Terms & Conditions

Effective Date: 07 December 2024

1. Provider and contacts

The Service is provided by Etherna SA, Via Rava 13, 6974 Aldesago (Lugano), Switzerland — CHE-315.583.090 ("Etherna", "we"). Contacts: [email protected]; for personal data [email protected].

2. Definitions

  • Service: the etherna.io website, Etherna SSO authentication, the gateway, the storage/distribution services and related services offered by Etherna.
  • User ("you"): the person who creates an Account or uses the Service.
  • Account: the registration enabling access, of the Web2 type (username/password) or Web3 type (authentication via Ethereum address/wallet).
  • Managed wallet: a fallback wallet whose private key is generated and held by the platform for Web2 Accounts (Web3 Accounts use their own wallet). It is a technical identifier internal to the Service, not intended to receive or hold funds; the key can be obtained by the User via API but is not normally exposed in the interface and is encrypted at rest in the database (AES-256-GCM).
  • Content: data, files and materials that the User uploads, publishes or processes through the Service.
  • Swarm network / on-chain: public, distributed and tendentially immutable networks on which certain data/Content may be recorded (§10).

3. Subject matter and acceptance of the Terms

These Terms govern the use of the Service and constitute a contract between you and Etherna. By creating an Account or using the Service you accept these Terms and declare that you have read the Privacy Policy. At registration, acceptance is express (dedicated, non-pre-ticked checkboxes) and is recorded by Etherna as proof (document, version, date/time). If you do not accept, you cannot create an Account or use the Service.

4. Eligibility (capacity and age)

To create an Account and accept these Terms you must be at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to bind yourself contractually. In addition to the gateway, the Service includes a content publishing and sharing platform (upload, download, comments): for this reason access is restricted to adults and is not intended for minors. If you use the Service on behalf of a third party (e.g. an organisation), you represent that you are authorised to do so and assume responsibility for it.

5. Account, registration and security

  • Provide truthful information and keep it up to date. You are responsible for the activity carried out through your Account.
  • Safeguard your credentials (password, TOTP/FIDO2 second factor, recovery codes) and do not share them. Notify us promptly of any unauthorised use.
  • Etherna may refuse, suspend or close an Account in the event of a breach of these Terms, unlawful or abusive use, or by legal obligation (§17).

6. Web3 authentication and Ethereum address

For Web3 Accounts, access takes place by signing with your wallet. You are solely responsible for the security of your keys: Etherna cannot reset or recover a private key that you hold. Operations signed by your wallet are presumed to be authorised by you.

7. Managed wallet

For non-web3 Accounts, Etherna automatically generates a "managed" Ethereum key as a technical fallback for identity and authentication. It is not a fund-custody wallet: do not send money or assets to it. The key is obtainable by the user via API but is not normally exposed, and is encrypted at rest (AES-256-GCM) in the database. Using blockchain-based features entails technical risks that you accept; no system is risk-free.

8. Licence to use

Etherna grants you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable licence to use the Service in accordance with these Terms.

The software behind the Service consists of several components under different regimes: some parts are released as free/open-source software under their respective licences (including the GNU Affero General Public License v3 (AGPL-3.0) and, for certain libraries, the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL)); other components or services are not, at present, released as open source and remain proprietary. The licence applicable to each component is stated in its source code/repository and governs that code, prevailing over these Terms for it (these Terms instead govern the hosted service).

The "Etherna" trademarks (word and figurative) are registered and/or the subject of registration applications (classes 9, 38, 42, in several jurisdictions, including the USA via the Madrid Protocol/WIPO) and are not licensed under these Terms.

9. Acceptable use

You undertake not to:

  • breach applicable laws or third-party rights (including intellectual property, privacy, reputation);
  • upload or distribute unlawful, grossly offensive Content, or material prohibited by law;
  • compromise the security or integrity of the Service (intrusions, malware, overload, circumvention of limits, unauthorised access);
  • use the Service for spam, fraud, abuse or activities that harm Etherna or other users;
  • misrepresent yourself as another party or falsify the origin of Content.

Etherna may clarify or update the acceptable-use rules listed above, giving notice in accordance with §21.

10. User Content and public/immutable nature

You remain the owner of your Content. For the sole purpose of providing the Service you grant us a limited, non-exclusive and royalty-free licence to host, store, cache, transmit and distribute the Content only to the extent necessary to provide the Service and in accordance with your instructions (including publication on the Swarm network at your request). You are responsible for the Content you publish and declare that you hold the rights to it.

⚠️ Publication on public and immutable networks. Content and references published on-chain or on the Swarm network are public, distributed and tendentially permanent: once published, it is not technically possible to modify or delete them, and they may be replicated by third parties outside Etherna's control. Consider carefully what you publish. The right to rectification/erasure over such data is therefore limited (see Privacy Policy §7).

11. Third-party services and content

The Service may integrate or link to third-party services (e.g. the Swarm network, infrastructure providers, external wallets). Etherna does not control and is not responsible for third-party services, which are governed by their respective terms.

12. Intellectual property

Except for your Content (§10) and the software components released under an open-source licence (§8), all rights in the Service, its content and distinctive signs remain with Etherna or the respective owners.

13. Availability, changes and versions of the Service

The Service is provided "as is" and may evolve; some features may be in alpha/beta stage. Etherna may modify, suspend or discontinue all or part of the Service, where possible with reasonable notice for material changes. Uninterrupted availability or any specific service level is not guaranteed (no SLA).

14. Disclaimer of warranties

To the extent permitted by law, the Service and the software are provided without warranties of any kind (including fitness for a purpose, freedom from errors or interruptions, absolute security). This is consistent with the warranty disclaimers of the respective open-source licences applicable to the software (e.g. AGPL-3.0, LGPL).

15. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Swiss law, Etherna is not liable for indirect, incidental or consequential damages, nor for the loss of data, Content, keys or profits, and excludes all liability to the maximum extent permitted, without a predefined monetary cap. Liability that cannot be excluded by law remains, in particular for wilful intent and gross negligence and for personal injury.

16. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by law, you undertake to hold Etherna harmless (and its directors, employees and collaborators) from third-party claims, damages and reasonable costs — including reasonable legal fees — arising from your Content, your use of the Service in breach of these Terms or of the law, or the infringement of others' rights.

17. Suspension and termination

You may close your Account at any time. Etherna may suspend or close the Account in the event of a breach of the Terms, a security risk or a legal obligation. Upon termination the licences granted lapse; data already published on-chain or on Swarm may persist due to the nature of those networks (§10). The processing of personal data upon termination follows the Privacy Policy.

18. Protection of personal data

The processing of personal data is described in the Privacy Policy (https://info.etherna.io/privacy-policy/), which forms an integral part of the relationship. The Swiss FADP and, where relevant, the GDPR apply.

19. Force majeure

Etherna is not liable for failures due to causes beyond its reasonable control (e.g. network failures, force majeure events, measures by authorities).

20. Assignment

You may not assign these Terms without Etherna's consent. Etherna may assign them to a successor (e.g. reorganisation, merger, acquisition), in compliance with the Privacy Policy.

21. Changes to the Terms

Etherna may update these Terms; material changes will be communicated with reasonable notice and with the indication of the date of update and the version. To continue using the Service you may be required to re-accept; the accepted version is recorded (Privacy Policy §4.8).

22. Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by Swiss law, excluding conflict-of-law rules and the Vienna Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Exclusive jurisdiction: Lugano (Canton of Ticino), Switzerland, subject to any mandatory consumer-protection rules that may apply.

23. Miscellaneous

If any clause is invalid, the remaining ones remain effective (partial severability). Failure to exercise a right does not constitute a waiver. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any referenced policies, constitute the entire agreement on the use of the Service.

24. Contacts

Questions about the Terms: [email protected]. Personal-data matters: [email protected].