ZIP Code API Terms of Service (TOS)

1. Acceptance

This Zip-Codes.com API Terms of Service document (the "API TOS") is an agreement you must accept in order to use the Zip-Codes.com API (as described below). This document describes both your rights and your obligations as part of using the Zip-Codes.com API. It is important that you read it carefully because you will be legally bound to these terms. Zip-Codes.com (a service of Datasheer, LLC) ("Zip-Codes.com" "we" "us") only provides the Zip-Codes.com API to you subject to this API TOS. By accepting this API TOS or by accessing or using the Zip-Codes.com API, you agree to be bound by this API TOS.

If you are entering into this API TOS on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind such entity to this API TOS. In that case, the terms "you" or "your" shall also refer to such entity. If you do not have such authority, or if you do not agree with this API TOS, you may not use the Zip-Codes.com API. You acknowledge that this API TOS is a contract between you and Zip-Codes.com, even though it is electronic and is not physically signed by you and us, and it governs your use of our API.

2. API Key Definitions

1. Application - Any software application, website, or product you create or service you offer using the Zip-Codes.com API (defined below).
2. API Documentation - The documentation, data and information that we provide regarding the use of the Zip-Codes.com API through the Developer Site.
3. Data - Any data and content provided by Zip-Codes.com through the API, including ZIP code information, geographic data, postal data, and any other information returned by API calls.
4. Developer Site - Zip-Codes.com's Developer site and related documentation resources.
5. Zip-Codes.com API or "our API" or "ZIP Code API" - The publicly available Zip-Codes.com Application Programming Interface ("API") as well as the related API Documentation.
6. Zip-Codes.com Brand - The Zip-Codes.com brand and brand assets, including names, logos, trade names and trademarks.
7. Zip-Codes.com Service(s) - Our ZIP code database services, postal code information services, geographic data services, as well as the website https://www.zip-codes.com (the "Site"), and all software, applications, data, reports, text, images, and other content made available by or on behalf of Zip-Codes.com through any of the foregoing. The "Service" does not include Data or any software application or service that is provided by you or a third party (including Applications), whether or not we designate them as "official integrations".
8. Credits - The usage units purchased by you that allow API calls to be made. Each API call consumes one (1) credit. Credits are valid during your active subscription period only.
9. Subscription Period - The term for which you have purchased API access and credits, typically monthly or annually. API access and unused credits expire at the end of the subscription period unless renewed.

3. API License and Subscription Terms

During your active subscription period and in full compliance with this API TOS, Zip-Codes.com grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-assignable, non-transferable license to use the API to develop, test, and support any software application, website, or product, and to integrate our API with your Application.

License Duration: This license is valid only during your active subscription period. Termination of your subscription or any material breach of this API TOS immediately terminates all usage rights.

Credits and Usage: API access is provided on a credit-based system. Each API call consumes one (1) credit from your purchased allocation. Once your credits are exhausted or your subscription expires, API access will be suspended until additional credits are purchased or subscription is renewed.

Subscription Renewal: Subscriptions may be renewed at the end of each subscription period. Unused credits do not roll over to subsequent subscription periods unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Your license is subject to all limitations set forth in Section 4 below, and you agree that violation of Section 4 will automatically terminate your license to use our API.

4. Use of APIs and Our Data

The following identifies limitations on use related to the Zip-Codes.com API:

1. Reliance on API. Zip-Codes.com is always looking to improve our API, and we need the flexibility to occasionally make changes to our API, including backwards incompatible ones. We will try to give notice of these changes, but you should periodically check the Zip-Codes.com TOS and documentation for updates. Also, parts of our API are undocumented, including certain methods, events, and properties. Given that these undocumented aspects of our API may change at any time, you should not rely on these behaviors.
2. Applicable laws or agreements. You may not use our API in violation of any law or regulation, or rights of any person, including but not limited to intellectual property rights, rights of privacy, or rights of personality, or in any manner inconsistent with this API TOS or Zip-Codes.com's other agreements to which you are subject.
3. Scope of acceptable use. You may not use our API or any other technology in a manner that accesses or uses any information beyond what we allow under this API TOS or the Documentation; that changes the Zip-Codes.com Service; that breaks or circumvents any of our technical, administrative, process or security measures; that disrupts or degrades the performance of the Zip-Codes.com Service or our API; or that tests the vulnerability of the Zip-Codes.com systems or networks.
4. Malware. You may not transmit any viruses or other computer programming that may damage, detrimentally interfere with, surreptitiously intercept, or expropriate any system or data.
5. Reverse engineering. You may not attempt to reverse engineer or otherwise derive source code, trade secrets, or know-how in the Zip-Codes.com API or portion thereof.
6. Functionality. You may not use the Zip-Codes.com API to replicate or compete with core products or services offered by us. This includes creating public-facing or third-party accessible websites, applications, APIs, or services that function as substitutes for, or diminish the need for, a direct license of Zip-Codes.com services. You acknowledge and agree that Zip-Codes.com has or may in the future offer products or services that are similar to your Application, and nothing will prevent Zip-Codes.com from doing so.
7. Commercial Use. You may charge for your Application. However, you may not sell, rent, lease, sublicense, redistribute, or syndicate access to the Zip-Codes.com API.
8. Advertising. You may place advertisements on and around your Application. However, you may not:
   1. Place any advertisements within Zip-Codes.com Service channels, and your advertisements may not resemble or be reasonably likely to confuse users as being a Zip-Codes.com Service message;
   2. Use Data or any content from Zip-Codes.com in any advertisements or for purposes of targeting advertisements, in your Application or elsewhere; or
   3. Use contact information obtained from Zip-Codes.com (including email addresses) to contact Zip-Codes.com users outside of Zip-Codes.com without their express permission.
9. Rate Limits. You will not attempt to exceed or circumvent limitations on access, calls and use of the Zip-Codes.com API, or otherwise use the Zip-Codes.com API in a manner that exceeds reasonable request volume, constitutes excessive or abusive usage, or otherwise fails to comply or is inconsistent with any part of this API TOS or the Documentation. You agree to respect credit limits and will not attempt to make API calls after exhausting your credit allocation.
10. Illegal Use. You may not use the Zip-Codes.com API in any Application that violates any applicable law or regulation.
11. Distribution of your application. You may not distribute or allow access to the Zip-Codes.com API to anyone other than, if applicable, the company on whose behalf you entered into this API TOS. Anyone who wants to access our APIs must agree to be bound by this API TOS.
12. Use of Zip-Codes.com Brand or Marks. You must not use the Zip-Codes.com Brand in a way that suggests your service is endorsed by, sponsored by, or associated with Zip-Codes.com.
13. Storage of Data. You may not copy or store any Data or capture or store any information expressed by the API, except to the extent permitted by this API TOS. Temporary storage necessary for Application functionality is permitted provided such storage complies with all other terms of this API TOS.
14. Caching Data. No Data returned from the API is permitted to be cached, stored, or retained beyond the immediate transaction necessary for your Application's functionality.
15. Secure Storage Measures. All Data must be stored and served using strong encryption.
16. Delete at User Request. You must delete all Data you have collected from a Zip-Codes.com user upon request by that user, and when the Zip-Codes.com user de-authorizes your Application or closes his or her account with you. Similarly, when a team stops using your Application, you should delete all Data obtained from that team. The restrictions of this Section do not apply to Data that Zip-Codes.com users also provide directly to you and that is separately entered or uploaded to you by the user of your Application.
17. Deletion at Termination. If we terminate your use of the Zip-Codes.com API for any reason, then you must permanently delete all Data and any other information that you stored pursuant to your use of the Zip-Codes.com API within ten (10) business days, except when doing so would cause you to violate any law or obligation imposed by a governmental authority.
18. No Other Storing. You may not copy or store any Data or capture or store any information expressed by the Data (such as hashed or transferred data), except to the extent permitted by this API TOS.

4A. AI and Automated Systems Usage Restrictions

The credit-based API usage model applies equally to human users and AI/automated systems. However, the following additional restrictions apply to the use of API responses:

Permitted Uses:

• Operational queries for your business applications and services
• Customer-facing features in your products
• Internal business tools and automation
• Real-time data lookups for legitimate business purposes

Prohibited Uses:

You are expressly prohibited from using API responses or Data for the following purposes:

1. Training AI Models: Using API responses or Data to train, fine-tune, or improve any artificial intelligence models, large language models (LLMs), machine learning algorithms, or neural networks that compete with or provide functionality similar to Zip-Codes.com services.
2. Synthetic Data Generation: Using API responses to generate synthetic datasets, derivative databases, or training data that could substitute for or reduce the need for Zip-Codes.com services.
3. Building Competing AI Services: Developing or contributing to any AI system, tool, or service that competes with or replicates Zip-Codes.com's products or services.
4. RAG Systems for Redistribution: Creating retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems, vector databases, or knowledge bases that enable systematic extraction or redistribution of API responses to third parties.
5. Bulk Data Extraction for Training: Making systematic API calls for the primary purpose of building training datasets or AI models rather than for immediate operational use.

Clarification: You may use AI and machine learning within your Application for processing or enhancing API responses for your end users' immediate benefit, provided such use does not involve training models to replace or compete with Zip-Codes.com services.

Violations of this section constitute a material breach and will result in immediate license termination, mandatory data destruction, and potential legal action.

5. Your User Agreement and Privacy Policy

If you offer your Application for use by others outside your organization, you must maintain a user agreement and privacy policy for your Application, which is prominently identified or located where users download or access your Application. Your privacy policy must meet applicable legal standards and accurately describe the collection, use, storage and sharing of data. You must promptly notify us of any breaches of your user agreement or privacy policy that impact or may impact Zip-Codes.com users.

6. Service Level Agreement

Zip-Codes.com has outlined the service commitment to customers in our SLA (Service Level Agreement). By agreeing to our Terms of Service, you also agree to be bound by our SLA Agreement.

7. Security Measures

1. Protections. The network, operating system and software of your web servers, databases, and computer systems (collectively, "Your Systems") must be properly configured to securely operate your Application and store Data. Your Application must use reasonable security measures to protect your users' information. You must not architect or select Your Systems in a manner to avoid the foregoing obligation.
2. Reporting. You must promptly report any security deficiencies in, or intrusions to, your Systems to Zip-Codes.com in writing via email to info@zip-codes.com or subsequent contact information posted on the Developer Site. This includes any unauthorized access, use, disclosure or destruction of Data. You will work with Zip-Codes.com to immediately correct any security deficiency, and will immediately disconnect any intrusions or intruder. In the event of any security deficiency or intrusion involving the Application, Zip-Codes.com API or Data, you will make no public statements regarding such deficiencies or intrusions (e.g., press, blogs, social media, bulletin boards, etc.) without prior written and express permission from Zip-Codes.com in each instance.

8. Government Access

You will not knowingly:

1. Allow or assist any government entities, law enforcement, or other organizations to conduct surveillance or obtain data using your access to the Zip-Codes.com API in order to avoid serving legal process directly on Zip-Codes.com. Any such use by you for law enforcement purposes is a breach of this API TOS.

9. Ownership

As between you and us, we own all rights, title, and interest, including all intellectual property rights, in and to, the (1) Zip-Codes.com APIs, Documentation, and all elements and components thereof; (2) Data; (3) Zip-Codes.com Services; and (4) Brand Features (collectively, the "Zip-Codes.com Materials"). Except for the express licenses granted in this API TOS, Zip-Codes.com does not grant you any right, title, or interest in the Zip-Codes.com Materials. You agree to take such actions as Zip-Codes.com may reasonably request to perfect Zip-Codes.com's rights to the Zip-Codes.com Materials.

10. Term and Termination

1. Duration of Terms. This API TOS will go into effect on the date upon which you agree to them, by accessing or using the Zip-Codes.com API, and will continue until terminated as set forth herein.
2. Your Right to Terminate. You may terminate this API TOS by discontinuing use of our APIs and providing written notice to Zip-Codes.com.
3. Suspension; Termination. We may change, suspend or discontinue the Zip-Codes.com API and suspend or terminate your use of the Zip-Codes.com API, the Zip-Codes.com Service, and/or Zip-Codes.com Brand at any time and for any reason, with or without notice. Without limiting the foregoing, we may limit your Application's access to the Zip-Codes.com API if it, in our sole discretion, may negatively affect our Service or our ability to provide our Service. We may also immediately suspend or terminate access for:
   • Material breach of this API TOS
   • Failure to pay fees when due
   • Violation of Section 4 or Section 4A (Usage Restrictions)
   • Exceeding rate limits or credit allocations
   • Security concerns or suspicious activity
4. Effect of Termination. Upon termination of this API TOS:
   1. All rights and licenses granted to you will terminate immediately;
   2. You will promptly destroy Documentation and any other Zip-Codes.com information in your possession or control that was received under this API TOS;
   3. Unless we agree otherwise in writing or as stated in this API TOS, you must permanently delete all Data and other information that you stored pursuant to your use of the Zip-Codes.com API within ten (10) business days. Zip-Codes.com may request that you certify in writing your compliance with this section; and
   4. Zip-Codes.com will make commercially reasonable efforts to remove all references and links to your Application from its Services (Zip-Codes.com has no other obligation to delete copies of, references to, or links to your Application).
5. The following sections of this API TOS shall survive any termination: Sections 4 ("Use of the APIs and Zip-Codes.com Data"), 4A ("AI and Automated Systems Usage Restrictions"), 5 ("Use of Zip-Codes.com Brand or Marks"), 4.16 ("Delete at User Request"), 4.17 ("Deletion at Termination"), 5 ("Your User Agreement and Privacy Policy"), 7 ("Security Measures"), 9 ("Ownership"), 10 ("Term and Termination"), 11 ("Other Important Terms"), 12 ("Disclaimer of Warranties; Limitation of Liability; Indemnity"), 13 ("Dispute Resolution") and 14 ("General Legal Terms").

11. Other Important Terms

1. Legal Representations. You represent and warrant to Zip-Codes.com that, excluding Zip-Codes.com Materials, you have the right to use, reproduce, transmit, copy, publicly display, publicly perform, and distribute your Application, and that use of your Application by Zip-Codes.com and its users will not violate the rights of any third party (e.g., copyright, patent, trademark, privacy, publicity or other proprietary right of any person or entity), or any applicable regulation or law, including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the laws of any country in which your Application is made available and any applicable export laws.
2. Modification of the API TOS. We may change, add to or delete this API TOS or any portion thereof from time to time in our sole discretion. We may notify you of material changes via email or account dashboard. Material changes become effective thirty (30) days after posting to the Developer Site. Non-material administrative changes may be effective immediately upon posting. You acknowledge that these updates and modifications may adversely impact how you access, use, and communicate with the Zip-Codes.com API. If any change is unacceptable to you, then your only recourse is to cease all use of the Zip-Codes.com API. Your continued access or use of the Zip-Codes.com API will mean that you agree to the updates and modifications.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties; Limitation of Liability; Indemnity; Availability

1. NO WARRANTIES. THE ZIP-CODES.COM API AND ALL RELATED COMPONENTS AND INFORMATION ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, AND ZIP-CODES.COM EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, TITLE, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ZIP-CODES.COM DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE ZIP-CODES.COM API WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, ERROR-FREE OR VIRUS-FREE, NOR DOES IT MAKE ANY WARRANTY AS TO THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM USE OF THE ZIP-CODES.COM API, AND NO INFORMATION, ADVICE OR SERVICES OBTAINED BY YOU FROM ZIP-CODES.COM OR THROUGH THE DEVELOPER SITE SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THIS API TOS.
2. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES AND UNDER NO LEGAL THEORY (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) SHALL ZIP-CODES.COM BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR (A) ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST SALES OR BUSINESS, LOST DATA, OR (B) FOR ANY AMOUNT IN THE AGGREGATE IN EXCESS OF THE FEES ACTUALLY PAID BY YOU IN THE SIX (6) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO YOUR CLAIM OR, IF NO FEES APPLY, FIVE HUNDRED ($500) U.S. DOLLARS, OR (C) ANY MATTER BEYOND OUR REASONABLE CONTROL. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION ALLOCATE THE RISKS UNDER THIS TOS BETWEEN THE PARTIES, AND THE PARTIES HAVE RELIED ON THESE LIMITATIONS IN DETERMINING WHETHER TO ENTER INTO THIS TOS. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties or limitation of liability for incidental or consequential damages, which means that some of the above limitations may not apply to you. IN THESE JURISDICTIONS, ZIP-CODES.COM'S LIABILITY WILL BE LIMITED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
3. Indemnity. You agree to defend, hold harmless and indemnify Zip-Codes.com (including Datasheer, LLC), and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents, employees, and suppliers, from and against any third party claim arising from or in any way related to your or your users' use of the Application, Zip-Codes.com API or Data, use of Zip-Codes.com Brand, or violation of this API TOS, including any liability or expense arising from all claims, losses, damages (actual and consequential), suits, judgments, litigation costs and attorneys' fees, of every kind and nature. This specifically includes claims related to:
   • Your violation of Section 4A (AI and Automated Systems Usage Restrictions)
   • Any AI models trained using API responses or Data
   • Any competing services developed using API responses or Data
   • Claims by your customers or downstream users related to Data accuracy or availability
   In such a case, we will provide you with written notice of such claim, suit, or action.
4. Availability. Zip-Codes.com will make every reasonable effort to have the API available at all times but you agree that if our data sources become unavailable for any reason, or a system failure occurs, Zip-Codes.com will not be liable to you in any way, (except for the Prorated Credit listed in our SLA), for any interruption in our API service. We agree to rectify any interruption as quickly as we can. Service level commitments and credit provisions are detailed in our Service Level Agreement.

13. Dispute Resolution

This API TOS and any claim, cause of action or dispute ("Claim") arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state of New York, United States, regardless of your country of origin or where you access the Zip-Codes.com Service, and notwithstanding any conflicts of law principles and the United Nations Convention for the International Sale of Goods. You and Zip-Codes.com agree that all Claims arising out of or related to this Agreement must be resolved exclusively in the courts located in the county of Dutchess, New York or the U.S. District Court in White Plains, New York. You and Zip-Codes.com agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of the courts located within the county of Dutchess, New York or the U.S. District Court in White Plains, New York, and agree to waive any and all objections to the exercise of jurisdiction over the parties by such courts and to venue in such courts for the purpose of litigating all such Claims. Notwithstanding the above, you agree that Zip-Codes.com shall still be allowed to apply for injunctive remedies (or an equivalent type of urgent legal relief) in any jurisdiction.

14. General Legal Terms

1. Severability. If any provision of this API TOS is found to be illegal, void, or unenforceable, the unenforceable provision will be modified so as to render it enforceable to the maximum extent possible in order to effect the intention of the provision; if a term cannot be so modified, it will be severed and the remaining provisions of this API TOS will not be affected in any way.
2. Notice and Service of Process. We may notify you via postings on the Developer Site or via the email address associated with your Application or Zip-Codes.com account. Zip-Codes.com (Datasheer, LLC) accepts service of process by mail or courier at the physical address set forth on our website. Any notices that you provide without compliance with this section shall have no legal effect.
3. Entire Agreement. This API TOS and any documents incorporated into this API TOS by reference, constitute the entire agreement between you and Zip-Codes.com regarding the Zip-Codes.com API and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, or whether established by custom, practice, policy or precedent, with respect to the subject matter of this API TOS.
4. No Informal Waivers, Agreements, or Representations. Our failure to act with respect to a breach of this API TOS by you or others does not waive our right to act with respect to that breach or subsequent similar or other breaches. No representations, statements, consents, waivers or other acts or omissions by any Zip-Codes.com affiliate shall be deemed legally binding on any Zip-Codes.com affiliate, unless documented in a physical writing hand signed by a duly appointed officer of Zip-Codes.com (Datasheer, LLC).
5. Injunctive Relief. In no event shall you seek or be entitled to rescission, injunctive or other equitable relief, or to enjoin or restrain the operation of the Developer Site or Zip-Codes.com Service or any Zip-Codes.com API, or other material used or displayed through the Zip-Codes.com Developer Site or Zip-Codes.com Service.
6. Assignment and Delegation. You may not assign or delegate any rights or obligations under this API TOS, including in connection with a change of control. Any purported assignment and delegation shall be ineffective. We may freely assign or delegate all rights and obligations under this API TOS, fully or partially without notice to you. We may also substitute, by way of unilateral novation, effective upon notice to you, Zip-Codes.com (Datasheer, LLC) for any third party that assumes our rights and obligations under this API TOS.
7. Potential Other Rights and Obligations. You may have rights or obligations under local law other than those enumerated here if you are located outside the United States.