API Terms of Use

Please read these Terms of Use ("Terms") carefully before accessing or using the Boardera API. By registering for an API key, accessing the API, or integrating the API into your applications, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use the API.

As used in these Terms, "we", "us", "our" and "Boardera" means Boardera Software Inc., and "you" means the individual or organization registering for and using the API.

1. Definitions

"API" means the Boardera application programming interface, including all endpoints, queries, mutations, documentation, and related tools provided by Boardera for programmatic access to its services.

"API Key" means the unique authentication credential issued to you upon registration, used to access the API.

"Designs" means any circuit board designs, schematics, bills of materials, Gerber files, fabrication drawings, or other technical data uploaded or submitted through the API.

"Services" means the analysis, pricing, sourcing, validation, and other data processing capabilities accessible through the API.

"Tokens" means the usage units consumed when making API calls, as described in your subscription plan.

"Confidential Information" means any non-public information disclosed by either party, including but not limited to technical processes, software architecture, algorithms, pricing models, customer data, and business strategies.

2. Description of Services

The Boardera API provides programmatic access to PCB manufacturing intelligence, including automated analysis of circuit board designs, component sourcing and pricing, bill of materials validation, fabrication note extraction, and related capabilities.

Important: The API provides automated analysis and data processing. Results are generated by automated systems and are provided for informational and decision-support purposes only. Boardera makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy, completeness, or fitness of automated results for any particular purpose. You are solely responsible for verifying and validating all outputs before relying on them for manufacturing, purchasing, or other business decisions.

The Services do not include engineering advice, manufacturing recommendations, or any form of professional consultation. No output from the API should be interpreted as such.

3. Account Registration and API Keys

To access the API, you must register for an account and receive an API Key. You agree to provide accurate and complete registration information and to keep this information current.

API Key Ownership and Restrictions:

• Your API Key is issued exclusively to your organization and is non-transferable.
• You must not share, distribute, sell, or sublicense your API Key to any third party or external organization without prior written consent from Boardera Software Inc.
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your API Key. Any activity that occurs using your API Key is your responsibility.
• You must notify Boardera immediately at support@boardera.ca if you believe your API Key has been compromised.

Boardera reserves the right to revoke or rotate API Keys at any time for security purposes or in the event of a breach of these Terms.

4. Subscription, Pricing, and Tokens

Access to the API is provided on a monthly subscription basis. Each subscription plan includes a set allocation of Tokens that are consumed as you make API calls. Different API operations consume different amounts of Tokens.

Pricing Adjustments: Boardera reserves the right to adjust subscription pricing, Token allocations, and Token consumption rates at any time. We will provide reasonable notice of material pricing changes, but continued use of the API after any pricing change constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

Automated Plan Adjustments: To ensure uninterrupted service, your subscription plan may be automatically adjusted to accommodate your usage. If your Token consumption exceeds your plan allocation, additional Tokens may be provisioned automatically at the applicable overage rate.

You agree to pay all fees associated with your subscription and any additional Token usage in accordance with the payment terms provided at registration. Failure to pay is a material breach of these Terms and grounds for suspension or termination of access.

All fees are non-refundable except as expressly stated otherwise.

5. Permitted Use and Restrictions

Subject to these Terms, Boardera grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the API solely for the purpose of integrating Boardera's manufacturing intelligence capabilities into your own applications and internal business processes.

You must not:

• Use the API or any data obtained through it to reverse-engineer, decompile, disassemble, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code, algorithms, data models, or underlying architecture of the Boardera platform.
• Use the API, its outputs, or any Boardera Confidential Information to develop, improve, train, or contribute to any product, service, or technology that competes with Boardera's products or services.
• Scrape, harvest, or systematically collect data from the API for the purpose of building a competing database, pricing engine, or manufacturing intelligence service.
• Resell, redistribute, or sublicense access to the API or its outputs to third parties without Boardera's prior written consent.
• Circumvent or attempt to circumvent any rate limits, throttling mechanisms, authentication controls, or other technical safeguards implemented by Boardera.
• Use the API in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair Boardera's servers or infrastructure.
• Use the API for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable laws or regulations.
• Cache, store, or retain component pricing, availability, lead time, or other market data obtained through the API for more than forty-eight (48) hours. You must refresh such data from the API for each use.
• Use component pricing, availability, or sourcing data obtained through the API to build, contribute to, or operate a component search engine, parts aggregation service, pricing comparison tool, or electronic component database.
• Use the API for historical trending, aggregate pricing analytics, or benchmarking of component market data.

6. Third-Party Data and Content

The API incorporates data from third-party sources, including but not limited to component pricing, availability, distributor information, lead times, lifecycle status, and technical specifications. This data is provided to Boardera by independent third-party suppliers and data providers.

No Guarantee of Third-Party Data: Boardera does not control, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or reliability of any third-party data delivered through the API. Component pricing and availability are subject to change without notice and may differ from actual market conditions at the time of your query.

Data Freshness: Third-party data available through the API reflects information as of the time it was last updated by the applicable data provider. Boardera does not guarantee real-time accuracy. You are responsible for independently verifying any data before making purchasing, manufacturing, or business decisions.

Data Availability: Third-party data providers may modify, restrict, or discontinue their data feeds at any time. In such events, certain data fields or capabilities within the API may become temporarily or permanently unavailable. Boardera will use reasonable efforts to minimize disruption but shall have no liability for changes in third-party data availability.

Attribution: If you publicly display component data obtained through the Boardera API on any web page or application accessible to end users, you must include visible attribution to Boardera as the data source (e.g., "Powered by Boardera" or equivalent). Specific attribution requirements may be communicated separately and must be followed.

7. ITAR Compliance and Export Control

Boardera is not registered under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The API and its infrastructure are not designed, certified, or intended for use with ITAR-controlled technical data or defense articles.

You must not upload, transmit, or process any ITAR-controlled designs, technical data, or defense articles through the API. If you upload ITAR-controlled data in violation of this provision, you bear sole and complete responsibility for any regulatory violations, penalties, fines, or other consequences that may arise.

Boardera's infrastructure is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified for commercial use. While we maintain strong security practices, our certification and infrastructure are scoped for commercial data only and do not meet ITAR security requirements.

You represent and warrant that all Designs and data submitted through the API comply with all applicable export control laws and regulations, and that no ITAR-controlled data will be transmitted.

Export Control & Controlled Goods

Decode is intended for use with commercial designs only. By using Decode, you represent that the designs you upload are not subject to U.S. export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), or otherwise considered Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Boardera does not implement the technical or administrative controls required to handle export-controlled material, and you are solely responsible for ensuring your use of Decode complies with all applicable export control laws.

If your designs are subject to ITAR, EAR, or CUI restrictions, do not upload them to Decode. Contact us at support@boardera.ca to discuss alternatives.

8. Data Security and Hosting

Boardera is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified and maintains administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of your data.

Data Hosting: Your data is hosted in your selected region, either Canada or Europe, as chosen during account setup. Data will not be transferred outside your selected hosting region except as required to provide the Services or as required by law.

Data Retention: Designs and project data submitted through the API are retained indefinitely unless you instruct us otherwise. You may request deletion of your data at any time by contacting support@boardera.ca.

9. Intellectual Property

Your Designs: You retain all intellectual property rights in the Designs and data you submit through the API. Boardera claims no ownership of your Designs.

Boardera's IP: All programs, services, processes, algorithms, software, technologies, trademarks, and materials comprising the API and Services are wholly owned by Boardera Software Inc. and/or its licensors. Nothing in these Terms grants you any rights in Boardera's intellectual property except the limited license to use the API as described herein.

License to Process: By submitting Designs through the API, you grant Boardera a limited, non-exclusive license to process your data solely for the purpose of providing the Services. This license terminates when you delete your data or your account is terminated.

Anonymized Data: Boardera may use anonymized and aggregated data derived from API usage to improve its products, services, and algorithms. Such data will not identify you or your Designs.

10. Confidentiality and Non-Competition

Each party agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the other party's Confidential Information and to use it only for purposes consistent with these Terms.

Non-Competition Obligation: You agree that during the term of your API subscription and for a period of twelve (12) months following termination, you will not use any Confidential Information obtained from Boardera (including but not limited to knowledge of Boardera's algorithms, data structures, pricing models, or analytical methodologies) to develop, market, or contribute to any competing product or service.

11. Rate Limiting and Fair Use

Boardera implements rate limiting and throttling mechanisms to ensure fair access and maintain service quality for all users. If your usage exceeds applicable limits, requests may be temporarily delayed or rejected.

You agree to implement appropriate retry logic in your applications to handle rate-limited responses gracefully. Attempting to circumvent rate limits is a violation of these Terms.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties

The API and Services are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express, implied, or statutory. Boardera expressly disclaims all warranties, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, reliability, and non-infringement.

Boardera does not warrant that the API will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure, or that the results obtained through the API will be accurate or reliable. All automated analysis results, pricing data, component sourcing information, and other outputs are provided for informational purposes only and should be independently verified.

13. Limitation of Liability

In no event shall Boardera, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, or agents be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, business opportunities, or goodwill, arising out of or related to your use of the API, even if Boardera has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Boardera's total aggregate liability arising out of or related to these Terms shall not exceed the amounts paid by you to Boardera in the six (6) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Boardera Software Inc., its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to:

• Your use of the API or violation of these Terms.
• Any Designs or data you submit through the API, including any intellectual property infringement claims.
• Your failure to comply with applicable export control laws, including ITAR.
• Any products or services you develop using the API or its outputs.
• Your breach of the data caching, attribution, or third-party data usage restrictions set out in these Terms.

15. Termination

Either party may terminate these Terms at any time by providing written notice to the other party. Boardera may suspend or terminate your access immediately if you breach these Terms.

Upon termination, your API Key will be deactivated and your right to access the API ceases immediately. Data retention following termination will be handled in accordance with Section 8 of these Terms.

Sections 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 16 survive termination.

16. General Provisions

Governing Law: These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Amendments: Boardera may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated with reasonable notice. Continued use of the API after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Boardera API Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Boardera regarding use of the API.

Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

Waiver: Failure by Boardera to enforce any right or provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

Assignment: You may not assign or transfer these Terms without Boardera's prior written consent. Boardera may assign these Terms freely.

17. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact:

Boardera Software Inc.
Email: support@boardera.ca

© Boardera Software Inc. All rights reserved.