TERMS OF SERVICE — ARCHIMEDES MARKET

Effective Date: April 10, 2026 Last Updated: April 10, 2026

1. DEFINITIONS

In these Terms of Service ("Terms"), the following capitalized words have the meanings set out below:

  • "Archimedes," "we," "us," or "our" means Archimedes Market LLC, a Georgia limited liability company, the entity operating the Platform.
  • "Platform" means the website at archimedes.market, including all subdomains, APIs, mobile applications (if any), and related services.
  • "User," "you," or "your" means any individual or legal entity that accesses or uses the Platform, whether or not registered.
  • "Account" means a registered user account on the Platform.
  • "Buyer" means a User who purchases an asset license through the Asset Marketplace.
  • "Seller" means a User who lists assets for sale on the Asset Marketplace.
  • "Mission Owner" means a User who creates and funds a mission (bounty) on the Platform.
  • "Asset" means any digital intellectual property listed on the Platform, including but not limited to software code, firmware, engineering designs (CAD files, EDA schematics, PCB layouts, FPGA/HDL designs, mechanical drawings), 3D models, simulation files, datasets, algorithms, documentation, technical reports, research papers, and any other digital work product in electronic format.
  • "Mission" (also referred to as a "Bounty") means a request posted by a Mission Owner seeking a specific deliverable — such as a product, design, solution, analysis, prototype, or other intellectual property — including the Mission's requirements, deliverables, acceptance criteria, and bounty amount.
  • "Submission" means the deliverable(s) provided by an Engineer in response to a Mission through a Submission Workspace.
  • "Engineer" (also referred to as a "Solver") means a User who responds to Missions by submitting deliverables. The term "Engineer" is a platform role designation and does not imply any particular professional title, certification, or license. Engineers may include software developers, hardware designers, researchers, data scientists, technical writers, or any other individual with relevant expertise.
  • "Submission Workspace" means the Platform-provided environment where an Engineer prepares, uploads, validates, and submits deliverables for a Mission.
  • "Escrow" means a payment hold, reserve, or similar payment status maintained by the Payment Processor for Mission funds pending release or refund pursuant to these Terms. References in these Terms to "Escrow" are descriptive of the payment workflow only and do not create a legal escrow, trust, fiduciary, bailment, or similar relationship, and Archimedes Market does not act as a bank, trustee, or escrow agent unless expressly stated otherwise in a separate written agreement.
  • "Payment Processor" means Stripe, Inc. or another third-party payment service provider designated by Archimedes Market that processes payments, payment holds, refunds, and payouts in accordance with its own terms. The Payment Processor is not a party to any transaction between Users, and any payment hold or payout functionality is provided subject to the Payment Processor's capabilities and policies.
  • "Trust Report" means an automated analysis of an Asset's quality, security, licensing, and complexity, generated by the Platform's Trust Engine.
  • "Trust Badge" means a classification assigned to an Asset based on its Trust Report (e.g., VERIFIED, REVIEWED, SCANNED).
  • "Content" means any data, text, files, code, designs, images, descriptions, reviews, or other materials uploaded, posted, or transmitted through the Platform by Users.
  • "Stripe Connect" means the Stripe service through which Sellers and Engineers receive payouts.
  • "Platform Fee" means the percentage-based fee charged by Archimedes Market on transactions conducted through the Platform.
  • "Subscription" means an optional paid plan (Buyer Pro or Engineer Pro) that provides additional features and reduced fees.
  • "DMCA" means the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, as amended.
  • "ITAR" means the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 CFR Parts 120–130).
  • "EAR" means the Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR Parts 730–774).
  • "Linked Policies" means the Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, DMCA Policy, and any other policies referenced in these Terms, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

2. ACCEPTANCE AND ELIGIBILITY

2.1 Binding Agreement

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Archimedes Market, governing your access to and use of the Platform. By creating an Account, accessing, or using the Platform in any way, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and all Linked Policies.

2.2 If You Do Not Agree

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must immediately cease using the Platform and, if applicable, close your Account. Continued use of the Platform after you become aware of these Terms constitutes acceptance.

2.3 Authority to Bind

If you are using the Platform on behalf of a company, organization, or other legal entity, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms. In that case, "you" and "your" refer to that entity.

2.4 Age Requirement

You must be at least eighteen (18) years of age to use the Platform. By creating an Account and completing the onboarding process, you affirmatively certify that you are at least eighteen (18) years old and have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts. This certification is recorded with a timestamp and constitutes a binding representation. We do not knowingly collect information from or provide services to individuals under 18. If we discover that a User is under 18, we will terminate the Account immediately and delete any associated personal data.

2.5 Geographic Availability

The Platform is operated from the United States and, at launch, is intended primarily for Users located in the United States. Access from outside the United States may be limited, blocked, or unavailable unless and until Archimedes Market expressly expands availability to additional jurisdictions. If you access or use the Platform from outside the United States where such access is permitted, you do so at your own initiative and sole risk, and you are solely responsible for compliance with all applicable local, national, and international laws, including export-control laws, sanctions laws, data-protection laws, tax obligations, and intellectual-property laws. Archimedes Market makes no representation that the Platform is appropriate, available, or legally compliant in every jurisdiction.

2.6 Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. For material changes, we will:

  • Notify registered Users via email and/or in-platform notification at least thirty (30) days before the changes take effect
  • Post the updated Terms on the Platform with a revised "Last Updated" date
  • Clearly identify the changes made

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using the Platform and close your Account before the effective date.

2.7 Conflict Between Documents

In the event of a conflict between these Terms and any Linked Policy, these Terms shall control unless the Linked Policy expressly states otherwise.

3. PLATFORM ROLE AND RELATIONSHIP

3.1 Marketplace Facilitator

Archimedes Market operates as a marketplace facilitator — a technology platform that connects Buyers with Sellers and Mission Owners with Engineers. We provide the infrastructure, tools, and services that enable Users to discover, evaluate, transact, and deliver intellectual property and engineering work.

3.2 Not a Party to Transactions

Archimedes Market is not a party to any transaction between Users. When a Buyer purchases an Asset from a Seller, or when a Mission Owner pays an Engineer for completed work, the transaction is between those Users. Archimedes Market:
  • Does not create, own, endorse, verify the accuracy of, or guarantee any Asset or Submission
  • Does not control the quality, safety, legality, or suitability of any Asset or Submission
  • Does not guarantee that any Mission will receive Submissions, that any Submission will be accepted, or that any Submission will provide a suitable or complete solution to the Mission's requirements
  • Does not provide legal, financial, engineering, or professional advice regarding any transaction
  • Is not responsible for the actions, omissions, or conduct of any User

3.3 No Employment or Agency Relationship

Nothing in these Terms, including any payment collection, payment hold, payout, refund, dispute-resolution, or moderation activity, creates an employment, agency, fiduciary, partnership, joint venture, franchise, trust, escrow, bailment, or similar relationship between Archimedes Market and any User. Specifically:

  • Engineers are independent contractors, not employees of Mission Owners or Archimedes Market
  • Sellers are independent contractors, not agents of Archimedes Market
  • Archimedes Market does not control the manner, method, schedule, or means by which Users create, deliver, or use Content on the Platform
  • Users are solely responsible for their own tax obligations, insurance, and compliance with applicable laws
  • Solely to the limited extent necessary to operate the Platform, Users authorize Archimedes Market to transmit payment, payout, refund, and dispute-resolution instructions to the Payment Processor, which authorization is administrative only and does not create an agency or fiduciary duty

3.4 Platform Services

We provide the following services to facilitate transactions between Users:

  • Discovery: Hosting, displaying, and enabling search of Asset listings and Mission postings
  • Transaction facilitation: Facilitating payments, payment holds, payout releases, reserves, and refunds through the Payment Processor; Archimedes Market does not hold legal escrow accounts for Users and does not receive or hold funds in a trust capacity unless expressly stated in a separate written agreement
  • Work management: Providing Submission Workspaces with file upload, version control, and validation tools
  • Quality and trust: Offering automated Trust Reports, security scanning (Semgrep), AI-assisted code review, and completeness scoring
  • Communication: In-platform notifications, submission feedback, and dispute messaging
  • Dispute mediation: Reviewing and resolving Buyer Protection claims and Bounty disputes
  • Identity: User profiles, ratings, reviews, and reputation systems

3.5 Trust Reports and Automated Analysis

Trust Reports, Trust Badges, completeness scores, and other automated analyses are provided as informational tools only. They are generated by automated systems and AI models and:

  • Do not constitute a warranty, endorsement, or guarantee of any Asset or Submission
  • May contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies
  • Should not be relied upon as the sole basis for any purchasing or licensing decision
  • Do not replace professional engineering review, legal review, or security audit

4. USER ACCOUNTS

4.1 Account Registration

To access features beyond browsing (including purchasing, selling, posting missions, or submitting work), you must create an Account. During registration, you agree to:

  • Provide accurate, current, and complete information
  • Maintain and promptly update your Account information to keep it accurate
  • Accept our Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy
  • Complete the onboarding process, including profile setup

4.2 Account Security

You are solely responsible for:

  • Maintaining the confidentiality of your Account credentials (email, authentication tokens)
  • All activities that occur under your Account, whether or not authorized by you
  • Notifying us immediately at [support@archimedes.market] of any unauthorized use of your Account or any other security breach

We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from unauthorized use of your Account. We recommend enabling two-factor authentication where available.

4.3 One Account Per User

Each individual or entity may maintain only one (1) Account. Creating or operating multiple accounts is prohibited, whether for the purpose of:

  • Circumventing account restrictions, suspensions, or terminations
  • Manipulating reviews, ratings, or Trust Reports
  • Inflating view counts, download counts, or other metrics
  • Self-dealing (e.g., purchasing your own Assets or submitting to your own Missions)
  • Any other fraudulent or deceptive purpose

Discovery of multiple accounts will result in immediate termination of all associated accounts and forfeiture of any pending payouts.

4.4 Account Types and Roles

A single Account may be used in multiple roles (Buyer, Seller, Mission Owner, Engineer). However:

  • Mission Owners may not submit work to their own Missions (enforced by the Platform)
  • Users may not review or rate their own Assets
  • Users may not file Buyer Protection claims against themselves

4.5 Profile Information

Your profile information (display name, avatar, role preference) is visible to other Users. You are responsible for ensuring your profile does not contain:

  • False or misleading information about your identity, qualifications, or experience
  • Offensive, discriminatory, or inappropriate content
  • Contact information intended to facilitate off-platform transactions (see Section 14)
  • Impersonation of another person or entity

4.6 Account Deletion

(a) You may delete your Account at any time through the self-service option on your Profile page.

(b) Before deletion, you must resolve all active funded Missions, open Submissions, pending Claims, and Disputes.

(c) Upon deletion, we may retain a limited archive of Account data (including profile history, transaction records, content metadata, support records, and compliance logs) only to the extent and for the duration reasonably necessary for legal compliance, tax and accounting obligations, export-control and sanctions screening and audit, fraud prevention, security, dispute resolution, contract enforcement, and other legitimate business or legal purposes. We will apply our retention schedule and delete or de-identify data when continued retention is no longer required or permitted.

(d) Your published Assets and Mission history will remain visible on the Platform under the label "Deleted User" to preserve the integrity of other Users' purchase licenses, reviews, and mission records.

(e) Personal identifiers (email, nickname, avatar) are permanently removed from public-facing pages.

(f) Financial records (transactions, payouts, tax-related data) are retained as required by applicable tax and financial regulations.

(g) Subject to verification of your identity and applicable legal exceptions, you may submit a request to privacy@archimedes.market for deletion, access, correction, or data portability. Where required by applicable law, we will provide personal data that you provided to us and that we process by automated means on the basis of consent or contract in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format, and we will delete personal data that we are not required or permitted to retain.

(h) Account deletion is irreversible. You may create a new Account, but previous purchase history, earnings, and reputation will not transfer.

4.7 Account Suspension by Archimedes

We may temporarily suspend your Account and access to the Platform if we reasonably believe:

  • Your Account has been compromised or is being used without authorization
  • You are in violation of these Terms and the violation can be remedied
  • Suspension is necessary to prevent harm to other Users or the Platform
  • A payment dispute (chargeback) has been filed (see Section 9.8)
  • We are required to do so by law or legal process

During suspension, you will not be able to access Platform features, but your existing obligations (including pending transactions and active disputes) remain in effect. We will notify you of the suspension and the reason, when legally permitted.

4.8 Account Termination by Archimedes

We reserve the right to permanently terminate your Account at our sole discretion if you:

  • Materially or repeatedly violate these Terms or any Linked Policy
  • Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information
  • Engage in illegal activity through or in connection with the Platform
  • Receive three (3) or more valid DMCA takedown notices (repeat infringer policy — see Section 16.2)
  • Accumulate three (3) or more valid Buyer Protection claims against you as a Seller (flagged seller)
  • Attempt to circumvent Platform fees, payment holds, or security measures
  • Engage in harassment, threats, or abusive behavior toward other Users or Archimedes Market staff
  • Use the Platform to distribute export-controlled content in violation of Section 12
  • Are found to have operated multiple accounts in violation of Section 4.3
Notice: We will provide written notice (via email) of termination and the reason, except where:
  • The termination is due to illegal activity or fraud
  • Providing notice would compromise an ongoing investigation
  • We are prohibited from doing so by law or legal process
Effect of Termination:
  • Your access to the Platform will be immediately revoked
  • Pending payouts may be held for up to ninety (90) days to account for potential chargebacks, refunds, or claims
  • Pending payouts associated with Content that is the subject of a valid claim, dispute, or legal action may be held indefinitely until the matter is resolved
  • You remain liable for any obligations incurred prior to termination
  • Sections that by their nature should survive termination (including Sections 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, and 18) shall survive

4.9 Dormant Accounts

We reserve the right to close Accounts that have been inactive (no login, no transactions) for a period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months, after providing sixty (60) days' written notice to the email address on file. To the extent Archimedes Market directly holds any user balances, credits, or other amounts payable to a User, such amounts will be handled in accordance with applicable unclaimed-property and escheatment laws, and Archimedes Market will not convert those balances to platform revenue. Amounts held solely by the Payment Processor or in a connected account may be subject to the Payment Processor's own inactive-balance or unclaimed-property procedures.

5. ASSET MARKETPLACE

5.1 Listing Assets

Sellers may list Assets for sale on the Platform. Each Asset listing must include:

  • A descriptive title
  • A clear and accurate description of the Asset, its capabilities, limitations, and intended use
  • The Asset type category (e.g., CODE, CAD, EDA, DATASET, DOCUMENT, MODEL, FIRMWARE, FPGA/HDL, SIMULATION, or other applicable digital format)
  • A price in United States Dollars
  • The applicable license type
  • Disclosure of any open-source components, third-party dependencies, or licensing restrictions

By listing an Asset, you represent and warrant the statements set forth in Section 11 (Content Warranties).

5.2 Asset Review and Approval

Archimedes Market reserves the right to:

  • Review any Asset listing before or after publication
  • Remove, suspend, or modify any listing that violates these Terms, contains prohibited content, or is the subject of a valid complaint
  • Require additional information or documentation from the Seller
  • Apply Trust Reports and other automated quality checks to listed Assets

Listing an Asset does not guarantee that it will remain on the Platform. Archimedes Market is not obligated to provide a reason for removing a listing, but will endeavor to do so when practicable.

5.3 Asset Descriptions and Accuracy

Sellers are solely responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their Asset listings. Listings must not:

  • Contain false, misleading, or exaggerated claims about the Asset's functionality, performance, or compatibility
  • Misrepresent the Seller's ownership or rights to the Asset
  • Omit material information that a reasonable Buyer would consider important (e.g., known bugs, platform limitations, required dependencies)
  • Include unauthorized use of third-party trademarks, logos, or branding
  • Contain spam, promotional content for external services, or irrelevant keywords

5.4 Asset Pricing

Sellers set their own prices for Assets. Archimedes Market:

  • Does not dictate or control pricing
  • Reserves the right to remove listings with deceptive pricing (e.g., artificially inflated prices to mislead Buyers)
  • May display price comparisons, discounts, or promotional information
  • Reserves the right to set minimum or maximum price thresholds

Prices are displayed in United States Dollars (USD). The displayed price is the total price the Buyer will pay, exclusive of applicable Platform Fees.

5.5 Purchasing Assets

When a Buyer clicks "Purchase Asset" and completes the checkout process:

  • The Buyer is redirected to the Payment Processor (Stripe) to complete payment
  • Upon successful payment, the Buyer receives a license to use the Asset as specified in the listing and Section 5.7 (License Terms)
  • The Buyer gains access to download the Asset files
  • The Seller receives payment minus the applicable Platform Fee
    • Purchasing an Asset grants a license — it does not transfer ownership of the underlying intellectual property unless the listing explicitly and unambiguously states that ownership is being transferred.

    5.6 Digital Goods — No Returns

    Because Assets are digital goods that can be copied upon download, all sales are final except as provided through the Buyer Protection claims process (Section 5.10). Buyers are encouraged to:

    • Read Asset descriptions carefully before purchasing
    • Review Trust Reports and community ratings
    • Contact the Seller with questions before purchasing
    • Understand the applicable license terms
    EU/UK/EEA Buyers — Waiver of Withdrawal Right:

    To the extent applicable under Directive 2011/83/EU, equivalent UK legislation, or other mandatory law, by clicking "Purchase Asset" and completing payment you:

    (i) expressly request and consent to the immediate supply of the digital Asset;

    (ii) acknowledge that your statutory withdrawal right is lost once performance begins; and

    (iii) instruct Archimedes Market to provide confirmation of that consent and acknowledgment on a durable medium (such as email or an account notice).

    If the required consent, acknowledgment, or durable-medium confirmation is not properly obtained or provided, the withdrawal waiver will apply only to the extent permitted by applicable law.

    5.7 License Terms

    Unless the Asset listing specifies different terms, the following default license terms apply:

    (a) Non-Exclusive License (Default):

    The Buyer receives a non-exclusive, non-transferable, perpetual, worldwide license to:

    • Use the Asset for personal or commercial projects
    • Modify the Asset to suit the Buyer's needs
    • Incorporate the Asset into the Buyer's products or services

    The Seller retains full ownership of the intellectual property and may continue to sell the same Asset to other Buyers.

    (b) Exclusive License (If Offered):

    If an Asset listing is marked as "Exclusive," the Buyer receives an exclusive license as described in the listing. Upon completion of an exclusive sale:

    • The Seller agrees not to sell, license, or distribute the same Asset (or substantially similar versions) to any other party
    • The Seller must remove the Asset from the Platform
    • The exclusive license does not transfer ownership unless explicitly stated
    (c) License Restrictions:

    Unless the Asset listing explicitly permits otherwise, Buyers may not:

    • Resell, redistribute, sublicense, or share the Asset (or any portion thereof) with third parties as a standalone product
    • Use the Asset to create a product that directly competes with the original Asset on this or any other marketplace
    • Remove, alter, or obscure any proprietary notices, copyright notices, labels, or marks contained in the Asset
    • Claim authorship or ownership of the Asset
    • Use the Asset to train machine learning or artificial intelligence models without the Seller's explicit written consent
    • Transfer the license to another individual or entity
    (d) Open-Source Components:

    If an Asset contains open-source components, those components remain subject to their respective open-source licenses regardless of these Terms. The Seller is solely responsible for:

    • Conducting open-source license clearance and ensuring all open-source components are compatible with the license offered to Buyers
    • Disclosing all open-source components and their respective licenses in the Asset listing (e.g., MIT, Apache 2.0, GPL, LGPL, BSD)
    • Ensuring that no copyleft obligations (e.g., GPL, AGPL) conflict with the license terms offered to the Buyer — if copyleft components are included, this must be prominently disclosed
    • Providing a complete dependency list or Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) upon Buyer request
    • Indemnifying Buyers and Archimedes Market against any claims arising from undisclosed or improperly licensed open-source components

    5.8 Asset Updates and Versioning

    (a) Version at Time of Purchase:

    When a Buyer purchases an Asset, the Platform creates a permanent snapshot of the Asset files as they existed at the time of purchase. The Buyer's license (Section 5.7) applies to this specific version. The Buyer may re-download this version at any time, regardless of whether the Seller subsequently updates, modifies, or delists the Asset.

    (b) Seller Updates:

    Sellers may update their Assets at any time (e.g., bug fixes, new features, compatibility improvements). Updates replace the current listing — new purchasers receive the updated version.

    (c) Access to Updates:

    Buyers who purchased a prior version are not automatically entitled to updated versions. Access to updates is at the Seller's discretion:

    • Sellers may choose to grant existing Buyers access to updates at no additional cost
    • Sellers may offer updates as a separate purchase
    • If the Asset listing explicitly promises free lifetime updates, the Seller is bound by that promise for as long as the Asset remains listed
    (d) No Obligation to Update:

    Sellers are under no obligation to update, maintain, or provide support for any Asset after sale, unless the Asset listing explicitly states otherwise. Archimedes Market does not guarantee that any Asset will be updated or maintained.

    (e) Buyer Protection Unaffected:

    This section does not limit Buyer Protection rights (Section 5.10). If a Buyer discovers that the version they purchased was materially defective or not as described at the time of purchase, the Buyer may file a claim regardless of whether a newer version exists.

    5.9 Platform Fees — Complete Fee Schedule

    The following table summarizes all Platform Fees. Fees are subject to change with thirty (30) days' notice to Users.

    Transaction TypeFeePaid ByWhen Charged
    Asset Marketplace sale20% of sale priceSeller (deducted from proceeds)Upon purchase
    Asset Marketplace sale (Buyer Pro)15% of sale priceSeller (deducted from proceeds)Upon purchase
    Mission bounty funding10% of bounty amountMission Owner (added to total)Upon Mission funding
    Mission payout5% of payout amountEngineer (deducted from payout)Upon release of Mission funds
    Buyer Pro subscription$199/monthBuyerMonthly recurring
    Engineer Pro subscription$39/monthEngineerMonthly recurring

    Platform Fees cover the costs of operating the Platform, including payment processing, hosting, Trust Engine analysis, customer support, and dispute mediation. Platform Fees are non-refundable except where a full refund is issued to the Buyer through the Buyer Protection process.

    5.10 Buyer Protection — Claims

    Archimedes Market provides a Buyer Protection program to protect Buyers against Assets that are materially different from their descriptions.

    (a) Eligibility:

    A Buyer may file a claim within thirty (30) calendar days of purchase if the Asset:

    • Is materially different from its listing description
    • Does not function as described (e.g., code that does not compile, designs that are corrupt)
    • Contains undisclosed malware, viruses, or harmful components
    • Infringes the Buyer's rights or contains content the Seller did not have the right to sell
    • Is substantially incomplete compared to what was described
    (b) Filing a Claim:

    Claims are filed through the Platform interface on the Asset detail page. The Buyer must select a reason category and provide a written explanation. The Buyer may attach supporting evidence.

    (c) Review Process:

    Claims are reviewed by Archimedes Market administrators. During the review:

    • The Seller will be notified and given an opportunity to respond
    • Archimedes Market may request additional information from either party
    • Archimedes Market may examine the Asset and supporting evidence
    (d) Resolution:

    Archimedes Market administrators will make a determination based on all available evidence. Possible outcomes include:

    • Claim valid — full refund: The Buyer receives a full refund of the purchase price, processed through the Payment Processor. The Buyer's license to the Asset automatically terminates upon refund. The Buyer must immediately cease all use of the Asset and delete all copies in its possession or control. Archimedes Market may disable access to re-downloads and offset or reverse Seller proceeds to the extent permitted by law and the Payment Processor.
    • Claim dismissed: The claim is found to be without merit and no refund is issued.
    (e) Finality:

    The administrator's decision is final and binding as between the Users for purposes of the Platform's internal claims program, and resolved claims may not be reopened through the Platform except in the event of fraud, clerical error, or mandatory legal process. Nothing in this Section limits any non-waivable rights a User may have under applicable law or the Payment Processor's mandatory dispute procedures.

    (f) Abuse:

    Filing false, fraudulent, or abusive claims is a violation of these Terms and may result in account suspension or termination. Repeated claims may be considered evidence of abuse.

    (g) Seller Flagging:

    Sellers who accumulate three (3) or more valid Buyer Protection claims will be flagged for review. Flagged Sellers may face additional scrutiny, listing restrictions, or account termination.

    5.11 Reviews and Ratings

    (a) Who Can Review:

    Only Buyers who have purchased an Asset may leave a review and star rating (1–5 stars) for that Asset. Each Buyer may submit one (1) review per Asset.

    (b) Review Standards:

    Reviews must be:

    • Honest and based on the Buyer's actual experience with the Asset
    • Relevant to the Asset's quality, functionality, or accuracy
    • Free of abusive, threatening, discriminatory, or defamatory language
    • Free of personal contact information, promotional content, or spam
    (c) Seller Responses:

    Sellers may respond to reviews of their Assets. Responses must be professional and comply with the same standards as reviews.

    (d) Immutability:

    Reviews and ratings are generally permanent once submitted and may not be edited or deleted by the reviewer under normal circumstances. This policy helps preserve the integrity of the review system. However, Archimedes Market may remove or anonymize review content where required by applicable law, valid legal process, or a successful privacy request to the extent legally required, but will not promise deletion beyond what applicable law requires.

    (e) Removal by Archimedes:

    Archimedes Market reserves the right to remove reviews that:

    • Violate these Terms or review standards
    • Are fraudulent or appear to be the result of manipulation
    • Contain content that is illegal, harmful, or otherwise inappropriate
    • Are the subject of a valid legal complaint
    (f) No Review Manipulation:

    Users may not attempt to manipulate reviews or ratings through incentives, threats, fake reviews, or any other means. Violations will result in account termination.

    5.12 Delisting Assets

    Sellers may remove (delist) their Assets from the Platform at any time. However:

    • Delisting does not affect existing licenses already granted to Buyers
    • Buyers who purchased the Asset before delisting retain their license rights
    • Delisting does not entitle the Seller to a refund of any Platform Fees previously paid
    • If the Asset is the subject of an active claim or dispute, the Seller may not delist the Asset until the matter is resolved

    5.13 Ranking and Search Transparency

    This section describes the principal parameters used to determine the ranking and display order of Assets and Missions on the Platform.

    (a) Asset Marketplace Ranking:

    Assets are displayed based on the User's selected sort criterion. Available sort options are:

    • Newest (default) — ordered by publication date, most recent first
    • Top Rated — ordered by average user rating, then by number of reviews
    • Most Viewed — ordered by view count
    • Most Downloads — ordered by download count
    • Price (low to high / high to low) — ordered by listed price

    Users may further filter results by asset type, trust badge, and price range. Filters do not alter the relative ranking within the selected sort — they only narrow the result set.

    (b) Mission Ranking:

    Missions are displayed based on the User's selected sort criterion. Available sort options are:

    • Newest (default) — ordered by creation date, most recent first
    • Budget (high to low / low to high) — ordered by bounty amount

    Users may further filter by mission type, status, and budget range.

    (c) Semantic Search:

    When a User performs a text search, results are ranked by content relevance using vector-based cosine similarity between the search query and listing content. This ranking is purely algorithmic and based solely on textual similarity — no other factors influence search result ordering.

    (d) No Paid Placement:

    Archimedes Market does not offer paid placement, sponsored listings, or any form of advertising-based ranking. No User may pay to improve the positioning of their Assets or Missions in search results or browse listings. Subscription tiers (Buyer Pro, Engineer Pro) do not affect ranking or visibility.

    6. MISSIONS AND BOUNTIES

    6.1 Posting Missions

    Mission Owners may post Missions on the Platform. Each Mission posting must include:

    • A clear title and description of the work required
    • Specific requirements, organized by category and priority
    • Defined deliverables, including file types and acceptance criteria
    • The bounty amount in United States Dollars
    • The Mission type (e.g., SOFTWARE, HARDWARE, RESEARCH, CREATIVE)
    • Any acceptance tests or validation criteria

    Mission Owners are solely responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and legality of their Mission postings. While the Platform offers AI-assisted tools to help Mission Owners structure their requirements and deliverables, these tools are provided as a convenience only. AI-generated suggestions are starting points that must be reviewed, edited, and approved by the Mission Owner before publication. Archimedes Market does not verify or guarantee the feasibility, legality, or appropriateness of any Mission, whether or not AI-assisted tools were used in its creation.

    6.2 Public Nature of Mission Descriptions

    (a) Missions Are Publicly Visible:

    Mission postings — including titles, descriptions, requirements, deliverables, bounty amounts, and Mission type — are visible to all registered Users of the Platform. By posting a Mission, the Mission Owner acknowledges and agrees that:

    • The Mission description and all associated details will be accessible to all registered Users
    • Any User may read, review, and evaluate the Mission description
    • The information contained in the Mission description may inform a User's independent decisions, research, or work outside the Platform
    (b) No Confidentiality Obligation:

    Mission descriptions posted on the Platform are not confidential. Archimedes Market does not impose, monitor, or enforce any confidentiality obligations on Users who view Mission descriptions. Users who view a Mission are not bound by any non-disclosure, non-compete, or non-use agreement with respect to the information contained in the Mission description, unless such agreement is separately executed between the Mission Owner and the User outside of the Platform.

    (c) Mission Owner's Responsibility:

    Mission Owners are solely responsible for determining what information to include in their Mission postings. Mission Owners should not include trade secrets, proprietary business strategies, confidential technical specifications, or other sensitive information in their Mission descriptions unless they accept the risk that such information will be publicly viewable. Archimedes Market has no obligation to protect, restrict access to, or control the use of information included in Mission descriptions.

    (d) No Liability for Third-Party Use:

    Archimedes Market is not responsible or liable for any actions taken by any User or third party based on information contained in a Mission description, including but not limited to:

    • Independent development of similar products, designs, or solutions
    • Use of publicly posted ideas, concepts, or requirements for the User's own purposes
    • Competitive activity based on information learned from Mission descriptions
    (e) Recommendation:

    Mission Owners who wish to protect sensitive or proprietary information are encouraged to:

    • Provide only high-level descriptions in the public Mission posting
    • Share detailed proprietary specifications only with Engineers who have been selected and have agreed to separate confidentiality terms outside the Platform
    • Consider filing for patent or other IP protection before posting Missions that describe novel inventions

    6.3 Mission Funding and Payment Holds

    (a) Funding Requirement:

    Before Engineers can submit work to a Mission, the Mission Owner must fund the bounty. Funding is processed through Stripe Checkout or another Payment Processor workflow designated by Archimedes Market. The total amount charged includes the bounty amount plus the applicable Buyer Fee (see Section 6.5).

    (b) Payment Hold; No Legal Escrow:

    Funded Mission amounts may be placed into a payment hold, reserve, or similar status maintained by the Payment Processor pending release or refund under these Terms. Archimedes Market does not hold legal escrow accounts for Users, does not maintain trust accounts for Mission funds unless expressly agreed in writing, and does not assume any trustee, fiduciary, or escrow-agent obligations by facilitating this payment workflow.

    (c) Funding Status:
    • Unfunded: The Mission has been posted but not yet funded, and Engineers may view the Mission but cannot submit work.
    • Locked: The Mission funds have been successfully charged and are pending release or refund under these Terms, and the Mission Owner cannot unilaterally withdraw the funds except as expressly permitted below.
    • Released: The Mission Owner has accepted, or is deemed to have accepted, a Submission and Archimedes Market has instructed the Payment Processor to release the applicable amount to the Engineer(s), minus applicable fees and reserves.
    (d) Release Instructions:

    Once Mission funds are locked, the Mission Owner may not unilaterally withdraw the funds except as expressly permitted by Section 6.10, Section 6.9, the Payment Processor's required workflows, or applicable law. Release or refund occurs only pursuant to these Terms, the Payment Processor's capabilities and terms, and any legal or compliance hold that Archimedes Market or the Payment Processor is required to apply.

    6.4 Multi-Task Missions

    Missions may contain multiple tasks, each with its own budget allocation. In multi-task Missions:

    (a) Engineers may submit work for individual tasks or for all tasks;

    (b) Mission funds may be released proportionally based on each task's allocated budget when that task is accepted, deemed accepted, or otherwise resolved under these Terms;

    (c) the Mission is considered "Closed" only when all tasks have been accepted, refunded, cancelled, or otherwise resolved through the Platform's dispute procedures;

    (d) for each accepted or deemed accepted task, the IP assignment under Section 7 becomes effective only at the Assignment Effective Time applicable to that task;

    (e) pending completion or resolution of all remaining tasks, the Engineer grants the Mission Owner a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use each accepted task's Deliverables solely as reasonably necessary to evaluate, integrate, test, and use the Mission Deliverables as a whole; and

    (f) to the extent any later-accepted task Deliverables depend on, incorporate, or are not reasonably usable without earlier task Deliverables, the rights transferred with respect to the later-accepted Deliverables include all rights in the earlier Deliverables reasonably necessary for the Mission Owner to use, modify, commercialize, and exploit the later-accepted Deliverables as contemplated by the Mission, to the extent those rights have not already transferred.

    6.5 Platform Fees — Missions

    (a) Buyer Fee:

    A fee of ten percent (10%) of the bounty amount is added at the time of funding and paid by the Mission Owner. The Buyer Fee compensates Archimedes Market for payment processing, Platform operations, fraud screening, dispute administration, and related services, but it may be refunded or credited in whole or in part where Section 6.10 or a Bounty Dispute resolution expressly provides for a refund.

    (b) Engineer Fee:

    A fee of five percent (5%) is deducted from the Engineer's payout upon release of Mission funds. This fee is deducted automatically before the payout is transferred to the Engineer's Stripe Connect account, subject to any reserves, reversals, or offsets permitted by these Terms, the Payment Processor, or applicable law.

    (c) Fee Transparency:

    All applicable fees are displayed to Users before they confirm a transaction. The Mission Owner sees the total cost (bounty + Buyer Fee) before funding. The Engineer sees the estimated net payout (bounty minus Engineer Fee) before submitting work.

    6.6 Submissions

    (a) Submission Process:

    Engineers submit work through the Platform's Submission Workspace. Each Engineer may create one (1) Submission Workspace per Mission. The Submission process includes:

  • Creating or opening a Submission Workspace
  • Uploading deliverable files that match the Mission's requirements
  • Running any available validation checks
  • Finalizing and submitting the work
    • (b) Submission Fingerprint:

    Upon finalization, the Platform generates a SHA-256 cryptographic fingerprint of all submitted files and records a timestamp. This fingerprint serves as a tamper-evident record of the Submission's contents at the time of submission.

    (c) Submission Status:

    Submissions progress through the following states:

    • DRAFT: The Engineer is preparing work (not yet submitted)
    • SUBMITTED: The Engineer has finalized and submitted work for review
    • UNDER_REVIEW: The Mission Owner is actively reviewing the Submission
    • AWARDED: The Mission Owner has accepted the Submission and the applicable Mission funds have been released or release instructions have been issued to the Payment Processor, subject to any applicable hold, reserve, or legal restriction
    • REJECTED: The Mission Owner has rejected the Submission with a stated reason
    (d) Submission Warranties:

    By submitting work, the Engineer represents and warrants that:

    • The Submission is the Engineer's original work (except for properly disclosed pre-existing IP and open-source components)
    • The Submission complies with the Mission's stated requirements and deliverables
    • The Submission does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights
    • The Engineer has complied with all applicable Content Warranties (Section 11)

    6.7 Review and Acceptance

    (a) Mission Owner's Review:

    The Mission Owner reviews Submissions and may, at their sole discretion and acting in good faith:

    • Accept the Submission — the Submission is treated as accepted, and Archimedes Market may instruct the Payment Processor to release the applicable Mission funds to the Engineer, minus applicable fees, subject to any applicable hold, reserve, reversal, or legal restriction
    • Reject the Submission — the Engineer is notified with a written reason for rejection (see Section 6.7(d)) and the Mission funds remain locked pending further action
    • Request Changes — the Engineer may revise the Submission based on the Mission Owner's feedback
    (b) Review Deadline:

    The Mission Owner must take action (accept, reject, or request changes) on each Submission within fourteen (14) calendar days after the Submission status changes to SUBMITTED. If the Mission Owner fails to take any action on a Submission within fourteen (14) calendar days, the Submission is deemed accepted and Archimedes Market may instruct the Payment Processor to release the applicable Mission funds to the Engineer, subject to any legal, fraud, export-control, sanctions, or Payment Processor hold. The fourteen-day period begins when the Submission status changes to SUBMITTED.

    (c) Good Faith Review:

    Mission Owners are expected to review Submissions in good faith. Rejecting a conforming Submission for the purpose of obtaining free work, or accepting a Submission and then filing a fraudulent dispute to recover funds, is a violation of these Terms.

    (d) Rejection Requirements:

    When rejecting a Submission, the Mission Owner must provide a written explanation of the rejection reason for each Submission. The explanation must:

    • Be specific and substantive (minimum fifty (50) characters)
    • Reference the Mission requirements, deliverables, or acceptance criteria that were not met
    • Be provided at the time of rejection

    Generic, vague, or bad-faith rejection reasons (e.g., "not what I wanted," "didn't like it") are a violation of these Terms. Engineers may file a Bounty Dispute (Section 6.9) if they believe a rejection was made in bad faith or without adequate justification.

    (e) Automatic Conversion:

    When a Submission is rejected, the Platform may automatically convert the Submission into a draft Asset listing in the Engineer's account. This allows the Engineer to potentially sell their work on the Asset Marketplace. This conversion is optional and non-blocking — it does not affect the Mission or funds status.

    6.8 Self-Submission Prohibition

    Mission Owners may not submit work to their own Missions. This restriction is enforced by the Platform's technical controls and is a material term of these Terms. Attempts to circumvent this restriction (e.g., using multiple accounts) will result in account termination.

    6.9 Bounty Disputes

    (a) Filing a Dispute:

    Either the Mission Owner or the Engineer may file a Bounty Dispute within thirty (30) calendar days of the triggering event if:

    • The Mission Owner believes the accepted Submission does not meet the stated requirements
    • The Engineer believes a rejection was made in bad faith, without adequate justification, or in violation of Section 6.7(d)
    • The Engineer believes the Mission Owner is using the cancellation process (Section 6.10) to obtain free work
    • Either party believes the other acted in bad faith or violated these Terms
    (b) Review Process:

    Bounty Disputes are reviewed by Archimedes Market administrators. During the review:

    • Both parties will be notified and given an opportunity to present their case
    • Archimedes Market may examine the Submission, Mission requirements, and all related communications
    • Archimedes Market may request additional information or evidence from either party
    (c) Resolution:

    Archimedes Market administrators will make a determination based on all available evidence. Possible outcomes include:

    • Release funds to Engineer: The Submission is found to meet the requirements, and the applicable Mission funds are released or instructed for release
    • Refund Mission Owner: The Submission is found to be non-conforming or the Engineer acted in bad faith, and the applicable Mission funds are refunded or instructed for refund
    • Split funds: Both parties share responsibility, and Mission funds are divided as determined by the administrator

    Any ownership, license, deletion, or continued-use consequences of a dispute resolution shall be determined by these Terms, the administrator's decision, and applicable law.

    (d) Finality:

    The administrator's decision is final and binding for purposes of the Platform's internal dispute program, and resolved Bounty Disputes may not be reopened through the Platform except in the event of fraud, clerical error, or mandatory legal process.

    (e) Effect on IP Assignment:

    If a Bounty Dispute results in a full refund to the Mission Owner, any IP assignment that had become effective under Section 7 is automatically reversed and all rights revert to the Engineer as of the date of the refund. The Mission Owner must immediately cease use of the Deliverables and delete all copies in its possession or control. If a Bounty Dispute results in a partial refund or split of funds, the administrator's decision shall specify the parties' respective rights in the Deliverables; absent such specification, the Mission Owner retains the assignment and the refunded portion is treated as a price adjustment.

    6.10 Mission Cancellation and Mission-Funds Refund

    (a) Unfunded Missions:

    A Mission Owner may cancel or delete an unfunded Mission (status: Unfunded) at any time without penalty. No fees are charged and no obligations arise.

    (b) Funded Missions — No Submissions Received:

    If a Mission has been funded (status: Locked) but no Engineer has submitted work, the Mission Owner may request cancellation. Archimedes Market will instruct the Payment Processor to refund the funded bounty amount and the Buyer Fee; provided, however, non-recoverable third-party payment processing charges actually retained by the Payment Processor may be netted from the refund unless Archimedes Market elects to absorb them.

    (c) Funded Missions — Submissions Exist (All Rejected):

    If a Mission has been funded and one or more Submissions have been received, and the Mission Owner has rejected all Submissions in accordance with Section 6.7(d), the Mission Owner may request cancellation. In that case, Archimedes Market may instruct the Payment Processor to refund the Mission funds less a cancellation charge equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the original bounty amount, plus any non-recoverable third-party processing fees actually retained by the Payment Processor. The parties acknowledge that, at the time of contracting, the administrative review costs, anti-abuse monitoring costs, dispute-handling costs, reputation-system effects, and opportunity costs associated with a funded Mission that generated Submissions are difficult to calculate precisely, and that the fifteen percent (15%) charge is intended as a reasonable pre-estimate of those losses and not as a penalty.

    (d) Funded Missions — Deadline Expiration with No Submissions:

    If a Mission's deadline expires and no Submissions were received, the Mission Owner may request cancellation and receive the same refund treatment described in Section 6.10(b).

    (e) Funded Missions — Deadline Expiration with Unresolved Submissions:

    If a Mission's deadline expires and Submissions remain in SUBMITTED or UNDER_REVIEW status, the Mission Owner must take action (accept, reject, or request changes) within fourteen (14) calendar days of the deadline. If the Mission Owner fails to act within this period, Section 6.7(b) applies.

    (f) Mission Owner Reputation:

    All Mission cancellations are recorded on the Mission Owner's public profile, including total Missions posted, total Missions completed, and total funded Missions cancelled.

    (g) Repeat Cancellation Review:

    If a Mission Owner cancels three (3) or more funded Missions that had received Submissions, the account will be flagged for administrative review. Archimedes Market reserves the right to restrict or suspend the Mission Owner's ability to post new Missions until the review is completed.

    (h) Anti-Circumvention:

    The Mission cancellation and refund provisions of this section do not affect the anti-circumvention obligations set forth in Section 14. Mission Owners who use the cancellation process as a mechanism to obtain work, ideas, or solutions from Engineers without payment are in violation of these Terms.

    7. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY — MISSIONS (IP ASSIGNMENT)

    7.1 Assignment of Rights

    By submitting work to a Mission and upon the Assignment Effective Time described in Section 7.3, the Engineer irrevocably assigns to the Mission Owner all right, title, and interest in and to the Deliverables created specifically for the Mission, excluding only disclosed Background Technology and Third-Party Materials governed by Sections 7.5 and 7.6. The assignment includes:

    • All copyright and rights under copyright law (including reproduction, distribution, display, performance, and derivative-work rights)
    • All patent rights to the extent any patentable inventions are contained in the Deliverables
    • All trade secret rights in the Deliverables
    • All rights to apply for, register, and enforce the foregoing
    • All moral rights to the extent waivable under applicable law

    worldwide, in all media now known or later developed, for the full term of those rights.

    To the extent any assignment of rights is not recognized or enforceable under the law of any applicable jurisdiction (including jurisdictions that do not permit assignment of copyright or that require specific formalities), the Engineer hereby grants the Mission Owner an exclusive, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, fully paid-up, royalty-free, transferable, sublicensable license to exercise all rights that would have been assigned, and the Engineer irrevocably waives and agrees never to assert against the Mission Owner (or its successors, assigns, and licensees) any moral rights, droit d'auteur, or similar personal rights in the Deliverables to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

    7.2 Written Transfer Requirement

    This assignment constitutes a written instrument of transfer of copyright ownership as required by 17 U.S.C. Section 204(a). The Engineer acknowledges that the Mission Owner relies on this assignment as a material condition of posting the Mission and releasing payment, and the Engineer shall not assert any ownership interest in the assigned Deliverables after the Assignment Effective Time except as expressly preserved in these Terms.

    7.3 Effective Date

    The assignment of rights becomes effective at the later of:

    (i) the Mission Owner's acceptance of the Submission (including deemed acceptance under Section 6.7(b)); and

    (ii) the Payment Processor's release, or Archimedes Market's instruction to release, the applicable Mission funds for payout to the Engineer, provided the Mission Owner's payment was successfully captured and has not been reversed before that release event (the "Assignment Effective Time").

    Prior to the Assignment Effective Time, the Engineer retains all rights in the Submission, subject to Archimedes Market's platform license and the Mission Owner's right to review the Submission solely for evaluating acceptance.

    7.4 Portfolio Display Right

    Even though the Mission Owner owns the Deliverables after the Assignment Effective Time, the Engineer retains a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free right to identify the work in the Engineer's professional portfolio, resume, or similar materials solely to demonstrate the Engineer's experience; provided that the Engineer may not disclose source code, downloadable files, confidential information, trade secrets, non-public specifications, security-sensitive details, or any other non-public portion of the Deliverables without the Mission Owner's prior written consent, except to the extent the Deliverables have already been made public by or with the authorization of the Mission Owner. This portfolio right does not permit the Engineer to license, sell, reuse, distribute, or create derivative works from the Deliverables.

    7.5 Pre-Existing Intellectual Property

    (a) Disclosure Required:

    If the Engineer's Submission incorporates any pre-existing intellectual property, reusable tools, libraries, templates, datasets, model weights, prompts, third-party materials, AI-generated output subject to third-party terms, or other material not created specifically for the Mission (collectively, "Background Technology"), the Engineer must clearly identify and disclose all such Background Technology in the Submission. The Engineer may not include third-party or subcontractor contributions unless the Engineer has secured written assignments or licenses sufficient to grant the rights described in these Terms and, on request, can substantiate that authority.

    (b) License Grant:

    For any disclosed Background Technology incorporated into the Submission, the Engineer grants the Mission Owner a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, fully paid-up, royalty-free, transferable, sublicensable license to use, host, reproduce, modify, adapt, display, perform, distribute, make, have made, sell, offer for sale, import, and otherwise exploit such Background Technology to the extent necessary or useful for the Mission Owner to use, commercialize, support, maintain, modify, and exploit the Deliverables and derivative works thereof.

    (c) Ownership:

    Ownership of Background Technology remains with its original owner. The assignment in Section 7.1 applies only to new work created specifically for the Mission. If the Engineer fails to disclose incorporated Background Technology, the Engineer shall be deemed to have granted the Mission Owner, at minimum, the broadest license reasonably necessary for the Mission Owner to use and exploit the Deliverables as contemplated by the Mission.

    7.6 Open-Source Components

    (a) Disclosure Required:

    If the Submission includes any open-source, source-available, community, or other third-party licensed components, the Engineer must disclose each such component, the applicable license, version information, and any material attribution, source-code-availability, notice, copyleft, network-use, or redistribution obligations. Upon request, the Engineer must provide a dependency list or software bill of materials reasonably sufficient for the Mission Owner to assess compliance.

    (b) License Obligations:

    Open-source and other third-party licensed components remain subject to their respective licenses. The Engineer represents and warrants that any such components are compatible with the Mission requirements and the Mission Owner's intended use as stated in the Mission, and that no undisclosed restriction will impair the Mission Owner's ability to own or exploit the Deliverables as contemplated by these Terms.

    (c) Copyleft and Restricted Terms:

    If any component is licensed under GPL, AGPL, LGPL, SSPL, a source-available license, or any other license that imposes reciprocity, disclosure, network-use, attribution, field-of-use, audit, or similar obligations, the Engineer must prominently disclose that fact before final submission. The Engineer may not include any such component if doing so would be inconsistent with the Mission requirements, the rights granted to the Mission Owner, or applicable law, or if the restriction has not been expressly disclosed and accepted.

    7.7 Further Assurances

    The Engineer agrees to execute any additional documents and take any further actions reasonably requested by the Mission Owner to perfect, register, or enforce the intellectual property rights assigned under this Section 7, at the Mission Owner's expense.

    8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY — ASSET MARKETPLACE

    8.1 Seller Retains Ownership

    Unless the Asset listing explicitly and unambiguously states that ownership is being transferred, the Seller retains full ownership of all intellectual property rights in their listed Assets. A purchase grants the Buyer a license as described in Section 5.7, not an ownership transfer.

    8.2 Platform License

    By listing an Asset on the Platform, the Seller grants Archimedes Market a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to:

    • Display, reproduce, and distribute the Asset listing (including titles, descriptions, thumbnails, preview images, and sample content) for the purpose of operating, promoting, and marketing the Platform
    • Generate and display Trust Reports, completeness scores, and other quality metrics for the Asset
    • Include the Asset in search results, recommendations, bundle suggestions, and category listings
    • Use Asset metadata (type, category, tags, pricing) for Platform analytics and improvement

    This license is limited to Platform operations and does not grant Archimedes Market the right to sell, sublicense, or commercially exploit the Asset's underlying intellectual property independently. This license terminates when the Seller removes the listing, except that cached or archived copies may persist in search engine caches or backups for a reasonable period.

    8.3 AI Analysis Consent

    By listing an Asset or submitting work on the Platform, you consent to automated analysis of your Content for the following purposes:

    • Security scanning: Including static analysis using tools such as Semgrep to detect potential vulnerabilities
    • Code review: Using AI-assisted or automated systems to assess code quality and identify issues
    • License detection: To identify open-source licenses and dependencies
    • Complexity analysis: To assess code complexity and quality metrics
    • Completeness scoring: To assess listing completeness
    • Embedding generation: For semantic search and recommendations

    This analysis is performed solely for Platform operations and may involve transmission of Content to third-party service providers, including AI inference providers, for analysis and inference purposes. Archimedes Market will use commercially reasonable efforts to configure such providers and services consistently with its public disclosures and the providers' then-current business/API terms. To the extent any provider's applicable terms would permit model training, product improvement, or similar secondary use of submitted Content, Archimedes Market will not submit protected Content to that provider without implementing any required disclosures, consents, contractual protections, or workflow restrictions. Analysis results (including Trust Reports, scores, and badges) may be displayed publicly on the Platform.

    8.4 User-Generated Descriptions

    The Platform offers AI-assisted description generation as a convenience tool. AI-generated content (including Asset descriptions, Mission structures, and metadata suggestions) is provided as a starting point only. All AI-generated content is fully editable by the User, and the User is always required to review, modify if necessary, and explicitly approve all content before publication. By publishing any listing or Mission — whether or not AI-assisted tools were used — the User takes full responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, and legality of the published content. Archimedes Market is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of AI-generated suggestions, and the final decision and responsibility always rests with the User.

    9. PAYMENTS AND PAYOUTS

    9.1 Payment Processing

    All payments on the Platform are processed by Stripe, Inc. or another designated Payment Processor. By using the Platform's payment features, you agree to be bound by the applicable Payment Processor terms, including Stripe's terms of service and connected account agreement, as applicable. Archimedes Market facilitates payment instructions only and does not provide banking services, money transmission, or legal escrow services unless expressly stated in a separate written agreement. Archimedes Market does not store complete credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or other sensitive payment credentials. All payment data is handled directly by the Payment Processor in accordance with applicable security standards.

    9.2 Payment Collection Agency

    Each Seller and Engineer appoints Archimedes Market as the Seller's or Engineer's limited agent for the sole purpose of accepting payments from Buyers for Transactions made through the Platform. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Seller or Engineer agrees that a payment made by a Buyer through the Platform (including through Stripe) will be treated as a payment made directly to the Seller or Engineer, and the Buyer's obligation to the Seller or Engineer for the applicable amount is satisfied at the time Archimedes Market (or its Payment Processor) receives the payment on the Seller's or Engineer's behalf. Archimedes Market will remit amounts due to the Seller or Engineer in accordance with these Terms, net of applicable fees, chargebacks, refunds, and adjustments.

    9.3 Seller and Engineer Payouts

    (a) Stripe Connect Requirement:

    To receive payouts for Asset sales or Mission bounties, Sellers and Engineers must complete the Stripe Connect onboarding process, which includes identity verification and banking information.

    (b) Payout Timing:

    Payouts are initiated after a successful Asset purchase or, for Missions, after the applicable Submission is accepted or deemed accepted and Mission-fund release instructions are issued. Actual transfer timing depends on the Payment Processor's processing schedule, reserve requirements, compliance reviews, and the User's bank.

    (c) Failed Transfers:

    If a payout fails (e.g., due to an incomplete Stripe Connect setup or bank rejection), Archimedes Market will make reasonable efforts to retry the transfer. The User is responsible for ensuring their Stripe Connect account is properly configured.

    (d) Payout Holds:

    Archimedes Market reserves the right to place or maintain payout holds, reserves, or delays for up to ninety (90) days, or longer if reasonably necessary, in the following circumstances:

    • A Buyer Protection claim or Bounty Dispute is pending
    • We have reason to believe the transaction is fraudulent, unlawful, export-restricted, sanctions-related, or otherwise in violation of these Terms
    • The Payment Processor imposes or requires a reserve or hold
    • We are required to do so by law, regulation, court order, or legal process

    9.4 Currency

    All prices, fees, payouts, and financial amounts on the Platform are denominated in United States Dollars (USD).

    9.5 Taxes

    (a) User Responsibility:

    Users are solely responsible for determining, reporting, and paying any and all taxes applicable to their transactions on the Platform, including but not limited to federal, state, and local income taxes, self-employment taxes, sales taxes, use taxes, value-added taxes (VAT), goods and services taxes (GST), and any other taxes or duties.

    (b) No Tax Advice:

    Archimedes Market does not provide tax advice and makes no representations regarding the tax treatment of any transaction. Users are encouraged to consult with a qualified tax professional.

    (c) Tax Reporting:

    Archimedes Market may be required to report certain transactions to tax authorities (e.g., IRS Form 1099-K for US-based payees exceeding applicable thresholds). By using the Platform, you consent to such reporting as required by law.

    (d) Withholding:

    Archimedes Market does not withhold taxes on behalf of Users unless required by law. If withholding is required, the amount withheld will be deducted from the User's payout and remitted to the appropriate tax authority.

    9.6 Refunds

    (a) Asset Purchases:

    All Asset sales are final. Refunds are available only through the Buyer Protection claims process (Section 5.10) or as otherwise required by non-waivable law. If a refund is issued, the Buyer's license terminates automatically and the Buyer must cease all use of the Asset and delete all copies. Archimedes Market does not offer refunds for:

    • Buyer's remorse or change of mind
    • Dissatisfaction with an Asset that functions as described
    • Incompatibility with the Buyer's environment unless the listing specifically guaranteed compatibility
    • Failure to read the Asset description or license terms before purchasing
    (b) Mission Funds:

    Funded Mission amounts may be disbursed only by:

    • Release to the Engineer upon acceptance or deemed acceptance of a Submission
    • Refund to the Mission Owner through Mission cancellation under Section 6.10, subject to applicable cancellation charges and processor-fee treatment
    • Refund to the Mission Owner through Bounty Dispute resolution
    • Automatic release to the Engineer upon expiration of the review deadline under Section 6.7(b)
    • Partial release or refund in accordance with multi-task completion, offsets, reserves, or dispute resolution
    (c) Subscription Fees:

    Subscription cancellations ordinarily take effect at the end of the current billing period. No partial or prorated refunds are issued for unused subscription time except:

    (i) where required by applicable law; or

    (ii) where a subscription price increase takes effect without your affirmative consent, in which case you may cancel within the period required by applicable law and receive the prorated refund, credit, or other remedy required by that law.

    (d) Platform Fees:

    Platform Fees are non-refundable except when a full refund is issued to the Buyer through the Buyer Protection process, in which case the Platform Fee may be refunded to the Seller at Archimedes Market's discretion.

    9.7 Earnings and Financial Records

    The Platform maintains a credit ledger for each User that tracks:

    • Earnings from Asset sales and Mission payouts
    • Platform Fees deducted
    • Refunds and adjustments
    • Payout history and transfer status

    Users may view their financial records on the Earnings page. Archimedes Market retains financial records for a minimum of seven (7) years as required by applicable tax and financial regulations.

    9.8 Chargebacks and Payment Processor Disputes

    (a) Account Suspension:

    If you initiate a payment dispute (chargeback) with your bank or credit card issuer, your Archimedes Market account will be automatically suspended until the dispute is resolved or cancelled. During suspension, you will not be able to:

    • Access Platform features
    • Make or receive payments
    • Download purchased Assets
    • Submit work to Missions
    (b) Contact Us First:

    We strongly encourage you to contact us directly before initiating a chargeback. In most cases, we can resolve payment issues faster and more effectively than the chargeback process.

    (c) Chargeback Fees:

    If a chargeback is filed and the dispute is resolved in Archimedes Market's favor, we reserve the right to charge you for any fees imposed on us by the Payment Processor as a result of the chargeback (typically $15–$25 per incident).

    (d) Fraudulent Chargebacks:

    Filing a fraudulent chargeback (e.g., claiming a purchase was unauthorized after downloading the Asset) is a violation of these Terms and may result in permanent account termination and legal action.

    10. SUBSCRIPTIONS

    10.1 Available Plans

    Archimedes Market offers the following optional subscription plans:

    (a) Buyer Pro ($199/month):
    • Reduced Asset Marketplace Platform Fee (15% instead of 20%)
    • Priority support
    • Additional features as described on the Pricing page
    (b) Engineer Pro ($39/month):
    • Enhanced profile visibility
    • Additional features as described on the Pricing page

    Subscription details and current pricing are available at archimedes.market/pricing. Features and pricing are subject to change in accordance with Section 10.5.

    10.2 Billing

    Subscriptions are billed on a monthly recurring basis through Stripe or another designated Payment Processor. Before you enroll, Archimedes Market will clearly present the material subscription terms, including price, billing frequency, trial terms (if any), when billing begins, and how to cancel. By subscribing, you authorize Archimedes Market to charge your payment method on file on a recurring basis until you cancel and provide your express informed consent to the automatic-renewal terms. Archimedes Market may retain records of those disclosures and your consent to the extent required by law. Billing occurs on the same date each month (or the closest available date if the billing date does not exist in a given month).

    10.3 Free Trial

    If a free trial is offered, it will be clearly described at the time of sign-up, including the trial duration and what happens at the end of the trial period. Unless you cancel before the trial ends, your subscription will automatically convert to a paid subscription.

    10.4 Cancellation

    You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings or the Stripe billing portal using a method that is at least as easy to use as the sign-up flow. Upon cancellation:

    • Your subscription remains active until the end of the current billing period
    • You will not be charged for subsequent billing periods
    • No partial or prorated refunds are issued for unused time in the current period except where required by law
    • Subscription benefits (such as reduced fees) cease at the end of the current period

    10.5 Changes to Plans

    We reserve the right to modify subscription pricing, features, or plan availability. For changes that materially affect existing subscribers, including any material price increase where required by applicable law:

    • We will provide at least thirty (30) days' written notice before the change takes effect
    • Existing subscribers may cancel before the change takes effect without penalty
    • Continued subscription after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the new terms, except to the extent additional affirmative consent is required by applicable law

    11. CONTENT WARRANTIES AND INDEMNIFICATION

    11.1 Content Warranties

    By uploading, listing, or submitting any Content on the Platform (including Assets, Submissions, reviews, profile information, and communications), you represent and warrant that:

    (a) Ownership and Rights:

    You are the sole owner of the Content, or you have obtained all necessary rights, licenses, consents, permissions, and contributor assignments from the rightful owner(s), employees, contractors, collaborators, and other contributors to upload, display, license, sell, distribute, assign, and otherwise exploit the Content on the Platform and to grant the rights described in these Terms.

    (b) Non-Infringement:

    The Content does not infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate any third-party intellectual property rights, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, moral rights, rights of publicity, rights of privacy, or any other proprietary or personal right.

    (c) No Harmful Code:

    The Content does not contain viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, spyware, adware, backdoors, time bombs, logic bombs, or any other malicious, harmful, or destructive code or components.

    (d) Accuracy:

    The Content is not false, inaccurate, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent. All descriptions, capabilities, limitations, and specifications described in the Content are truthful and complete.

    (e) Legality:

    The Content does not violate any applicable federal, state, local, or international law, regulation, or ordinance, including but not limited to export control laws (Section 12), intellectual property laws, privacy laws, and consumer protection laws.

    (f) Open-Source Disclosure:

    All open-source, source-available, community, or third-party licensed components, libraries, frameworks, dependencies, datasets, model weights, and other incorporated materials are fully and accurately disclosed, including the applicable license and any material notice, attribution, copyleft, source-code-availability, or similar obligations.

    (g) Export Compliance:

    The Content has been accurately classified and disclosed for export-control and sanctions purposes, and its upload, listing, submission, distribution, access, and contemplated use through the Platform do not violate any applicable export-control law, sanctions program, end-use restriction, end-user restriction, or license requirement (see Section 12).

    (h) Listing Accuracy:

    If the Content is an Asset listing, the listing accurately and completely describes the Asset's functionality, capabilities, limitations, requirements, and any known issues.

    (i) Honoring Representations:

    You will honor any warranties, representations, guarantees, or commitments made in your listing descriptions, communications with other Users, or Submission documentation.

    11.2 Indemnification by Users

    You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Archimedes Market, its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, and service providers (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs) arising out of or relating to:

    • Any Content you upload, list, submit, or transmit on or through the Platform;
    • Your breach of any warranty, representation, or obligation under these Terms;
    • Any third-party claim that your Content infringes, misappropriates, or violates their intellectual property rights, proprietary rights, or other legal rights;
    • Your violation of any applicable law, regulation, or third-party right;
    • Any dispute between you and another User arising from a transaction on the Platform;
    • Your negligence, willful misconduct, or fraud.

    11.3 Indemnification by Sellers to Buyers

    If a third party claims that a Buyer's use of an Asset (in compliance with the applicable license terms) infringes that third party's intellectual property rights, and the Buyer:

    • Promptly notifies the Seller of the claim in writing; and
    • Gives the Seller the option to control the defense of the claim (at the Seller's expense)

    Then the Seller shall indemnify the Buyer against damages finally awarded by a court or agreed to in a settlement by the Seller regarding that claim.

    11.4 Survival

    The obligations in this Section 11 survive termination of your Account and these Terms.

    12. EXPORT CONTROLS AND RESTRICTED CONTENT

    12.1 Export Control Compliance

    Users must not upload, list, submit, distribute, access, download, export, re-export, transfer, or make available through the Platform any Content or transaction whose availability on the Platform would violate applicable export-control or sanctions laws. Without limitation, prohibited Content includes:

    • ITAR-controlled technical data, defense articles and defense services
    • Classified information
    • Controlled unclassified information that may not lawfully be shared
    • Content on the Commerce Control List or otherwise subject to the EAR where a license would be required for the contemplated destination, end user, or end use
    • Any Content whose provision is prohibited because of sanctions, embargoes, restricted parties, prohibited end uses, or military or weapons-related applications

    Content that is subject to the EAR but designated EAR99 or otherwise not requiring a license for the contemplated transaction is not prohibited solely because it is subject to the EAR, provided the User accurately discloses its status and complies with applicable law.

    12.2 Specifically Prohibited Content

    The following categories of Content are strictly prohibited, without limitation:

    • Defense articles and defense services as defined by the U.S. Munitions List (USML)
    • Items on the Commerce Control List (CCL) that require an export license
    • Dual-use items that are controlled for export without a license
    • Content related to weapons systems, weapons components, or weapons manufacturing
    • Content related to nuclear technology, nuclear materials, or nuclear applications
    • Content related to chemical or biological agents
    • Classified or controlled unclassified information (CUI)
    • Content originating from, or intended for use in, sanctioned countries or by sanctioned persons

    12.3 Export Control Declaration

    When uploading Content (Assets or Submissions), Users must accurately self-certify the export-control and sanctions status of that Content, including whether the Content is:

    (i) not controlled for the contemplated transaction;

    (ii) subject to the EAR but designated EAR99 or otherwise not requiring a license for the contemplated transaction; or

    (iii) controlled, restricted, or otherwise prohibited from being made available on the Platform without prior written approval and any required governmental authorization.

    This declaration is a material representation relied upon by Archimedes Market and other Users. Archimedes Market may require additional information, including ECCN, USML category, jurisdiction-and-classification analysis, end-use/end-user restrictions, and supporting documentation. Any false, incomplete, or misleading declaration constitutes grounds for immediate suspension or termination, payout holds, content removal, and referral to appropriate authorities where required.

    12.4 Archimedes Market's Role and Limitations

    Archimedes Market is not an export-compliance authority and does not independently verify the export classification of all user-uploaded Content. We rely in part on User declarations (Section 12.3), automated screening, Payment Processor controls, geolocation tools, and other compliance measures, and we reserve the right to remove, refuse, suspend, or block any Content, transaction, payout, or account that we reasonably believe may violate export-control laws, sanctions laws, these Terms, or our compliance policies. We may report suspected violations to the appropriate authorities and will cooperate with lawful investigations. We are not liable for any User's violation of export-control or sanctions laws.

