Terms and Conditions

1. Agreement Formation

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Athens Search website at athenssearch.com and the Athens Search e-discovery platform at app.athenssearch.com (collectively, the "Service"), operated by Athens Search LLC ("Athens Search," "we," "us," or "our").

By creating an account, clicking "I Accept," signing an Order Form, or otherwise using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and any applicable Order Forms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

2. Definitions

• "Service" means the Athens Search e-discovery platform, including all hosted software, tools, and functionality.
• "Order Form" means the document or online form specifying the services purchased, fees, subscription tier, and applicable terms.
• "Customer Data" means all documents, emails, metadata, tags, notes, and other content you upload, import, or create within the Service.
• "Authorized User" means an individual you authorize to access and use the Service under your account.
• "Administrator" means an Authorized User with elevated permissions to manage accounts, users, and settings.
• "Documentation" means user guides, help materials, API documentation, and other instructional content provided by Athens Search.
• "Feedback" means suggestions, ideas, or improvement recommendations you provide regarding the Service.
• "Subscription Term" means the duration of your paid access to the Service as specified in your Order Form.
• "Confidential Information" means non-public technical, business, or financial information disclosed by one party to the other that is designated as confidential or should reasonably be understood to be confidential.
• "Aggregated Data" means anonymized, de-identified usage statistics and metrics collected by Athens Search that cannot reasonably be used to identify you or your Customer Data.
• "Free Trial" means a limited, no-cost access period to the Service for evaluation purposes.

3. Service Description & Access

Athens Search grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Service during your Subscription Term solely for your internal business purposes in connection with document-intensive disputes.

The Service enables users to upload, ingest, search, review, tag, and produce documents and email for legal matters. Access requires a compatible web browser and an active internet connection.

Athens Search reserves the right to update, modify, add to, or discontinue features of the Service at any time. We will provide reasonable notice for any change that materially reduces core functionality. Athens Search is a technology provider and does not provide legal advice. Nothing in the Service constitutes legal advice, and you should consult qualified counsel for legal matters.

4. User Management

You are responsible for designating and managing Authorized Users under your account. You may add or remove users through the platform's administrative controls.

You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account, including the actions of all Authorized Users. You must safeguard your login credentials and notify us immediately at info@athenssearch.com of any unauthorized access.

Athens Search or you may suspend an Authorized User's access at any time for security concerns, policy violations, or at your direction.

5. Acceptable Use & Restrictions

You agree not to use the Service to:

• Violate any applicable law, regulation, or court order
• Infringe the intellectual property or privacy rights of any third party
• Upload content you do not have the legal right to process
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service, other accounts, or our infrastructure
• Reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or create derivative works from any part of the Service
• Resell, sublicense, or commercially exploit the Service, except as expressly permitted
• Use the Service to send spam, malware, or any harmful code
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or connected networks
• Use the Service to develop a competing product or service

Prohibited Data. You may not upload or process: classified government data; export-controlled data subject to ITAR or EAR; criminal justice information; protected health information (HIPAA) without a executed Business Associate Agreement; or data involving sanctioned parties or restricted jurisdictions.

6. Customer Data

Ownership. You retain all rights, title, and interest in your Customer Data. Athens Search claims no ownership over documents, emails, or content you upload.

License Grant. You grant Athens Search a limited, non-exclusive license to host, process, index, transmit, and display your Customer Data solely to provide the Service to you.

Your Responsibility. You are responsible for the accuracy, legality, and completeness of your Customer Data. You represent that you have all necessary rights and consents to upload and process your Customer Data through the Service.

Data Processing Limitations. Document processing may involve exceptions, formatting variations, or extraction limitations inherent to automated processing of diverse file types. Athens Search does not warrant that all data will be extracted without exception.

Backup Responsibility. You are responsible for maintaining your own backups of Customer Data. Athens Search is not liable for data loss arising from processing, user error, or events beyond our reasonable control.

Not a Record Retention System. The Service is not intended as a long-term document storage or records retention system. It is designed for active e-discovery workflows.

Data Export & Deletion. Upon termination, you may request export of your Customer Data within 30 days. After 30 days, we may permanently delete Customer Data, subject to any legal retention obligations.

7. Data Protection & Privacy

Athens Search maintains administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect Customer Data. All data is encrypted at rest using AES-256 and in transit using TLS 1.2+.

Our Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and disclose personal information. For processing of personal data under GDPR, UK GDPR, or other applicable privacy laws, a separate Data Processing Addendum may be executed upon request.

We may collect and use Aggregated Data for analytics, service improvement, and business intelligence. Aggregated Data does not identify you or your Customer Data.

8. Intellectual Property

The Service, including all software, design, branding, documentation, and user interfaces, is the exclusive property of Athens Search LLC and is protected by U.S. and international intellectual property laws. These Terms do not grant you any rights to our trademarks, logos, or proprietary technology beyond the limited right to access and use the Service.

Feedback. If you provide suggestions, ideas, or feedback regarding the Service, you grant Athens Search a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, modify, and incorporate such feedback into the Service without obligation to you.

9. Confidentiality

Customer Data is your Confidential Information. Athens Search will not access, disclose, or use Customer Data except: (a) to provide the Service to you, (b) as you direct, or (c) as required by law. If legally compelled to disclose Customer Data, we will, where legally permitted, provide you with notice so you may seek a protective order.

Each party agrees to protect the other's Confidential Information using at least the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information, but no less than reasonable care.

10. Representations & Warranties

Each party represents that it has the full right and authority to enter into these Terms.

You represent and warrant that: (a) you have all necessary rights and consents to upload and process Customer Data through the Service; (b) your Customer Data does not contain malware or malicious code; and (c) your use of the Service will comply with all applicable laws.

Athens Search represents and warrants that the Service will conform to the applicable Documentation.

Disclaimer. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN, THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

11. Fees & Payment

Fees are as described in your Order Form or the pricing displayed at sign-up. We offer four tiers: Free (up to 100 documents), Budget ($5,000 for up to 10,000 documents), Standard ($20,000 for up to 250,000 documents), and Enterprise (custom pricing). All tiers include the same full feature set — the only differences are document volume and support level.

Fees are billed in advance and are non-refundable except where required by law. We may adjust pricing with at least 30 days' notice before a Subscription Term renews. Late or unpaid fees may result in suspension of the Service and accrue interest at 1.5% per month or the maximum rate permitted by law, whichever is less.

You are responsible for all applicable taxes, excluding taxes on our net income. Payment processing is handled by Stripe; we do not store credit card details on our infrastructure.

12. Term & Termination

Term. Your Subscription Term begins on the date you create your account or as specified in your Order Form. Subscriptions may renew automatically unless cancelled at least 30 days before the end of the current term.

Termination for Cause. Either party may terminate these Terms for a material breach by the other party if the breach remains uncured for 30 days after written notice.

Termination for Insolvency. Either party may terminate immediately if the other becomes insolvent, files for bankruptcy, or ceases operations.

Suspension. Athens Search may suspend your access for non-payment, security risks, or violations of these Terms.

Effect of Termination. Upon termination, your access rights end. You may export your Customer Data within 30 days. After 30 days, we may delete Customer Data. Final invoices remain payable.

Survival. Sections 6 (Customer Data), 8 (Intellectual Property), 9 (Confidentiality), 11 (Fees), 13 (Indemnification), 14 (Limitation of Liability), 20 (Dispute Resolution), and 21 (General) survive termination.

13. Indemnification

Vendor Indemnification. Athens Search will defend and indemnify you against third-party claims that the Service, as provided to you, infringes a valid U.S. patent, copyright, or trademark. If the Service becomes subject to an infringement claim, we may: (a) procure the right for you to continue using it, (b) modify it to become non-infringing, (c) replace it with a non-infringing alternative, or (d) terminate your access and provide a pro-rata refund of prepaid fees.

Customer Indemnification. You will defend and indemnify Athens Search against third-party claims arising from: (a) your Customer Data, (b) your use of the Service, (c) your breach of these Terms, or (d) litigation matters in which you are engaged.

Procedure. The indemnified party must provide prompt written notice, grant the indemnifying party sole control of the defense and settlement, and provide reasonable cooperation. This section states the sole obligations for covered claims.

14. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, NEITHER PARTY WILL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE.

OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE WILL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM. FOR FREE TRIAL USERS, MAXIMUM LIABILITY IS $100.

Athens Search is not an insurance company. You should rely on your own insurance for coverage of risks. Claims must be brought within one (1) year from when the claim could first be filed.

15. Support & Maintenance

Support levels vary by tier:

• Free Tier: No support included
• Budget Tier: Email support
• Standard Tier: Phone and email support
• Enterprise Tier: Phone and email support

Athens Search may perform scheduled maintenance with reasonable advance notice. Unscheduled maintenance may occur without notice in emergency situations. We strive to maintain high availability but do not guarantee uninterrupted service.

16. Compliance with Laws

Both parties will comply with all applicable laws in connection with these Terms and the Service.

Export Controls. You represent that you will comply with all applicable U.S. and international export control laws, including ITAR and EAR.

Sanctions. You represent that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any country or territory subject to U.S. sanctions, and that you are not listed on any U.S. government restricted party list.

Anti-Corruption. Both parties represent that they have not and will not offer or make any improper payments in violation of applicable anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

17. AI-Specific Terms

If the Service includes AI-assisted features (such as semantic search, concept clustering, or technology-assisted review), the following terms apply:

• AI output is probabilistic and may be inaccurate, incomplete, or biased. You must independently review and validate any AI-generated results before relying on them.
• Athens Search will not use your Customer Data as input to train general-purpose AI models.
• You are solely responsible for how you use AI-assisted features and the conclusions you draw from AI output.
• The same or similar AI output may be generated for other customers.
• Athens Search's IP indemnification does not cover claims arising from AI-generated output.

18. Third-Party Services

The Service may integrate with or access third-party services, including email providers such as Google Gmail and Microsoft 365. When you connect a third-party account, you authorize Athens Search to access data from that service on your behalf.

Athens Search is not responsible for the availability, accuracy, or terms of third-party services. Your use of third-party services is subject to those providers' own terms and policies. You can revoke our access at any time from the third-party service's account settings. Athens Search may discontinue integrations at any time.

19. Free Trial & Beta Services

Free Trial. The Free Tier provides access to the full feature set for up to 100 documents at no cost. Free Trial access is provided "AS IS" with no warranties. Maximum liability for Free Trial users is $100.

Beta Services. From time to time, Athens Search may offer pre-release features ("Beta Services"). Beta Services are provided "AS IS" without warranties, may be modified or discontinued at any time, and are intended for evaluation and feedback purposes. Athens Search may contact you for feedback on Beta Services.

If you do not convert to a paid tier after a Free Trial, your Customer Data may be permanently deleted.

20. Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution. Before initiating formal proceedings, the parties agree to attempt to resolve any dispute through good-faith discussion. Contact info@athenssearch.com to initiate informal resolution.

Binding Arbitration. Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service that is not resolved informally will be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules. The arbitration will take place in the State of Colorado. Judgment on the arbitrator's award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.

Exceptions. Either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to protect its intellectual property rights or prevent unauthorized use of the Service, without posting a bond.

Class Action Waiver. Disputes will be resolved on an individual basis only. Neither party may bring a dispute as a class action, private attorney general action, or in any representative capacity. If a court finds this waiver unenforceable, the arbitration provision will be severed but the waiver will remain.

Governing Law. These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

Venue. For any court proceedings permitted under these Terms, the exclusive venue is the state or federal courts located in Colorado.

21. General

Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any applicable Order Forms, constitute the entire agreement between you and Athens Search regarding the Service and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

Amendments. We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated Terms on this page with a revised "Last updated" date, or by emailing the address on file. Continued use of the Service after a material change constitutes acceptance. If you object to a material change, your sole remedy is to discontinue use of the Service.

Assignment. You may not assign these Terms without our prior written consent. Athens Search may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets.

Notices. Formal notices must be sent in writing to info@athenssearch.com or to the address listed below. Notices are deemed received upon confirmed delivery.

Force Majeure. Neither party is liable for delays or failures caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, government action, or infrastructure failures.

Severability. If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full effect.

Waiver. Failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

Independent Contractors. Nothing in these Terms creates a partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship between the parties.

Order of Precedence. In the event of a conflict between documents, the order of precedence is: (1) Order Form, (2) these Terms, (3) Supplementary Terms, (4) Privacy Policy.

Contact Us

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