These Terms & Conditions form part of the Governance Framework for been. They should be read alongside GOV-001 – Our Commitment, GOV-002 – Ethical Principles of been, GOV-003 – AI Transparency Statement, GOV-004 – Privacy Policy, and the remaining governance documents.
Together, these documents describe the principles, responsibilities, rights, and expectations that govern the use of been. They are intended to promote a relationship built on transparency, mutual responsibility, and respect between participants and the Companion.
1. Acceptance of These Terms
been is operated by Doaa Samir Bazan ("the Seller"). By creating an account, accessing, or using been, you enter into an agreement with the Seller under these Terms & Conditions.
By creating an account, accessing, or using been, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.
If you do not agree with these Terms, you should not create an account or use the Companion.
Your use of been also indicates that you have read the Privacy Policy and AI Transparency Statement, which explain how the Companion operates, how participant information is handled, and the role of artificial intelligence within the service.
These Terms should be read as part of the wider Governance Framework. Together, the governance documents establish the commitments, responsibilities, and expectations that support the responsible use and ongoing development of been.
2. Purpose of the Companion
been is an AI-powered conversational Companion designed to support the recognition and preservation of personal perception through Naming Intact Perception (NIP), the first methodology derived from the Gentle Emotional Engineering (GEE) conceptual framework.
The Companion is intended to provide a space for reflection and recognition. It is not designed to diagnose, treat, monitor, or prevent mental or physical health conditions, nor is it intended to replace professional healthcare, psychotherapy, counselling, coaching, legal advice, financial advice, or other qualified professional services.
The Companion is designed to accompany moments of recognition rather than provide definitive answers or professional judgement. It supports reflection without replacing the participant's ownership of meaning, personal responsibility, or capacity to make decisions.
Participants remain responsible for their own decisions, actions, interpretations, and use of the Companion. Whenever needs extend beyond the intended role of been, participants are encouraged to seek appropriate support from qualified professionals or trusted individuals.
3. Eligibility
You may use been only if you are legally permitted to enter into a binding agreement under the laws applicable to your jurisdiction.
If you are under the age of majority in your jurisdiction, use of the Companion requires the involvement, permission, and supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or another person legally authorized to provide consent on your behalf.
By creating an account or using been, you confirm that you meet the applicable eligibility requirements and that any information you provide for this purpose is accurate to the best of your knowledge.
Where additional legal or regulatory requirements apply within a particular jurisdiction, participants remain responsible for ensuring that their use of the Companion complies with those requirements.
4. User Accounts
Some features of been require the creation of a participant account.
Where an account is used, you are responsible for:
- providing accurate and up-to-date account information;
- maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials;
- taking reasonable steps to safeguard access to your account;
- notifying the been team promptly if you suspect unauthorized access, misuse, or any security concerns involving your account; and
- using your account in accordance with these Terms & Conditions.
You remain responsible for activities conducted through your account unless unauthorized access results from circumstances beyond your reasonable control or from failures attributable to the operation of the service.
The been team may take reasonable steps to protect the security and integrity of participant accounts, including temporarily restricting access where necessary to investigate suspected security incidents, prevent misuse, or protect participants and the service.
Account information is managed in accordance with the Privacy Policy and the wider Governance Framework.
5. Acceptable Use
Participants agree to use been in a lawful, respectful, and responsible manner that is consistent with the intended purpose of the Companion.
By using been, you agree not to:
- use the Companion for unlawful, fraudulent, or harmful purposes;
- interfere with, disrupt, or attempt to compromise the operation, security, or integrity of the Companion;
- attempt to gain unauthorized access to participant accounts, systems, services, or data;
- use automated tools, bots, or other methods to abuse, overload, or interfere with the service;
- upload, transmit, or introduce malicious software, harmful code, or other material intended to disrupt the operation of the Companion;
- impersonate another person, organization, or entity;
- use the Companion in ways that infringe the rights, privacy, or security of others; or
- use the Companion in any manner that is inconsistent with these Terms & Conditions or the intended purpose of been.
The Companion is designed to support respectful personal reflection through the methodology of Naming Intact Perception (NIP). It should not be used in ways that intentionally undermine participant safety, the integrity of the service, or the ethical commitments described throughout the Governance Framework.
Where misuse is identified, been may take reasonable and proportionate steps to protect participants, maintain the security and integrity of the service, and enforce these Terms & Conditions.
6. Intellectual Property
The been Companion, including its methodology, conversational design, prompts, governance documentation, branding, visual identity, software, original written content, graphics, logos, and related materials, is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.
This includes, where applicable, intellectual property associated with:
- the Gentle Emotional Engineering (GEE) conceptual framework;
- the Naming Intact Perception (NIP) methodology;
- the Companion's conversational methodology and prompt architecture;
- the been name, branding, visual identity, and documentation; and
- other original materials created for the Companion.
Unless otherwise stated, all intellectual property rights remain the property of their respective owners or licensors. Use of the Companion does not transfer ownership of any intellectual property.
Participants retain ownership of the original information they voluntarily contribute through conversations, Journal entries, feedback, support communications, or other participant-generated content, subject to the rights, permissions, and limitations described in the Privacy Policy, these Terms & Conditions, and, where applicable, separate research consent documents.
Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership of a participant's personal experiences, reflections, or original content to been. Likewise, nothing in these Terms grants participants ownership of the Companion's methodology, software, branding, governance documentation, or other protected intellectual property.
Requests to reproduce, distribute, adapt, or otherwise use protected materials beyond ordinary use of the Companion should be directed to the been team.
7. AI-Generated Content
been generates responses using artificial intelligence models guided by the methodology of Naming Intact Perception (NIP), the first methodology derived from the Gentle Emotional Engineering (GEE) conceptual framework.
The methodology guides how the Companion is designed to respond. Artificial intelligence provides the conversational capability, while the methodology, ethical commitments, and governance framework guide its behavior.
Although the Companion is designed to respond thoughtfully and consistently with its governing methodology, AI-generated responses may occasionally be incomplete, inaccurate, contextually inappropriate, or otherwise unsuitable for a participant's particular circumstances. Like all artificial intelligence systems, the Companion may misunderstand context, overlook relevant information, or fail to reflect the participant's intended meaning.
Participants should exercise their own judgement when engaging with the Companion and should not rely on AI-generated responses as professional advice or as the sole basis for decisions involving their health, safety, legal rights, finances, or other significant matters.
The Companion is intended to support reflection and recognition rather than provide definitive answers, professional guidance, or objective conclusions about a participant's life or experiences.
Use of the Companion acknowledges an understanding that artificial intelligence is a supportive technology with inherent limitations and should be used in accordance with the guidance described throughout the Governance Framework.
8. Trial, Purchases, and Paid Access
Access to been is currently offered with a 7-day free trial. No payment card is required to begin the trial. Access after the free trial is available through a one-time purchase of one year of access through Payhip, at the price shown at the time of purchase. The purchase does not renew automatically.
After purchase, Payhip provides the purchaser with a unique license key. To activate the purchased access, the participant enters that key in their existing been account. been verifies the key server-side with Payhip. A valid unused key may be activated once and associated with one been account. The Payhip product secret used for verification is not provided to the participant or exposed through the browser.
Each valid unused Payhip license grants 365 days of access. If the participant’s 7-day trial is still active when the key is activated, the purchased period begins when that trial ends. If no trial or paid access remains, the purchased period begins when the key is redeemed. If the participant already has paid access extending beyond that time, the additional 365 days begin after the latest paid-through date. A participant may therefore purchase and activate another valid unused key before existing access expires in order to extend access by a further 365 days.
When a purchased access period expires, access under that purchase ends unless the participant has another valid basis for access. Founding and lifetime access arrangements remain unchanged and are not affected by this section.
Payhip processes current purchases on its platform under its own terms. Questions about a Payhip purchase or refund may be directed to the been team at hello@beencompanion.app. Refund requests are handled in accordance with GOV-009 Refund Policy, which forms part of the been Governance Framework and is also publicly available on the been website.
9. Availability of the Service
While been is designed to provide a reliable and accessible service, uninterrupted availability cannot be guaranteed.
The Companion may occasionally be unavailable due to scheduled maintenance, technical difficulties, software updates, security measures, third-party service interruptions, infrastructure changes, or circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
From time to time, we may modify, suspend, replace, or discontinue features where reasonably necessary to:
- maintain the quality, safety, security, or reliability of the Companion;
- improve functionality or participant experience;
- implement methodological or governance improvements;
- comply with legal or regulatory obligations; or
- support the long-term sustainability of the service.
Where changes are planned, reasonable efforts will be made to minimize unnecessary disruption and, where appropriate, communicate significant service changes to participants in advance.
Temporary interruptions should not be interpreted as changes to the ethical commitments, governance principles, or intended purpose of been. Regardless of operational changes, the Companion will continue to be developed in accordance with the Governance Framework.
10. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, been, its operators, and those responsible for its design and governance shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from or relating to the use of the Companion.
The Companion is provided as an AI-powered conversational Companion designed to support reflection and recognition through the methodology of Naming Intact Perception (NIP). It is not intended to replace professional advice, professional judgement, or human decision-making.
Participants remain responsible for their own decisions, actions, interpretations, and use of the Companion. Any decisions made following interaction with been remain the responsibility of the participant.
Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or limits liability where such exclusion, restriction, or limitation would be unlawful under applicable legislation or where rights cannot legally be waived.
These Terms do not affect any mandatory legal rights that participants may have under the laws applicable to their jurisdiction.
11. Suspension and Termination
To protect participants, maintain the integrity of the Companion, and fulfil legal and ethical responsibilities, been may suspend, restrict, or terminate access to the service where reasonably necessary.
This may include circumstances where it is necessary to:
- protect the safety, rights, or privacy of participants;
- maintain the security, integrity, or reliable operation of the Companion;
- investigate suspected misuse, fraud, security incidents, or unlawful activity;
- comply with applicable legal, regulatory, or contractual obligations;
- protect the intellectual property, governance framework, or methodology of been; or
- enforce these Terms & Conditions.
Where appropriate and reasonably practicable, participants will be informed of significant account actions and, whenever possible, given an opportunity to resolve issues before permanent suspension or termination.
Nothing in this section prevents been from taking immediate action where necessary to protect participant safety, maintain service security, or comply with legal obligations.
Participants remain free to discontinue their use of the Companion at any time. Where account deletion or removal of participant information is requested, such requests will be managed in accordance with the Privacy Policy and Data Retention & Deletion Policy.
Suspension or termination of access does not alter the ethical commitments described throughout the Governance Framework. The handling of participant information will continue to be governed by the relevant privacy, security, and data governance documents where applicable.
12. Changes to the Service
As been continues to evolve, aspects of the Companion—including its features, functionality, technical implementation, user experience, and supporting infrastructure—may change over time.
Changes may include introducing new capabilities, improving existing features, strengthening security measures, refining the methodology, updating the conversational experience, enhancing accessibility, or discontinuing aspects of the service where reasonably necessary.
Every significant change will be evaluated against the ethical commitments, methodological principles, and governance standards established throughout the Governance Framework before implementation.
Where changes materially affect participant experience, privacy practices, governance commitments, or the operation of the Companion, reasonable efforts will be made to communicate those changes transparently through updated documentation, version history, or participant notifications where appropriate.
The evolution of the service should strengthen—not weaken—the Companion's intended purpose. Regardless of future technical developments, been will continue to be guided by the methodology of Naming Intact Perception (NIP), the ethical commitments established throughout the Governance Framework, and its commitment to respecting participant autonomy and ownership of meaning.
13. Changes to These Terms
These Terms & Conditions may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in applicable laws, the continued development of the Companion, operational requirements, governance practices, or other circumstances affecting the responsible operation of been.
Each revised version will indicate the updated version number and effective date to help participants understand when changes have been made.
Where revisions materially affect participant rights, responsibilities, privacy practices, or the operation of the Companion, reasonable efforts will be made to provide advance notice before those changes take effect.
Where required by applicable law or ethical obligations, additional notice, renewed consent, or other appropriate measures will be provided before relevant changes are implemented.
Continued use of been after revised Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms, except where applicable law or ethical requirements require additional notice, consent, or agreement.
Transparency includes explaining not only that changes have been made, but also why they have been made whenever those changes meaningfully affect participants or the Governance Framework.
14. Governing Law
These Terms & Conditions are intended to be interpreted and applied in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction governing the operation of been, except where applicable law requires otherwise.
Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes any mandatory legal rights or consumer protections that participants may have under the laws applicable to their country or jurisdiction of residence.
Where been is used as part of an approved research study, additional institutional, ethical, contractual, or jurisdiction-specific requirements may also apply. In the event of any inconsistency relating specifically to research participation, the approved research documentation, including the Participant Information Sheet and Informed Consent Form, will apply alongside these Terms.
The Governance Framework is intended to complement applicable legal requirements rather than replace them. Where applicable law provides participants with greater protection than these Terms, the applicable law will prevail to the extent required.
15. Contact Information
Questions regarding these Terms & Conditions may be directed to the been team at:
Email: hello@beencompanion.app
Participants are encouraged to contact the team if they require clarification regarding:
- these Terms & Conditions;
- participant responsibilities;
- governance documents;
- intellectual property matters;
- research participation;
- privacy or data protection matters; or
- any other questions relating to the use of the Companion.
We are committed to responding to enquiries respectfully, transparently, and within a reasonable timeframe.
Where appropriate, we will seek to provide clear explanations, identify the relevant governance documents, and help participants understand both their responsibilities and their rights when using been.
Conclusion
These Terms & Conditions establish the legal framework governing the use of been. They are intended to support a relationship built on clarity, transparency, mutual responsibility, and respect between participants and the Companion.
The purpose of these Terms is not only to define legal rights and responsibilities but also to reflect the broader ethical commitments of been. Together with the other documents in the Governance Framework, they help participants understand how the Companion operates, what they can reasonably expect, what responsibilities they retain, and how the service will continue to be governed.
As been evolves, these Terms will continue to be guided by the methodology of Naming Intact Perception (NIP), the ethical commitments established throughout the Governance Framework, and the project's commitment to transparency, participant autonomy, and responsible stewardship.