Terms of Service

1. Eligibility

To use Research Shock, you must be:

• At least 16 years of age and affiliated with a verified institution to create an Administrator account. The institution is responsible for ensuring any member they add to their team meets the age requirements.
• At least 13 years of age to subscribe to our newsletters or create a general reader profile.
• Capable of forming a binding contract under applicable law.
• Affiliated with a recognized academic or research institution (if participating as an member of an institution).

2. Account Registration and Security

When creating an account, you must provide accurate, current, and complete information. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account.

Research Shock uses secure JWT token authentication. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized access or use of your account. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to protect your credentials.

3. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree to use the Platform only for lawful, professional, and academically relevant purposes. You agree not to:

• Post false, misleading, or fabricated research data.
• Violate the intellectual property rights or privacy of others.
• Engage in harassment, hate speech, or inappropriate conduct.
• Interfere with or disrupt the performance and security of the Platform.
• Scrape, datamine, or reverse-engineer the Platform.

4. Intellectual Property

A. Research Shock Content

All platform software, design, trademarks, and associated Intellectual Property (excluding User Content) are owned by Research Shock and protected by international copyright laws.

B. User Content

Authors retain ownership of the original content they submit to the Platform.

By submitting content, Authors grant Research Shock a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, display, distribute, and reproduce the content specifically in connection with the operation and promotion of the Platform.

5. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

Disclaimer: The Platform is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. Research Shock makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of user-published content.

Limitation of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, Research Shock shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your access to or use of the Platform.

6. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account and access to the Platform immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation if you breach these Terms.

7. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which Research Shock is incorporated, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

8. Changes to Terms

Research Shock reserves the right to modify or replace these Terms at any time. Significant changes will be communicated via the Platform. Your continued use of the Platform following the posting of any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes.