Terms of Use (Effective Date: 10/01/2025)

Please read these terms of use ("Terms of Use", "Agreement") carefully before using our website (“Website”, "Service") provided or operated by INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences) ("us", "we", "our") with a registered office at 5521 Research Park Drive, Suite 200, Catonsville, Maryland 21228.

Conditions of Use

By accessing, viewing, or using this Website, you indicate that you understand and intend these Terms of Use to be the legal equivalent of a signed, written contract and equally binding, and that you accept such Terms of Use and agree to be legally bound by them. If you do not want to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, you are advised to leave the website accordingly and not use our Service. INFORMS only grants use and access of this Website, its products, and its services to those who have accepted its terms.

The content of the Website is for your general information and use only. Neither we nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness, or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on this Website for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors, and we expressly disclaim liability for any such inaccuracies or errors permitted by law.

INFORMS does not guarantee uninterrupted access to the Website or Services and is not liable for any temporary unavailability due to maintenance or technical issues.

Your use of any information or materials on this Website is entirely at your own risk. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services, or information available through this Website meet your specific requirements.

From time to time, this Website may also include links to other websites. These links are provided for your convenience to provide further information. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). We have no responsibility for the content of the linked website(s) and use of any third-party website(s) shall be at your own risk. INFORMS MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND IN CONNECTION WITH ANY THIRD-PARTY WEBSITE OR ANY INFORMATION, PRODUCTS, SERVICES, OR MATERIALS AVAILABLE ON OR THROUGH ANY THIRD-PARTY WEBSITE.

Users are prohibited from engaging in activities that include, but are not limited to, spamming, hacking, distributing malware, and abusive behavior. Violation of these terms may result in termination of your account and access to our Services.

Our Website uses cookies to provide, monitor, analyze, and improve the Service. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Please note, if you block or do not accept cookies in your browser, access/functionality of the Website may be limited and may not function as designed.

You may create a link or links to this Website from another website or document without INFORMS' prior written consent. Framing is not permitted.

Privacy Policy

Before you continue using our Website, we advise you to read our Privacy Policy regarding our user data collection. It will help you better understand our practices.

Accessibility

INFORMS strives to ensure the Website is accessible to all users.

Intellectual Property

You agree that all materials, products, and services provided on this Website are the property of INFORMS, its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, suppliers, or licensors, including all copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks, patents, and other intellectual property. Nothing in these Terms of Use grants you any right to use any trademark, service mark, logo, and/or trade name of INFORMS. You also agree that you will not reproduce or redistribute INFORMS’ intellectual property in any way without INFORMS’ express written permission.

Data Use

We are committed to protecting your personal information. Please review our Privacy Policy for details on how we collect, use, and protect your data.

You grant INFORMS a nonexclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, and irrevocable license to display, use, copy, transmit, and broadcast the content you upload and publish.

Digital Millennium Copyright Act

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (the “DMCA”) provides recourse for copyright owners who believe that material appearing on the nternet infringes their rights under copyright law. INFORMS reserves the right to remove any material posted on the Website or INFORMS forums accessed through the Website by you or other third parties that allegedly infringes another person’s copyright. Notices to INFORMS regarding any alleged copyright infringement on the Website or other INFORMS forums should be sent to [email protected]. Please provide the following in your communication:

  1. a description of the copyrighted work or other intellectual property that you claim has been infringed;
  2. a description of where the material that you claim is infringing is located on the Website or INFORMS forums;
  3. your address, telephone number, and email address;
  4. a statement that the use of the copyrighted work is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law;
  5. a statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the above information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright or intellectual property owner or authorized to act on the copyright or intellectual property owner’s behalf; and
  6. an electronic or physical signature of the person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright or other intellectual property interest.

Submissions

INFORMS welcomes your feedback and suggestions about how to improve this Website. Any ideas, suggestions, information, know-how, material, or other content (collectively, “content”) received through this Website or INFORMS forums, however, will be deemed to include a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, transferable, worldwide, nonexclusive right and license for INFORMS to adopt, publish, reproduce, disseminate, transmit, distribute, copy, use, create derivative works, display (in whole or part), or act on such content without additional approval or consideration, in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in such content. INFORMS may refuse to post, or may remove at any time, any content received through this Website or any of its forums for any reason.

User Accounts

As a user of this Website, you may be asked to register with us and provide private information. You are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of this information, and you are responsible for maintaining the safety and security of your identifying information. You are also responsible for all activities that occur under your account or password.

If you think there are any possible issues regarding the security of your account on the Website, inform us immediately by emailing Customer Service at [email protected] so we may address it accordingly.

We reserve all rights to terminate accounts, edit or remove content, and cancel orders at our sole discretion.

Age Restriction

Our Service is intended for individuals 18 years of age or older. However:

**Ages 13-17**: May use this Service only when participating in INFORMS-affiliated programs (student chapters, competitions, educational initiatives) and only with verified parental/guardian consent and academic sponsor supervision.

**Under 13**: May not use this Service under any circumstances.

All use by minors must comply with our Privacy Policy and applicable laws.

Applicable Law

By visiting this Website, you agree that the laws of the State of Maryland in the United States of America will govern these terms and conditions and any dispute of any sort that might come between INFORMS and you, or its business partners and associates.

Disputes

Any dispute related in any way to your visit to this Website or to products you purchase from us shall be arbitrated by state and federal courts serving Baltimore County, Maryland, USA and you consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify INFORMS and its affiliates and hold INFORMS harmless against legal claims and demands that may arise from your use or misuse of our Service.

Disclaimer of Warranties; Limitation on Liability

ALL MATERIALS ON THIS SITE ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE OR NONINFRINGEMENT.

INFORMS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, WHETHER UNDER ANY CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER THEORY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH: (A) YOUR ACCESS TO, OR USE OF, THE SITE; (B) ANY PRODUCTS, SERVICES, INFORMATION, ACTIVITIES, AND/OR MATERIALS AVAILABLE ON OR THROUGH THE SITE; (C) ANY BREACHES OF SECURITY INVOLVING THE SITE OR YOUR ACCOUNT, OR ANY LACK OF AVAILABILITY OR OPERATIONAL PROBLEM OF, THE SITE; OR (D) ANY VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE THAT MAY AFFECT YOUR COMPUTER EQUIPMENT OR OTHER PROPERTY AS A RESULT OF YOUR USE OF THE SITE. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages. In such jurisdictions, our liability is limited to the greatest extent permitted by law.

Modifications

INFORMS reserves the right to update this Agreement at any time. We will post any Terms of Use changes on this page. We encourage you to review this policy whenever you use the Website to stay informed about our information practices and the ways you can help protect your privacy. Your continued use of this Website shall be your acknowledgment and agreement that you accept such revised Terms of Use and agree to be legally bound by them.

Waiver

Failure to insist on strict performance of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement will not operate as a waiver of any subsequent default or failure of performance. No waiver by INFORMS of any right under this Agreement will be deemed to be either a waiver of any other right or provision, or a waiver of that same right or provision at any other time.

Severability

If any part of these Terms of Use is determined to be invalid or unenforceable pursuant to applicable law including, but not limited to, the warranty disclaimers and the liability limitations set forth above, then the invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed superseded by a valid, enforceable provision that most clearly matches the intent of the original provision and the remainder of these Terms of Use shall continue in effect.

No Agency

No joint venture, partnership, employment, or agency relationship exists between you and INFORMS as a result of this Agreement or your utilization of this Website.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding the INFORMS Terms of Use, please contact INFORMS Customer Service at [email protected].