Terms of Service

Last updated: August 31, 2025

1. Agreement and Acceptance

By accessing or using SnapGenius, a product of FIRAT (Foresight Institute of Research and Translation), you ("User", "Researcher", "Institution") agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"), all applicable laws and regulations, and acknowledge that you are responsible for compliance with applicable research ethics standards, institutional policies, and local laws. If you do not agree with these terms, you are prohibited from using SnapGenius.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and FIRAT. SnapGenius is designed specifically for legitimate research, academic, and educational purposes.

2. Service Description and Permitted Use

SnapGenius is a research-grade data collection and analysis platform that provides:

  • AI-powered form creation and survey design tools;
  • Secure data collection and storage infrastructure;
  • Research analytics and statistical analysis capabilities;
  • Collaboration tools for research teams;
  • Compliance tools for research ethics and data protection;
  • Integration capabilities with research analysis software.

Permitted Uses: SnapGenius may only be used for legitimate research, academic, educational, and scholarly purposes by qualified researchers, institutions, and students.

Prohibited Uses: You may not use SnapGenius for:

  • Commercial marketing, sales, or promotional activities unrelated to research;
  • Collection of data without appropriate consent or ethics approval;
  • Deceptive, fraudulent, or unethical research practices;
  • Activities that violate research ethics standards or institutional policies;
  • Harassment, spam, or unsolicited communications;
  • Collecting sensitive data without appropriate safeguards and approvals;
  • Any illegal activities or violations of applicable laws;
  • Attempts to compromise platform security or other users' data;
  • Reverse engineering, decompiling, or attempting to extract source code;
  • Reselling or redistributing the service without authorization.

3. Research Ethics and Compliance Obligations

As a research platform user, you agree to:

  • Obtain all necessary ethics approvals (IRB, Ethics Committee) before collecting human subjects data;
  • Ensure informed consent is obtained from all research participants;
  • Comply with applicable research regulations (ICH-GCP, FDA regulations, etc.);
  • Maintain participant confidentiality and data security;
  • Follow institutional policies and professional standards;
  • Provide accurate information about research purposes and data use;
  • Respect participant rights including withdrawal and data deletion requests;
  • Maintain detailed documentation for audit and compliance purposes;
  • Report any data breaches or ethics violations immediately;
  • Use data only for stated research purposes and approved analyses.

FIRAT reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that fail to maintain research ethics standards or engage in questionable research practices.

4. Account Requirements and Verification

SnapGenius accounts require verification of research credentials:

  • Academic or institutional email address verification;
  • Proof of research affiliation or student status;
  • Completion of research ethics training (where applicable);
  • Agreement to institutional oversight and audit rights;
  • Accurate profile information and institutional details.

You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. Accounts may not be shared or transferred without prior written approval.

5. Data Ownership and Rights

Research Data: You retain ownership of all research data collected through SnapGenius. FIRAT acts as a data processor and does not claim ownership of your research data.

FIRAT Rights: FIRAT reserves the right to:

  • Access data for technical support, security, and legal compliance purposes;
  • Use aggregated, anonymized usage statistics to improve the platform;
  • Preserve data for legal proceedings or regulatory investigations;
  • Migrate data for service continuity and disaster recovery;
  • Implement security measures including data scanning for threats.

Data Export: You may export your data at any time in standard formats. FIRAT provides tools to facilitate data portability and backup.

6. Service Availability and Performance

FIRAT strives to provide reliable service but does not guarantee uninterrupted availability:

  • Target uptime of 99.9% with scheduled maintenance windows;
  • Right to suspend service for maintenance, security, or legal compliance;
  • No liability for research delays due to service interruptions;
  • Backup and recovery procedures to protect against data loss;
  • Status page and notification system for service updates.

Critical research data should be backed up regularly. FIRAT recommends implementing appropriate contingency plans for time-sensitive research activities.

7. Payment Terms and Institutional Billing

SnapGenius offers various subscription plans for individual researchers and institutions:

  • Payment processing through secure, PCI-compliant third-party processors;
  • Institutional billing and purchase order support available;
  • Automatic renewal unless cancelled 30 days before renewal date;
  • Refunds available for technical issues originating from the platform;
  • Pro-rata refunds for cancelled annual subscriptions (excluding current month and processing fees);
  • Educational discounts available for qualified academic institutions;
  • Grant funding documentation support for research project billing.

Subscription changes take effect at the next billing cycle. Downgrading may result in feature limitations but will not affect existing research data.

8. Intellectual Property and Research Publication

Platform IP: FIRAT retains all rights to SnapGenius software, algorithms, and platform technology.

Research IP: You retain full rights to your research findings, publications, and intellectual property derived from data collected through SnapGenius.

Attribution: We appreciate acknowledgment of SnapGenius in research publications where appropriate, but this is not required.

9. Limitation of Liability and Disclaimers

SERVICE PROVIDED "AS IS": SnapGenius is provided on an "as is" basis. FIRAT makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding:

  • Accuracy, completeness, or reliability of research data or analysis;
  • Fitness for particular research purposes or methodologies;
  • Compliance with specific institutional or regulatory requirements;
  • Uninterrupted or error-free service operation;
  • Security against all possible threats or vulnerabilities.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: To the maximum extent permitted by law, FIRAT's total liability for any claims arising from these Terms or use of SnapGenius shall not exceed the amount paid by you for the service in the 12 months preceding the claim.

EXCLUDED DAMAGES: FIRAT shall not be liable for:

  • Research delays, failed studies, or lost research opportunities;
  • Indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages;
  • Loss of data due to user error or third-party actions;
  • Costs of substitute services or research methodologies;
  • Loss of funding, grants, or publication opportunities.

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation of liability, so these limitations may not apply to you. You acknowledge that the service pricing reflects these limitations.

10. Indemnification and Research Responsibility

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless FIRAT from claims arising from:

  • Your violation of these Terms or applicable laws;
  • Research ethics violations or failure to obtain proper approvals;
  • Unauthorized collection or use of participant data;
  • Infringement of third-party rights through your use of the service;
  • Misrepresentation of research purposes or institutional affiliation;
  • Breach of confidentiality or data protection obligations;
  • Use of the service for prohibited or unauthorized purposes.

This indemnification includes reasonable attorney fees and costs. FIRAT will provide prompt notice of any claims and reasonable cooperation in defense.

11. Termination and Data Preservation

Termination Rights: Either party may terminate these Terms:

  • With 30 days written notice for convenience;
  • Immediately for material breach after 10 days cure period;
  • Immediately for research ethics violations or illegal activities;
  • Upon insolvency, bankruptcy, or change of control.

Data Preservation: Upon termination:

  • You have 90 days to export all research data;
  • FIRAT will preserve data for regulatory retention periods;
  • Data may be retained longer if required by legal proceedings;
  • Anonymized data may be retained for platform improvement purposes;
  • Account closure does not affect ongoing legal obligations.

12. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

Informal Resolution: We encourage informal resolution of disputes through direct communication with our research support team.

Binding Arbitration: If informal resolution fails, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration under the rules of the appropriate arbitration association, with the following exceptions:

  • Claims for injunctive relief or intellectual property protection;
  • Small claims court matters within monetary limits;
  • Disputes involving research ethics or regulatory compliance.

Governing Law: These Terms are governed by applicable laws with consideration for international research collaboration requirements. Institutional users may request jurisdiction-specific amendments for compliance purposes.

Class Action Waiver: To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree that disputes must be brought in an individual capacity and not as part of any class action, mass tort, or representative proceeding.

12A. Enhanced Liability Limitations and Damage Caps

CRITICAL NOTICE: These enhanced limitations are essential to providing affordable research services. Please read carefully.

Maximum Liability Cap: FIRAT's total liability to you for any and all claims, regardless of the form of action or legal theory, shall not exceed the lesser of:

  • The total amount paid by you to FIRAT in the 12 months preceding the claim; or
  • One thousand dollars ($1,000 USD) per incident; or
  • Five thousand dollars ($5,000 USD) aggregate in any calendar year.

Research Data Disclaimer: You acknowledge that research data collection involves inherent risks. FIRAT provides tools but cannot guarantee:

  • Completeness or accuracy of participant responses;
  • Compliance with all applicable research ethics standards;
  • Validity of consent obtained from research participants;
  • Protection against all possible data security threats;
  • Compatibility with all institutional research requirements.

Third-Party Service Disclaimer: FIRAT integrates with third-party services (payment processors, AI providers, cloud storage). We disclaim all liability for:

  • Third-party service outages, failures, or security breaches;
  • Changes to third-party APIs, terms, or pricing;
  • Data processing by third-party AI or analytics services;
  • Compliance failures by integrated third-party services.

12B. AI and Automated Systems Disclaimers

AI-Generated Content Warning: SnapGenius includes AI-powered features for form generation and content suggestions. You acknowledge and agree that:

  • AI-generated content may contain errors, biases, or inappropriate material;
  • You are responsible for reviewing and validating all AI-generated content;
  • AI suggestions are not professional advice and require human oversight;
  • Cultural sensitivity and research ethics review is your responsibility;
  • AI models may reflect training data biases beyond FIRAT's control;
  • We do not warrant accuracy, completeness, or appropriateness of AI outputs.

Research Methodology Disclaimer: AI-generated forms and questions are tools only. You retain full responsibility for:

  • Research design validity and methodological soundness;
  • Compliance with disciplinary research standards;
  • Statistical analysis and interpretation of results;
  • Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and ethics compliance;
  • Participant recruitment and consent procedures;
  • Data analysis, publication, and dissemination decisions.

No Professional Advice: FIRAT and SnapGenius do not provide research methodology consulting, statistical analysis services, or ethics guidance. Our platform provides tools; you provide the research expertise.

12C. Force Majeure and Service Availability

Force Majeure Events: FIRAT shall not be liable for delays or failures due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including:

  • Natural disasters, pandemics, or public health emergencies;
  • Government actions, sanctions, or regulatory changes;
  • Internet infrastructure failures or cyberattacks;
  • Third-party service provider outages or discontinuations;
  • Labor disputes, strikes, or workforce unavailability;
  • Supply chain disruptions or vendor failures;
  • Changes in international data transfer regulations.

Service Level Disclaimer: While we strive for high availability, we make no guarantees regarding:

  • Platform uptime or availability percentages;
  • Data processing speeds or response times;
  • Continuous access during maintenance windows;
  • Compatibility with all devices, browsers, or operating systems;
  • Uninterrupted service during security updates or infrastructure changes.

Backup and Recovery Disclaimer: While we implement backup procedures, you are responsible for maintaining independent copies of critical research data. We recommend regular data exports and institutional backup procedures.

12D. Enhanced Indemnification and User Responsibilities

Comprehensive Indemnification: You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless FIRAT and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from all claims arising from:

  • Your research activities, data collection, or participant interactions;
  • Violations of research ethics, institutional policies, or applicable laws;
  • Unauthorized data collection or privacy violations;
  • Intellectual property infringement claims related to your research;
  • Misuse of AI-generated content or platform features;
  • Data breaches caused by your security practices or credential sharing;
  • Claims by research participants or institutional oversight bodies;
  • Export control violations or international data transfer violations;
  • Third-party integration misuse or unauthorized access;
  • Publication disputes or research misconduct allegations.

Research Ethics Responsibility: You specifically warrant that:

  • You have obtained all necessary ethics approvals before data collection;
  • You will obtain informed consent from all research participants;
  • Your research complies with institutional and disciplinary standards;
  • You will not use the platform for deceptive or unethical research;
  • You will respect participant rights and data protection requirements;
  • You will not collect data from vulnerable populations without special safeguards.

Indemnification Process: We will provide prompt notice of claims and reasonable cooperation in defense. You will cover all costs including attorney fees, settlements, and judgments. We reserve the right to participate in defense with counsel of our choice at your expense.

13. Changes to Terms and Notice

FIRAT may modify these Terms to reflect service changes, legal requirements, or industry standards:

  • Material changes require 60 days advance notice;
  • Minor updates may be posted with immediate effect;
  • Continued use constitutes acceptance of modified Terms;
  • Institutional users may request contract amendments for significant changes;
  • Previous versions remain accessible for reference.

14. Contact Information and Support

For questions about these Terms or SnapGenius services:

FIRAT - Foresight Institute of Research and Translation
Legal Department: legal@firat.rw
Research Support: support@snapgenius.tech
Ethics Inquiries: ethics@firat.rw
Institutional Partnerships: partnerships@firat.rw

By using SnapGenius, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy.