Terms & Conditions

1. Agreement to Terms

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User", "you", "your") and Local Knowledge Pty Ltd, ABN [Insert ABN] ("Local Knowledge", "we", "us", "our") concerning your access to and use of the Local Knowledge AI-powered strategic advisory platform (the "Service", "Platform").

By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use the Service.

2. Definitions

• "AI Agents" means the artificial intelligence software components that perform automated analysis, extraction, and advisory functions within the Platform.
• "Client Data" means any data, documents, or information you upload or input into the Service.
• "Knowledge Forest" means our proprietary AI learning system that develops client-specific intelligence.
• "Rising Tide" means our cross-client learning system that uses anonymized patterns to improve Service quality.
• "Professional Services" means accounting, advisory, consulting, or related professional services.

3. Service Description

Local Knowledge provides an AI-powered strategic advisory platform designed for accounting professionals and business advisors. The Service includes:

• Automated extraction of data from financial documents (PDF, Excel, etc.)
• AI-generated strategic insights and recommendations
• Financial analysis and reporting tools
• Practice management features
• Succession planning and IP management modules
• Client workspace and collaboration tools

4. Eligibility and Account Registration

4.1 Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into contracts to use the Service. The Service is intended for professional use by qualified accounting and advisory professionals.

4.2 Account Creation

To access the Service, you must create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• Maintain and promptly update your account information
• Maintain the security and confidentiality of your login credentials
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access or security breaches
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account

4.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time for violation of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or any other reason at our sole discretion.

5. Acceptable Use Policy

5.1 Permitted Use

You may use the Service only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. Specifically, you agree to:

• Use the Service for legitimate professional purposes
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Respect the intellectual property rights of Local Knowledge and third parties
• Maintain professional standards in your use of AI-generated insights

5.2 Prohibited Use

You agree not to:

• Use the Service for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
• Violate any laws, regulations, or third-party rights
• Upload malicious code, viruses, or harmful content
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service or related systems
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Service
• Use automated means (bots, scrapers) to access the Service without permission
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers
• Resell or redistribute the Service without authorization
• Use the Service to provide services to third parties without a partnership agreement
• Remove or obscure any proprietary notices or labels

6. Professional Responsibility and AI Limitations

6.1 Professional Judgment Required

CRITICAL: The Service provides AI-generated insights, recommendations, and analysis. However, YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for reviewing, validating, and making final decisions based on this information.

You acknowledge and agree that:

• AI-generated content may contain errors, inaccuracies, or omissions
• The Service does not replace professional judgment or human expertise
• You must independently verify all AI outputs before relying on them
• You are responsible for ensuring compliance with professional standards and regulations
• The Service is a tool to assist, not replace, professional decision-making

6.2 Not Professional Advice

The Service does not constitute professional accounting, tax, legal, or financial advice. We are not a substitute for a qualified professional advisor. You should consult with appropriate licensed professionals before making any decisions based on information from the Service.

6.3 No Warranty of Accuracy

While we strive for accuracy, we do not warrant that AI-generated content is accurate, complete, reliable, current, or error-free. The Service is provided "as is" and "as available".

7. Data Ownership and Licensing

7.1 Your Data

You retain all ownership rights to the Client Data you upload or input into the Service. By using the Service, you grant us a limited, non-exclusive, worldwide license to:

• Process, store, and analyze your Client Data to provide the Service
• Use anonymized and aggregated data to improve AI models and Service functionality
• Create backup copies for disaster recovery purposes

We will never sell your Client Data or share it with third parties except as described in our Privacy Policy.

7.2 Our Intellectual Property

The Service, including all software, algorithms, AI models, designs, text, graphics, and other content (excluding your Client Data), is owned by Local Knowledge and protected by intellectual property laws.

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Service for your internal business purposes, subject to these Terms.

7.3 AI-Generated Content

AI-generated insights, reports, and recommendations created specifically for you are licensed to you for your use in providing services to your clients. However, you may not:

• Resell or redistribute AI outputs as a standalone product
• Use AI outputs to train competing AI models
• Remove Local Knowledge branding without a white-label agreement

8. Fees and Payment

8.1 Subscription Fees

Access to the Service requires payment of subscription fees as specified in your chosen pricing plan. Fees are billed in advance on a monthly or annual basis.

8.2 Payment Terms

• Payment Method: You must provide a valid payment method (credit card, debit card, or approved payment processor)
• Automatic Renewal: Subscriptions automatically renew unless you cancel before the renewal date
• Price Changes: We may change fees with 30 days' notice. Continued use after the notice period constitutes acceptance
• Taxes: Fees are exclusive of applicable taxes (GST, VAT, etc.), which you are responsible for paying

8.3 Refund Policy

Subscription fees are generally non-refundable except:

• If you cancel within 14 days of your initial subscription (cooling-off period under Australian Consumer Law)
• If we fail to provide the Service due to our fault
• As required by applicable consumer protection laws

8.4 Late Payment

If payment fails or is late, we may suspend access to the Service until payment is received. We reserve the right to charge late fees or interest as permitted by law.

9. Data Security and Privacy

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data. However, no system is completely secure. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for detailed information about how we collect, use, and protect your information.

10. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to maintain the confidentiality of any confidential information disclosed during the use of the Service. "Confidential Information" includes:

• Your Client Data and financial information
• Our proprietary algorithms, AI models, and business methods
• Any information marked as confidential

Confidential Information does not include information that: (a) is publicly available, (b) was known prior to disclosure, (c) is independently developed, or (d) must be disclosed by law.

11. Limitation of Liability

11.1 Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR ACCURACY.

11.2 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES
• LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, OR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
• ERRORS OR INACCURACIES IN AI-GENERATED CONTENT
• DECISIONS MADE BASED ON AI INSIGHTS OR RECOMMENDATIONS
• UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR DATA
• THIRD-PARTY CONDUCT OR CONTENT

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

11.3 Australian Consumer Law

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any consumer rights under the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable consumer protection legislation that cannot be excluded, restricted, or modified by agreement.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Local Knowledge, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use or misuse of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any laws or third-party rights
• Your Client Data or content you upload
• Professional services you provide using AI-generated content

13. Termination

13.1 Termination by You

You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings or by contacting us. Cancellation will be effective at the end of the current billing period.

13.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your access immediately, without notice, for:

• Breach of these Terms
• Non-payment of fees
• Fraudulent, illegal, or abusive conduct
• Risk to Service security or other users

13.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your access to the Service will cease immediately
• We will retain your Client Data for 90 days to allow retrieval
• After 90 days, we may delete your Client Data (unless required by law to retain it)
• You remain liable for all fees incurred before termination
• Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive (e.g., liability, indemnification) will continue to apply

14. Modifications to the Service and Terms

14.1 Service Changes

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Service at any time, with or without notice. We are not liable for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Service.

14.2 Terms Changes

We may revise these Terms at any time. Material changes will be notified via email or in-app notification at least 30 days before taking effect. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

15. Dispute Resolution

15.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia, without regard to conflict of law principles.

15.2 Dispute Resolution Process

In the event of a dispute:

1. Negotiation: The parties will first attempt to resolve the dispute through good faith negotiation
2. Mediation: If negotiation fails, the parties will attempt mediation through a mutually agreed mediator
3. Arbitration/Litigation: If mediation fails, disputes will be resolved through arbitration or litigation in New South Wales, Australia

15.3 Jurisdiction

You irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales, Australia.

16. General Provisions

16.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other agreements referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and Local Knowledge regarding the Service.

16.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

16.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

16.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your account without our written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations without restriction.

16.5 Force Majeure

We are not liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from causes beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, war, terrorism, pandemics, internet disruptions, or government actions.

16.6 Notices

Notices to you may be sent to the email address associated with your account. Notices to us should be sent to:

17. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms or the Service, please contact us: