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Chan Zuckerberg GEN EPI (formerly Aspen) Terms of Use

Last Updated: December 6, 2021

Please read these Terms of Use ("Terms") before using Chan Zuckerberg GEN EPI ("Services" or "CZ GEN EPI"). These Terms are entered into between the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private foundation, ("CZIF", "we", "us" or "our") and you ("User" or "you") and govern your and your organization’s use of CZ GEN EPI.

CZ GEN EPI is a tool that helps you infer how pathogens are moving through a population and how cases are related to one another. CZ GEN EPI comprises our Genomic Epidemiology portal, any associated online services or platforms that link to or refer to these Terms, and any databases or data accessible through the portal, associated services or platforms.

CZ GEN EPI is offered by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Foundation ("CZIF"), in close collaboration with the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub ("CZB") and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, LLC ("CZI LLC").

Please carefully read these terms and indicate your acceptance by registering for CZ GEN EPI. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not register for an account to use CZ GEN EPI. For more information about our privacy practices, please see the "Privacy Notice").

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS AN ARBITRATION PROVISION IN SECTION 8 BELOW THAT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF DISPUTES MENTIONED IN THAT PROVISION, YOU AND CZIF (AND ITS PARTNERS AND AFFILIATES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION CZB AND CZI, LLC) AGREE THAT (1) DISPUTES BETWEEN US WILL BE RESOLVED BY INDIVIDUAL BINDING ARBITRATION, AND (2) YOU AND CZIF (AND ITS PARTNERS AND AFFILIATES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION CZB AND CZI, LLC) WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT, CLASS-WIDE ARBITRATION, OR ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIVE ACTION.

Summary of Key Things to Know

  • CZ GEN EPI is a tool that helps you infer how pathogens are moving through a population and how cases are related to one another.
  • CZ GEN EPI is offered by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Foundation (CZIF), in close collaboration with the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub (CZB) and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, LLC (CZI LLC).
  • CZ GEN EPI is a free and open-source tool.
  • In order to use CZ GEN EPI, you must be acting in your professional capacity. This means a couple things: (1) your use of CZ GEN EPI may be subject to your organization’s policies and (2) upon sign-up, you’ll be placed into a group with other users from your organization (3) your Upload Data, and analytical results may be shared with third parties in accordance with your organization’s policies.
  • Samples marked "private" will never be shared with 3rd parties unless you choose to mark them "public" later on.
  • The outputs (ex: analytical outputs, such as phylogenetic trees) you create with CZ GEN EPI are not personally identifiable. You must also ensure that the data you upload to CZ GEN EPI (Raw Sequence Data, Pathogen Consensus Genomes, and Sample Metadata) are similarly not personally identifiable. This means removing all direct identifiers like name, address, dates, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, or medical record numbers from data you upload to CZ GEN EPI.
  • CZ GEN EPI does not provide medical advice. The output from CZ GEN EPI does not constitute and should not be relied upon to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is intended for research, educational, or informational purposes only.

1.Upload Data and Analytical Outputs you create

  • No personally identifying data.The data you upload to CZ GEN EPI consists of Raw Sequence Data, Pathogen Consensus Genomes, and Sample Metadata (ex: date collected and county-level location data). You should not be uploading any information that would allow identification of any specific individuals to which the Samples may relate, such as direct identifiers like name, address, symptom onset dates or case interview dates, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, or medical record numbers.
  • Compliance with laws.By uploading data to CZ GEN EPI, you represent and warrant to us that (A) you have all consents, permissions, and authorizations necessary for uploading the data to CZ GEN EPI and (B) that your uploading this data to CZ GEN EPI complies with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including the Nagoya Protocol and relevant export laws and industry guidelines and ethical standards that apply to you (e.g. CIOMS or GA4GH). Please note that we filter out human sequence data as part of processing Raw Sequence Data as such information is not necessary for providing CZ GEN EPI.
  • Our rights and your rights.We need some basic rights to use your Upload data in order to offer CZ GEN EPI’s services to you. Specifically, you grant to us a license to use (ex: store your data in the CZ GEN EPI database), reproduce (ex: backing up the CZ GEN EPI database), distribute, display, and create derivative works (ex: produce phylogenetic trees per your requests) from Upload data in connection with offering and improving CZ GEN EPI. You can request deletion of your Upload Data from CZ GEN EPI by emailing us at hello@czgenepi.org
  • Sharing pathogen genomes and analytical outputs.CZ GEN EPI gives you tools to analyze pathogen genomes and create further analytical outputs from them (ex: phylogenetic trees) that allow you to better understand the relationship between different pathogen genomes.
    • Within your organization:The pathogen genomes created from your Samples and the analytical outputs you create using CZ GEN EPI are visible to other Users at your organization (ex: your DPH). You, along with other members of your Group, control whether you permit us to share this information with Users outside your organization. In certain circumstances, we may also share your data with third party entities, through the CZ GEN EPI tool, in line with your organization’s policies or in line with applicable law. Samples marked "private" will never be shared with any 3rd parties unless you choose to mark them "public" later on.

2.Authorization To Use CZ GEN EPI

  • You are using CZ GEN EPI in your professional capacity as a User from your organization. This means that in addition to CZ GEN EPI’s Terms and Privacy Policy, your organization’s policies also likely apply to your and your colleagues’ use of CZ GEN EPI. Please see your organization for questions related to their policies.
  • CZ GEN EPI may not be used to provide medical or other services to any third party (for instance, to inform or provide disease diagnoses). CZ GEN EPI is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and is not a substitute for medical advice.

3.Limitations On Use

  • You shall not otherwise access or use, or attempt to access or use, CZ GEN EPI to take any action that could harm us, CZ GEN EPI or its Users, or any third party, or use CZ GEN EPI in any manner that violates applicable law or infringes or otherwise violates third party rights.
  • You represent and warrant that you are a natural person over the age of 16 and that you are acting in your professional capacity as authorized by your organization to enter into these Terms.
  • We may restrict or terminate your access to CZ GEN EPI at any time, including for breach of these Terms. If this happens, we will attempt to provide you notice through the contact information we have for you.

4.Changes To CZ GEN EPI Or These Terms

  • Changes to CZ GEN EPI.CZ GEN EPI is a free tool. We can’t promise CZ GEN EPI will always be up and offered as it is today, but if we are making material changes to its features or that impact its availability, we will give you a chance to download and/or delete your data so you can take it off of CZ GEN EPI.
  • Changes to these Terms.We may update these Terms from time to time and will notify you of material changes to the Terms, prior to their becoming effective. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, your remedy will be to close your Account prior to the effective date of those changes.
  • Closing Your Account.You can close your Account at any time. Just contact us at privacy@czgenepi.org

5.Disclaimers.

  • We and our service providers do not review or correct any data uploaded into CZ GEN EPI. If you would like to report any issue with CZ GEN EPI please contact us at security@czgenepi.org. CZ GEN EPI is not intended as a storage service, so please back up your Upload Data using a secure service of your choice, such as the NCBI’s Sequence Read Archive (SRA) repository.

  • TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW:

    • YOUR ACCESS AND USE CZ GEN EPI AT YOUR SOLE RISK AND AGREE THAT WE AND OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACTIONS YOU TAKE BASED ON CZ GEN EPI OR FOR ANY INACCURATE DATA OR OUTPUTS OF CZ GEN EPI.
    • CZ GEN EPI IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITH ALL FAULTS, AND WE AND OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, STATUTORY, OR IMPLIED (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ALL WARRANTIES ARISING FROM THE COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE, OR TRADE PRACTICE) WITH RESPECT TO CZ GEN EPI. CZ GEN EPI IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED AND SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A MEDICAL DEVICE OR FOR PURPOSES OF MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT.
    • FOR CLARITY AND WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, WE AND OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS DO NOT MAKE ANY GUARANTEES (I) REGARDING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, TIMELINESS, SECURITY, AVAILABILITY OR INTEGRITY OF CZ GEN EPI, (II) THAT CZ GEN EPI WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR OPERATE IN COMBINATION WITH ANY SOFTWARE, SERVICE, SYSTEM OR OTHER DATA, OR (III) THAT CZ GEN EPI WILL MEET ANY REQUIREMENTS OF ANY PERSON OR ENTITY, OR ANY REGULATORY APPROVALS OR REQUIREMENTS. WITHOUT LIMITATION, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CZ GEN EPI IS NOT A BUSINESS ASSOCIATE FOR PURPOSES OF HIPAA.

6.Limitation Of Liability

  • TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, CZIF AND AFFILIATES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION CHAN ZUCKERBERG INITIATIVE, LLC; AND THE CHAN ZUCKERBERG BIOHUB COLLECTIVELY, THE "PROTECTED PARTIES") WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, OR LOSS OF GOODWILL) IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES ARISE FROM CLAIMS BROUGHT IN CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, WARRANTY, STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER THEORY AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, AND EVEN IF ANY PROTECTED PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL THE PROTECTED PARTIES’ AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE EXCEED USD $100.

