Clear boundaries protect the client and the work.
These website terms describe the nature of BlackGuard Governance, the limits of website use and the intellectual-property boundary. Client services are governed by separate written engagement terms.
1. Website information only
Website content is provided for general informational and business-development purposes. Visiting this site, sending an inquiry or reviewing public materials does not create a client, fiduciary, advisory, partnership, agency or other professional relationship.
2. Operator
Governance-related commercial services are executed by BlackGuard LLC. Enterprise strategy, pricing and commercial IP controls are governed through Davis & Partners Inc.
3. Nature of services
BlackGuard provides bounded governance analysis, diagnostics, advisory findings and decision support. Unless separately agreed in writing, services do not include legal advice, accounting advice, tax advice, investment advice, engineering, clinical services, regulatory certification or other regulated professional services.
4. Engagement required
No engagement exists until the parties execute written terms defining scope, deliverables, payment, confidentiality, evidence handling and applicable rights. Website descriptions do not override an executed agreement.
5. Published standard diagnostic terms
The BlackGuard™ Authority & Control Diagnostic is currently priced at $7,500 fixed fee for the standard published scope. Standard payment is 50% due at engagement and 50% due before final report release and the executive briefing. Material scope expansion, multiple entities, onsite work, travel or expanded institutional review requires separate written scope and pricing before additional work proceeds.
6. Intellectual-property boundary
BlackGuard™ and BlackGuard commercial enterprise materials are protected commercial IP controlled by Davis & Partners Inc. The Institutional Authority Dynamics academic research enterprise, including IAGD and associated scholarly IP, is personally owned by Daron L. Davis unless particular rights are separately assigned or licensed in writing.
Commercial use of research concepts does not transfer ownership of the research enterprise. Clients receive only the project-specific deliverables and use rights expressly stated in their written engagement.
7. No methodology transfer
Unless expressly authorized in writing, no engagement grants ownership of IAD/IAGD, reusable analytical methodology, BlackGuard operating mechanics, derivative scholarly rights, sublicensing rights, BGMA rights or rights to recreate protected templates, systems or methods.
8. Evidence and outcomes
BlackGuard does not guarantee a preferred finding, business outcome, policy result, regulatory result or risk elimination. Findings are bounded by the evidence, scope, time period and limitations documented in the engagement.
9. Confidentiality and research firewall
Client information does not automatically become academic research data, publication material, conference material, case-study material, teaching material or training data. Any reuse requires separate written authorization and any applicable legal, ethical or institutional controls.
10. External links
This site links to third-party resources including scholarly repositories, media outlets and professional platforms. BlackGuard does not control their content, privacy practices or availability.
11. Acceptable website use
Users may not attempt unauthorized access, interfere with site operation, impersonate BlackGuard, misrepresent affiliation, or reproduce protected material for commercial exploitation in violation of applicable law or written restrictions.
12. Governing law
Website terms are governed by the laws of North Carolina, United States, without altering any separate governing-law provision in an executed client agreement.
13. Contact
Questions about these terms or intellectual-property use may be sent to info@blackguardgovernance.space.