SYZYGY SCIENCE — TERMS OF USE

Proprietary Methodology and Trade Secrets

By accessing, viewing, downloading, or otherwise using any materials, tools, frameworks, curricula, or digital resources published by Syzygy Science, LLC (“Company”) through syzygyscience.com or any affiliated platform (collectively, “Services”), you (“User”) agree to the following terms. If you do not agree, you must discontinue use immediately.

Section 1 — Proprietary Methodology

The Syzygy Cluster Design Process, including but not limited to its three-stage instructional architecture, eight-step design sequence, and all associated terminology, frameworks, rubrics, assessment instruments, and instructional logic, constitutes proprietary trade secret information owned exclusively by Syzygy Science, LLC.

Section 2 — Designated Proprietary Terms

The following terms, as defined and used within the Syzygy Cluster Design Process, are proprietary to the Company and embody non-obvious design innovations constituting trade secrets under applicable law:

  • Explanation Horizon — a pre-designed, pathway-agnostic portrait of genuine understanding that informs rubric calibration

  • Breakpoint — the structural boundary between open cluster inquiry and fixed-dimension PE assessment

  • Decision Point Test — a quality gate requiring each evidence material to force an explicit student reasoning choice

  • Science Pantomime — the diagnostic concept describing the performance of inquiry motions without genuine reasoning

  • ETR-C Cycle — the iterative Explain–Test–Revise–Communicate sequence requiring structural revision

This list is illustrative and not exhaustive. Additional proprietary concepts, terms, and structural elements within the Syzygy framework are similarly protected.

Section 3 — Permitted Use

Users who are classroom educators may apply the principles described in free-tier Syzygy materials within their own classrooms for non-commercial instructional purposes only. This personal classroom license does not extend to any of the following without a separate written commercial license agreement from the Company:

  • Reproducing, redistributing, or republishing any Syzygy materials, frameworks, or proprietary terminology in any format, including but not limited to printed handouts, slide decks, training materials, or digital media

  • Creating derivative works, curricula, professional development programs, consulting offerings, or instructional frameworks that substantially incorporate or are based upon the Syzygy Cluster Design Process or any of its proprietary concepts

  • Using Syzygy methodology, terminology, or structural logic to build, train, fine-tune, or create system instructions for any artificial intelligence agent, chatbot, automated tool, or machine-learning system, whether for commercial or non-commercial purposes

  • Offering professional development, coaching, certification, or consulting services that teach, reference, or implement the Syzygy methodology to third parties

Section 4 — AI Agent and Derivative Technology Restriction

No User may, without a current and valid Commercial License Agreement, use any element of the Syzygy Cluster Design Process—including its terminology, structural logic, step sequence, assessment architecture, or pedagogical principles—to develop, train, configure, prompt-engineer, or deploy any AI agent, large language model system, automated curriculum tool, or intelligent tutoring system. This restriction applies regardless of whether the resulting system is offered commercially, distributed freely, or used internally within an organization.

Violation of this section constitutes misappropriation of trade secrets and may result in injunctive relief, damages, and attorney’s fees to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Section 5 — Confidentiality Obligation

By accessing any paid-tier or certification-level Syzygy materials, User acknowledges that such materials contain confidential trade secret information. User agrees to maintain the confidentiality of these materials and to take reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized disclosure, reproduction, or use.

Section 6 — Enforcement and Remedies

The Company reserves all rights to enforce these Terms of Use through any available legal remedy, including but not limited to claims for trade secret misappropriation under the Defend Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. § 1836) and applicable state law (e.g., the Uniform Trade Secrets Act), copyright infringement, breach of contract, and unfair competition. The Company may seek injunctive relief without the requirement of posting a bond. User agrees that monetary damages alone would be an insufficient remedy for breach of these terms.

Section 7 — Commercial Licensing

Commercial licenses for professional development providers, curriculum publishers, school districts, ed-tech companies, and AI developers are available by contacting licensing@syzygyscience.com. License tiers and pricing are determined by scope of use, distribution volume, and whether AI integration is involved.