7.Indemnification

  • You shall indemnify, defend and hold the Protected Parties harmless from and against, and shall pay all damages, costs, fees and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) relating to, any third party (including government entity) claim, action, suit or other proceeding (a "Claim") to the extent arising from: (1) your gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud; and/or (2) any misrepresentation you make regarding your permission to submit data to CZ GEN EPI for your organization’s use.
  • Indemnification is conditioned upon the Protected Parties giving you written notice of any such Claim, and giving you control of the defense and settlement of any such Claim, and cooperating with you in such defense. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (1) the Protected Parties may participate in defense of such Claim with its own counsel at its own expense and (2) you may not settle any Claim without CZIF’s prior written consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld, unless it unconditionally releases the Protected Parties of all liability, obligation, and fault.

8. Arbitration

  • Final and Binding Arbitration.We endeavor and trust that we will have a productive relationship but in the unlikely event we have a dispute that we can’t resolve between us, and it results in a legal dispute, BOTH YOU AND WE AGREE TO WAIVE OUR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES IN A COURT OF LAW BY A JUDGE OR JURY AND AGREE TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BY ARBITRATION, WHICH WILL BE FINAL AND BINDING, AS SET FORTH BELOW.
  • Dispute Resolution.In the unlikely event we have a dispute arising out of or related to the use of CZ GEN EPI ("Dispute") that we can’t resolve between us, you and we agree that we shall (in good faith) meet and attempt to resolve the Dispute within thirty (30) days. If the Dispute is not resolved during such time period, then you and a representative of CZIF shall (in good faith) meet and attempt to resolve the Dispute through non-binding mediation with a mutually agreed upon mediator within thirty (30) additional days.
  • Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate.If the Dispute is not resolved within such time period, the Dispute shall be resolved per the following arbitration terms. As the exclusive, final and binding means of initiating adversarial proceedings, you agree that it be resolved fully and finally by neutral and binding arbitration administered by JAMS in San Mateo County, California, in accordance with its Streamlined Arbitration Rules & Procedures, the Federal Arbitration Act, and the substantive laws of the State of California, exclusive of conflict or choice of law rules. In-person proceedings will take place in San Mateo County, California and your reasonable and documented travel expenses will be paid by CZIF. The arbitrator shall have the power to award any type of relief that would be available in a court of competent jurisdiction and will issue a written decision at the end of the arbitration, which will be final and binding. Judgment on any award rendered in any such arbitration may be entered in any court having jurisdiction in San Mateo County, California.

9.Choice of Law and Venue

  • This Agreement and any Disputes will be governed, controlled, and interpreted by and under the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any conflicts of laws principles that require the application of the law of a different state. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent such laws are inconsistent with the Federal Arbitration Act, the Federal Arbitration Act will govern. Any dispute that is not subject to arbitration (e.g., if arbitration is deemed unenforceable or inapplicable) shall be, and any judgement on any arbitration award may be, brought in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California or a state court located in San Mateo County, California.

10.General Terms

  • If any provision in these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, the other provisions will remain enforceable, and the invalid or unenforceable provision will be modified to a valid and enforceable provision that most accurately reflects the parties intentions.
  • Any waiver or failure to enforce any of these Terms on one occasion will not be deemed a waiver of any other provision or of that provision on any other occasion.
  • You may not assign or transfer any rights or obligations under these Terms without our consent. However, you agree that we may assign these Terms in connection with a reorganization, or to a successor or assign that agrees to assume our obligations under these Terms (and Privacy Policy) without your consent.
  • Entire Agreement. These Terms (along with the Privacy Notice) constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding CZ GEN EPI. If you wish to modify these Terms, any amendment must be provided to us in writing and signed by our authorized representative.

11. How to Contact Us

  • If you have any questions, comments, or concerns with Terms, you may contact us at privacy@czgenepi.org.

  • Notice under these Terms must be in writing and deemed to have been given on the date delivered by a nationally recognized express mail service, such as Federal Express, or by certified and registered mail (signature for receipt required) to CZIF as follows:

    Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Foundation
    c/o The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
    Attn: General Counsel
    2682 Middlefield Road, Suite i
    Redwood City, CA 94063
    With a courtesy copy via email to: legalczi1@chanzuckerberg.com (email does not constitute notice)