Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using IdeaSpring ("Service"), operated by BongoHive Consult ("Company", "we", "us", or "our"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use the Service. These Terms apply to all visitors, users, and others who access or use the Service.

2. Description of Service

IdeaSpring is a multi-tenant SaaS innovation management platform that enables organizations to:

• Create and manage innovation programs (internal and external)
• Collect and organize applications and submissions
• Conduct evaluations using customizable scoring frameworks
• Track progress through configurable workflows
• Analyze participation metrics and program performance
• Collaborate with team members and stakeholders

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Registration

To access certain features of the Service, you must register for an account. When you register, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account.

3.2 Account Types and Roles

The Service provides different user roles with varying levels of access:

• Organization Administrators: Full access to manage organization settings, programs, and users
• Reviewers: Access to evaluate and score applications
• Team Leads: Access to participate in programs and manage team activities
• External Users: Access to browse public programs and submit applications

3.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time for any reason, including but not limited to violation of these Terms. You may terminate your account at any time by contacting support.

4. Multi-Tenant Architecture

IdeaSpring operates as a multi-tenant platform where each organization ("Tenant") maintains its own isolated data environment. By using the Service:

• Organization Administrators are responsible for managing users within their tenant
• Data belonging to one tenant is logically separated from other tenants
• Users may belong to multiple tenants with different roles in each
• Each tenant is responsible for compliance with applicable laws within their jurisdiction

5. User Content

5.1 Content Ownership

You retain ownership of all content you submit, post, or display on or through the Service ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, and display such content solely for the purpose of operating and providing the Service.

5.2 Content Responsibility

You are solely responsible for your User Content and the consequences of posting or publishing it. You represent and warrant that:

• You own or have the necessary rights to use and authorize the use of your User Content
• Your User Content does not infringe any third party's intellectual property rights
• Your User Content does not violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Your User Content does not contain viruses, malware, or harmful code

5.3 Prohibited Content

You may not submit content that is illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, invasive of another's privacy, or otherwise objectionable.

6. Innovation Programs

6.1 Program Types

Organizations can create two types of innovation programs:

• Internal Programs: Private challenges accessible only to invited organization members
• External Programs: Public challenges visible to all users on the platform

6.2 Application Submissions

By submitting an application to a program, you agree that:

• Your submission is original and does not infringe third-party rights
• The program organizer may review, evaluate, and provide feedback on your submission
• You will comply with any additional terms specified by the program organizer
• Submission does not guarantee selection or any form of compensation unless explicitly stated

6.3 Evaluation Process

Program organizers have sole discretion over evaluation criteria, scoring, and selection of submissions. We are not responsible for decisions made by program organizers.

7. Subscription and Payment

7.1 Pricing Plans

The Service offers various subscription tiers with different features and limitations. Pricing is displayed on our website and may be updated periodically with reasonable notice.

7.2 Payment Terms

Subscription fees are billed in advance on a monthly or annual basis depending on your selected plan. All fees are non-refundable except as required by law or as explicitly stated in our Refund Policy.

7.3 Free Trials

We may offer free trial periods for certain subscription plans. At the end of the trial, your account will be charged unless you cancel before the trial ends.

8. Intellectual Property

The Service and its original content (excluding User Content), features, and functionality are and will remain the exclusive property of BongoHive Consult and its licensors. The Service is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws. Our trademarks and trade dress may not be used in connection with any product or service without our prior written consent.

9. Third-Party Services

The Service may integrate with or contain links to third-party services, including:

• Authentication providers (Google OAuth)
• Payment processors
• Analytics services
• Communication tools

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

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

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

We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, that defects will be corrected, or that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, in no event shall BongoHive Consult, its directors, employees, partners, agents, suppliers, or affiliates be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including without limitation, loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from:

• Your access to or use of or inability to access or use the Service
• Any conduct or content of any third party on the Service
• Any content obtained from the Service
• Unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content

12. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless BongoHive Consult and its licensees and licensors, and their employees, contractors, agents, officers, and directors, from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or debt, and expenses arising from your use of and access to the Service, or your violation of these Terms.

13. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Zambia, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Service shall be resolved in the courts of Zambia.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify or replace these Terms at any time at our sole discretion. If a revision is material, we will provide at least 30 days' notice prior to any new terms taking effect. What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion. Your continued use of the Service after such modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at: