Terms and Conditions

General Terms of Use for the MDPI ROR Entity Search API

Version 1.0 – Last updated: 30 June 2026

These General Terms of Use govern the use of the MDPI ROR Entity Search API (hereinafter “the Service”), operated by MDPI AG (hereinafter “MDPI”, “we”, “our” or “us”).

By accessing or using our Service, you (hereinafter “you” or the “User”) agree to be bound by these General Terms of Use (hereinafter the “GTU”). If you do not agree to these terms, you must not use the Service.

1. Service Description

The Service is an Application Programming Interface (API) that uses artificial intelligence models to disambiguate affiliation text strings and match them to unique identifiers from the Research Organization Registry (ROR). If you have any questions regarding the service, please contact us at the following email address: ai-team@mdpi.com

2. Third-Party Data Source (ROR)

The Service relies on data from the Research Organization Registry (ROR).

ROR is a global, public, free, and independently community-managed registry.
We do not control, own, or maintain the ROR registry.

Consequently, we are not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, availability, or any other characteristic of the content of the ROR dataset. The Service uses ROR data extractions as a source but does not guarantee their reliability. The Service is not operated, endorsed or maintained by ROR. It is an MDPI-operated matching and disambiguation service that uses ROR data as one of its data sources.

3. Intellectual Property

All intellectual property rights in and to the Service, including but not limited to the underlying artificial intelligence models, algorithms, software, and documentation, are and shall remain the exclusive property of MDPI. You are strictly prohibited from:

  • Reverse engineering, decompiling, or attempting to extract the source code or model weights of the Service.
  • Using the Service, its outputs, or the returned metadata to train, fine-tune, or validate competing machine learning or artificial intelligence models.

We reserve the right to use submitted data to operate the Service and to evaluate, retrain, or improve our AI models. The data may be retained and used beyond your use of the Service.

4. Access Model and Pricing Conditions (Freemium)

The Service is provided under a “freemium” model.

Free Tier: Free access is available, subject to usage limits (e.g., a maximum number of requests per minute or per month, hereinafter the “Quotas”).

Paid Tiers: We reserve the right to introduce paid access tiers in the future, offering extended capabilities or functionalities. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion and at any time, to modify the terms of the freemium model. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Modifying or imposing Quotas for the free tier.
  • Changing the functionalities, eligibility criteria, or access conditions of the free tier.
  • Introducing, modifying, or removing paid tiers, including their pricing and structure.
  • Transforming the Service into a fully paid service.

Any substantial modification will be communicated through appropriate means.

5. User Responsibilities

By using the Service, you are responsible for:

Submitted Data: The accuracy, legality, and content of the affiliation string you submit to the API. Where submitted affiliation strings contain personal data (for example, the names of individuals), you are solely responsible for ensuring that such processing of personal data complies with all applicable data protection laws and regulations (please refer to Section 11 regarding the processing of personal data).
Use of Results: The manner in which you use the ROR identifiers, metadata, and confidence scores returned by the API. You acknowledge that the results are provided for informational purposes and require your verification.
Compliance: Ensuring that your use of the Service complies with all applicable laws and regulations, as well as any specific terms of use for the ROR registry. Please note that ROR data is published under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication, meaning there are no restrictions on access to and use of ROR IDs and metadata (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/).

6. API Keys

Access to the Service requires an API key.

  • You are required to keep your API key secure and confidential.
  • It is strictly forbidden to share, publish, or disclose your API key to a third party.
  • You are solely responsible for all activities carried out with your API key.
  • In case of loss, theft, or suspected misuse of your API key, you must inform us without delay so that we can revoke or replace it.

7. Usage Restrictions

It is forbidden to use the Service for:

  • Any illegal, fraudulent, or malicious activity.
  • Violating the rights of third parties, including intellectual property rights.
  • Attempting to circumvent Quotas or the API’s security measures.
  • Disrupting, overloading, or degrading the operation of the API or its underlying infrastructure (e.g., through excessive or abusive requests).

Failure to comply with these GTU constitutes a security violation and may lead to legal consequences.

8. Modification, Suspension, and Termination of the Service

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion:

To modify the Service: We may change, update, or improve the Service, its functionalities, or its AI models at any time, with or without prior notice.
To suspend or revoke access: We may suspend or revoke your access to the Service, temporarily or permanently, in case of a violation of these GTU or for any other legitimate reason.
To interrupt or terminate the Service: We reserve the right to permanently interrupt or cease the operation of the Service at any time. In the event of a planned discontinuation, we will endeavour to provide at least 5 business days’ notice through appropriate means, but are not legally obligated to do so.

9. Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability

No Warranty: The Service is provided “as is” and “as available”. We offer no warranty, express or implied, as to its operation.
In particular, we do not guarantee that:

  • API responses will always be accurate, complete, reliable, or error-free.
  • The Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or available at all times.
  • Confidence scores will accurately reflect the relevance of the results.

Limitation of Liability: To the maximum extent permitted by law, MDPI shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, loss of profits, data, or business opportunities) resulting from:

  • The use or inability to use the Service.
  • Reliance on incorrect, incomplete, or unreliable information obtained via the Service.
  • Any interruption, suspension, modification, or termination of the Service.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless MDPI from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or connected with your breach of these GTU, your misuse of the Service, or any violation of third-party rights (including data protection laws) resulting from the data you submit to the API.

11. Personal Data Protection

The processing of personal data in connection with the use of the Service is governed by our Privacy Policy. By using the Service, you consent to the processing of your data in accordance with MDPI Privacy Policy (https://www.mdpi.com/about/privacy).

12. General Provisions

Modification of the GTU: We reserve the right to modify these GTU at any time. Modifications will become effective upon their publication. Your continued use of the Service following the publication of any modifications constitutes your acceptance of the revised GTU. It is your responsibility to regularly review these terms. These GTU may contain links to third-party websites or resources. We are not responsible for their availability, content or accuracy.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction: These GTU are governed by Swiss law. Any dispute arising from these GTU or the use of the Service will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, Switzerland. The non-enforcement of any provision of these GTU by us shall not be interpreted as a waiver of our right to enforce such provision at a later stage.

Severability: If any provision of these GTU is found to be invalid or unenforceable, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions. In such a case, the invalid provision shall be replaced by a valid arrangement that reflects the original intent as closely as possible.