Terms of Use

Last updated: March 01, 2025

1. AGREEMENT TO OUR LEGAL TERMS

Welcome to Lovelace’s Square (“we,” “us,” or “our”). We are a non-profit online platform dedicated to the chemometrics community, providing a central hub where algorithms, datasets, toolboxes, and other resources relevant to chemometrics are uploaded and shared (the “Services”).

By accessing or using our Services, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use (“Legal Terms”). IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH ALL OF THESE LEGAL TERMS, YOU ARE PROHIBITED FROM USING THE SERVICES AND MUST DISCONTINUE USE IMMEDIATELY.

2. OVERVIEW OF OUR SERVICES

2.1 Non-Profit Purpose

Lovelace’s Square operates on donations, grants, and sponsorships to keep the platform accessible for the chemometrics community. Our main objective is to support our services without commercial barriers wherever possible.

2.2 Resource Distribution

Types of Resources

Lovelace’s Square hosts a variety of chemometrics-related materials (collectively, “Resources”), such as code, datasets, toolboxes and texts. These Resources may come from:

Lovelace’s Square Team: Works developed or curated by our own staff, typically released under our Lovelace’s Square Non-Commercial Copyleft Licence or another free licence we choose.
User Contributions: Content voluntarily uploaded by community members who must choose and apply a suitable open licence.

Licensing Flexibility

Most Restrictive Licence Allowed: We require that all Resources be made freely available and open for at least non-profit use to the community. The most restrictive permissible licence type is a non-profit licence. By 'restrictive', it is understood to refer to any action aimed at stopping the free exchange, modification, and distribution of resources.

More Permissive Licences: Contributors are welcome and encouraged to use more permissive open licences (including those that do allow commercial use), so long as such licences do not conflict with the rights of others or violate any applicable law.

No Ultra-Restrictive Models: Licences that are more restrictive than open-access for non-profit use—such as those that prohibit basic sharing for non-commercial, educational, or research purposes, or do not allow free modification—are not permitted.

2.3 Community Collaboration

Quality & Relevance: We have a review process to maintain the platform’s standards. However, all users bear full responsibility for ensuring their contributions comply with our standards, legal obligations and respect others’ rights.

Open Access & Innovation: By permitting both non-commercial and commercial permissive licences, Lovelace’s Square seeks to foster a collaborative, community-driven ecosystem in which chemometric resources remain broadly accessible.

3. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND LICENSING

3.1 Lovelace’s Square Content

Lovelace’s Square Licence
All original content related to chemometrics directly produced by Lovelace’s Square (e.g., our documentation, codes and datasets) is released under the Lovelace’s Square Non-Commercial Copyleft Licence (“Licence”), unless expressly stated. This Licence allows free use, sharing, and modification of such content exclusively for non-commercial purposes, as long as the same Licence terms apply to Derivative Works. You can find the full text of the Licence at the end of this page.

No Implied Patent or Trademark Rights
Unless expressly stated, this Licence does not grant any patent or trademark rights.

3.2 User-Uploaded Content

Ownership
Users retain sole ownership and all associated intellectual property rights over any content they upload (e.g., algorithms, datasets, documentation, code). Lovelace’s Square does not claim ownership of user-uploaded materials.

User Responsibility for Licensing
You are solely responsible for selecting and applying any licence to your uploaded content, ensuring you have the lawful right to use and distribute that content (including any code or data you incorporate from third parties).

By uploading content to Lovelace’s Square, you confirm that you have all the rights and permissions necessary to make your content publicly available under whichever licence you choose.

Respect for Others’ Rights
You must not upload any content that infringes or violates ours or someone else’s rights (including intellectual property rights, privacy, or publicity rights). You must also comply with all laws and regulations applicable to your content.

4. USER REPRESENTATIONS

By using the Services, you represent and warrant that:

You are at least the age of majority in your jurisdiction (or have obtained parental/guardian consent if required by local law) and have the authority to agree to these Legal Terms.
You have not previously been suspended or removed from the Services.
Your use of the Services and your uploaded content will comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and third-party rights.
You understand that you are fully responsible for the content you upload and any consequences thereof.

5. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

You agree not to:

Violate Intellectual Property Rights. Upload material you do not have the lawful right to share, or that infringes third-party copyrights, patents, trademarks, or other rights.
Engage in Commercial Exploitation of Lovelace’s Square Content. Use any Lovelace’s Square original content in a manner that seeks or generates direct monetary gain or commercial advantage without explicit written permission.
Circumvent Security Measures. Attempt to disrupt or compromise the platform, introduce malware, or gain unauthorized access to restricted areas.
Harass or Exploit Other Users. Engage in defamatory, abusive, or threatening behavior or misuse personal data of any user.
Impersonate another user, entity, or Lovelace’s Square staff, or mislead others about your identity or affiliation.

We reserve the right to take appropriate action, including content removal, account suspension, or legal action if you engage in any prohibited activities.

6. USER-GENERATED CONTENT AND LIABILITY

No Endorsement or Guarantee
Lovelace’s Square does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy or reliability of user-submitted content. All user content is the sole responsibility of the user who uploads it.

User Holds All Rights
You maintain all rights to your uploaded content. By uploading, you affirm that your content does not violate any laws or third-party rights.

Reporting Infringement
If you believe your copyrighted or proprietary content has been uploaded without permission, please contact us at lovelacesquare@gmail.com, and we will respond in accordance with applicable laws.

7. REVIEW PROCESS

Quality Assurance
Submitted content may undergo a review process by Lovelace’s Square volunteers or collaborators to ensure it meets basic quality criteria.

No Comprehensive Guarantee
While we strive to review content thoroughly, we do not warrant that all user content is lawful, accurate, or free from third-party claims. If you discover potentially problematic content, please notify us.

8. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES

“AS IS” Provision
The Services (including user-generated content and Lovelace’s Square content) are provided on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis, without warranty of any kind, express or implied.

No Responsibility for User Content
Lovelace’s Square disclaims liability for user-generated content, which remains the user’s sole responsibility.

No Guarantee of Availability
We do not guarantee continuous or secure access to the Services; downtime may occur for updates, maintenance, or other reasons.

9. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY

Direct or Indirect Damages
Lovelace’s Square is not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or exemplary damages (including but not limited to loss of profits or data) arising out of or in connection with the use or inability to use the Services.

User Accountability
Users assume full responsibility for any legal or financial consequences resulting from their own content, including any infringement claims or disputes.

10. INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold Lovelace’s Square harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, claims, or demands (including legal fees) arising out of:

Your content (including any claim of infringement);
Your violation of these Legal Terms or any applicable law;
Your misuse of Lovelace’s Square content contrary to the Licence terms.

We reserve the right, at your expense, to assume the exclusive defence and control of any matter for which you are required to indemnify us, and you agree to cooperate fully in such defence.

11. ACCOUNT SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION

Termination Rights
We may suspend or terminate your account or ability to use the Services at any time, for any reason, including violation of these Legal Terms.

Effect of Termination
If your account is terminated, your uploaded content may be retained or deleted at our discretion.

Re-Registration
If your account is terminated, you may not create another account without our express written permission.

12. GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Governing Law
These Legal Terms shall be governed by the laws of Spain, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Informal Resolution
We encourage you to contact us at lovelacesquare@gmail.com to attempt to resolve any dispute friendly and informally before proceeding to arbitration or litigation.

Arbitration or Courts
If informal resolution is not successful, disputes may be settled by arbitration under the rules of the International Commercial Arbitration Court under the European Arbitration Chamber. If arbitration is found unenforceable, disputes shall be heard in the courts of Spain.

13. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

You consent to receive communications from us in electronic form (e.g., email). You agree that any notices, agreements, or other communications we send to you electronically satisfy any legal communication requirements, including in writing.

14. MISCELLANEOUS

Entire Agreement
These Legal Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and the Lovelace’s Square Licence, constitute the entire agreement between you and Lovelace’s Square.

No Waiver
Our failure to enforce any right under these Legal Terms does not constitute a waiver of such right.

Severability
If any part of these Legal Terms is deemed invalid or unenforceable, that portion shall be interpreted to reflect the parties’ original intent, and the remaining portions remain in full force and effect.

No Agency Relationship
These Legal Terms do not create a partnership, agency, or joint venture relationship between you and Lovelace’s Square.

Assignment
We may assign our rights and obligations under these Legal Terms at any time, without notice.

15. CONTACT US

If you have questions about these Legal Terms or wish to report any content violations or infringement, please contact us at lovelacesquare@gmail.com.

16. LOVELACE’S SQUARE LICENCE

Preamble
The “Lovelace’s Square licence” or “Lovelace’s Square Non-Commercial Copyleft Licence” (hereinafter the “Licence”) aims to foster a collaborative environment where non-profit entities and individual users can freely share, adapt, and build upon licensed material (i.e., content, code, datasets, etc.). At the same time, the Licence prohibits using the licensed materials for any for-profit or commercial purpose, thereby safeguarding the non-commercial ethos and ensuring that derived works remain free and open within the non-profit sector.

This Licence disclaims all warranties and liability in accordance with the terms below.

1. Definitions

1.1 “Licensed Materials”
All content, code, datasets, documentation, or other works distributed under this Licence.

1.2 “Non-Commercial Purposes”
Activities or uses that do not generate revenue, fees, compensation, or any direct or indirect financial gain. Examples include:

Use by educational institutions (e.g., public schools, universities, libraries) for teaching or research, where no profit is generated from the licensed materials themselves.
Use non-profit entities that do not sell, license, or otherwise monetise the Licensed Materials.
Personal use where no commercial transaction is involved.

1.3 “Commercial Purposes”
Any activity or use intended to generate revenue, compensation, or any form of monetary or proprietary gain. This includes, but is not limited to:

Selling, licensing, or leasing the Licensed Materials, or products/services derived from them.
Integrating or bundling the Licensed Materials within a product or service that is sold, offered for subscription, or monetised (e.g., software, private courses).
Using the Licensed Materials in corporate, for-profit, or partnership contexts where the use directly contributes to commercial advantage or private monetary gain.

1.4 “Derivative Works”
Any work that is based upon or incorporates the Licensed Materials, including modifications, adaptations, translations, expansions, compilations, or any form of alteration to the original. A work that merely references the Licensed Materials (without incorporating protected content/code) is not considered a Derivative Work.

1.5 “User”
Any individual, institution, or entity that accesses, uses, modifies, or redistributes the Licensed Materials.

2. Grant of Use and Accessibility

2.1 Open Access for Non-Commercial Use
The Licensed Materials are freely available for non-commercial purposes under the terms of this Licence. Users may access, view, and utilise the Licensed Materials without restriction as long as they abide by the requirements set forth below.

2.2 Prohibition on Commercial Use
No part of the Licensed Materials may be used, in whole or in part, for commercial purposes. If a proposed use might be construed as “commercial,” it is the responsibility of the User to obtain explicit written permission from Lovelace’s Square or refrain from such use.

2.3 Free Redistribution
Users may copy, distribute, and share the Licensed Materials for non-commercial purposes, provided they comply with the Copyleft Requirement (§3) and Attribution (§5).

3. Non-Commercial Copyleft Requirement

3.1 Same Terms for Derivatives
Any Derivative Work that is created from the Licensed Materials, in whole or in part, must be released under this same Licence (the Lovelace’s Square Non-Commercial Copyleft Licence). This ensures that derivatives remain non-commercial and share the same freedoms and restrictions.

3.2 No Additional Restrictions
Users may not impose any further legal or technical barriers—such as contracts, DRM, or additional terms—that would reduce the rights granted by this Licence.

3.3 Licence Notices
All copies or substantial portions of the Licensed Materials, and any Derivative Works, must include a copy of (or direct reference to) this Licence.

4. Permitted Non-Commercial Activities

4.1 Personal & Educational
Individuals, academic researchers, and educators are encouraged to use and adapt the Licensed Materials for study, teaching, or personal research in a manner consistent with this Licence.

4.2 Non-Profit Organisations
Legally recognised non-profit entities may incorporate the Licensed Materials into their research, development, or operational projects, provided no commercial gain arises.

4.3 Public Sector & Government
Public sector agencies may use the Licensed Materials for internal or public benefit programmes only if such uses align strictly with a non-commercial purpose and no direct revenue is generated.

5. Attribution

5.1 Mandatory Credit
Users and downstream recipients must give appropriate credit to the original authors and to the Lovelace’s Square platform. At a minimum, such attribution should include:

The name(s) or pseudonym(s) of the original author(s), if provided.
A reference to the Lovelace’s Square platform.
A link to the source (e.g., project URL), if applicable.

5.2 No Endorsement
Providing attribution does not imply endorsement by the original authors or Lovelace’s Square. Failure to comply with attribution obligations does not create liability for Lovelace’s Square but may constitute a breach of this Licence.

6. No Warranty; Limitation of Liability

6.1 “As Is” Provision
THE LICENSED MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS,” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT.

6.2 Liability Disclaimer
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CONTRIBUTORS OR LOVELACE’S SQUARE BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE LICENSED MATERIALS, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

6.3 Jurisdictional Variations
Some jurisdictions do not allow certain disclaimers of warranties or limitations on liability. In those jurisdictions, these disclaimers apply to the maximum extent permitted by law.

7. Enforcement and Compliance

7.1 Commercial Use Violations
If Users engage in commercial use of the Licensed Materials without explicit written permission, such activity constitutes a breach of this Licence. Lovelace’s Square or any legitimate rights holder reserves the right to pursue remedies under applicable law.

7.2 No Obligation to Monitor
Lovelace’s Square is not obligated to monitor or enforce compliance, but it reserves the right to do so at its discretion or upon request of contributors.

7.3 Termination
This Licence will automatically terminate for any User who breaches its terms, including engaging in commercial use without permission. Upon termination, the User must immediately cease all use, distribution, and/or modification of the Licensed Materials. However, rights granted to other individuals under this Licence who remain in compliance will continue unaffected.

8. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

8.1 Jurisdiction
This Licence shall be governed by the laws of the jurisdiction where Lovelace’s Square primarily operates, unless otherwise specified in a written agreement.

8.2 Forum Selection
Any disputes arising from or related to this Licence shall be resolved in the competent courts of the stated jurisdiction. Users agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction and venue of such courts.

9. Trademark and Patent Clarifications

9.1 No Trademark Licence
This Licence does not grant permission to use the trademarks, trade names, or service marks of Lovelace’s Square or any contributor, except for accurate attribution as required in §5.

9.2 No Patent Rights
Unless expressly stated otherwise, no patent rights are granted under this Licence. Users are responsible for ensuring they are not infringing any third-party patent rights by using, modifying, or distributing the Licensed Materials.

10. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, using, modifying, or distributing the Licensed Materials, Users agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Licence. Any use of the Licensed Materials indicates full acceptance of these terms.

11. Final Disclaimer

This Licence is not an Open Source Initiative (OSI) approved licence due to its non-commercial restrictions. It is intended exclusively to preserve copyleft for non-profit purposes. Lovelace’s Square and its contributors make no legal representation that this Licence meets all regulatory or statutory obligations in every jurisdiction. Users are strongly advised to seek professional legal counsel if they have specific concerns.