This was last updated 25th April 2025.
This Open Framework License Agreement (“Agreement”) is a binding legal contract between you (“You”) and Business Technology Forum Oy, a company incorporated under the laws of Finland, with business ID No. 2329886-6 (“Business Technology Forum”).
By using the Business Technology Standard (“BTS”) as published at www.managebt.org, and related guidebooks and templates, available via certification courses, or any parts thereof (“BTS Material”), You are agreeing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The use of the BTS Material automatically implies the acceptance of the following terms and conditions.
LICENSE
Business Technology Forum grants You a right to use or consult the use of the BTS without changes for the purpose of designing and implementing management model and related governance, disciplines, practices, roles, functions and organisations (“Purpose”). The use of other BTS Material for this Purpose expects the adequate competence, which can be achieved by training and proved by certifications. (“License”).
Please note that the BTS Material includes content that may be protected by intellectual property rights of third parties. The third-party proprietary material may be subject to approvals or licenses of such third parties, including but not limited to material on CMMI, ISO/IEC 20000, ISO 21500, ISO 38500, COBIT, DevOps, IT4IT, ITIL, PMBOK, PRINCE2, SAFe, SFIA, and TOGAF.
RESTRICTIONS
Except as otherwise permitted herein, You may not modify the BTS or any BTS Material provided in pdf, jpg, gif or other format that is not purposed to be edited. Furthermore, any BTS Material may not be offered for sale, sold, leased or licenced. BTS Material may not be published or otherwise made available for any purpose. You may not use the name, logo, or any other trademark of Business Technology Forum to endorse or promote products or practices derived from the BTS Material without Business Technology Forum’s prior written permission or partnership agreement.
It is strictly prohibited to use the BTS Material for any unethical activities or for any unlawful purposes.
OWNERSHIP
Title to the BTS Material, related documentation and all copies thereof remain with Business Technology Forum and/or its licensors. You agree to prevent any unauthorized copying of the BTS Material and related documentation.
NO OTHER RIGHTS
Except as expressly stated in this Agreement, no right or license, express or implied, is granted to You under any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other intellectual property right of Business Technology Forum.
NO WARRANTY
The BTS Material is provided “as is” and “with all faults” without warranty of any kind, either expressed, implied, or statutory, including, without limitation, warranties that the BTS Material is free of defects, merchantable, fit for a particular purpose or non-infringing of intellectual property rights. The entire risk as to the quality and performance of the BTS Material is with You. You are responsible for determining whether the BTS Material will be suitable for Your intended use or application or will achieve Your intended results. This disclaimer of warranty constitutes an essential part of this License. No use of any BTS Material is authorized under this License except under this disclaimer.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Under no circumstances and under no legal theory, whether tort (including negligence), contract, or otherwise, shall Business Technology Forum be liable to You for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages of any character including, without limitation, damages for lost profits, loss of goodwill, work stoppage, computer failure or malfunction, or any and all other commercial damages or losses.
TERMINATION
Business Technology Forum may terminate this License at any time if You are in breach of any of its terms and conditions. Upon termination, You shall immediately destroy all copies and stop using of the BTS Material and related documentation. Provisions which, by their nature, must remain in effect beyond the termination of this License shall survive.
APPLICABLE LAW AND LITIGATION
This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of Finland excluding the application of its conflict of law rules. In case of dispute and in the absence of an amicable settlement, the competent jurisdiction as court of first instance shall be the district court of Helsinki, Finland.
SEVERABILITY
This Agreement represents the complete agreement concerning subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes, at any time or for any reason, unenforceable or invalid, no other provision of this Agreement shall be affected thereby, and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall continue with the same force and effect as if such unenforceable or invalid provisions had not been inserted in this Agreement.
RELATIONSHIP OF THE PARTIES
Nothing in this Agreement shall create, or be deemed to create a partnership or the relationship of principal and agent or employer and employee between You or Business Technology Forum. Neither You or Business Technology Forum has the authority or power to bind, to contract in the name of or to create a liability for the other in any way or for any purpose.
VERSIONS OF THE LICENSE
Business Technology Forum is the initial license steward and may publish revised and/or new versions of this License from time to time. Each version will be given a distinguishing version number. In case You do not agree to the new versions of the License, You must cease the use of the BTS Material and destroy any copies in Your possession.