🤝 Integration Partner Registration

TBN Protocol — Integration Partner API Terms

Effective Date: May 2026
Provider: Hardin Enterprises Ltd (trading as Hardin AI Solutions)
Contact: burhan@hardinai.co.uk

1. Definitions

• "TBN" means the Trusted Bot Network Protocol operated by Hardin Enterprises Ltd.
• "Partner" means the company or individual granted API access under these terms.
• "API Key" means the unique credential issued to the Partner for authentication.
• "Verification Data" means the trust-state information returned by TBN endpoints.

2. Grant of Access

• Hardin Enterprises Ltd grants the Partner a non-exclusive, revocable, non-transferable licence to access the TBN API for the stated integration purpose.
• Access is limited to the endpoints and call volumes agreed upon registration.
• This licence does not grant ownership of, or rights to, the TBN Protocol, its source code, or its data.

3. API Key Security

• The Partner must keep their API key confidential and secure.
• The Partner must not share, publish, or embed the API key in client-side code.
• The Partner must notify Hardin immediately if a key is compromised.
• Hardin may revoke and reissue keys at any time for security reasons.

4. Permitted Use

• The Partner may use Verification Data as contextual evidence within their own system.
• The Partner may cache Verification Data for up to 60 seconds.
• The Partner may display TBN certification status to their end users with proper attribution.

5. Prohibited Use

• The Partner must not resell, sublicence, or redistribute API access to third parties.
• The Partner must not reverse engineer, scrape, or attempt to replicate the TBN Protocol.
• The Partner must not present TBN Verification Data as their own certification or endorsement.
• The Partner must not use the API to modify, create, or delete TBN certifications.
• The Partner must not claim TBN endorsement or partnership without written consent.
• The Partner must not use the API for any unlawful purpose.

6. Attribution

• When displaying TBN trust data to end users, the Partner must include: "Agent certification provided by TBN Protocol (Hardin AI Solutions)".
• The Partner must not alter or misrepresent the meaning of Verification Data.

7. Data & Privacy

• TBN does not share personal data through the API. Verification Data relates to AI agents, not individuals.
• The Partner's use of the API must comply with applicable data protection laws (UK GDPR, EU GDPR).
• Hardin logs API calls (timestamp, key hash, endpoint, agent_id queried) for security and billing purposes.

8. Liability & Boundaries

• TBN provides agent-level trust state only. It does not determine or attribute responsibility for agent behaviour.
• Verification Data is provided "as is". Hardin does not guarantee that a certified agent will behave correctly.
• The Partner is solely responsible for how they interpret and act on Verification Data.
• Hardin's total liability is limited to the fees paid by the Partner in the preceding 12 months.

9. Termination

• Either party may terminate this agreement with 30 days written notice.
• Hardin may terminate immediately if the Partner breaches these terms.
• On termination, the Partner must stop using the API and delete any cached Verification Data.

10. Governing Law

• These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
• Disputes shall be resolved in the courts of England and Wales.

11. Changes

• Hardin may update these terms with 30 days notice to the Partner's registered email.
• Continued use of the API after notice constitutes acceptance of updated terms.

12. Open Source

• The TBN Protocol is licensed under AGPL-3.0. Commercial use of the protocol itself (beyond API access) requires a separate commercial licence from Hardin Enterprises Ltd.