1. Ownership of Constructs
All genetic construct designs, FASTA sequences, CRISPR guide sets, flux balance analysis (FBA) models, and associated computational outputs made available through the Scoville Splice platform are the exclusive intellectual property of Scoville Splice. These constructs represent significant proprietary investment in synthetic biology design and are protected by trade secret law, copyright, and pending or issued patents.
Construct files are licensed, not sold. The purchase of a license grants a right to use the construct as described in the applicable License Agreement — it does not transfer ownership of the underlying intellectual property or any rights to the sequence design itself.
2. Patent Rights
Scoville Splice holds or has applied for patents covering novel synthetic capsaicinoid pathway constructs, CRISPR editing strategies for Capsicum trait modification, and associated analytical models. A non-exhaustive list of patent applications is available upon request. Licensed users may not apply for patents claiming the licensed construct sequences as their own inventions. Users who develop independent improvements may patent those improvements, subject to Scoville Splice's retained non-exclusive research license as described in the applicable License Agreement.
3. Copyright
Scoville Splice's construct sequence files, datasheets, FBA models, and platform software are protected by copyright. Licensees may copy files for backup and internal research purposes. Publication of construct sequences in scientific papers requires compliance with the publication terms in the applicable License Agreement. Platform software, UI, and documentation may not be reproduced or distributed without express written permission.
4. Trade Secrets
Certain aspects of Scoville Splice's construct design methodology, selection algorithms, and optimization processes constitute trade secrets. Users who access the Capsaicin Design Platform agree not to reverse-engineer, decompile, or attempt to reconstruct these methods. All users who access unreleased constructs, beta features, or proprietary design parameters under a confidential relationship agree to maintain strict confidentiality and to execute a separate Non-Disclosure Agreement upon request.
5. Derivative Works
A "derivative construct" means any genetic sequence that (a) was created by modifying a Scoville Splice licensed construct, or (b) incorporates any portion of a Scoville Splice licensed construct into a new sequence. Derivative constructs are subject to the same restrictions as the original licensed construct. Licensees may not publish, transfer, or commercialize derivative constructs without a written amendment to their license. This provision does not restrict Licensee from publishing scientific findings about the biological function or phenotypic effects of the licensed construct.
6. DMCA / Copyright Infringement Claims
If you believe that any content on the Scoville Splice platform infringes your copyright, please send a written notice to scovillesplice@gmail.com containing: your full name, address, and contact information; identification of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed; identification of the allegedly infringing material with sufficient detail to locate it on the platform; a statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized; a statement under penalty of perjury that the information in the notice is accurate; your physical or electronic signature. We will respond to valid DMCA notices promptly.
7. User-Submitted Content
When you submit design inputs, feedback, or other content to the Capsaicin Design Platform, you grant Scoville Splice a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use that content to provide and improve the platform services. You represent that you have the right to grant this license and that the content does not infringe any third party's intellectual property rights.
8. Enforcement
Scoville Splice actively monitors for unauthorized use of its intellectual property. Unauthorized use of Scoville Splice construct sequences or platform technology may constitute trade secret misappropriation, copyright infringement, and/or patent infringement, each of which may give rise to civil and, in some cases, criminal liability. We reserve the right to seek all available legal remedies.
9. Contact
IP licensing, patent inquiries, or DMCA notices: scovillesplice@gmail.com