Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using GreenChainz ("the Platform," "Service," "we," "us," or "our"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms") and our Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use the Platform.

Eligibility: You must be at least 18 years old and have the legal authority to enter into binding contracts to use GreenChainz. By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you meet these requirements.

2. User Accounts

2.1 Account Types

GreenChainz offers two types of accounts:

• Architects (Buyers): Create Requests for Quotes (RFQs) to source verified sustainable materials. LinkedIn verification required for RFQ creation.
• Suppliers: List certified sustainable products and respond to RFQs. Must provide valid sustainability certifications.

2.2 Account Security

You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access

2.3 LinkedIn Verification

Architect accounts must be verified via LinkedIn OAuth to create RFQs. This ensures the integrity of our marketplace and prevents fraudulent requests. We only access the information you authorize through LinkedIn's consent screen.

3. RFQ System and Deposits

3.1 RFQ Deposit Requirement

To create a Request for Quote (RFQ), architects must pay a $50 refundable deposit per RFQ.

Purpose: The deposit ensures serious intent and reduces spam, protecting suppliers from fraudulent requests.

3.2 Refund Policy

Refunds are issued under the following conditions:

Refunds are processed within 5-10 business days to the original payment method.

3.3 Payment Processing

All payments are processed securely. We do not store credit card information on our servers.

4. Verification Standards

4.1 Supplier Certification Requirements

Suppliers must provide valid certifications, including but not limited to:

• FSC (Forest Stewardship Council): For wood and paper products
• EPD (Environmental Product Declaration): For carbon footprint transparency
• LEED Credits: Documentation of LEED-eligible products
• Cradle to Cradle, Green Seal, ISO 14001, etc.

4.2 Automated Verification

GreenChainz uses third-party APIs and Azure Document Intelligence to verify certifications. However, verification is provided "as is" and we do not guarantee the accuracy of third-party data.

4.3 False Certification Claims

Zero tolerance policy: Suppliers who upload false or fraudulent certifications will face immediate account suspension and potential legal action.

Greenwashing (misleading sustainability claims) undermines the integrity of our marketplace and is strictly prohibited.

5. Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to:

• Greenwashing: Make false or misleading sustainability claims about products or certifications
• Copyright Infringement: Upload materials (images, documents, text) without proper authorization
• Scraping/Automation: Use bots, scrapers, or automated tools to extract data from the Platform
• Harassment: Engage in abusive, discriminatory, or threatening behavior toward other users
• Anti-Competitive Behavior: Price fixing, collusion, or other anti-trust violations
• Spam: Send unsolicited messages or promotional content through the Platform
• Reverse Engineering: Attempt to decompile, reverse engineer, or access the Platform's source code

Violation of these prohibitions may result in account suspension, termination, and/or legal action.

6. Intellectual Property

6.1 User Content Ownership

You retain ownership of all content you upload to GreenChainz (product descriptions, images, documents, certifications).

6.2 License to GreenChainz

By uploading content, you grant GreenChainz a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to:

• Display your content on the Platform
• Process your content for verification (e.g., extract data from PDFs)
• Use your content for AI training and recommendation algorithms

This license terminates when you delete your content or close your account (subject to backup retention policies).

6.3 GreenChainz Platform IP

GreenChainz owns all intellectual property rights to the Platform, including but not limited to:

• Source code, algorithms, and AI models
• GreenChainz brand, logo, and design elements
• Verification scoring methodology

7. Limitation of Liability

7.1 Marketplace Platform Role

GreenChainz is a marketplace platform that connects buyers and suppliers. We are NOT a party to transactions between users and are not liable for:

• Product Quality: Defects, delays, or non-delivery of materials purchased through the Platform
• Certification Accuracy: Errors in third-party certification data (FSC, EPD, etc.)
• Business Losses: Lost profits, project delays, or opportunity costs from failed transactions
• User Conduct: Disputes, breaches of contract, or illegal activity between users

7.2 Maximum Liability Cap

To the fullest extent permitted by law, GreenChainz's total liability for any claims arising from your use of the Platform is limited to:

7.3 Disclaimer of Warranties

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

8. Dispute Resolution

8.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating legal action, you agree to attempt informal resolution by contacting us at legal@greenchainz.com and negotiating in good faith for 30 days.

8.2 Binding Arbitration

If informal resolution fails, disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration administered by JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services) in accordance with its Comprehensive Arbitration Rules.

• Location: Seattle, Washington
• Governing Law: Washington State law
• Language: English
• Costs: Each party pays their own legal fees unless otherwise awarded by the arbitrator

8.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree to resolve disputes on an individual basis and waive the right to participate in class actions, class arbitrations, or representative actions.

9. Termination

9.1 Termination by Users

You may terminate your account at any time through your account settings or by contacting us at founder@greenchainz.com.

9.2 Termination by GreenChainz

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately, without prior notice, if you:

• Violate these Terms of Service
• Upload false certifications or engage in greenwashing
• Engage in fraudulent or illegal activity
• Harass other users or staff

9.3 Data Deletion

Upon account termination, your data will be deleted in accordance with our 90-day grace period policy (see Privacy Policy). Transaction records are retained for 7 years for legal compliance.

10. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms of Service from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via:

• Email to your registered email address
• Prominent notice on the Platform homepage
• At least 30 days advance notice for material changes

Continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

11. Miscellaneous

11.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

11.2 Severability

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

11.3 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and GreenChainz regarding the Platform.

11.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms to any successor entity.