Acceptable Use Policy

Last updated: May 4, 2025

Welcome to HOP Labs Pte Ltd — your decentralized gateway to the open internet. This Acceptable Use Policy ("Policy") outlines the rules for using this HOP Labs Pte Ltd product, whether you're accessing the network as a user or contributing bandwidth as a node operator.

By accessing or using HOP, you agree to this Acceptable Use Policy and its terms, including data use, enforcement procedures, and liability limitations. If you do not agree, do not use HOP.

User Requirements

  • You must be at least 18 years old to use HOP
  • One person cannot operate multiple free accounts
  • No automated account creation or bot-based registration

Prohibited Activities

HOP is designed to promote freedom and access, not misuse. The following activities are strictly prohibited:

Illegal Activities

  • Engaging in actions that violate local, national, or international laws
  • Accessing or distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or engaging in any exploitation of minors
  • Violating international sanctions or trade embargoes

Malicious Conduct

  • Deploying or spreading malware, viruses, spyware, or ransomware
  • Launching DDoS attacks or interfering with other users, services, or networks
  • Phishing, identity theft, or harvesting user data
  • Using the service for military actions or surveillance without proper legal authorization

Network Abuse

  • Running automated bots to overwhelm the HOP network
  • Attempting to manipulate routing or rewards (if applicable)
  • Using HOP to evade bans or restrictions placed on other users
  • Data mining, scraping, or collecting information from other users without express written consent

Content Violations

  • Sharing others' personal information without consent
  • Posting defamatory, threatening, or objectionable content
  • Infringing on intellectual property rights, including copyrights and trademarks
  • Violating the privacy rights of others

Hosting or Serving Prohibited Content (Node Operators)

  • Knowingly serving content that is illegal, harmful, or abusive
  • Failing to comply with legal obligations in your jurisdiction

Geographic Restrictions

  • HOP's use may be prohibited or restricted in certain regions
  • You are responsible for ensuring compliance with laws and regulations in your area
  • You must not use HOP if it violates local laws in your jurisdiction
  • Using HOP in restricted areas is at your own risk and against these Terms

Node Operator Responsibilities

If you choose to contribute to HOP by running a node:

  • You are responsible for ensuring compliance with local laws regarding the traffic that flows through your infrastructure
  • You must not tamper with or log user data
  • You should not operate nodes in countries where routing third-party traffic is considered illegal without a license

Node Abuse Enforcement

We reserve the right to take action against node operators who violate this Policy or applicable laws. This may include:

  • Removing or restricting access to bootstrap nodes, APIs, or core services
  • Blacklisting wallet addresses from network participation or reward mechanisms
  • Publicly identifying malicious nodes to the broader network to prevent further abuse

DMCA / Intellectual Property Takedown Requests

If you believe that your intellectual property rights are being violated via content accessible through HOP, you may send a takedown request to: info@hopnetwork.xyz. Please include:

  • A description of the copyrighted work
  • Details of the infringing material and where it is located (e.g., node IP, domain, relevant metadata)
  • Your contact information
  • A statement under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act on behalf of the rights holder

Copyright Safe-Harbour (7-Day Window)

We respect intellectual property rights and comply with Singapore’s Copyright Act. If a takedown request is received and the affected user provides a valid counter-notice, we may restore access after 7 calendar days unless the complainant provides proof of a legal filing. HOP may register with IPOS as a network service provider to claim safe-harbour protections under Singapore law.

Data Privacy & Security

We minimize what we collect and respect your privacy. HOP does not log your traffic or browsing history. Any limited data we process (like IP metadata, wallet address, or crash diagnostics) is handled in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) of Singapore.

We take reasonable steps to secure this data.

HOP's Role & Disclaimer

HOP is a decentralized system. We do not monitor, log, or store user activity. We do not control what users or node operators do with the network. As such:

  • We are not liable for how HOP is used
  • We may take reasonable steps (such as removing wallet addresses or disabling bootstrap access) to prevent abuse where possible

No Warranties Disclaimer

HOP is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. We make no guarantees—express or implied—about the reliability, availability, security, or suitability of the service. We do not promise uninterrupted access, error-free performance, or immunity from misuse. Your use of HOP is at your sole risk.

Law Enforcement Requests

We comply with legitimate legal requests under Singapore law, only when required. We do not proactively share user data and assess each request for validity. We advocate for user privacy where possible.

Enforcement & Termination

We reserve the right to:

  • Temporarily block or restrict access to HOP for security or stability reasons
  • Terminate accounts that violate this Policy
  • Refuse service to prevent abuse where possible

The decision to enforce these measures rests solely with HOP

Reporting Abuse

If you encounter abuse or misuse of the HOP network, please report it to: info@hopnetwork.xyz. We take reports seriously and will act where appropriate.

Severability, Survival & Waiver

If any part of this Policy is deemed invalid or unenforceable under Singapore law, the remaining sections will remain in effect. Provisions that logically continue (like indemnities or disclaimers) will survive account termination. Our failure to enforce a part of this Policy does not waive our rights to enforce it later.

Legal Framework

  • These Terms are governed by the laws of Singapore
  • Disputes arising from these Terms shall be resolved exclusively in Singapore
  • The English version of this Policy prevails over any translations
  • You may not transfer your rights under this Policy; HOP may assign them to third parties

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless HOP, its contributors, affiliates, partners, and licensors from and against any claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

  • Your use or misuse of HOP
  • Your violation of this Policy or applicable laws
  • Your operation of a node or participation in the HOP network

Summary

HOP exists to facilitate open internet access. Use it responsibly and ethically.