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JUDY is a comprehensive database of African case law and legislation used by legal professionals and the general public. We have designed these Terms of Service to be as clear and straightforward as possible.
This is a legally binding contract (“Agreement”) between you and JUDY Innovative Technologies Limited (“JUDY,” “we,” or “us”). It governs your use of all sites (including www.judy.legal, app.judy.legal, lite.judy.legal or any other JUDY domain), services, mobile applications (including those available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store), products, and content provided by JUDY, whether existing now or developed in the future (collectively, “JUDY Services” or “the Services”).
PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY before using JUDY. By accessing or using any JUDY Services, you agree to be bound by all terms in this Agreement and to the collection and use of your information as described in our Privacy Policy, regardless of whether you are a registered user. If you do not agree with these terms, please do not use JUDY.
We welcome your feedback and suggestions on how to improve our policies in support of our mission. Please send your input to hello@judy.legal.
In this Agreement, unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings assigned below:
“Account” means the personal or organizational profile created on JUDY that provides access to the Services.
“API” means Application Programming Interface, which may be offered by JUDY to allow programmatic access to certain features or data.
“Authorized User” means any person who is authorized to use JUDY by virtue of having a registered account on the platform.
“Author” means the creator of any content on the JUDY platform.
“Commercial User” means any user who accesses or uses the Services primarily for business, commercial, or professional purposes.
“Content” means any articles, legal analysis, commentary, case updates, and other written information on the public JUDY website that is created by JUDY users.
“Effective Date” means the date when you first access the Services or when your subscription begins, whichever is earlier.
“Free Services” means JUDY services that are accessible without a paid subscription.
“Intellectual Property Rights” means all patent rights, copyright rights, mask work rights, moral rights, rights of publicity, trademark, trade dress and service mark rights, goodwill, trade secret rights and other intellectual property rights that may exist now or come into existence in the future, under the laws of any state, country, territory or other jurisdiction.
“JUDY Property” means all reputational indicators, ranking systems, badges, or other status symbols displayed on the platform.
“Login Shield” means JUDY’s two-factor authentication security system.
“Material breach” means a breach of this Agreement that is serious and has a substantial effect on this Agreement in the reasonable opinion of JUDY.
“Non-Commercial User” means any user who accesses or uses the Services primarily for personal, educational, or non-business purposes.
“Original Content” means content that is first published on JUDY.
“Privacy Policy” means JUDY’s privacy policy available at www.judy.legal/privacy-policy.
“Republished Content” means content that was first published elsewhere and then republished on JUDY.
“Services” means the JUDY mobile application, website, products and content provided by JUDY, in existence now or in the future.
“Subscriber” means a natural person, company, law firm, school, or any other entity that is registered on JUDY.
“Subscription Agreement” means the specific terms governing a premium subscription, which may include pricing, features, and duration.
“Subscription Services” means JUDY services that are accessible only through a paid premium subscription.
“2FA” means Two-Factor Authentication.
The following principles of interpretation shall apply to this Agreement:
Headings are provided only for ease of reference and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
Any reference to a written law in this Agreement shall be interpreted to include that law as it is amended, consolidated, extended or re-enacted, but newer versions of the law shall not have retrospective effect.
You may use the JUDY Services only if you can form a binding contract with JUDY, and only in compliance with this Agreement and all applicable local, state, national, and international laws, rules and regulations. The Services are not available to any users previously removed by JUDY.
JUDY offers both free Services (“Free Services”) and Services accessible only through a premium subscription (“Subscription Services”).
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you are granted a non-exclusive, limited, non-transferable, freely revocable license to use the Services as permitted by the free features of the Services. JUDY reserves all rights not expressly granted in the Services and JUDY Content (as defined below). JUDY may terminate this license at any time for any reason or no reason.
Access to and use of the Subscription Services is subject to these Terms, as well as any and all terms and conditions set forth in a separate agreement (“Subscription Agreement”) between JUDY and you, your law firm, company or other entity (“Subscriber”).
For information about JUDY’s subscription services, email hello@judy.legal
JUDY grants Subscribers, during the term of the Subscription Agreement, a non-exclusive, limited, non-transferable, worldwide license to access and use the selected JUDY Subscription Services indicated in the Subscription Agreement in accordance with the provisions herein.
Users are permitted to use the applicable Subscription Services solely in connection with the Subscriber’s provision of its legal services to clients or within its own practice, business or educational activities, and in a manner that is not commercially prejudicial to JUDY.
Users shall not share, and shall ensure that their personnel, including Authorized Users, do not share passwords or access or use the Subscribed Service except to the extent expressly permitted by section 2.4, or as otherwise expressly permitted in writing by JUDY.
A Subscriber shall pay the subscription fees (“Fees”) in the amount(s) indicated on the Subscription Agreement.
For subscriptions concluded on the platform, the final figure paid by the customer shall be inclusive of both cost and all applicable taxes.
Payment for subscription fees and applicable taxes is due at the time of purchase or subscription renewal, unless otherwise specified in the Subscription Agreement.
JUDY will provide the Subscription Services commencing on the Effective Date for an initial term of 30 days, and thereafter for successive 30-day renewal terms, unless and until the subscription is terminated with respect to any or all of the Subscribed Services as provided in sections 4.2 or 4.3.
By subscribing to the JUDY Services, you authorize JUDY to automatically renew your subscription using the payment method provided during registration. JUDY will make reasonable efforts to notify you of upcoming renewals approximately 7 days before the renewal date; however, the absence of such notification does not invalidate any renewal charges.
Automatic renewal will only process if your selected payment method supports recurring payments. For subscriptions paid via Mobile Money, Bank Transfer, or other methods where JUDY cannot directly collect payment, your subscription will terminate at the end of the paid period unless you update to a payment method that supports automatic renewal. It is the user’s responsibility to manage subscription cancellation through the platform interface.
In the event of automatic renewal, subscribers may request a refund for the most recent payment period, provided that no premium content has been accessed during that renewal period. All refund requests are subject to the refund policy outlined in Section 4.5.
A Subscriber may terminate their subscription for any Subscription Service, effective at the end of the current subscription period, by cancelling through their account settings on the platform or by contacting customer support at hello@judy.legal. No refund will be issued for the current subscription period unless otherwise specified in this Agreement.
JUDY may terminate a subscriber’s subscription:
1) Immediately and without prior notice if the Subscriber breaches any provision of this Agreement, including but not limited to violations of the usage restrictions outlined in Section 6;
2) Immediately if payment cannot be processed or fails, regardless of payment method; or
3) At any time, without cause, effective upon giving Subscriber written notice of termination.
Upon termination of the Subscription Services for any reason, the Subscriber’s access to premium features will immediately cease. All provisions of this Agreement which by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including without limitation ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, and limitations of liability.
If JUDY terminates a subscription without cause pursuant to Section 4.3(c), JUDY shall refund the unused portion of the subscription fee on a pro-rata basis for the current billing period.
Refund requests must be submitted within 14 days of termination to hello@judy.legal.
JUDY reserves the right to withhold refunds where a subscriber has violated these terms or where applicable laws require such withholding.
We may offer limited pre-subscription trials to potential subscribers and individual users. When you’re using JUDY on a trial, you are authorized to use one or more of the JUDY Subscription Services for a limited period of time, all as determined by us in our sole discretion. All Authorized Users of Trial Services are subject to the same terms and use restrictions as Subscribers.
JUDY reserves the right to revoke, suspend, or terminate any user’s access to the Services, without prior notice, upon any actual or suspected violation of this Agreement.
You agree to access JUDY Services only through authorized channels (Free Services, Trial Services, or Subscription Services) for which you have proper credentials. Any attempt to circumvent access restrictions or security controls is prohibited.
Users of Trial Services and Subscription Services must maintain the confidentiality of their credentials and not share usernames or passwords with any third party.
When using JUDY Services, you agree not to:
Data Collection: Engage in bulk downloading, scraping, or automated collection of materials from the platform.
System Load: Use automated systems that send excessive requests to JUDY’s servers or place unreasonable load on our infrastructure.
Access Controls: Bypass or attempt to bypass any security measures, access restrictions, or technical limitations JUDY has implemented.
Account Sharing: Share or transfer your login credentials or allow unauthorized access through your account. Each account is intended for a single individual user only.
Community Conduct: Engage in disrespectful, abusive, or harassing behavior when interacting with other JUDY users or their content.
Note: JUDY grants limited exceptions to public search engines to index certain materials solely for creating public searchable indices, subject to our discretion and limitations.
JUDY reserves the right to terminate your access to the Services if you engage in prohibited activities or otherwise violate these terms.
JUDY Services enable users to publish articles, legal analysis, commentary, case updates, and other written information (“content”). While JUDY claims no ownership over your content, by posting or transferring content to JUDY, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to:
Store, display, reproduce, and distribute your content
Promote your content on other platforms and with partners
Use your content in ways that help us provide and improve JUDY Services
You retain all ownership rights to your content, and we will never sell your content to third parties without your explicit permission.
By publishing on JUDY, you agree that:
Others may view your content
Others may use “Original Content” (content first published on JUDY) under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license
Others may use “Republished Content” (content you previously published elsewhere) in accordance with Section 7.4
JUDY reserves the right to remove any content at our discretion. While you may delete your content at any time, there may be a delay in its removal from public view, and once deleted, it may be permanently unrecoverable.
You are solely responsible for all content you submit to JUDY and represent that you own or have the necessary rights to post such content without conflicting with other licenses you may have granted.
You may post content you own on JUDY even if you’ve previously published it elsewhere (such as on your blog or professional website), provided you didn’t grant exclusive rights to other platforms or publishers.
JUDY offers features to import content from external sources and link it to relevant legal materials within our database. Content republished from other sources is subject to the attribution rules detailed in Section 7.4.
JUDY is a professional legal community platform. Users are expected to contribute content that advances collective understanding, demonstrates thought leadership, and builds connections within the legal community.
You agree not to contribute content that:
Intellectual Property: Infringes on copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, or other intellectual property rights
Harmful Content: Contains malicious code, viruses, or programming intended to damage systems or data
Inappropriate Material: Is libelous, defamatory, abusive, threatening, harassing, hateful, obscene, or otherwise violates any law or personal rights
Privacy Violations: Contains personally identifying or confidential information
Illegal Content: Contains information that is illegal under applicable law
Exploitative Content: Targets minors or vulnerable individuals
Deceptive Practices: Contains spam, deceptive links, or uses misleading tactics
Fraudulent Activity: Involves impersonation, phishing, or automated posting
JUDY reserves the right to remove content, suspend accounts, or ban users who violate these standards, without notice and at our sole discretion.
When sharing content originally published on JUDY (“Original Content”) outside the platform, you must:
Clearly indicate the author’s name
Include a hyperlink to the author’s JUDY profile
Include a hyperlink to the original page on JUDY where the content appears
Comply with all Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license terms
When sharing content that was first published elsewhere and then republished on JUDY (“Republished Content”), you may only:
Post brief quotations or snippets (not exceeding two sentences)
Clearly indicate the author’s name
Include a hyperlink to either the author’s JUDY profile or their official professional page
Include a hyperlink to the page on JUDY where the content appears, or to its original external publication
For any other use of Republished Content, you must obtain express permission from the author or copyright holder.
For questions about proper content sharing or attribution, contact hello@judy.legal.
JUDY is a professional platform powered by contributions from attorneys, academics, and legal experts. To maintain the integrity and credibility of our community:
Authentic Identity Requirement: All users must register with their real names and accurate information. This includes providing your real name and a valid email address.
Account Verification: JUDY reserves the right to verify user identity information and may cancel or refuse registration at our discretion.
Account Termination: Your subscription may be terminated without notice if we determine that you have provided inaccurate, deceptive, or false personal information.
Account Security: You are responsible for:
Maintaining the security of your account password
Notifying JUDY immediately of any security breach or unauthorized access
Never using another user’s account without explicit permission
JUDY is not liable for any losses resulting from unauthorized use of your account.
To enhance security, JUDY has implemented “Login Shield,” a mandatory two-factor authentication system for all users.
By using JUDY Services, you agree to:
Maintain 2FA: Keep your two-factor authentication active at all times
Protect 2FA Credentials: Never share your 2FA credentials with unauthorized persons
Accept Consequences: Understand that sharing 2FA credentials with unauthorized persons may result in immediate suspension or termination of your access
You are solely responsible for all interactions with other JUDY users.
JUDY: - Reserves the right, but has no obligation, to monitor disputes between users - Bears no liability for any user interactions or any user’s action or inaction - Does not mediate or resolve disputes between users unless they violate our terms
All right, title, and interest in and to the JUDY platform (including text, graphics, logos, tools, features, photographs, software, audio, and video) are and will remain the exclusive property of JUDY.
This includes: - All system-generated content that is not in the public domain - Enhanced, formatted, or otherwise value-added versions of public domain materials (such as annotated cases, statutes, or regulations) - The selection, arrangement, and presentation of legal materials, even if the underlying materials are in the public domain - The unique technology, algorithms, and methodologies used to organize and deliver legal information
The following materials are not claimed as JUDY’s exclusive property: - Original content provided by users, though users grant JUDY a license as specified in Section 7 - Raw text of judicial cases, statutes, regulations, and other primary legal documents in their unenhanced form
JUDY Services are protected by copyright, trademark, and other applicable laws in all jurisdictions where we operate.
Except as explicitly provided in this Agreement, nothing shall be deemed to create a license in or under JUDY’s intellectual property rights. You agree not to: - Sell, license, or rent JUDY Services or content - Modify, distribute, copy, or reproduce JUDY materials - Transmit, publicly display, or perform JUDY content - Adapt, edit, or create derivative works from JUDY Services
Certain portions of the site are licensed under third-party open source licenses
JUDY has open-sourced some of its code, available at https://github.com/judydotlegal/
For all other site elements, you may not duplicate, copy, or reuse any portion of the HTML/CSS, Javascript, logos, or visual design elements without express written permission from JUDY
Any feedback, comments, or suggestions you provide regarding JUDY or JUDY Services: - Is entirely voluntary - May be used by JUDY as we see fit - Creates no obligation from JUDY to you
JUDY offers different account types for various user categories. If you create a JUDY account on behalf of a law firm, organization, or other entity:
The term “you” in this Agreement includes both you personally and the entity you represent
You represent and warrant that:
You are an authorized representative of the entity
You have the authority to bind the entity to this Agreement
You agree to this Agreement on the entity’s behalf
The entity assumes joint responsibility for all activities conducted through the account
Primary legal documents (such as cases, statutes, and regulations) are matters of public record. JUDY is committed to making this information widely accessible and has no obligation to comply with takedown requests for public domain materials.
At our discretion, JUDY may consider requests to remove specific legal materials from public search engine results. To submit such a request: - Email: hello@judy.legal - Include: Your contact information, the specific URL, and reason for the request
If you believe any judicial opinion filed under seal or subject to a protective order has been published in error, please notify us immediately at hello@judy.legal.
JUDY is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. By using our Services:
You acknowledge that no attorney-client relationship exists between you and JUDY
You understand that all content is for general informational purposes only
You recognize that JUDY:
Provides a platform for legal research and knowledge sharing
Cannot guarantee the applicability of content to your specific situation
Does not review all user-generated content with the same scrutiny a lawyer would apply to a client’s specific case
Is not responsible for applying legal principles to your particular circumstances
User-provided content undergoes moderation to maintain quality standards, but JUDY is not a substitute for personalized legal advice. For specific legal issues, consult a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction.
JUDY reserves the right to modify this Agreement at any time.
Material Changes: For significant changes, we will notify you via email and update the “last modified” date
Other Changes: May be posted to our blog or Terms of Service page
Continued Use: Continuing to use JUDY Services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised terms
Disagreement: If you do not agree with revised terms, you must stop using the Services
The most current version of this Agreement will always be available at www.judy.legal/terms-of-service.
JUDY may modify, improve, or update our Services at any time without notice. This includes the right to:
Change or add features
Terminate or restrict access to any aspect of the Service
Remove any content at our discretion
While we strive to provide reliable service, these changes may occur without prior notification.
Users may be recognized publicly for their activities and contributions. The platform may include reputation indicators, ranking systems, badges, or other status symbols (“JUDY Property”).
You understand and agree that:
JUDY Property represents a limited license right governed solely by this Agreement
JUDY Property has no monetary value and cannot be redeemed for money
You do not own your account or any digital assets within it
JUDY has the absolute right to manage, modify, or eliminate JUDY Property at its sole discretion
All data on JUDY’s servers may be deleted, altered, moved, or transferred at any time for any reason
JUDY expressly disclaims any value attributed to data residing on our servers. Regardless of any value you or third parties may attribute to such data, all account history and content may be modified or removed at any time without notice or liability.
When using JUDY Services, you consent to the collection and use of information as detailed in our Privacy Policy.
If you are located outside countries where JUDY is registered, you consent to the transfer, storage, and processing of your information (including posted content and personal information) to and within countries where JUDY operates.
By providing your email address, you consent to: - Receive service-related notices, including legally required notifications - Receive messages about features, updates, and special offers (with the option to unsubscribe) - Electronic communications in place of postal mail
You may opt out of promotional messages at any time through your Account Settings or by using the unsubscribe link included in each message. Please note that even if you opt out of promotional communications, you will still receive essential service-related notices.
JUDY Services are intended only for users 13 years of age and older.
If you are under 13 years old, you are not permitted to use JUDY. If we discover that a child under 13 is using our Services, we will terminate the account immediately.
JUDY implements security measures designed to protect user data and maintain the integrity of our platform.
For inquiries about JUDY’s data security, application security, or physical security measures, potential subscribers may contact hello@judy.legal.
While we strive to use commercially reasonable means to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of data transmitted through or stored on our platform.
JUDY may offer the option to create or access accounts using third-party authentication services (such as Google, Apple, or other identity providers).
If you choose to use third-party authentication:
You acknowledge and agree to the terms, privacy policies, and other agreements governing those third-party services
You understand that JUDY is not responsible for the security, privacy practices, or content of these third-party providers
You authorize JUDY to access and use information from the third-party service as permitted by that service and your privacy settings
JUDY reserves the right to add, modify, or remove third-party authentication options at any time.
The JUDY Services may contain links to external websites, content providers, advertisers, services, or special offers not owned or controlled by JUDY.
JUDY does not: - Endorse any third-party websites or services - Review or control third-party content - Assume responsibility for materials, products, or services offered by third parties - Guarantee the accuracy, legality, or appropriateness of third-party content
By accessing third-party resources through links on JUDY: - You do so at your own risk - You understand that JUDY’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy do not apply to third-party sites - You release JUDY from any liability arising from your use of third-party websites, services, or content
For details about how JUDY handles your information when interacting with third parties, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
You use JUDY Services entirely at your own risk. All services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied.
JUDY expressly disclaims all warranties regarding our services, including but not limited to: - Suitability for your specific requirements - Uninterrupted or error-free operation - Security of the services - Quality of information or materials obtained through the services - Correction of defects or errors
You expressly understand and agree that JUDY shall not be liable for any: - Direct damages - Indirect damages - Incidental damages - Special damages - Consequential damages - Exemplary damages
This includes, without limitation, damages for: - Loss of profits, revenue, or anticipated savings - Loss of goodwill or reputation - Loss or corruption of data - Cost of procurement of substitute goods or services - Any other intangible losses arising from your use of the services
This limitation applies regardless of whether: - JUDY has been advised of the possibility of such damages - The limited remedies provided fail their essential purpose
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, JUDY assumes no liability or responsibility for: - Errors, mistakes, or inaccuracies in content, which may occur despite our commitment to quality. We continuously emphasize that JUDY Services are provided for informational purposes only, and all content should be verified independently before being relied upon for critical matters - Personal injury or property damage resulting from your use of the services - Unauthorized access to JUDY’s systems or user data - Service interruptions or transmission failures - Malicious software introduced by third parties - Errors or omissions in content - Offensive, defamatory, or illegal content posted by users or third parties
In no event shall the total liability of JUDY, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, suppliers, or licensors for all damages, losses, and causes of action exceed the greater of: - The total amount paid by you to JUDY during the six (6) months immediately preceding the date on which your claim arose, or - The equivalent of USD $100 in your local currency
These limitations of liability apply to all claims, whether based on warranty, contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or any other legal theory, and shall apply to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in the relevant jurisdiction.
This Agreement, together with our Privacy Policy, constitutes the entire agreement between you and JUDY regarding your use of the Services, superseding any prior agreements between you and JUDY (including earlier versions of this Agreement).
The failure of JUDY to exercise or enforce any right or provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the countries where JUDY is a registered company, without regard to conflict of law principles. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods does not apply to this Agreement.
You agree that JUDY’s services are deemed to be provided from the countries where JUDY is registered. For any legal actions where we seek to protect our intellectual property rights, you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts located in these countries.
For actions related to this Agreement, you agree that Lagos is the proper forum for any appeals of arbitration awards or court proceedings if arbitration provisions are found unenforceable.
IMPORTANT: THIS SECTION REQUIRES BINDING ARBITRATION AND AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS
Before initiating any formal legal proceeding, you agree to contact us at hello@judy.legal and attempt to resolve any dispute informally for at least 60 days.
If informal resolution fails, all disputes arising from this Agreement (except for claims seeking injunctive relief) shall be resolved through binding arbitration under the laws of the country where JUDY is registered.
Arbitration will take place in the country where JUDY is registered, unless we mutually agree otherwise.
For commercial users: - Arbitration will take place in the country where JUDY is registered, unless we mutually agree otherwise - Each party is responsible for their own arbitration costs, including filing fees, administrative costs, and arbitrator fees - The arbitrator may award costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees, and witness expenses to the prevailing party
For individual non-commercial users: - Initial filing fees may apply unless you obtain a fee waiver - The arbitrator may award you reasonable costs and attorney’s fees - You may use small claims court for eligible disputes without first engaging in arbitration
Any arbitration award may be entered as a judgment in any court with proper jurisdiction.
JUDY reserves the right to seek injunctive relief in court to protect its intellectual property rights and data security.
You may not transfer or assign your rights under this Agreement to any third party. JUDY may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement without restriction or notice. Any attempted transfer or assignment by you will be void.
JUDY may send you notifications via: - Email - Written notice - Posts on our website
To contact JUDY: hello@judy.legal
For users: We’ll use the email address you provided during registration
You are responsible for ensuring our communications are not filtered or blocked by your email provider or network settings.
We welcome your feedback on these terms at hello@judy.legal
This Terms of Service was last modified on Friday, April 18, 2025