Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using BlackBear Labs' KYC verification platform ("Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use our Service.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and BlackBear Labs ("Company," "we," "us," or "our").

2. Eligibility

To use our Service, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts
• Not be prohibited from using the Service under Indian law
• Operate a legitimate business or platform requiring KYC verification
• Provide accurate and complete registration information

3. Service Description

BlackBear Labs provides identity verification services including:

• PAN Verification: Verification of Indian Permanent Account Numbers
• Aadhaar Verification: Verification of Aadhaar identification documents
• AML Screening: Anti-Money Laundering and watchlist checks
• OCR Services: Optical Character Recognition for document extraction
• Biometric Verification: Face matching and liveness detection
• API Access: Programmatic access to verification services

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service with reasonable notice.

4. Account Registration and Security

4.1 Account Creation

You must create an account to use our Service. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and update your information
• Keep your password secure and confidential
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access

4.2 Account Responsibility

You are responsible for all activities under your account. We are not liable for losses arising from unauthorized use of your account.

5. Pricing and Payment

5.1 Credit System

Our Service operates on a prepaid credit system:

• Basic Verification: 1 credit per verification
• Full Verification (with AML): 2 credits per verification
• Credits are non-refundable and non-transferable
• Credits do not expire unless your account is inactive for 2 years

5.2 Payment Terms

• All payments are processed via Razorpay in Indian Rupees (INR)
• Prices are inclusive of applicable taxes (GST)
• Payment must be received before credits are added to your account
• We reserve the right to change pricing with 30 days' notice

5.3 Refund Policy

Credits are generally non-refundable. Refunds may be considered in cases of:

• Technical errors causing failed verifications
• Service unavailability exceeding 24 hours
• Duplicate charges due to payment processing errors

Refund requests must be submitted within 7 days of the transaction.

6. Acceptable Use Policy

6.1 Permitted Use

You may use our Service only for:

• Legitimate KYC and identity verification purposes
• Compliance with applicable regulations (PMLA, FEMA, etc.)
• Preventing fraud and ensuring platform security

6.2 Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to:

• Use the Service for illegal activities or money laundering
• Submit false or fraudulent documents for verification
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract source code
• Use the Service to harass, discriminate, or violate privacy rights
• Resell or redistribute verification services without authorization
• Exceed rate limits or attempt to overwhelm our systems
• Share your API credentials with unauthorized parties
• Store or cache verification results beyond permitted periods
• Use automated means to access the Service except via our API

7. Data Protection and Privacy

Our collection, use, and protection of personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using our Service, you consent to:

• Collection and processing of identity verification data
• Sharing verification results with authorized parties
• Retention of data as required by law (PMLA, IT Act)
• Use of third-party verification partners (DIDit, etc.)

8. Intellectual Property Rights

8.1 Our Rights

All content, features, and functionality of the Service are owned by BlackBear Labs and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

8.2 Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Service in accordance with these Terms.

8.3 Your Content

You retain ownership of documents submitted for verification. By submitting content, you grant us a license to process and store it for verification purposes.

9. Service Level and Availability

9.1 Service Level Commitment

• Uptime: We aim for 99.5% monthly uptime (excluding scheduled maintenance)
• Response Time: Typical verification results within 3 seconds
• Support: Email support within 24 business hours

9.2 Maintenance and Downtime

We may perform scheduled maintenance with advance notice. We are not liable for temporary unavailability due to maintenance or circumstances beyond our control.

10. Disclaimers and Warranties

10.1 Service Provided "As Is"

The Service is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We do not warrant that:

• The Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
• Verification results will be 100% accurate
• All documents will be successfully verified
• Third-party services will always be available

10.2 Verification Limitations

While we strive for accuracy, verification results are based on available data and algorithms. We are not responsible for:

• Errors in government databases or third-party sources
• Sophisticated forgeries that pass automated checks
• Decisions made based on verification results

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• Our total liability shall not exceed the amount paid by you in the 12 months preceding the claim
• We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages
• We are not liable for losses arising from reliance on verification results
• We are not liable for third-party actions or data breaches beyond our control

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless BlackBear Labs, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your misuse of the Service
• Your violation of any third-party rights
• Decisions made based on verification results

13. Termination

13.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting support. Unused credits are non-refundable upon termination.

13.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately if:

• You violate these Terms
• You engage in fraudulent or illegal activities
• Your account remains inactive for 2 years
• Required by law or court order

14. Dispute Resolution

14.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Courts in [Your City] shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

14.2 Arbitration

Any disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

15. Compliance with Indian Laws

You agree to comply with all applicable Indian laws including:

• Information Technology Act, 2000
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
• Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)
• Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA)
• Income Tax Act, 1961

16. Modifications to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes via email and prominent notice on our website. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

17. Contact Information