1. Scope and provider
These Terms of Use ("Terms") apply to the web application OpenPLS at cloud.openpls.app and to the associated marketing site at openpls.app.
The provider is Johannes Jacob, Ohlsdorfer Straße 72, 22297 Hamburg, Germany ("Provider"). Contact: hello@openpls.app.
2. Description of services
OpenPLS is a web application for modelling and estimating structural equation models using the Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM) procedure. Features include, among others, visual model design, data import, statistical estimation, bootstrap procedures, and export of results.
Use is currently free of charge. The Provider reserves the right to introduce paid features in the future; in that case, terms will be transparently disclosed before any purchase.
The engine underlying OpenPLS is released under GPL-3.0 as Open Source and may be run independently of the cloud app, locally or as a Docker container.
3. Registration and account
Use of the cloud app requires registration with a valid email address. You must provide truthful information and keep your password confidential. An account may not be shared between multiple natural persons unless this happens through explicitly provided team functionality.
4. Permitted use
You agree not to misuse the app. In particular, the following is prohibited:
- uploading data for which you do not have sufficient rights;
- uploading personal data without an adequate legal basis or consent of the data subjects;
- automated bulk requests (scraping) that impair the proper operation of the platform;
- attempting to bypass security mechanisms, gain unauthorised access to other accounts, or inject malicious code;
- use for any unlawful purpose.
5. Availability
The Provider endeavours to ensure a high level of availability of the app but does not guarantee any specific level of availability or response time. Maintenance and updates will be scheduled, where possible, to minimise disruption.
6. Data storage and backups
Uploaded datasets, models, and results are stored in the infrastructure provided by Google Firebase. You retain all rights to your content. The Provider does not maintain project-specific offline backups; users are advised to back up important data themselves (e.g. via the export function).
7. Beta status and warranty
The OpenPLS cloud app is under active development. Individual features may change without prior notice. Computation results are checked, to the extent possible, against established reference values from the PLS-SEM literature; however, the Provider does not guarantee full numerical agreement with any specific third-party tool.
When publishing scientific results obtained with OpenPLS, we recommend citing the engine version used to ensure reproducibility.
8. Liability
The Provider is liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence and in accordance with the German Product Liability Act. For slight negligence, the Provider is only liable for breaches of a material contractual obligation (cardinal obligation), and only up to the typically foreseeable damage.
Any further liability is excluded. This applies in particular to consequential damages arising from computation results or their interpretation.
9. Termination
You may delete your account at any time without giving reasons via the app. The Provider may terminate the user relationship with 30 days' notice. The right to extraordinary termination (e.g. for serious breaches of these Terms) remains unaffected.
10. Changes to these Terms
The Provider is entitled to adapt these Terms where required for legal or functional reasons. For material changes, you will be informed by email or in the app; the changed terms are deemed accepted if you continue to use the app afterwards.
11. Applicable law and place of jurisdiction
The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. If you are a merchant, a legal entity under public law, or a special fund under public law, the place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from this contractual relationship is Hamburg.
12. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is or becomes invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected.