TERMS OF SERVICE
The AI Citation Institute — operated by Ben Cope, an individual doing business as AI Citation Institute ("we," "us," "Provider"). Last updated: 2026-07-30.
By accessing or using our website, platform, or services (the "Services"), you ("you," "Customer") agree to these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, do not use the Services. If you use the Services for an organization, you represent you are authorized to bind it.
1. The Services
We provide generative-engine-optimization / AI-visibility ("GEO/AEO") software and services. The Services interact with third-party AI platforms and search engines we do not control. We do not guarantee any specific visibility, ranking, citation, traffic, lead, or revenue outcome.
2. Accounts & Eligibility
You must provide accurate information, keep credentials secure, and be responsible for activity under your account. You must be at least 18 and legally able to contract. We may refuse, suspend, or terminate accounts at our discretion, including for the prohibited uses below.
3. Fees
Paid plans are billed per your selected plan or Order Form. Fees are non-refundable except as expressly stated. You authorize us (or our payment processor) to charge your payment method. Late or failed payments may result in suspension. See any applicable Order Form (Doc 05) or MSA (Doc 04).
4. Acceptable Use — Prohibited Conduct
You will not, and will not permit anyone to:
- (a) Compete off our IP. Use the Services, any output, deliverable, report, score, or observed
method to build, train, benchmark, market, or provide any competing SEO/GEO/AEO/AI-visibility or content-optimization product or service, or to assist a competitor of ours.
- (b) Reverse engineer. Reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, scrape, probe, or attempt to
derive our Rubric, models, algorithms, prompts, datasets, connectors, or source, or circumvent any technical protection, rate limit, or access control.
- (c) Resell / sublicense the Services or deliverables, or share access, without our written
consent.
- (d) Access the Services to monitor availability/performance for a competing product, or on
behalf of a competitor.
- (e) Upload unlawful content, infringe others' rights, or violate applicable law (including
FTC rules on reviews/testimonials and anti-spam laws).
- (f) Interfere with, overload, or disrupt the Services or other users.
- (g) Provide access to any system you are not authorized to grant us access to.
5. Intellectual Property
5.1 We (and our licensors) own all right, title, and interest in the Services, the platform, and all underlying methods, Rubric, models, datasets, and software ("Provider IP"). These Terms grant you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Services for your internal business only. No other rights are granted. 5.2 Deliverables are licensed to you per the MSA/Order Form; underlying methods and templates remain Provider IP and may not be reused for competing purposes. 5.3 Our names, logos, and brand are our trademarks; no license is granted to them. 5.4 Feedback you give us may be used freely and is assigned to us.
6. Your Content & Data; Authorization
6.1 You retain ownership of content and data you provide ("Customer Content") and grant us a license to host, process, and use it to provide the Services and, in anonymized and aggregated form, to improve our Services and datasets. 6.2 You authorize us to access the third-party accounts you connect (e.g., Search Console, analytics, CMS) solely to provide the Services, and you represent you are authorized to grant that access. 6.3 Our handling of data is described in the Privacy Policy (Doc 10).
7. Confidentiality
Non-public information each party shares is confidential and subject to the confidentiality terms of any NDA/MSA between us; absent one, each party will protect the other's non-public information using reasonable care and use it only to provide/receive the Services.
8. Third-Party Services
The Services rely on third-party platforms (AI engines, search consoles, analytics, CMS, data providers). We are not responsible for third-party services, their availability, or their changes, which may affect results.
9. Disclaimers
THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTY OF ANY PARTICULAR RESULT. AI AND SEARCH PLATFORMS ARE OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL.
10. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR LOST PROFITS/DATA/GOODWILL. OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY WILL NOT EXCEED THE FEES YOU PAID US IN THE six (6) MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM (OR $100 IF YOU HAVE PAID NOTHING). Some jurisdictions limit these exclusions; they apply to the extent permitted.
11. Indemnification
You will indemnify and hold us harmless from claims arising out of your Customer Content, your use of the Services in violation of these Terms, or your violation of law or third-party rights.
12. Suspension & Termination
We may suspend or terminate your access for breach (especially Sections 4 and 5) or non-payment. You may stop using the Services at any time. Sections 4–11, 13–14 survive termination.
13. Changes
We may update these Terms; material changes will be posted with a new "Last updated" date and, where required, notified. Continued use after changes means acceptance.
14. Governing Law & Disputes
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Exclusive venue is the state and federal courts in Allegheny County, PA. ``
15. Miscellaneous
Entire agreement (with any MSA/Order Form, which control in conflict); severability; no waiver by non-enforcement; assignment by us to a successor/entity permitted; you may not assign without consent. Contact: [email protected].