Terms of Service - Fair Grading

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Fair Grading ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Service.

2. Description of Service

Fair Grading is a web-based platform designed to facilitate the management and scoring of science fairs. The Service allows organizers to:

Create and manage science fair events
Register projects and assign judges
Enable judges to score projects using a standardized system
Generate reports and analytics based on scoring data
Calculate normalized Z-scores for fair project rankings

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Registration

You must create an account to use certain features of the Service. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update such information to keep it accurate and current.

3.2 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You must immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account.

3.3 Organization Accounts

Accounts are tied to organizations. Users within the same organization may have access to shared fair data. You are responsible for managing user access within your organization.

4. User Responsibilities

You agree to:

Use the Service only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms
Not use the Service to violate any local, state, national, or international law
Ensure that all data you upload is accurate and that you have the right to share such data
Obtain necessary consents for any student or judge information you enter into the system
Not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service or other users' accounts
Not interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers/networks connected to the Service
Not use automated systems (bots, scrapers) to access the Service without permission

5. Data and Content

5.1 Your Content

You retain ownership of all data and content you upload to the Service. By uploading content, you grant us a license to use, store, and process that content solely for the purpose of providing the Service to you.

5.2 Data Accuracy

You are solely responsible for the accuracy, quality, and legality of the data you provide. We are not responsible for any errors in scoring or reporting that result from inaccurate data input.

5.3 Student Data

If you upload information about students under 18, you represent that you have obtained all necessary consents and permissions to do so in compliance with applicable laws, including FERPA and COPPA where applicable.

6. Judge Portal

The judge portal uses email-based authentication without passwords. By adding a judge's email to the system, you confirm that:

You have permission to share that email address with the Service
The judge has consented to participate in the fair
You will inform judges about how to access the portal and their responsibilities

7. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its original content, features, and functionality, is owned by Fair Grading and is protected by international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.

8. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

8.1 Service "As Is"

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

8.2 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Fair Grading shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses.

8.3 No Guarantee of Accuracy

While we strive for accuracy in our scoring algorithms and reporting, we do not guarantee that calculations, reports, or Z-scores will be error-free. You should review all results before making final fair decisions.

9. Service Modifications and Termination

We reserve the right to:

Modify or discontinue the Service at any time without notice
Refuse service to anyone for any reason
Terminate or suspend your account for violation of these Terms

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us. Upon termination, your right to use the Service will immediately cease.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Fair Grading and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of your use of the Service or violation of these Terms.

11. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable laws, without regard to conflict of law principles.

12. Changes to Terms

We may revise these Terms at any time by updating this page. Continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

13. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us through your account settings or reach out to your system administrator.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms will otherwise remain in full force and effect.