10 — Licensing Protocols

# Software License Agreement

## Effective Date
November 11, 2025

## Version
Protocol v2.0 (Stable)

## Table of Contents
- 01. Ownership & Scope  
- 02. License Grant  
- 03. Restrictions  
- 04. IP Rights  
- 05. AI Disclaimer  
- 06. Third-Party AI  
- 07. Open Source  
- 08. Installations  
- 09. Updates & Support  
- 10. Data & Telemetry  
- 11. Export Compliance  
- 12. Audit Rights  
- 13. Billing & Refunds  
- 14. Termination  
- 15. Warranties  
- 16. Liability  
- 17. Governing Law  
- 18. Specialized Governance

This document constitutes a binding agreement for the proprietary use of Dropstone Software.

## Section 01

### Notice of Ownership & Scope
This Software License Agreement ("Agreement") is a legal contract between you ("Licensee") and Blankline ("Company").

The Software incorporates components derived from open-source projects, including but not limited to Visual Studio Code, which is licensed under the MIT License. All such components remain subject to their respective licenses.

However, the compiled Software as a whole, including its modifications, integrations, features, branding, design, user interface (UI), workflows, and custom functionalities constitutes a collective and proprietary work owned exclusively by Blankline. This Agreement governs only the proprietary version branded as Dropstone.

## Section 02

### Grant of License
Subject to full compliance with this Agreement, Blankline grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, and revocable license to:  
- Download, install, and use one copy of the Software in compiled executable form only;  
- For personal use or internal business operations only.

## Section 03

### License Restrictions
Licensee shall not:  
- Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Software;  
- Modify, adapt, or create derivative works;  
- Copy, distribute, rent, lease, or sublicense the Software;  
- Circumvent security, usage limits, or licensing mechanisms;  
- Remove or obscure any proprietary notices or branding;  
- Use the Software for any unlawful purpose.

## Section 04

### Intellectual Property
All rights, title, and interest in and to the Software, including trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights, remain the sole and exclusive property of Blankline. No title or ownership is transferred to you.

#### AI-Generated Content Ownership
Blankline claims no ownership rights over user-generated or AI-assisted code outputs created through use of the Software. You retain all intellectual property rights in outputs generated through Dropstone.

## Section 05

### AI Functionality Disclaimer
#### Autonomous AI Disclaimer
BLANKLINE SHALL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOSS, DATA CORRUPTION, OR SYSTEM DAMAGE ARISING FROM AUTONOMOUS AI OPERATIONS OR CODE MODIFICATIONS PERFORMED BY THE SOFTWARE.  
- AI-generated code may contain errors or security vulnerabilities;  
- Users are solely responsible for reviewing and testing all AI outputs;  
- Blankline disclaims liability for any consequences of autonomous operations.

## Section 06

### Third-Party AI Providers
The Software integrates with third-party providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, and DeepSeek. These integrations are subject to the respective providers' terms. Blankline disclaims all warranties for outputs generated by third-party AI services.

## Section 07

### Open-Source Components
Blankline acknowledges and complies with all applicable open-source licenses for components incorporated into the Software. Use of the proprietary Dropstone build does not grant rights beyond those specified in this Agreement.

## Section 08

### Permitted Installations
Licensee may install the Software on multiple devices registered to the same account, subject to subscription tier limits. The Software must not be shared with unauthorized users.

## Section 09

### Updates & Support
The Software may automatically download and install updates. Continued use requires acceptance of these versions. Support is provided on a best-effort basis for active subscribers.

## Section 10

### Data & Telemetry
The Software collects usage statistics and diagnostic information to improve service quality. All data collection complies with our Privacy Policy. Telemetry is mandatory for core operations.

## Section 11

### Export Compliance
You agree to comply with all applicable international export control laws. Use in prohibited jurisdictions or by restricted parties is forbidden.

## Section 12

### Audit Rights
Licensee agrees to provide information necessary to verify compliance with this Agreement upon reasonable notice from Blankline.

## Section 13

### Billing & Refund Policy
**Strict No-Refund Policy:** ALL SALES ARE FINAL. No refunds or credits will be provided for any reason including dissatisfaction or change of mind.  
Subscription fees are processed via Stripe and billed according to your selected plan.

## Section 14

### Termination
This license terminates automatically upon breach of terms, subscription expiry, or failure to pay fees. Upon termination, you must cease use and uninstall the Software.

## Section 15

### Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. BLANKLINE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

## Section 16

### Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, BLANKLINE'S TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE LESSER OF THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU IN THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS OR $900 USD.

## Section 17

### Governing Law
This Agreement is governed by the laws of India. Disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Chennai, India.

## Section 18

### Specialized Governance (Tier 1, Tier 2, & God Mode)
#### 18.1 Governance Oversight
Access to Enterprise Tier 1, Tier 2, and "God Mode" Teams functionality is strictly governed by the Blankline Research Integrity Council.

#### 18.2 Supplemental Terms
Licenses for these tiers are not granted solely by this Agreement and require supplemental authorization issued by the Council. Licensees of these tiers are bound by additional safety, alignment, and ethical deployment rules.

#### 18.3 Incorporation by Reference
The Council’s governing rules and research integrity frameworks are hereby incorporated by reference and can be accessed at: [https://www.blankline.org/governance/research-integrity-council](https://www.blankline.org/governance/research-integrity-council).

BY INSTALLING OR USING THE SOFTWARE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREED TO BE BOUND BY THIS PROPRIETARY LICENSE AGREEMENT.
