Terms of Use

01 Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, browsing, submitting any form on, or otherwise using experts.chordexbio.com (the "Platform"), you ("User", "you", "your") agree to be bound by these Terms of Use ("Terms") and our Privacy Notice, which are incorporated herein by reference.

These Terms apply to all users of the Platform, regardless of the manner of access (desktop, mobile, API, or third-party integration) and regardless of the user's nature — whether an individual, sole proprietor, partnership, company, corporation, university, research institution, government agency, non-governmental organization, cooperative, or any other legal entity or group.

Where you access or use the Platform on behalf of an organization or entity, you represent and warrant that you are authorized to accept these Terms on that entity's behalf, and that your use of the Platform legally binds that entity.

02 Definitions

"ChordexBio"

ChordexBio Research and Analysis, a research, technology, and innovation organization registered in the Philippines, operating the Platform.

"Platform"

The website and all services, forms, systems, and features made available at experts.chordexbio.com and related subpages.

"User" / "you"

Any person or entity that accesses or uses the Platform, in any capacity.

"Client"

A User that submits a project request or partnership inquiry through the Platform, seeking to engage ChordexBio's managed expert services.

"Expert" / "Expert Applicant"

An individual applying to or accepted into the ChordexBio Expert Network as a specialist capable of fulfilling project engagements.

"Expert Network"

ChordexBio's managed, vetted network of independent specialist professionals whose services are engaged by ChordexBio to deliver client projects.

"Engagement"

A formally scoped and contracted project, task, program, or service delivery arrangement between ChordexBio and a Client, fulfilled in whole or in part through Expert Network members.

"Project Brief"

A submission by a Client describing the nature, scope, deliverables, timeline, or other parameters of a desired project or engagement.

"Deliverables"

Any output, report, analysis, code, content, advice, or other work product produced as part of an Engagement.

"Engagement Agreement"

The binding written contract (separate from these Terms) governing the specific terms, scope, fees, IP, and obligations of a particular Engagement.

"Confidential Information"

Any non-public information disclosed by either party in connection with the Platform or an Engagement, including Project Briefs, Expert credentials, pricing, methodologies, trade secrets, and proprietary data.

"Intellectual Property" / "IP"

All patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, know-how, databases, software, processes, methodologies, and other proprietary rights.

"Content"

All text, images, graphics, data, software, and other materials made available on or through the Platform.

03 Platform Purpose & Model

The Platform serves as the intake and information interface for ChordexBio's managed expert network model. It enables:

• Clients to submit project briefs, explore service capabilities, inquire about partnerships, and initiate formal engagements with ChordexBio.
• Expert applicants to apply to join the Expert Network for potential assignment to ChordexBio-managed client engagements.
• Visitors to learn about ChordexBio's capabilities, disciplines, and delivery model.

All Engagements are contracted with and delivered by ChordexBio. Expert assignments are made at ChordexBio's sole discretion. The Platform does not facilitate direct contracts between Clients and individual Experts, and nothing in these Terms or any Platform submission creates a contractual relationship between a Client and any individual Expert.

04 User Categories & Eligibility

4.1 All users

You must be at least 18 years of age and legally capable of entering into binding contracts in your jurisdiction to use the Platform. By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you meet these requirements.

4.2 Clients

Clients may be individuals, sole proprietors, private companies, corporations, public institutions, universities, research organizations, government agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, cooperatives, or any other legally constituted entity with capacity to contract. Clients submitting on behalf of an organization represent that they have authorization to bind that organization.

4.3 Expert applicants

Expert applicants must be natural persons submitting their own credentials and information. Applications submitted on behalf of a third party without that person's consent are prohibited. Acceptance into the Expert Network does not guarantee assignment to any project and does not create an employment relationship with ChordexBio.

4.4 Institutional and government users

Universities, research institutions, government agencies, and international organizations using this Platform acknowledge that these Terms apply to their use and that their authorized representatives are bound by them. Procurement, compliance, or special terms required by such entities must be discussed with ChordexBio before submission of a Project Brief, and will be addressed in the Engagement Agreement.

05 Submissions & Information Accuracy

You are solely responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and truthfulness of all information you submit through the Platform, including Project Briefs, contact details, organizational information, and expert applications.

You represent and warrant that:

• All information you submit is accurate and not misleading;
• You have the authority to disclose any information contained in a Project Brief, including any proprietary, confidential, or third-party data;
• Your submissions do not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights or violate any applicable law;
• You will promptly notify ChordexBio of any material changes to information you have submitted that may affect an ongoing or proposed Engagement.

ChordexBio reserves the right to decline any inquiry, reject any application, or decline to scope any engagement at its sole discretion, without obligation to provide reasons.

06 Project Delivery Model & Engagement Process

6.1 Intake and scoping

Submission of a Project Brief initiates a scoping process. ChordexBio will review the brief and, where appropriate, respond with a proposed scope of work, timeline, team composition, and fee estimate. No engagement, obligation, or commitment arises from submission of a brief alone. An Engagement is formed only upon execution of a written Engagement Agreement.

6.2 Engagement Agreement

Each Engagement is governed by a separate, written Engagement Agreement that supersedes these Terms with respect to the specific Engagement. The Engagement Agreement will specify deliverables, timelines, fees, payment terms, IP ownership, confidentiality obligations, acceptance criteria, and any other Engagement-specific terms. In the event of conflict between these Terms and an Engagement Agreement, the Engagement Agreement controls for that Engagement.

6.3 Expert assignment

ChordexBio has sole and absolute discretion in selecting, assigning, substituting, and managing Expert Network members on any Engagement. Clients may express preferences for discipline or expertise areas but have no right to select, approve, or reject individual Experts. Expert identities and credentials are shared only after the Engagement Agreement and applicable NDA are executed.

6.4 Quality assurance and milestones

ChordexBio manages Engagements against agreed milestones and quality standards. Where Deliverables do not meet agreed specifications, the Engagement Agreement will govern the process for revision or remedy.

6.5 Single point of accountability

ChordexBio is the sole contracting party and the single point of accountability to the Client for all Deliverables. Individual Experts are not parties to the Client-ChordexBio contract and bear no direct contractual obligations to Clients.

6.6 Expert-to-client circumvention prohibited

Clients introduced to Expert Network members through a ChordexBio Engagement may not, during the Engagement and for a period of 24 months following its completion, solicit, contract, or engage those Experts directly for services that compete with or substitute for ChordexBio's services, without ChordexBio's prior written consent. Breach of this provision entitles ChordexBio to liquidated damages equivalent to 20% of the total Engagement value or the equivalent of 6 months of the Expert's average monthly compensation through ChordexBio, whichever is greater, in addition to other available remedies.

07 Expert Network Membership

7.1 Application and acceptance

Submission of an application to join the Expert Network does not guarantee acceptance. ChordexBio evaluates applications based on credentials, experience, expertise relevance, and network needs. ChordexBio may accept, defer, or decline any application without obligation to provide reasons.

7.2 Nature of relationship

Acceptance into the Expert Network and assignment to Engagements do not create an employment, agency, joint venture, or partnership relationship between the Expert and ChordexBio. Experts are independent contractors. They are not entitled to employment benefits, statutory employment protections, or ChordexBio social insurance contributions by virtue of network membership alone, unless separately agreed in writing.

7.3 Expert obligations

As a member of the Expert Network, you agree to:

• Maintain the accuracy of all credentials, qualifications, and availability information you have provided;
• Disclose any conflict of interest before or during an Engagement;
• Comply with all confidentiality, NDA, IP, and conduct obligations specified in these Terms, any applicable Expert Agreement, and any Engagement Agreement;
• Deliver assigned work to the quality and timeline standards agreed for each Engagement;
• Not represent yourself as an employee or agent of ChordexBio without express authorization;
• Comply with applicable laws, professional standards, and ethical obligations relevant to your discipline.

7.4 Expert-to-client circumvention prohibited

Experts may not independently solicit, contract with, or deliver services to ChordexBio Clients or Client contacts met through a ChordexBio Engagement, outside the ChordexBio framework, during the Engagement period and for 24 months following its conclusion, without ChordexBio's prior written consent.

7.5 Platform benefits for Experts

Accepted Expert Network members gain access to the following platform benefits, subject to availability, eligibility, and the terms of any applicable Expert Agreement:

• Access to a managed pipeline of vetted, scoped project opportunities;
• Administrative and contractual support from ChordexBio's project office;
• NDA handling and IP framework that protects Experts' background IP;
• Cross-disciplinary collaboration with other Expert Network members;
• Anonymized listing in the public-facing Expert Directory;
• ChordexBio's credentialing endorsement upon completion of engagements;
• Access to ChordexBio's training and capacity-building programmes where offered;
• Revenue-share and referral programme eligibility where applicable and agreed in writing.

08 Fees, Payment & Revenue Share

8.1 Client fees

Fees for Engagements are specified in the applicable Engagement Agreement. No fee is charged merely for submitting a Project Brief or making an inquiry. ChordexBio reserves the right to charge a scoping fee for complex or resource-intensive scoping work; if applicable, this will be disclosed before scoping begins.

8.2 Payment terms

Payment terms are set out in the Engagement Agreement. Unless otherwise agreed, invoices are due within 30 days of issuance. Late payments accrue interest at the rate of 2% per month, or the maximum rate permitted by law, whichever is lower. ChordexBio reserves the right to suspend Engagement delivery for overdue accounts.

8.3 Expert compensation

Compensation for Expert Network members is set out in the applicable Expert Agreement or Engagement Agreement. ChordexBio's commission or service fee structure is disclosed to Experts prior to assignment. Compensation is subject to successful delivery of agreed milestones and receipt of Client payment, except where the Expert Agreement provides otherwise.

8.4 Revenue-share and affiliate programmes

Where ChordexBio offers revenue-share, referral, or affiliate programmes to Expert Network members, the specific terms, rates, eligibility criteria, and payment schedules for such programmes are governed by separate written agreements. Participation is voluntary and does not alter the base Expert relationship. ChordexBio reserves the right to modify or discontinue such programmes with 30 days' written notice.

8.5 Taxes

Each party is responsible for its own applicable taxes, including income tax and VAT, arising from Engagements. ChordexBio does not withhold taxes on behalf of independent contractor Experts unless required by applicable Philippine law. Experts are responsible for their own tax compliance and registration obligations.

09 Confidentiality & Non-Disclosure

9.1 Platform-level confidentiality baseline

All Project Briefs, Expert application materials, partnership inquiries, and related information submitted through the Platform are treated as confidential by ChordexBio from the moment of submission. ChordexBio will not disclose such information to third parties except as described in these Terms and the Privacy Notice.

9.2 Engagement-level NDA

Before sharing Expert credentials with Clients or sharing Client project information with Experts, ChordexBio will ensure that appropriate confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements are in place. The execution of an NDA is a prerequisite to Engagement scoping and Expert matching.

9.3 User obligations

By submitting information through the Platform and participating in scoping discussions, you agree not to disclose to any third party: (a) any information about ChordexBio's Expert Network members or processes that ChordexBio has designated as confidential; (b) the identity, credentials, or availability of any Expert disclosed to you during an Engagement; and (c) any proprietary methods, pricing structures, or operational systems disclosed by ChordexBio during the scoping process. These obligations survive termination of these Terms.

9.4 Sensitive and regulated data

Clients who need to share sensitive, regulated, or classified data (including personal health information, genomic data, unpublished research data, or government-classified materials) as part of a project must disclose this requirement before Engagement commencement. ChordexBio will assess the feasibility of appropriate handling and may require additional agreements, security arrangements, or may decline the Engagement if adequate protections cannot be established.

10 Intellectual Property

10.1 Platform content — ChordexBio's IP

All content on the Platform — including text, design, graphics, code, brand assets, service descriptions, directory content, methodology descriptions, and other materials — is owned by or licensed to ChordexBio and is protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and other IP laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works of Platform content without ChordexBio's prior written consent.

10.2 Client-submitted materials

You retain ownership of any Project Brief, data, documents, or materials you submit through the Platform ("Client Materials"). By submitting Client Materials, you grant ChordexBio a limited, non-exclusive license to use those materials solely for the purposes of evaluating your inquiry, scoping an Engagement, and delivering agreed Deliverables. ChordexBio will not use Client Materials for any purpose outside the scope of your Engagement without your consent.

10.3 Deliverables — IP ownership

Unless expressly agreed otherwise in the Engagement Agreement:

• Work-for-hire Deliverables — Original work created specifically and exclusively for a Client as part of a fully paid Engagement shall be assigned to the Client upon final payment, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
• Background IP — Any pre-existing IP, tools, frameworks, methodologies, libraries, or know-how brought to an Engagement by ChordexBio or an Expert remains the property of ChordexBio or the Expert respectively. The Client receives a license to use Background IP solely to the extent necessary to use the Deliverables.
• Platform tools and platforms — ChordexBio's platforms (Receptorix, ReceptoCraft, 4labs, Continuity by Plethory, assemBold, Covary, Manuskrito, DNAcrypt-AI, TIPs, and others) remain ChordexBio's proprietary property regardless of any Engagement.

10.4 Expert's background IP

Experts retain ownership of their own pre-existing methodologies, tools, templates, and background knowledge. No assignment of an Expert's background IP to ChordexBio or a Client occurs through network membership or Engagement alone, unless separately agreed in the applicable Expert Agreement or Engagement Agreement.

10.5 No implied licenses

Nothing in these Terms grants any User a license to ChordexBio's IP beyond the limited rights expressly stated herein.

