Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the eIOU protocol, software, or services (collectively, the "Services"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Services.

2. Description of Services

eIOU provides an open-source, decentralized protocol for creating and managing peer-to-peer digital IOUs. The protocol enables users to:

• Create and manage digital IOUs with trusted peers
• Route payments through networks of trust
• Track balances and transaction histories
• Operate nodes in the eIOU network

3. Open Source License

The eIOU protocol is released under an open source license. You are free to use, modify, and distribute the software according to the terms of the applicable license found in our GitHub repositories.

4. User Responsibilities

You agree to:

• Use the Services in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
• Maintain the security of your private keys and node credentials
• Be responsible for all activities under your node or account
• Not use the Services for any illegal or fraudulent purposes
• Honor the IOUs you create and accept
• Respect the peer-to-peer nature of the network

You agree NOT to:

• Attempt to disrupt or attack the network
• Create false or misleading IOUs
• Impersonate other users or nodes
• Use the Services to launder money or finance illegal activities
• Violate the privacy or rights of other users
• Reverse engineer the protocol for malicious purposes

5. Fees and Pricing

Fees are charged based on your organization size as outlined on our Pricing page:

• Free Tier: Organizations with fewer than 10 employees
• 0.1% Transaction Fee: Organizations with 10-99 employees
• 0.2% Transaction Fee: Organizations with 100+ employees

Additional routing fees may be charged by peers in the network for helping to relay transactions. These peer fees are set independently and are not controlled by eIOU.

6. Decentralized Nature

Important: eIOU operates as a decentralized protocol. This means:

• There is no central authority controlling the network
• Users are responsible for their own nodes and data
• IOUs are agreements between peers, not with eIOU
• Network availability depends on peer participation
• Transaction finality is determined by peer consensus

7. Privacy and Data

Your use of the Services is also governed by our Privacy Policy. By using the Services, you consent to the data practices described in our Privacy Policy.

8. Intellectual Property

The eIOU name, logo, and branding are trademarks of the eIOU organization. The protocol software is open source and licensed under applicable open source licenses. User-generated content remains the property of the users.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE. USE OF THE SERVICES IS AT YOUR OWN RISK.

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, EIOU AND ITS CONTRIBUTORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless eIOU and its contributors from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses arising from your use of the Services or violation of these Terms.

12. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Services shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration shall be conducted in English and take place virtually.

13. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the United States and the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles.

14. Age Restrictions

The Services are not intended for users under the age of 18. By using the Services, you represent that you are at least 18 years old.

15. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes through our official channels. Continued use of the Services after such modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

16. Termination

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend access to the Services for violation of these Terms. You may stop using the Services at any time by disconnecting your node from the network.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and eIOU regarding the use of the Services.

19. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at: