Terms of Service

1. Definitions

• "Vetted," "we," "us," or "our" refers to Vetted and its affiliates, operators of this platform.
• "Client" or "Company" refers to any individual or entity seeking to hire software engineers through our platform.
• "Engineer" or "Developer" refers to software professionals who apply to join our network of pre-vetted talent.
• "User" refers to any individual who accesses or uses the Service, including both Clients and Engineers.
• "Platform" refers to the Vetted website, applications, and all related services.

2. Eligibility

To use the Service, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old or the legal age of majority in your jurisdiction
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement
• Not be prohibited from using the Service under applicable laws
• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration

3. Account Registration

You may need to create an account to access certain features of the Service. When you create an account:

• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized access or security breaches
• You may not share, transfer, or sell your account to another party

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or engage in fraudulent or harmful activity.

4. Platform Services

4.1 For Clients

Vetted provides a platform to connect Clients with pre-vetted software engineers. Our services include:

• Access to a curated network of vetted engineers with verified skills
• Matching services based on your project requirements, budget, and timeline
• Support during the hiring and onboarding process
• Tools for managing engagements and communications

4.2 For Engineers

Engineers who apply to join the Vetted network agree to:

• Complete our vetting process, which may include technical assessments and interviews
• Provide accurate information about skills, experience, and availability
• Maintain professional conduct in all client interactions
• Honor commitments made to clients regarding project timelines and deliverables

5. Fees and Payment

Vetted charges fees for its matching and facilitation services. Specific fee structures, payment terms, and billing cycles will be outlined in separate agreements between Vetted and the respective parties.

• All fees are quoted in USD unless otherwise specified
• Payment is due according to the terms specified in your service agreement
• Late payments may incur additional fees or result in suspension of services
• Refunds, if applicable, will be processed according to our refund policy

6. User Conduct

You agree not to:

• Violate any applicable laws, regulations, or third-party rights
• Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information
• Circumvent or attempt to circumvent the platform to avoid fees
• Harass, abuse, or threaten other users
• Use the Service for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts
• Interfere with the proper functioning of the Service
• Scrape, data mine, or collect user information without authorization

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 Platform Content

The Service, including its design, features, content, and underlying technology, is owned by Vetted and protected by intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works without our prior written consent.

7.2 User Content

You retain ownership of content you submit to the platform (e.g., profiles, portfolios, project descriptions). By submitting content, you grant Vetted a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute such content in connection with the Service.

7.3 Work Product

Intellectual property rights in work created during engagements between Clients and Engineers shall be governed by the separate agreements between those parties. Vetted does not claim ownership of work product created in such engagements.

8. Confidentiality

Users may be exposed to confidential information through the platform. You agree to maintain the confidentiality of any non-public information shared by other users or by Vetted, and to use such information only for purposes related to legitimate use of the Service. This obligation survives termination of your account.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement
• Warranties that the Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
• Warranties regarding the quality of any engineers, projects, or outcomes
• Warranties that matches between Clients and Engineers will be successful

While we vet engineers on our platform, we do not guarantee specific outcomes, performance levels, or the success of any engagement.

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• Vetted shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Service
• Vetted's total liability for any claims arising from the Service shall not exceed the amount you paid to Vetted in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim
• Vetted is not liable for disputes between Clients and Engineers, including payment disputes, quality of work, or breach of separate agreements

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Vetted and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Service; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any third-party rights; or (d) your content or conduct on the platform.

12. Termination

Either party may terminate this agreement at any time. Vetted reserves the right to suspend or terminate your account immediately, without notice, for:

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
• Conduct harmful to other users or Vetted
• Extended inactivity or non-payment

Upon termination, your right to access the Service ends immediately. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination will remain in effect.

13. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall be resolved as follows:

• Informal Resolution: We encourage you to contact us first at hello@vetted.dev to attempt to resolve disputes informally
• Binding Arbitration: If informal resolution fails, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with applicable arbitration rules
• Class Action Waiver: You agree to resolve disputes on an individual basis and waive any right to participate in class action lawsuits

14. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, through additional notice (such as email). Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

15. General Provisions

• Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Vetted regarding the Service.
• Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
• Waiver: Failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision.
• Assignment: You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations without restriction.