vilkår

Vilkår is a term used in Norwegian and other Nordic languages to denote terms or conditions that govern a contract, agreement, or situation. It describes the stipulations, prerequisites, or criteria that must be met or observed for the agreement to be valid and functional.

Vilkår can be negotiated directly between parties (custom terms) or provided as standardised language in a form contract. They may be expressed explicitly in the document or implied by law or conduct. Typical vilkår include payment terms, delivery deadlines, performance standards, warranties, liability limitations, and termination rights. In consumer or service agreements, vilkår also cover privacy, data handling, and dispute resolution rules.

Interpretation of vilkår relies on contract law principles: the text, the contract as a whole, and the surrounding circumstances. Ambiguities are usually resolved in favour of a fair reading, and standard form terms may be scrutinised for fairness or reasonableness under applicable consumer protection rules.

Etymology and cognates: the word is cognate with Danish and Swedish terms vilkår and villkor; together with other Germanic forms, they derive from roots meaning will or condition.

Thus vilkår denote the conditions that enable or constrain commitments in an agreement, and they are a central feature of legal and commercial documents.