BIOME PLATFORM — TERMS OF SERVICE
Effective Date: March 24, 2026
Version: 1.0

// SECTION_01 — ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

By accessing or using the BIOME platform (available at biome.to and any associated subdomains or applications), you ("User") agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you must immediately cease using the platform.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and BIOME Technologies Private Limited ("BIOME," "we," "our," or "us"), a company incorporated under the laws of India.

If you are using BIOME on behalf of an organisation, you represent that you have the authority to bind that organisation to these Terms.

// SECTION_02 — DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

BIOME is a bounty-based experiment aggregator platform that connects:
(a) Experimenters: Individuals, organisations, or institutions who post scientific, behavioural, or health-related experiments and offer financial rewards to participants; and
(b) Participants: Individuals who discover, apply for, and complete experiments in exchange for bounty rewards.

BIOME provides:
1. A marketplace for posting and discovering experiments
2. Participant recruitment and application management
3. Bounty pool infrastructure and payout facilitation
4. An optional BIOME Verified credential service for experiment vetting
5. Compliance tracking, milestone management, and dispute resolution

BIOME does not design, conduct, or scientifically validate experiments. BIOME is not responsible for the scientific merit, safety, or accuracy of any experiment listed on the platform unless explicitly marked as BIOME Verified.

// SECTION_03 — ELIGIBILITY

You must be at least 18 years of age to create a BIOME account. By using the platform, you represent that you are 18 or older.

You must not use BIOME if you are located in a jurisdiction where such services are prohibited by law.

BIOME reserves the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, or restrict access at its sole discretion.

// SECTION_04 — ACCOUNT REGISTRATION AND SECURITY

4.1 You may register using email authentication or a compatible cryptocurrency wallet via our authentication provider (Privy).

4.2 You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. You agree to notify BIOME immediately of any unauthorised use of your account.

4.3 BIOME is not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to protect your account credentials.

4.4 You may not create more than one account without BIOME's express written consent.

// SECTION_05 — EXPERIMENTER OBLIGATIONS

5.1 Experimenters must provide accurate, complete, and non-misleading information when posting an experiment.

5.2 Experimenters must deposit the full bounty pool upfront before an experiment is published to the platform.

5.3 Experimenters must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines governing human subjects research in their jurisdiction, including but not limited to obtaining any required institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee approvals.

5.4 Experimenters are solely responsible for the design, safety, legality, and execution of their experiments. BIOME provides participant recruitment infrastructure only.

5.5 Experimenters must not misrepresent the nature, risks, or compensation structure of an experiment.

5.6 BIOME reserves the right to remove any experiment listing at any time without liability.

// SECTION_06 — PARTICIPANT OBLIGATIONS

6.1 Participants must provide accurate information when applying for and completing experiments.

6.2 Participants must follow experiment protocols as described by the Experimenter.

6.3 Participants must complete all required milestones within the specified timeframes to be eligible for full bounty payment.

6.4 Participants must not misrepresent their eligibility, health status, or compliance with study protocols.

6.5 Participants acknowledge that some experiments may involve health, dietary, behavioural, or biological monitoring interventions, and they participate at their own risk unless the experiment carries the BIOME Verified credential.

// SECTION_07 — PLATFORM FEES

7.1 BIOME charges a 2.5% platform fee on all completed bounty payouts. This fee is deducted from the total bounty pool.

7.2 The platform fee applies to the total amount earned by participants, not the total posted bounty pool.

7.3 During the launch phase, BIOME may reduce or waive platform fees at its sole discretion. Any such waiver does not create a precedent or entitlement for future fee reductions.

7.4 BIOME Verification is an optional paid service with a standard fee of approximately USD $1,000 (or equivalent). Fee schedules may be updated with 30 days' notice.

// SECTION_08 — PAYMENTS AND BOUNTIES

8.1 Bounty payments are facilitated through the platform but are ultimately the responsibility of the Experimenter.

8.2 Participants are eligible for payment only upon completion of milestones as verified by the Experimenter (or automatically per study protocol).

8.3 BIOME does not guarantee payment in the event of Experimenter insolvency, fraud, or breach of contract. BIOME will make reasonable efforts to facilitate resolution via its dispute mechanism.

8.4 Payments may be made in cryptocurrency (primary method) or fiat currency where supported.

8.5 BIOME is not a payment processor and is not responsible for delays, failures, or errors in payment infrastructure operated by third parties.

// SECTION_09 — BIOME VERIFIED CREDENTIAL

9.1 The BIOME Verified badge indicates that BIOME has reviewed and vetted an experiment for design quality, participant safety considerations, and regulatory compliance documentation.

9.2 BIOME Verification does not constitute medical advice, scientific endorsement, or a guarantee of safety.

9.3 BIOME may revoke the Verified credential at any time if it determines that an experiment no longer meets its standards.

// SECTION_10 — INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

10.1 BIOME retains all rights to the platform, including its software, design, branding, and infrastructure.

10.2 Experimenters grant BIOME a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display, promote, and aggregate information about their experiments on the platform.

10.3 Users may not scrape, reproduce, or redistribute platform content without prior written consent.

// SECTION_11 — PRIVACY

Your use of the platform is subject to our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using BIOME, you consent to the collection and processing of your data as described therein.

// SECTION_12 — PROHIBITED CONDUCT

You agree not to:
(a) Use the platform for any unlawful purpose;
(b) Post or conduct experiments that are fraudulent, harmful, or in violation of applicable law;
(c) Harass, intimidate, or harm other users;
(d) Attempt to circumvent platform security or access data you are not authorised to access;
(e) Use automated scripts or bots to interact with the platform without BIOME's express written consent;
(f) Engage in any activity that disrupts or interferes with the platform's operation.

// SECTION_13 — LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, BIOME AND ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:
(a) Any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages;
(b) Loss of profits, data, goodwill, or business opportunity;
(c) Personal injury or health consequences arising from participation in any experiment;
(d) Any damages exceeding the greater of (i) INR 10,000 or (ii) the total fees paid by you to BIOME in the six months preceding the claim.

// SECTION_14 — INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless BIOME and its affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses arising from:
(a) Your use of the platform;
(b) Your breach of these Terms;
(c) Any experiment you post or participate in;
(d) Your violation of any third party's rights.

// SECTION_15 — DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ARBITRATION

15.1 These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India.

15.2 Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of the BIOME platform shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (India).

15.3 The arbitration shall be conducted by a sole arbitrator mutually agreed upon by the parties. If the parties cannot agree within 30 days, the arbitrator shall be appointed by the Indian Council of Arbitration.

15.4 The seat of arbitration shall be Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. The language of arbitration shall be English.

15.5 NO CLASS ACTION: You agree that any arbitration or legal proceeding shall be conducted solely on an individual basis. You waive any right to bring or participate in a class action, consolidated action, or representative proceeding.

15.6 Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking emergency injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction.

// SECTION_16 — MODIFICATIONS TO TERMS

BIOME reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or prominent notice on the platform. Your continued use of the platform after the effective date of any modification constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

// SECTION_17 — TERMINATION

BIOME may terminate or suspend your account at any time for any reason, including breach of these Terms. Upon termination, your right to use the platform ceases immediately. Sections 10, 13, 14, 15, and 18 survive termination.

// SECTION_18 — GENERAL PROVISIONS

18.1 Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and BIOME regarding your use of the platform.

18.2 Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force.

18.3 Waiver: Failure by BIOME to enforce any right under these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right.

18.4 Assignment: BIOME may assign these Terms without restriction. You may not assign your rights under these Terms without BIOME's written consent.

18.5 Contact: For questions regarding these Terms, contact legal@biome.to.

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BIOME Technologies Private Limited
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
legal@biome.to