Terms of Service

1. Introduction and Acceptance

Welcome to Teachify ("we," "our," or "us"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our educational platform designed for computer science teachers and students. By accessing or using our service, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

2. Our Educational Mission

Teachify is committed to providing a safe, secure educational platform for computer science learning. Our service is designed exclusively for educational purposes and complies with applicable student privacy laws including COPPA and FERPA.

3. User Types and Eligibility

3.1 Teacher Accounts

• Must be 18 years or older
• Must be affiliated with an educational institution
• Responsible for managing student accounts and ensuring compliance with applicable laws
• Must comply with COPPA requirements for students under 13

3.2 Student Accounts

• Students under 13: Accounts created by teachers as part of classroom instruction
• Students 13+: May create accounts for educational use
• All student accounts are subject to teacher and school oversight
• Students use the platform as part of their regular coursework

3.3 Guest Users

• Limited access to public educational resources
• No account creation required
• Cannot save progress or submit assignments

4. Account Responsibilities

4.1 Account Security

• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account
• Do not share your login credentials with others
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
• Teachers are responsible for managing student account security

4.2 Accurate Information

• Provide accurate and complete information when creating accounts
• Keep your account information up to date
• Teachers must maintain accurate student enrollment information

5. Acceptable Use Policy

5.1 Educational Purpose

Our platform is intended solely for educational purposes. You agree to:

• Use the service only for legitimate educational activities
• Follow your school's technology policies and codes of conduct
• Respect the learning environment and other users

5.2 Prohibited Activities

You may not:

• Share assignment solutions: Publicly post answers to assignments or help others cheat
• Create inappropriate content: Upload, post, or share offensive, discriminatory, or harmful content
• Violate privacy: Share personal information of yourself or others in code comments or assignments
• Attempt unauthorized access: Try to access accounts, data, or system areas you're not authorized to access
• Disrupt the service: Interfere with the platform's operation or other users' access
• Commercial use: Use the platform for commercial purposes without our written consent
• Intellectual property violations: Upload or share content that infringes others' copyright, trademark, or other rights

5.3 Code of Conduct

• Treat all users with respect and kindness
• No bullying, harassment, or threatening behavior
• No hate speech or discriminatory language
• Report inappropriate behavior to teachers or administrators

6. Content and Intellectual Property

6.1 Your Content

• You own your code: You retain ownership of code you write and assignments you complete
• Limited license to us: You grant Teachify a limited, non-exclusive license to display, store, and process your content to provide our educational services
• Educational sharing: Your work may be visible to your teachers and classmates as part of the educational process

6.2 Our Content

• Platform content: Teachify owns the platform, curriculum, assignment templates, and system-generated content
• Educational use: Teachers may use our educational materials for non-commercial educational purposes
• Teacher contributions: Unless otherwise agreed, teacher-contributed materials shared in public repositories are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 license, allowing other educators to use and adapt the materials for educational purposes with proper attribution

6.3 Third-Party Content

• We may include links to third-party educational resources
• Third-party content is governed by their respective terms and policies
• We are not responsible for third-party content or services

7. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection and use of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

7.1 Student Data Protection

• We comply with COPPA, FERPA, and other applicable student privacy laws
• Student data is used solely for educational purposes
• We never sell or rent student information
• Schools and teachers maintain control over student data

8. AI-Powered Features

Our platform uses Google Vertex AI to provide grading assistance and feedback:

• Educational purpose: AI features are designed to enhance learning and provide educational feedback
• Teacher oversight: AI-generated feedback is subject to teacher review and approval
• Data processing: Your code may be processed by AI services to generate feedback
• Accuracy: AI-generated content may not always be accurate and should be reviewed by educators

9. Service Availability and Modifications

9.1 Service Availability

• We strive to maintain high service availability but cannot guarantee 100% uptime
• Scheduled maintenance will be announced in advance when possible
• We are not liable for temporary service interruptions

9.2 Modifications to Service

• We may modify, update, or discontinue features with notice
• Educational content and core functionality will be maintained to support ongoing courses
• Major changes affecting educational workflows will be communicated in advance

10. Account Termination

10.1 Termination by You

• You may delete your account at any time
• Teachers may delete student accounts they manage
• Data deletion follows our Privacy Policy guidelines

10.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate accounts that:

• Violate these Terms of Service
• Engage in prohibited activities
• Pose security or safety risks
• Remain inactive for 4 years or more (with 30 days notice)

10.3 Emergency Suspension

We reserve the right to immediately suspend accounts that pose security, legal, or safety risks, including but not limited to:

• Attempted unauthorized access or hacking
• Serious harassment, bullying, or threats
• Sharing inappropriate or harmful content
• Activities that threaten platform integrity or user safety

In such cases, we will provide notice and opportunity to respond as soon as reasonably possible while prioritizing user safety.

11. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

11.1 Educational Tool Disclaimer

• Teachify is an educational tool and should not be relied upon as the sole source of computer science education
• Teachers and educational institutions remain responsible for curriculum and instruction
• AI-generated feedback should be reviewed by qualified educators

11.2 Service Disclaimer

Our service is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not warrant that the service will be error-free or continuously available.

11.3 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Teachify shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the service.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold Teachify harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your violation of these Terms or your use of the service.

13. Dispute Resolution

13.1 Informal Resolution

Before pursuing formal legal action, we encourage you to contact us to try to resolve any disputes informally.

13.2 Governing Law

Our goal is always to resolve concerns through communication, just like in a classroom. These Terms are governed by Delaware law. In the unlikely event we can't resolve a disagreement through discussion, standard legal processes would apply.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms periodically. We will notify users of material changes by:

• Posting the updated Terms on our platform
• Sending email notifications to registered users
• Providing notice within the platform interface
• Updating the "Last updated" date at the top of these Terms

15. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at: