I. Definitions
- 1. Eligible Researcher(s): means and includes academic research institutions and other non-academic research bodies, organizations and associations that meet all of the following criteria:
- a. have demonstrable experience and expertise in the relevant research areas and in the processing and analysis of data; and
- b. has as one of its principal aims the conduct of research on a not-for-profit basis pursuant to a public-interest mission.
- 2. Personal Data: means any information relating to an individual; and any information which falls within the scope of "personal data", "personal information" or "personally identifiable information" (or any materially similar or analogous concept or definition) under applicable privacy and data protection local laws.
- 3. Research: means any research, findings, studies, academic work products, and other materials that derive from utilizing TikTok Research Tools (as defined below) or in connection with the use of TikTok Research Tools.
- 4. TikTok Research Data: means data that is publicly available on the Platform (as defined below) (including data relating to content and accounts) and is provided by TikTok to you and made available through the TikTok Research Tools or by any other means authorized by TikTok, and any copies and derivative works thereof.
- 5. TikTok Research Tools: means the technical solution that TikTok provides to you to facilitate your research, including TikTok's application programming interfaces, software development kits, specifications, sample code, data, metadata, technology, software, virtual compute environments and other associated information and materials and any other interfaces, services, applications, products and mechanisms made available by TikTok, as well as any updates thereto.
- 6. The Platform: means the TikTok apps, websites, software and related services, accessed via any platform or device platform and its related websites, services, applications, products, and content individually and collectively.
- 7. Principal Researcher: means the Eligible Researcher whose account for the TikTok Research Tools identifies subordinate Eligible Researcher collaborators (“Lab Group Member(s)”).
II. Description of the Services and License
- 1. TikTok Research Data is provided through the TikTok Research Tools to facilitate Research. Eligibility to access the TikTok Research Tools is based on various criteria as determined by TikTok in its sole discretion. These criteria include compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and the scope and nature of your proposed research. To qualify to access the TikTok Research Tools, you must either be an Eligible Researcher or be properly authorized to act on behalf of an Eligible Researcher or a Lab Group Member, and meet all of the requirements specified in these Research Terms and any eligibility criteria specified in the TikTok Research Site.
- 2. TikTok will require you to submit an application for review and approval by TikTok prior to giving you access to the TikTok Research Tools. More information on the application process is available on the TikTok Research Site. You are responsible for ensuring that the information you provided is and remains accurate and up-to-date. If you make any changes to the information you supplied in your original application after approval by TikTok, you must resubmit the application to TikTok for re-approval. You agree to abide by TikTok's submission process, provide all required information, and answer all questions reasonably required by TikTok regarding your application. If there are any changes to the information you supplied to TikTok in your original application, you must provide reasonably prompt notice to TikTok of such changes. Failure to do so will be deemed a breach of these Research Terms and may result in the termination of your access to the TikTok Research Tools.
- 3. You are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality of your login credentials and you are responsible for all acts or omissions that occur under your account.
- 4. Subject to these Research Terms, TikTok hereby grants you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, limited, revocable license during the approved Research solely to access and use the TikTok Research Tools for the sole purpose of undertaking the approved Research.
- 5. TikTok or its licensors own and shall maintain ownership of all right, title and interest in and to the TikTok Research Tools. TikTok expressly reserves all rights to the foregoing. These Research Terms do not grant you any right, title, or interest in any intellectual property owned or licensed by TikTok. TikTok shall have an unlimited, irrevocable and worldwide right to use for any purpose any feedback, whether provided verbally or in written form, by you to TikTok regarding your use of and/or access to the TikTok Research Tools, without monetary or other compensation to you.
- 6. If applicable, any content created, uploaded, posted, sent, received, stored, or otherwise provided by TikTok users or by other third party licensors (“TikTok User Content”), may be subject to copyright or other intellectual property and proprietary rights. You may not distribute TikTok User Content unless you obtain all necessary rights, consents, and licenses by the owner of such content or as required by law.
- 7. Your use of the TikTok Research Tools and interaction with the TikTok Platform is subject to and governed by the policies, guidelines and other terms and conditions (as updated from time to time and as relevant to you depending on where you are based) applicable to such use or access by you (the “Incorporated Terms”), including without limitation the following:
- 8. You will not encourage or create a facility for third parties that violates these Research Terms or the above Incorporated Terms. In the event of a conflict between these Research Terms and any of the above Incorporated Terms, these Research Terms shall prevail.
III. Rules and Restrictions
There are various obligations relating to your use of the Service as follows:
1. Reasonable use restrictions. You must:
- a. abide by all laws, rules and regulations applicable to your Research and the TikTok Research Tools;
- b. comply at all times with these Research Terms and with TikTok’s requirements, requests, policies and applicable Incorporated Terms (or those of any network connected to the TikTok Research Tools or the Platform);
- c. not access any data or TikTok content other than through the TikTok Research Tools (including without limitation, no use of scraping or other technical or manual techniques for extraction of content);
- d. implement and maintain technical, physical, and administrative safeguards in accordance with these Research Terms and the highest industry standards; and
- e. immediately disconnect with the TikTok Research Tools in the event of your becoming aware of any compromise or deficiency in relation to your computer systems, networks, web-browsers or routers and report any such compromise or deficiency to TikTok immediately upon becoming aware of it.
2. General Restrictions: When accessing TikTok Research Tools, you will not (or allow others to):
- a. distribute, license, transfer, directly or indirectly sell, rent, syndicate, lend, copy, modify, reverse engineer, decompile, or otherwise alter, in whole or in part, the TikTok Research Tools;
- b. sublicense to any third party or permit any third party, without TikTok’s express written authorization, to browse, access or use the TikTok Research Tools, or any derivatives thereof;
- c. use the TikTok Research Tools, including any content on the Platform, for any commercial or unauthorized purpose, including beyond the scope of the approved Research, except for the limited purpose of publishing papers regarding the approved Research that may themselves be commercial in nature;
- d. use the TikTok Research Tools in connection with or for any illegal, unauthorized or otherwise improper purposes, or in any manner which would violate any right of any person, including intellectual property rights, or breach any laws or regulations, or in any manner that is misleading, defamatory, infringing, libelous, disparaging, obscene or otherwise objectionable;
- e. use or combine the TikTok Research Tools with software offered under an open source license in such a way that would cause the TikTok Research Tools to be subject to any obligations under any such open source license;
- f. use the TikTok Research Tools in a manner that violates any mobile developer or app store terms, conditions, guidelines, or policies;
- g. use the TikTok Research Tools in a manner that (as determined by TikTok) exceeds reasonable request volume, constitutes excessive or abusive usage, or otherwise fails to comply with or contradicts any documentation, policies, these Research Terms, or any Incorporated Terms;
- h. use the TikTok Research Tools for fraudulent or otherwise unlawful or unauthorized purposes, including but not limited to the development or promotion of spyware, adware, or other malicious codes or programs or to defame or harass any person;
- i. introduce viruses, malware, malicious code, or other content of a harmful or destructive nature through your access or use of the TikTok Research Tools, including, but not limited to, failure to ensure adequate protection is installed on your devices and servers in accordance with industry practices;
- j. use any robot, spider, site search or retrieval application, or other device to collect information about users of the TikTok Research Tools for any unauthorized purposes;
- k. act in any way which could reasonably be expected to adversely impact the stability of TikTok’s servers or the behavior of other applications using the TikTok Research Tools;
- l. interfere with or attempt to interfere with the proper working of the TikTok Research Tools, disrupt the TikTok Research Site or any networks connected to the TikTok Research Tools, or bypass, circumvent or attempt to bypass or circumvent any measures we may use to prevent or restrict access to the TikTok Research Tools;
- m. remove, obscure, or alter any legal, copyright, trademark or other proprietary notices in relation to the Platform, the TikTok Research Tools, or falsify or delete any author attributions, legal notices, or other labels of origins or source of material, or fail to abide by TikTok’s requirements in relation to the use of any proprietary materials;
- n. create a false identity on the TikTok Research Site; or
- o. use the TikTok Research Tools or the Platform in any manner that is not expressly authorized under these Research Terms.
3. Research API specific obligations:
- a. Quotas. As part of your Research, you will receive a certain quota assigned by TikTok for accessing TikTok Research Data during your Research. The quota is determined by TikTok at its sole discretion. TikTok may adjust your quota or revoke your access to the TikTok Research Tools at any time, including following the completion of your Research.
- b. Use of TikTok Research Data. You may only use TikTok Research Data for Research on the topics approved by TikTok as part of your application.
- c. Publication of Research. Consistent with Open Science Principles, you agree to use reasonable efforts to publish any Research in Open Access journals or publications and/or as Open Access resources on other websites.
- d. Principles of Research Ethics. You agree not to use the TikTok Research Tools and/or perform your Research in a manner that is deceptive, unethical, false, or misleading, that compromises academic or professional integrity, or that violates principles of research ethics. You will notify us without undue delay upon becoming aware of any content that is, or you believe to be, illegal, fraudulent, or violates TikTok Community Guidelines, such notification to include all known details relating to the alleged illegal content.
- e. Data Refresh and Deletion. Where you are able to access or download Personal Data through the TikTok Research Tools, you agree to regularly refresh TikTok Research Data at least every thirty (30) days, and delete data that is not available from the TikTok Research Tools at the time of each refresh. TikTok Research Data shall not be kept by you for longer than is necessary for Research approved as part of your application. You agree to provide TikTok with written certification of data deletion upon TikTok's request.
- f. Research Outputs and Publication.
- i. You may create derivative Research outputs that are not specifically and directly made available through the TikTok Research Tools. You may not publish your research outputs if your outputs violate these Research Terms. You and your partners must provide attribution to TikTok in your research outputs and publications that use data derived from your use of the TikTok Research Tools.
- ii. You agree to provide TikTok with a copy of any publications pertaining to or containing the results and findings of the Research outputs, and any supporting information, at least seven (7) days before publication primarily to identify any user private Personal Data that may need to be removed prior to publication or disclosure.
- g. No Endorsement. You agree that TikTok's provision to you of the TikTok Research Tools does not imply any endorsement by TikTok of either you, your Research, or any opinion, conclusion, or publication in relation to your Research. You may only reference TikTok as the source of your Research and shall not make any representations contrary to the no endorsement requirement. You may not use the TikTok name, logo, trademarks, service marks, domain names, or other distinctive brand features of TikTok without TikTok's prior written approval. Nothing in these Research Terms shall be construed as constituting a partnership, joint venture or relationship of employer and employee between the parties.
- h. License to TikTok. After you publish any research outputs, you agree that TikTok will have free and unlimited access to and use of your publication and research outputs. Such use may include, without limitation, the right to:
- i. After you send us your advance copy as specified in sub-section 3(f), make, distribute, and use copies of your publication and research outputs, for internal review, presentation, and training purposes; and
- ii. After you publish any Research outputs, for marketing, training, and presentation purposes, use and distribute reasonable excerpts from your publication and Research outputs.
4. Privacy Obligations:
- a. Data Protection Addendum. To the extent that you receive TikTok Research Data that is also Personal Data, then you agree that the Global Data Sharing Research Appendix shall apply to such data sharing.
- b. In addition to complying with the terms set out in the Global Data Sharing Research Appendix, you must:
- i. only process any Personal Data as part of your Research strictly where required for such Research, and apply data minimization, anonymization and pseudonymization techniques wherever possible;
- ii. not use the TikTok Research Data to build profiles of individual users or individual devices nor will you combine the TikTok Research Data with any other information or data about individual users that you obtain from any other source nor associate the behavior of any individual or device with any profile, database or similar record;
- iii. not circumvent (or try to circumvent) any privacy or security features contained in the TikTok Research Tools, including (where applicable) to download or create a copy of the TikTok Research Data;
- iv. not make any direct contact with TikTok users other than strictly in accordance with any processes agreed with you as part of the Research application;
- v. not undertake any processing activities in respect of the TikTok Research Data which involve the processing of any data which would be considered to be sensitive or special category data (or any materially similar or analogous concept or definition) under Applicable Data Protection Law (as defined in the Global Data Sharing Research Appendix) or to infer the same. If you believe that any TikTok Research Data provided to you does contain any such data, then you must promptly inform us and delete it;
- vi. not undertake any processing activities (including access) in respect of any Personal Data in the TikTok Research Data which relates to an identified or identifiable individual user under the age of 18 outside of the TikTok dedicated environment. If you believe that any TikTok Research Data provided to you outside of the TikTok dedicated environment does contain any such data, then you must promptly inform TikTok and delete it;
- vii. not publish your Research outputs if your outputs can be linked back to a specific TikTok user or other individual;
- viii. strictly adhere to any time limits, rate limits and other restrictions in relation to your access and use of the TikTok Research Data and the scope of the Research confirmed to you on approval of your application;
- ix. provide information and documentation on request to TikTok regarding compliance with these Research Terms including in relation to these privacy restrictions and obligations and your compliance with Applicable Data Protection Laws (including without limitation in respect of your compliance with transparency, data subject/individual rights, privacy assessments and any reliance by you on exemptions in respect of research activities or otherwise under Applicable Data Protection Laws);
- x. confirm that your access is in accordance with these Research Terms for the purpose of your Research as approved by TikTok to Eligible Researchers authorized to access the TikTok Research Tools, when required by TikTok to do so;
- xi. delete any inadvertently generated Personal Data promptly and in any event within 30 days; and
- xii. comply if TikTok informs you of a TikTok user having required rectification, erasure or restriction of processing of Personal Data to you, you must comply with such requests.
5. Lab Group Requirements:
- a. You agree that the Principal Researcher is responsible for ensuring that all Lab Group Members meet the requirements of the Research Terms, including but not limited to ensuring that all Lab Group Members are Eligible Researchers. TikTok reserves the right to approve or deny access for Lab Group Members added after the Principal Researcher's application to access the TikTok Research Tools is approved.
- b. All Lab Group Members must comply with the Research Terms. You agree that the Principal Researcher is responsible for the actions of all Lab Group Members, including but not limited to the failure of any Lab Group Member to comply with the Research Terms.
6. Compliance and Monitoring. TikTok may monitor your use of the TikTok Research Tools and the Research at any time and without notice or otherwise conduct an audit of your activities or ask you to confirm that your use of the TikTok Research Tools is compliant with these Research Terms) in order to ensure compliance with these Research Terms. You agree not to block or interfere with such efforts and to provide us with reasonable access to information related to your compliance with these Research Terms. You agree you will provide your full cooperation and assistance with such monitoring and audit and provide reasonable documentary evidence that you and your Research comply with your obligations under these Research Terms.
IV. Confidentiality
You acknowledge that the ability to access and aggregate analysis of TikTok Research Data might not generally be available in the public domain at the time that data is made available or disclosed to you. All of the data to which you gain access or which is provided to you in connection with your use of the TikTok Research Tools, including aggregated, de-identified, or anonymized data, may be considered as "Confidential Information" of TikTok and proprietary to TikTok, and you agree not to disclose, copy, reproduce, share, sell, or otherwise transfer to any third party any TikTok Research Data-or any data derived or aggregated from TikTok Research Data, unless you can demonstrate that such information: (a) was already known to you, other than under an obligation of confidentiality, at the time of disclosure; (b) was generally available in the public domain at the time of disclosure to you; (c) became generally available in the public domain after disclosure other than through your act or omission; (d) was subsequently lawfully disclosed to you by a third party without any obligation of confidentiality; or (e) was independently developed by you without use of or reference to any information or materials disclosed by TikTok. You may use this Confidential Information only as expressly permitted hereunder and you may not share the Confidential Information with any third party other than as required by a court, a regulator or otherwise under applicable laws. You acknowledge and agree that nothing in these Research Terms will be construed as restricting or preventing TikTok from creating and fully exploiting its own applications, products, or services with any obligation to you.
V. Disclaimer
To the extent permissible under applicable law: (i) TikTok provides the TikTok Research Tools including the TikTok research tools on an ‘as is’ and ‘as available’ basis and makes no commitment that it will be available; (ii) disclaims all guarantees, conditions, warranties and representations, express, implied, statutory or otherwise concerning the TikTok Research Tools supplied by TikTok hereunder, including but not limited to, those implied warranties of merchantability, satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, title and non-infringement; (iii) TikTok does not represent that the TikTok Research Tools will be uninterrupted or error free uninterrupted, virus-free or secure or meet your requirements; (iv) your use of the TikTok Research Tools is at your own discretion and risk, and you will be solely responsible for any damage that results from the use of the TikTok Research Tools including, but not limited to, any damage to your computer system, loss of data or any other damage or injury to you or any third party. The laws of certain jurisdictions do not allow the disclaimer of implied warranties, so the above disclaimer may not apply to you. With respect to TikTok User Content, TikTok is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, usefulness, availability, safety, or legality of such data, including content that may be offensive, indecent, defamatory, objectionable, or that may violate third party rights or applicable laws or regulations.
VI. Indemnity
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to hold harmless and indemnify TikTok, its subsidiaries, affiliates, licensors, licensees, assigns and successors, and each of their officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and shareholders from and against any third-party claim, suit or action including any liability, losses, damages (actual and/or consequential), expenses, litigation costs and reasonable attorney fees, of every kind and nature arising from or in any way related to your (a) actual or alleged breach of your obligations under these Research Terms; (b) your use of the TikTok Research Tools or data derived therefrom; or (c) the Research. TikTok shall use reasonable endeavors to provide you with written notice of any such claim, suit or action.
VII. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall TikTok, its affiliates, assigns, successors, licensors or licensees, or each of their officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors, or shareholders, be liable to you or any third party for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to any loss of data, service interruption, computer failure, or pecuniary loss) arising out of or in connection with these Research Terms or the use of, or inability to use, the Platform, or the TikTok Research Tools, including any damages resulting therefrom, regardless of the form of the action or the basis of the claim, whether based on breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort (including negligence, product liability or otherwise), regardless of whether TikTok has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Your only right with respect to any problems or dissatisfaction with Platform or the TikTok Research Tools is to stop using the Platform or the TikTok Research Tools.
VIII. Anti-Corruption; Export Rules
You agree to comply with all applicable laws and regulations in relation to export control, including those administered or enforced by the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce. You agree that you will not transfer any information or software it receives from TikTok that constitutes an export or transfer of controlled items, data or services, to include transfer to non-US persons employed by or associated with, or under contract to that party, without the authority of an export license, agreement or applicable exemption or exception.
IX. Jurisdiction Specific Terms
You acknowledge and agree that additional Jurisdiction Specific Terms may apply to the provision and use of the TikTok Research Tools. Where applicable, such Jurisdiction Specific Terms are incorporated into these Research Terms by reference.
X. Miscellaneous
1. Modification. We may modify these Research Terms at any time. Other than changes required by law, we will provide you with thirty (30) days' notice of any material changes to these Research Terms (for example by email or to your TikTok developer account). However, it remains your sole responsibility to review these Research Terms from time to time to view any such changes. The updated Research Terms will be effective as of the time of posting, or such later date as may be specified in the updated terms. Your continued access or use of the TikTok Research Tools after the modifications have become effective will be deemed your acceptance of the modified terms. You may discontinue your use of the TikTok Research Tools at any time.
2. Termination. We may modify, suspend or terminate your access to, or discontinue the availability of, any parts of the TikTok Research Tools at any time, including, without limitation, where we determine that you have breached these Research Terms. Upon termination of these Research Terms, you must immediately cease use of any and all the TikTok Research Tools and permanently delete all TikTok Research Data.
3. Conflicts. These Research Terms apply in addition to the Incorporated Terms (as defined above) and the Global Data Sharing Research Appendix. In the event of any conflict between these Research Terms and those other terms, these Research Terms shall take precedence solely with respect to your use of the TikTok Research Tools, and solely to the extent of the conflict. In the event of any conflict between these Research Terms and the Jurisdiction Specific Terms, the Jurisdiction Specific Terms shall take precedence, and solely to the extent of the conflict.
4. Governing Law. These Research Terms, its subject matter and formation, are governed by the laws of the State of California. Any disputes or proceedings (including tort claims) arising out of or relating to these Research Terms will be litigated exclusively in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. If, however, that court would lack original jurisdiction over the litigation, then the dispute will be litigated exclusively in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. The parties consent to personal jurisdiction in both courts. Each party expressly waives any right to a trial by jury in an action or proceeding brought by or against either party.
If you reside in the EEA or UK or Switzerland, these Research Terms are governed by the law of the jurisdiction in which you are a resident. If we have a dispute, we will first try and resolve it with you amicably. If we cannot resolve our dispute, you or we can go to your local courts. You can also go to the following courts: the courts of the Republic of Ireland will have non-exclusive jurisdiction over disputes with TikTok Ireland Limited; and the courts of England & Wales will have non-exclusive jurisdiction over disputes with TikTok Information Technologies UK Limited.
5. Notice. TikTok may give notices to you by email. All notices to TikTok shall be sent to https://www.tiktok.com/legal/report/feedback.
