Welcome to GradeGuard. These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of our website, mobile applications, and related services ("Platform"). By registering, accessing, or using GradeGuard, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.
Important: If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must immediately discontinue use of the Platform.
1. Introduction and Purpose
1.1 About GradeGuard
GradeGuard is a platform designed to reduce, prevent, and trace missing grades by offering secure submission, timestamped proof, lecturer interfacing, and record-keeping solutions.
1.2 Why These Terms Matter
Students, lecturers, and institutions rely on academic trust. We created these Terms to:
- Clarify our role and limitations
- Ensure users know their responsibilities
- Protect GradeGuard and its community from disputes
- Establish a fair, transparent framework for using our services
1.3 Agreement
By signing up, logging in, or uploading any content, you automatically enter into a binding agreement with GradeGuard under these Terms.
2. Scope of Service
2.1 What We Do
GradeGuard provides tools for:
- Uploading assignments, projects, and exam submissions
- Timestamped digital evidence of submissions
- Lecturer-facing portals for parallel storage
- Verification of uploaded work as proof during grade disputes
2.2 What We Do NOT Do
GradeGuard does not:
- Award, assign, or alter final grades
- Intervene in institutional policies (fees, deferred exams, withheld results)
- Guarantee acceptance of uploaded proof by academic authorities
- Replace official university learning systems
2.3 Our Focus
We aim to solve preventable and traceable grade-loss issues such as:
- Lost or unrecorded assignments
- Submitted but ungraded coursework
- Technical submission errors
- Missing lab/practical work records
- Misplaced exam scripts
This accounts for 70–80% of missing grade problems, while recognizing that administrative clearance issues remain under institutional control.
3. User Responsibilities
3.1 General Obligations
Users agree to:
- Provide accurate, truthful information when creating accounts
- Use the Platform for legitimate academic purposes
- Keep login credentials secure
- Respect all intellectual property rights
3.2 Prohibited Conduct
Users must NOT:
- Upload malicious or illegal files
- Manipulate timestamps or falsify submissions
- Impersonate other students or lecturers
- Abuse the system to mislead institutions
- Use GradeGuard as a replacement for official submissions when policies require otherwise
3.3 Shared Responsibility
GradeGuard is a support tool, not an excuse for negligence. Students are responsible for meeting official deadlines, and lecturers are responsible for grading per institutional policies.
4. Accuracy, Timing, and Communication
4.1 Expected Release Dates vs. Guarantees
Any feature launch dates, upgrade announcements, or timelines we communicate (e.g., "release Friday") are targets, not guarantees.
Delays or technical issues may occur, and GradeGuard bears no liability for perceived unmet promises.
4.2 Proof vs. Outcome
- GradeGuard provides proof of submission, but the academic outcome remains subject to the lecturer's or institution's decision
- Evidence stored on GradeGuard is supportive but not binding on universities
4.3 Changes in Service
- We may modify, suspend, or discontinue features at any time without liability
- We will communicate significant updates through official channels (website, email, WhatsApp groups, or GitHub releases)
5. Payments & Premium Access
5.1 Free vs. Premium Services
- Users may access limited features for free
- Premium access provides additional tools (unlimited uploads, advanced analytics, priority support, etc.)
5.2 Payment Terms
- Fees are due in advance and are non-refundable, unless required by law
- Non-payment results in restricted or terminated premium access
- Prices may change with reasonable prior notice
5.3 User Obligation
All users share the responsibility to ensure payments are made if premium access is required.
6. Data, Security & Privacy
6.1 User Data
- We collect and store information (assignments, submissions, metadata) necessary for service delivery
- By using GradeGuard, you grant us permission to process this data in line with our Privacy Policy
6.2 Data Security
- We apply reasonable technical measures (encryption, backups, redundancy)
- However, no system is 100% secure; users accept this risk
6.3 User Responsibility
- Users must keep login credentials secure
- GradeGuard is not liable for losses arising from compromised accounts due to weak passwords or user negligence
7. Intellectual Property
7.1 Ownership
All content, branding, code, and features belong to GradeGuard.
7.2 User Content
- Users retain ownership of their uploaded content
- By uploading, users grant GradeGuard a limited license to store, back up, and process submissions for academic proof purposes
7.3 Restrictions
No user may copy, sell, or distribute GradeGuard's platform or branding without written consent.
8. Liability & Disclaimers
8.1 Limitation of Liability
GradeGuard, its founders, team members, or affiliates are not liable for:
- Institutional decisions beyond our control
- Misinterpretation of communications or announcements
- Losses due to delays, downtime, or service unavailability
- Academic, personal, or professional consequences of missing or disputed grades
8.2 Indirect Damages
We are not responsible for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including but not limited to stress, academic withdrawal, or financial loss.
8.3 "Good Faith" Clause
Users acknowledge that GradeGuard operates in good faith to assist students and lecturers but does not replace official academic processes.
9. Dispute Resolution
9.1 Internal Resolution
Users must first attempt to resolve disputes directly with GradeGuard support.
9.2 Jurisdiction
All disputes shall be governed by and interpreted under the laws of Malawi.
9.3 Arbitration Option
In certain cases, disputes may be referred to confidential arbitration instead of court.
10. Termination of Service
10.1 Termination by User
Users may deactivate their account at any time.
10.2 Termination by GradeGuard
We may suspend or terminate access if a user:
- Violates these Terms
- Fails to pay for premium services
- Misuses the Platform in a way that could harm the community
11. Amendments
- GradeGuard reserves the right to revise these Terms at any time
- Updated Terms will be communicated via official channels
- Continued use of the Platform after updates constitutes acceptance
12. Final Provisions
12.1 Severability
If one clause is found unenforceable, the rest remain valid.
12.2 Entire Agreement
These Terms represent the entire agreement between GradeGuard and the user.
12.3 Survival
Certain clauses (payments, intellectual property, limitations of liability) survive termination of the agreement.
✅ Key Protective Elements:
- "Release date = target" clause → protects against Friday/public confusion
- Limitation of liability → protects against lawsuits for institutional or personal consequences
- Misuse protection → covers manipulation attempts by bad-faith users
- Jurisdiction control → avoids being dragged into foreign courts
- Good faith clause → shows care while providing legal shield