USER AGREEMENT FOR USMLEWorld SERVICES

This User Agreement ("Agreement") is a contract between you and USMLEWorld, LLC and applies to your subscription to and use of products and services available through www.USMLEWorld.com (collectively the "Services"). If you do not agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, please do not use or access the Services.

You must read, agree with, and accept all of the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement before you may become a subscriber to and user of USMLEWorld’s Services.

We may amend this Agreement at any time by posting the amended terms on our site www.USMLEWorld.com (the “site”). Except as stated below, all amended terms shall be effective 30 days after they are initially posted on our site. Upcoming changes will be posted on the "Policy Updates" page, accessible from "Policy Updates" page once you have logged in. 

In this Agreement, "you" or "your" means any person or entity subscribing to and/or using the Service ("Users"). Unless otherwise stated, "USMLEWorld," "we" or "our" will refer collectively to USMLEWorld, LLC.

READ THE FOLLOWING USE, CONDITIONS, AND DISCLAIMERS IN THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE USING OUR MATERIAL.

License: In consideration of and subject to your payment of the appropriate subscription fee for the Services you subscribe to, and your agreement to and compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, USMLEWorld grants to you a non-exclusive, non-sub licensable, non-transferable license and right to use and access the USMLEWorld content (the "Licensed Materials") from multiple places/locations/computers at "different times". You are not allowed to access the USMLEWorld content from multiple places/locations/computers at "same" time. If you agree to the terms of this Agreement as follows:  

System Requirements: You have to use a USMLEWorld recommended version of Operating System, Internet Browser and any other required softwares to access the Licensed Materials.

1. Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP or Vista, Mac OS X 10.3.9 or higher
   
2. Java Runtime Engine Version 1.5 or higher for Windows (Available at http://java.com/en/download/index.jsp) and 1.4 or higher for Mac (from Sun Microsystems or Apple)
   
3. 128 MB RAM minimum (256MB preferred)
   
4. 56k modem or faster, and reliable Internet service (High Speed Internet preferred)
   
5. For Windows: Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher is Required.
   For Mac: FireFox 1.5 or higher, Safari 1.0 or higher
   (Cookies & JavaScript must be enabled)
   
6. Monitor resolution - 1024x768 or higher
   
7. Pentium III 800 Mhz or faster ( Pentium IV 1.5 Ghz preferred) , G4 processor 700 Mhz or faster (1.2 Ghz preferred)

Software Use Terms: The USMLEWorld software(s) used for the question banks (Qbank) and Self-Assessment (SimExam) are designed to work with Java Runtime Engine (JRE) 1.5 or higher on Windows and 1.4 or higher on Macintosh. Any attempt to use the USMLEWorld software with lower versions of JRE constitutes violation of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and might result in unexpected behavior, for which USMLEWorld LLC cannot be held responsible or liable for any damages. The USMLEWorld software is designed to access your computer system’s clipboard during use of the USMLEWorld software. While a test is in progress, the USMLEWorld software shall disable all clipboard functions of your computer system (including, but not limited to, copy-paste-print, save-to-disk functions). Furthermore, the USMLEWorld software shall monitor all processes on your computer to determine if there exists any applications that could be used (intentionally or unintentionally) to copy contents. Simultaneous use of such applications (hereafter referred to as "dubious applications") with the USMLEWorld software constitutes violation of this Agreement. USMLEWorld LLC reserves the right to determine which application classifies as a "dubious application". When such process (or) application is found to be active on user's machine, the adminstrator will be notified with the "dubious" process name and user will also be notified with instructions to disable it on every attempt. In addition, USMLEWorld LLC reserves the right to disable the launch of any test(s) if any such "dubious application" is found to be active on the user’s computer system. User will not be able to switch between applications when USMLEWorld software is running. User understands and acknowledges this disabled function as part of the subscription terms.

The user authorizes USMLEWorld Software to access the computer on which the self-assessment exam is being taken and monitor every keyboard stroke for that computer. The user also agrees to only use a computer mouse when taking the self-assessment exam. In the event that more than three (3) keyboard strokes are detected, USMLEWorld reserve the right to suspend the user’s subscription, report such unethical actions to medical committees and residency programs, and pursue legal action if necessary.

The USMLEWorld software has been tested with a wide range of computer configurations; however, due to the rapidly evolving computer industry and unpredictability of various factors affecting computer systems, USMLEWorld LLC does not guarantee the functionality of its Software on every configuration, nor does USMLEWorld LLC guarantee predictable behavior of the software. You recognize all the above terms, and accept that use of the USMLEWorld software on your system is done solely at your own risk.

The content presented in the self-assessment examination serves as an educational tool only for medical students and graduates. The Assessment Score is calculated by USMLEWorld, LLC based on its own proprietary algorithm. This is not intended to predict your performance on the actual USMLE™ but is designed to help one assess relative strengths and weaknesses in different subjects and systems of medicine.

USMLEWorld will always keep your account and self-assessment exam performance results confidential and will not provide such information to third parties without your consent. In the event that an educational institution (ie. medical school, residency program(s)) pays for the user’s self-assessment subscription, the educational institution can request the performance results from USMLEWorld through the written consent of the user.

Residency Services (Personal Statement): Each personal statement is completed by group of physicians who have extensive experience in medical writing and editing. Each draft (first copy) goes through an extensive review and editing process before they are delivered to users.

1. Our core team of writers and editors must all agree with the content before the personal statement is delivered to the subscriber.
2. We encourage all Personal Statement subscribers to provide detailed information regarding the questions asked to prevent discrepancies and/or revisions. Often times, if the information provided on the questionnaire is incomplete and/or limited, writers may have to embellish parts of the story or not include it at all.
3. Subscribers can request up to a maximum of 2 revisions, which can take up to an average of 5 to 7 business days depending on the extent of the revisions requested.
4. It is the subscriber’s responsibility to specifically out point/ highlight areas of the personal statement draft that needs revision.
5. The subscriber must cooperate with the writing team to provide the necessary information requested in order to make any revisions/changes. All requests for revisions must be made in writing.
6. In no event will a personal statement be re-written in entirety for any revision.
7. If the subscriber is not able to provide the specific citations to the requested changes in the personal statement draft, USMLEWORLD will not be liable to make further revisions and/or issue refunds for the service.
8. Subscribers must send ALL requested information in ONE email in the exact format as requested. Providing the information in un-supported formats or sending multiple emails with pieces of information are not acceptable and may even delay the process.

Export Restrictions on International Sales: In accordance with current U.S. export restrictions, USMLEWorld Software(s) may be downloaded by individuals throughout the world except those in the following embargoed countries: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. If you are in one of these countries, you may not download USMLEWorld Software. If you are residing in any of these countries, please do not purchase or download USMLEWorld softwares/subscriptions.

Access to Course Content: You shall be allowed to use the Licensed Materials for the specific course(s) and matter to which you have subscribed.  Each course has its own subscription fees and course duration. You are not allowed to access the content of courses that you have not subscribed to. Subscribing to one course (like STEP2 CS) does not mean that you will have access to all materials (like STEP2 CK and STEP3).

Refunds: Except as otherwise provided in this agreement or in the sole discretion of USMLEWorld, no refunds or cancellations or changes to subscriptions will be allowed. 

Member Account/Password and Security: You must complete USMLEWorld’s registration process in order to subscribe to and use the Services by providing us with current, complete and accurate information as prompted by the applicable registration form. You also will choose a password and a user name. You are entirely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and account. Furthermore, you are entirely responsible for any and all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify USMLEWorld immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security. USMLEWorld will not be liable for any loss that you may incur as a result of someone else using your password or account, either with or without your knowledge. However, you could be held liable for losses incurred by USMLEWorld or another party due to someone else using your account or password.  

Ownership: The Licensed Materials, including all intellectual property rights in the Licensed Materials, such as copyright, are the sole and exclusive property of USMLEWorld. By indicating that you accept these terms, you do not become the owner of the Licensed Materials, but are entitled to use them according to the terms of this Agreement.

Subscription term: You have obtained the right to use and access the Licensed Materials for the course(s) you have subscribed to for the subscription period of that course(s). At the end of this period, your right to use and access the Licensed Materials will expire automatically, unless you renew your subscription under the then current terms and conditions. The subscription will start immediately after the purchase unless user notify USMLEWorld with desired start date before start using any part of the subscription. Subscription(s) cannot be suspended temporarily or reactivated at later. User must use the subscribed material with in the subscription period and no free extentions are offered for unused period. Renewals are offered as a continuation to current subscription term. Renewals are not offered for later use after expiration of current subscription. User must renew the subscription prior to expiration and use it continuosuly. Renewal will only be provided to the course subscribed. Some courses are offered as a combination packages and the renewal will only be allowed for combined package but not seperately. Renewals allows the user to work for extended period on the exisitng Qbank test information. The Qbank test information will not be reset when the user renew the same subscription. This Agreement and your license to use the Licensed Materials will also terminate, in USMLEWorld’s sole discretion, if you fail to comply with any term or condition in this Agreement.

Permitted uses: You may print out the Allowed Content from the most current version of the database solely for your personal educational use if you include a source reference to USMLEWorld and its copyright notice. “Allowed Content” means that part of the Content USMLEWorld allows you to print a hard copy of. USMLEWorld reserves the right to restrict printing for any content in the website. User agrees to have access to computer and the Internet to access USMLEWorld. Except as provided in this Agreement, you may not print out the Licensed Materials. None of the Qbank contents are allowed for print, copy-paste, save to media/disk. The Qbank test information will not be reset during the subscription period. Check lists and few sample cases are not allowed for printing in STEP2 CS. Only cases from 1 to 60 are allowed for printing in STEP3 CCS course. The rest of the material is not allowed for printing.

Prohibitions:  You are expressly prohibited from copying, reverse engineering or modifying any or all of the Licensed Materials.  No part of the Licensed Materials may be copied for resale or other commercial use, or offered for sale or reproduced on any bulletin boards, web sites, discussion forums, Internet domains, or online chartrooms.  You many not use any device, software or routine to interfere or attempt to interfere with the proper working of the site or any activity being conducted at the site.  You may not disclose or share your password with any third parties or use your password for an unauthorized purpose. 

Restriction against transfer: You are not allowed to sublicense, assign, share, sell, rent, lease, or otherwise transfer your right to use the Licensed Materials. All accounts at USMLEWorld are monitored for multiple logons. In the event that USMLEWorld believes in its sole discretion that an account is being used by multiple users at the same time, USMLEWorld reserves the right to terminate that account without any notice or refund. We also retain the right to sue on grounds of breach of contract.  Therefore, please do not disclose your account details to anyone else.

Violations: In the event that you breach any term of this Agreement, USMLEWorld may in its sole discretion terminate this Agreement, your access to the site and its provision of Services to you without refund, and USMLEWorld reserves the right to seek all remedies available by law and in equity for such breaches.

Marks: The United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™) is a joint program of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®). None of the trademark holders are affiliated with USMLEWorld. The other trademarks, logos, and service marks displayed on the site are the property of USMLEWorld. Users are prohibited from using any USMLEWorld Marks without the written permission of USMLEWorld. All content on the site is protected by copyright.

Affiliation: USMLEWorld is a commercial educational service provider for medical students and graduates who are preparing for United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE™). USMLEWorld in no way affiliated with National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME®) or Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) or any other official USMLE™ organizations.

No warranties:  USMLEWorld PROVIDES ITS SERVICES "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OR CONDITION, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY. WE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

1. USMLEWorld does not endorse and is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, advice, or statement made through the site by any party other than USMLEWorld. Other than as required under consumer protection law, under no circumstance will USMLEWorld be liable for any loss or damage caused by a User's reliance on information obtained through the site. It is the responsibility of the User to evaluate the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, opinion, advice, or other content available through the site. Please seek the advice of professionals, as appropriate, regarding the evaluation of any specific information, opinion, advice, or other content.  

2. The information provided in USMLEWorld is no substitute for individual patient assessment based upon the healthcare provider's examination of each patient and consideration of laboratory data and other factors unique to the patient.  

3. USMLEWorld should be used as a tool to help the medical students to pass in the exams.  

4. USMLE WORLD reserves the right to withdraw subscriptions and the complete site if necessary. If this ever becomes necessary, Users will only pay for the time of their subscription that has elapsed (on a pro-rata basis).  

5. USMLEWorld will use reasonable efforts to rectify any errors that occur on its site but does not guarantee access to the site in case of software errors/viruses/other natural or technical catastrophes that cannot be repaired in spite of a reasonable effort.  

6. USMLEWorld will use reasonable efforts to keep its site online at all times.  User understands however that scheduled maintenance and problems out of the control of USMLEWorld can cause the site to go down.

Limitation of liability: USMLEWorld specifically disclaims any liability (whether based in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise) for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages arising out of or in any way connected with access to or use of the site, this agreement and our services (even if USMLEWorld has been advised of the possibility of such damages) including liability associated with any medical malpractice or viruses which may infect a user's computer equipment.  USMLEWorld’s maximum liability arising out of or in connection with your use of its services and site, regardless of the cause of action (whether in contract, tort, breach of warranty or otherwise), will not exceed your subscription fee. 

Confidentiality of User communications: Except as required by law, USMLEWorld will maintain the confidentiality of all User communications, which contain personal user information and which are transmitted directly to USMLEWorld. Postings by a User on any public arena, such as a message board or in any chat room, will not be protected as confidential and USMLEWorld may use and disclose information contained in any such postings (including any ideas, concepts, know-how or other intellectual property) for any purpose deemed appropriate by USMLEWorld.

Linked Internet sites: USMLEWorld is not responsible for the content available on any other Internet sites linked to the site. Access to any other Internet sites linked to the site is at the user's own risk.

Postings: USMLEWorld is under no obligation to review any messages; information or content ("Postings") posted on the site by Users and assumes no responsibility or liability relating to any such Postings. Notwithstanding the above, USMLEWorld may from time to time monitor the Postings on the site and may decline to accept and/or remove any Postings that contain:

1. Any unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, profane, hateful, racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable material of any kind, including, but not limited to, any material which encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, national or international law. 

2. Advertisements or solicitations of any kind. 

3. Messages posted by Uusers impersonating others. 

4. Personal information such as messages which state phone numbers, social security numbers, account numbers, addresses, or employer references. 

5. Messages by non-spokesperson employees of USMLEWorld purporting to speak on behalf of USMLEWorld.

6. Messages that offer unauthorized download of any copyrighted or private information.
   Multiple messages placed within individual folders by the same user restating the same point.

7. Chain letters of any kind.

Transmission of personal data: User acknowledges and agrees that by providing USMLEWorld with any personal or proprietary user information through the site, User consents to the transmission of such personal or proprietary user information over international borders as necessary for processing in accordance with USMLEWorld standard business practices.

This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and all prior agreements, representations, statements, and undertakings, oral or written, are hereby expressly superseded and canceled. This Agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws of the state of Maryland, United States of America, without respect to its conflict of laws principles. Jurisdiction for any claims arising under this Agreement shall lie exclusively with the state or federal courts within Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid by any court having competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. No waiver of any term of this Agreement shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term.

Should you have any questions regarding this agreement, you may contact USMLEWorld at any time.