Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Research Consensus Explorer ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Service.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of any material changes via email or through the Service. Your continued use of the Service after such modifications constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

2. Description of Service

Research Consensus Explorer is a web-based tool that helps users explore scientific literature and understand research consensus on various topics. The Service uses artificial intelligence to analyze and classify research papers from public databases such as PubMed, arXiv, and other academic sources.

Important: The Service is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical, legal, or professional advice. See our Disclaimer for more information.

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Creation

To access certain features of the Service, you may need to create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• Maintain and promptly update your account information
• Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account

3.2 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time for:

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent or illegal activity
• Abuse of the Service or other users
• Non-payment of fees (for paid accounts)

You may terminate your account at any time through your account settings or by contacting us at support@researchconsensusexplorer.com.

4. Subscription Plans and Billing

4.1 Free and Paid Plans

The Service offers both free and paid subscription plans. Features, usage limits, and pricing for each plan are described on our Pricing page.

4.2 Payment Terms

• Billing Cycle: Paid subscriptions are billed monthly or annually, as selected by you
• Auto-Renewal: Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled before the renewal date
• Payment Method: You must provide a valid payment method. We use Stripe for secure payment processing
• Price Changes: We may change subscription prices with 30 days' notice. Changes apply to subsequent billing cycles
• Taxes: Prices exclude applicable taxes unless stated otherwise. You are responsible for any taxes

4.3 Refund Policy

We offer a 14-day money-back guarantee for new subscriptions. To request a refund:

• Contact us within 14 days of your initial purchase
• Refunds are processed within 5-10 business days
• Refunds are not available for renewals or annual subscriptions after 14 days
• We reserve the right to refuse refunds for abuse or excessive usage

4.4 Cancellation

You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings. Upon cancellation:

• You will retain access to paid features until the end of your current billing period
• Your account will automatically downgrade to the free plan
• No refunds are provided for partial billing periods

4.5 Failed Payments

If a payment fails:

• We will attempt to charge your payment method up to 3 times
• You will receive email notifications about failed payments
• Your account may be downgraded to the free plan after 7 days
• You are responsible for any fees incurred due to failed payments

5. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree not to use the Service to:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Infringe on intellectual property rights of others
• Transmit harmful code, viruses, or malware
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service or other users' accounts
• Scrape, crawl, or systematically download content without permission
• Use the Service for any automated or commercial purpose without a valid API license
• Abuse or harass other users or our staff
• Circumvent usage limits or access controls
• Resell or redistribute the Service without authorization
• Use the Service to generate spam or unsolicited communications

6. Intellectual Property

6.1 Our Content

The Service, including its design, code, features, and original content, is owned by Research Consensus Explorer and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works without our express written permission.

6.2 User Content

You retain ownership of any content you submit to the Service (e.g., saved claims, annotations, comments). By submitting content, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, store, and display your content solely for the purpose of providing and improving the Service.

6.3 Third-Party Content

Research papers, abstracts, and metadata are sourced from third-party databases (PubMed, arXiv, etc.) and remain the property of their respective copyright holders. We provide access to this content under fair use principles for educational and research purposes.

7. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and protection of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Service, you consent to our data practices as described in the Privacy Policy.

8. API Usage

If you have access to our API (Pro or Enterprise plans):

• You must use a valid API key and keep it secure
• You are subject to rate limits based on your subscription tier
• You may not share your API key or allow others to use it
• You must comply with all applicable laws when using the API
• We may suspend API access for abuse or violation of these Terms
• API documentation and specifications may change with notice

9. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

9.1 No Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not warrant that:

• The Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
• The results obtained from the Service will be accurate or reliable
• Any errors in the Service will be corrected
• The Service will meet your specific requirements

9.2 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, RESEARCH CONSENSUS EXPLORER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM:

• Your use or inability to use the Service
• Any unauthorized access to or use of our servers and/or any personal information stored therein
• Any interruption or cessation of transmission to or from the Service
• Any bugs, viruses, or other harmful code that may be transmitted through the Service
• Any errors or omissions in any content or for any loss or damage incurred as a result of the use of any content

IN NO EVENT SHALL OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR $100, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Research Consensus Explorer, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of or in any way connected with:

• Your access to or use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property rights
• Any content you submit to the Service

11. Dispute Resolution

11.1 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [Your Jurisdiction], without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

11.2 Arbitration

Any dispute arising from these Terms or the Service shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of [Arbitration Organization], except that either party may seek injunctive relief in court for intellectual property disputes.

11.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action.

12. General Provisions

12.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other legal notices published by us, constitute the entire agreement between you and Research Consensus Explorer concerning the Service.

12.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms will otherwise remain in full force and effect.

12.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be deemed a waiver of such right or provision.

12.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights hereunder without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms without restriction.

12.5 Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, accidents, network infrastructure failures, strikes, or shortages of transportation facilities, fuel, energy, labor, or materials.

13. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• Notify you via email (if you have an account)
• Display a prominent notice on the Service

Your continued use of the Service after such modifications constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must stop using the Service and may cancel your account.