    12.5 User Responsibility

    Each User is solely responsible for:

    • Determining whether their Content is subject to any export-control or sanctions regulation
    • Obtaining any required licenses, approvals, or internal clearances before uploading Content
    • Ensuring that Content is not accessed by prohibited destinations, end users, or end uses
    • Maintaining accurate classification records and disclosures
    • Consulting qualified export-control counsel if there is any doubt about classification or licensing requirements

    12.6 Prohibited Content and Activities

    In addition to export-controlled content, the following content and activities are prohibited on the Platform:

    (a) Prohibited Content:
    • Content that infringes any third-party intellectual property rights
    • Content that violates any applicable law or regulation
    • Malware, viruses, ransomware, spyware, or other harmful code
    • Content that promotes illegal activity, terrorism, violence, or hate speech
    • Pornographic, sexually explicit, or obscene content
    • Content that is designed to deceive, defraud, or mislead
    • Content designed to facilitate unauthorized access to computer systems (e.g., exploit kits, credential stealers)
    • Personally identifiable information (PII) of third parties without their express consent
    • Content that has been stolen or obtained through unauthorized access
    • Content that violates any court order, injunction, or legal obligation
    • Spam, unsolicited commercial messages, or promotional content unrelated to legitimate Platform use
    (b) Prohibited Activities:
    • Systematically retrieving data or other content from the Platform to create or compile, directly or indirectly, a collection, compilation, database, or directory without written permission from us
    • Tricking, defrauding, or misleading us and other Users, especially in any attempt to learn sensitive account information such as user passwords
    • Circumventing, disabling, or otherwise interfering with security-related features of the Platform, including features that prevent or restrict the use or copying of any Content or enforce limitations on the use of the Platform
    • Attempting to impersonate another User or person, or using the username of another User
    • Interfering with, disrupting, or creating an undue burden on the Platform or the networks or services connected to the Platform
    • Engaging in any automated use of the system, such as using scripts to send comments or messages, or using any data mining, robots, or similar data gathering and extraction tools, except as may be the result of standard search engine or Internet browser usage
    • Using the Platform to advertise or offer to sell goods and services outside the Platform's intended marketplace functionality
    • Selling or otherwise transferring your Account or profile
    • Uploading or transmitting any material that acts as a passive or active information collection or transmission mechanism, including clear graphics interchange formats ("gifs"), 1x1 pixels, web bugs, cookies, or other similar devices (sometimes referred to as "spyware" or "passive collection mechanisms")
    • Copying or adapting the Platform's software, including but not limited to HTML, JavaScript, or other code
    • Except as permitted by applicable law, deciphering, decompiling, disassembling, or reverse engineering any of the software comprising or making up a part of the Platform
    • Filing fraudulent Buyer Protection claims or abusing the dispute resolution system
    • Accessing the Platform from OFAC-sanctioned countries or jurisdictions using VPN or other circumvention tools

    13. DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND GOVERNING LAW

    13.1 Disputes Between Users

    For disputes between Users arising from transactions on the Platform:

    (a) Direct Resolution (Required First Step):

    Users must first attempt to resolve disputes directly through the Platform's communication tools. Good faith communication is expected from both parties.

    (b) Buyer Protection Claims (Asset Marketplace):

    For disputes related to Asset purchases, Buyers may file a Buyer Protection claim as described in Section 5.10. The claim process is the exclusive remedy for Asset-related disputes within the thirty (30) day claim window.

    (c) Bounty Disputes (Missions):

    For disputes related to Mission submissions and payouts, either party may file a Bounty Dispute as described in Section 6.9.

    (d) Administrator Decisions:

    All decisions made by Archimedes Market administrators in the resolution of Buyer Protection claims and Bounty Disputes are final and binding for purposes of the Platform's internal dispute programs, and resolved disputes may not be reopened through the Platform except in the event of fraud, clerical error, or mandatory legal process. Nothing in this Section limits any non-waivable rights a User may have under applicable law, the Payment Processor's mandatory dispute procedures, or the arbitration and judicial remedies described in Section 13.2.

    13.2 Disputes Between User and Archimedes Market

    Any controversy, claim, or dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms, or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation, or validity thereof (including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate), shall be resolved as follows, subject always to any non-waivable rights under applicable law:

    (a) Informal Resolution (Required First Step):

    Before initiating any formal dispute resolution proceeding, you agree to first contact us at [support@archimedes.market] and attempt to resolve the dispute informally. We will attempt to resolve the dispute within thirty (30) days of receiving your written description of the issue.

    (b) Binding Arbitration:

    If the dispute cannot be resolved informally within thirty (30) days, either party may initiate binding arbitration. If you are an individual using the Platform primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, the arbitration shall be administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules, as modified by any applicable consumer-protection law, and Archimedes Market will comply with applicable AAA consumer-clause registration and due-process requirements before seeking to compel or proceed with arbitration. If you are using the Platform for business, commercial, or professional purposes, the arbitration shall be administered under the AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules. In either case, the arbitration shall be conducted on an individual (not class-wide) basis, in English, before a single arbitrator, and held in Georgia, United States, except that claims eligible under the applicable AAA rules may proceed by telephone, videoconference, documents-only submission, or in the claimant's county or state of residence if required by mandatory law. You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by sending written notice to support@archimedes.market within thirty (30) days after first accepting these Terms; if you do so, neither party will be bound by this Section 13.2(b) with respect to you.

    (c) Class Action Waiver: TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU AND ARCHIMEDES MARKET AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, MASS, COLLECTIVE, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. Unless both you and Archimedes Market agree otherwise in writing, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's claims and may not otherwise preside over any form of class, consolidated, mass, collective, or representative proceeding. (d) Small Claims Exception:

    Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may bring an individual action in small claims court for disputes or claims within the jurisdiction of such court.

    (e) Injunctive Relief:

    Nothing in this Section 13 shall prevent either party from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent the actual or threatened infringement, misappropriation, or violation of intellectual property rights, confidentiality obligations, or other proprietary rights.

    (f) Arbitration Costs:

    Arbitration fees and costs shall be allocated in accordance with the applicable AAA rules and any mandatory law. For consumer arbitrations, Archimedes Market will pay fees to the extent required by the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules or applicable law. For non-consumer arbitrations, each party shall bear its own attorneys' fees and costs unless the arbitrator or applicable law provides otherwise.

    13.3 Governing Law

    These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, United States, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any legal action not subject to arbitration shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the State of Georgia, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

    13.4 Statute of Limitations

    Any claim arising out of or related to these Terms must be filed within the shorter of:

    (a) one (1) year after the cause of action accrues; or

    (b) the applicable statutory limitation period for that claim;

    or it is permanently barred. This limitation period applies regardless of the form of action, whether in contract, tort, strict liability, or otherwise. This limitation does not apply where a shorter contractual period is prohibited by mandatory applicable law (including any federal or state statute that prohibits contractual shortening of the limitations period for statutory claims).

    13.5 EU/EEA Users — Mandatory Consumer Protections

    Notwithstanding any other provision of these Terms:

    • Nothing in these Terms shall limit or exclude any mandatory consumer protection rights that apply to Users in the European Union, European Economic Area, or United Kingdom under applicable local law.
    • The binding arbitration provision (Section 13.2(b)) and class action waiver (Section 13.2(c)) shall not apply to Users who are consumers in the EU/EEA/UK to the extent that such provisions are unenforceable under mandatory local law. Such Users may bring claims in the courts of their country of residence in accordance with applicable consumer protection legislation.
    • If Archimedes Market later offers the Platform to EU/EEA/UK consumers, Archimedes Market may make available any consumer-complaint or ADR information then required by applicable law, but no representation is made here that any specific EU online-dispute portal is currently available.

    14. ANTI-CIRCUMVENTION

    14.1 Platform Transactions Required

    All transactions initiated through or facilitated by the Platform must be completed through the Platform's payment and delivery systems. Users may not:

    • Share personal contact information (email, phone, social media handles, messaging app IDs) with the intent of conducting transactions outside the Platform
    • Solicit or accept offers to complete a Platform-initiated transaction off-platform to avoid Platform Fees
    • Use the Platform to identify, evaluate, or recruit transaction partners and then conduct the transaction elsewhere
    • Post listings, missions, or submissions that direct Users to external websites or services for the purpose of completing a transaction
    • Offer discounts or incentives conditional on off-platform transactions

    14.2 Permitted Communications

    This section does not prohibit:

    • Communications necessary to complete a Platform transaction (e.g., discussing technical requirements of a Mission)
    • Post-transaction communications between parties to a completed transaction (e.g., requesting support for a purchased Asset)
    • Displaying professional portfolio information on your public profile
    • Linking to your professional website or LinkedIn profile on your public profile

    14.3 Consequences of Circumvention

    Violations of this Section 14 may result in:

    • Immediate suspension or termination of all associated accounts
    • A circumvention fee equal to the greater of (i) the Platform Fees that would have been owed had the circumvented transaction been completed through the Platform, or (ii) one thousand United States dollars ($1,000), which the parties agree is a reasonable pre-estimate of the Platform's losses from circumvention and not a penalty
    • Holds on pending payouts to the extent necessary to satisfy the circumvention fee and any other amounts owed under these Terms
    • Archimedes Market may pursue additional legal remedies for breach of contract

    Pending payouts not subject to a circumvention fee or other valid hold will be released in accordance with applicable law and these Terms.

    15. PRIVACY, DATA, AND COMMUNICATIONS

    15.1 Privacy Policy

    Our collection, use, storage, and disclosure of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy (available at archimedes.market/privacy), which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Platform, you consent to the practices described in the Privacy Policy.

    15.2 User Content Ownership

    You retain ownership of Content you upload to the Platform, subject to:

    • The licenses granted in these Terms (Sections 7.1, 8.2, 8.3)
    • The IP assignment provisions for Mission Submissions (Section 7)
    • Any licenses granted to Buyers through Asset purchases (Section 5.7)

    You are solely responsible for the Content you upload and for ensuring it complies with these Terms and all applicable laws.

    15.3 Data Usage Rights

    By using the Platform, you grant Archimedes Market the right to:

    • Collect and analyze anonymized and aggregated usage data (e.g., page views, download counts, search patterns) for Platform analytics, improvement, and research
    • Generate embeddings and vector representations of public Content for the purpose of search, discovery, and recommendation features
    • Use metadata (e.g., Asset type, category, pricing, ratings) for Platform operations and analytics

    We will not sell your personal data to third parties. See our Privacy Policy for complete details.

    15.4 Data Retention

    We retain Account data and transaction records as described in our Privacy Policy. Additionally:

    • Financial records are retained for at least seven (7) years, or longer if required, for tax, accounting, financial-reporting, chargeback, dispute, sanctions, export-control, or fraud-prevention purposes
    • Submission fingerprints and validation records may be retained for audit, chain-of-custody, and dispute-resolution purposes
    • Deleted Accounts may be retained in limited form to satisfy legal obligations, security needs, dispute resolution, and contract enforcement
    • Subject to verification and applicable exceptions, Users may request access, deletion, correction, and data portability rights as described in our Privacy Policy and applicable law

    We will not delete information that we are required or permitted to retain for legal compliance, security, fraud prevention, payment reconciliation, or the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims.

    15.5 Communications

    By creating an Account, you consent to receive:

    • Transactional communications (e.g., purchase confirmations, submission notifications, payout receipts)
    • Service-related communications (e.g., Terms updates, security alerts, account status)
    • Platform notifications (e.g., new submissions to your Missions, reviews on your Assets)

    You may manage your notification preferences through your account settings. Transactional and service-related communications cannot be opted out of while you maintain an active Account.

    15.6 Electronic Communications, Transactions, and Signatures

    Visiting the Platform, sending us emails, and completing online forms constitute electronic communications. You consent to receive electronic communications, and you agree that all agreements, notices, disclosures, and other communications we provide to you electronically — via email and through the Platform — satisfy any legal requirement that such communication be in writing.

    You hereby agree to the use of electronic signatures, contracts, orders, and other records, and to electronic delivery of notices, policies, and records of transactions initiated or completed by us or via the Platform. You hereby waive any rights or requirements under any statutes, regulations, rules, ordinances, or other laws in any jurisdiction which require an original signature or delivery or retention of non-electronic records, or to payments or the granting of credits by any means other than electronic means.

    16. DMCA AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPLAINTS

    16.1 DMCA Compliance

    Archimedes Market respects intellectual property rights and intends to comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA"), 17 U.S.C. Section 512. Archimedes Market maintains, or will maintain before relying on the DMCA safe harbors, a designated DMCA agent and any required registration with the U.S. Copyright Office, and Archimedes Market has adopted procedures for receiving notices of claimed infringement, reasonably implementing a repeat-infringer policy, and accommodating standard technical measures as required by applicable law. If you believe that Content on the Platform infringes your copyright, please submit a DMCA takedown notice to the designated agent identified in our DMCA Policy.

    16.2 Repeat Infringer Policy

    In accordance with the DMCA, Archimedes Market will, in appropriate circumstances, terminate the Accounts of Users who are repeat infringers. We may treat a User as a repeat infringer if the User has been the subject of three (3) or more valid DMCA takedown notices, multiple substantiated intellectual-property complaints, or other repeated infringement activity. Upon reaching that threshold, Archimedes Market may permanently terminate the User's Account, remove the User's Content, and hold pending payouts as permitted by these Terms, applicable law, and the Payment Processor.

    16.3 Counter-Notifications

    If your Content was removed due to a DMCA takedown notice and you believe the removal was the result of a mistake or misidentification, you may file a counter-notification as described in our DMCA Policy. Counter-notifications must comply with the requirements of 17 U.S.C. Section 512(g).

    16.4 Good Faith Notices

    The DMCA provides for liability against any person who knowingly makes material misrepresentations in a takedown notice or counter-notification. Filing false or fraudulent DMCA notices or counter-notices may result in legal liability and account termination.

    16.5 Other IP Complaints

    If you believe Content on the Platform infringes your non-copyright intellectual property rights (e.g., trademark, trade secret, patent), please contact us at [support@archimedes.market] with a detailed description of the alleged infringement. We will review and respond to such complaints on a case-by-case basis.

    17. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND DISCLAIMERS

    17.1 Disclaimer of Warranties

    THE PLATFORM, INCLUDING ALL CONTENT, FEATURES, SERVICES, TRUST REPORTS, AUTOMATED ANALYSES, AND RELATED TECHNOLOGY, IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ARCHIMEDES MARKET DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

    • IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT
    • WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, OR USAGE OF TRADE
    • WARRANTIES THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, SECURE, OR FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS
    • WARRANTIES REGARDING THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY CONTENT, TRUST REPORTS, OR OTHER INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH THE PLATFORM

    17.2 No Guarantee of Outcomes

    Archimedes Market does not guarantee that:

    • The Platform will be available at all times or without interruption or downtime
    • Assets listed on the Platform are accurate, complete, functional, non-infringing, or suitable for any particular purpose
    • Submissions to Missions will meet the Mission Owner's expectations or requirements
    • Trust Reports, Trust Badges, completeness scores, or other automated analyses are accurate, complete, or reliable
    • Any transaction will be completed successfully or to the satisfaction of any party
    • Any User's representations or warranties are truthful or accurate
    • The Platform will detect all malware, vulnerabilities, licensing issues, or other problems in user-uploaded Content
    • Payouts will be processed within any particular timeframe

    17.3 Limitation of Damages

    TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL ARCHIMEDES MARKET, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AFFILIATES, LICENSORS, OR SERVICE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY:

    • INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES
    • LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, BUSINESS, SAVINGS, OR GOODWILL
    • LOSS OF DATA OR CONTENT
    • COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES
    • PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE

    ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE PLATFORM, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY (CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE), EVEN IF ARCHIMEDES MARKET HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

    17.4 Cap on Aggregate Liability

    TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ARCHIMEDES MARKET'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF: (A) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PLATFORM FEES ACTUALLY PAID BY YOU TO ARCHIMEDES MARKET IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM; OR (B) ONE THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($1,000.00). THIS CAP DOES NOT LIMIT LIABILITY THAT CANNOT LAWFULLY BE LIMITED OR EXCLUDED, OR LIABILITY ARISING FROM ARCHIMEDES MARKET'S FRAUD, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, GROSS NEGLIGENCE, INTENTIONAL INFRINGEMENT OR MISAPPROPRIATION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, OR BREACH OF DATA-PROTECTION OBLIGATIONS, TO THE EXTENT SUCH LIMITATION IS PROHIBITED BY LAW.

    17.5 Seller and Engineer Liability Cap

    Each Seller's or Engineer's liability to a Buyer or Mission Owner is limited, for each transaction, to the greater of:

    (i) the Seller's or Engineer's net earnings from that specific transaction; or

    (ii) the amount of damages that cannot lawfully be limited under applicable law.

    This limitation does not apply to liability arising from:

    • Fraud or willful misrepresentation
    • Intentional infringement or misappropriation of intellectual property rights
    • Breach of confidentiality, privacy, or data-protection obligations
    • Gross negligence or willful misconduct
    • Indemnification obligations expressly assumed under these Terms
    • Amounts actually received and wrongfully retained

    17.6 Essential Basis of the Bargain

    You acknowledge that the limitations of liability in this Section 17 are an essential element of the agreement between you and Archimedes Market, and that Archimedes Market would not provide the Platform without these limitations. These limitations apply even if any limited remedy fails of its essential purpose.

    17.7 Jurisdictional Limitations

    Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain warranties or liability. In such jurisdictions, the limitations in this Section 17 shall apply to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

    18. GENERAL PROVISIONS

    18.1 Entire Agreement

    These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, DMCA Policy, and any other Linked Policies, constitute the entire agreement between you and Archimedes Market regarding your use of the Platform and supersede all prior or contemporaneous agreements, representations, warranties, and understandings, whether written, oral, or implied.

    18.2 Severability

    If any provision of these Terms is found by a court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, or if modification is not possible, severed from these Terms. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions, which shall continue in full force and effect.

    18.3 Waiver

    The failure of Archimedes Market to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. Any waiver of any provision of these Terms will be effective only if in writing and signed by Archimedes Market. A waiver on one occasion shall not be deemed a waiver on any subsequent occasion.

    18.4 Assignment

    You may not assign, delegate, or transfer these Terms or any of your rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Archimedes Market. Any attempted assignment in violation of this provision is void. Archimedes Market may freely assign these Terms and its rights and obligations hereunder without restriction and without notice to you, including in connection with a merger, acquisition, corporate reorganization, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets.

    18.5 Force Majeure

    Archimedes Market shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms where such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond our reasonable control ("Force Majeure Event"), including but not limited to: acts of God, natural disasters, earthquakes, floods, fires, epidemics, pandemics, war, terrorism, civil unrest, government actions or orders, power outages, internet or telecommunications failures, failures of third-party service providers (including the Payment Processor), cyberattacks, or labor disputes.

    18.6 Notices

    (a) To You: We may provide notices to you via: (i) email to the address associated with your Account; (ii) in-platform notifications; or (iii) posting on the Platform. Email notices are deemed received when sent. In-platform notifications are deemed received when posted. (b) To Us: You may provide notices to us at: [support@archimedes.market]. Notices are deemed received when actually received by us.

    18.7 Headings

    Section and subsection headings in these Terms are for convenience and reference only and shall not affect the meaning, interpretation, or construction of any provision.

    18.8 Relationship of the Parties

    Nothing in these Terms shall be construed to create a partnership, joint venture, employment, agency, or franchise relationship between you and Archimedes Market. Neither party has the authority to bind the other or to incur any obligation on the other's behalf.

    18.9 Third-Party Beneficiaries

    These Terms do not create any third-party beneficiary rights, except that the Indemnified Parties identified in Section 11.2 are intended third-party beneficiaries of the indemnification provisions.

    18.10 Cumulative Remedies

    The rights and remedies of Archimedes Market under these Terms are cumulative and are in addition to, not in substitution for, any other rights and remedies available at law, in equity, or under any other agreement.

    18.11 Reserved.

    18.12 Export Compliance and Sanctions Certification

    (a) Certification:

    By creating an Account or using the Platform, you certify on an ongoing basis that you are not:

    • Located in, organized in, ordinarily resident in, or otherwise subject to comprehensive or blocking sanctions or embargoes administered by OFAC or other applicable authorities, as updated from time to time
    • Listed on, or owned or controlled by a person or entity listed on, any applicable prohibited or restricted party list (including, where applicable, the OFAC SDN List and relevant Commerce Department restricted-party lists)
    • Acting on behalf of any such person or entity

    This certification is a material term of these Terms and is deemed repeated each time you access or use the Platform.

    (b) Geographic Access Restrictions:

    Archimedes Market reserves the right to restrict, block, or condition access to the Platform from any country, territory, region, or jurisdiction, or by any person or entity, as required by applicable sanctions, export-control laws, Payment Processor restrictions, risk-based compliance policies, or Archimedes Market's business judgment. We may use IP-based geolocation, country self-identification, payment-screening tools, identity verification, and other technical or contractual measures to enforce geographic access controls.

    (c) Circumvention Prohibited:

    Users may not use virtual private networks (VPNs), proxy servers, Tor, false onboarding data, nominee accounts, or any other tools or techniques to circumvent geographic or sanctions-related access restrictions or to misrepresent identity, location, beneficial ownership, destination, end use, or end user. Any attempt to circumvent such restrictions is a material violation of these Terms and may result in immediate suspension or termination, payout holds, content removal, and any other remedial action permitted by law.

    (d) Discovery of Prohibited Location or Party Status:

    If Archimedes Market discovers or reasonably believes that a User, beneficial owner, counterparty, or transaction is subject to sanctions or other legal restrictions, Archimedes Market may immediately:

    • Suspend or terminate the relevant Account
    • Block or freeze access
    • Hold, reject, reverse, or block payments and payouts to the extent required by law or the Payment Processor
    • Remove or disable Content
    • Report the matter to the appropriate authorities where required

    Nothing in these Terms obligates Archimedes Market to complete or permit any transaction that would violate applicable law.

    (e) Country Selection at Registration:

    Users are required to provide their country of residence during account registration. Providing a false country of residence is fraud and a material breach of these Terms.

    19. CONTACT INFORMATION

    If you have questions, concerns, or complaints about these Terms or the Platform, please contact us at:

    Archimedes Market

    Email: support@archimedes.market

    Privacy inquiries: privacy@archimedes.market

    DMCA notices: dmca@archimedes.market

    Website: https://archimedes.market

    For DMCA takedown notices, please follow the procedures described in our DMCA Policy at archimedes.market/dmca.

    These Terms of Service were last updated on April 10, 2026. Version 2.0

    Archimedes Market — Terms of Service v2.0