Affiliate Program Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction

Welcome to the TerminalStreet LLC ("Company", "we", "us", or "our") Affiliate Program. By participating in our affiliate program, you ("Affiliate", "you", or "your") agree to be bound by these terms and conditions ("Agreement").

This Agreement governs your participation in our affiliate program and your relationship with us as an affiliate partner.

2. Affiliate Program Overview

2.1 Program Description

Our affiliate program allows you to earn commissions by referring potential clients to our software development and technology consulting services.

2.2 Commission Structure & Attribution

• Commission Rate: 10% of the total project value for successfully completed referrals
• Attribution Model: Data-Driven Attribution (DDA) with multi-touch commission distribution
• Commission Distribution: Credit shared fairly among all contributing affiliates based on their impact
• Minimum Commission: $1.00 per touchpoint
• Payment Threshold: $500 minimum balance required for payout
• Attribution Window: 90 days from initial click
• Payment Schedule: Monthly payments processed within 30 days of month end

2.3 Data-Driven Attribution Explained

We use advanced Data-Driven Attribution (DDA) to ensure fair commission distribution. Unlike traditional last-click attribution, DDA analyzes the entire customer journey and assigns credit based on each touchpoint's actual contribution to the conversion.

• Multi-Touch Recognition: All affiliate interactions in a customer's journey are tracked and valued
• Algorithmic Analysis: Machine learning algorithms determine each touchpoint's influence
• Fair Credit Distribution: Commission split proportionally based on contribution, not just timing
• Quality Scoring: Higher-quality traffic and engagement receive appropriate recognition
• Transparency: Detailed attribution reports available in your affiliate dashboard

2.4 Eligible Services

Commissions are earned on all paid services including but not limited to:

• Custom software development projects
• Web and mobile application development
• AI and machine learning consulting
• Blockchain and smart contract development
• FinTech solutions and integrations
• Data science and analytics projects
• Technology consulting services
• Micro Classes and Bootcamp training programs
• Corporate training and workshop services
• Premium content subscriptions

3. Affiliate Requirements

3.1 Eligibility

To participate in our affiliate program, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have a legitimate business or marketing presence
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Maintain professional standards in all promotional activities
• Not engage in any prohibited practices (see Section 5)

3.2 Application Process

All affiliate applications are subject to approval. We reserve the right to accept or reject applications at our sole discretion. Approval may be revoked at any time if terms are violated.

3.3 Quality Assurance & Attribution Integrity

We maintain strict quality standards for all referrals and touchpoints. Our Data-Driven Attribution system includes advanced fraud detection and quality scoring that affects commission distribution.

• Fraud Detection: Automated algorithms detect suspicious patterns and adjust attribution accordingly
• Quality Scoring: Each touchpoint receives a quality score affecting its attribution weight
• Engagement Analysis: Time on site, page views, and interaction quality influence commission distribution
• Multi-Touch Validation: Cross-touchpoint validation ensures genuine customer journeys
• Real-Time Monitoring: Continuous monitoring prevents attribution manipulation

We reserve the right to reject referrals, adjust attribution weights, or recalculate commissions for touchpoints that do not meet our quality standards or appear fraudulent.

4. Promotional Guidelines

4.1 Permitted Activities

• Website and blog content promoting our services
• Social media marketing and content creation
• Email marketing to your legitimate subscriber base
• Speaking engagements and networking events
• Educational content and tutorials
• Honest reviews and testimonials

4.2 Brand Guidelines

• Use only approved marketing materials and brand assets
• Maintain accurate and current information about our services
• Present our company in a professional and positive manner
• Include proper disclosures about affiliate relationships
• Do not make unauthorized claims about our services or capabilities

4.3 Required Disclosures

You must clearly and conspicuously disclose your affiliate relationship with TerminalStreet in all promotional content. Examples of acceptable disclosures include:

• "This post contains affiliate links"
• "I may earn a commission if you use this link"
• "Paid partnership with TerminalStreet"

5. Prohibited Activities

The following activities are strictly prohibited and may result in immediate termination:

• Fraudulent or deceptive practices
• Spam email marketing or unsolicited communications
• Trademark or copyright infringement
• Paid search advertising on our brand terms without permission
• Self-referrals or incentivized fake traffic
• Adult content, gambling, or illegal activities
• False or misleading claims about our services
• Competing with our direct sales efforts
• Cookie stuffing or other fraudulent tracking methods

6. Payment Terms

6.1 Commission Calculation

Commissions are calculated based on the net project value after any applicable taxes, refunds, or chargebacks. Commissions are earned only upon successful project completion and payment receipt.

