1. Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using OnChainCert ("Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our Service.

2. Description of Service

OnChainCert provides blockchain-based certificate verification services. We enable institutions to issue tamper-proof digital certificates recorded on the Polygon blockchain, allowing for instant and transparent verification of credentials.

3. User Accounts

You must provide accurate and complete information when creating an account.
You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials.
You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account.
You must be at least 18 years old or have parental consent to use this Service.

4. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

Issue fraudulent or misleading certificates.
Violate any applicable laws or regulations.
Infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others.
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems.
Use the Service for any illegal or harmful purposes.
Transmit malware, viruses, or other malicious code.

5. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its original content, features, and functionality, is owned by OnChainCert and is protected by international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You retain ownership of the certificates and content you create using our Service.

6. Data Protection and Privacy (GDPR Compliance)

We are committed to protecting your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable data protection laws:

Data Controller: OnChainCert acts as the data controller for personal data collected through the Service.
Legal Basis: We process personal data based on contractual necessity, legitimate interests, and your consent where required.
Your Rights: You have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, data portability, and object to processing of your personal data.
Data Retention: We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected.
International Transfers: If we transfer data outside the EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.
Data Security: We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data.

For detailed information about how we handle your data, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

7. Blockchain Records

Please note that certificate data recorded on the blockchain is permanent and cannot be deleted due to the immutable nature of blockchain technology. By using our Service to issue certificates, you acknowledge and accept this limitation. We recommend not including sensitive personal data in certificate metadata beyond what is necessary for verification purposes.

8. Data Storage and Retention Policy

OnChainCert provides temporary storage of certificate files (PDFs) as part of the Service. Please note the following retention policies:

Active Subscriptions: Certificate files are stored for the duration of your active subscription.
Cancelled Subscriptions: Upon subscription cancellation, your certificate files will be retained for 12 months from the cancellation date. After this period, files may be permanently deleted.
Free Plan: Certificate files on the Free plan are retained for 6 months from the date of last account activity. Extended inactivity may result in file deletion.
Blockchain Records: Certificate verification data stored on the blockchain is permanent and will remain accessible regardless of subscription status. Only the file storage is affected by retention policies.
Export Your Data: Before cancellation or account deletion, we strongly recommend using the "Export All Certificates" feature to download your certificate files. You can access this in your account settings.
Notification: We will send email notifications 30 days and 7 days before any scheduled data deletion.

By using our Service, you acknowledge and accept these data retention policies. We recommend maintaining local backups of all important certificate files.

9. Payment Terms

Paid subscriptions are billed in advance on a monthly or annual basis.
All fees are non-refundable unless otherwise stated.
We reserve the right to modify pricing with 30 days' notice.
Failure to pay may result in suspension or termination of your account.

10. Service Availability

We strive to maintain high availability but do not guarantee uninterrupted access to the Service. We may perform maintenance, updates, or experience downtime. We are not liable for any losses resulting from service interruptions.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, OnChainCert shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, or business opportunities, arising from your use of the Service.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless OnChainCert, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from your use of the Service or violation of these Terms.

13. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account at any time for violation of these Terms. Upon termination, your right to use the Service will cease immediately. Certificate records already stored on the blockchain will remain accessible for verification purposes.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of significant changes via email or through the Service. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

15. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the European Union and the applicable laws of the jurisdiction in which you reside, without regard to conflict of law principles.

16. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall first be attempted to be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, disputes shall be submitted to binding arbitration or the competent courts of your jurisdiction, as permitted by applicable consumer protection laws.

17. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

Email: support@onchaincert.org