API Terms of Use

These API Terms of Use ("API Terms") govern your access to and use of the PartsTable Application Programming Interface (the "API"). These API Terms supplement the PartsTable Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. In the event of a conflict, these API Terms control with respect to API usage.

By accessing or using the API, you agree to be bound by these API Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the API.

1. API Access and Authentication

1.1 API Keys

Access to the API requires a valid API key issued through your PartsTable account. You are responsible for:

• Keeping your API key confidential and secure.
• Not sharing, publishing, or embedding API keys in client-side code, public repositories, or unsecured environments.
• Rotating API keys immediately if you suspect compromise.
• Ensuring all API calls from your key comply with these API Terms.

1.2 Authentication

All API requests must be authenticated using your issued API key. Unauthenticated requests will be rejected. We support token-based authentication via HTTP headers.

1.3 Account Responsibility

You are responsible for all activity performed using your API key, whether authorized by you or not. Compromised keys must be reported to security@partstable.com immediately.

2. Rate Limits

2.1 Limits by Tier

Tier	Monthly API Calls	Rate Limit (req/min)	Concurrent
Free	100	10	1
Starter ($99/mo)	5,000	30	3
Professional ($299/mo)	25,000	60	5
Enterprise ($599/mo)	100,000	120	10
Custom	Custom	Custom	Custom

2.2 Rate Limit Headers

API responses include rate limit headers:

• X-RateLimit-Limit — Your tier's per-minute limit.
• X-RateLimit-Remaining — Remaining requests in the current window.
• X-RateLimit-Reset — Unix timestamp when the current window resets.

2.3 Exceeding Limits

Requests exceeding your rate limit will receive HTTP 429 (Too Many Requests). Implement exponential backoff in your integration. Persistent abuse of rate limits may result in temporary or permanent suspension of API access.

2.4 Monthly Allocation

When your monthly API call allocation is exhausted:

• Free tier: Access is suspended until the next billing cycle.
• Paid tiers: Overage charges may apply as specified in your account dashboard, or access may be throttled depending on your plan configuration.

3. Acceptable Use

3.1 Permitted Use

You may use the API to:

• Integrate PartsTable intelligence into your business applications and workflows.
• Normalize, search, and enrich part number data for your own business purposes.
• Build internal tools that consume PartsTable API data for your organization.

3.2 Prohibited Use

You may NOT use the API to:

• Build a competing product. You may not use API data to create, train, or enhance a product or service that competes with PartsTable.
• Resell raw API output. You may not resell, redistribute, or sublicense API responses as a standalone data product without written authorization.
• Circumvent controls. You may not bypass rate limits, authentication, or access controls through any means, including rotating keys, distributed requests, or proxy networks.
• Scrape or bulk extract. You may not use the API to systematically extract and store the entirety of PartsTable's intelligence database.
• Reverse-engineer algorithms. You may not use API inputs and outputs to reverse-engineer, replicate, or approximate PartsTable's proprietary scoring, normalization, or cross-reference algorithms.
• Submit malicious input. You may not send input designed to exploit, manipulate, or corrupt the platform, including prompt injection, SQL injection, or any form of adversarial input.
• Misrepresent source. You may not present PartsTable data as originating from your own systems without attribution, unless authorized under an Enterprise or Custom white-label agreement.

4. Data Ownership

4.1 Your Data

You retain full ownership of all data you submit to the API ("Input Data"), including part numbers, inventory records, and configuration parameters. PartsTable claims no ownership over your Input Data.

4.2 PartsTable Intelligence

PartsTable retains full ownership of all proprietary intelligence returned by the API ("Output Intelligence"), including but not limited to:

• Part number normalization results and confidence scores.
• Cross-reference and substitute recommendations.
• Multi-factor scoring calculations.
• Market intelligence and pricing analysis.
• Any derived data generated by PartsTable's algorithms.

4.3 License to Use Output

We grant you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use Output Intelligence within your business operations for the duration of your active subscription. This license terminates upon account termination.

4.4 Restrictions on Output

You may display Output Intelligence to your end users within your own applications. You may NOT:

• Sell Output Intelligence as a standalone data feed.
• Use Output Intelligence to train machine learning models that compete with PartsTable.
• Store Output Intelligence beyond 90 days without an active subscription, unless explicitly authorized.

4.5 Aggregate Improvement

We may use anonymized, aggregated patterns from API usage to improve the Service. This will never include your identifiable business data or proprietary information.

5. Intellectual Property

5.1 PartsTable IP

The API, including its design, endpoints, documentation, algorithms, scoring engines, normalization logic, and all underlying technology, is the intellectual property of PartsTable. All rights are reserved.

5.2 No Transfer of IP

Nothing in these API Terms transfers any intellectual property rights from PartsTable to you. Your use of the API does not grant you any rights to PartsTable's source code, algorithms, or proprietary methods.

5.3 Attribution

Unless you have a white-label agreement (Enterprise/Custom tier), you must include the following attribution when displaying PartsTable data to your end users:

Data powered by PartsTable

The attribution must be visible and legible. Placement and styling guidelines are available in the API documentation.

6. Service Level Expectations

6.1 Availability Targets

Tier	Monthly Uptime Target	Support Response
Free	Best effort	Community/docs only
Starter	99.0%	Email, 48-hour response
Professional	99.5%	Email, 24-hour response
Enterprise	99.9%	Priority email, 4-hour response
Custom	Per agreement	Per agreement

6.2 Scheduled Maintenance

We will provide at least 48 hours' notice for scheduled maintenance that may affect API availability. Maintenance windows will be scheduled during low-traffic periods (typically Sundays 02:00-06:00 EST).

6.3 Exclusions

Uptime targets do not apply to:

• Force majeure events (natural disasters, acts of war, pandemics).
• Third-party service outages beyond our control.
• Scheduled maintenance with proper notice.
• Outages caused by your misuse or violation of these API Terms.

6.4 Remedies

If we fail to meet the uptime target for your tier in any calendar month:

• Starter/Professional: You may request a pro-rated service credit for the affected period.
• Enterprise: Service credits are applied automatically per your SLA agreement.
• Free: No remedies; service is provided as-is.

Service credits are your sole and exclusive remedy for downtime.

7. Versioning and Deprecation

7.1 API Versions

The API is versioned (e.g., /api/v1/). We will maintain backward compatibility within a major version.

7.2 Deprecation Policy

When we deprecate an API version or endpoint:

• We will provide at least 90 days' notice via email and API response headers (Deprecation and Sunset headers).
• Deprecated endpoints will continue to function during the sunset period.
• After the sunset date, deprecated endpoints may return HTTP 410 (Gone).

7.3 Breaking Changes

Breaking changes will only be introduced in new major versions. We will provide migration guides and support during the transition period.

8. Security Requirements

8.1 Transport Security

All API requests must be made over HTTPS (TLS 1.2 or higher). Plaintext HTTP requests will be rejected.

8.2 Key Storage

API keys must be stored securely:

• Use environment variables or secret management systems.
• Never hardcode keys in source code.
• Never expose keys in client-side applications or public repositories.

8.3 Vulnerability Disclosure

If you discover a security vulnerability in the API, report it to security@partstable.com. We commit to acknowledging reports within 48 hours and will work with you on responsible disclosure.

9. Suspension and Termination

9.1 Suspension

We may suspend your API access immediately if:

• We detect abusive or anomalous usage patterns.
• Your usage threatens the stability or security of the Service.
• You violate these API Terms or the general Terms of Service.

We will attempt to notify you of the reason for suspension and provide an opportunity to remediate, unless the situation requires immediate action to protect the Service.

9.2 Termination

API access terminates when your PartsTable account is terminated, whether by you or by us. Upon termination:

• Your API keys will be revoked immediately.
• You must cease all API usage and delete any cached Output Intelligence beyond 30 days.
• Provisions relating to IP ownership, data restrictions, and limitation of liability survive termination.

10. Limitation of Liability

The limitations of liability set forth in the PartsTable Terms of Service apply equally to your use of the API. In addition:

• PartsTable is not liable for any damages resulting from API unavailability, latency, or errors in Output Intelligence.
• PartsTable is not liable for decisions you make based on API output. You are responsible for independent verification of all part number data (see Terms of Service, Section 5).

11. Changes to API Terms

We may update these API Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via email at least 30 days before they take effect. Continued use of the API after the effective date constitutes acceptance.

12. Contact