Terms of Use

Effective Date: To be determined (not yet officially released)
Last Updated: June 1, 2025

Agreement to Terms

By accessing and using the Ribocentre-Aptamer website and database, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our platform.

Open Access and Free Use

Ribocentre-Aptamer is an academic database platform operated by a non-profit research institution. Our services are provided freely for:

• Academic research purposes
• Educational activities
• Commercial research and development
• Scientific investigations and studies
• Any legitimate research or business applications

User Responsibilities and Obligations

1. Appropriate Use

Users must:

• Use the platform responsibly and ethically
• Respect intellectual property rights
• Comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Use the database for legitimate purposes (academic, commercial, or research)

2. Prohibited Activities

Users may not:

• Attempt to reverse engineer, modify, or create derivative works of our systems
• Engage in any activity that could harm, disable, or impair the platform
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Misrepresent the source or accuracy of data obtained from our platform
• Use the platform for illegal or unethical purposes

3. Citation Requirements

Mandatory Citation: Users who utilize data, information, or resources from Ribocentre-Aptamer in any publication, presentation, academic work, or commercial application must provide proper citation. The required citation format is:

Zhichao Miao, Lin Huang. Ribocentre-aptamer: a database of aptamers. [URL and access date]

Failure to provide proper citation constitutes a violation of these terms.

Data Accuracy and User Discretion

1. Information Quality

While we strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date information:

• Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy and suitability of all data before use
• We encourage users to cross-reference information with primary sources
• Users should exercise professional judgment in evaluating data quality and relevance

2. Academic Responsibility

As researchers and academics, users are expected to:

• Apply appropriate scientific rigor when using our data
• Understand the limitations and context of the information provided
• Make informed decisions about data applicability to their research

Disclaimer of Warranties

1. “As Is” Basis

The Ribocentre-Aptamer platform and all content are provided “as is” without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to:

• Accuracy, completeness, or reliability of information
• Fitness for a particular purpose
• Non-infringement of third-party rights
• Uninterrupted or error-free operation

2. Data Limitations

Users acknowledge that:

• Scientific data may be subject to revision or correction
• Database content is based on available literature and research
• Information may become outdated as new research emerges

Limitation of Liability

1. No Liability for Consequences

Important: As a non-profit academic institution, we disclaim all liability for:

• Any consequences arising from the use of our platform or data
• Decisions made based on information obtained from our database
• Any damages, direct or indirect, resulting from platform use
• Any loss of data, profits, or other intangible losses

2. User Assumption of Risk

Users acknowledge and agree that:

• They use the platform at their own risk
• They are solely responsible for any consequences of their use of our data
• We shall not be held liable for any research outcomes, publications, or decisions based on our data

Commercial Use and Open Access

1. Free Commercial Use

We are a non-profit academic institution and support open access to scientific data:

• Users are free to use our data for commercial purposes
• No licensing fees or revenue sharing required
• We do not claim rights to revenue generated from user research
• We support the open exchange of scientific knowledge for societal benefit

2. Commercial Applications

Users may freely use our data for commercial purposes with only the following requirements:

• Proper attribution must be maintained (see Citation Requirements)
• Comply with general terms of use and applicable laws
• No additional permissions or licensing agreements required

Intellectual Property

1. Database Rights

The compilation, organization, and presentation of data in Ribocentre-Aptamer is protected by intellectual property laws. Users may not:

• Reproduce substantial portions of the database without permission
• Create competing databases using our data structure or organization
• Claim ownership of our compilation or curation efforts

2. Third-Party Content

Much of our content is derived from published scientific literature. Users must:

• Respect the intellectual property rights of original authors
• Seek appropriate permissions for extensive use of copyrighted material
• Understand that we provide data for reference and research purposes under fair use principles

Platform Availability

We strive to maintain continuous platform availability, but:

• We do not guarantee uninterrupted access
• Maintenance, updates, or technical issues may cause temporary unavailability
• We reserve the right to modify or discontinue services with reasonable notice

Compliance with Laws

Users must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including:

• Local and international copyright laws
• Data protection and privacy regulations
• Export control laws (where applicable)
• Academic integrity standards

Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Changes will be:

• Posted on this page with updated dates
• Considered effective immediately upon posting
• Binding on all subsequent use of the platform

Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws applicable to our institution’s jurisdiction. Any disputes will be resolved through appropriate legal mechanisms in that jurisdiction.

Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Use, please contact:

Email: contact@ribocentre.org
Website: https://aptamer.ribocentre.org

User Integrity Statement

By using Ribocentre-Aptamer, users commit to upholding the highest standards of integrity, including proper attribution, honest representation of data, and responsible use of scientific resources. We trust in the global community’s commitment to ethical practices in both academic research and commercial innovation.

These terms reflect our commitment to supporting open access to scientific knowledge while protecting the integrity of our platform and promoting innovation in the broader scientific community.