Terms and Conditions

1. Introduction

Welcome to Proovus ("Platform", "Service", "we", "us", or "our"). Proovus is a blockchain-based professional experience verification platform that enables users to create, validate, and share verified professional records.

By accessing or using the Proovus platform, including our website, applications, and services, you ("User", "you", or "your") agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use the Platform.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Proovus. Please read them carefully.

2. Definitions

• "Individual" refers to any individual user who creates a profile to document, validate, and share professional experiences.
• "Organization" refers to any company, organization, or entity that registers a business account to validate individual experiences.
• "Administration" refers to any third party that uses the Platform to verify professional credentials.
• "Experience" refers to a professional work record created by an Individual, including roles, achievements, skills, and supporting documents.
• "Validation" refers to the process by which an Organization or Manager reviews and digitally confirms the accuracy of an Experience.
• "Blockchain Anchoring" refers to the process of recording a cryptographic proof of a validated Experience on the Arbitrum blockchain (an Ethereum Layer 2 network).
• "Manager" refers to an individual authorized by an Organization to review and validate Experiences on behalf of the organization.

3. Eligibility

To use the Platform, you must:

• Be at least 16 years of age (or the minimum age required by your jurisdiction).
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement.
• If registering on behalf of an organization, have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms.
• Provide accurate and truthful information during registration and at all times while using the Platform.

4. Account Registration and Security

4.1 Account Creation

To access certain features of the Platform, you must create an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during the registration process and to update such information as necessary.

4.2 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security.

4.3 Enterprise Accounts

Organizations may register enterprise accounts. The individual registering the account represents and warrants that they are authorized to act on behalf of the organization and to bind the organization to these Terms. Enterprise accounts may designate Managers with delegated validation authority.

5. Description of Services

Proovus provides the following services:

• Experience Documentation: Tools for Individuals to create detailed professional experience records, including roles, achievements, skills, projects, and supporting documents.
• Validation Workflow: A structured process enabling Organizations and Managers to review, suggest modifications, and digitally validate Individual experiences.
• Blockchain Verification: Immutable recording of validated experience proofs on the Arbitrum blockchain, creating tamper-proof, publicly verifiable credentials.
• Profile Management: Tools to manage professional profiles, control visibility settings, and share verified credentials.
• Resume Generation: AI-assisted generation of professional CV/Resume from validated experiences.
• Credential Verification: Tools for Administrations and third parties to verify the authenticity of professional credentials.
• Skills Mapping: Interactive matrices and dashboards for individuals and organizations to visualize, compare, and analyze competencies across experiences and teams.
• Proovus Network: A public directory of verified professional profiles, enabling profile search, discovery, and instant credential verification.

6. Blockchain Technology and Data Immutability

IMPORTANT — PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

6.1 Immutability of Blockchain Records

Once an Experience has been validated and anchored on the Arbitrum blockchain, the resulting cryptographic proof is permanent and immutable. This means:

• Blockchain records cannot be modified, deleted, or reversed by Proovus or any third party.
• The transaction hash and associated proof will remain publicly accessible on the Arbitrum network indefinitely.
• Only a cryptographic hash of the experience data is stored on-chain — not the full content of the experience itself.

6.2 User Acknowledgment

By initiating a validation and blockchain anchoring request, you acknowledge and accept that:

• You have reviewed the Experience data and confirm its accuracy before submission.
• The blockchain record, once created, cannot be erased, even upon account deletion.
• Proovus is not responsible for any errors in data submitted by users prior to blockchain anchoring.

6.3 Blockchain Network Risks

Proovus relies on the Arbitrum public blockchain. We do not control the Arbitrum network and cannot guarantee:

• Uninterrupted availability of the Arbitrum network.
• Specific transaction confirmation times or gas costs.
• The long-term operation or governance decisions of the Arbitrum protocol.

7. User Obligations and Acceptable Use

You agree to:

• Provide only truthful, accurate, and complete information about your professional experiences.
• Not create false, misleading, or fraudulent experience records.
• Not impersonate any person or entity, or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity.
• Not use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable local, national, or international law.
• Not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Platform, other user accounts, or connected systems.
• Not interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Platform.
• Not upload viruses, malware, or any other harmful code or content.
• Not use automated tools, bots, or scrapers to access the Platform without our prior written consent.
• Respect the intellectual property rights of Proovus and other users.

Violation of these obligations may result in immediate suspension or termination of your account, removal of content, and potential legal action.

8. Validation Process

8.1 Organization Validation

Organizations and Managers who validate Experiences represent and warrant that they have reviewed the submitted information and that their validation reflects their honest professional assessment. Validation constitutes a digital attestation of the accuracy of the Experience as presented.

8.2 Validation Responsibility

Proovus facilitates the validation process but does not independently verify the accuracy of any Experience. The responsibility for the accuracy of experience data lies with the Individual who created it and the Organization or Manager who validated it.

8.3 Suggestions and Modifications

During the validation process, Managers may suggest modifications to an Experience. The Individual retains the right to accept or reject such suggestions before final validation and blockchain anchoring.

9. Fees and Payments

9.1 Free Services

Creating an account, building a profile, and creating up to three experiences on Proovus is free of charge. Free accounts also include one manager validation and one CV generation.

9.2 Paid Plans and Fees

Proovus offers several paid plans for individuals (Pay-as-you-go, Pro) and organizations (Pay-as-you-go, Business, Enterprise). Plan details, pricing, and included features are displayed on the Pricing page and may be updated from time to time. Fees may be billed monthly or annually depending on the plan chosen.

9.3 Fee Changes

Proovus reserves the right to modify its fees at any time. Any fee changes will be communicated in advance and will not affect validations already in progress at the time of the change.

9.4 Refunds

Due to the irreversible nature of blockchain transactions, fees for completed validations that have been anchored on the blockchain are non-refundable. Refunds may be considered on a case-by-case basis for validations that have not yet been anchored.

10. Intellectual Property

10.1 Platform Ownership

The Platform, including its design, source code, features, functionality, trademarks, logos, and content created by Proovus, is the exclusive property of Proovus and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

10.2 User Content

You retain ownership of all content you submit to the Platform, including experience data, documents, and profile information. By submitting content, you grant Proovus a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, store, display, and process your content solely for the purpose of providing and improving the Services.

10.3 Blockchain Data

Cryptographic hashes recorded on the blockchain are public by nature. You acknowledge that these records are accessible to anyone with access to the Arbitrum network.

11. Privacy and Data Protection

11.1 Data Collection

We collect and process personal data as described in our Privacy Policy. By using the Platform, you consent to our data collection and processing practices.

11.2 International Compliance

Proovus is committed to complying with applicable data protection laws worldwide, including but not limited to:

• European Union: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• United States: California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and other applicable state privacy laws
• United Kingdom: UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018
• Canada: Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
• Brazil: Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD)
• Other jurisdictions: Applicable local data protection regulations in the jurisdictions where we operate

11.3 Right to Erasure and Blockchain Limitation

You may request deletion of your account and personal data held on our servers. However, please note that:

• Off-chain personal data will be deleted upon request, including: your profile and personal information, all experiences (skills, achievements, reference letters), uploaded documents, profile pictures, company links, and notifications. Manager-side records referencing your data will be anonymized.
• On-chain data (cryptographic hashes on the Arbitrum blockchain) cannot be deleted due to the immutable nature of blockchain technology. These hashes do not contain personally identifiable information in readable form.
• We design our blockchain anchoring process to minimize on-chain data, storing only cryptographic proofs rather than personal information.

11.4 Data Transfers

Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. Where such transfers occur, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in compliance with applicable data protection laws (e.g., Standard Contractual Clauses for EU data transfers).

12. Third-Party Services

The Platform may integrate with or link to third-party services, including but not limited to:

• Authentication providers (e.g., OAuth/OpenID Connect)
• Blockchain networks and explorers (e.g., Arbitrum, Arbiscan)
• Professional networks (e.g., LinkedIn)
• Payment processors

Proovus is not responsible for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party services. Your use of third-party services is governed by their respective terms and conditions.

13. Disclaimers

13.1 Service Provided "As Is"

The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

13.2 No Guarantee of Accuracy

While Proovus facilitates the validation of professional experiences, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any user-submitted content, including validated experiences. The validation process reflects the attestation of the validating party, not an independent verification by Proovus.

13.3 AI-Generated Content

Certain features of the Platform, such as CV/Resume generation, utilize artificial intelligence. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies. You are responsible for reviewing and verifying any AI-generated content before use.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law:

• Proovus shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses.
• Proovus's total aggregate liability for all claims arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of the Platform shall not exceed the total amount of fees paid by you to Proovus in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.
• Proovus shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from blockchain network failures, delays, or changes in the Arbitrum protocol.
• Proovus shall not be liable for any damages resulting from unauthorized access to your account caused by your failure to maintain the security of your credentials.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain warranties or liabilities. In such jurisdictions, our liability shall be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Proovus, its officers, directors, individuals, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with:

• Your use of the Platform or violation of these Terms.
• Any content you submit that is false, fraudulent, or inaccurate.
• Your violation of any applicable law or regulation.
• Your infringement of any third-party rights.

16. Account Suspension and Termination

16.1 By You

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us. Upon termination, your off-chain data will be deleted in accordance with our data retention policies and applicable laws. Blockchain-anchored records will persist as described in Section 6.

16.2 By Proovus

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account, without prior notice, if:

• You violate these Terms or any applicable laws.
• We detect fraudulent, abusive, or suspicious activity on your account.
• Your account remains inactive for an extended period as defined in our policies.
• Continued operation of your account poses a risk to the Platform, other users, or third parties.

16.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately. Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination (including but not limited to Sections 6, 10, 13, 14, 15, and 17) shall survive termination.

17. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

17.1 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws applicable in your jurisdiction of residence, without regard to conflict of law principles. Where mandatory consumer protection laws apply, they shall take precedence.

17.2 Dispute Resolution

In the event of any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or the use of the Platform:

• Informal Resolution: The parties shall first attempt to resolve the dispute informally by contacting each other in good faith. You may reach us at the contact information provided in Section 20.
• Mediation: If informal resolution fails within thirty (30) days, either party may submit the dispute to mediation administered by a mutually agreed-upon mediator.
• Jurisdiction: If mediation does not resolve the dispute, either party may bring proceedings in the competent courts of their jurisdiction of residence, subject to applicable consumer protection laws.

17.3 Consumer Rights

Nothing in these Terms shall affect any statutory rights that you are entitled to as a consumer under the laws of your jurisdiction and that cannot be contractually waived or limited.

18. Modifications to the Terms

Proovus reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated Terms on the Platform and updating the "Last updated" date. Where required by applicable law, we will provide additional notice (such as email notification).

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of the revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must stop using the Platform and terminate your account.

19. General Provisions

• Severability: If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
• Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any other policies referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and Proovus regarding the use of the Platform.
• Waiver: The failure of Proovus to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
• Assignment: You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. Proovus may assign its rights and obligations without restriction.
• Force Majeure: Proovus shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations due to events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, wars, pandemics, government actions, or disruptions to the Arbitrum blockchain network.
• Language: These Terms may be made available in multiple languages. In the event of any inconsistency between language versions, the English version shall prevail.

20. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding these Terms, please contact us at: