Terms Of Use

TERMS OF USE - "KURD VOTE - Kurdistan research & Survey Platform"

Effective Date: [2023-01-05]

Update Date: [2025-08-13]

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, registering for, or using the KURD VOTE platform (“the Platform”), you (“the User”) agree to be bound by these Terms of Use (“Terms”) and the KURD VOTE Code of Conduct & Research Charter (“the Code”), which is incorporated herein by reference. If you do not agree, you must immediately discontinue use of the Platform.

2. Purpose of the Platform

KURD VOTE is an independent, non-governmental research platform designed for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data in support of scientific, academic, and policy-oriented research, with the strategic objective of contributing to nation-building infrastructure and the development of a sovereign Kurdistan state.

The Platform serves both:

Independent researchers conducting authorized studies; and
Members of the public participating in surveys or polls.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age to register as a researcher or collaborator.
Public participants in surveys may be younger than 18, provided parental or guardian consent is obtained where required by law.
Access may be denied or revoked to any person whose activities jeopardize the Platform’s integrity, security, or mission.

4. User Responsibilities

Users agree to:

Comply fully with these Terms and the Code.
Provide accurate, current, and complete information when registering or submitting research proposals.
Respect the confidentiality and privacy of survey participants.
Refrain from any use of the Platform for unlawful, unethical, or unauthorized purposes.

5. Prohibited Activities

Users may not:

Upload, transmit, or disseminate any content that promotes discrimination, hate speech, or the marginalization of historically oppressed populations.
Attempt to breach, disable, or interfere with Platform security measures.
Collect personally identifiable information (“PII”) without explicit, informed consent and without written approval from KURD VOTE.
Use Platform data or tools for commercial purposes without authorization.
Present research as generalizable to entire populations without scientifically valid justification.

6. Research Approval

All research projects conducted through the Platform require prior written approval from the Founder and Academic Committee.
No publication or dissemination of research results generated via the Platform may occur without written authorization.

7. Data Ownership and Intellectual Property

All data, surveys, polls, methodologies, and analytical outputs produced through the Platform are the exclusive property of KURD VOTE.
Researchers may retain only derivative datasets from which all identifying elements have been permanently removed.
Unauthorized copying, distribution, or exploitation of Platform content or data is strictly prohibited.

8. Confidentiality and Privacy

KURD VOTE does not intentionally collect more information than is necessary for research purposes.
All data collection is conducted with informed consent, except in cases of publicly available information.
While best practices for data security are applied, Users acknowledge that absolute confidentiality in digital systems cannot be guaranteed.

9. Termination of Access

KURD VOTE reserves the right to suspend or terminate User access at its sole discretion for violation of these Terms or the Code.
Upon termination, Users must return or destroy any non-public data in their possession.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Platform is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied.
KURD VOTE makes no guarantees regarding the completeness, accuracy, or availability of the Platform or its content.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, KURD VOTE shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use the Platform, participation in research, or reliance on Platform content.

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed under the laws of [Jurisdiction to be specified: e.g., Kurdistan or applicable local civil law]. Any disputes shall be resolved through arbitration in [City, Kurdistan or mutually agreed location] in accordance with applicable arbitration rules.

13. Modifications to Terms

KURD VOTE reserves the right to modify or update these Terms at any time. Users will be notified of material changes via the Platform or by email, and continued use after such changes constitutes acceptance.