1. About these terms
By using the Civil Gateway website, registering for access, or using the API, you agree to these terms. If a separate written agreement applies to your organisation, that written agreement takes priority where there is a conflict.
2. Service access
API access is provided after registration review. We may accept, reject, suspend, or remove access where needed to protect the service, comply with law, or manage misuse, security concerns, non-payment, or operational risk.
3. Account credentials
You are responsible for keeping API keys, HMAC secrets, and account credentials confidential. You must notify us promptly if you believe credentials have been disclosed, misused, or compromised.
4. Acceptable use
You must use the service only for lawful business purposes and in line with applicable court, data protection, security, and integration requirements. You must not:
- attempt to disrupt, overload, reverse engineer, or bypass the security of the service;
- submit unlawful, inaccurate, malicious, or unauthorised data;
- share access with unauthorised users or systems;
- use the service in a way that could damage Civil Gateway, connected services, or other users.
5. Customer data
You are responsible for the accuracy, lawfulness, and authorisation of data submitted through the API. You must ensure that any personal data, court data, or case data is handled under a valid legal basis and with appropriate notices, controls, and permissions.
6. Availability and changes
We aim to provide a reliable service, but availability is not guaranteed. The service may be updated, limited, suspended, or withdrawn for maintenance, security, legal, technical, or business reasons.
7. Documentation and integrations
API documentation and examples are provided to support integration work. You are responsible for testing your implementation and confirming that your systems send, receive, and store data correctly.
8. Intellectual property
Civil Gateway owns or licenses the website, API documentation, service design, and related materials. You retain rights in the data you submit, subject to the rights needed for us to provide, secure, support, and improve the service.
9. Liability
The service is provided on an as-is and as-available basis to the fullest extent permitted by law. We are not liable for indirect loss, loss of profit, loss of business, or loss caused by unavailable upstream services, inaccurate submitted data, unauthorised credential use, or customer system failures. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot legally be limited.
10. Ending access
You may stop using the service at any time. We may suspend or end access if these terms are breached, if continued access creates a security or legal risk, or if the service is no longer offered.
11. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction unless a separate written agreement states otherwise.
12. Contact
For questions about these terms, use your existing Civil Gateway contact route or the details used during registration.