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1. Introduction and Acceptance

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

 

2. Definitions​​​

• “User” means any individual who accesses or uses the Platform.

• “Member” means an individual with an active membership plan granted through SIA.

• “Partner” means an independent organization or entity participating in SIA’s Partnership Program.

 

3. Privacy and Data Protection

3.1. SIA values your privacy and is dedicated to protecting the personal information you share with us through the Platform. 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 Platform, 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 Platform or via email. By continuing to use the Platform 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 Platform and to make informed decisions about your privacy.

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4. Your Representations

By accessing or using our Platform, you represent that:​

a) 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 Platform and to agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy on your behalf;

b) As the parent or guardian of a child under the age of 13, you may allow your child to access or use sections of the Platform 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;

c) You have reviewed our Privacy Policy and understand how your information is collected, used, and shared as a condition of your use of the Platform;

d) All information you provide on the Platform is accurate, complete, and current, and you will promptly update it as necessary;

e) You own or have necessary rights to share any content you submit;

f) You assume all risks associated with using the Platform;

g) You have not been previously suspended or removed from using our Platform.

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5. User Account 

5.1. To access certain features of the Platform, you may need to sign up for a free account. When you sign up, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information.

 

5.2. When you create a new account, it will remain private by default and will not be visible to other Users unless you choose to set its visibility to “Public” in your account settings. Users with publicly visible accounts are eligible to participate in community forums and discussion groups, which are governed by the User Conduct provisions outlined in Section 6.

 

5.3. 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.

 

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

 

5.5. 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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6. User Conduct

6.1. You must access or use the Platform 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 Platform'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 Platform or connected networks.

 

6.2. 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: (i) Is inconsistent with SIA’s mission, values, or editorial standards; (ii) May reasonably result in reputational harm or community backlash; (iii) Violates applicable laws, advertising regulations, or third-party rights; (iv) Poses a legal, ethical, or compliance risk to SIA or its affiliated Platforms; or (v) Is the subject of substantiated complaints or takedown requests.

 

6.3. When participating in our community forums and discussion groups, you agree to adhere to their respective Code of Conduct and Posting Guidelines.

 

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

a) Warnings or temporary restrictions on User privileges;

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

c) Termination of membership without refund, if applicable;

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

 

6.5. 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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7. Membership

7.1. SIA offers memberships that provide Users with access to premium resources, tools, and community features. Benefits and pricing are detailed on the Membership page of SIA's website.

 

7.2. Reduced membership fees are available to Users residing in low-income or lower-middle-income countries, as defined by the World Bank Country and Lending Groups classification. 

 

7.3. While institutional memberships are not currently offered, groups of at least five (5) Users who share the same affiliation may be eligible for a discounted group membership, provided that:

a) All memberships are purchased on the same date;
b) All Users are eligible for the same membership pricing; and
c) Each User applying for group membership confirms affiliation through an institutional email or listing in a published affiliation directory.

 

7.4. Discount rates for group memberships follow a tiered model based on group size. For inquiries about group memberships, please contact SIA by email.

 

7.5. Memberships are valid for twelve (12) months and renew automatically each year, with advance notice and the option to cancel. Cancelled memberships remain active until the end of the current term.

 

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

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7.7. SIA reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue membership offerings, benefits, or eligibility criteria at any time. Such changes will not materially reduce benefits for Members during an active membership term unless required by circumstances beyond SIA’s reasonable control (see Section 14). Any adjustments will apply to future renewals or new memberships, and Members will be notified in advance whenever reasonably possible.

 

7.8. SIA may terminate membership for reasons including, but not limited to:
a) Violation of these Terms of Use;
b) Violation of the Code of Conduct;
c) Engagement in prohibited activities as outlined in Section 6.1;
d) Failure to pay membership fees; or
e) Conduct that, in SIA’s sole discretion, is harmful to the organization, its Members, or the broader research community.

 

SIA reserves the right to terminate membership for other reasons not explicitly listed here, as necessary to protect the integrity and mission of the organization.

 

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

 

7.10. Membership benefits, fees, and terms are reviewed annually to ensure they remain aligned with community needs. Fees and offerings may be adjusted as necessary, with advance notice provided to Members.

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8. Third-Party Websites

8.1. Our Website may contain links to third-party websites for informational purposes, or as part of clearly identified paid advertisements.

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8.2. SIA does not endorse, has any responsibility for, or exercises any control over third-party websites and their content, regardless of participation in SIA's Partnership Program described on section 9. 

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8.3. Your use of third-party websites is subject to their respective terms of use and privacy policies, and SIA is not responsible for any loss or damage that may arise from such interactions. 

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8.4. Users are solely responsible for evaluating the suitability of any information, resource or service offered through third-party websites, conducting due diligence before use, verifying current availability and terms with third-party providers, and ensuring compliance with any licensing requirements.

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8.5. Links included for informational purposes are selected solely at SIA’s discretion. No monetary, contractual, or external influence affects these editorial decisions.

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8.6. Paid advertisements are distinctly labeled as such and are subject to separate advertising terms and agreements.

 

8.7. SIA offers curated catalogs of solutions through its Platform. These are provided on an “as-is” basis, and the following terms apply to their operation, content, and use:

a) The catalogs may include entries submitted by third-parties or compiled from publicly available sources.

b) SIA does not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information provided and may add or remove entries at its sole discretion.

c) SIA may facilitate connections between Users and third-party providers offering commercial solutions. These transactions and relationships are solely between Users and the respective third parties.

d) SIA assumes no responsibility for contract terms, service delivery, pricing, fulfillment, or claims arising from transactions between Users and third-party providers.

e) SIA does not receive direct compensation from third parties for featuring their solutions, except under advertising agreements clearly identified as paid placements. Any indirect benefit to SIA arises solely from enhanced value offered to its members through access to discounted third-party offerings.

f) Members may be eligible for discounts on commercial offerings featured in the Marketplace, provided they have an active membership plan at the time of purchase and submit an inquiry form through the designated link available in the Marketplace. SIA is not responsible for any third party’s failure to honor a discount or promotional offer and may exclude from the Marketplace any third-party provider that fails to comply with advertised terms.

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9. Partnership

​9.1. SIA connects independent entities through its Partnership Program to foster collaboration that advances research integrity, open science, and responsible research practices.

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9.2. The Partnership Program operates without formal bilateral agreements. To apply, Partners must submit an application form acknowledging and agreeing to these Terms and the published Partnership Guidelines.

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9.3. Our relationship with Partners is built on independence and clear boundaries:
a) The Partnership Program does not create a joint venture, agency, or legal partnership;
b) Each Partner maintains complete operational autonomy;
c) Partners do not represent or act on behalf of SIA;
d) Partners manage their own operations, staff, and client relationships; 
e) SIA provides a Platform for visibility and collaboration but does not control or assume responsibility for Partner activities, services, products, content, or practices.

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9.4. Users may encounter links to Partner content, services, or products on the Platform. These are subject to the same terms applicable to third-party content described in Section 8.

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9.5. SIA has sole discretion to decide upon the inclusion, display, or removal of Partner-related links, services, or products on its Platform. SIA may remove any Partner-related content that violates expected user conduct or fails to comply with these Terms, the Partnership Guidelines, or the Code of Conduct.

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9.6. Partners grant SIA permission to display their names, logos, and website links across its platforms. SIA determines the presentation format and may feature Partners in promotional materials, including social media, publications, and advertising placements.

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9.7. SIA reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Partnership Program, or to review or terminate participation, at its sole discretion and without prior notice. ​

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10. Intellectual Property

10.1. The Platform contains both proprietary content and openly licensed content.

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10.2. SIA's name, logos, trademarks, resource and solution names, designs, mascots and slogans, as well as content available through paid memberships, are proprietary. The reproduction, distribution, or modification of proprietary content without explicit written permission is strictly prohibited.

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10.3. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, non-proprietary content that is accessible to all Users regardless of membership or partnership (described in sections 7 and 9, respectivelly), is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license.

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10.4. Partners may use certain proprietary content to inform about ongoing Partnership, as per our branding guidelines.

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10.5. To reproduce or distribute content licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0, you must provide appropriate credit to SIA, include a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may provide attribution in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests SIA endorses you or your use.

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​10.6. Content submitted by Users through the Platform (including that arising from participation in community forums and discussion groups) remains the intellectual property of the User, who grants SIA a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, display, and distribute such content with appropriate attribution.

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11. Separate Service Agreements

Third parties may engage with SIA through separate service agreements as independent contractors. These relationships are governed by the terms of those specific agreements. Where a separate agreement explicitly conflicts with these Terms of Use, the provisions of that agreement shall prevail. In all other respects, these Terms shall continue to apply.

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12. Operational Decisions

All operational decisions, including those made by the the leadership team that oversees SIA's strategy, governance, and ethical direction, are at SIA's sole discretion. These decisions are final and binding and cannot be appealed or challenged by Users, Members, or Partners.

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13. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND DISCLAIMERS

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE". SIA DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. SIA ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR:​

A) CONTENT ERRORS, INACCURACIES, OR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS;

B) PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE FROM PLATFORM USE;

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

D) ANY LOSSES RESULTING FROM PLATFORM CONTENT OR USE.

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SIA SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND LIABILITY RELATED TO THIRD-PARTIES FEATURED IN THE PLATFORM, INCLUDING TOOLS AND SERVICES INCLUDED IN CATALOGS OF SOLUTIONS, THEIR AVAILABILITY, FUNCTIONALITY, ACCURACY OF LISTING INFORMATION, OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SIA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HOW PARTNERS USE FEEDBACK PROVIDED BY USERS OR FOR ANY OUTCOMES RESULTING FROM PARTNER ACCESS TO USER FEEDBACK.

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SIA DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR MARKETPLACE SERVICES, ADVERTISER CONTENT, CLAIMS, OR COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS. SIA DOES NOT GUARANTEE MARKETPLACE PROVIDER DISCOUNTS, PRICING, COMMERCIAL SERVICE QUALITY, OR ADVERTISING PERFORMANCE. ADVERTISING PLACEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ENDORSEMENT OF ADVERTISED PRODUCTS OR SERVICES.​

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TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SIA, 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 PLATFORM, THIRD-PARTY CONDUCT OR CONTENT, OR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS.

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

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YOU AGREE TO DEFEND, INDEMNIFY, AND HOLD HARMLESS SIA, 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.

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

 

14. 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 SIA RESIDE IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA.​

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SIA CONTROLS THE PLATFORM FROM ITS OFFICES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. WE MAKE NO REPRESENTATION THAT THE CONTENT ON OUR PLATFORM 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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15. GENERAL PROVISIONS

SIA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THESE TERMS AT ANY TIME. CHANGES ARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON PUBLICATION ON SIA'S PLATFORM. YOUR CONTINUED USE OF THE PLATFORM AFTER ANY SUCH CHANGES CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE NEW TERMS.

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IF ANY PROVISION OF THESE TERMS IS FOUND TO BE UNENFORCEABLE, THE REMAINING PROVISIONS SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.

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THESE TERMS CONSTITUTE THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND SIA REGARDING YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM AND SUPERSEDE ALL PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS WITH RESPECT TO THE SAME. 

 

FOR GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE TERMS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT contactus@sci-integrity.com.

 

16. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

BY USING THE PLATFORM, 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 PLATFORM.

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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.