11 Platform Benefits & Offered Features

The Platform is designed to offer the following functionalities and benefits to its users. ChordexBio commits to making these features available as described, subject to availability, platform development stage, and the terms of any applicable Engagement Agreement or Expert Agreement:

For Clients

• Ability to submit project briefs for any scope across ChordexBio's covered disciplines;
• Single-point-of-contact engagement model — one brief, one accountable partner;
• Access to vetted, cross-disciplinary expert teams assembled by ChordexBio;
• Confidentiality-first handling of all project briefs and sensitive materials;
• NDA execution prior to Expert credential sharing;
• Milestone-based project delivery with quality assurance and governance;
• Engagements available to enterprises, universities, government agencies, NGOs, startups, and individual researchers;
• Partnership pathways for organizations seeking ongoing or institutional collaboration;
• Access to ChordexBio's ecosystem of platforms and research tools where relevant to an Engagement.

For Expert Network members

• Access to a curated pipeline of scoped, vetted project opportunities;
• Managed administrative and contractual support;
• Anonymized listing in the public Expert Directory;
• IP and confidentiality framework protecting background IP;
• Credentialing endorsement and project history documentation;
• Revenue-share and referral programme eligibility (subject to separate agreement);
• Training, mentorship, and capacity-building access through ChordexBio's programme ecosystem;
• Cross-disciplinary collaboration opportunities within the Expert Network.

ChordexBio reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue Platform features with reasonable notice. Material changes to the features that form part of an active Engagement Agreement will be addressed within that Agreement.

12 Acceptable Use

You agree not to use the Platform to:

• Submit false, misleading, fraudulent, or deceptive information;
• Impersonate any person or entity, or misrepresent your affiliation with any organization;
• Scrape, harvest, or systematically extract content from the Platform by automated means without ChordexBio's prior written consent;
• Transmit spam, unsolicited commercial messages, or malicious code;
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Platform, its backend systems, databases, or administrative interfaces;
• Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Platform or its hosting infrastructure;
• Circumvent any security feature, rate limiting, or access control mechanism;
• Engage in any activity that violates applicable law, including data privacy law, IP law, anti-bribery law, or export control regulations;
• Use the Platform to facilitate illegal activities or to solicit others to do so;
• Post or transmit content that is defamatory, obscene, or that infringes a third party's rights;
• Probe or test the vulnerability of the Platform's systems without ChordexBio's prior written authorization.

ChordexBio reserves the right to investigate suspected violations and to take any appropriate action, including removing content, blocking access, terminating relationships, and reporting to law enforcement.

13 Representations & Warranties

13.1 By all Users

You represent and warrant that: (a) you have legal capacity to enter into these Terms; (b) your use of the Platform complies with all applicable laws in your jurisdiction; and (c) all information you provide is accurate to the best of your knowledge.

13.2 By Clients

You represent and warrant that: (a) you have authority to disclose any information in your Project Brief; (b) the proposed project does not violate any applicable law or regulation; and (c) where the project involves work with human subjects, regulated substances, or government-restricted data, you will disclose this before Engagement commencement and will obtain all necessary approvals.

13.3 By Expert applicants

You represent and warrant that: (a) all credentials, qualifications, and experience in your application are accurate and not exaggerated; (b) you have the right to disclose all information in your application; and (c) acceptance into the Expert Network does not conflict with any existing contractual obligation you have with a current or former employer or client.

13.4 By ChordexBio

ChordexBio represents that it will operate the Platform and manage Engagements in good faith, with reasonable skill and care, and in compliance with applicable Philippine law.

14 Disclaimer of Warranties

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, ChordexBio disclaims all implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement with respect to the Platform itself (as distinct from contracted Engagement Deliverables, which are governed by the applicable Engagement Agreement).

ChordexBio does not warrant that: (a) the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from security vulnerabilities; (b) any information on the Platform is complete, accurate, or current; or (c) any particular outcome will result from submitting a Project Brief or joining the Expert Network.

Nothing in this clause limits ChordexBio's liability for fraud, death or personal injury caused by negligence, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by applicable law.

15 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, ChordexBio's aggregate liability to any User arising from or in connection with use of the Platform (as distinct from contracted Engagement Deliverables) shall not exceed the greater of: (a) the total fees paid by that User to ChordexBio in the 12 months preceding the claim; or (b) PHP 5,000 (five thousand Philippine pesos).

In no event shall ChordexBio be liable for: (a) indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages; (b) loss of profits, revenue, business, data, or goodwill; or (c) loss arising from third-party acts, unauthorized access to your submissions, or events beyond ChordexBio's reasonable control — even if ChordexBio has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

For claims arising from a specific Engagement, the liability provisions in the applicable Engagement Agreement govern and may differ from the above.

Some jurisdictions do not permit exclusion or limitation of certain categories of liability. Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude or limit liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

16 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless ChordexBio and its officers, directors, employees, contractors, affiliates, and agents from and against any claim, demand, action, liability, loss, damage, cost, or expense (including reasonable legal fees) arising from or in connection with:

• Your use of or access to the Platform;
• Your violation of these Terms;
• Any inaccuracy or misrepresentation in information you have submitted;
• Your infringement of any third-party IP rights or violation of applicable law;
• Any claim by a third party relating to Client Materials you have submitted or the project you have requested;
• Your circumvention of the non-solicitation provisions in Sections 6.6 or 7.4.

ChordexBio reserves the right to assume exclusive control of any matter subject to indemnification. You agree to cooperate with ChordexBio's defense of such claims.

17 Term & Termination

These Terms become effective when you first access or use the Platform and continue in effect for as long as you use it. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination — including Sections 9 (Confidentiality), 10 (IP), 15 (Limitation of Liability), 16 (Indemnification), and 19 (Governing Law) — survive indefinitely.

ChordexBio may suspend or terminate your access to the Platform at any time for breach of these Terms, fraudulent use, abuse, or for operational reasons, with or without notice. Clients and Experts with active Engagement Agreements are subject to the termination provisions of those agreements.

You may stop using the Platform at any time. Termination of Platform access does not affect obligations under any existing Engagement Agreement.

18 Modifications to These Terms

ChordexBio may update these Terms from time to time. The updated Terms will be posted at experts.chordexbio.com/terms.php with a revised effective date. For material changes, ChordexBio will provide at least 14 days' notice via a notice on the Platform or by email where contact details are available.

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree with revised Terms, you should stop using the Platform. Changes to Terms do not retroactively alter the terms of executed Engagement Agreements.

19 Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

19.1 Governing law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, without regard to its conflict-of-law provisions. Users from other jurisdictions acknowledge that they are accessing the Platform from their own jurisdiction and that local laws may also apply; however, Philippine law governs the interpretation and enforcement of these Terms.

19.2 Informal resolution

Before initiating formal proceedings, the parties agree to attempt good-faith resolution of any dispute by notifying ChordexBio at experts@chordexbio.com with a written description of the dispute. ChordexBio will respond within 15 business days. The parties will then have 30 days to reach a mutually agreed resolution before either party may escalate.

19.3 Mediation

If informal resolution is unsuccessful, either party may request non-binding mediation administered by a recognized mediation center in the Philippines. Costs of mediation shall be shared equally unless otherwise agreed.

19.4 Jurisdiction

Subject to Section 19.3, each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Philippines for resolution of any dispute arising from or in connection with these Terms. This does not prevent ChordexBio from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief in any jurisdiction to protect its confidential information, IP, or to enforce the non-solicitation provisions herein.

19.5 Engagement Agreement disputes

Disputes arising from a specific Engagement are governed by the dispute resolution provisions of the applicable Engagement Agreement, which may specify different processes, forums, or governing law.

20 General Provisions

20.1 Entire agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Notice and any applicable Engagement Agreement or Expert Agreement, constitute the entire agreement between the parties regarding the subject matter herein and supersede all prior understandings, representations, and agreements.

20.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be severed or modified to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

20.3 Waiver

Failure by ChordexBio to enforce any provision of these Terms on one occasion does not constitute a waiver of its right to enforce that or any other provision in the future.

20.4 No agency or partnership

Nothing in these Terms creates any agency, employment, joint venture, franchise, or partnership between ChordexBio and any User. Neither party has authority to bind the other in any manner.

20.5 Force majeure

ChordexBio shall not be liable for any delay or failure in performance of the Platform (as distinct from contracted Engagement Deliverables) caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, government actions, infrastructure outages, pandemics, or cyberattacks.

20.6 Assignment

ChordexBio may assign its rights and obligations under these Terms to a successor entity in the event of a merger, acquisition, or restructuring. You may not assign your rights or obligations without ChordexBio's prior written consent.

20.7 Language

These Terms are drafted in English. Where a translation is provided for convenience, the English version controls in the event of any conflict.

20.8 Notices

All legal notices to ChordexBio must be sent in writing to experts@chordexbio.com. ChordexBio may provide notices to Users via email (to the address submitted through the Platform) or via prominent notice on the Platform.

21 Contact

For questions about these Terms, please contact: