The Center for Management Development

Terms of Use

Last Updated: May 14, 2025

Please read these Terms of Use (“Terms”) carefully before using any website, learning platform, or online service operated by The Center for Management Development (hereafter, “the Center”) at https://thecenter.jp, HACKETT LABS, or any affiliated services including course platforms such as Canvas by Instructure.

By accessing or using any of our sites, services, or course portals, you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the site or services.

We reserve the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. Notice of such changes will be posted online. Continued use of the site constitutes your acceptance of those changes.

Disclaimer

Our websites and learning platforms may include user-generated content, opinions, and links to external sites. These are not reviewed or endorsed by the Center or HACKETT LABS and do not represent official views.

Content is provided “as-is” without guarantees of accuracy, timeliness, or appropriateness. If you find content objectionable, we advise you to discontinue use of the site.

Rules for Online Conduct

You agree to:

  • Use our sites and services lawfully and ethically.
  • Respect the rights of other users and participants.
  • Avoid any misuse of the platform for commercial or political purposes.

You agree not to post or transmit:

  • Defamatory or threatening content
  • Harassment or violations of applicable laws
  • Intellectual property without proper rights
  • Obscene material or graphic content
  • Commercial advertisements or solicitations
  • Any unlawful material

We reserve the right to remove content that violates these Terms, though we are not obligated to do so.

Academic Conduct

Learners enrolled in programs, courses, or workshops offered by the Center are required to follow our established standards of conduct:

  1. Fundamental Behavioral Standard
    Learners are expected to act as responsible global citizens, demonstrating respect for others, professional conduct, and integrity. Violations may result in removal from the program.
  2. Academic Integrity Policy
    Learners must pursue all academic work honestly and respectfully. Our learning environment depends on trust, dignity, and professionalism.
  3. Honor Code
    Learners must produce work that reflects scholarly standards: proper source attribution, data integrity, and acknowledgment of contributions. Cheating or plagiarism is a violation of community trust.

These principles apply across all learning environments, including on Canvas.

Permission to Use Materials

By accessing our sites, you are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license for personal, non-commercial use. You may download content for private study but may not reproduce, distribute, or exploit it commercially without permission.

Limitation of Use

Use our platforms and services only for lawful purposes. You are responsible for any content you post and for ensuring it complies with all applicable laws.

You may not:

  • Attempt to access another user’s account
  • Impersonate others
  • Disseminate unauthorized advertising
  • Misrepresent your affiliation with the Center

We may revoke your access for violations of these Terms.

External Links

Our site may include links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the content, security, or practices of those external sites.

Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of Japan, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. You agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts located in Tokyo for any legal matters arising from your use of the site.

Disclaimer of Warranties

The Center for Management Development (operated by HACKETT LABS) provides its websites, course platforms (including Canvas), and related services “as is” and “as available”, without any warranties of any kind, either express or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

We do not guarantee:

  • That content will be accurate, complete, or current
  • That services will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
  • That our sites or services are free of viruses or harmful components

You use our services at your own risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, HACKETT LABS disclaims all liability for any loss or damages (direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential), whether foreseeable or not, resulting from:

  • The use or inability to use our site or services
  • Reliance on content or information provided
  • Errors, omissions, interruptions, or data loss
  • Purchases or transactions made through our sites

This limitation applies regardless of the legal theory (contract, tort, statutory, or otherwise), except in cases of death or personal injury where and only to the extent required by applicable law.

We make no guarantees about your ability to access or transmit data to or from our platforms, including Canvas. By using our services, you acknowledge and accept these limitations.

Limitation of Liability

HACKETT LABS and the Center will not be liable for any damages (including, but not limited to, lost data, lost profits, or interruptions of service) resulting from use of the site or course platform, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

This limitation does not apply to cases involving death or personal injury if and only to the extent required by law.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless HACKETT LABS, its owner, employees, agents, contractors, and affiliated entities from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to:

  • Your use or misuse of the site or learning platforms (including Canvas),
  • Your violation of these Terms,
  • Your posting or transmission of any content or data,
  • Or your infringement of any third-party rights, including intellectual property.

You further agree to cooperate fully in the defense of any claim as reasonably requested by HACKETT LABS.

Your Account

If you create an account on the site or on Canvas, you are responsible for maintaining its confidentiality and for all activity under that account. You agree to provide accurate information and update it as needed.

Corrections and Service Changes

We may update content, pricing, or availability on our sites without prior notice. We reserve the right to cancel or modify any service or offering.

Entire Agreement

These Terms constitute the complete agreement between you and HACKETT LABS regarding site usage and supersede any prior agreements.

Copyright Complaints

If you believe that your intellectual property rights have been infringed on our site, please report it via our Contact Us page.