Terms of Use

1. User Agreement

1.1 The FUSE program was designed by researchers and educators at Northwestern University. These Terms of Use constitute an agreement between you and Northwestern University (“Northwestern”) that governs your use of the FUSE websites and all associated services (collectively “FUSE”). Please read the Terms of Use carefully. By using FUSE you affirm that you have read, understood, and accepted the terms and conditions in the Terms of Use. If you do not agree with any of these conditions, you may not create an account with FUSE.

1.2 Your privacy is important to us. Please read our Privacy Policy, which identifies how FUSE uses, collects, and stores information it collects through the Services. By using FUSE, you additionally agree that you are comfortable with FUSE’s Privacy Policy.

1.3 FUSE is open to children and adults of all ages, and we ask that you keep this in mind when using FUSE services. When you use FUSE, you agree to abide by the FUSE Terms of Use.

1.4 Northwestern may change the Terms of Use from time to time. You can always find the latest version of the Terms of Use at http://fusestudio.net/terms. The date of the most recent revisions will appear on this page. Your continued use of the Services constitutes your acceptance of any changes to or revisions of the Terms of Use.

2. Account Creation and Maintenance

2.1 In order to use some features of the Services, you will need to create an account on fusestudio.net. Creating an account is optional, but without an account you will not be able to access challenge content, save or publish projects or post comments on fusestudio.net. When registering for a personal account, you may be asked to provide certain personal information, such as your email address, gender, birthdate, and country. Please see the FUSE Privacy Policy for our data retention and usage policies.

2.2 You are responsible for keeping your password secret and your account secure. You are solely responsible for any use of your account, even if your account is used by another person. If any use of your account violates the Terms of Use, your account may be suspended or deleted.

2.3 You may not use another person’s fusestudio.net account without permission.

2.5 If you have reason to believe that your fusestudio.net account is no longer secure (for example, in the event of a loss, theft, or sharing of your password), promptly change your password. If you cannot access your account to change your password, contact us at help@fusestudio.net.

3. Rules of Usage

3.1 We support freedom of expression. However, FUSE is intended for a wide audience, and some content is not appropriate for the FUSE community. You may not use the FUSE service in any way, that:

  1. Promotes hate or violence against any individual or group;
  2. Threatens, harasses, or intimidates any other person, whether that person is a FUSE user or not;
  3. Uses profanity;
  4. Shows or talks about nudity, violence, or sexual activity;
  5. Provides instructions on how to act illegally or get illegal products;
  6. Asks any other user for personally identifying information (like their address or phone number) or passwords; or
  7. Shares any other person’s personal information, (like address, phone number or password) without that person’s permission.

3.2 You agree to comply with all applicable laws and regulations when you use FUSE. You may not use FUSE in any unlawful way, including to harass, stalk, or lie about any other person.

3.3 You may not impersonate, imitate or pretend to be somebody else when using the Services.

3.4 You agree not to use FUSE in any way intended to disrupt the service, gain unauthorized access to the service, or interfere with any other user’s ability to use the service. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to:

  1. Posting content deliberately designed to crash the FUSE website or editor;
  2. Linking to pages containing viruses or malware;
  3. Using administrator passwords or pretending to be an administrator;
  4. Repeatedly posting the same material, or “spamming.”

3.7 Commercial use of FUSE user-generated content, and support materials is not permitted. We reserve the right to block any unapproved commercial use and any use of FUSE or fusestudio.net that is harmful to the community.

3.8 You agree not to post links to any content outside of the FUSE website, if to do so would violate any part of the Terms of Use.

4. User-Generated Content and Licensing

4.1 For the purposes of the Terms of Use, “user-generated content” includes any projects, comments, forum posts, or links to third party websites that a user submits to FUSE.

4.2 We encourage everyone to foster creativity by freely sharing code, art, music, and other works. However, we also understand the need for individuals and companies to protect their intellectual property rights. You are responsible for making sure you have the necessary rights, licenses, or permission for any user-generated content you submit to FUSE.

4.3 All user-generated content you submit to FUSE is licensed to and through FUSE under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. This allows others to view and remix your content if they credit you in their projects. This license also allows us to display, distribute, and reproduce your content on the FUSE website. If you do not want to license your content under this license, then do not share it with FUSE.

4.4 You may only submit user-generated projects that are created for FUSE Challenges.

4.5 Although we require all users to comply with these Terms of Use, some inappropriate user-generated content may be submitted and displayed on FUSE’s website, fusestudio.net. You understand that when you use FUSE you may be exposed to user-generated content that you find offensive. If you see any content that violates the Terms of Use, please let us know by sending an email to help<at>fusestudio.net or contacting your facilitator. You only need to report an item once. FUSE reviews reported content every day.

4.6 In addition to reviewing reported user-generated content, we reserve the right, but is not obligated, to monitor all uses of FUSE service. We may edit, move, or delete any content that violates the Terms of Use, without notice.

4.7 All user-generated content is provided as-is. We make no warranties about the accuracy or reliability of any user-generated content available through FUSE. We do not endorse any views, opinions, or advice expressed in user-generated content. You agree to relieve us of any and all liability arising from user-generated content.

4.8 We store your personal information and data files associated with you on secure servers. We will keep personal information about you only as long as you maintain an active account on the website. If you delete your account, we will take reasonable measures to destroy or permanently de-identify personal information in a secure manner. We may keep data you have uploaded (level completion documentation), your challenge history, and demographic data (your gender, age, and ethnicity), but your name, contact information, and location will no longer be attached to this data. Comments you have made will become “anonymous” and will no longer display your username or profile image.

4.9 Research. By using FUSE’s website, you agree to participate in research related to FUSE. We may share or publish aggregated information and other information that does not specifically identify you, such as statistics about the number of visitors to our websites or about challenge activity occurring on fusestudio.net. Level completion documentation you upload may be de-identified and shared with other FUSE users and researchers. All identifying information, such as real names and locations, would be removed before these data are used in analysis. If you have questions or would like more information about our research, please email research<at>fusestudio.net regarding Northwestern IRB study # STU00057776.

5. FUSE Content and Licensing

5.1 Except for any user-generated content, we own and retain all rights in and to FUSE code, design, functionality, and architecture of fusestudio.net, and any software or content provided through FUSE (collectively “FUSE I.P."). If you want to use FUSE in a way that is not allowed by these Terms of Use, you must first contact us via info<at>fusestudio.net. Except for any rights explicitly granted under these Terms of Use, you are not granted any rights in and to any FUSE IP.

5.2 FUSE provides support materials, including images, sounds, and sample code, to help users build projects. Support materials are our property and are not for re-distribution or re-use.

5.3 The FUSE name and FUSE logo are Trademarks owned by us. The Northwestern name and logo are Trademarks owned by Northwestern University. Unless you are licensed by us under a specific licensing program or agreement, you may not use these logos to label, promote, or endorse any product or service. You may use the FUSE Logo to refer to the FUSE website and Challenges.

5.4 FUSE support materials may contain images and sounds that are trademarked by third parties. The fact that materials are included in the FUSE support materials library does not in any way limit or reduce intellectual property rights, including trademark rights, otherwise available to the materials' owners. Nothing in these Terms of Use or the Creative Commons 4.0 license will be construed to limit or reduce any party’s rights in that party’s valid trademarks. You may not use these materials to label, promote, or endorse any product or service. You are solely responsible for any violation of a third party’s intellectual property rights caused by your misuse of these materials.

6. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)

6.1 If you are a copyright holder and believe that content on FUSE violates your rights, you may send a DMCA notification to info<at>fusestudio.net. For more information, including the information that must be included in a DMCA notification, see our full DMCA Policy and the text of the DMCA, 17 U.S.C. § 512.

6.2 If you are a FUSE user and you believe that your content is not a copyright violation and was taken down by mistake, please email info<at>fusestudio.net. Please include:

  • Your FUSE username and email address;
  • The specific content you believe was taken down by mistake; and
  • A brief statement of why you believe there was no copyright violation (e.g., the content was not copyrighted, you had permission to use the content, or your use of the content was a “fair use”).

7. Suspension and Termination of Accounts

7.1 We have the right to suspend your account for violations of the Terms of Use. Repeat violators may have their account deleted. We reserve the sole right to determine what constitutes a violation of the Terms of Use. We also reserve the right to terminate any account used to circumvent prior enforcement of the Terms of Use.

7.2 If you want to delete or temporarily disable your account, please email info<at>fusestudio.net.

8. Third Party Websites

8.1 Content on fusestudio.net, including user-generated content, may include links to third party websites. We are not capable of reviewing or managing third party websites, and we assume no responsibility for the privacy practices, content, or functionality of third party websites. You agree to relieve us of any and all liability arising from third party websites.

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify Northwestern University and all its affiliates, employees, faculty members, fellows, students, agents, representatives, third party service providers, and members of their governing boards, and to defend and hold each of them harmless, from any and all claims and liabilities (including attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your breach of the Terms of Service or your use of FUSE.

10. Disclaimer of Warranty

You acknowledge that you are using FUSE at your own risk. FUSE is provided “as is,” and we hereby expressly disclaim any and all warranties, express and implied, including but not limited to any warranties of accuracy, reliability, title, merchantability, non-infringement, fitness for a particular purpose or any other warranty, condition, guarantee or representation, whether oral, in writing or in electronic form, including but not limited to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained therein or provided by FUSE. Northwestern University, FUSE, and their third party service providers do not represent or warrant that access to FUSE will be uninterrupted or that there will be no failures, errors or omissions or loss of transmitted information, or that no viruses will be transmitted through FUSE services.

11. Limitation of Liability

We shall not be liable to you or any third parties for any direct, indirect, special, consequential or punitive damages of any kind, regardless of the type of claim or the nature of the cause of action, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

12. Jurisdiction

FUSE is offered from our facilities in the United States. We make no representations that FUSE is appropriate or available for use in other locations. Those who access or use FUSE and/or fusestudio.net are responsible for compliance with local law.

13. Choice of Law and Venue

You agree that these Terms of Use, for all purposes, shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois applicable to contracts to be wholly performed therein, and any action based on, relating to, or alleging a breach of the Terms of Use must be brought in a state or federal court in Cook County, Illinois. In addition, both parties agree to submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of such courts.

14. Choice of Language

If FUSE provides you with a translation of the English language version of these Terms of Use, the Privacy Policy, or any other policy, then you agree that the translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not modify the English language version. In the event of a conflict between a translation and the English version, the English version will govern.

15. No Waiver

No waiver of any term of these Terms of Use shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term, and our failure to assert any right or provision under these Terms of Use shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

16. Entire Agreement

This document constitutes the entire Terms of Use and supersedes all previous agreements relating to the use of FUSE and fusestudio.net.

Revision date: 17 February 2022.