Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using PeerScope ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use the Service.

We may modify these Terms at any time. Your continued use of the Service after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms.

2. Description of Service

PeerScope is a research collaboration platform that enables researchers, academics, and professionals to:

• Create and manage collaborative projects
• Find and connect with potential collaborators
• Communicate with team members through integrated messaging
• Collaborate on documents using our LaTeX workspace
• Track project progress with project management tools
• Build professional reputation through mutual reviews

3. Account Registration

To use certain features of the Service, you must create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and promptly update your account information
• Keep your password secure and confidential
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

4. User Content

You retain ownership of any content you submit, post, or display on the Service ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you grant PeerScope a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, and display such content solely for the purpose of operating and improving the Service.

You are solely responsible for your User Content and represent that:

• You own or have the necessary rights to post the content
• Your content does not infringe on any third party's rights
• Your content complies with all applicable laws and regulations
• Your content does not contain malicious code or harmful material

5. Acceptable Use

You agree not to use the Service to:

• Violate any laws or regulations
• Infringe on intellectual property rights of others
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent content
• Spam or send unsolicited communications
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service
• Interfere with the proper functioning of the Service
• Scrape or collect user data without permission
• Use the Service for any illegal or unauthorized purpose

6. Collaboration and Projects

PeerScope facilitates connections between users but is not a party to any collaboration agreements you may enter into with other users. You acknowledge that:

• PeerScope does not guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of projects
• PeerScope does not verify the qualifications or identity of users
• You are responsible for evaluating potential collaborators
• Any agreements regarding intellectual property, compensation, or other terms are solely between you and your collaborators
• PeerScope is not responsible for disputes between users

7. Reviews and Ratings

Users may leave reviews and ratings for collaborators. You agree that:

• Reviews must be honest and based on genuine experiences
• You will not post fake, purchased, or incentivized reviews
• You will not retaliate against users who leave honest negative reviews
• PeerScope may remove reviews that violate these Terms

8. Subscriptions and Payments

Some features of the Service require a paid subscription. By subscribing, you agree:

• To pay all fees associated with your subscription
• That subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled
• To provide accurate billing information
• That fees are non-refundable except as required by law

We may change subscription prices with 30 days' notice. Continued use after a price change constitutes acceptance of the new price.

9. Intellectual Property

The Service and its original content (excluding User Content) are and will remain the exclusive property of PeerScope. Our trademarks, logos, and service marks may not be used without prior written permission.

We respect intellectual property rights. If you believe your work has been infringed on the platform, please contact us with a detailed notice.

10. Privacy

Your use of the Service is also governed by our Privacy Policy. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your information.

11. Disclaimers

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

We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free. We do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any information on the Service.

12. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PEERSCOPE 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.

Our total liability for any claims arising from or related to these Terms or the Service shall not exceed the greater of $100 or the amount you paid us in the past 12 months.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless PeerScope and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys' fees) arising out of your use of the Service, your User Content, or your violation of these Terms.

14. Termination

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us or using the account deletion feature in your settings. We may terminate or suspend your account immediately, without prior notice, for any reason, including if you breach these Terms.

Upon termination, your right to use the Service will immediately cease. Provisions of these Terms that should survive termination will survive, including ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, and limitations of liability.

15. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

16. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Service shall first be attempted to be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If negotiations fail, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

17. General Provisions

• Entire Agreement: These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and PeerScope regarding the Service.
• Severability: If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect.
• No Waiver: Our failure to enforce any right or provision does not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
• Assignment: You may not assign these Terms without our prior written consent.