Terms of Service

Effective Date: March 3, 2026 · Last Updated: March 3, 2026

Agreement

By using TernaryPhysics software ("the Software"), you agree to these Terms of Service. If you don't agree, don't use the Software.

Licensing

Dual License Model

TernaryPhysics uses a dual-license approach:

BPF/Kernel Code - GPL-2.0

All BPF programs and kernel-space code are licensed under GPL-2.0 as required by the Linux kernel to use GPL-only kernel functions. This is a technical requirement, not a choice.

  • Applies to: All BPF programs, kernel hooks, eBPF bytecode
  • Copyleft: Modifications must be GPL-2.0
  • Required for: Using GPL-only kernel APIs

Userspace Code - Apache 2.0

All userspace code, tooling, and libraries are licensed under Apache License 2.0. You are free to:

  • Use the Software for any purpose (commercial or non-commercial)
  • Modify and distribute the Software
  • Create proprietary derivatives of userspace code
  • Grant patent licenses (as specified in Apache 2.0)

Applies to: License validator, training code, CLI tools, deployment scripts, documentation.

See the full license at LICENSE.

Commercial Licenses

Commercial licenses are required for production use (exiting shadow mode and taking action on traffic).

Trial

  • Duration: 30 days (automatic on first install)
  • Mode: Shadow only (observe, no actions)
  • Nodes: Unlimited
  • Cost: Free
  • Support: Community (GitHub)

Startup

  • Duration: Annual subscription
  • Mode: Shadow + Live
  • Nodes: Up to 10
  • Cost: $99/month per node
  • Support: Community (GitHub)
  • Example: 5-node cluster = $495/month ($5,940/year)

Enterprise

  • Duration: Custom (annual/multi-year)
  • Mode: Shadow + Live + Custom integrations
  • Nodes: Unlimited
  • Cost: Custom pricing (volume discounts)
  • Support: Priority support, SLA, dedicated engineer
  • Features: Custom BPF programs, proprietary modifications, air-gap deployments

Contact sales@ternaryphysics.com for commercial licensing.

Patent License

TernaryPhysics technology is covered by pending patents (U.S. Provisional Patent Application filed March 2026).

Open Source Users

Under both GPL-2.0 and Apache 2.0 licenses, you receive a patent license to use the Software as distributed. This license is royalty-free for non-commercial and commercial use, provided you:

  • Use the Software as-is or with modifications under the respective licenses
  • Comply with GPL-2.0 for BPF code (copyleft) and Apache 2.0 for userspace code
  • Don't assert patent claims against TernaryPhysics or other users

Commercial License Holders

Commercial licenses include broader patent grants for proprietary modifications and integrations. See your commercial license agreement for details.

Acceptable Use

You may use TernaryPhysics for lawful purposes. You may not:

  • Use the Software for illegal activity
  • Circumvent license verification mechanisms (if using commercial license)
  • Reverse engineer for patent circumvention
  • Violate export control laws
  • Use in life-critical systems without appropriate testing and safeguards

Warranties and Disclaimers

No Warranty (Open Source)

The Software is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind. We don't guarantee:

  • Fitness for a particular purpose
  • Error-free operation
  • Uninterrupted service
  • Security against all threats

Commercial Support

Commercial license holders receive warranties and SLAs as specified in their license agreement.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

  • We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
  • Our total liability will not exceed the fees paid (if any) in the last 12 months
  • This applies even if we've been advised of the possibility of damages

Critical Infrastructure Warning: This Software makes autonomous decisions about network traffic. Test thoroughly before deploying in production. Use shadow mode for at least 30 days. We are not responsible for network outages, data loss, or security incidents resulting from misconfiguration or failure to follow deployment guidelines.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless TernaryPhysics from claims arising from:

  • Your use of the Software
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of applicable laws

Production Deployment

TernaryPhysics has been production-validated, but every infrastructure is unique. Before deploying:

  1. Read the documentation: Understand how the system works
  2. Test in shadow mode: Minimum 30 days before acting on traffic
  3. Review decisions: Use tp audit tail to inspect AI decisions
  4. Set up rollback: Know how to disable or rollback if needed
  5. Monitor performance: Watch for false positives or regressions

Failure to follow deployment best practices may result in network issues. You are responsible for testing and validation in your environment.

Data and Privacy

TernaryPhysics runs on-premise. We don't collect production data. See our Privacy Policy for details.

You are responsible for:

  • Compliance with data protection laws (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)
  • Ensuring your use of the Software complies with privacy regulations
  • Securing access to audit logs and decision records

Export Control

The Software may be subject to U.S. export control laws. You agree to:

  • Comply with all applicable export regulations
  • Not export to sanctioned countries or entities
  • Not use in nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons programs

Termination

You may stop using the Software at any time. We may terminate commercial licenses if you breach these Terms.

Upon termination:

  • Apache 2.0 rights continue (can't be revoked)
  • Commercial license rights cease
  • You should remove the Software from production (if using commercial license)

Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. Material changes will be announced via:

  • This website (with updated "Last Updated" date)
  • GitHub repository announcements
  • Email (for commercial license holders)

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, USA, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Disputes will be resolved in the state or federal courts of California.

Contact

Questions about these Terms?

Summary (Not Legal Advice)

Open source users: Use freely under Apache 2.0, no warranty. Commercial users: See your license agreement. Everyone: Test before deploying, we're not liable for production issues. Deploy responsibly.