Terms of Service

These Terms of Service constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Estudios Rurales SpA, trading as Nodaloom (“Nodaloom”), governing your access to and use of the Nodaloom platform, including all associated services, modules, and functionalities. By accessing or using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Definitions and Interpretation

1.1 Definitions

In these Terms, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:

“Agreement” means these Terms of Service, together with the Privacy Policy, the Acceptable Use Policy, the Data Processing Addendum (where applicable), and any Order Form or subscription confirmation, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

“AI-Assisted Output” means any text, suggestion, analysis, synthesis, crystallization, or other content generated, in whole or in part, by the artificial intelligence functionalities of the Service in response to User inputs and prompts.

“Crystallization” means the proprietary Nodaloom feature that identifies and connects analytical insights, conceptual threads, and argumentative developments across the User’s research-to-manuscript workflow, generating structured cross-references and thematic linkages.

“Content” means any data, text, documents, manuscripts, research materials, prompts, or other information that a User uploads, submits, or inputs into the Service.

“Effective Date” means the date on which the User first accesses or uses the Service, or the date on which the User accepts these Terms, whichever is earlier.

“Intellectual Property Rights” means all patents, copyrights, moral rights, database rights, trade marks, trade secrets, know-how, and all other intellectual property rights, whether registered or unregistered, and all applications and rights to apply for the same, anywhere in the world.

“Modules” means the distinct functional components of the Service, including but not limited to Forge (Socratic dialogue and conceptual development), Scribe (writing assistance and manuscript refinement), Lens (document analysis and literature processing), Loom (general-purpose academic tasks), and Salón de Máquinas / Engine Room (orchestration agents).

“Service” means the Nodaloom platform, including all Modules, web application interfaces, APIs, documentation, and associated services made available by Nodaloom to Users under these Terms.

“Subscription Plan” means the tier of Service selected by the User, as described on the Nodaloom website, currently comprising Researcher, Scholar, and Institutional tiers.

“Third-Party AI Provider” means any external provider of artificial intelligence models, large language models, or machine learning services that Nodaloom integrates into the Service, including but not limited to Anthropic (Claude) and Google (Gemini).

“Usage Data” means data derived from the User’s interaction with the Service that does not constitute Content, including but not limited to feature usage patterns, session duration, workflow sequences, Module adoption metrics, navigation paths, search queries stripped of substantive content, error and performance logs, device and browser metadata, and other behavioural and operational telemetry.

“User” means any individual or entity that accesses or uses the Service, whether through a free trial, a paid Subscription Plan, or an Institutional licence. References to “you” or “your” in these Terms refer to the User.

1.2 Interpretation

(a) References to clauses are to clauses of these Terms. Headings are for convenience only and shall not affect interpretation.

(b) Words in the singular include the plural and vice versa. A reference to a statute or statutory provision includes any subordinate legislation made under it and any modification or re-enactment thereof.

(c) In the event of any conflict between these Terms and any other document forming part of the Agreement, these Terms shall prevail unless expressly stated otherwise.

2. Ethical AI Commitment

2.1 Statement of Principles

Nodaloom is committed to the responsible, transparent, and ethical deployment of artificial intelligence in the service of academic research. The Service is designed as a tool of intellectual assistance, intended to augment—not replace—the critical thinking, scholarly judgement, and intellectual autonomy of the researcher. The use of Nodaloom does not diminish the User’s sole and ultimate responsibility for the originality, accuracy, and integrity of their scholarly work.

2.2 Alignment with International Standards

The Service has been designed in alignment with the following international frameworks and standards on the ethical use of artificial intelligence:

(a) The UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (November 2021), adopted by all 194 Member States of UNESCO, with particular reference to its principles of transparency, proportionality, human oversight, and its policy areas concerning education and research.

(b) The European Union Artificial Intelligence Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689), insofar as it establishes obligations of transparency for AI systems and providers, including the requirement to inform users that they are interacting with AI-generated content.

(c) The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Position Statement on AI in Scholarly Publishing, which affirms that AI tools cannot be credited as authors of academic works, and that human researchers bear full responsibility for the integrity of published research.

2.3 Transparency and Human Oversight

(a) Nodaloom discloses in its documentation which Third-Party AI Providers are integrated into the Service and the purposes for which each is used.

(b) All AI-Assisted Output generated by the Service is clearly presented as machine-generated content, and the User is responsible for reviewing, editing, and validating such content before any use.

(c) Nodaloom shall maintain human oversight mechanisms over the operation of the Service, including the ability to review, correct, and override AI functionalities where necessary.

3. The Service

3.1 Description

Nodaloom provides an AI-powered academic writing platform that assists researchers throughout the research-to-manuscript workflow. The Service comprises multiple Modules, each designed to support a specific stage of the academic writing process, from conceptual development through literature analysis to manuscript preparation. The Service integrates large language models from Third-Party AI Providers to deliver its core functionalities.

3.2 Availability

(a) Nodaloom shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make the Service available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, subject to planned maintenance, emergency maintenance, and circumstances beyond Nodaloom’s reasonable control.

(b) Nodaloom does not guarantee uninterrupted, error-free, or completely secure access to the Service. The Service may be subject to limitations, delays, and other problems inherent to the use of internet-based services and electronic communications.

(c) Nodaloom reserves the right to modify, update, or discontinue any feature or Module of the Service at any time, with reasonable prior notice to active subscribers where practicable.

3.3 Third-Party AI Providers

(a) The Service relies on Third-Party AI Providers for the generation of AI-Assisted Output. Nodaloom does not control and is not responsible for the underlying models, algorithms, or training data used by these providers.

(b) The availability, performance, and capabilities of Third-Party AI Providers may change without notice to Nodaloom. Nodaloom shall use commercially reasonable efforts to adapt the Service to any such changes, but does not guarantee that AI-Assisted Output will remain consistent in quality, style, or content over time.

(c) The terms of service and privacy policies of Third-Party AI Providers apply to the processing of User Content transmitted to their systems. A current list of Third-Party AI Providers and links to their relevant policies is maintained in the Privacy Policy.

4. Account Registration and Security

4.1 Registration

To use the Service, the User must create an account by providing accurate and complete registration information, including a valid email address and, where applicable, institutional affiliation. The User agrees to keep such information current throughout the term of their use.

4.2 Account Security

The User is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their account credentials and for all activity that occurs under their account. The User shall notify Nodaloom immediately at support@nodaloom.com upon becoming aware of any unauthorised use of their account or any other breach of security.

4.3 Age Requirement

The Service is intended for use by individuals who are at least eighteen (18) years of age or the age of majority in their jurisdiction, whichever is greater. By registering, the User represents and warrants that they meet this requirement.

5. Subscription Plans and Payment

5.1 Plans

The Service is offered through tiered Subscription Plans, the features and pricing of which are described on the Nodaloom website. Nodaloom reserves the right to modify its Subscription Plans, features, and pricing at any time, provided that any change to pricing shall not affect the User’s current subscription period.

5.2 Billing and Payment

(a) Subscription fees are payable in advance on a monthly or annual basis, as selected by the User at the time of subscription. All fees are stated in US Dollars (USD) unless otherwise indicated.

(b) Payment is processed through Nodaloom’s designated payment processor. By providing payment information, the User authorises Nodaloom (and its payment processor) to charge the applicable subscription fees on a recurring basis until the subscription is cancelled.

(c) Nodaloom reserves the right to suspend or restrict access to the Service in the event of non-payment or payment failure.

5.3 Refunds

Users may request a full refund within fourteen (14) days of the initial subscription purchase or of any renewal payment, for any reason or no reason, by contacting support@nodaloom.com. Refunds are processed by Nodaloom’s designated payment processor and will be issued to the original payment method. After the fourteen (14) day refund window, no refunds shall be issued, and cancellations shall take effect at the end of the then-current billing cycle.

5.4 Taxes

The User is responsible for all applicable taxes, levies, and duties arising from the purchase and use of the Service, unless Nodaloom’s payment processor is the merchant of record and handles tax collection on Nodaloom’s behalf. Where Nodaloom’s designated payment processor acts as the merchant of record, applicable taxes shall be calculated, collected, and remitted by the payment processor in accordance with the laws of the User’s jurisdiction.

5.5 Free Trials and Promotional Offers

Nodaloom may offer free trials or promotional pricing from time to time. Unless the User cancels before the end of the trial or promotional period, the User’s account will automatically convert to a paid Subscription Plan at the standard rate.

6. Acceptable Use Policy

6.1 General Standards

The User agrees to use the Service in good faith, in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and in accordance with the principles of academic integrity and ethical research practice set out in Clause 2.