6.1a Recurring Revenue & Subscription Commissions

For subscription-based services, commissions are earned on the initial conversion and all subsequent recurring payments for the lifetime of the customer relationship, subject to the following:

• Recurring Commission Rate: Same 10% rate applies to all subscription renewals
• Attribution Persistence: Original attribution weights maintained throughout customer lifetime
• Subscription Lifecycle: Commissions paid monthly upon successful subscription billing
• Customer Lifetime Value: Affiliates earn proportional commission on total customer LTV
• Upgrade/Downgrade Handling: Commission adjustments follow subscription plan changes

6.1b Commission Clawbacks & Reversals

We reserve the right to reverse, adjust, or clawback commissions in the following circumstances:

• Refunds & Chargebacks: Commissions reversed proportionally for any refunded amounts
• Subscription Cancellations: Future recurring commissions cease upon subscription termination
• Fraud Detection: Immediate commission reversal for fraudulent activities or suspicious patterns
• Payment Failures: Commissions reversed for failed payments or disputed charges
• Policy Violations: Commission forfeiture for violations of program terms
• Attribution Recalculation: Commissions adjusted when attribution analysis is corrected

Clawback Timeline: We may clawback commissions up to 12 months after initial payment. Clawbacks will be deducted from future commission payments or, if program participation has ended, may be invoiced separately.

6.2 Payment Methods

All affiliate payments are processed through Stripe Express accounts:

• Stripe Express account (required for all affiliates)
• Direct bank deposit via Stripe
• International payments supported through Stripe global network
• Real-time payment processing and tracking

6.3 Tax Responsibility

You are responsible for all taxes related to commission payments. For US affiliates earning over $600 annually, we will issue a 1099 form. International affiliates are responsible for compliance with their local tax requirements.

7. Tracking and Attribution

7.1 Advanced Tracking Technology

We use sophisticated tracking technology to monitor complete customer journeys and affiliate touchpoints:

• Multi-Touch Attribution: Data-Driven Attribution (DDA) as default model
• Cross-Device Tracking: Anonymous device fingerprinting for journey continuity
• Session Management: Intelligent session merging across multiple visits
• Quality Monitoring: Real-time fraud detection and traffic quality scoring
• Attribution Window: 90-day tracking window for all touchpoint analysis
• Backup Tracking: Multiple tracking methods for maximum reliability

7.2 Conversion Requirements

For a referral to be eligible for commission:

• Client must interact through your unique affiliate link (within attribution window)
• Client must engage our services within 90 days of any attributed touchpoint
• Project must be completed and paid in full (or subscription activated)
• Client must not be an existing customer or active prospect at time of first click
• Touchpoint must pass fraud detection and quality scoring thresholds
• Attribution confidence score must meet minimum requirements (typically >70%)

7.3 Attribution Confidence & Quality

Our attribution system provides confidence scores (0-100%) for each commission calculation. Higher confidence scores indicate more reliable attribution. Minimum confidence requirements may apply for commission eligibility, with detailed reporting available in your affiliate dashboard.

8. Termination

8.1 Termination by Either Party

Either party may terminate this agreement at any time with 30 days written notice. Termination does not affect commissions earned prior to the termination date.

8.2 Immediate Termination

We may immediately terminate your participation for violation of these terms, fraudulent activity, or any conduct that damages our reputation or business interests.

9. Intellectual Property

All TerminalStreet trademarks, logos, and marketing materials remain our exclusive property. You receive a limited, non-exclusive license to use approved materials solely for program promotion during the term of this agreement.

You may not modify, create derivative works, or use our intellectual property beyond the scope explicitly permitted in this agreement.

10. Liability and Disclaimers

10.1 Limitation of Liability

Our total liability to you arising out of or related to this affiliate agreement shall be limited to the greater of: (A) the total commission amounts paid to you during the six (6) month period prior to the event giving rise to our liability, or (B) $250 USD. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.

10.2 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your participation in the affiliate program or violation of these terms.

11. Data-Driven Attribution Technical Details

11.1 Attribution Algorithm

Our Data-Driven Attribution system uses advanced machine learning algorithms to fairly distribute commission credit. The algorithm considers multiple factors in determining attribution weights:

• Touchpoint Effectiveness: Calculated using engagement scores, quality metrics, and conversion probability
• Position-Based Bonuses: Discovery touchpoints receive +15% bonus, conversion touchpoints receive +10% bonus
• Quality Scoring: Traffic quality affects attribution weight (premium sources get +10% bonus)
• Historical Performance: 90-day lookback analysis of affiliate conversion patterns
• Engagement Metrics: Time on site, page views, and interaction depth influence attribution
• Cross-Channel Analysis: Multi-channel journeys receive +8% attribution bonus

11.2 Attribution Models Available

While Data-Driven Attribution is our default model, we support multiple attribution methodologies:

• Data-Driven (Default): ML-based algorithmic attribution with confidence scoring
• Linear Attribution: Equal credit distribution across all touchpoints
• Time-Decay Attribution: Higher credit to recent touchpoints with 7-day half-life
• Position-Based Attribution: 40% first touch, 40% last touch, 20% middle touches
• First-Click Attribution: 100% credit to discovery touchpoint
• Last-Click Attribution: Traditional model (fallback only)

11.3 Customer Journey Tracking

We track complete customer journeys using privacy-compliant methods:

• Device Fingerprinting: Anonymous technical identifiers for journey continuity
• 90-Day Attribution Window: All touchpoints within 90 days are considered
• Cross-Session Tracking: Journey reconstruction across multiple sessions
• Journey Merging: Anonymous and authenticated sessions are intelligently linked
• Engagement Scoring: Quality metrics based on user interaction patterns

11.4 Commission Distribution Process

When a conversion occurs, our system performs the following attribution analysis:

1. Journey Analysis: All affiliate touchpoints in the customer journey are identified
2. Effectiveness Calculation: Each touchpoint receives an effectiveness score (0-1)
3. Quality Adjustments: Fraud scores, traffic quality, and engagement metrics modify weights
4. Pattern Recognition: Sequential patterns and timing effects are analyzed
5. Historical Insights: Machine learning applies insights from similar conversion patterns
6. Weight Normalization: Final attribution weights are calculated and normalized to sum to 1.0
7. Commission Distribution: Total commission is distributed proportionally among affiliates

11.5 Transparency and Reporting

• Attribution Reports: Detailed breakdowns available in your affiliate dashboard
• Confidence Scores: Algorithm confidence levels (0-100%) provided for each attribution
• Journey Visualization: Complete customer journey maps with touchpoint details
• Performance Metrics: Historical conversion rates and attribution trends
• Quality Scores: Individual touchpoint quality and engagement ratings

11.6 Attribution System Guarantees

We guarantee the following regarding our Data-Driven Attribution system:

• Fair Distribution: All affiliates in a conversion journey receive proportional credit
• Algorithm Consistency: Attribution calculations are deterministic and repeatable
• Quality-Based Weighting: Higher quality traffic receives appropriate recognition
• Fraud Protection: Suspicious activities are automatically detected and penalized
• Two-Tier Fallback Protection: Sophisticated fallback system with multiple safeguards (detailed in Section 11.8)
• Historical Accuracy: Attribution based on actual conversion data, not estimates

11.8 Attribution Fallback Mechanisms

Our system employs a sophisticated two-tier fallback architecture to ensure commission distribution even in edge cases:

Level 1: Commission Distribution Fallback

Triggered when Data-Driven Attribution analysis completes successfully but no qualifying affiliates remain:

• All affiliates in journey are inactive, suspended, or terminated
• All affiliates fail to meet minimum commission thresholds
• All touchpoints receive zero attribution weight due to quality scores
• Fallback Action: Most recent active affiliate receives full commission via last-click attribution

Level 2: System-Wide Fallback

Triggered when the entire Data-Driven Attribution engine encounters critical errors:

• Database connectivity issues affecting journey analysis
• Machine learning model failures or timeouts
• Critical system component unavailability
• Attribution confidence score below minimum threshold (<30%)
• Fallback Action: Traditional last-click attribution with 90-day attribution window

Fallback Transparency

When fallback attribution is used, it will be clearly indicated in your affiliate dashboard with:

• Attribution Method Label: "Last-Click (Fallback)" instead of "Data-Driven"
• Fallback Reason: Specific explanation for why fallback was triggered
• Journey Data: Available touchpoint data despite fallback attribution
• Recovery Notification: Automatic retry and upgrade to DDA when system recovers

11.9 Attribution Disputes

If you believe an attribution calculation is incorrect:

1. Review your attribution report for detailed breakdown and confidence scores
2. Check journey visualization to understand all touchpoints involved
3. Contact our affiliate support team with specific conversion details
4. We will review attribution calculations and provide detailed explanations
5. If errors are found, corrections will be made and commissions adjusted

All attribution calculations are logged and auditable. We maintain complete transparency in our attribution methodology and are committed to fair commission distribution.

12. Privacy and Data Protection

We are committed to protecting the privacy of all parties. Our collection and use of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy. You must comply with all applicable privacy laws in your promotional activities.

12.1 Data Collection & Cross-Device Tracking

Our attribution system collects and processes data to ensure accurate commission tracking:

• Device Fingerprinting: Technical browser and device parameters for journey continuity
• Cross-Device Tracking: Anonymous identifiers to track users across multiple devices
• Session Data: Interaction patterns, time on site, and engagement metrics
• Attribution Touchpoints: All affiliate interactions within the 90-day attribution window
• Conversion Data: Purchase information, subscription details, and lifetime value metrics

12.2 Machine Learning & Data Usage

By participating in our affiliate program, you consent to our use of attribution data for:

• Attribution Algorithm Training: Improving ML models using aggregated conversion patterns
• Fraud Detection Models: Training fraud detection algorithms on historical data
• Pattern Recognition: Identifying successful customer journey patterns
• Performance Optimization: Enhancing attribution accuracy through machine learning
• Quality Scoring: Developing traffic quality assessment algorithms

All machine learning training uses aggregated, anonymized data and does not compromise individual privacy.

12.3 Data Protection Compliance

Our Data-Driven Attribution system is designed with privacy protection in mind:

• Anonymous Tracking: Device fingerprinting uses technical parameters, not personal data
• Data Minimization: Only attribution-relevant data is collected and processed
• Secure Processing: All attribution calculations are performed on encrypted data
• GDPR Compliance: Full compliance with European privacy regulations
• Data Retention: Attribution data automatically purged after 7 years or per legal requirements
• Right to Deletion: Customer data can be removed upon valid deletion requests

12.4 Affiliate Data Responsibilities

You may not share or misuse any customer information you may access through the affiliate program. This includes any attribution data or customer journey insights. You must maintain strict confidentiality and comply with all applicable data protection laws.

13. Commission Adjustment Rights

In addition to the specific clawback provisions in Section 6.1b, we reserve the comprehensive right to adjust, modify, or recalculate commissions in the following circumstances:

• Attribution Model Updates: When improvements to our ML algorithms result in more accurate attribution
• Data Quality Issues: When data errors or technical issues are discovered and corrected
• Regulatory Compliance: To comply with tax, legal, or regulatory requirements
• Fraud Investigation: During or after investigation of suspicious activities
• Customer Disputes: When customer payment disputes affect transaction validity
• Technical Corrections: To fix tracking, calculation, or attribution errors
• Policy Updates: When changes to affiliate program terms require historical adjustments

All commission adjustments will be documented and communicated to affected affiliates. We maintain detailed audit trails for all commission calculations and adjustments.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Changes will be posted on our website and communicated to active affiliates. Continued participation constitutes acceptance of updated terms.

15. Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to events beyond their reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, terrorism, epidemics, government regulations, disasters, strikes, or failures of the internet, telecommunications, or computer systems. During force majeure events, commission payments may be delayed but will resume once normal operations are restored.

16. Severability

If any provision of this agreement is found to be unenforceable or invalid, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be replaced with a valid provision that most closely achieves the original intent.

17. Entire Agreement

This agreement, together with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding the affiliate program. No other agreements, representations, or warranties exist unless explicitly stated in writing and signed by both parties.

18. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

This agreement is governed by the laws of Wyoming, United States. Any disputes arising under or in connection with this agreement shall be resolved according to the following escalation process:

• Direct Resolution (5 business days): Contact our affiliate team at [email protected]
• Management Review (10 business days): Unresolved disputes escalate to management review
• Mediation: Complex disputes may be referred to independent affiliate program mediation services
• Arbitration: Any dispute not resolved through the steps above will be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by JAMS, with a class-action waiver and a 30-day opt-out right, as set out in the "Dispute Resolution and Arbitration" section of our Terms of Service, which governs disputes under this document. Individual small-claims actions and claims for injunctive relief for intellectual-property violations are excepted, as provided there.

19. Contact Information

For questions about the affiliate program or these terms, please contact us: