Last Updated: 11/06/2024​

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1. Introduction and Acceptance

Science Integrity Alliance, LLC ("Alliance," "we," "us," "our") operates www.sci-integrity.com and its associated services (collectively, the "Website"). By accessing or using the Website, you agree to these Terms of Use ("Terms").

 

2. Definitions

• "Content" encompasses all materials available on the Website, including but not limited to text, images, videos, publications, and data.

• "User Content" means any content submitted by users.

• "Services" includes all features and functionalities provided through the Website.

• "Platform" means the Website, social media channels, services, and resources provided by the Alliance.

• "Partner" refers to any independent entity participating in our Partnership Program.

 

3. Privacy and Data Protection

3.1. The Alliance values your privacy and is dedicated to protecting the personal information you share with us through the Website. We are committed to following relevant data protection regulations to ensure the security of your data.

3.2. Our Privacy Policy details how we collect, use, and safeguard your information, including personal information, usage data, and cookies. By accessing or using our Website, you consent to the data practices described in the Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this policy regularly.

3.3. We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any significant changes will be communicated to you through the Website or via email. By continuing to use the Website after such updates, you agree to the revised Privacy Policy.

3.4. It is your responsibility to understand how we handle your information and to periodically review our Privacy Policy. You agree to these data practices as a condition of using our Website and to make informed decisions about your privacy.

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4. Your Representations

By accessing or using our Website, you represent that:

4.1. You are at least 18 years old, or if you are between 13 and 17 years old, you have obtained parental or guardian consent to use the Website and to agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy on your behalf.

4.2. As the parent or guardian of a child under the age of 13, you may allow your child to access or use the Junior Hub, a section of the Website specifically designed for younger users, by agreeing to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. By granting access, you consent to the collection of anonymous, non-personal information through cookies, used solely for essential site functionality and performance improvements, as outlined in the Privacy Policy. You are solely responsible for supervising your child's activity on this page and ensuring compliance with these Terms.

4.3. You have reviewed our Privacy Policy and understand how your information is collected, used, and shared as a condition of your use of the Website.

4.4. All information you provide on this Website is accurate, complete, and current, and you will promptly update it as necessary.

4.5. You own or have necessary rights to share any content you submit.

4.6. You assume all risks associated with using the Website.

4.7. You have not been previously suspended or removed from using our Services.

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5. User Conduct

5.1. You must use the Website in compliance with these Terms and all applicable laws. The following activities are strictly prohibited:

a) Unauthorized access, interference, or security breaches, including attempts to access other user accounts or our systems;

b) Sharing or distributing content that is illegal, infringing, false, misleading, defamatory, or harmful;

c) Impersonation, misrepresentation of affiliation, or any fraudulent activity;

d) Spam, unsolicited messages, unauthorized advertising, or activities that disrupt the Website's normal operation;

e) Collecting user data without explicit consent;

f) Harassment, threats, or any form of abusive behavior towards others;

g) Any activity that interferes with or disrupts the Services or connected networks.

5.2. Although we are not obligated to monitor user conduct, we reserve the right to:

a) Investigate any suspected violations of these Terms;

b) Take appropriate action against violations, at our sole discretion;

c) Remove or disable access to any content that we determine violates these Terms or is otherwise harmful or objectionable;

d) Terminate or suspend access to the Website for users who violate these Terms.

5.3. When participating in the HIKE forum, our dedicated platform for scientific discussions, you agree to adhere to our Code of Conduct, which is available on the HIKE forum page. We strongly encourage all forum users to review the Code of Conduct thoroughly before participating.

5.4. Violations of these Terms, including the Code of Conduct where applicable, may result in:

a) Warnings or temporary restrictions on account privileges;

b) Temporary or permanent bans from specific features or the entire Website;

c) Termination of membership without refund, if applicable;

d) Reporting to law enforcement authorities and/or legal action, if necessary.

5.5. The specific action taken for violations will depend on the nature and severity of the violation, as determined at our sole discretion. If you observe any violations of these Terms or the Code of Conduct, please contact us promptly via email to report them.

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6. Intellectual Property

6.1. The Website contains both proprietary content and openly licensed content.

6.2. Content Licensing:

a) Certain non-member-exclusive Content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

b) All other Content, including member-exclusive Content, Alliance's name, logos, trademarks, product and service names, designs, and slogans, is proprietary and may not be used without our prior written permission.

6.3. Use of Proprietary Content:

a) No rights to proprietary Content are transferred to you.

b) The use, reproduction, distribution, or modification of proprietary Content without explicit written permission is strictly prohibited.

c) Partners may use certain proprietary Content as per our branding guidelines, subject to prior written approval.

6.4. Use of CC BY 4.0 Licensed Content:

a) For content licensed under CC BY 4.0, you are free to:

i) Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.

ii) Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

b) The Alliance cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you comply with the terms of the license.

c) You must provide appropriate credit to the Alliance, include a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the Alliance endorses you or your use.

d) You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

6.5. User Submissions: By submitting ideas, suggestions, documents, or proposals to the Alliance through the Website, you grant us a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sub-licensable and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform such submissions.​

6.6. Copyright Infringement Notices:

We respect the intellectual property rights of others. If you believe any content on our Website infringes your copyright, please submit a written notice to us with the following:

a) Your contact information (name, address, phone number, email);

b) Details of the copyrighted work allegedly infringed;

c) The location of the allegedly infringing content on our Website;

d) A statement of your good faith belief that the use is not authorized;

e) A statement, under penalty of perjury, that your claim is accurate and you're authorized to act for the copyright owner;

f) A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or their authorized representative.

Please send notices to: Legal Department, Science Integrity Alliance, 8950 SW 74TH CT STE 1901, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33156, USA, with an electronic copy to admin@sci-integrity.com. We'll review and respond to properly submitted notices in accordance with applicable law.

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7. Third-Party Websites and Services

7.1. Our Website may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by the Alliance.

7.2. We do not endorse, have any responsibility for, or exercise any control over these third-party websites, their content, or their privacy practices.

7.3. Your use of third-party websites or services is subject to their respective terms of service and privacy policies. We strongly encourage you to review these before using any third-party service.

7.4. Any interactions you have with third-party websites or services, including purchases or transactions, are solely between you and the third party. The Alliance is not responsible for any loss or damage that may arise from such interactions.

7.5. Through its Partnership Program, the Alliance provides a platform connecting independent entities to foster collaboration in research integrity, as described in Section 10. Program participation does not imply Alliance endorsement or responsibility for Partners' actions, content, or privacy practices. The Alliance is not responsible for any issues arising from the use of Partner services.

7.6. Whether a link is provided for general reference or as part of the Partnership Program, users are responsible for evaluating the suitability of any Partner or third-party service for their needs.

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8. Account Registration

8.1. To access certain features of the Website, you may need to register for an account. When you register, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information.

8.2. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. This includes taking precautions to protect your account information and logging out of your account at the end of each session.

8.3. You agree to immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security.

8.4. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at our discretion, without prior notice, if we believe you have violated these Terms.

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9. Membership

9.1. We offer free Supporting Memberships and fee-based Contributing (for individuals) and Institutional (for organizations) Memberships.

9.2. Membership benefits are detailed on our Membership page.

9.3. Supporting and Contributing Memberships are available through the Website, while Institutional Membership is established through direct engagement between organizations and the Alliance pursuant to separately executed agreements.

9.4. All memberships auto-renew annually with advance notice and option to cancel. Cancelled memberships remain active until the end of the current term.

9.5. Membership fees are non-refundable and not tax-deductible.

9.6. Membership may be terminated by the Alliance for reasons including, but not limited to:

a) Violations of these Terms of Use;

b) Violations of our Code of Conduct;

c) Engaging in prohibited activities as outlined in Section 5.1;

d) Failure to pay membership fees (for Contributing and Institutional Members);

e) Any other conduct that, in our sole discretion, is harmful to the Alliance, its members, or the scientific community at large.

The Alliance reserves the right to terminate membership for other reasons not explicitly listed here, as deemed necessary to protect the integrity and purpose of the organization.

9.7. In the event of membership termination, no refund or compensation will be provided.

9.8. Benefits and pricing are reviewed annually and may be adjusted. Members will be notified of any changes in advance.

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10. Partnership Program

10.1. The Alliance connects independent entities through its Partnership Program to advance scientific integrity.

10.2. Partners receive access to a Partner-exclusive forum for engagement and collaboration, and visibility through logo display and promotional features across our Platform, all at no cost.

10.3. The Alliance may enter into separate agreements with Partners to offer their services or products on the Website. These arrangements may include referral fees for the Alliance.

10.4. The Alliance does not control or assume responsibility for Partner-provided services or products offered on its Website. Users should review each Partner's terms and conditions, which govern all interactions with Partner services.

10.5. Partners manage their own transactions and service delivery independently. The Alliance is not responsible for any issues arising from Partner services or products.

10.6. The Alliance may feature Partner activities and materials that align with our mission. Such features are for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement.

10.7. Partners agree to the Alliance displaying their logos, names, and website links across platforms. The Alliance determines presentation format and may feature Partners in promotional materials, including social media, blog posts, and newsletters.

10.8. The Alliance reserves the right to modify or discontinue any program features or participation at its sole discretion, without obligation to provide notice of changes.

10.9. User Interaction with Partners: Users may encounter services, products, or content from our Partners on the Website. While we strive to connect with entities that align with our mission, Partner services and products are provided independently from the Alliance, under the Partner's own terms and conditions. The Alliance is not responsible for any interactions or transactions between users and Partners.

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11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND DISCLAIMERS

THE WEBSITE AND ASSOCIATED SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE". THE ALLIANCE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. THE ALLIANCE ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR:

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a) CONTENT ERRORS, INACCURACIES, OR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS;

b) PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE FROM WEBSITE USE;

c) INTERRUPTIONS, BUGS, VIRUSES, OR SIMILAR ISSUES;

d) ANY LOSSES RESULTING FROM WEBSITE CONTENT OR USE.

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TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE ALLIANCE, ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES. THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOST PROFITS, DATA, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE OR SERVICES, THIRD-PARTY CONDUCT OR CONTENT, OR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS.

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THE ALLIANCE'S TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO AMOUNTS PAID BY YOU TO THE ALLIANCE IN THE PRECEDING (12) TWELVE MONTHS.

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YOU AGREE TO DEFEND, INDEMNIFY, AND HOLD HARMLESS THE ALLIANCE, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS FROM ALL CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES, AND COSTS (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES) ARISING FROM YOUR VIOLATION OF THESE TERMS OR USE OF THE WEBSITE.

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ANY CAUSE OF ACTION MUST COMMENCE WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR AFTER ACCRUAL OR BE PERMANENTLY BARRED.

 

12. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.​

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YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE FOR ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN YOU AND THE ALLIANCE RESIDE IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA.​

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THE ALLIANCE CONTROLS THE WEBSITE FROM ITS OFFICES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. WE MAKE NO REPRESENTATION THAT THE CONTENT ON OUR WEBSITE IS APPROPRIATE, LEGAL, OR AVAILABLE FOR USE IN OTHER LOCATIONS. YOU MAY NOT USE OR EXPORT THE CONTENT IN VIOLATION OF UNITED STATES EXPORT LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

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13. GENERAL PROVISIONS

13.1. Modifications to Terms: We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes are effective immediately upon posting to the Website. Your continued use of the Website after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms.

13.2. Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect.

13.3. Entire Agreement: These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and the Alliance regarding your use of the Website and supersede all prior agreements and understandings with respect to the same.

13.4. Contact: For general questions about these Terms, please contact us at contactus@sci-integrity.com.

 

14. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

BY USING THE WEBSITE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS OF USE AND ANY FUTURE AMENDMENTS AND ADDITIONS TO THESE TERMS AS PUBLISHED FROM TIME TO TIME AT THIS WEBSITE.

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THESE LIMITATIONS AND LEGAL PROVISIONS ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO THESE TERMS OF USE. WHERE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN LIABILITIES IS PROHIBITED, OUR LIABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.