Built In The Lab

Terms of Service

Welcome to NC Labs, where we document the experimental edge of hardware engineering. These Terms of Service are our shared map for this exploratory space. Because our work involves prototypes that may never reach a store shelf, we treat every contribution — code, schematic, written observation — as a valuable research artifact. Please read these terms carefully; they govern your use of the NC Labs website and any submitted materials. By accessing our platform, you agree to be bound by this agreement, effective as of our founding in 2020.

  1. Intellectual Property Ownership — All original content published by NC Labs, including but not limited to prototype documentation, design files, PCB layouts, firmware snippets, test data, and written analysis, is the exclusive intellectual property of NC Labs unless otherwise noted. As a research-driven organization, we encourage citation and discussion, but you may not copy, modify, distribute, or commercially exploit any of our materials without prior written permission. We share to advance understanding, not to transfer ownership.
  2. User Submissions and Grant of License — If you submit comments, bug reports, design suggestions, or experimental data to NC Labs, you retain ownership of your submission. However, by submitting, you grant NC Labs a perpetual, royalty‑free, worldwide, non‑exclusive license to host, display, modify, and incorporate your submission into our research corpus. Think of it as contributing to a living lab notebook — your name will always be credited.
  3. Copyright Protection and Infringement — NC Labs respects the intellectual property of others and expects our community to do the same. If you believe any content on our site infringes your copyright, please contact us via our Contact Us page. We will respond promptly under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and similar US laws. Our goal is to foster innovation, not to host disputes.
  4. No Commercial Use of Prototype Documentation — Because our prototypes are pre‑commercial and often incomplete, you may not use any NC Labs documentation to manufacture, sell, or license a product without express written agreement. We document to accelerate research, not to create a product catalog. Violation of this term may result in immediate termination of your access.
  5. Attribution and Citation — When referencing NC Labs content in your own research, you must provide clear attribution (e.g., “Source: NC Labs, 2020–present”). We encourage open science and expect the same courtesy in return. Misattribution or removal of copyright notices is prohibited.
  6. Reverse Engineering and Modification — You are free to study, reverse‑engineer, and modify any prototype documentation made publicly available, solely for non‑commercial research purposes. Curiosity is the engine of our field. However, you may not redistribute modified versions under the NC Labs name or imply endorsement by NC Labs without our consent.
  7. Disclaimer of Warranties — All prototype documentation is provided “as is,” without any warranty of fitness, accuracy, or safety. These are experiments, not products. NC Labs disclaims all liability for damage resulting from the use or misuse of our materials. You assume full risk when building, testing, or adapting any design described on this site.
  8. Limitation of Liability — In no event shall NC Labs be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of your use of the website or reliance on its content, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Our liability is limited to the fullest extent permitted under United States law.
  9. Modifications to These Terms — NC Labs reserves the right to update these terms as our research evolves. We will notify users of significant changes via a notice on our site. Continued use after a change constitutes acceptance. Like a prototype, these terms are subject to iteration.
  10. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution — These terms are governed by the laws of the United States (excluding conflict‑of‑law principles). Any disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in the state where NC Labs maintains its primary research facility, as indicated on our Contact Us page. We prefer collaboration over litigation.

We built NC Labs for engineers and enthusiasts who understand that a failed experiment is as valuable as a successful one. These terms are designed to protect the fragile, early‑stage ideas we share while keeping the door open for genuine inquiry. If something here feels unclear or overly restrictive, please reach out — we are researchers first, and we welcome dialogue that sharpens our policies.

Thank you for being part of this laboratory. Your curiosity fuels our documentation, and your respect for intellectual property ensures that we can continue publishing the raw, unfinished work that might one day change everything. Let’s keep exploring.