These Terms of Service and any policies or addenda referenced herein (“Terms”) govern your access and use of Accredible’s Certificate Cloud Services and form a legally binding agreement between you (“Customer”, “you” or “your”) and EdInvent, Inc., dba Accredible (“Accredible”, “we” or “us”). These Terms apply to and are incorporated into any Service Contract or Ordering Document between you and Accredible (collectively the “Agreement”) regardless of if expressly referenced, unless agreed otherwise in writing. If you order or use our Recommendations Service, the additional terms at accredible.com/legal/recommendations-terms also apply to you, and are incorporated into the Agreement.
By clicking the “Accept” button, executing a Service Contract, issuing an Ordering Document, or using the Certificate Cloud Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. Further, you acknowledge that you are 18 years of age or older, and that those under the age of majority in their jurisdiction may not use the Certificate Cloud Services or this site without parental supervision. If you are an employee, consultant or contractor entering into these Terms on behalf of or as part of your work for a company or other entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind such entity to these Terms, in which case the terms “Customer,” “you” and “your” shall refer to such entity. Customer and Accredible may be individually referred to as a “Party”, and collectively as the “Parties”.
Accredible may modify these Terms at any time by posting a revised version on this website or otherwise providing notice to Customer. By continuing to use the Services after the effective date of any modifications to these Terms, Customer agrees to be bound by the modified terms. Accredible reserves the right to ask Customer to acknowledge acceptance through an electronic click-through.
1. DEFINITIONS.
1.1 “Affiliate” means any entity that Customer, directly or indirectly, controls; an entity that controls Customer; or an entity that is under common control with Customer. For purposes of this provision, “control” means ownership of at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting shares of the entity.
1.2 “Applicable Law(s)” means any law, rule, regulation, directive, or other binding requirements (as may be implemented, amended, extended, or re-enacted from time to time), applicable to either Party’s performance under this Agreement, including but not limited to those applicable to the processing of Personal Data, which may include in particular, the CCPA, the GDPR, the UK GDPR, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule and/or the UK ICO Age-Appropriate Design Code. If Customer is an educational agency or institution, Applicable Laws may also include the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”).
1.3 “Authorized User” means those employees, agents, customers, individuals, and independent contractors of Customer that are authorized by Customer to access and use the Services and to whom Customer has assigned a user ID or password.
1.4 “Certificate Cloud Services'' means any of the products, plans, and services offered by Accredible, including those under the name “Accredible Certificates”, “Accredible Portfolios”, “Accredible Professional Profiles”, “Accredible Recommendations”, “Accredible Professional Services'' or successor branding. For the avoidance of doubt, Certificate Cloud Services includes Services. Certificate Cloud Services exclude: (a) third party Credentials including without limitation any such third-party certification, testing and identity verification; and (b) non-Accredible applications.
1.5 “Confidential Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.
1.6 “Content” means the Accredible content, information, data products and services, and Documentation made available as part of the Certificate Cloud Services.
1.7 “Credentials” means evidence of achievement, ability, attainment, authenticity, compliance, completion, eligibility, entitlement, experience, identity, membership, qualifications, title or other attributes, qualities or traits.
1.8 “Customer Data” means electronic data submitted by Customer or Customer’s content, information, data and Personal Data which Customer desires to process and disseminate by accessing and using the Service and any Customer icons, marks and/or logos Customer desires to have displayed on the Service pages. As between Customer and Accredible, Customer Data shall also include Credentials whether of (or issued by), Customer or third parties.
1.9 “Documentation” means the online guides and user manuals for the Certificate Cloud Service.
1.10 “Intellectual Property Rights” means all patents, patent registration or applications, business processes, data rights, copyrights, trade names, trademarks, trade secrets, know-how, mask works, or any other intellectual property rights, whether registered or unregistered, arising or enforceable under United States law or the law of any other jurisdiction.
1.11 “Ordering Document” means any order form, purchase order, PO, or similar procurement document issued by you and signed, or otherwise agreed to by Accredible, for the Services.
1.12 “Permitted Third Party" means a third party under contract with Customer to provide services related to the Services or otherwise authorized by Customer or Authorized User to access Customer Data, including Personal Data, through the Accredible Services for the purpose of performing its obligation to Customer or its Affiliates and is not a competitor of Accredible.
1.13 “Personal Data” means any data, including Customer Data, that is “personal information,” “personal data,” “personally identifiable information,” “nonpublic personal data,” or similar terms as defined by and regulated by Applicable Laws.
1.14 “Service Contract” means any agreement executed between you and Accredible for the Services, including without limitation, the Certificate Cloud Services Agreement or other similar service agreement.
1.15 “Services” means, collectively, the specific products, plans and/or services of the Certificate Cloud Services ordered by you or that Accredible has authorized you to use and access.
1.16 “Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
1.17 “Third Party Services” means online applications and offline software that are provided by entities or individuals other than Accredible and that will not interoperate with the Certificate Cloud Services. These may include a non-Accredible service, website, product, connector or application provided by a third party.
2. LICENSE GRANTS.
2.1 Service. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Accredible grants Customer a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide license to access and use the Services to input and process Customer Data for Customer’s own internal business purposes. Customer shall only allow Authorized Users to access the Service, and shall ensure that Authorized Users review and comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. There are no implied licenses. All rights not expressly granted are reserved by Accredible and its licensors.
2.2 Restrictions. Customer shall not: (a) license, sublicense, sell, resell, transfer, assign, distribute or otherwise commercially exploit or make available to any third party (other than Authorized Users) the Services or the Content in any way; (b) modify or make derivative works based upon the Service or the Content; (c) create Internet "links" to the Service or "frame" or "mirror" any Content on any other server or wireless or Internet-based device; (d) attempt to access portions of the Certificate Cloud Services for which it has not ordered or is not authorized by Accredible to access; or (e) reverse engineer or access the Certificate Cloud Services or Content in order to: (i) build a competitive product or service; or (ii) copy any Content or any ideas, features, functions or graphics of the Certificate Cloud Services.
2.3 Customer Data. Customer hereby grants to Accredible a non-exclusive, worldwide license, to use, reproduce, create derivative works, display, store and perform Customer Data as reasonably necessary to provide the Services.
3. OWNERSHIP.
Accredible and its suppliers shall own all right, title and interest in and to any Intellectual Property Rights in and to the Certificate Cloud Services, Content, and derivative works thereof and related materials. Customer shall own all right, title and interest in and to Customer Data and all Intellectual Property Rights therein. All right, title and interest in Third Party Services is the property of the respective owner.
4. OPERATION OF THE SERVICES.
4.1 Implementation of Services. Promptly following the Agreement Start Date, Accredible shall provide Customer with access to the Services. Customer will issue user IDs or passwords to its Authorized Users and Customer acknowledges that Customer is fully responsible for all liabilities incurred by such use, and for any liabilities incurred through use of such passwords by anyone who obtains such passwords until Customer notifies Accredible’s customer service of such unauthorized use. Accredible may temporarily disable access to the Service if Customer reports unauthorized use of the Service.
4.2 Services Operation. Accredible shall host, maintain and operate the Certificate Cloud Services for use by Customer and Authorized Users. Accredible shall use commercially reasonable efforts to: (a) deploy industry standard security and encryption controls including without limitation, firewall and SSL technology; (b) monitor, track and report on Certificate Cloud Services availability; and (c) limit access to the Services only to Authorized Users.
4.3 Compliance with Laws. Customer shall use the Services in compliance with all Applicable Laws, statutes, rules, regulations and terms of service. If necessary to comply with any of the foregoing, Accredible may modify or suspend access to the Service. This remedy shall be in addition to, and shall not limit Accredible’s ability to terminate this Agreement based on material breach or pursue damages or other remedies available under law and equity.
4.4 Upgrades. Customer understands that Accredible may make upgrades to the Certificate Cloud Services or the manner in which they are made available, and that those upgrades may create differences in how the Certificate Cloud Services operate in the future.
4.5 Protection of Customer Data. Accredible will maintain administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed for the protection of Customer Data. Those safeguards will include measures designed for preventing unauthorized access, use, modification or disclosure of Customer Data by Accredible personnel except: (a) to provide the Certificate Cloud Services and prevent or address service or technical problems; (b) to comply with all Applicable Laws; or (c) as expressly permitted in writing by Customer. The terms of the data processing addendum at accredible.com/legal/dpa/ (the “DPA”) are hereby incorporated by reference and shall apply to the extent Accredible processes Personal Data.
5. FEES AND PAYMENT.
5.1 All payments of fees and charges are due net thirty (30) days from the date of invoice, subject to Customer’s maintaining satisfactory credit arrangements with Accredible. Accredible reserves the right to modify Customer’s credit terms at any time. Amounts not paid after 45 days (15 days overdue) are subject to a late payment charge of one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month, or if less, the highest rate permitted by law.
5.2 The prices for the Service are exclusive of all federal, state, or local sales, use, VAT or excise taxes, Customer shall pay all sales, use, excise, VAT and other taxes which may be levied upon either Party in connection with this Agreement, excluding taxes based on Accredible’s net income.
6. CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES.
6.1 Customer is solely responsible for the accuracy, quality, integrity, legality, reliability, appropriateness, and intellectual property ownership or right to use of any and all Customer Data, including the authenticity, validity, legitimacy, legality and content of Credentials. Accredible shall have no responsibility or liability for Customer Data included in, or used in conjunction with the Services. For example, if Customer Data contains outdated or inaccurate information, Accredible shall not be responsible or liable for such outdated or inaccurate information. Customer acknowledges that Accredible is not affiliated with any issuer of Credentials and that Customer’s selection and use of Credentials is at Customer’s sole risk and expense.
6.2 Customer shall only allow Authorized Users to access the Service and shall ensure that Authorized Users review and comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Customer shall also ensure that Customer and Authorized Users comply with any terms of use associated with Third Party Services.
6.3 Customer shall not: (a) send spam or otherwise duplicative or unsolicited messages; (b) send or store infringing, obscene, threatening, libelous, or otherwise unlawful or tortious material, including material harmful to children or in violation of third party privacy rights; (c) send or store material containing software viruses, worms, Trojan horses or other harmful computer code, files, scripts, agents or programs; (d) interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Certificate Cloud Services; or (e) attempt to gain unauthorized access to: (i) the Certificate Cloud Services or its related systems or networks; (ii) other user’s accounts; or (iii) optional components of the Certificate Cloud Services that Customer has not paid for.
6.4 If Customer shares Personal Data with Accredible for any reason, including to process for the purpose of the Services, Customer represents and warrants that it will comply with all Applicable Laws and will maintain and display a privacy policy that is consistent with the best practices of the industry. Customer further represents and warrants that: (a) any Personal Data Customer transfers to Accredible is not subject to any prohibitions, restrictions or Applicable Laws which would prevent or restrict Customer from disclosing or transferring such data to Accredible, and (b) all required fair processing notices have been given and any required consents (including marketing consents and consents for individuals under 18 years of age) have been obtained from the data subjects and have not been withdrawn, or Customer otherwise has a lawful basis for disclosing or transferring the Personal Data to Accredible for processing.
6.5 Customer shall indemnify Accredible and its suppliers against any and all claims, losses, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, which Accredible and its suppliers may incur arising from Customer’s failure to comply with Customer responsibilities.
7. TERM AND TERMINATION.
7.1 This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall remain in effect for the Initial Term unless terminated earlier as provided in Section 7.3. This Agreement shall automatically renew for additional one (1) year terms (each a “Renewal Term”) unless either Party gives the other Party written notice at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the current term of its intent not to renew, in which case the Agreement shall expire at the end of such term. The Initial Term, together with all Renewal Terms, if any, shall be the “Term”.
7.2 The fees payable during each subsequent Renewal Term shall be subject to an annual increase equal to the most recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The annual pricing increase shall not exceed 6% in a single Renewal Term.
7.3 Either Party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by giving written notice to the breaching Party as provided below, subject to a thirty (30) day cure period. If the breaching Party has failed to cure a material breach within thirty (30) days of receiving written notice of such breach from the non-breaching Party, the nonbreaching Party may give a second written notice to the breaching Party immediately terminating this Agreement. In addition, if Customer fails (or is otherwise unwilling or unable), to perform Customer’s responsibilities, Accredible may, in its sole discretion and without limiting its other remedies, limit, suspend, or terminate Customer’s account(s) and access to the Services, delete or remove Customer Data and/or Credentials, and take technical and/or legal steps to prevent you from using the Services.
7.4 Upon the termination or expiration of this Agreement: (a) all licenses granted to Customer hereunder shall immediately terminate; and (b) each Party shall, at the other Party’s option, return or destroy all copies of Confidential Information or other material then in its possession owned solely by such other Party and upon written request provide written certification by an authorized officer of such destruction. Upon the termination or expiration of this Agreement the definitions contained herein and the following Sections 1, 3, 6, 7.3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and any payment obligations incurred prior to the termination or expiration of this Agreement shall survive such termination or expiration.
8. INDEMNITY.
Accredible shall defend any claim, suit or proceeding brought against Customer so far as it is based on a claim that Customer’s authorized use of the Certificate Cloud Services hereunder infringes any copyright, trade secret right or United States patent (existing as of the Agreement Start Date). As a condition to such defense, Customer will provide Accredible with prompt written notice of the claim and permit Accredible to control the defense, settlement, adjustment or compromise of any such claim. Customer shall have no authority to settle any claim on behalf of Accredible. The foregoing sets forth Customer’s sole and exclusive remedy, for infringement or misappropriation by Accredible of third-party intellectual property rights.