6.2 Prohibited Uses

The User shall not, and shall not permit or encourage any third party to:

(a) Submit the AI-Assisted Output produced by the Service as entirely their own original work without appropriate disclosure, in a manner that violates the academic integrity policies of their institution, publisher, or funding body.

(b) Use the Service to fabricate data, falsify research results, or generate fraudulent citations, references, or bibliographic entries.

(c) Use the Service for the purpose of operating, supplying, or facilitating a paper mill, essay mill, contract cheating service, or any other enterprise that undermines academic integrity.

(d) Use the Service to produce content that is defamatory, obscene, fraudulent, or that infringes the Intellectual Property Rights or other rights of any third party.

(e) Attempt to reverse-engineer, decompile, disassemble, or otherwise derive the source code, algorithms, or underlying architecture of the Service or any Module thereof.

(f) Use automated scripts, bots, or other means to access the Service in a manner that exceeds reasonable use or that could impair the performance or availability of the Service for other Users.

(g) Resell, sublicense, redistribute, or make available the Service or any AI-Assisted Output to third parties for commercial purposes without Nodaloom’s prior written consent.

(h) Upload, transmit, or process through the Service any Content that contains malware, viruses, or other harmful code, or any Content that you do not have the legal right to process.

6.3 Enforcement

Nodaloom reserves the right to investigate any suspected violation of this Acceptable Use Policy and to suspend or terminate the User’s account, without prior notice and without liability, if Nodaloom determines, in its reasonable discretion, that a violation has occurred or is likely to occur.

7. Intellectual Property and Data

7.1 Nodaloom’s Intellectual Property

All Intellectual Property Rights in the Service, including its software, algorithms, Modules, user interface design, documentation, trade marks, trade names, logos, and the Crystallization methodology, are and shall remain the exclusive property of Nodaloom or its licensors. Nothing in these Terms grants the User any right, title, or interest in such Intellectual Property Rights, except for the limited licence to use the Service as expressly provided herein.

7.2 User Content

The User retains all Intellectual Property Rights in the Content that the User uploads, submits, or inputs into the Service. By using the Service, the User grants Nodaloom a limited, non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to process, store, and transmit such Content solely to the extent necessary to provide the Service and to comply with applicable law. This licence terminates upon deletion of the User’s Content or termination of the User’s account, subject to any retention periods required by law or set out in the Privacy Policy.

7.3 AI-Assisted Output

As between Nodaloom and the User, the User shall own the AI-Assisted Output generated through the User’s use of the Service, subject to the following conditions:

(a) The User acknowledges that AI-Assisted Output is generated by machine learning models trained on publicly available and licensed datasets, and that similar or identical outputs may be generated for other users who submit similar prompts or inputs.

(b) Nodaloom makes no representation or warranty that AI-Assisted Output is original, non-infringing, or protectable under copyright or other Intellectual Property Rights in any jurisdiction.

(c) The User is solely responsible for reviewing, editing, and verifying AI-Assisted Output before any use, and for ensuring that such use does not infringe the rights of any third party.

7.4 No Training on User Content

Nodaloom does not use User Content to train, fine-tune, or improve its own proprietary AI models or the models of any Third-Party AI Provider. The processing of User Content through Third-Party AI Providers is subject to the data processing terms of those providers, as described in the Privacy Policy.

7.5 Usage Data — Licence and Permitted Uses

(a) The User acknowledges and agrees that Nodaloom collects Usage Data in connection with the User’s access to and interaction with the Service. Usage Data is distinct from Content and does not include the substantive text of manuscripts, research materials, prompts, or AI-Assisted Output.

(b) The User grants Nodaloom a perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, fully sublicensable, and transferable licence to collect, store, aggregate, anonymise, analyse, and otherwise process Usage Data for the following purposes:

(c) This licence survives the termination or expiration of the User’s account and of these Terms.

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, Usage Data includes, without limitation: feature usage frequency and patterns; session duration and timestamps; Module adoption and engagement metrics; navigation paths and interaction sequences; search and filter queries stripped of substantive academic content; error, latency, and performance logs; API call patterns and response metrics; device type, browser, operating system, and locale information; and onboarding completion and workflow progression data.

7.6 Safeguards on Usage Data Processing

(a) Where Usage Data is used for purposes described in Clause 7.5(b)(ii) through (iv), Nodaloom shall ensure that such data is aggregated and anonymised or, where full anonymisation is not feasible, pseudonymised in accordance with applicable Data Protection Laws, such that no individual User or their research can be reasonably identified.

(b) Nodaloom shall not sell raw, non-anonymised Usage Data to third parties. Any sharing of Usage Data with third parties shall be limited to aggregated and anonymised datasets, or to service providers bound by contractual confidentiality obligations who process such data on Nodaloom’s behalf.

(c) The collection and processing of Usage Data is further described in the Privacy Policy, which sets out the legal bases for processing, the categories of data collected, retention periods, and the rights of the User under applicable Data Protection Laws.

(d) The User may request information about the categories of Usage Data collected in connection with their account by contacting privacy@nodaloom.com.

8. Warranties and Disclaimers

8.1 Service Provided “As Is”

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Service is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis, without warranties of any kind, whether express, implied, statutory, or otherwise, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and any warranties arising from course of dealing or usage of trade.

8.2 AI-Specific Disclaimers

Without limiting the generality of Clause 8.1, Nodaloom expressly disclaims any warranty that:

(a) AI-Assisted Output will be accurate, complete, reliable, current, or free from error, bias, or hallucination.

(b) AI-Assisted Output will meet the requirements of any particular journal, publisher, institution, or funding body.

(c) AI-Assisted Output will not infringe the Intellectual Property Rights or other rights of any third party.

(d) The Service will detect or prevent academic misconduct, plagiarism, or other integrity violations in the User’s work.

(e) The Third-Party AI Providers integrated into the Service will continue to be available, or that their models, capabilities, or terms of service will not change.

8.3 Academic Responsibility

The User acknowledges and agrees that Nodaloom is a tool of assistance and not a substitute for the User’s own scholarly judgement, critical analysis, and verification. The User bears sole and exclusive responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of any work produced with the assistance of the Service.

9. Limitation of Liability

9.1 Exclusion of Indirect Damages

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall Nodaloom, its directors, officers, employees, agents, or affiliates be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, loss of data, loss of academic opportunity, reputational harm, or interruption of research, arising out of or in connection with the use of or inability to use the Service, even if Nodaloom has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

9.2 Cap on Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Nodaloom’s total aggregate liability arising out of or in connection with these Terms or the Service, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability, or otherwise, shall not exceed the greater of: (a) the total fees paid by the User to Nodaloom in the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim; or (b) one hundred US Dollars (USD 100.00).

9.3 Exceptions

Nothing in these Terms shall exclude or limit liability for: (a) death or personal injury caused by negligence; (b) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or (c) any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by applicable law.

10. Indemnification

The User agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Nodaloom and its directors, officers, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with:

(a) The User’s use of the Service or any AI-Assisted Output.

(b) The User’s breach of these Terms, including any violation of the Acceptable Use Policy.

(c) The User’s violation of any applicable law or regulation, or the rights of any third party.

(d) Any claim that the User’s Content or use thereof infringes the Intellectual Property Rights of a third party.

11. Term and Termination

11.1 Term

These Terms enter into force on the Effective Date and shall remain in effect for so long as the User maintains an active account with Nodaloom or accesses the Service.

11.2 Termination by User

The User may terminate their account at any time through the account settings page or by contacting support@nodaloom.com. Termination shall take effect at the end of the then-current billing cycle. No refund shall be issued for the remaining period of any pre-paid subscription, except as provided in Clause 5.3.

11.3 Termination by Nodaloom

Nodaloom may terminate or suspend the User’s access to the Service, in whole or in part, immediately and without prior notice, if:

(a) The User breaches any provision of these Terms and, where the breach is capable of remedy, fails to remedy it within fourteen (14) days of receiving notice from Nodaloom.

(b) The User breaches the Acceptable Use Policy.

(c) Nodaloom is required to do so by applicable law, regulation, or order of a court or regulatory authority.

(d) A Third-Party AI Provider upon which the Service materially depends ceases to provide its services, and no commercially reasonable alternative is available.

11.4 Effects of Termination

Upon termination of the User’s account: (a) the User’s right to access and use the Service shall cease immediately; (b) Nodaloom shall delete the User’s Content within thirty (30) days of termination, unless retention is required by applicable law or requested by the User; and (c) any provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination (including Clauses 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12 through 17) shall continue in full force and effect.

12. Data Protection and Privacy

12.1 Privacy Policy

The collection, use, storage, and sharing of personal data in connection with the Service is governed by the Nodaloom Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. The User acknowledges that they have read and understood the Privacy Policy.

12.2 Data Processing Addendum

For Users who are data controllers within the meaning of applicable Data Protection Laws and who process personal data of third parties through the Service (including Institutional tier Users), the Data Processing Addendum shall apply and is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

12.3 International Data Transfers

The User acknowledges that, in order to provide the Service, Nodaloom may transfer and process data (including personal data) in jurisdictions outside the User’s country of residence, including to the United States, in accordance with the safeguards described in the Privacy Policy and the Data Processing Addendum.

13. Confidentiality

13.1 Confidential Information

Each party agrees to maintain in confidence any non-public information disclosed by the other party in connection with the Service (“Confidential Information”) and to use such information only for the purposes contemplated by these Terms.

13.2 Exclusions

Confidential Information does not include information that: (a) is or becomes publicly available through no fault of the receiving party; (b) was known to the receiving party prior to disclosure; (c) is independently developed by the receiving party without reference to the disclosing party’s Confidential Information; or (d) is required to be disclosed by applicable law, regulation, or court order.

14. Dispute Resolution

14.1 Governing Law

These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, without regard to conflict of law principles.

14.2 Jurisdiction

Subject to Clause 14.3, the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms.

14.3 Alternative Dispute Resolution

In the event of a dispute, the parties shall first attempt to resolve the matter through good-faith negotiation. If the dispute is not resolved within thirty (30) days of one party notifying the other in writing of the dispute, either party may refer the matter to mediation under the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) Model Mediation Procedure. If the dispute is not resolved through mediation within sixty (60) days of the referral, either party may commence legal proceedings in accordance with Clause 14.2.

14.4 Consumer Rights

Nothing in this Clause 14 shall prevent a User who qualifies as a consumer under applicable law from bringing proceedings in the courts of the jurisdiction in which the User is domiciled, or from relying on any mandatory consumer protection provisions of the law of that jurisdiction.

15. Force Majeure

Nodaloom shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms to the extent that such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond Nodaloom’s reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics, war, terrorism, government action, failure of Third-Party AI Providers, internet outages, cyberattacks, and power failures.

16. General Provisions

16.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, the Data Processing Addendum, and any applicable Order Form, constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior or contemporaneous understandings, agreements, or representations.

16.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

16.3 Waiver

The failure of Nodaloom to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by an authorised representative of Nodaloom.

16.4 Assignment

The User may not assign or transfer their rights or obligations under these Terms without the prior written consent of Nodaloom. Nodaloom may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganisation, or sale of substantially all of its assets, upon notice to the User.

16.5 Notices

Any notices required or permitted under these Terms shall be sent by email: to the User at the email address associated with their account, and to Nodaloom at legal@nodaloom.com.

16.6 Third-Party Rights

A person who is not a party to these Terms shall not have any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of these Terms.

17. Changes to These Terms

Nodaloom reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Where changes are material, Nodaloom will notify the User by email or through the Service interface at least thirty (30) days before the changes take effect. The User’s continued use of the Service after the effective date of the modified Terms constitutes acceptance of such modifications. If the User does not agree to the modified Terms, the User must discontinue use of the Service and terminate their account.

18. Acknowledgement of AI Limitations

By using the Service, the User expressly acknowledges that:

(a) Large language models are probabilistic systems that can produce inaccurate, incomplete, biased, or fabricated outputs, including but not limited to hallucinated citations, fabricated factual claims, and analytically flawed reasoning.

(b) The quality and reliability of AI-Assisted Output may vary depending on the nature and quality of the User’s inputs, the capabilities and limitations of the Third-Party AI Providers at any given time, and factors outside Nodaloom’s control.

(c) No AI-Assisted Output should be relied upon without independent verification by the User. The User is solely responsible for all academic, professional, and legal consequences of using AI-Assisted Output in their work.

(d) Nodaloom does not guarantee the suitability of any AI-Assisted Output for submission to any journal, publisher, institution, or funding body.

19. Incorporation by Reference

19.1

The following documents are incorporated into and form part of these Terms:

(a) The Nodaloom Privacy Policy.

(b) The Nodaloom Data Processing Addendum.

(c) The list of Third-Party AI Providers and their applicable terms (available in the Privacy Policy, Section 6.1).

19.2

In the event of any conflict between these Terms and any document incorporated by reference, these Terms shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency, unless the incorporated document expressly states otherwise.

End of Terms of Service