Terms of Service

Last updated: February 26, 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of Cortex ("usecortex", "the Service"), operated by Turki Altazi ("we", "us", "our") at usecortex.net. By using Cortex, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. The Service

Cortex is an encrypted knowledge base that allows you to organize knowledge through conversation and access it via API. The Service includes:

• A conversational interface for inputting knowledge
• AI-powered extraction and organization of knowledge into structured formats
• An API for reading and writing knowledge programmatically
• AES-256-GCM encryption of stored knowledge data

2. Accounts

• You must provide a valid email address to create an account
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials and API keys
• You must be at least 16 years old to use the Service
• One person or entity per account — accounts are not transferable
• You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account

3. Your Data & Content

Ownership

You own your data. All knowledge content you create, upload, or generate through Cortex remains your intellectual property. We do not claim ownership of your content.

License to Operate

By using Cortex, you grant us a limited, non-exclusive license to process, encrypt, store, and transmit your content solely for the purpose of providing the Service. This license ends when you delete your content or account.

AI Processing

Your conversational input is processed by an AI model (Anthropic Claude) to extract and organize knowledge. By using the Service, you consent to this processing. The AI provider does not retain or use your data for training purposes.

Content Restrictions

You agree not to store or transmit through Cortex:

• Content that violates any applicable law or regulation
• Content that infringes on the intellectual property rights of others
• Malware, viruses, or any malicious code
• Content intended to harm, harass, or threaten others

4. API Usage

• Your API key is private — do not share it publicly
• Rate limits apply based on your plan (Free, Pro, or Team)
• You are responsible for securing API access in your applications
• We reserve the right to throttle or suspend API access if usage patterns indicate abuse
• API availability is provided on a "best effort" basis — we do not guarantee 100% uptime

5. Plans & Payment

Free Plan

The Free plan provides limited access at no cost. We may modify Free plan limits at any time.

Paid Plans

• Paid plans (Pro, Team) are billed monthly through Stripe
• Prices are listed on our website and may change with 30 days' notice
• You can cancel your subscription at any time — access continues until the end of the billing period
• No refunds are provided for partial billing periods

Downgrades

If you downgrade from a paid plan to Free, your data remains accessible but you will be subject to Free plan limits. If your usage exceeds Free limits, you may need to delete content or upgrade to continue using the Service.

6. Security & Encryption

We encrypt your knowledge data at rest using AES-256-GCM. However:

• Cortex is a knowledge organizer, not a dedicated secrets vault. While we take security seriously, you should use purpose-built tools (1Password, AWS Secrets Manager, etc.) for critical credentials and secrets.
• We cannot guarantee absolute security. No method of electronic storage is 100% secure.
• You are responsible for the security of your API keys and access tokens.
• If you discover a security vulnerability, please report it to admin@usecortex.net.

7. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract source code from the Service
• Use the Service to compete directly with Cortex
• Attempt to access other users' data or accounts
• Overload the Service with excessive requests (beyond reasonable use or plan limits)
• Use the Service for any illegal purpose
• Resell access to the Service without written permission

8. Service Availability

• We strive for high availability but do not guarantee uninterrupted service
• We may perform maintenance that temporarily affects availability
• We will make reasonable efforts to notify users of planned downtime
• We are not liable for losses resulting from service downtime

9. Termination

• By you: You can delete your account at any time. Upon deletion, your data will be permanently removed within 30 days.
• By us: We may suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms, engage in abusive behavior, or fail to pay for a paid plan. We will provide notice when possible.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• The Service is provided "AS IS" without warranties of any kind, express or implied
• We do not warrant that the Service will be error-free or uninterrupted
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages
• Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months prior to the claim
• We are not responsible for the security of data you choose to transmit through your API to third-party applications

11. Intellectual Property

The Cortex brand, logo, website design, and underlying technology are owned by Turki Altazi. You may not copy, modify, or distribute any part of the Service without written permission. "usecortex" and the usecortex logo are trademarks.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email or a notice on the website. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. If you disagree with updated Terms, you should stop using the Service and delete your account.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with applicable law. Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be resolved through good-faith negotiation first, and if necessary, through binding arbitration.

14. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Contact us at:

Email: admin@usecortex.net
Website: usecortex.net