Terms of Service

1. Introduction & Acceptance

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User", "You") and Protevio AI ("Protevio", "We", "Us") governing your access to and use of our facial recognition search platform and related services (collectively, "Services").

1.1 Agreement to Terms

By creating an account, uploading photos, or using any feature of Protevio, you:

• Acknowledge you have read and understood these Terms
• Agree to be legally bound by these Terms
• Represent you are at least 18 years old
• Represent you have authority to enter this agreement
• Consent to processing of biometric data as described in Privacy Policy

1.2 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Protevio. They supersede all prior agreements, communications, and understandings.

2. Description of Services

Protevio provides AI-powered facial recognition search services enabling users to search for publicly available images across the internet.

2.1 Free Tier (No Account Required)

2.2 Paid Subscription Plans

* Subject to Fair Use Policy (see Section 6)

2.3 Service Features

• Facial Recognition Search: Upload photo, receive matching images
• Source Information: URLs and context of where images appear
• Search History: Access past searches (paid plans)
• Alerts: Notifications for new matches (Professional+)
• Filters: Date range, image quality, source type
• Export: Download search results
• API Access: Programmatic integration (Professional+)

2.4 Service Availability

We strive for 99.9% uptime (Enterprise SLA) but:

• Services provided "as is" without guaranteed availability
• Scheduled maintenance windows announced 48h in advance
• Emergency maintenance may occur with minimal notice
• No liability for temporary unavailability

3. Account Registration & Security

3.1 Account Creation

To access paid features, you must create an account by providing:

• Valid email address
• Secure password (min. 8 characters, mixed case, numbers, symbols)
• Accurate registration information

3.2 Account Security - Your Responsibilities

3.3 Account Information

• Must be accurate and current
• Update promptly when changed
• We may verify information at any time
• False information may result in account termination

3.4 One Account Per Person

• You may only create one account
• Multiple accounts for abuse/circumvention prohibited
• Business accounts available for team use
• Sharing accounts violates Terms

4. Acceptable Use Policy

4.1 Permitted Uses

You may use Services only for:

• Personal use: Search for images of yourself
• Authorized use: Images you have rights to search
• Legitimate purposes: Identity verification, brand protection, research
• Legal compliance: In accordance with all applicable laws

4.2 User Obligations

You agree to:

• Use Services in good faith and ethically
• Respect others' privacy and rights
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Not misuse or abuse the Services
• Not interfere with Services or other users
• Report abuse or violations to us

4.3 Photo Upload Requirements

• Only upload photos you have rights to use
• Photos must be of real people (no cartoons, drawings, AI-generated)
• Photos must be clear and unobstructed
• Do not upload photos of minors (under 18)
• Do not upload explicit or pornographic content

5. Prohibited Activities ⚠ 

5.1 Illegal Uses

• Unauthorized Surveillance: Stalking, harassment, or malicious spying on others (does not apply to authorized law enforcement or legal corporate investigations).
• Identity Theft: Impersonation, fraud, scams
• Doxxing: Publishing private information without consent
• Revenge Porn: Non-consensual intimate images
• Child Exploitation: Any content involving minors
• Terrorism: Planning or supporting illegal activities
• Discrimination: Targeting based on protected characteristics

5.2 Service Abuse

• Automation: Bots, scrapers, unauthorized tools
• Circumvention: Bypassing rate limits or restrictions
• Account Sharing: Sharing credentials or selling access
• Multiple Accounts: Creating accounts to evade limits
• Reverse Engineering: Attempting to extract our algorithms
• Data Mining: Scraping our index or results

5.3 Technical Attacks

• Hacking, DDoS, or unauthorized access attempts
• Malware, viruses, or malicious code
• Exploiting vulnerabilities
• Interfering with infrastructure

5.4 Intellectual Property Violations

• Copyright infringement
• Trademark violation
• Uploading photos without rights
• Circumventing watermarks or protections

5.5 Consequences of Violations

No refunds for terminated accounts. We cooperate with law enforcement on illegal activities.

6. Fair Use Policy (Enterprise Unlimited) ⚠¡

6.1 Reasonable Use Definitions

• Daily Search Limit: 10,000 searches per day per account
• Hourly Rate Limit: 500 searches per hour
• Concurrent Searches: Max 5 simultaneous searches
• API Rate Limit: 100 requests/minute

6.2 Acceptable Enterprise Use

• Brand monitoring and protection
• Identity verification services
• Security and fraud prevention
• Research and analysis
• Internal business operations

6.3 Unacceptable Enterprise Use

• Reselling: Providing Protevio access to third parties
• Unauthorized Mass Surveillance: Systematic monitoring of individuals without a valid legal, institutional, or protective mandate.
• Data Harvesting: Building competing databases
• Automated Bulk Searching: Searching thousands of photos without human review

6.4 Enforcement

If you exceed fair use limits:

1. Soft Limit (10,000-15,000/day): Warning email, no throttling
2. Hard Limit (15,000+/day): Automatic throttling to 10,000/day
3. Consistent Abuse: Account review, possible plan adjustment
4. Severe Abuse: Suspension pending investigation

Need higher limits? Contact [Enterprise] for custom Enterprise plans.

7. Search Results Disclaimer ⚠  CRITICAL

7.1 Results Are Probabilistic, Not Certain

• Not Identity Confirmation: Results show possible matches, not confirmed identities
• Accuracy ~95%: Approximately 5% of results may be false positives
• User Verification Required: You must independently verify all matches
• No Guarantees: We don't guarantee accuracy, completeness, or reliability

7.2 Acceptable Reliance on Results (Limitation of Use)

Protevio is designed as an advanced open-source intelligence (OSINT) and investigative support tool. Because our results represent mathematical probabilities and not absolute certainties, search results must NOT be used as the SOLE, unverified basis for:

• Law enforcement arrests, warrants, or criminal indictments.
• Final judicial rulings or legal judgments.
• Final employment termination or automated hiring rejections.
• Automated denial of credit, insurance, or financial services.
• Immigration or government benefits determinations.

Mandatory Corroboration: Authorized professionals (such as law enforcement, HR, or corporate investigators) may use Protevio for lead generation and investigative support, but must independently verify and corroborate all matches through human review and official channels before taking any significant or legal action.

7.3 Third-Party Content

• Not Our Content: Results link to external websites we don't control
• No Endorsement: Links don't imply approval or affiliation
• Content Accuracy: External content accuracy is not our responsibility
• External Policies: Third-party sites have their own terms and privacy policies

7.4 Limitations of Technology

Factors affecting accuracy:

• Photo quality (resolution, lighting, angle)
• Facial occlusion (sunglasses, masks, hats)
• Age differences between photos
• Demographic variations (ongoing bias mitigation)
• Image alterations (filters, editing)

7.5 Your Responsibilities

• Verify Before Acting: Independently confirm all matches
• Use Responsibly: Don't make important decisions based solely on results
• Report Errors: Notify us of persistent accuracy issues
• Respect Privacy: Don't use results to harm or harass others

8. Payment Terms & Billing

8.1 Subscription Billing

• Payment in Advance: Subscriptions billed at start of each billing period
• Billing Cycle: Monthly (30 days) or Annual (365 days)
• Auto-Renewal: Automatically renews unless cancelled
• Price Changes: 30-day notice for price increases

8.2 Payment Methods

We accept:

• Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover)
• Debit cards
• PayPal
• Bank transfer (Enterprise only, annual pre-payment)

8.3 Payment Processing

Payments processed by third-party providers:

• Stripe: Credit card processing
• PayPal: PayPal payments
• We don't store full credit card numbers
• Payment data subject to processor's terms and privacy policy

8.4 Failed Payments

If payment fails:

1. Day 1: Email notification, retry in 3 days
2. Day 4: Second retry, email reminder
3. Day 7: Final retry, final notice
4. Day 10: Subscription suspended, account downgraded to Free

Grace Period: 30 days to update payment and reactivate.

8.5 Taxes

• Prices exclude applicable taxes (VAT, sales tax)
• You're responsible for all taxes
• EU VAT: Charged based on your country
• Tax exemption: Provide valid tax ID

8.6 Invoices

• Emailed after each payment
• Available in account dashboard
• Include business details for tax purposes

9. Refund Policy

9.1 Eligibility Criteria

Refunds available if ALL conditions met:

• Timeframe: Within 7 calendar days of initial purchase
• Usage: Performed fewer than 5 searches
• Features: Haven't activated premium features (alerts, API)
• Support: No extensive support provided
• Good Standing: No Terms violations

9.2 Non-Refundable Scenarios

No refunds for:

• Requests after 7-day window
• Accounts with extensive usage (5+ searches)
• Renewal charges (cancel before renewal)
• Partial month refunds
• Annual plans after 30 days
• Terminated accounts (Terms violations)
• Buyer's remorse without valid reason

9.3 Refund Process

1. Request: Email INFO with order # and reason
2. Review: We review within 2 business days
3. Approval: Refund processed to original payment method
4. Processing Time: 5-10 business days for funds to appear
5. Account Access: Downgraded to Free immediately

9.4 Exceptional Circumstances

Outside standard policy, we may consider refunds for:

• Technical issues preventing service use
• Billing errors on our part
• Service outages exceeding SLA
• Duplicate charges

Decided case-by-case at our discretion.

10. Termination & Suspension

10.1 Termination by You

You may cancel anytime:

• Method: Account settings or email support
• Effect: No future charges
• Access: Retain access until end of current billing period
• Data: Account data retained for 30 days, then deleted
• No Refunds: For unused time (except as per refund policy)

10.2 Termination by Us

We may terminate your account immediately for:

• Terms Violations: Breach of any provision
• Illegal Activity: Any unlawful use
• Abuse: Harassment, fraud, or malicious behavior
• Non-Payment: Failure to pay after grace period
• Risk: Threat to security, reputation, or other users

10.3 Effects of Termination

Upon termination:

• Immediate loss of access to Services
• All outstanding fees immediately due
• No refunds for early termination
• Data deleted per our data retention policy
• May be reported to authorities if illegal activity

10.4 Suspension (Temporary)

We may suspend (not terminate) for:

• Investigating potential violations
• Security concerns
• Payment issues
• Fair use policy violations

Suspension Duration: Until investigation complete, typically 1-14 days.

10.5 Appeals

To appeal suspension/termination:

• Email [Appeal] within 30 days
• Provide account details and explanation
• We review and respond within 7 business days
• Our decision is final

11. Intellectual Property

11.1 Protevio's IP Rights

We own all rights to:

• Software: Algorithms, models, code, databases
• Content: Website text, graphics, logos, icons
• Trademarks: "Protevio", logos, branding
• Patents: Any patented technologies
• Trade Secrets: Proprietary methods and processes

11.2 Limited License to Use

We grant you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to:

• Access and use Services for permitted purposes
• View and download search results for personal use
• Use API (if subscribed) per API Terms

11.3 Restrictions

You may NOT:

• Copy, modify, or distribute our software
• Reverse engineer or decompile our algorithms
• Remove copyright notices or branding
• Use "Protevio" trademark without permission
• Create derivative works
• Frame or mirror our content
• Build competing services using our data

11.4 User Content - Your Photos

• Ownership: You retain ownership of uploaded photos
• License Grant: You grant us limited license to process photos for Services
• License Scope: Only for facial recognition matching, no other use
• License Duration: Ends when you delete photo or close account
• Representations: You confirm you own photos or have rights to upload them

11.5 Feedback

If you provide feedback, suggestions, or ideas:

• You grant us unrestricted, perpetual right to use them
• No compensation owed
• We may incorporate into Services

12. DMCA & Copyright

12.1 Copyright Infringement Reporting

If you believe content infringes your copyright:

Submit DMCA Notice to: [DMCA]

Notice Must Include:

1. Your contact information (name, address, email, phone)
2. Description of copyrighted work
3. URL of infringing content
4. Statement you have good-faith belief use is unauthorized
5. Statement information is accurate under penalty of perjury
6. Physical or electronic signature

12.2 Our Response

• Review: Within 48 hours
• Action: Remove/disable access if valid claim
• Notification: Notify uploader (if user uploaded content)
• External Sites: We can't remove content from external websites; contact them directly

12.3 Counter-Notice

If your content was removed, you may file counter-notice:

• Your contact information
• Identification of removed content
• Statement under penalty of perjury it was mistakenly removed
• Consent to jurisdiction
• Signature

12.4 Repeat Infringer Policy

Users with multiple infringement claims may have accounts terminated.

12.5 Automated DMCA Takedown Service

Protevio offers an automated DMCA takedown service for eligible subscribers (PROtect plan and above). By using this service, you agree to the following:

Identity Verification Requirement

• Before sending any DMCA takedown notice through our platform, you must complete a one-time identity verification process.
• Verification requires: (a) a clear photograph of your face ("selfie"), and (b) a redacted government-issued identification document with your full legal name visible.
• Your identity documents are reviewed by our administrative team and are permanently deleted immediately upon approval or rejection of your verification request.
• After verification, only your verified status, legal name, and contact email are retained in our system.

DMCA Notice Generation and Delivery

• Protevio generates DMCA takedown notices on your behalf based on information you provide. You are the complainant and legal signatory of all notices sent.
• By confirming a DMCA notice for delivery, you represent and warrant under penalty of perjury that:

1. You are the copyright owner or authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner;
2. You have a good faith belief that the use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law;
3. The information in the notice is accurate;
4. The images in question depict your likeness or are your original copyrighted works.

Filing False DMCA Notices

Limitations of the Service

• Protevio sends DMCA notices to the best available abuse contact for the hosting provider or website operator. We cannot guarantee delivery or response.
• Protevio does not guarantee that content will be removed. Compliance with DMCA notices is at the discretion of the receiving party.
• Protevio is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The automated DMCA service is a tool to facilitate your rights as a copyright holder.
• Follow-up reminders are available but should be used responsibly. Excessive or abusive use of the reminder system may result in service suspension.
• Google Search removal links are provided as a convenience. Google's removal process is independent of Protevio.

Data Handling for DMCA

• DMCA notices are sent from [DMCA ] on your behalf, with your contact email set as the reply-to address.
• A copy of each sent notice is delivered to your contact email for your records.
• Takedown records (URL, domain, status, reference number) are stored in your account for tracking purposes.
• You may request deletion of your takedown history at any time by contacting support.

13. Limitation of Liability

13.1 "AS IS" Service

Services provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind, including:

• No guarantee of accuracy or reliability
• No guarantee of availability or uptime (except Enterprise SLA)
• No guarantee of fitness for particular purpose
• No guarantee of merchantability
• No guarantee results will meet your expectations

13.2 No Liability For

• Indirect Damages: Lost profits, data, business opportunities
• Search Results: Accuracy, completeness, or consequences of reliance
• Third-Party Content: External websites or content we don't control
• Service Interruptions: Downtime, errors, bugs
• Data Loss: Due to technical failures or deletions
• Security Breaches: Despite our reasonable safeguards
• Your Misuse: Illegal or unauthorized use of Services

13.3 Maximum Liability

Our total liability to you shall not exceed:

• Amount Paid: Fees you paid us in past 12 months
• Minimum: €100 if you paid less

13.4 Jurisdictional Variations

Some jurisdictions don't allow liability limitations. In those cases, liability limited to maximum extent permitted by law.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Protevio, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your use of Services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any law or regulation
• Your violation of third-party rights (copyright, privacy, etc.)
• Photos you upload (if you don't have rights)
• Your negligence or willful misconduct
• Content you submit or transmit

Process: We'll notify you of claims, and you'll cooperate in defense. We reserve right to assume exclusive defense.

15. Dispute Resolution

15.1 Informal Resolution

Before formal proceedings, contact [Info] to resolve informally. We'll attempt resolution within 30 days.

15.2 Arbitration (Optional)

If informal resolution fails, you may choose binding arbitration:

• Forum: [Arbitration Organization]
• Location: [City, Country]
• Language: English
• Costs: Shared equally
• Decision: Final and binding

15.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree to resolve disputes individually, not as part of class action or representative proceeding.

15.4 Exceptions

Either party may seek injunctive relief in court for:

• Intellectual property violations
• Security breaches
• Emergency situations

16. Beta Features

We may offer beta or experimental features marked as "Beta", "Alpha", "Preview", or "Experimental".

16.1 Beta Feature Terms

• Opt-In: Explicitly choose to use beta features
• No SLA: No uptime or performance guarantees
• May Change: Features may be modified or removed anytime
• Data Loss Risk: Data may be lost or corrupted
• Bugs Expected: May have errors or incomplete functionality
• No Support: Limited or no customer support
• Feedback Encouraged: Help us improve by reporting issues

16.2 Beta Privacy

• Same privacy protections as stable features
• May collect additional analytics
• Data retention may differ

17. API Terms (If Applicable)

If you use our API (Professional/Enterprise):

17.1 API Access

• API Key: Keep confidential, don't share
• Rate Limits: Professional: 100 req/min, Enterprise: Custom
• Quotas: Subject to plan search limits
• Availability: Best effort, no SLA (except Enterprise)

17.2 API Restrictions

• Don't circumvent rate limits
• Don't resell API access
• Don't use for unauthorized purposes
• Don't scrape or build competing databases
• Implement proper error handling
• Cache results (don't repeat identical requests)

17.3 API Changes

• Breaking Changes: 90-day notice
• Non-Breaking Changes: May occur anytime
• Deprecation: 180-day sunset period
• Versioning: Multiple API versions supported

17.4 API Attribution

If displaying API results publicly:

• Include "Powered by Protevio" badge
• Link to protevio.com
• Don't imply endorsement

18. Export Controls & Sanctions

18.1 No Service to Restricted Countries

Services not available to users in:

• Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Crimea
• Any country under EU, US, or UN sanctions
• Countries where service would violate export laws

18.2 Sanctioned Persons

Services not available to persons on:

• US Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List
• EU Consolidated Sanctions List
• UK Sanctions List
• Any other applicable sanctions list

18.3 User Representations

By using Services, you represent:

• You're not in a restricted country
• You're not a sanctioned person
• You won't use Services in violation of export controls

18.4 Compliance

You agree to comply with all applicable export and import laws.

19. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

19.1 Governing Law

These Terms governed by laws of:

• Primary: European Union
• Secondary: Romania
• Excluding conflict of law provisions

19.2 Jurisdiction

Exclusive jurisdiction in courts of:

• Location: Bucharest, Romania
• Exception: EU residents may sue in their country of residence

19.3 Language

These Terms drafted in English. Translations provided for convenience, but English version controls in disputes.

20. Changes to These Terms

20.1 Right to Modify

We may update these Terms for:

• New features or services
• Legal or regulatory requirements
• Security or privacy enhancements
• Clarifications or corrections

20.2 Notification

• Material Changes: Email + 30-day notice before effective
• Non-Material Changes: Website notice
• Version Date: "Last Updated" shown at top

20.3 Your Options

If you disagree with changes:

• Cancel: Terminate before changes effective
• Continue Using: Constitutes acceptance
• Don't Use: Stop using Services

20.4 Version History

Previous versions available upon request at [Contact-us]

21. Contact Information

21.1 General Inquiries

Email:

Response Time: 1-2 business days

21.2 Legal Department

Email:

Purpose: Legal notices, DMCA, subpoenas

21.3 Customer Support

Email: Chat: Available in account dashboard
Hours: 24/7 for Enterprise, Mon-Fri 9-17 CET for others

21.4 Physical Address

Protevio AI
[Strada Tattarescu Gheorghe]
[Bucharest, 030413]
Romania
EU

21.5 Business Information

Company Name: Protevio AI S.R.L.

