• GIMPS participation is free of charge and open to the public internationally.
• Web Site. The GIMPS "Web Site" is understood to include all Mersenne.org Internet web site domains, web content and services, PrimeNet APIs, data, downloads, etc., regardless of means of access.
• Non-Participants. Viewing the Web Site does not necessarily make you a Participant; non-Participants are not bound by this TCU.
• Participation Constitutes Agreement. "Participant" is understood to be an individual person, or a single individual person designated as the authorized representative of any group, team, organization or legal entity, who personally, or whose computer(s), accesses and/or communicates with the Web Site to perform, or cause to perform, mathematical calculations that are, or typically, systematically organized by GIMPS. This includes, but is not restricted to, use of Prime95, MPrime, GLucas, or similar software, automatically over the Internet or using the Web Site (manual testing forms, reports, APIs, etc.), to get data or work assignments or to upload results or other data. Participation constitutes agreement with the TCU by that individual and any group, team, organization or legal entity the Participant represents.
• Participant Identifiers. Participant's user ID, password and email address are the primary unique identifiers used by GIMPS to communicate and confirm Participant's identity. Secondary identifiers may include unique computer identifiers known as a "GUID". The "Anonymous" or "ANONYMOUS" user ID is owned by GIMPS, but may be used by Participants who do not wish to be publically identified.
• Award Rules. Participant agrees to the Research Discovery Award Rules.
• Award Refusal. Participant may at their option decline any award. Research Discovery Award Rules apply even if an award is unclaimed or optionally declined by the Participant.
• Data Ownership and Privacy. GIMPS owns all collected data, and may publish or make available certain limited subset(s) of that data for public reference, excluding personally identifiable data according to the Privacy Policy. Examples of published data are stats, standings, charts and other derived charts or tables.
• Disclaimer. GIMPS is not responsible for any losses due to Web Site errors, electronic transmission errors, omissions or unauthorized disclosures, failure of any software to correctly find and timely report a new prime number, or any other research discovery, or for someone "poaching" or "stealing" your assignment (performing work on it without it being assigned to them by GIMPS) and subsequently making a discovery.
• Terms and Conditions of Use Changes. GIMPS reserves the right to change this TCU without notice. Last updated 15 October 2008.
• Jurisdiction. Jurisdiction of law shall be the State of California and the United States of America. Participant agrees to settle all disputes through a good faith effort directly with GIMPS officers and directors, or as a last resort, by third-party binding arbitration through a certified arbitrator of GIMPS' choosing.

• Tax-Exemption Status. No awards are offered unless and until GIMPS receives determination of tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status from the IRS and tax-exempt status from the State of California.
• Participants. "Participant" is understood as defined in the Terms and Conditions of Use ("TCU").
• Award Eligibility. All GIMPS Participants are automatically eligible for Research Discovery Awards. GIMPS-interested parties, including its officers, directors, their immediate family members or directly-contracted agents, are ineligible for any award.
• Awardees. "Awardee" is understood to be the Participant, or the group, team, organization or legal entity the Participant represents, and whose computer achieves a research discovery for which an award exists and all Rules in effect at the time of the discovery comply.
• Award Payee. Awards are payable to a single Awardee, except if the Awardee designates a single charity to receive all or part of the award, for which GIMPS will make reasonable effort but does not guarantee to accommodate. Awardee is responsible for all applicable taxes and fees.
• Awardee Information. Certain information about the Awardee, and where designated information about a selected charity, may be collected by GIMPS where lawfully required.
• Discovery Evidence. As proof of discovery, Participant agrees to email to GIMPS at woltman@alum.mit.edu and/or primenet@mersenne.org certain data files generated by any software program used to make the discovery, along with their name, post mailing address, phone number, and GIMPS user ID if not anonymous.  If proof is not satisfactory, it will be treated as an unclaimed award.
• Discovery Non-Disclosure Period. Participants and Awardees agree to a reasonable immediate period of non-disclosure communications silence, not to exceed 90 days, about any discovery, alleged or verified, until GIMPS announces the discovery to the academia and press. Non-compliance may result in award disqualification.
• Evidence of Authority. A Participant who does not own a computer on which a research discovery is found must produce written evidence satisfactory to the GIMPS board of directors of their status as a designated authorized representative with authority over that computer and to bind the TCU, before they, or whom they represent, can be considered an Awardee.  If proof is not satisfactory, it will be treated as an unclaimed prize.
• Unclaimed, Expired, Disqualified and Refused Awards. Unclaimed awards expire one year from the date of the qualifying discovery. Expired, refused or disqualified awards will be donated by GIMPS to a 501(c)(3) charity or retained by GIMPS to fund awards or cover its expenses.
• Other Disqualifications. GIMPS reserves the right to deny award payment if the Awardee is determined by the GIMPS board of directors to be personally, or affiliated with, or organized under, a charter or entity, practicing or promoting interests counter to humanitarian good or public benefit.  GIMPS may require Awardee to execute an affidavit of eligibility according to these Rules.
• Assignment of Specific Interest. Whereas GIMPS has undertaken an organized and systematic attempt to earn the $150,000 (USD) Electronic Frontier Foundation ("EFF") Cooperative Computing Award, all Participants and Awardees agree to the Rules and release their entire interest in the EFF award to GIMPS (see Research Discovery Awards).
• Final Authority. Decisions of the GIMPS board of directors in applying the TCU and Rules, and in granting awards, are final.
• Rule Changes. These Rules, as in effect at the date and time of a discovery, shall apply. GIMPS reserves the right to change these Rules without notice. Last updated 15 October 2008.

Privacy Policy

Thank you for investing your trust.  Since 1996, we never have and never will sell, distribute or release your email address or any other information you provide us for the administration and operation of this amazing public participation research project, except in the unlikely requirement to comply with law. Last updated 15 October 2008.

Software End User License Agreement ("EULA")

• This EULA applies to all versions of GIMPS Prime95 and MPrime software and source code ("Software").
• Software is free to download and use indefinitely on any computer(s) you own or for which you have permission and authority to install and run Software.  Software is not export-restricted.
• To use the Software you agree to be bound by this EULA and the Terms and Conditions of Use.
• GIMPS reserves the right to change this EULA without notice and with reasonable retroactive effect. Last updated 15 October 2008.
• GIMPS not responsible for any damages or losses arising from use of Software.  SOFTWARE AND INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.