These Terms of Use are a contract between you and the Public Library of Science (“PLOS”), a company with its principal place of business at 1160 Battery Street, Suite 100, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA. PLOS operates www.PLOS.org, www.PLOSjournals.org, and other PLOS journal sites (collectively the “PLOS Sites”), through which it strives to make the world’s scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. By using the PLOS Sites and any services accessible from the PLOS Sites (including the PLOS API, as defined below), you are agreeing to be bound by the following terms and conditions (“Terms of Use”). If you do not agree to these Terms of Use, do not visit or use the PLOS Sites.

Ownership of Content

The copyright in the material contained on the PLOS Sites belongs to PLOS or its licensors. The trademarks and other elements appearing on the PLOS Sites are protected by California, United States, and international copyright, trade dress, patent, and trademark laws, international conventions and all other relevant intellectual property and proprietary rights and applicable laws.

Reproduction of Articles

All articles and accompanying materials published by PLOS on the PLOS Sites, unless otherwise indicated, are licensed by the respective authors of such articles for use and distribution by you subject to citation of the original source in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution License.

PLOS API

PLOS provides certain application programming interfaces for the PLOS Sites (the “PLOS API”). The PLOS API is provided “as is” without any support or warranty of any kind. PLOS makes no guarantees that the PLOS API will be available. PLOS reserves the right to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the PLOS API with or without notice at any time. You agree that PLOS shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension or discontinuance of the PLOS API. You agree not to make any unauthorized use of the PLOS API or interfere with the functionality or proper working of the PLOS API. Through your use of the PLOS API, you agree not to, in PLOS’s sole discretion, use an unreasonable amount of bandwidth or unreasonably burden PLOS’s servers.

Ownership of Sites

Unless otherwise indicated, the PLOS Sites are the property of PLOS. You acknowledge and agree that the PLOS Sites, and any necessary software used in connection with the PLOS Sites, may contain proprietary and confidential information that is protected by applicable laws governing intellectual property, proprietary rights, and the like. All PLOS Sites code and specifications are subject to their said or implied licenses.

Privacy

You confirm that you have read and accept our Privacy Policy.

General Practices Regarding Use

PLOS reserves the right to limit, suspend, or terminate your access and use of the PLOS Sites at any time without notice.

Your Account

In order to open an “Account” on the PLOS Sites and submit articles for publication on the PLOS sites, you must (i) agree to these Terms of Use, (ii) agree to the Creative Commons Attribution License, and (iii) provide any information required by PLOS during the registration process. You are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of this information and the security of your Account and password. PLOS cannot and will not be liable for any loss or damage from your failure to comply with this security obligation. You are also responsible for all content that you may post on the PLOS Sites and activity that occurs under your Account (even when content is posted by others under your Account). You shall: (i) notify PLOS immediately of any unauthorized use of any password or Account or any other known or suspected breach of security; and (ii) report to PLOS immediately and use reasonable efforts to stop immediately any unauthorized activity that is known or suspected by you.

Impermissible Acts

As a condition to your use of the PLOS Sites, you agree not to:

• upload, post, e-mail, transmit, or otherwise make available any information, materials, or other content that is illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, or offensive; or that infringes another’s rights, including any intellectual property rights;
• impersonate any person or entity or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity; or obtain, collect, store, or modify personal information about other users;
• upload, post, e-mail, transmit, or otherwise make available any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, “junk mail,” “spam,” “chain letters,” “pyramid schemes,” or any other form of solicitation;
• modify, adapt, or hack the PLOS Sites or falsely imply that some other site is associated with the PLOS Sites or PLOS; or
• use the PLOS Sites or the PLOS API for any illegal or unauthorized purpose. You must not, in the use of the PLOS Sites or the PLOS API, violate any laws in your jurisdiction (including but not limited to copyright laws).

Violation of These Terms of Use

PLOS reserves the right to investigate and prosecute violations of any of these Terms of Use to the fullest extent of the law. PLOS may involve and cooperate with law enforcement authorities in prosecuting users who violate the Terms of Use. You acknowledge that PLOS has no obligation to pre-screen or monitor your access to or use of the PLOS Sites or the PLOS API or any information, materials or other content provided or made available through the PLOS Sites or the PLOS API, but has the right to do so. You hereby agree that PLOS may, in the exercise of PLOS’s sole discretion, remove or delete any entries, information, materials or other content that violates these Terms of Use or that is otherwise objectionable.

