Terms of Service

Last updated: 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of Scholar's Net (the "Platform," "we," "us," or "our"), including any content, features, and services offered through it. By creating an account or otherwise using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.

1. Eligibility

You must be at least 16 years old, or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction, to use the Platform. By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you meet these requirements and that the information you provide is accurate and complete.

2. Accounts and Registration

To access certain features you must register for an account. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

3. User Content and Ownership

You retain ownership of the publications, abstracts, comments, profile information, and other materials you submit ("User Content"). By posting User Content, you grant Scholar's Net a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, store, reproduce, display, and distribute that content for the purpose of operating and promoting the Platform. You represent that you have the necessary rights to grant this license and that your User Content does not infringe the rights of any third party.

4. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Upload content you do not have the right to share, or that infringes intellectual property, privacy, or other rights;
• Post plagiarized, fraudulent, misleading, or fabricated research;
• Harass, threaten, defame, or impersonate any person or entity;
• Upload malware, or attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Platform or other accounts;
• Scrape, harvest, or collect data about other users without consent;
• Use the Platform for unlawful purposes or in violation of applicable laws and regulations.

5. Academic Integrity

The Platform is intended to support legitimate scholarly activity. You are solely responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the research and citations you publish. We do not verify the scientific validity of User Content and are not responsible for it.

6. Intellectual Property of the Platform

The Platform, including its design, logos, software, and original content (excluding User Content), is owned by Scholar's Net and protected by intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from the Platform without our prior written permission.

7. Content Moderation

We may, but are not obligated to, review, moderate, or remove User Content that violates these Terms or that we consider harmful, unlawful, or otherwise objectionable. Publications may be subject to an approval process before becoming publicly visible.

8. Third-Party Links and Services

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services (such as ORCID). We are not responsible for the content, policies, or practices of third parties. Your use of such services is governed by their respective terms.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Scholar's Net and its affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of data, use, or goodwill, arising from your use of the Platform. Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid us, if any, in the twelve months preceding the claim.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Scholar's Net from any claims, damages, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your User Content, your use of the Platform, or your violation of these Terms.

12. Termination

You may stop using the Platform at any time. We may suspend or terminate your access if you breach these Terms or if we discontinue the service. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination will survive.

13. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date and, where appropriate, notify you. Your continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which Scholar's Net operates, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any disputes shall be resolved in the competent courts of that jurisdiction.

15. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us.