ClearTerm checks freelance software contracts
Built and operated by synexa labs in Bremen, Germany. We made it because solo developers are usually the only people in the room without someone reading the MSA for them.
The Story Behind ClearTerm
In 2022, we signed a 'standard' contract for a major creative project. Two months in, we realized we'd accidentally signed away the rights to our own internal design system. A month later, the client invoked a Net-90 payment clause we didn't even notice. We were the ones doing the work, but they held all the power.
Most freelancers sign agreements drafted by people paid to protect the other side, often without the time or budget for a lawyer to read each one.
ClearTerm translates the risky parts of those agreements into plain English — payment terms, IP assignment, liability, termination — so you can see what to ask about before you sign.
ClearTerm is built and operated by synexa labs, a one-person software studio based in Bremen, Germany. Full provider details, including the registered address and VAT ID, are in the Impressum.
What it actually does
Standard legal review is slow and expensive. ClearTerm is a fast read-through of the PDF you were going to sign anyway.
Work-for-hire and IP assignment
We flag Work for Hire and broad assignment clauses that take rights to reusable tools, code, and frameworks.
Long payment windows
The analysis flags Net-60 and Net-90 payment terms and suggests wording you can use to ask for Net-15, Net-30, or a deposit.
Edits between drafts
Diff Mode compares two PDFs in one scan and shows whether each edit increases or reduces your risk.
A short read-through, not a legal memo
You get a safety score, plain-English findings, and negotiation snippets — not a 50-page report.
What we're aiming for
“Freelancers sign contracts drafted by people paid to protect the other side, usually without the time or the budget to have each one reviewed. ClearTerm exists to close part of that gap: to make the risky parts of an agreement legible in a couple of minutes, so you know what to ask about. It is not a lawyer and it does not pretend to be one — it is the read-through you would otherwise skip.”
What ClearTerm is, and isn’t
It is
- A fast read-through that flags clauses worth questioning
- A way to understand legal wording in plain English
- A starting point for a negotiation you were going to have anyway
It is not
- Legal advice, or a law firm
- A guarantee that a contract is safe to sign
- A replacement for a lawyer on anything high-stakes
The scoring method is documented in full, including what it looks for and where it can be wrong.
Read the next contract before you sign.
Upload a PDF and get a safety score, plain-English findings, and wording you can use to negotiate. ClearTerm is not a lawyer.