Terms of Service

1.1 These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Polyscopea Story Intelligence Platform (“Platform”), operated by Polyscopea Ltd. (“we,” “us,” or “our”). By accessing, browsing, or using any part of the Platform, you (“User,” “you,” or “your”) confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms in their entirety.

1.2 If you are using the Platform on behalf of a legal entity (corporation, partnership, government agency, or other organization), you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms. In such cases, “you” and “your” shall refer to that entity.

1.3 Eligibility. You must be at least eighteen (18) years of age, or the age of majority in your jurisdiction, to use the Platform. By creating an account, you represent and warrant that you meet this age requirement and that all registration information you provide is truthful and accurate.

1.4 Electronic Acceptance. By clicking “I Agree,” “Sign Up,” or by otherwise accessing or using the Platform, you enter into a legally binding electronic contract under applicable electronic transaction laws, including the U.S. Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN), the EU eIDAS Regulation, and similar legislation worldwide.

1.5 Supplemental Terms. Certain features or services within the Platform may be subject to additional terms and conditions (“Supplemental Terms”). Where Supplemental Terms conflict with these Terms, the Supplemental Terms shall prevail with respect to the applicable feature or service.

3.1 Account Creation. To access certain features, you must register for an account by providing accurate, current, and complete information. You agree to promptly update your account information to keep it accurate and complete.

3.2 Security Credentials. You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. All passwords are hashed using bcrypt with a cost factor of 12. You must immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account.

3.3 Data Encryption. Sensitive personal data stored in your account is encrypted using AES-256-GCM with authenticated encryption. Blind indexes using HMAC-SHA256 enable searching encrypted records without exposing plaintext data.

3.4 One-Account Policy. Each individual may maintain only one (1) active account. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions, abuse promotions, or manipulate Platform features is strictly prohibited.

3.5 User Roles. The Platform employs a hierarchical role system: Reader, Analyst, Editor, and Admin. Your assigned role determines your access level and available features. Role assignments are managed by Platform administrators and may be adjusted at our discretion.

3.6 Session Security. Sessions are managed via secure, HTTP-only cookies with SameSite protections. We employ CSRF token validation on all state-changing requests. Sessions expire after a period of inactivity as determined by our security policies.

4.1 Subscription Tiers. The Platform offers three subscription levels:

4.2 Payment Processing. All payments are processed through Tap Payment Gateway. By subscribing, you authorize recurring charges at the applicable subscription rate. Tap handles all payment card data in compliance with PCI DSS Level 1 standards. Polyscopea does not store your full payment card details.

4.3 Billing Cycles. Subscriptions are billed on a monthly recurring basis. Your billing cycle begins on the date of your initial subscription and renews automatically on the same date each month unless cancelled.

4.4 Taxes. Prices displayed may be exclusive of applicable taxes. You are responsible for all applicable VAT, GST, sales tax, or other transaction taxes imposed by your jurisdiction.

4.5 Refund Policy. You may cancel your subscription at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period; no prorated refunds are issued for partial months. Within the first fourteen (14) days of a new paid subscription, you may request a full refund by contacting billing@polyscopea.com.

4.6 Failed Payments. If a payment fails, we will attempt to process it up to three (3) additional times over ten (10) days. If all attempts fail, your account will be downgraded to the Free tier. You will receive email notice before any downgrade occurs.

4.7 Upgrades and Downgrades. You may upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time. Upgrades take effect immediately with prorated billing. Downgrades take effect at the start of your next billing cycle.

5.1 User Content License. By submitting content to the Platform, you grant Polyscopea a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, and display such content for the purpose of operating and improving the Platform.

5.2 Accuracy of Submissions. You are responsible for ensuring that any content you submit is accurate, lawful, and does not infringe upon any third-party rights. You represent that you have all necessary permissions to submit such content.

5.3 Acceptable Use. You agree to use the Platform only for lawful purposes and in compliance with all applicable local, national, and international laws and regulations.

5.4 Export Compliance. You agree not to use the Platform in violation of any export control laws, trade sanctions, or embargo regulations imposed by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, or any other applicable jurisdiction.

6.1 Story Intelligence. The Platform provides real-time tracking and analysis of evolving news stories across seven sectors: Markets, Technology, Regulation, Venture Capital, Geopolitics, Energy, and Health. Stories are organized into Story Hubs with chronological developments, verified sources, and AI-generated connections.

6.2 Multi-Language Support. The Platform supports ten (10) languages: English, Arabic, French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Turkish. Content translation is performed by AI agents and may not be perfectly accurate. Original-language content takes precedence in case of discrepancy.

6.3 Bookmarks & Notifications. Users may bookmark stories for later reference and configure notification preferences for story updates, breaking news, and account activities. Notifications are delivered in-platform and optionally via email.

6.4 Search & Discovery. Full-text search capabilities allow Users to find stories, sources, research reports, and other content across the Platform. Search results may be influenced by AI-driven relevance scoring.

7.1 Agent Types. The Platform deploys six AI agent types, each powered by DeepSeek APIs and proprietary models:

• FactChecker — Verifies claims against known data sources and flags potential inaccuracies.
• SentimentAnalyzer — Analyzes tone, bias, and emotional content in news articles and sources.
• SourceVerifier — Evaluates the credibility and reliability of cited sources.
• TrendDetector — Identifies emerging patterns, themes, and trends across sectors.
• RiskAssessor — Evaluates potential risks, impacts, and implications of story developments.
• ContentSummarizer — Generates concise summaries and translations of complex stories.

7.2 Accuracy Limitations. AI agents operate on probabilistic models and may produce inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information. AI outputs may contain “hallucinations”—plausible-sounding but factually incorrect statements. All AI-generated content is clearly labeled on the Platform.

7.3 Not Professional Advice. NOTHING ON THIS PLATFORM CONSTITUTES FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, LEGAL, MEDICAL, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. AI analyses, Trust Scores, and Research Reports are for informational purposes only. Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions based on information obtained from the Platform.

7.4 Human Oversight. Editorial reviews provide human oversight of AI-generated content. However, not all AI output undergoes editorial review prior to publication. Content that has been editorially reviewed is marked accordingly.

7.5 Temporal Limitations. AI models have training data cutoff dates and may not reflect the most recent events. The Platform supplements AI analysis with real-time data feeds, but temporal gaps may exist.

8.1 Research Reports are analytical documents combining AI-driven analysis with editorial input. Access to Research Reports varies by subscription tier as outlined in Article 4.

8.2 Research Reports are provided “as is” for informational purposes. They do not constitute investment advice, financial guidance, or any form of professional recommendation.

8.3 Reports may be archived, updated, or withdrawn at our discretion. Polyscopea retains the right to modify report availability based on editorial standards and accuracy assessments.

9.1 Editorial Independence. Polyscopea maintains editorial independence in all content decisions. Story selection, analysis, and presentation are driven by journalistic merit and public interest, not commercial considerations or advertiser influence.

9.2 Source Transparency. Every Development within a Story Hub includes citations to original sources. Users can evaluate the credibility of information by reviewing linked sources directly.

9.3 Correction Policy. When errors are identified in published content, we will issue corrections promptly and transparently. Corrections are appended to the original content with clear timestamps. Users may report potential inaccuracies through the Contact page.

9.4 Content Moderation. User-submitted content undergoes moderation by AI systems and human editors. We reserve the right to remove, edit, or decline to publish any content that violates these Terms or our editorial standards.

10.1 Trust Score Methodology. The Platform assigns Trust Scores on a 0–100 scale based on factors including source reliability, corroboration across multiple sources, factual consistency, timeliness, and editorial review status. Scores are classified as: High (≥80), Medium (≥50), or Low (≥25).

10.2 No Guarantee. Trust Scores are algorithmic assessments intended as informational aids. They do not constitute guarantees of accuracy, truth, or reliability. Users should exercise independent judgment and critical thinking when evaluating content, regardless of its assigned Trust Score.

10.3 Dynamic Scoring. Trust Scores are recalculated as new information becomes available. A score may increase or decrease over time based on subsequent developments, additional source verification, or editorial review.

10.4 Transparency. The factors contributing to a Trust Score are displayed alongside the score itself, allowing Users to understand the basis for each rating.

11.1 Platform IP. The Platform, including its design, code, AI models, algorithms, Trust Score methodology, editorial content, trademarks, logos, and all related intellectual property, is owned by or licensed to Polyscopea Ltd. and protected under international copyright, trademark, and patent laws.

11.2 Limited License. Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Platform for personal, non-commercial purposes (or business purposes under a Professional or Enterprise subscription).

11.3 AI-Generated Content Ownership. Content generated by AI agents on the Platform is owned by Polyscopea. Users may reference AI-generated analyses in their own work with proper attribution to “Polyscopea Story Intelligence Platform.”

11.4 DMCA & Takedown. If you believe content on the Platform infringes your intellectual property rights, please submit a notice to legal@polyscopea.com with: (a) identification of the copyrighted work; (b) identification of the infringing material; (c) your contact information; (d) a statement of good faith belief; and (e) a statement under penalty of perjury that your notice is accurate.

11.5 Feedback. Any suggestions, ideas, or feedback you provide regarding the Platform become the property of Polyscopea without obligation of compensation or attribution.

12.1 Your use of the Platform is subject to our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. The Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, and share your personal information.

12.2 GDPR Compliance. For Users in the European Economic Area, we process personal data in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, port, and object to the processing of your personal data as detailed in our Privacy Policy.

12.3 Data Retention. We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, comply with legal obligations, and resolve disputes. Specific retention periods are outlined in our Privacy Policy.

12.4 International Transfers. Your data may be transferred to and processed in jurisdictions outside your country of residence, including the United Kingdom, European Union, and United States. We employ Standard Contractual Clauses and other approved transfer mechanisms to ensure adequate protection.

13.1 You agree not to engage in any of the following prohibited activities:

1. Scraping, crawling, or automated data extraction from the Platform without written authorization.
2. Reverse engineering, decompiling, or disassembling the Platform or its AI models.
3. Attempting to gain unauthorized access to other user accounts, Platform systems, or connected networks.
4. Distributing malware, viruses, worms, or other harmful software through the Platform.
5. Submitting false, misleading, or defamatory content.
6. Impersonating any person or entity, or misrepresenting your affiliation.
7. Manipulating Trust Scores, editorial reviews, or other Platform metrics.
8. Using the Platform to harass, threaten, or intimidate other Users.
9. Circumventing subscription restrictions or rate limits through any technical means.
10. Using AI-generated content from the Platform to train competing machine learning models without authorization.
11. Republishing Platform content in bulk or creating derivative services based on our data.
12. Engaging in market manipulation, insider trading, or other illegal financial activities using Platform intelligence.
13. Violating any applicable laws, regulations, or third-party rights.
14. Interfering with the operation or performance of the Platform or its infrastructure.
15. Creating multiple accounts to abuse free-tier limits or promotional offers.

13.2 Violation of any prohibited conduct may result in immediate account suspension or termination, at our sole discretion, without prior notice or refund.

14.1 Review Process. All user-submitted content is subject to automated AI moderation and, where flagged, human editorial review. We aim to process moderation decisions within 48 hours.

14.2 Appeals. Users whose content is removed or whose accounts are restricted may submit an appeal to editorial@polyscopea.com. Appeals are reviewed by a senior editor and a response will be provided within five (5) business days.

14.3 Community Guidelines. We maintain community guidelines that supplement these Terms. The community guidelines are available within the Platform and are updated periodically to reflect evolving standards.

15.1 Tap Payment Gateway. Payment processing is provided by Tap Payments. Your use of Tap is subject to Tap’s terms of service and privacy policy. Polyscopea is not responsible for Tap’s operations, security, or data handling practices.

15.2 External Links. The Platform may contain links to external websites and news sources. These links are provided for reference and convenience. Polyscopea does not endorse, control, or assume responsibility for the content, accuracy, or practices of third-party websites.

15.3 DeepSeek AI Services. AI agent functionality is powered in part by DeepSeek APIs. Data sent to DeepSeek for processing is governed by our data processing agreements and Privacy Policy. We minimize the personal data shared with AI service providers.

15.4 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. These Terms do not create any rights for third parties. No person or entity other than you and Polyscopea shall have any right to enforce these Terms.

16.1 TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL POLYSCOPEA, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, USE, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF (OR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE) THE PLATFORM.

16.2 IN NO EVENT SHALL POLYSCOPEA’S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS EXCEED THE GREATER OF: (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO POLYSCOPEA IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM; OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100).

16.3 Investment Disclaimer. POLYSCOPEA SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR ANY INVESTMENT DECISIONS, FINANCIAL LOSSES, TRADING OUTCOMES, OR BUSINESS DECISIONS MADE IN RELIANCE UPON INFORMATION, AI ANALYSES, TRUST SCORES, OR RESEARCH REPORTS OBTAINED THROUGH THE PLATFORM. THE PLATFORM IS NOT A REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR OR BROKER-DEALER.

16.4 Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. In such jurisdictions, our liability shall be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

17.1 You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Polyscopea, its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, and suppliers from and against all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any law or third-party rights; or (d) User Content you submit.

17.2 Defense & Settlement. Polyscopea reserves the right to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you. You agree to cooperate fully with our defense of any such claim.

17.3 Enterprise Users. Enterprise subscribers may negotiate modified indemnification terms as part of their enterprise agreement, subject to separate written agreement.

18.1 Informal Resolution. Before initiating any formal dispute proceeding, you agree to first contact us at disputes@polyscopea.com to attempt to resolve the dispute informally. We will endeavor to resolve all disputes within thirty (30) days of receipt.

18.2 Binding Arbitration. If informal resolution is unsuccessful, any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of the Platform shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) under its then-current arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in English, with the seat of arbitration in London, United Kingdom.

18.3 Class Action Waiver. YOU AND POLYSCOPEA AGREE THAT DISPUTES WILL BE RESOLVED ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT IN A CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. You waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration.

18.4 Opt-Out Right. You may opt out of the arbitration and class action waiver provisions within thirty (30) days of first accepting these Terms by sending written notice to legal@polyscopea.com with the subject line “Arbitration Opt-Out.”

18.5 EU Consumer Rights. If you are a consumer in the EU/EEA, you retain any mandatory consumer protections under the laws of your member state, and nothing in this arbitration clause shall deprive you of those rights.

19.1 By You. You may terminate your account at any time by navigating to your account settings and selecting “Delete Account,” or by contacting support@polyscopea.com. Active paid subscriptions will remain in effect until the end of the current billing period.

19.2 By Polyscopea. We may suspend or terminate your access to the Platform, in whole or in part, at any time and for any reason, including but not limited to: violation of these Terms, fraudulent activity, prolonged inactivity, or non-payment.

19.3 Data Export. Prior to account termination, you may request an export of your personal data in a machine-readable format in accordance with your data portability rights under applicable law. Data export requests should be submitted at least fourteen (14) days before planned termination.

19.4 Post-Termination. Upon termination, your right to access the Platform ceases immediately. We may retain certain data as required by law or for legitimate business purposes, subject to our Privacy Policy. Encrypted personal data will be purged within ninety (90) days of account deletion.

19.5 Survival. Sections relating to intellectual property, limitation of liability, indemnification, dispute resolution, and any other provisions that by their nature should survive, shall survive termination of these Terms.

20.1 EU/EEA Users. Users in the European Union and European Economic Area benefit from additional consumer protections under EU law, including the Consumer Rights Directive, GDPR, and the Digital Services Act. Where these Terms conflict with mandatory EU consumer law, EU law prevails.

20.2 MENA Region. Users in the Middle East and North Africa are subject to applicable local regulations including the UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on Personal Data Protection, the Saudi Arabia Personal Data Protection Law, and relevant Central Bank regulations for payment processing.

20.3 Asia-Pacific. Users in Japan are protected by the Act on Protection of Personal Information (APPI). Users in China are subject to the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL). Users in Singapore are subject to the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).

20.4 Sanctions Compliance. The Platform is not available to individuals or entities subject to sanctions administered by OFAC, the EU, the UK, or the UN Security Council. By using the Platform, you represent that you are not on any applicable sanctions list.

20.5 Language. These Terms are drafted in English. Where translations are provided, the English version shall prevail in case of conflict.

21.1 Polyscopea is committed to making the Platform accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. We strive to comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards.

21.2 Our Platform supports: keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, sufficient color contrast ratios, text resizing, focus indicators, semantic HTML markup, and ARIA attributes. Additionally, we offer both light and dark themes, and RTL (right-to-left) layout support for Arabic.

21.3 If you encounter any accessibility barriers, please contact accessibility@polyscopea.com. We welcome feedback and are committed to continuous improvement of Platform accessibility.

22.1 We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated at least thirty (30) days prior to their effective date through: (a) a prominent notice on the Platform; (b) email notification to registered Users; and (c) updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.

22.2 Material Changes. A change is deemed “material” if it: alters your rights or obligations; changes subscription pricing; modifies dispute resolution procedures; affects data processing practices; or changes the scope of license granted.

22.3 Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any change constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree with any modification, you must discontinue use and may terminate your account.

22.4 Version History. Previous versions of these Terms are available upon request to legal@polyscopea.com.

23.1 Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any Supplemental Terms, constitute the entire agreement between you and Polyscopea concerning the Platform and supersede all prior agreements, communications, and understandings.

23.2 Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

23.3 Waiver. Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by an authorized representative of Polyscopea.

23.4 Assignment. You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our prior written consent. Polyscopea may assign its rights and obligations under these Terms without restriction, including in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

23.5 Force Majeure. Neither party shall be liable for failure to perform obligations caused by events beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, acts of government, pandemics, wars, terrorism, labor disputes, utility failures, cyberattacks, or third-party service outages. If a force majeure event continues for more than ninety (90) days, either party may terminate these Terms with written notice.

23.6 Governing Law. These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, without regard to conflict of law principles. For disputes not subject to arbitration, the courts of London, England shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

23.7 Notices. All notices to Polyscopea must be sent to legal@polyscopea.com or by certified mail to our registered address. Notices to you will be sent to the email address associated with your account.