CiteClear helps students and researchers strengthen their academic writing. A free pattern scan flags AI-sounding language — buzzwords, hedge phrases, formulaic transitions, monotone sentence rhythm. Signed-in users also get AI detection, which analyses the text and reports an evidence-based likelihood with quoted signals, and citation audit, which verifies each in-text citation against real published sources using live web search.

It was built to support African students and early-career researchers, who often work without access to professional editors or expensive writing tools. The pattern scan is always free with no account. Signing up gives you 100 free credits to spend on AI detection and citation audits.

CiteClear is a writing coach, not a verdict machine: no AI detector is proof of anything, and detectors are documented to be harsher on non-native English writers. Treat every result as one signal among several and use your own judgement.

Welcome to CiteClear ("CiteClear," "we," "us," or "our"). These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the CiteClear website and web application (collectively, the "Service"). By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. Description of Service. CiteClear is an academic-writing support tool. It offers a free, no-account pattern scan that flags AI-sounding language in a document (buzzwords, hedge phrases, formulaic transitions, monotone sentence rhythm). Signed-in users can also access two AI-powered premium features on a credit system: AI detection, which analyses submitted text and returns an evidence-based likelihood verdict with quoted signals, and citation audit, which verifies each in-text citation already present in a submitted document against real published sources using live web search. CiteClear does not generate, format, or create new citations.

2. Eligibility. You must be at least 13 years old (or the minimum age of digital consent in your jurisdiction) to use the Service. If you are under 18, you confirm that you have permission from a parent or legal guardian to use the Service. By using the Service, you represent that you meet these requirements.

3. Accounts.
3.1 Registration. Certain features require you to create an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information and to keep it updated.
3.2 Account Security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately at support@citeclear.com of any unauthorized use.
3.3 One Account Per User. Accounts are personal and non-transferable.

4. Credits and Payment.
4.1 Free Tier. CiteClear offers a free tier (the pattern scan) with usage limits we may set and change at our discretion.
4.2 Credit System. AI detection and citation audit require credits. Credits are purchased in advance via our third-party payment processor and deducted from your balance as you use these features. There is no recurring subscription charge — you only pay when you choose to top up.
4.3 Purchasing Credits. Credit packages and pricing are displayed at the time of purchase. Payment is due in full at the time of top-up. We reserve the right to change credit pricing or package sizes at any time; changes will not affect credits already purchased.
4.4 No Auto-Renewal. Because credits are a pay-as-you-go system, your account will not be automatically charged. You control when and how much to top up.
4.5 Credit Expiry. Credits do not expire.
4.6 Non-Transferability. Credits are tied to your individual account and may not be transferred, gifted, sold, or exchanged for cash, except as required by law.
4.7 Refunds. Purchased credits are non-refundable once bought, except where required by applicable consumer protection law.
4.8 Failed or Disputed Payments. If a payment fails, is reversed, or is subject to a chargeback after credits have been applied to your account, we reserve the right to deduct the corresponding credits and/or suspend your account pending resolution.
4.9 Insufficient Credits. If your credit balance is insufficient to complete a requested action, the Service will prompt you to top up before proceeding. We are not liable for any inability to access premium features due to an exhausted credit balance.

5. Acceptable Use. You agree not to: use the Service for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable law; submit content that infringes the intellectual property or other rights of any third party; attempt to reverse-engineer, decompile, scrape, or extract the Service's underlying code or data; use automated means (bots, scrapers) to access the Service without our written permission; interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Service; circumvent usage limits, paywalls, or access controls; or misrepresent citations checked by CiteClear as independently verified when submitting academic or professional work, without your own review. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate this section.

6. User Content.
6.1 Your Content. You retain ownership of any text, references, or materials you input into the Service ("User Content").
6.2 License to Us. You grant CiteClear a limited, non-exclusive, worldwide license to process, store, and display your User Content solely as necessary to provide and improve the Service.
6.3 Responsibility. You are solely responsible for the accuracy, legality, and appropriateness of your User Content.

7. Accuracy Disclaimer (Important). CiteClear is a tool designed to assist with AI-writing detection and citation checking. While we strive for accuracy: results may contain errors and should be independently reviewed before submission; CiteClear is not a substitute for your own diligence or for guidance from instructors, advisors, editors, or style manuals; we do not guarantee that any result will meet the specific requirements of any journal, publisher, or academic institution; and no AI detector is proof of anything — its verdict is one signal among several, not an accusation. You are solely responsible for the final use of any CiteClear output in your work.

8. Intellectual Property.
8.1 Our IP. The Service, including its software, design, logos, and content (excluding User Content), is owned by CiteClear or its licensors and protected by intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works without our written permission.
8.2 Feedback. If you provide suggestions or feedback, we may use it without obligation or compensation to you.

9. Third-Party Services. The Service integrates with third-party services, including Firebase (authentication and data storage), an AI model provider (for AI detection and citation audit), and Paystack (payment processing). We are not responsible for the content, policies, or practices of these third parties.

10. Privacy. Your use of the Service is also governed by our Privacy Policy (in preparation — until published, this section of the Terms governs how we handle your data). Because CiteClear serves scholars across multiple African countries, we aim to handle personal data in line with applicable data protection laws in the jurisdictions where our users are located, which may include (among others) Nigeria's Data Protection Act, Kenya's Data Protection Act, South Africa's POPIA, and Ghana's Data Protection Act. Where these laws differ, we apply the higher standard of protection where practicable.

11. Disclaimers. THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR ACCURACY. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR THAT ANY RESULT WILL BE FREE OF ERRORS.

12. Limitation of Liability. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CITECLEAR AND ITS AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF DATA, ACADEMIC PENALTIES, OR LOST OPPORTUNITIES, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO US IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM (OR $50 IF YOU USED ONLY THE FREE TIER).

13. Indemnification. You agree to indemnify and hold CiteClear harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your violation of these Terms or misuse of the Service.

14. Termination. We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time, with or without cause, including for violation of these Terms. You may stop using the Service and delete your account at any time by contacting support@citeclear.com.

15. Changes to the Service or Terms. We may modify the Service or these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via the Service or email. Continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

16. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution. CiteClear is not yet formally incorporated. Once it is, these Terms will be governed by the laws of the country of incorporation, to be named here at that time. In the meantime, and in recognition that CiteClear's users span multiple African countries, disputes arising from these Terms or the Service shall first be attempted to be resolved informally by contacting us at support@citeclear.com. If unresolved, disputes shall be resolved through binding online arbitration before a neutral, mutually agreed arbitral body, rather than requiring litigation in the courts of any single country — so that resolution stays accessible regardless of which country a user is in.

17. Severability. If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full effect.

18. Contact Us. Questions about these Terms? Email: support@citeclear.com

This document is a template adapted for CiteClear and does not constitute legal advice. It should be reviewed by a qualified attorney once CiteClear is incorporated, particularly for the governing-law clause and payment/data-protection compliance.