Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Open University (“Service”), operated by Open University Inc. (“we,” “us,” or “our”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you do not agree, do not use the Service. We may update these Terms at any time; continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 16 years of age (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) to create an account. If you are under 18, you represent that your parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to these Terms on your behalf.

3. Account Registration

To access certain features, you must register for an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep your account credentials confidential. You are responsible for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access.

4. Use of the Service

4.1 Permitted Use

You may use the Service for personal, non-commercial educational purposes in accordance with these Terms and applicable law. Enterprise and team accounts may use the Service for professional development within their organization.

4.2 Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• Share your account credentials with others or allow unauthorized access.
• Reproduce, distribute, or resell course content outside the platform.
• Use automated tools, bots, or scrapers to extract content or data.
• Attempt to bypass assessment integrity measures or submit fraudulent work.
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users in forums, study groups, or messages.
• Upload malicious code, viruses, or any harmful material.
• Impersonate another person or misrepresent your identity.
• Use the Service for any illegal purpose.

5. AI-Generated Content

Open University uses artificial intelligence to generate course curricula, lesson content, assessments, and other educational materials. While we strive for accuracy and quality:

• AI-generated content is provided for educational purposes and may contain errors.
• Content should not be considered professional advice (medical, legal, financial, etc.).
• We continuously improve content quality but do not guarantee completeness or accuracy.
• You are responsible for independently verifying critical information.

6. Subscriptions & Payments

6.1 Billing

Paid plans are billed in advance on a recurring basis (monthly or annually). By subscribing, you authorize us to charge your designated payment method. All amounts are in USD unless otherwise stated.

6.2 Free Trial

We may offer free trials. At the end of a trial, your account will automatically convert to a paid subscription unless you cancel before the trial ends.

6.3 Cancellation

You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. No refunds are issued for partial billing periods.

6.4 Refunds

We offer a 14-day money-back guarantee for new subscriptions. If you are unsatisfied within 14 days of your first paid billing date, contact support for a full refund.

7. Certificates

Certificates issued by Open University attest to completion of specific courses or learning paths as assessed by our platform. Certificates:

• Are verifiable via our public verification system using unique certificate IDs.
• Represent completion as assessed by AI-generated and AI-graded evaluations.
• Are not equivalent to degrees or professional certifications from accredited institutions.
• May be revoked if obtained through fraud or violation of these Terms.

8. Intellectual Property

8.1 Our Content

All content on the platform — including text, graphics, logos, code, and AI-generated materials — is owned by or licensed to Open University and protected by copyright and intellectual property laws.

8.2 Your Content

You retain ownership of content you create (forum posts, projects, reviews). By posting content on the platform, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute your content within the Service.

9. Privacy

Your use of the Service is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data.

10. Disclaimers

The Service is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure. We disclaim all warranties, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Open University and its officers, directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Service. Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Open University from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of the Service, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any rights of a third party.

13. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms or if we discontinue the Service. Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately. You may export your data before termination.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

15. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Service shall first be attempted to be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If unresolved within 30 days, disputes shall be submitted to binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

16. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact us at legal@openuniversity.com.