Reference Translation: Storage Service Terms and Conditions

This English translation is not official and is provided for reference purposes only.
This translation may not reflect the most up-to-date version of the original.
If there is any discrepancy between the Japanese text and the English translation, the Japanese text shall prevail.
The original text is available here.

Institute of Science Tokyo Center for Information Infrastructure Storage Service Terms and Conditions

Article 1: Purpose
These terms prescribe the matters necessary for the use of the storage service provided by the Center for Information Infrastructure, Institute of Science Tokyo (hereinafter, the “Center”).

Article 2: Scope of Application
These terms shall apply to all relationships between the Institute of Science Tokyo and users of the storage service (hereinafter, “Users”) with respect to use of the storage service.

Article 3: Definitions

1. In these terms and conditions, “Center” means the Center for Information Infrastructure, Institute of Science Tokyo.
2. In these terms and conditions, “Director” means the Director of the Center for Information Infrastructure.
3. In these terms and conditions, “Storage Service” means services for storing, sharing, and publishing data using data storage associated with the supercomputer systems and educational computer systems managed by the Center.

Article 4: Purpose of Use
The Storage Service may be used for the following purposes:

1. Academic research, etc.
2. Information processing education, etc.
3. Administrative processing
4. Joint use
5. Social contribution
6. Other activities deemed necessary by the Director

Article 5: Eligibility for Use
Persons eligible to use the Storage Service for the purposes specified in each item of the preceding Article will be those who fall under any of the following:

1. Persons eligible to use the supercomputer systems managed by the Center
2. Persons eligible to use the educational computer systems managed by the Center
3. Other persons approved by the Director

Article 6: Suspension of Use
The Center may suspend or discontinue use of the Storage Service in the event of a failure in the Storage Service or its equipment, etc., or when maintenance work is performed.

Article 7: Application for Use

1. Any person wishing to use the Storage Service shall submit an application via the supercomputer system or the educational computer systems.
2. When an application is submitted viathe preceding paragraph, the Director shall approve as Users those whose accounts on the respective systems are valid.

Article 8: Period of Availability
The period during which the Storage Service may be used shall be the period during which the user’s account on the supercomputer system or educational computer system remains valid.

Article 9: Handling of Data

1. The Center shall take necessary preventive measures to properly manage and protect data, etc., against leakage, loss, or damage.
2. The Center shall not access user data, etc., unless necessary for the operation of the Storage Service.
3. The Center shall not disclose user data, etc., to third parties except in the following cases:
   1. When outsourcing operations related to the Storage Service and such disclosure is necessary
   2. When required by laws or regulations, etc.
4. The Center may reference file information for the smooth operation of the Storage Service.
5. When a user’s account becomes invalid or required fees to the Storage Service are not paid, the Center may, after a grace period, delete the user’s data, etc., without prior notice.
6. The Center shall not modify user data except in the following cases:
   1. When necessary for operation due to the system failure response, etc., or security reasons, etc.
   2. When a user loses authorization but the group sharing the data with the user remains valid
   3. When requested by the file owner or group representative sharing the file
   4. When applicable under Article 9, paragraph 5
7. The Center shall not back up user data, etc.

Article 10: Prohibited Conduct
Users shall not engage in any of the following acts:

1. Acts that interfere with the operation of the Storage Service or related equipment and facilities, etc., owned by third parties
2. Use for purposes other than those specified in Article 3, or storage of unrelated data, etc.
3. Infringement of intellectual property rights (copyrights, trademark, etc.) of the Center or third parties
4. Acts damaging the reputation or property of the Center or third parties
5. Allowing others and third parties to use the service using one’s own eligibility, except for data collection or publication purposes
6. Impersonation of other users
7. Acts leading to criminal activities such as fraud, etc.
8. Storage of malicious programs, etc., such as viruses, etc.
9. Storage of data, etc., containing inappropriate or unlawful content (obscenity, pornography, or content related to child abuse, etc.)
10. Acts violating laws or public order and morals, or any conduct that causes harm to the Center, other uses, or third parties
11. Use for development, etc., of weapons of mass destruction or military purposes or other military applications; or the act of storing data, etc., intended for such purposes
12. Other acts deemed inappropriate by the Center

Article 11: User Obligations
Users shall immediately notify the Center if they become aware of or suspect conduct by other users that falls under any of the prohibited acts specified in the preceding Article.

Article 12: Suspension Measures

1. The Center may instruct users to improve usage methods if it determines that their use may interfere with operations.
2. If a user does not comply previous paragraph or falls under any of the following, the Center may suspend or terminate use of the storage service:
   1. Loss of eligibility
   2. Violation or potential violation of prohibited acts

Article 13: Confidentiality

1. The Center shall properly manage and protect information in accordance with the National University Corporation Institute of Science Tokyo Information Ethics Regulations (Regulation No. 69 of 2024), the National University Corporation Institute of Science Tokyo Information Security Regulations (Regulation No. 70 of 2024), and the National University Corporation Institute of Science Tokyo Information Security Policy (October 1, 2024) 
2. The Center shall strictly handle Users’ personal information and any information that should be kept confidential for research, technical, or other purposes (user data, etc., or system logs, etc., that identify individual users) obtained in the course of providing the storage service, and shall not, without the Users’ consent, use such information for any purpose other than the operation of the storage service. 
3. The Center may publish usage statistics, user support information, or operational data (data generated automatically through the operation of the storage service) that has been processed to prevent the identification of individual users or stored data.

Article 14: Usage Fees

1. Users who wish to use paid storage service shall pay usage fees separately specified for the system that includes the storage service. However, usage fees may be reduced or waived in cases where the service is used by persons specified in Article 4, items iii and iv, or in cases specifically approved by the Director.
2. Once paid, usage fees shall not be refunded. However, this does not apply when use is discontinued or suspended due to reasons attributable to the Institute.

Article 15: Compensation for Damages
Users shall compensate the Institute for damages caused by defacing, damaging, or losing equipment, etc., or facilities at the Center or the storage service, or by violating these terms and conditions or the conditions of permission.

Article 16: Disclaimer

1. In providing storage services, the Center makes no guarantees regarding:
   1. Interruption, delay, suspension, or termination of the Storage Service or loss or corruption of data, etc., due to failures in network equipment such as communication lines, etc., or computers, storage devices, etc.
   2. Improvement of errors or defects, etc., in the Storage Service.
   3. Protection against computer viruses through the use of the Storage Service.
   4. Storage service compatibility with user environments.
2. The Center shall not be liable for and shall not bear responsibility for damages incurred by Users through the use of the Storage Service, including:
   1. Damages incurred by Users as a result of the Center’s failure to guarantee the matters listed in the preceding paragraph.
   2. Loss or damages to data, etc., due to Storage Service system failures or the User’s own operational errors, etc., or other negligence, etc. 
   3. Loss, damage, leakage, or tampering, etc., of data, etc., due to unauthorized access or hacking, etc., by third parties.
   4. Insufficient storage capacity in the file system due to data, etc., stored by other Users, resulting in the available space for storing a User’s data, etc., falling below the capacity guaranteed by a paid service, etc., or similar arrangement, thereby preventing further storage. 
   5. Insufficient data transfer or storage performance of the Storage System.
   6. Damages incurred as a result of other users engaging in prohibited acts, as specified in Article 10.

Article 17: Notifications
Notifications from the Center to the Users shall be deemed complete when posted on a separately established website or when sent by email.

Article 18: Contact Point
User inquiries or notifications to the Center shall be handled through a separately established contact channel.

Article 19: Miscellaneous Provisions
In addition to the provisions set forth in these terms and conditions, the Director may determine any other matters necessary to the use of the Storage Service.

Supplementary Provisions

1. These terms come into force on March 4, 2025, and apply from October 1, 2024.
2. The Storage Service Terms of Use of the Global Scientific Information and Computing Center, Tokyo Institute of Technology, will be repealed.