Feedback

In the course of using the PLOS Sites, you may provide PLOS with feedback, including but not limited to suggestions, observations, errors, problems, and defects regarding the PLOS Sites (collectively “Feedback”). You hereby grant PLOS a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, transferable, and sub-licensable, non-exclusive right to use, copy, modify, distribute, display, perform, create derivative works from and otherwise exploit all such Feedback.

Modifications to the PLOS Sites and Terms of Use

PLOS reserves the right to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the PLOS Sites (or any part thereof) with or without notice at any time. You agree that PLOS shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension or discontinuance of the PLOS Sites or the PLOS API. PLOS reserves the right to change these Terms of Use by posting changes on this page of the PLOS Sites. By using the PLOS Sites or the PLOS API, you agree to be bound by any such revisions and should therefore periodically visit this page to determine the then-current Terms of Use to which you are bound.

Links

The PLOS Sites, or relevant third parties, may provide links to other Web sites or resources. Because PLOS has no control over such sites and resources, you acknowledge and agree that PLOS is not responsible for the availability of such external sites or resources, and does not endorse and is not responsible or liable for any content, advertising, products, or other materials on or available from such sites or resources. Your business dealings with any third parties through the PLOS Sites, including payment and delivery of related goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties, or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between you and such third party. You further acknowledge and agree that PLOS shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such content, goods, or services available on or through any such site or resource.

Notification of Claims of Infringement

If you believe that your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or your intellectual property rights have otherwise been violated, please notify plos [at] plos.org.

Disclaimer of Warranties

YOUR USE OF THE PLOS SITES, THE PLOS API OR ANY WEB SITE TO WHICH THEY ARE LINKED IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. THE PLOS SITES, THE PLOS API AND THEIR CONTENT ARE PROVIDED FOR USE ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. PLOS MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE PLOS SITES, THE PLOS API OR THEIR CONTENTS AND HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT RELATING TO THE PLOS SITES, THEIR CONTENT, THE PLOS API OR ANY WEB SITE TO WHICH THEY ARE LINKED.

NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM PLOS OR THROUGH OR FROM THE PLOS SITES OR THE PLOS API SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THE TERMS OF USE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, PLOS STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY ANY MEDICAL TREATMENT INFORMATION UPON WHICH YOU CHOOSE TO RELY.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold PLOS, and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents, co-branders or other partners and employees, harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable attorney fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of your use of the PLOS Sites, the PLOS API, your connection to the PLOS Sites, your violation of these Terms of Use, your violation of any rights of another, or any breach of the foregoing representations, warranties and covenants. You are solely responsible for your actions when using the PLOS Sites, including, but not limited to, costs incurred for Internet access. PLOS reserves the right, at our own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter for which you are required to indemnify us, and you agree to cooperate with our defense of these claims.

Limitation of Liability

IN NO EVENT SHALL PLOS OR ITS EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, SUPPLIERS OR CONTRACTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OF ANY NATURE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF INCOME OR PROFIT, LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, LOSS OF GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, CLAIMS OF THIRD PARTIES, OR ANY OTHER LOSS, COST, CLAIM OR EXPENSE OF ANY KIND OR CHARACTER ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF THE PLOS SITES, THE PLOS API, THEIR CONTENT OR ANY WEB SITE WITH WHICH THEY ARE LINKED.

Special Considerations for International Use

Recognizing the global nature of the Internet, you agree to comply with all local rules regarding online conduct. Specifically, you agree to comply with all applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from the United States or the country in which you reside.

General Terms

These Terms of Use constitute the entire agreement between you and PLOS and govern your use of the PLOS Sites, superseding any prior agreements between you and PLOS (including, but not limited to, any prior versions of the Terms of Use) and any prior representations by PLOS. These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflicts of law principles. The failure of PLOS to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the Terms of Use shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of the Terms of Use is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties’ intentions as reflected in the provision, and the other provisions of the Terms of Use remain in full force and effect. You agree that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action brought against PLOS and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents, co-branders, or other partners and employees, arising out of or related to use of the PLOS Sites or the Terms of Use must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose or be forever barred. The section titles in the Terms of Use are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect.