1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account or using our Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Platform.

2. Eligibility and Account Registration

Age Requirements

• Minimum Age: You must be at least 16 years old to use our Platform
• Age Verification: You confirm your age through date of birth and checkbox verification
• Parental Consent: Users under 18 may need parental consent in certain jurisdictions
• Account Verification: We reserve the right to verify your age and identity

Account Registration

• Accurate Information: Provide truthful, current, and complete registration information
• Account Security: Maintain the confidentiality of your account credentials
• Account Responsibility: You are responsible for all activities under your account
• Single Account: One account per person; multiple accounts may be terminated
• Authentication Methods: You may register using email/password, Google OAuth, or OTP verification

3. Platform Description

Heuristic Insights is a social platform built around products. Users share opinions about everyday products, see what thousands of others think, discover new brands, and get rewarded for their contributions. Brands receive real-time, structured insights about their products and customers.

Core Features for Users

• Product Discovery: Search, browse, and discover products across categories
• Opinion Sharing: Share your opinions about products through quick polls
• Social Proof: See what thousands of others think about products
• Product Contributions: Add new products to the platform database
• Barcode Scanning: Scan product barcodes to find or add products
• Rewards System: Earn points, badges, and rewards for contributions
• Leaderboards: Track your contribution level and compete on leaderboards
• Product Reviews: Leave detailed feedback and comments about products

Core Features for Brands

• Brand Pages: Claim and manage your brand page
• Product Management: Add, verify, and manage your products
• Customer Insights: Access real-time feedback and analytics
• Poll Creation: Create targeted polls for your products
• Demographic Data: View demographic breakdowns of your audience
• Rewards Management: Configure and manage customer rewards

Current Service Model

• Live Platform: Platform is currently live and operational
• Free for Users: User features are free to use
• Brand Subscriptions: Brands may subscribe for premium features and insights
• Future Features: Additional features and services may be introduced
• Beta Features: Some features may be in testing phase

4. User Conduct and Acceptable Use

Permitted Uses

• Honest Opinions: Share truthful opinions and experiences about products
• Product Contributions: Add accurate product information and images
• Brand Discovery: Discover and engage with brands and products
• Respectful Engagement: Interact respectfully with other users and brands
• Legitimate Feedback: Provide constructive feedback to improve products
• Educational Use: Use Platform for learning and research purposes

Prohibited Uses

• False Reviews: Submit fake, misleading, or paid reviews
• Gaming the System: Manipulate leaderboards, badges, or rewards through fraudulent activity
• Spam Products: Add duplicate, fake, or irrelevant products to the database
• Competitive Sabotage: Post false negative reviews to harm competitors
• Harassment: Harass, abuse, threaten, or discriminate against other users or brands
• Illegal Activities: Use Platform for any illegal purpose or to violate laws
• Privacy Violations: Collect personal information without proper consent
• System Interference: Interfere with Platform security, functionality, or performance
• Intellectual Property: Violate copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights
• Harmful Content: Create content that is defamatory, obscene, or harmful
• Unauthorized Access: Access accounts, data, or systems without permission
• Bot Accounts: Create automated accounts or use bots to engage with the platform
• Multiple Accounts: Create multiple accounts to game rewards or leaderboards

5. Content and Intellectual Property

User-Generated Content

• Ownership: You retain ownership of content you create (reviews, comments, images)
• License Grant: You grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute your content on the Platform
• Content Responsibility: You are responsible for the legality, accuracy, and appropriateness of your content
• Content Removal: We may remove content that violates these Terms without notice
• Image Rights: You confirm you have rights to any product images you upload

Product Data and Contributions

• Product Database: Products you add become part of our public database
• Barcode Data: Barcode scans and product identifications are stored in our system
• Community Benefit: Product contributions help build the ecosystem for all users
• Data Accuracy: You are responsible for accuracy of product information you submit
• Corrections: We may correct or remove inaccurate product information

Poll Responses and Opinions

• Poll Responses: Your poll responses become part of our database
• Aggregated Data: Responses are aggregated and shared with brands and other users
• Anonymization: Personal identifiers are removed before sharing with brands
• Public Results: Poll results may be displayed publicly according to poll settings
• Research Use: Anonymized data may be used for platform improvement and research

Third-Party Product Information

• Data Sources: We use USDA FoodData Central, Open Food Facts, and other public databases
• AI-Generated Content: Some brand descriptions are AI-generated using OpenAI GPT-4
• Manufacturer Data: Product images and information may be sourced from manufacturer websites
• Accuracy Disclaimer: We strive for accuracy but do not guarantee completeness of third-party data

Brand Claiming and Verification

• Unclaimed Pages: Brands may exist on our platform before official claiming (similar to Yelp)
• Claiming Process: Brands can claim their pages by verifying ownership
• Verification Required: We verify brand ownership before granting full dashboard access
• Impersonation: Falsely claiming a brand page is prohibited and may result in account termination

6. Rewards, Points, and Gamification

Rewards Program

• Earning Rewards: Earn points and badges for contributing to the platform
• Contribution Types: Points awarded for poll responses, product additions, photos, corrections
• Leaderboards: Rankings based on contribution level and activity
• Badges: Achievement badges awarded for reaching contribution milestones
• No Cash Value: Points and badges have no cash value and cannot be transferred
• Modification Rights: We may modify reward rules, point values, or badge criteria at any time
• Fraud Prevention: Fraudulent activity to earn rewards will result in point forfeiture and account termination

Brand-Sponsored Rewards

• Discounts and Offers: Brands may offer rewards for engaging with their products
• Redemption: Redemption terms set by individual brands
• Third-Party Liability: We are not responsible for brand-sponsored rewards or their fulfillment
• Expiration: Rewards may expire according to brand terms

7. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information. By using our Platform, you consent to our privacy practices as described in our Privacy Policy.

Data Processing

• Lawful Basis: We process your data based on consent, legitimate interests, and legal obligations
• International Transfers: Your data may be transferred internationally with appropriate safeguards
• Data Rights: You have rights regarding your personal data as described in our Privacy Policy
• Product Data: Product contributions are retained to maintain database integrity even after account deletion

8. Brand Services and Payment Terms

Brand Subscriptions

• Subscription Tiers: Different pricing tiers based on features and analytics access
• Pricing: Pricing clearly displayed before purchase
• Payment Processing: Payments processed securely through Stripe
• Automatic Renewal: Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled
• Cancellation: Cancel anytime with no cancellation fees
• Refunds: Refunds handled on case-by-case basis within 30 days of purchase

Free Trial and Pilot Programs

• Trial Period: We may offer free trials for brand services
• Pilot Programs: Early access programs for select brands
• Conversion: Trials may convert to paid subscriptions unless cancelled

9. Disclaimers and Limitations

Service Disclaimers

• "As Is" Service: Platform provided "as is" without warranties of any kind
• No Guarantees: No guarantee of accuracy, reliability, completeness, or availability
• User Responsibility: You use the Platform at your own risk
• Third-Party Content: We are not responsible for user-generated content or third-party data
• Product Information: We do not guarantee accuracy of product data from third-party sources
• Beta Features: Features in testing may have bugs or limited functionality

Limitation of Liability

• Damages: Our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law
• Exclusions: We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages
• Liability Cap: Total liability limited to amounts paid for services in the 12 months prior to claim
• Exceptions: Some jurisdictions may not allow these limitations
• No Liability for Reviews: We are not liable for user reviews, ratings, or opinions posted on the Platform

10. Account Termination and Suspension

Termination by You

• Account Deletion: You may delete your account at any time through account settings
• Data Retention: Some data may be retained according to our Privacy Policy
• Product Contributions: Product data you contributed remains on the platform (anonymized)

Termination by Us

• Terms Violation: We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms
• Fraudulent Activity: Immediate termination for fraud, spam, or gaming the system
• Inactive Accounts: We may delete accounts inactive for extended periods
• No Refunds: No refunds for terminations due to Terms violations
• Appeal Process: You may appeal termination by contacting legal@heuristicinsights.app

11. Dispute Resolution

Governing Law

• Delaware Law: These Terms are governed by Delaware law without regard to conflict of law provisions
• Federal Courts: Disputes resolved in federal courts in Delaware
• Personal Jurisdiction: You consent to personal jurisdiction in Delaware

Informal Resolution

• Good Faith: We encourage good faith efforts to resolve disputes informally
• Contact: Contact legal@heuristicinsights.app for dispute resolution
• Mediation: Mediation available for unresolved disputes
• 30-Day Notice: Provide written notice of dispute before formal proceedings

12. Updates to Terms

Modification Process

• Updates: We may update these Terms periodically to reflect Platform changes
• Notification: Material changes will be communicated via email or Platform notice
• Effective Date: Updated Terms effective 30 days after notification
• Continued Use: Continued use of Platform constitutes acceptance of updated Terms
• Objection: If you object to changes, discontinue use and delete your account

13. Miscellaneous

General Provisions

• Entire Agreement: These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and us
• Severability: If any provision is invalid, the remaining provisions remain in effect
• No Waiver: Failure to enforce any provision does not waive our right to enforce it later
• Assignment: We may assign these Terms; you may not assign without our consent
• Force Majeure: We are not liable for delays due to circumstances beyond our control

14. Contact Information

General Contact

• General Inquiries: hello@heuristicinsights.app (business inquiries, partnerships)
• Customer Support: support@heuristicinsights.app (account issues, technical support)
• Legal Matters: legal@heuristicinsights.app (formal legal notices, dispute resolution)
• Privacy Requests: privacy@heuristicinsights.app (GDPR, CCPA, data deletion requests)

Mailing Address

6418 North Rockwell Street 3, Chicago, IL 60645, US

Response Times

• General Inquiries: We respond within 2 business days
• Customer Support: We respond within 1 business day
• Legal Matters: We respond within 7 business days
• Privacy Requests: We respond within 5 business days

Legal Notices

For legal notices and formal communications, use legal@heuristicinsights.app with "Legal Notice" in the subject line.