Terms of Service

Welcome to Acume. Our mission is to provide trustworthy, accessible, and diverse insights by bridging the gap between academic research and practical application in international affairs and development.

1. Introduction and Acceptance of Terms

1.2 Acceptance of terms

By using the Acume website (acume.org) and related products and services (collectively, the “Services”), or by clicking an acceptance button when signing up, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms of Service (the “Terms”), Community Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you must not use or discontinue use of our Services.

1.3 Who we are

Acume is a company registered in England and Wales (Company No. 12888487). We connect researchers, academics, and professionals through a knowledge-sharing platform and an expert advisory service.

These Terms apply to all users of Acume, including unregistered visitors, registered researchers, experts providing advisory services, clients booking consultations, and anyone browsing or interacting with the site.

1.4 Age requirement and authority

The Services are intended for users aged 16 years or older. By accessing or using Acume, you represent that you are at least 16 years of age.

If you are using Acume on behalf of an organisation or another individual, you warrant that you have the authority to do so. In such cases, references to “you” apply to both you and that organisation or individual.

2. Description of Services

2.1 Overview

Acume provides two primary services to its users.

2.2 Knowledge-sharing platform

Acume operates a free online platform where academics and researchers (collectively, “Contributors”) can post concise research briefs of their research.

Professionals and members of the public may access these research briefs to gain insights for real-world impact.

Contributors may create profiles, upload research briefs, and engage with a global community.

The views and content posted by users are their own and do not necessarily represent Acume’s views or endorsements.

2.3 Expert advisory services

Acume provides a facilitated service connecting clients, including policymakers, NGOs, and professionals, with academic experts for one-to-one consultations.

Clients may request personalised advisory sessions, including policy analysis, strategic planning advice, or specialised expertise, with vetted experts.

Acume’s role is to facilitate the engagement by:

• matching clients with suitable experts;
• arranging consultations;
• handling initial introductions and confidentiality arrangements; and
• providing any necessary briefing materials or training to experts.

Acume also offers a Sponsored Research Summary service, whereby clients may commission custom research summaries on specific topics. Sponsored summaries will be clearly attributed to the sponsoring client on the platform.

2.4 Platform role and limitations

By using the Services, you acknowledge that Acume is a platform that facilitates exchanges of information.

While Acume strives to ensure quality, it is not liable for the content of research briefs or for advice provided by independent experts. Acume does not guarantee specific outcomes from use of the platform or Services.

3. Account registration and security

3.1 Account requirement

Certain features of the Services, including posting research or booking advisory services, require account registration.

3.2 Accurate information

When registering an account, you agree to provide truthful, current, and complete information. This includes your name, affiliation, contact details, and any other information requested during sign-up.

You agree to update your information promptly if it changes.

3.3 Account security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity conducted through your account.

You must not share your account credentials with any third party. If you suspect unauthorised use of your account, you must notify Acume immediately.

Until such notification is received, Acume may assume that activity on your account is authorised by you.

3.4 One-account rule

Each user may maintain only one account unless explicitly permitted by Acume.

You must not:

• create an account on behalf of another person without authorisation;
• use a false identity;
• use another person’s account without permission; or
• transfer your account to another individual or entity.

3.5 Use by organisations or households

If others in your household or organisation access Acume using your device or internet connection, you are responsible for ensuring they comply with these Terms.

If you accept these Terms on behalf of an organisation or another individual, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity, and references to “you” include both you and that entity.

3.6 Suspension or termination

Acume reserves the right to disable or terminate any account if, in its reasonable opinion:

• these Terms have been violated;
• unauthorised use has occurred; or
• a security risk is identified.

You may discontinue use of the Services or delete your account at any time.

4. Community Guidelines

4.1 The full guidelines

The Community Guidelines are available to read in full here.

4.2 Purpose of the guidelines

Acume is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and scholarly community.

These Community Guidelines set out expected behaviour and prohibited conduct. Acume operates a zero-tolerance approach to harassment, discrimination, and abusive conduct.

4.3 Enforcement and reporting

Acume may remove content, suspend accounts, or terminate access for violations of these Guidelines. Enforcement may occur with or without notice where necessary.

Users may report violations by contacting [email protected]. Reports are reviewed promptly. Appeals may be submitted, though repeated baseless reports or appeals may be refused.

5. User content and intellectual property

5.1 Overview

This section sets out your rights and responsibilities regarding content you submit to Acume and the rights Acume requires to operate the Services.

5.2 Ownership of content

You retain ownership of all content you create and share on Acume, including research briefs and other contributions.

Acume does not claim ownership of your original research papers or created research briefs, even if you use our tool.

5.3 Licence to Acume

By posting or uploading content, you grant Acume a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, translate, distribute, and create derivative works from your content for the purpose of operating, expanding, and promoting the Services.

This includes formatting content for different devices, displaying it on the platform, and using excerpts in communications or promotional materials.

The licence is non-exclusive and royalty-free and does not transfer ownership to Acume. Acume may sublicense these rights to trusted third parties as required to provide the Services.

5.4 Licence to other users

You grant other Acume users and visitors a limited licence to access and use your content through the platform for personal or professional informational purposes only.

Users may read, share links, cite, or download content where functionality permits. No additional rights are granted beyond normal platform use without your permission.

5.5 User responsibilities and warranties

By sharing content, you represent and warrant that:

a) you have the legal right to share the content;
b) the content does not infringe third-party intellectual property or proprietary rights;
c) any personal data is shared lawfully and with appropriate consent; and
d) the content is lawful and complies with these Terms and the Community Guidelines.

You are responsible for reviewing publisher agreements and ensuring compliance with copyright and sharing policies.

If you later discover that content should not have been shared, you must remove it by clicking “unpublish” or ask Acume for assistance.

6. Website use, security, and automated access

6.1 Text and data mining, scraping, and automated access

You must not conduct, facilitate, authorise, or permit any text and data mining, web scraping, or automated extraction of content from Acume without Acume’s prior written permission.

This includes the use of any automated means such as bots, spiders, scrapers, crawlers, scripts, or similar technologies to access, copy, monitor, download, or republish any part of the Services, whether for commercial or non-commercial purposes.

This prohibition applies to all content made available on Acume, including user-generated content, metadata, platform structure, and any compiled or aggregated data.

Nothing in these Terms grants permission for text and data mining within the meaning of applicable copyright or database laws. Acume expressly reserves its rights in this regard, including under Article 4(3) of Directive (EU) 2019/790, where applicable.

Legitimate indexing by standard search engines in accordance with Acume’s robots.txt file is permitted.

6.2 Website use and security

You must not misuse the Services or attempt to interfere with their normal operation.

In particular, you must not:

(a) introduce viruses, malware, trojans, worms, logic bombs, or any other material that is malicious or technologically harmful;

(b) attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Services, the server on which the Services are hosted, or any server, computer, or database connected to Acume;

(c) attack the Services via a denial-of-service attack or a distributed denial-of-service attack;

(d) use automated systems or software to extract data, create accounts, submit content, or interact with the Services in a way that disrupts or burdens the platform;

(e) circumvent, bypass, or attempt to bypass any security, access control, rate-limiting, or authentication measures.

Any breach of this clause may constitute a criminal offence under applicable law, including the Computer Misuse Act 1990. Acume may report suspected offences to the relevant authorities and cooperate with law enforcement as required.

Acume does not guarantee that the Services will be secure or free from bugs or viruses. You are responsible for using appropriate virus protection and safeguards when accessing the Services.

7. Content moderation and takedown

7.1 No pre-screening

Acume does not pre-screen every user submission and is not liable for user-posted content of which it is not aware.

7.2 Removal of unlawful or non-compliant content

If Acume becomes aware of content that is illegal or violates these Terms, whether through user reports or internal review, Acume will act expeditiously to remove or disable access to that content.

This includes content that allegedly infringes copyright or other intellectual property rights.

7.3 Copyright and rights complaints

If a rights holder properly notifies Acume that content infringes their copyright or other intellectual property rights, Acume will remove the content and notify the user who uploaded it.

Repeat infringements may result in account suspension or termination.

7.4 Appeals

If you believe content you posted was removed in error, you may contact Acume to appeal the decision and provide relevant information. Acume will review the decision in light of the information provided.

7.5 User responsibility

You are solely responsible for the content you submit and for any consequences arising from its publication.

8. Client terms for advisory services

8.1 Scope

This section applies where you act as a client booking or commissioning advisory services through Acume, including one-to-one consultations and sponsored research summaries.

8.2 Booking consultations

8.2.1 Submitting a request

To schedule a consultation, you must submit a request outlining the expertise sought and the issues or questions to be addressed (a “Project”).

Acume will review the request and identify a suitable expert or experts. Acume will facilitate introductions and scheduling once you agree to proceed.

You agree to provide sufficient information to enable effective expert matching.

8.2.2 Fees and payment

Fees are disclosed in advance and may be structured as a flat rate, hourly rate, or credit-based system.

You agree to pay all applicable fees and taxes in a timely manner, using the payment method specified at booking.

8.3 Non-circumvention

By using Acume to connect with an expert, you agree not to circumvent the platform.

You must not engage an expert identified through Acume for independent paid work outside the platform without Acume’s consent.

If a client and expert wish to establish a longer-term arrangement outside Acume, Acume must be informed. Approval may be subject to conditions or fees.

Circumvention of the platform constitutes a breach of these Terms.

8.4 Conflicts of interest

Acume and its experts aim to provide unbiased, objective advice.

If a proposed engagement presents a conflict of interest, the expert or Acume may disclose the conflict or decline the engagement.

Experts are not required to answer questions or undertake work that would violate legal, ethical, or confidentiality obligations.

Clients agree not to solicit experts to breach any duty of confidentiality or disclose information they are not permitted to share.

8.5 Cancellation and rescheduling

8.5.1 Client cancellations

a) More than 24 hours’ notice
If you cancel more than 24 hours before a scheduled consultation, no charge applies. Any pre-paid fees will be refunded or credited.

b) Between 24 and 4 hours’ notice
If you cancel between 24 and 4 hours before the scheduled start time, a cancellation fee may apply. The applicable fee will be disclosed at booking or at cancellation. Any remaining balance will be refunded or credited.

c) Less than 4 hours’ notice or no-show
Cancellations within 4 hours of the scheduled start time, or failure to attend without notice, will result in the full fee being charged.

8.5.2 Rescheduling

Rescheduling requests made more than 24 hours in advance may be accommodated without penalty.

Requests made within 24 hours may be treated as cancellations at Acume’s discretion.

8.5.3 Cancellation by Acume or the expert

If Acume or the expert cancels a session, no charge will apply. You will be offered a reschedule or a full refund or credit.

Where appropriate and with your agreement, Acume may propose a substitute expert.

8.5.4 Refund processing

Approved refunds will be processed to the original payment method within 20 business days. If this is not possible, an alternative method will be arranged.

Acume may make exceptions to this policy in extraordinary circumstances at its discretion.

8.6 Quality assurance and satisfaction guarantee

8.6.1 Expert vetting and preparation

Acume screens experts for relevant expertise, experience, and professional standing before they are approved to provide advisory services through the platform.

Experts are briefed in advance and are expected to review any background materials provided by the client and to prepare appropriately for consultations. Acume may provide guidance or preparatory support to experts where relevant.

8.6.2 During the consultation

Clients are encouraged to raise concerns during a consultation if the discussion is not addressing the agreed scope or expectations. Experts are expected to respond constructively and to make reasonable efforts to address such concerns during the session where possible.

8.6.3 Feedback and complaints

Clients are encouraged to provide feedback following consultations. Feedback helps Acume monitor service quality and improve future engagements.

Where a client wishes to raise a complaint regarding an advisory service, this must be done in accordance with clause 7.6.4 below.

8.6.4 Satisfaction guarantee

If a client reasonably considers that an advisory service has materially failed to meet the scope or standards agreed at the time of booking, the client must notify Acume in writing within five (5) business days of the consultation, setting out the reasons for dissatisfaction.

Acume will review the matter acting reasonably and in good faith and may, at its discretion, offer one of the following remedies:

(a) an additional consultation with the same expert or an alternative expert; or
(b) a partial or full refund of the relevant service fee, or a service credit for future use.

Refunds, credits, or additional consultations are not automatic and will be assessed based on whether the service materially failed to meet the agreed standards.

This clause sets out the client’s sole and exclusive remedies in relation to dissatisfaction with advisory services, and does not guarantee any specific outcome or result.

9. Expert terms for advisory services

9.1 Eligibility and status

Only individuals approved by Acume may provide paid advisory services.

By acting as an expert, you represent that:

• you have the necessary expertise, credentials, and experience; and
• providing services through Acume does not violate other agreements or obligations.

Experts act as independent contractors. These Terms do not create an employment, partnership, agency, or joint venture relationship.

9.2 Expert commitments and conduct

9.2.1 Preparation and effort

Experts agree to make a good-faith effort to assist clients, including reviewing briefing materials and preparing for consultations.

9.2.2 Accuracy and integrity

Experts must provide honest, accurate, and evidence-based advice.

If a question falls outside an expert’s expertise, the expert must state this clearly. Experts must not knowingly provide false, misleading, or speculative information as fact.

9.2.3 Professionalism

Experts must behave professionally, respectfully, and punctually.

If an expert cannot attend a scheduled session due to an emergency, they must notify Acume as soon as possible.

9.2.4 Conflicts of interest

Experts must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest before or at the start of an engagement.

Experts must not accept engagements where impartial advice cannot be provided.

9.2.5 Confidentiality and unauthorised advice

Experts must not disclose confidential or proprietary information from any third party.

Experts must not provide advice that violates law, regulation, professional rules, or confidentiality obligations.

9.3 Quality assurance

Experts agree to participate in required training or briefings and to engage constructively with feedback.

If dissatisfaction is reported, experts may be required to provide clarification or a follow-up session. Cooperation is expected.

9.4 Missed meetings and complaints

9.4.1 Missed sessions

Failure to attend a scheduled consultation without notice may result in non-payment for that session and review of the expert’s status.

Repeated missed sessions or late cancellations may result in suspension or removal.

9.4.2 Complaints

If a client submits a complaint, Acume will investigate and may consult the expert.

Outcomes may include warnings, additional training, corrective action, suspension, or termination from the expert network.

9.4.3 Dispute resolution

Acume may mediate disputes between clients and experts.

Experts agree to participate in good faith. Decisions regarding refunds or payments will be based on Acume’s policies and the specific circumstances.

10. Confidentiality (all parties)

10.1 Scope of confidentiality

Confidentiality applies to all advisory services facilitated through Acume. Both clients and experts are required to keep the details of their engagements confidential, unless otherwise agreed.

Confidential information includes any non-public information exchanged during a consultation or as part of a project, including:

• the content of discussions;
• documents, data, or materials shared for context;
• analysis or advice provided by the expert; and
• the fact that a consultation took place, where this is not already public.

Both parties should be able to share information candidly within consultations, knowing that it will not be disclosed beyond the participants and Acume.

10.2 Client information

Experts must not disclose or use any confidential information obtained from a client outside the scope of the consultation.

Confidential client information may include strategic plans, operational challenges, internal data, or the client’s identity where anonymity is requested.

Experts must not reference client information in other projects, publications, or engagements, nor share it with third parties, unless explicitly agreed in writing.

Acume staff may access confidential information where necessary to support the engagement and are bound by confidentiality obligations.

10.3 Expert information

Clients must not disclose personal or proprietary information relating to experts without permission.

Where experts share materials or insights not intended for public distribution, clients must not publish or share them externally.

Unless expressly agreed, clients must not publicly quote or attribute statements to experts or disclose their involvement outside their organisation.

10.4 Non-disclosure agreements

These Terms operate as a default non-disclosure agreement between clients and experts.

Where required, Acume may facilitate separate written non-disclosure agreements, particularly for larger or more sensitive projects.

Regardless of formal documentation, all parties are expected to treat confidential information as subject to strict confidentiality obligations.

10.5 Permitted disclosures

Confidential information may be disclosed only in the following limited circumstances:

a) where both client and expert agree in writing to disclosure to a specific third party;
b) where disclosure is required by law, regulation, or court order, in which case disclosure must be limited to what is legally required and, where possible, advance notice should be given to the other party and Acume; or
c) where a client shares advice internally within their organisation for decision-making purposes, provided appropriate internal confidentiality is maintained.

Public disclosure, publication, or sharing with external parties is not permitted without consent.

10.6 Duration

Confidentiality obligations continue indefinitely after the conclusion of a consultation, project, or termination of the relationship with Acume.

10.7 Breach of confidentiality

Acume treats breaches of confidentiality seriously.

A breach may result in immediate account suspension or termination and may expose the breaching party to legal liability.

Users are encouraged to report suspected breaches to [email protected].

11. Disclaimers and limitation of liability

11.1 Use at own risk

Your use of the Acume platform and Services is at your sole risk.

The Services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis, without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied.

11.2 No warranties

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Acume disclaims all warranties and representations, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement, accuracy, and reliability.

Acume does not warrant that:

• the Services will meet your requirements;
• access will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free; or
• content or advice will be accurate, complete, or current.

11.3 Content and advice disclaimers

Research summaries are simplified interpretations of academic work and may omit caveats or evolving developments.

Expert advice represents professional opinion based on information provided and does not constitute legal, medical, financial, or other regulated professional advice.

Users are responsible for their own decisions and should seek appropriate licensed professional advice where necessary.

No advice or information obtained through Acume creates any warranty beyond what is explicitly stated in these Terms.

11.4 Third-party content

Where the Services include links to third-party websites or resources, these are provided for convenience and informational purposes only. Such links do not constitute an endorsement by Acume.

Acume is not responsible for the content, availability, security, or practices of third-party websites. You access third-party websites at your own risk and subject to their own terms and policies.

Users should exercise caution when navigating external sites and should not provide payment or sensitive information to third parties unless they are satisfied as to the legitimacy and security of those services.

11.5 No guarantee of service availability

Acume does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation.

Downtime, data loss, or technical issues may occur. Acume is not liable for losses resulting from maintenance, technical failures, or events beyond its reasonable control.

11.6 Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Acume and its affiliates, officers, employees, and agents are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or exemplary damages.

This includes, without limitation:

• loss of profits;
• loss of data;
• personal injury; or
• property damage,

arising from or related to your use of the Services or reliance on any content or advice.

Acume is not liable for:
a) defamatory, unlawful, or infringing content posted by users;
b) outcomes resulting from reliance on expert advice or research summaries; or
c) unauthorised access to or alteration of data.

11.7 Non-excludable liability

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for:

• death or personal injury caused by Acume’s negligence;
• fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or
• any liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

Where consumer protection laws apply, your statutory rights are not affected.

11.8 Cap on liability

Except for liabilities that cannot be limited by law, Acume’s total aggregate liability to you for any claim arising out of or relating to the Services or these Terms is limited to:

a) the amount you paid to Acume for the specific service giving rise to the claim; or
b) where no payment was made, GBP £50.

This cap applies regardless of the legal basis of the claim, including contract, tort (including negligence), statute, or otherwise.

You acknowledge that these limitations reflect a reasonable allocation of risk and are fundamental to Acume’s ability to provide the Services.

12. Indemnification

12.1 Indemnity obligation

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Acume and its officers, directors, employees, agents, partners, and affiliates (the “Acume Parties”) from and against all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising out of or relating to:

a) your use of the Services;
b) your content or submissions;
c) your breach of these Terms; or
d) your violation of any law or third-party rights.

12.2 Examples

Without limitation, this includes claims arising from:

a) content you post that infringes copyright or other rights;
b) harassment, unlawful conduct, or misuse of the platform; or
c) breaches of confidentiality or professional obligations.

12.3 Defence and cooperation

Acume will notify you of any claim subject to indemnification.

Acume may assume exclusive control of the defence and settlement of the claim at your expense where it considers this necessary.

You agree to cooperate fully with the defence and not to settle any claim involving Acume without Acume’s prior written consent.

12.4 Survival

This indemnification obligation survives termination of your account or cessation of use of the Services.

13. Termination and suspension

13.1 User termination

You may stop using Acume at any time.

You may delete your account by following the procedures available on the website or by contacting Acume. Termination of your account will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Policy. Personal data may be deleted or anonymised as required, although certain information may be retained where necessary for legal compliance, audit, fraud prevention, or legitimate business purposes.

13.2 Acume’s right to suspend or terminate

Acume reserves the right to suspend or terminate your access to the Services, in whole or in part, at its discretion, with or without prior notice.

Suspension or termination may occur where, for example:

• you have violated these Terms or applicable law;
• Acume detects security risks or unauthorised use;
• your conduct is harmful to other users, third parties, or Acume’s interests or reputation.

In severe cases, including fraud or egregious violations of the Community Guidelines, Acume may deactivate your account immediately. In other cases, Acume may issue a warning or request remedial action prior to suspension or termination.

13.3 Platform discontinuation

Acume may terminate or discontinue the Services, or any part of them, including the knowledge-sharing platform or expert advisory services.

Where reasonably possible, Acume will provide advance notice of such discontinuation.

13.4 Effect of termination

Following termination of your account or cessation of use of the Services, the following provisions survive by their nature:

• User content and intellectual property licences (to the extent required);
• Confidentiality obligations;
• Disclaimers and limitation of liability;
• Indemnification;
• Governing law and dispute resolution.

Termination does not relieve you of obligations incurred prior to termination.

13.5 Re-registration restriction

If your account is terminated or suspended due to breach of these Terms, you must not create another account or access the Services without Acume’s permission.

Acume reserves the right to refuse service to any user to the extent permitted by law.

14. Modifications to services or terms

14.1 Changes to services

Acume may add, modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Services at any time, whether temporarily or permanently.

This may include changes to features, functionality, pricing models, or availability.

Where changes materially affect paid services, Acume will make reasonable efforts to provide notice and, where appropriate, offer fulfilment, alternatives, or refunds.

Acume is not liable for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Services, to the extent permitted by law.

14.2 Changes to terms

Acume may revise these Terms from time to time.

The most current version will be posted on the website with an updated “Last updated” date. Material changes may be communicated by email or in-platform notification.

In some cases, you may be required to actively accept updated Terms. In other cases, continued use of the Services after the effective date constitutes acceptance.

If you do not agree to updated Terms, you must stop using the Services and may delete your account before the changes take effect.

Users are encouraged to review the Terms periodically.

15. Governing law and dispute resolution

15.1 Governing law

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to the Services are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Nothing in these Terms limits mandatory consumer rights under applicable law.

15.2 Jurisdiction

The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms or the Services, whether contractual or non-contractual.

If you access the Services from outside the United Kingdom, you are responsible for compliance with local laws, but these Terms remain governed by English law.

15.3 Informal resolution

Before commencing formal legal proceedings, you agree to first contact Acume with written notice of the dispute, including:

• your name and account email (if applicable);
• a description of the issue; and
• the remedy sought.

Acume will attempt in good faith to resolve the matter informally.

If the dispute is not resolved within 60 days of notice, either party may pursue formal proceedings.

This requirement does not prevent either party from seeking urgent injunctive or equitable relief.

15.4 Consumer dispute resolution

Where applicable, consumers in the UK or EU may have access to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Users are encouraged to contact Acume first to seek direct resolution.

16. Miscellaneous provisions

16.1 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that provision will be severed or limited to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

16.2 No waiver

Failure by Acume to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other provision.

Any waiver must be in writing and signed by an authorised representative of Acume.

16.3 Entire agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any additional agreements expressly incorporated, constitute the entire agreement between you and Acume regarding the Services.

They supersede all prior or contemporaneous agreements or communications, whether written or oral.

16.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or any rights or obligations under them without Acume’s prior written consent.

Acume may assign or transfer these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, restructuring, or sale of assets, or by operation of law.

16.5 Relationship of parties

Nothing in these Terms creates a partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship between you and Acume.

The parties act as independent contractors.

16.6 Third-party beneficiaries

These Terms are for the benefit of you and Acume and do not confer rights or remedies on any third party except as expressly stated.

16.7 Communications and notices

Acume may send administrative, account-related, or legal communications to you electronically via email or in-platform notifications.

You consent to receiving communications electronically and agree that electronic communications satisfy legal notice requirements.

You are responsible for keeping your contact details up to date.

16.8 Force majeure

Acume is not liable for failure or delay in performance caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, acts of government, war, terrorism, labour disputes, internet or power outages, or other force majeure events.

16.9 Headings

Headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

16.10 Language

These Terms are written in English. Any translation is provided for convenience only. In the event of conflict, the English version prevails.

17. Contact and feedback

If you have questions, concerns, or feedback regarding these Terms or the Services, you may contact Acume at [email protected].

By using Acume, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms, which help ensure a trustworthy, respectful, and effective platform for all users.

18. Modifications to terms

We update this policy from time to time. If we do amend these Terms, we will notify you by revising the date at the bottom of this policy. Every time you wish to use our site, please check these Terms to ensure you understand the terms that apply at that time. These Terms were most updated on 17 December 2025. 

Unless we say otherwise in our notice, the amended Terms will be effective immediately, and your continued use of our Services will confirm your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree to the amended Terms, you must stop using our Services.