9. WARRANTY DISCLAIMER.
THE CERTIFICATE CLOUD SERVICES, DOCUMENTATION AND ANY SUPPORT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS”. ACCREDIBLE AND ITS SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS WHATSOEVER, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. ACCREDIBLE DOES NOT AND CANNOT CONTROL THE FLOW OF DATA TO OR FROM ACCREDIBLE’S NETWORK AND OTHER PORTIONS OF THE INTERNET. ACCORDINGLY, ACCREDIBLE DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY ON ACCOUNT THEREOF. Customer acknowledges that it has not entered into this Agreement in reliance upon any warranty or representation except those specifically set forth herein.
10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
EXCEPT FOR BREACH OF SECTION 2.1, 2.2 OR 11, OR CUSTOMER’S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 6, IN NO EVENT SHALL: (A) EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM BREACH OF CONTRACT OR WARRANTY OR FROM TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR STRICT LIABILITY), OR FOR INTERRUPTED COMMUNICATIONS, LOST DATA OR LOST PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT; AND (B) EITHER PARTY’S TOTAL LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES HEREUNDER EXCEED, IN THE AGGREGATE, THE AMOUNTS PAID TO ACCREDIBLE BY CUSTOMER TWELVE (12) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE FIRST OCCURRENCE TO THE EVENTS GIVING RISE TO THE IMPOSITION OF LIABILITY HEREUNDER. CUSTOMER AND ACCREDIBLE AGREE THAT THE LIMITATIONS SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION 10 SHALL APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING ANY FAILURE OF THE ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY LIMITED REMEDY HEREUNDER.
11. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
11.1 Any information that is transmitted by one Party (the “Disclosing Party”) to the other (the “Receiving Party”) hereunder and: (a) if in written form, is marked “confidential” or with a similar legend by the Disclosing Party before being furnished to the other; or (b) if disclosed orally or visually is identified as such prior to disclosure and summarized, in writing, by the Disclosing Party to the Receiving Party within thirty (30) days, shall be deemed to be the confidential information of the Disclosing Party for purposes of this Agreement (“Confidential Information”). Each Receiving Party expressly undertakes to retain in confidence and not to disclose to any third party any such Confidential Information received from the Disclosing Party hereunder. Each Receiving Party further agrees to make no use of such Confidential Information except as necessary to exercise the rights or fulfill the obligations expressly granted under this Agreement. Each Receiving Party shall take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized disclosure or use of the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information and to prevent such Confidential Information from falling into the public domain or into the possession of any unauthorized person. The Receiving Party shall not disclose Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party to any person or entity other than its officers, employees and legal or accounting advisors who need access to such Confidential Information in order to affect the intent of this Agreement and who have entered into written confidentiality agreements with such Party which protects the Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party. The Receiving Party shall immediately give notice to the Disclosing Party of any unauthorized use or disclosure of Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information. The Receiving Party agrees to assist the Disclosing Party in remedying such unauthorized use or disclosure of its Confidential Information.
11.2 Confidential Information shall not include information that: (a) was in the public domain at or subsequent to the time it was communicated to the Receiving Party by the Disclosing Party through no fault of the Receiving Party; (b) was rightfully in the Receiving Party’s possession free of any obligation of confidence at or subsequent to the time such portion was communicated to the Receiving Party by the Disclosing Party; (c) was developed by employees or agents of the Receiving Party independently of and without reference to any information communicated to the Receiving Party by the Disclosing Party; or (d) was communicated by the Disclosing Party to an unaffiliated third party free of any obligation of confidence.
12. THIRD PARTY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
12.1 Third Party Services. Accredible may enable access, make available, provide information or direct links to Third Party Services and other non-Accredible products, applications, services and platforms for Customer to use within the Services (collectively, “Non-Accredible Services”). Non-Accredible Services are not necessary to the Services, but for Customer option and convenience. Accredible does not approve, endorse, or recommend any Non-Accredible Services.
12.2 Governing Terms. Unless otherwise provided, Customer’s access and use of any Non-Accredible Services is governed exclusively by the applicable third-party terms and not this Agreement or Accredible’s Privacy Policy. Accredible hereby disclaims any and all responsibility and liability relating to Customer’s use of Non-Accredible Services.
12.3 Authorized Access. Customer authorizes and instructs Accredible to provide Permitted Third Parties access to Customer Data, including Personal Data, as necessary to fulfill its obligations to Customer, pursuant to applicable law and provision of the Services. Customer agrees that Accredible is not responsible for the data practices of Permitted Third Parties with whom Customer elects to share Customer Data, and further acknowledges that it is solely responsible for providing sufficient notices, obtaining appropriate consents, complying with Applicable Law and adherence to the respective third party’s terms. Customer acknowledges sole responsibility for and assumes all risk arising from using Third Party Services and authorizing its access to Personal Data through the Services.
12.4 Support; Availability. Accredible is responsible for providing maintenance and support for Accredible Services only. Complaints or questions regarding Third-Party Services should be directed to the respective third-party. Accredible makes no warranty or representation on the availability or quality of Third Party Services and reserve the right to discontinue, disable, or remove access to any Third Party Service at any time.
13. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
13.1 This Agreement shall be governed by laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any conflicts of laws provisions that would require the application of the laws of a different state. The Parties hereby submit to the jurisdiction of, and waive any venue objections against, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, and the Superior and Municipal Courts of the State of California, Santa Clara County, in any litigation arising out of this Agreement.
13.2 Except as expressly provided herein, all rights and remedies conferred under this Agreement or by any other instrument or law shall be cumulative and may be exercised singularly or concurrently. Failure by either Party to enforce any contract term shall not be deemed a waiver of future enforcement of that or any other term.
13.3 Any notice or reports required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be delivered via email, in person, facsimile transmission or by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, and shall be deemed given upon personal delivery, three (3) days after deposit in the mail or upon acknowledgment of receipt of facsimile transmission. Notices shall be sent to the individuals executing this Agreement at the addresses first set forth above or such other address as either Party may specify in writing.
13.4 Customer shall not assign, voluntarily, by operation of law, or otherwise, any rights, or delegate any duties, under this Agreement without Accredible’s prior written consent. Accredible may without Customer’s consent, assign all or any part of its rights and duties under this Agreement pursuant to a corporate reorganization, or to any entity with whom Accredible merges, which Accredible acquires or is acquired by, or to whom Accredible sells all or substantially all of its assets to which this Agreement relates. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement will bind and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
13.5 The Parties are independent contractors and nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as creating any agency, partnership, or other form of joint enterprise between the Parties.
13.6 Customer consents to Accredible’s use of Customer’s name and logo in routine customer lists appearing on Accredible’s website, various marketing materials or internal and external presentations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Accredible may use Customer’s name, logo and a description of Accredible solutions provided to Customer in Accredible case studies and press releases, during the Term of this Agreement, provided that Accredible submits proposed content to Customer for review prior to use. Customer may object to any proposed use in its absolute discretion and shall have the right to modify or revoke any use of its name and logo at any time. Accredible’s use of Customer’s name and logo does not create any ownership right therein and all rights not granted to Accredible are reserved by Customer.
13.7 Neither Party shall be liable hereunder by reason of any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder (except for the payment of money) on account of: (a) any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any Applicable Law that applies to the subject matter hereof; and (b) strikes, shortages, riots, insurrection, fires, flood, storms, explosions, acts of God, war, government action, acts of terrorism, earthquakes, power outages or any other cause which is beyond the reasonable control of such Party.
13.8 If any provision of this Agreement shall be unenforceable or invalid under any Applicable Law or be so held by applicable court decision, such unenforceability or invalidity shall not render this Agreement unenforceable or invalid as a whole, and, in such event, such provisions shall be changed and interpreted so as to best accomplish the objectives of such unenforceable or invalid provision within the limits of Applicable Law or applicable court decisions.
13.9 This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimiles shall be treated as originals.
13.10 The section headings and captions of this Agreement are included merely for convenience of reference. They are not to be considered part of, or to be used in interpreting this Agreement and in no way limit or affect any of the contents of this Agreement or its provisions.
13.11 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent there is a conflict or inconsistency between these Terms and the Service Contract or any applicable Ordering Document, the following order of precedence shall govern and control any such conflict (unless such term(s) contradict a requirement under Applicable Law in which case such requirement shall prevail): (1) the applicable Ordering Document; (2) the Service Contract (3) these Terms. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of any such conflict, all non-conflicting terms of these Terms shall remain in full force and effect.
13.12 The Agreement, including all exhibits, addenda and any attachments to the Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties relating to this subject matter and supersedes all prior or simultaneous representations, discussions, negotiations, and agreements, whether written or oral. Except as expressly provided, the Agreement may not otherwise be amended except through mutual written agreement by a duly authorized representative of each Party.
Last Updated: December 2023