Legal Issues

We plan on creating an Android mobile application made in the Kotlin programming language, our package manager will be Gradle, and our backend database is the Firebase Real-time database. We are also using Firebase authentication to authenticate log-ins.

Third-Party Software and Legal Limitations

Kotlin Language and Gradle: Kotlin is an open-source language under the Apache 2.0 license, which allows usage and distribution with minimal restrictions. Gradle, the build tool, is also open-source under the Apache 2.0 license. We verify that we are not altering or distributing these tools in a way that conflicts with the license terms.

Firebase Services (Realtime Database and Authentication): Firebase services are under Google’s terms, and usage is free for limited requests, with additional fees for high usage. Thankfully, we have confirmed our usage is not excessive enough to warrant additional fees. In addition, we have checked our compliance with Firebase's terms of service, and we have verified Firebase is acceptable at storing user data securely and managing access permissions.

Client Intellectual Property Constraints

Client Constraints: We are developing this application for Dr. Stephen Stoughton, and we have ensured that he does not have specific intellectual property restrictions or requirements for data use, security, or branding.

Dataset Usage: We are aware that using student information requires compliance with data protection laws (e.g., FERPA for the U.S.) if storing personally identifiable information. In our terms of use when we publish this application for the public, we will clearly state the data is securely handled and protected.

Using the Application Beyond Terms of Service

Data Privacy and Security: Since we are within the educational setting, we will avoid saving sensitive information like student names without permission. We will be sure to add that information to the application’s terms of service. Additionally, we will encrypt any stored personal data to protect against breaches.

Unauthorized Use: There are few ways to break the law by using the app. Malicious content could be shared with other users, but this can be mitigated by blocking users and turning off class sharing invites. Distributing data on students’ performance is a more likely form of abuse, but that issue is not specific to this app. We will mitigate risks by including terms of use to limit the app to educational, non-commercial purposes only. We will explicitly prohibit unauthorized data-sharing.