Terms of Service

1. Introduction & Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Vaya, a developer challenge marketplace ("Vaya," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or using our platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms").

If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use the platform. You must be at least 18 years of age to use this service.

2. Definitions

The following terms have specific meanings throughout these Terms of Service:

• "Sponsoring Organization" refers to the company or organization that creates, funds, and posts a challenge on the platform.
• "Vaya Credits" (or "Credits") are units of value issued to users upon successful completion of a challenge. Credits are pegged to the current U.S. Dollar exchange rate but do not constitute legal tender, currency, or stored value.
• "Review Acceptance" refers to the point at which a Sponsoring Organization or Vaya formally approves a user's challenge submission, triggering the issuance of Credits and the transfer of intellectual property rights.

3. Account Terms

To use certain features of the platform, you must create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information during registration
• Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Promptly notify us of any unauthorized access to your account
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account

To receive payouts, you must complete our Know Your Customer (KYC) verification process. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that fail to complete KYC or provide fraudulent information.

4. Platform Services

Vaya is a marketplace that connects developers with Sponsoring Organizations offering paid challenges for coding tasks. We act as an intermediary and escrow service between Sponsoring Organizations and developers.

We do not guarantee the availability of challenges, the acceptance of your submissions, or payment for any work performed. Challenge availability, requirements, and acceptance criteria are determined by the Sponsoring Organizations posting the challenges.

5. Payment Terms & Credits

Challenge completion and payout decisions are made at the discretion of both Vaya and the Sponsoring Organization. By using the platform, you acknowledge and agree that:

• Upon Review Acceptance, you will be credited with Vaya Credits corresponding to the challenge reward amount
• Credits represent a balance pegged to the U.S. Dollar exchange rate but do not constitute legal tender, currency, or stored value
• Vaya may, at its discretion, allow conversion of Credits to other units of value
• Withdrawal of Credits requires: (1) successful completion of our Know Your Customer (KYC) verification process, and (2) approval through Vaya's withdrawal review process
• All withdrawal requests are subject to Vaya review
• Vaya reserves the right to withhold Credits or withdrawal for any reason, including but not limited to suspected fraud, violation of these Terms, or disputes regarding submission quality
• Challenge acceptance decisions are made by the Sponsoring Organization and/or Vaya, and such decisions are final

You are responsible for any taxes associated with Credits received or withdrawn through the platform.

6. Intellectual Property

All intellectual property rights in work submitted for challenges belong to the Sponsoring Organization upon Review Acceptance. By submitting work to a challenge, you:

• Assign all rights, title, and interest in your submission to the Sponsoring Organization only upon Review Acceptance (i.e., when your submission is formally approved by the Sponsoring Organization or Vaya)
• Acknowledge that intellectual property rights are NOT transferred for rejected, abandoned, or withdrawn submissions
• Grant Vaya a non-exclusive license to use, display, and process your submissions for platform operations, regardless of acceptance status
• Represent that your submission is original and does not infringe any third-party rights

The issuance of Credits and the transfer of intellectual property rights occur simultaneously at the moment of Review Acceptance.

The Vaya platform, including its design, features, and content, remains the exclusive property of Vaya

7. User Conduct

You agree not to:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Submit fraudulent, plagiarized, or AI-generated work without disclosure
• Attempt to manipulate challenge outcomes or platform metrics
• Harass, threaten, or harm other users or Sponsoring Organizations
• Interfere with the platform's operation or security
• Create multiple accounts or share account access
• Use the platform for any unlawful or unauthorized purpose

Violation of these guidelines may result in immediate account termination without notice.

8. Dispute Resolution

Disputes regarding challenge requirements, submission quality, or acceptance decisions are primarily between the user and the Sponsoring Organization. By using the platform, you acknowledge and agree that:

• Vaya serves as an escrow service for challenge funds, not as a party to disputes
• Vaya may, at its discretion, assist in mediating disputes between users and Sponsoring Organizations, but is not obligated to do so
• Vaya's decisions regarding the release or withholding of Credits in disputed matters are final and binding
• You agree to engage in good faith efforts to resolve disputes directly with the Sponsoring Organization before requesting Vaya's assistance

9. Limitation of Liability

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, VAYA SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR OPPORTUNITIES.

Our total liability for any claims arising from your use of the platform shall not exceed the amount paid to you through the platform in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Vaya and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from your use of the platform, violation of these Terms, or infringement of any third-party rights.

11. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. Upon termination:

• Your right to access the platform ceases immediately
• Any pending challenge submissions may be forfeited
• Outstanding payments may be withheld pending review

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us at support@bountylab.io.

12. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to the platform. Your continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

13. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the platform shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Travis County, Texas.

14. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at: