Terms of Service

1. Who We Are and Agreement to Terms

Certelo is operated by EVOBLOX Ltd, trading as Certelo, registered in England and Wales (Company No. 16253695), 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ ("Evoblox", "we", "us", "our").

By accessing or using certelo.io (the "Service"), you agree to these Terms. These Terms apply globally. Jurisdiction-specific provisions are in Sections 16 and 17.

2. How the Service Works

Certelo operates on a privacy-first, no-registration model:

Visit certelo.io and select the service you need.

Pay via our third-party payment processor. Certelo does not collect or store your card details. See Section 6 for full details.

Upload your file. All hashing occurs client-side in your browser using SHA-256. Your original file never leaves your device.

Only the hash, never the file, is anchored to the Electra Protocol blockchain with a timestamp.

You receive a proof certificate with your hash, blockchain transaction ID, and timestamp. Store this independently as your permanent record.

Certelo does not maintain user accounts or personal data stores for the timestamping service. Optional website analytics are described in our Privacy Policy Section 3.5.

3. Description of Service

3.1 What Certelo provides

File Hashing: SHA-256 hash generated entirely within your browser.

Blockchain Anchoring: only the hash submitted to the Electra Protocol blockchain with a timestamp.

Verification: an independently verifiable on-chain record confirming a file existed in its exact form at the recorded time.

3.2 What Certelo does NOT provide

Storage, access, or retention of your original file. Architecturally impossible.

Collection or storage of personal data for the core timestamping service.

Legal ownership of any idea or intellectual property.

A substitute for formal IP protection (patents, trademarks, copyright).

Legal advice or legal services.

A guarantee of admissibility of timestamps in any jurisdiction.

Identity verification of the person who submitted the file.

4. What Certelo Proves and What It Does Not Prove

4.1 What Certelo proves

A Certelo timestamp provides cryptographic evidence that a file producing a specific hash existed at or before the blockchain timestamp at the moment of submission, and that the file had not been modified at that time. Mathematically verifiable by any party with blockchain access.

4.2 What Certelo does NOT prove

Authorship or inventorship of the content within the file.

Originality or novelty of any idea.

Legal ownership or intellectual property rights.

Guaranteed admissibility as evidence in any jurisdiction.

The identity of the person who submitted the file.

See Section 17 and the Legal Claims & Disclaimer for jurisdiction-specific guidance.

5. Eligibility

By using the Service you represent: (a) you are at least 18 years of age or the applicable age of majority in your jurisdiction; (b) you have legal capacity to agree to these Terms; (c) you will comply with all applicable laws. If acting on behalf of a company, you have authority to bind that entity.

6. Payment, Third-Party Processor, and Financial Data

6.1 How payment works

Payments are processed exclusively by an independent third-party payment processor. Evoblox does not collect, process, store, or access your card number, bank details, or payment credentials.

6.2 Data held by the payment processor

The processor operates independently under its own terms and privacy policy (see certelo.io/payments). It may collect your name, billing address, card details, and other data required by AML, KYC, PCI DSS, and fraud prevention obligations. Evoblox has no access to or control over this data.

6.3 Merchant dashboard and payment data viewing

Evoblox accesses its merchant account with the payment processor to review payment activity for accounting and dispute resolution purposes. Transaction information visible in the merchant dashboard (including names, amounts, and dates) is held within the payment processor's systems. Evoblox views this data solely to confirm payments and resolve disputes. Evoblox does not export, copy, store in its own systems, or use for any other purpose the personal information visible in the merchant dashboard. Only a transaction reference is retained by Evoblox where required by UK financial law.

6.4 Pricing and VAT

All prices displayed at certelo.io in GBP unless otherwise stated, excluding VAT or applicable taxes. You are responsible for taxes applicable in your jurisdiction.

6.5 Refunds

Refunds only available before the hash is submitted to the blockchain. Once anchored on-chain, no refund is possible; this is a technical property of blockchain, not a discretionary policy.

7. Optional Website Analytics

certelo.io offers optional Google Tag Manager (GTM-K6Q3GJKW) on public pages only. It loads only after you choose Accept analytics. You can keep only needed services or use Change analytics choice in the footer. Full details are in the Privacy Policy Section 3.5 and Section 13.

8. Future Service Development

Certelo may introduce optional or required account registration in the future. Should this occur, these Terms and the Privacy Policy will be updated with advance notice. The core timestamping service will continue to operate on a privacy-first basis.

9. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

Violate any applicable law or regulation.

Infringe intellectual property or other rights of any third party.

Submit files containing unlawful, harmful, defamatory, or fraudulent content.

Create false timestamps or misrepresent document existence dates.

Interfere with or disrupt the Service, servers, or networks.

Systematically extract or harvest data from the Service.

Use the Service in any way that brings Evoblox into disrepute.

10. Intellectual Property

You retain all rights to your original documents and ideas. By using Certelo you grant Evoblox a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to process the hash of your file solely to provide the Service. The Certelo platform, software, and trademarks are owned exclusively by Evoblox. Proof certificates generated are yours to use, store, and share.

11. Blockchain Data and Immutability

Blockchain data is permanent and immutable. Evoblox cannot delete or alter on-chain records.

Your document hash will remain on the Electra Protocol blockchain indefinitely and is publicly visible. It cannot reconstruct your original document.

If Certelo ceases operations, the on-chain record remains independently verifiable. Retain original files and proof certificates independently.

You are solely responsible for maintaining backups of your original files.

Modifying a file after timestamping produces a different hash. Preserve the original file unchanged.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. EVOBLOX DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR THAT BLOCKCHAIN RECORDS WILL REMAIN PERMANENTLY ACCESSIBLE ON ANY PARTICULAR INTERFACE.

13. Limitation of Liability

Evoblox shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages.

Total aggregate liability shall not exceed the greater of: (a) total fees paid by you in the twelve months preceding the claim; or (b) £100 GBP.

Evoblox is not liable for acts, omissions, or data handling by the third-party payment processor or Google Tag Manager provider, which operate independently.

Nothing herein excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any liability that cannot be excluded under English law.

For consumers: nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights under applicable consumer protection laws in your jurisdiction.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Evoblox, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Service; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any third-party rights; or (d) any content you submit.

15. Force Majeure

Evoblox will not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, pandemics, war, government actions, sanctions, internet failures, or blockchain network disruptions.

16. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

16.1 Business users (B2B)

Governed by the laws of England and Wales. Good faith negotiation for 30 days then LCIA arbitration, London seat, English language.

16.2 Consumers: UK

Governed by English law. Does not affect statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. May bring claims in courts of England and Wales or country of residence.

16.3 Consumers: EU/EEA

EU Directive 2011/83/EU mandatory consumer protections apply regardless of governing law clause.

16.4 United States

Binding arbitration under AAA rules. Small claims court exception. Class action waiver where permitted by state law.

16.5 Australia

Australian Consumer Law rights under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) apply and cannot be excluded.

16.6 Brazil

Brazilian consumer protection rights under the Código de Defesa do Consumidor apply and cannot be excluded.

16.7 Canada

Canadian provincial consumer protection laws apply where mandatory. Quebec consumer legislation applies to Quebec residents.

16.8 All other jurisdictions

Where mandatory local consumer protection laws grant rights stronger than under English law, those rights apply. Users are responsible for ensuring use of the Service complies with laws in their jurisdiction.

17. Jurisdiction-Specific Provisions: Blockchain Evidence

See the Legal Claims & Disclaimer for full detail on blockchain evidence in each jurisdiction.

17.1 United Kingdom

Admissible at court's discretion under the Electronic Communications Act 2000. UK Jurisdiction Taskforce 2019 Statement supports recognition. Supplementary evidence advised per Legal Claims & Disclaimer Section 3.3.

17.2 European Union / EEA

Cannot be denied legal effect under eIDAS Article 25. Not Qualified Electronic Timestamps under Article 42. Contact hello@certelo.io for QTS options. EU GDPR Art. 27 representative to be appointed before EEA launch.

17.3 United States

FRE 901(b)(9) baseline admissibility in all 50 states. Additional statutory support in Wyoming (Wyo. Stat. §34-29-106), Vermont (Rule 902(13)), Arizona (A.R.S. §44-7061), Illinois, and Tennessee.

17.4 Australia

Admissible under the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth). Pragmatic court approach to digital evidence.

17.5 Brazil

Admissible under Marco Civil da Internet (Law 12,965/2014) and civil procedure rules.

17.6 Canada

Admissible under provincial and federal electronic commerce legislation across Canada.

17.7 Japan

Admissible under civil procedure and electronic commerce rules. Technically sophisticated courts.

17.8 Singapore

Admissible under the Electronic Transactions Act. Technology-forward courts with strong blockchain receptiveness.

17.9 South Korea

Admissible under the Electronic Signature Act and civil procedure rules.

17.10 India

Admissible under the IT Act 2000 and Indian Evidence Act. Section 65B certificate may be needed for court use.

17.11 South Africa

Admissible under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002.

17.12 China

Supreme People's Court has recognised blockchain evidence since 2018, among the strongest globally. Data localisation context disclosed in Privacy Policy Section 11.9.

17.13 Russia

May be admitted under civil procedure rules. Sanctions compliance applies; service availability may be affected.

17.14 All Other Jurisdictions

Certelo timestamps are mathematically verifiable cryptographic records that satisfy the technical foundation for electronic evidence admission under virtually all modern legal systems. Users should consult local legal counsel for specific admissibility requirements.

18. Sanctions Compliance

Evoblox Ltd complies fully with UK, UN, and other applicable international sanctions. Certelo reserves the right to decline, suspend, or terminate service where providing the Service would violate applicable sanctions law.

19. Severability and Entire Agreement

If any provision is unenforceable, it shall be limited to the minimum extent necessary. The remaining provisions remain in full force. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Evoblox regarding the Service.

20. Changes to These Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be published on certelo.io with a revised effective date. Continued use constitutes acceptance.

21. Contact

EVOBLOX Ltd t/a Certelo | 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ

Company No. 16253695 (England and Wales)

Contact: hello@certelo.io | Cookie Settings: certelo.io/cookies | Website: certelo.io