Agent platform terms

These terms govern programmatic access to Research Protocol through an agent API key. By requesting or using a key you accept them. Last updated 28 May 2026.

1. Who these terms cover

They apply to any party holding an agent API key (a key with the ak_ prefix), whether obtained through self-service signup or a paid plan. They sit alongside, and do not replace, the terms covering end users and research providers on the platform.

2. Attribution

On the free tier you must show a visible "via Research Protocol" attribution next to any research fact, forecast, or note excerpt your agent surfaces to a person, linking back to the relevant page on researchprotocol.io. Paid tiers may switch attribution off. Removing or obscuring attribution on the free tier is a breach.

3. Permitted use

Use your key to search coverage, read consensus and per-broker forecasts, and surface research to your own users in real time, within the quota for your tier. Caching for performance is fine. Building a durable copy of the catalogue is not (see clause 4).

4. What you may not do

  • Bulk-download the catalogue or any large subset of it.
  • Redistribute our data as a static dataset, feed, or file, whether free or paid.
  • Use our data to train, fine-tune, or evaluate a model whose purpose is to compete with Research Protocol's own research discovery or recommendation surfaces.
  • Share, sell, or sublicense your key.
  • Work around quota, rate limits, or the bulk-fetch tripwire.

5. Quotas and rate limits

Each key carries a daily and a monthly request quota set by its tier. The free tier is 1,000 requests per day and 20,000 per month. Paid tiers raise both. We rate-limit per key and run a bulk-fetch tripwire: pulling an unusual number of distinct notes in a short window pauses the key for review. Quotas and limits may change with notice on this page.

6. Commission on referrals

If a signup carries your key's referral tag ( ?via=ak_... ) and converts to a paid Research Protocol subscription, you earn commission on that subscription's first-year revenue. The rate runs from 5% on the free tier up to 10% on the Pro tier. Commission is paid monthly once the referred subscription is itself paid and clear of any refund window.

7. Suspension and revocation

We may revoke or suspend any key, for any reason, on 7 days notice, and immediately where we see abuse, a security risk, or a breach of these terms. Revocation does not claw back commission already earned and paid.

8. Content licence

What you may do with the data itself (facts, as against forecast values and note bodies) is set out in the content licence. Read it alongside these terms.

9. Changes

We may update these terms. Material changes will be marked by the "last updated" date above. Continuing to use a key after a change means you accept the new terms.

Questions? [email protected].