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Acceptable Use Policy

Last updated: March 1, 2026

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") governs your use of Verified Directory's website, API, MCP server, and related services. This policy is part of and supplements our Terms of Service.

1. General Conduct

You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes and in accordance with this AUP. You will not:

  • Use the Service in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations
  • Engage in any conduct that restricts or inhibits anyone's use of the Service
  • Use the Service to transmit harmful, offensive, or inappropriate content
  • Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any systems or accounts

2. Business Listing Standards

When submitting or managing business listings, you must:

2.1 Accuracy Requirements

  • Provide truthful and accurate business information
  • Keep listing information current and up-to-date
  • Not misrepresent business credentials, certifications, or affiliations
  • Not use fake reviews, ratings, or testimonials

2.2 Prohibited Listings

The following types of businesses or content are not permitted:

  • Businesses engaged in illegal activities
  • Fraudulent or scam operations
  • Businesses promoting hate, violence, or discrimination
  • Adult content or services (unless in designated categories)
  • Counterfeit goods or intellectual property infringement
  • Multi-level marketing schemes presented as traditional businesses
  • Businesses with unverifiable contact information

2.3 Claim Verification

When claiming a business, you must:

  • Provide legitimate proof of ownership or authorization
  • Not claim businesses you do not own or represent
  • Respond promptly to verification requests
  • Not submit false or forged documentation

3. API and MCP Usage

3.1 Rate Limits

Current rate limits are:

  • Public API: 100 requests per minute
  • Authenticated API: 500 requests per minute
  • MCP endpoints: 200 requests per minute

Exceeding these limits may result in temporary or permanent access restrictions.

3.2 Prohibited API Uses

  • Scraping data beyond API access for bulk collection
  • Building competing directory services with our data
  • Reselling or redistributing data without permission
  • Using data to spam or harass businesses
  • Circumventing rate limits or access controls
  • Using API access to degrade service performance

3.3 Attribution Requirements

When displaying data obtained from our API or MCP:

  • Include attribution to Verified Directory
  • Do not imply endorsement or partnership without written agreement
  • Clearly indicate verification status and trust scores
  • Do not modify data in ways that misrepresent its source or meaning

3.4 AI Agent Guidelines

If you integrate our MCP server with AI agents:

  • Ensure agents accurately represent Verified Directory data
  • Do not use our data to train AI models without explicit permission
  • Include the _meta.source attribution in agent responses
  • Do not modify trust scores or verification statuses when displaying data

4. Security

You must not:

  • Probe, scan, or test the vulnerability of our systems
  • Attempt to bypass authentication or security measures
  • Introduce viruses, malware, or other malicious code
  • Conduct denial-of-service attacks
  • Access data not intended for you
  • Share API keys or account credentials

5. Content Standards

All content submitted to the Service must not:

  • Be false, misleading, or deceptive
  • Infringe on intellectual property rights
  • Contain defamatory, obscene, or offensive material
  • Promote violence, hatred, or discrimination
  • Contain personal information of others without consent
  • Include spam, advertising, or promotional content in inappropriate fields

6. Enforcement

6.1 Violations

We may take the following actions for AUP violations:

  • Issue warnings
  • Remove or modify violating content
  • Suspend or terminate accounts
  • Revoke API access
  • Report violations to law enforcement
  • Seek legal remedies

6.2 Reporting Violations

To report a violation of this AUP, please contact us at abuse@verifieddirectory.com with details of the violation.

7. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to modify this AUP at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance.

8. Contact

Questions about this policy should be directed to:

  • Email: legal@verifieddirectory.com
  • Abuse reports: abuse@verifieddirectory.com

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