Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using PivoRate (the "Service"), including the website at pivorate.vercel.app and the PivoRate browser extension, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via the Service or email. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

2. Description of Service

PivoRate is a student-built platform that helps Northeastern University students:

• • Capture and organize course evaluation data they already have legitimate access to
• • View AI-generated summaries and insights about courses and instructors
• • Browse community-contributed aggregate statistics
• • Build a personal library of course information for academic planning

3. Eligibility & Access

To use account-based features, you must:

• ✓ Use a valid email address to log in (email verification)
• ✓ Be at least 16 years of age
• ✓ Have legitimate access to any evaluations you capture
• ✓ Agree to comply with these Terms and applicable laws

Public visitors (no login) may browse the Public Library read-only. PivoRate does not grant access to the original evaluation site; you must use your own credentials/permissions there.

4. User Accounts

Account Creation

You may create an account using your email address. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account.

Account Security

• • Do not share your account credentials with others
• • Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access
• • You may not create multiple accounts or impersonate others

Account Termination

You may delete your account at any time by contacting us. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

5. User Content & Data

Your Uploads

When you upload course evaluations using the PivoRate extension, you represent and warrant that:

• • You have legitimate, authorized access to view the evaluations
• • Extension capture/login flows are intended for Northeastern students; non-NEU users are not provided access to the source sites through PivoRate
• • You are not violating any applicable terms of service or policies
• • You are uploading the data voluntarily and in good faith

License Grant

By uploading content to PivoRate, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to:

• • Store and process your uploaded evaluations
• • Generate AI summaries and analyses from the content
• • Display anonymized, de-identified insights to other users (if you opt in)
• • Create aggregate statistics that do not identify individual users

You retain all rights to your original content. You may delete your content at any time, subject to our data retention policies.

Data Accuracy

You are responsible for the accuracy of data you upload. PivoRate is not responsible for verifying the authenticity of uploaded evaluations.

Public visitors may browse without login; account-based features require an account. Data handling details are governed by our Privacy Policy.

6. Prohibited Conduct

You agree NOT to:

Enforcement

Violations may result in: content removal, warnings, temporary suspension, permanent ban, or referral to appropriate authorities. We reserve the right to take enforcement action at our discretion.

7. Extension Use (Additional Rules)

• • Do not bypass access controls or share captured content with unauthorized parties.
• • Do not automate or scrape the Service (no bots or bulk collection).
• • Do not redistribute or resell content captured via PivoRate.
• • You must have legitimate access to any evaluations you capture.

8. AI-Generated Content Disclaimer

Limitations

• • Not official advice; verify independently.
• • May contain inaccuracies or omissions.
• • Based on historical evaluations that may no longer reflect current courses or instructors.
• • Reliability varies with sample size.

Your Responsibility

You are solely responsible for decisions made using AI outputs. Consult official university resources, talk with instructors, and use your own judgment.

9. Intellectual Property

PivoRate Property

The PivoRate name, logo, website design, and original software are the intellectual property of the PivoRate team. You may not use our branding without permission.

Third-Party Content

Course evaluation data originates from various sources and may be subject to third-party rights and terms. PivoRate makes no claim of ownership over evaluation content uploaded by users.

10. Relationship with Third Parties

Respect for Policies

We respect the terms of service and policies of evaluation platforms and universities. If any authorized party requests data removal or modification, we will promptly comply.

11. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

"As Is" Service

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PIVORATE AND ITS TEAM SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• • Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• • Loss of profits, data, use, or other intangible losses
• • Academic decisions or outcomes based on Service content
• • Actions taken by third parties, including universities or evaluation platforms
• • Service interruptions, errors, or inaccuracies

Maximum Liability

In no event shall our total liability exceed the amount you paid us (if any) in the past 12 months, or $100 USD, whichever is less.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless PivoRate and its team members from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including attorney fees) arising from:

• • Your use of the Service
• • Your violation of these Terms
• • Your violation of any third-party rights
• • Content you upload or submit

13. Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, disputes shall be submitted to binding arbitration in Boston, Massachusetts.

14. Severability

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

15. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact: