Terms of Use

Effective Date: January 1, 2025 | Last Updated: December 2025

Welcome to the World Development Council ("WDC", "we", "us", or "our") website. By accessing or using our website at worlddevelopmentcouncil.org (the "Site") and our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. Please read them carefully.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Site.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to the Site. Your continued use of the Site following any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes.

2. Use of the Site

2.1 Permitted Use

You may use the Site for lawful purposes consistent with these Terms. You agree to:

  • Provide accurate information when registering or submitting forms
  • Maintain the confidentiality of any account credentials
  • Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account
  • Use the Site in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations

2.2 Prohibited Use

You agree not to:

  • Use the Site for any unlawful purpose or in violation of these Terms
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Site, other accounts, or computer systems
  • Interfere with or disrupt the Site's operation or servers
  • Use automated systems (bots, scrapers) to access the Site without permission
  • Transmit viruses, malware, or other harmful code
  • Impersonate any person or entity
  • Collect or harvest user information without consent
  • Use the Site to send unsolicited communications
  • Violate the intellectual property rights of WDC or others

3. Intellectual Property

3.1 WDC Content

All content on the Site, including text, graphics, logos, images, videos, publications, data, software, and other materials ("WDC Content"), is owned by or licensed to WDC and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

3.2 Limited License

WDC grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Site for personal, non-commercial purposes. This license does not include:

  • Modification or copying of WDC Content
  • Commercial use or public display
  • Removal of copyright or proprietary notices
  • Transfer of the license to another person
  • Use of data mining, robots, or similar data gathering tools

3.3 Trademarks

"World Development Council", "WDC", and associated logos are trademarks of World Development Council. You may not use these marks without our prior written permission.

3.4 Research & Publications

WDC research publications, whitepapers, and other knowledge products are made available for informational purposes. Unless otherwise stated, you may download and share these materials for non-commercial purposes, provided you:

  • Maintain all copyright and attribution notices
  • Do not modify the content
  • Do not use the materials for commercial purposes without permission
  • Credit WDC as the source

4. User Submissions

By submitting any content to WDC (including inquiries, applications, feedback, or other materials), you:

  • Grant WDC a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and display the content as necessary to provide our services
  • Represent that you have the right to submit the content
  • Agree that the content does not violate any laws or third-party rights

5. Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites. These links are provided for convenience only. WDC does not endorse or assume responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of third-party sites. You access third-party sites at your own risk.

6. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SITE AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

  • Implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose
  • Warranties of non-infringement
  • Warranties that the Site will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
  • Warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of content

WDC does not warrant that any defects will be corrected or that the Site is free of viruses or other harmful components.

7. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WDC AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

  • Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
  • Any loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
  • Any damages arising from your use or inability to use the Site
  • Any damages arising from third-party content or conduct

In no event shall WDC's total liability exceed the amount you paid to WDC (if any) in the twelve months preceding the claim.

8. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless WDC and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from:

  • Your use of the Site
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of any third-party rights
  • Any content you submit to the Site

9. Termination

WDC may terminate or suspend your access to the Site at any time, without notice, for any reason, including violation of these Terms. Upon termination, your right to use the Site will immediately cease. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination shall survive.

10. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Site shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in New Delhi, India.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, WDC may seek injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to protect its intellectual property rights.

11. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

12. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and WDC regarding your use of the Site. These Terms supersede any prior agreements or understandings.

These Terms of Use were last updated on December 26, 2025.

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