TERMS OF USE
Please read this notice carefully.
The terms of use (hereinafter referred to as the "Terms of Use"), as set forth below, and the privacy information, as specified on the "Privacy" page, regulate the use of this website www.knowledge-share.eu and any subdomains (hereinafter, briefly, the "Site" or the "Sites") and all materials contained therein by the user (hereinafter, the "User").
By browsing and using the content of the Site, each User acknowledges having read and understood these Terms of Use and declares to fully accept them.
These Terms of Use constitute a binding agreement between the User and The Network for the Enhancement of Research - NETVAL, an association headquartered in Lecco (LC), at Via Gaetano Previati, 1/C, tax code 92053760135, VAT number IT03092240138 (hereinafter referred to as "NETVAL"), regarding the use of the Sites and all the material contained therein.
Subject to the purposes of the Site and these Terms of Use, the User is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable right, without the right to sublicense, to use the Site consistently with the type of user assigned to the User, as specified below.
NETVAL shall not be held responsible for any damage due to unauthorized, inappropriate, or otherwise non-compliant use of the Site, within the limits and according to the provisions better specified in the "Limitation of Liability" section.
NETVAL reserves the right to enter into specific agreements that may supplement or derogate from these Terms of Use: in this case, the eventual agreement - if in contrast with these Terms of Use - will be considered prevailing over the clauses that follow.
1.Purpose of the Site
The Site has been created and published with the aim of making the results of the research conducted by Italian universities, research institutions, and Scientific Institutes for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS) (constituted, by way of example but not exhaustively, by patented inventions, startups, and spin-offs from research), easily accessible and understandable on a single platform, in order to promote collaboration with companies, especially but not exclusively small and medium-sized enterprises, investors, and institutions, both Italian and foreign, and support the economic and social development of the nation. The purpose of the Site also includes promoting the results of research from foreign entities and institutions to support collaboration between these organizations and Italian companies, investors, and institutions.
2.1 Copyright
The object code and source code of the Site are owned by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (hereinafter, "MIMIT") - General Directorate for the Protection of Industrial Property - Italian Patent and Trademark Office (hereinafter, "UIBM") located in Rome, Via Molise, 19, Tax Code 80230390587.
With the exception of what is stated in point 1.1, the entire content of the Site, including design, texts, layout, drawings, photos, videos, graphics, and all other elements of the Site pages, as well as their selection and arrangement, are exclusively owned by NETVAL, which holds the related copyright, or are included and used on the Site with the permission of the rightful owner of the respective right. Any use, even partial, of the materials contained on the Site, including reproduction, adaptation, modification, translation, distribution, or publication, is prohibited without the prior written authorization from NETVAL (or the rightful owner in applicable cases). However, the User is allowed to view, print, and/or download the content of the Site for personal interest, where expressly provided and permitted through the appropriate functionalities of the Site itself, exclusively for informative purposes and not for commercial purposes.
Any download or other form of reproduction of materials from the Site does not grant the User any title or right to them. The copyright on the photographs reproduced on the Site is owned by their respective authors or by NETVAL, and they may not be reproduced in any way without the prior written consent of their authors and NETVAL. Users who upload content to the platform (patent cards, start-up cards, images, videos, and any other type of multimedia or textual content) declare to be the rightful owners of the related copyrights or to have obtained consent, license, or authorization from the authors for their publication on the Site. By accepting the Terms of Use, Users expressly declare to indemnify and hold harmless NETVAL, Politecnico di Torino, and UIBM from any third-party claims regarding copyright violations, unauthorized use, and reproduction of any content uploaded to the Site.
2.2 Web Domains
The Site can be reached through the following domains owned by NETVAL:
2.3 Trademarks
All trademarks and distinctive signs reproduced on the Site, including the domain name, are exclusively owned by NETVAL or by third parties who have granted NETVAL the legitimate use. Therefore, the use of these trademarks and distinctive signs is prohibited, unless expressly authorized in writing by NETVAL or the rightful owners.
3.User Types and Site Usage Rules
3.1 Defined User Types:
a) Research User: users belonging to Universities, Research Institutions, Scientific Institutes for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS), all NETVAL members, or any other organization that statutorily conducts scientific or technological research activities and is equipped with a technology transfer office or a similar structure specifically dedicated to the valorization of research results.
b) Business User: users belonging to any organization with legal personality other than those indicated in the previous point.
c) Guest User: all Users who use the site, even just for browsing, without having logged in with a Registered Account.
3.2 User Conduct Terms and Obligations
The User agrees to use the Site in accordance with these Terms of Use and only for lawful activities and in compliance with all applicable laws. The User will be solely responsible for the activities carried out in using the Site.
3.3 Site Registration Each
User may have only one registration (hereinafter also "Registered Account"). Research Entity Users may register on the Site, providing, in addition to personal data, the name of their affiliated entity and its tax code/VAT number.
Business Users may register on the Site, providing, in addition to personal data, the name of their affiliated entity and its tax code/VAT number. Research Users and Business Users are also jointly referred to as Registered Users.
To complete the registration process and gain access to the tools and functionalities of the Site reserved for Registered Users, Users must confirm the validity of the data entered by clicking on the link that will be sent to the email address provided during registration.
Each User guarantees that the information entered during the registration process is truthful, complete, correct, and up-to-date. The User will be held responsible for providing false information during the registration process, and system administrators and/or NETVAL reserve the right to inhibit and/or delete the User's account if false information is identified.
The Registered User will be responsible for the activities carried out on the Site and must ensure the proper safeguarding of their login credentials so that unauthorized persons cannot access them. The User will be fully responsible for any consequences arising from incorrect storage. The User will also be responsible for the security of the devices used to access the Site (computers, phones, tablets, etc.) and the activities carried out through them.
In the event of loss, theft, or unauthorized access to the devices, the Registered User must promptly inform NETVAL by sending an email to privacy@knowledge-share.eu. NETVAL will not be held responsible for any damage caused by unauthorized access to the Registered User's account due to lost or stolen devices or the Registered User's failure to comply with the obligations set out in this paragraph.
3.4 Website navigation and User permissions
A Guest User will be able to:
A Business User will be able to perform the following activities:
A Research Entity User will be able to:
3.5. Uploading and Publishing Content on the Site
Content related to industrial property titles, start-ups, and start-up projects (hereinafter referred to as "Content") are published and viewable by the users within the pages "Patent Showcase" and "Start-up Showcase"
If a Research Entity User has content management permissions, they can:
NETVAL is responsible for assigning permissions to Registered Accounts and publishing Content. Upon receiving a publication request for Content from a Research Entity User, NETVAL may proceed to publish the Content directly or request modifications to comply with the quality parameters defined for Content publication on the Site.
NETVAL reserves the right not to publish Content if it is deemed not in line with communication standards or the purposes of the Site.
The Research Entity User may also request deferred publication of their Content through the specifically provided functionalities of the Site.
It is the responsibility of the Research Entity User creating and maintaining Content to ensure they have been adequately authorized and possess all necessary permissions for disclosing Content from their affiliated entity and any other potentially interested entity (e.g., co-owners of patents or other intellectual property rights or start-up/spin-off companies), including any holders of industrial or intellectual property rights included in the Content (images, trademarks, etc.). The Research Entity User agrees not to create or disseminate Content that is contrary to public order and morality (such as, but not limited to, racist, pornographic, propaganda content, content disseminating political and/or religious doctrines, etc.).
Research Entity Users agree not to disseminate malware and/or files of any nature that may damage the Site, in any architectural or content aspect, and/or other Users.
NETVAL reserves the right, at any time, to suspend or delete a Registered Account and/or associated Content if there is evidence or even suspicion that the Registered User owning the Registered Account has committed or is about to commit actions contrary to the Terms of Use or the principles expressed herein, without the User being able to claim any form of compensation or make any other claim for such reason.
3.6. DNSH Regulation ("Do Not Significantly Harm")
The development and maintenance of the Site are financed by the European Union within the framework of the Next Generation EU initiative, with the intervention planned for the reform of the system for the protection of industrial property, included in Mission 1, Component 2, Investment 6 of the PNRR.
The use of the website, the uploading of content, and their publication are therefore subject to the application of the DNSH regulation, and each User is required, under their own responsibility, to verify the conformity of the published Content in accordance with the regulation.
Hereby referenced is Article 17 of EU Regulation 2020/852, which defines environmental objectives, including the principle of Do Not Significantly Harm (DNSH), and the EU Commission Communication 2021/C 58/01 entitled "Technical guidance on the application of the principle of 'do no significant harm' provided in the regulation on the recovery and resilience plan."
All Registered Users enabled for uploading, creation, and/or publication of Content commit to ensuring that none of them has a direct, exclusive, or significant impact on the following activities:
(1) Except for projects under this measure concerning the production of electricity and/or heat from natural gas, as well as related transmission/transport and distribution infrastructure using natural gas, which comply with the conditions set out in Annex III of the technical guidance on the application of the principle of "do not cause significant harm" (2021/C 58/01).
(2) If the activity benefiting from support generates greenhouse gas emissions not significantly lower than the relevant reference parameters, the reason must be explained. The reference parameters for the free allocation of allowances for activities covered by the scope of the emissions trading scheme are set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/447.
(3) The exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in existing facilities solely dedicated to the treatment of non-recyclable hazardous waste, where such actions are intended to increase energy efficiency, capture exhaust gases for storage or use, or recover materials from combustion residues, provided that such actions under this measure do not result in an increase in the waste treatment capacity of the facility or an extension of its lifespan; relevant evidence is provided at the facility level.
(4) The exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in existing mechanical biological treatment plants where such actions are intended to increase energy efficiency or improve the recycling operations of differentiated waste for conversion into composting and anaerobic digestion of organic waste, provided that such actions under this measure do not result in an increase in the waste treatment capacity of the facility or an extension of its lifespan; relevant evidence is provided at the facility level.
If Content violates one or more of the points described above, Site administrators will have the option to inhibit or delete the Content, duly notifying the relevant User following the procedure described below:
3.7. Platform Usage Limitations and "Anti-Scraping" Measures
The User agrees not to use the Site in any other way or for other purposes, and in particular - unless having obtained prior written consent from NETVAL, to refrain from:
a) Accessing the Database, their own data, or Content through third-party applications and to use only those provided by NETVAL and/or the Site, for which the User has been authorized;
b) Disclosing their access credentials to third parties;
c) Mass downloading or exporting Site Content, of which they are not the owner, particularly through the use of software or other automatic internet data collection systems.
4.Changes to the Site or the Terms of Use
NETVAL may at any time modify the structure, graphical appearance, or architecture of the Site, in compliance with these Terms of Use.
NETVAL also reserves the right to unilaterally modify the Terms of Use at any time and without notice.
In such a case, NETVAL will notify all Registered Users via email at the address provided during registration. Registered Users will have the option, at any time, to request the deletion of their Registered Account, by communicating it in writing via email to [info@knowlegde-share.eu].
In the request for deletion of their Registered Account, Research Entity Users may also request the deletion or sequestration of Content related to their affiliated entity.
NETVAL undertakes to proceed with the deletion of the Registered Account and any potential obsuration/deletion of Content within 33 days.
5.Limitation of Liability
5.1. The User acknowledges and agrees that the consequences of using the Site are entirely and wholly their responsibility.
5.2. NETVAL, therefore, does not provide any warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, ownership, and reliability of the Content published by Research Entity Users, who are therefore solely responsible for the information provided.
If a User identifies inaccuracies, incorrect information, or violations of third-party rights, they are required to report it to NETVAL by sending an email to [info@knowledge-share.eu] so that necessary measures can be taken to terminate any illicit activities or implement corrective measures.
5.3. NETVAL declines any responsibility for any damages that may occur to Users' computer equipment as a result of accessing the Site, the inability to access the Site, or downloading material from the Site, where permitted, including any damages to Users' computer equipment resulting from computer viruses or other malware.
5.4. NETVAL cannot be held responsible, and the User expressly relieves it of any liability, in cases where:
5.5. The Site may contain references and/or links to external websites, not operated by NETVAL, and for whose content NETVAL cannot consequently be held responsible. NETVAL does not provide any warranty regarding the content of these websites, and each User will decide to access and consult them solely at their own risk. The existence of a hyperlink (link) to another website does not imply approval or acceptance of responsibility, neither partial nor indirect, by NETVAL regarding the content or use of the mentioned site.
These Terms of Use were last updated on 21/01/2024.