frequent, continuous, or otherwise excessive) is incompatible with the continued provision of the Additional Services. Where such usage is identified, GS1 UK reserves the right to suspend or permanently remove the Member’s access to the Additional Services without notice, in order to protect the integrity, performance, and availability of the Additional Services for all Members. In such circumstances, GS1 UK may require or recommend that the Member develop and operate its own QR code resolver service, implemented in accordance with the GS1 Digital Link standards, to ensure adequate performance, scalability, and resilience for the Member’s high volume or heavy usage requirements. GS1 UK may provide guidance on applicable standards and best practice implementation approaches to support the Member in establishing such a solution.
7. Samples
7.1. When the Member uses the GS1 UK Trade Mark on, with or in proximity to QR Codes Powered by GS1, the Member shall, at any time on GS1 UK’s request, supply to GS1 at its own expense a reasonable number of samples of packaging of Member Products which feature QR Codes Powered by GS1, to enable GS1 to assess compliance with these Service Contract Terms and Conditions and the Framework Agreement.
8. Right to Inspect
8.1. The Member shall permit GS1 UK at all reasonable times and on reasonable notice to enter any premises used for the storage or sale of the Member Products to inspect any Member Products which feature QR Codes Powered by GS1, in order to assess compliance with these Service Contract Terms and Conditions and the Framework Agreement.
8.2. The Member agrees that GS1 UK has the right at any time to access the Member’s account and to monitor its use of such account to ensure the Member is complying with these Service Contract Terms and Conditions and the Framework Agreement.
9. Domain Association and Prefix Status
9.1. Where a GS1 Prefix allocated to the Member is retired or transferred, any domain association linked to that GS1 Prefix shall be removed. Following such retirement or transfer, the licensee to whom the GS1 Prefix is subsequently allocated shall be responsible for establishing and managing domain associations for any GS1 Identification Keys, including (without limitation) GTINs and GLNs, associated with that GS1 Prefix when using QR Codes Powered by GS1.
9.2. The Member acknowledges that, upon removal of a domain association, any QR Codes Powered by GS1 already applied to items in the supply chain and capable of being scanned may no longer resolve to the previously associated domain or function as intended. Continuity of resolution is not guaranteed, and no liability shall arise in respect of any resulting loss of functionality or interruption.
9.3. GS1 UK shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss of functionality, resolution failure, consumer access issues, traffic loss, or business impact arising from the Member’s choice of domain, domain configuration, domain transfer, loss of domain ownership, or failure to maintain or renew a domain.
10. GS1 UK Right to Modify, Suspend, or Retire the Additional Services
10.1. GS1 UK reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify, enhance, suspend, withdraw, discontinue, or retire any aspect of the Additional Services, including (without limitation) features, functionality, QR Code formats, resolution behaviour, or user interfaces, where required, for operational, security, standards-alignment, legal or business reasons. No liability shall arise for GS1 UK as a result of any such modification, enhancement, suspension, withdrawal, discontinuation or retirement.
11. Premium QR Code Service - Term & Cancellation
11.1. The Member may purchase a subscription to the Premium QR Code Service via the subscription page on My GS1.
11.2. The Member can only purchase a subscription to the Premium QR Code Service if they have an active Membership (i.e. the Member does not have an unpaid renewal invoice).
11.3. The Member’s access to the Premium QR Code Service is subject to payment of the Premium QR Code Service Fees and compliance with these Service Contract Terms and Conditions and the Framework Agreement.
11.4. Term: where the Member elects to upgrade its subscription to include the Premium QR Code Service, the subscription dates to the Premium QR Code Service will be aligned with the Member’s subscription to its main Membership and accordingly: (i) if a new Member elects to add a subscription to the Premium QR Code Service when they join, their subscription to the Premium QR Code Service will commence and end in line with the term of their then-current main Membership; and (ii) if a Member elects to add a subscription to the Premium QR Code Service at any point during the term of their Membership, then the period of their subscription to the Premium QR Code Service will be pro-rated so as to end on the last day of their then-current Membership (the “Premium QR Code Service Subscription Term”).
11.5. Cancellation:
11.5.1. The Member may cancel the Premium QR Code Service at any time via the subscription page on My GS1. Cancellation shall take effect from the last day of the current Premium QR Code Service Subscription Term, and the Member shall continue to have access to the Premium QR Code Service until that date. The Member shall not be entitled to any partial refund for any unexpired Premium QR Code Service Subscription Term.
11.5.2. It is acknowledged and agreed that when the Member cancels or does not renew their subscription to the Premium QR Code Service and/or cancels their Membership, then the mobile landing page and the Member’s weblinks will no longer work.
11.6. GS1 UK reserves the right to amend these Service Contract Terms and Conditions on giving not less than 45 days’ written notice to the Member, including (without limitation) where required by law, regulation, policy, industry standards or to adhere to GS1 Standards.
12. Premium QR Code Service - Fees
12.1. In order to access and use the Premium QR Code Service, the Member shall pay GS1 UK the non-refundable fees as specified in the published pricing in My GS1 and in effect on the date of the subscription or renewal (the “Premium QR Code Service Fees”). GS1 UK shall be entitled to change the Premium QR Code Service Fees at any time on giving not less than 60 days’ written notice to the Member.
12.2. The Member acknowledges that GS1 UK’s obligation to commence or continue the provision of the Premium QR Code Service is conditional upon and shall not arise until receipt of the Premium QR Code Service Fees in full and in cleared funds.
12.3. Pro-rated Billing: where the Member elects to subscribe to the Premium QR Code Service:
12.3.1. pro-rated billing applies when the Member signs up to the Premium QR Code Service outside of the annual renewal date of its main Membership;
12.3.2. where the Member has taken the free trial (pursuant to section 12.6), the pro-rated Premium QR Code Service Fees will be calculated from the end of the free trial period through to the end date of the Member’s then-current main Membership;
12.3.3. where the Member has not taken the free trial (i.e. they previously had a trial or a subscription to the Premium QR Code Service), then the pro-rated Premium QR Code Service Fees will be calculated from the date that the subscription to the Premium QR Code Service is purchased through to the end date of the Member’s then-current main Membership; and
12.3.4. if a new Member elects to add a subscription to the Premium QR Code Service when they join, they will get the first month free, and the Premium QR Code Service Fees will be pro-rated for the period from one month following commencement of the subscription until the renewal date.
12.4. Renewal billing: upon renewal of the Member’s GS1 UK membership, the Premium QR Code Service Fees will be charged in advance for the relevant renewal Premium QR Code Service Subscription Term, together with the applicable Membership Fees, unless notified otherwise.
12.5. Changes to invoicing method: GS1 UK may implement a different invoicing or billing method for the Premium QR Code Service at renewal (including, without limitation, consolidated invoicing with the Membership Fees or a different billing frequency), provided that: (i) the total Premium QR Code Service Fees for the renewal are notified to the Member prior to renewal; and (ii) any such changes take effect only from the start of the renewal and not mid-term. If the Member does not agree to the Premium QR Code Service Fees or invoicing arrangement for a renewal, the Member may elect not to renew the Premium QR Code Service in accordance with these Service Contract Terms and Conditions.
12.6. Free Trial Period: Where GS1 UK offers any free trial period for the Premium QR Code Service:
12.6.1. it will only be available to Members with an active Membership;
12.6.2. it will only apply to Members who have not previously held a subscription to the Premium QR Code Service (i.e. existing Members who are re-subscribing to the Premium QR Code Service will not be eligible for the free trail again);
12.6.3. on the day of the end date of the free trial, the Member’s subscription will automatically convert to the standard, paid version of the Premium QR Code Service, a new invoice will be created for the Premium QR Code Service, and the applicable Premium QR Code Fees will become immediately due and payable, unless the Member provides prior notice of cancellation in accordance with section 11.5;
12.6.4. if the Member cancels during the free trial, no invoice will be issued to the Member for a subscription, and the subscription end date will be the end of the Member’s trial period; and
12.6.5. if the Member cancels after the end of the free trial, there will be no refund, and the Member’s subscription to the Premium QR Code Service will continue running until it reaches its end date and will not renew from that point in time.