Our commitment to transparency extends to every aspect of how we operate, including legal policies, financial practices, and your rights as a user.
By accessing and using the Ic² Research Institute website and resources, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, please do not use our services.
Ic² Research Institute is an independent research platform operated by Michael K. Baines as a sole proprietor. It is not a registered corporation, LLC, partnership, or non-profit organization. We operate as a transparent, community-driven initiative focused on consciousness and computation research. Legal entity formation is planned for a future date as the platform grows.
Important: Ic² Research Institute is NOT a registered 501(c)(3) or any other tax-exempt organization. Financial contributions are not charitable donations and are not tax-deductible. See the Financial Disclosures section for full details.
All research published by Ic² Research Institute is provided under open licenses unless otherwise stated. You are free to read, download, and share our research materials; use our data for academic or personal research; and build upon our work with proper attribution. You may not use our content for commercial purposes without prior written consent.
Contributors retain 100% ownership of their original work. Submitting research, commentary, or other content to this platform does not transfer any intellectual property rights to the institute or to Michael K. Baines.
By contributing content, you grant the Ic² Research Institute a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display and share that content within the platform for collaborative research purposes. You may revoke this license at any time by requesting removal of your content. The institute will not use contributor work for commercial purposes without explicit written consent.
When participating in discussions, events, or collaborative projects, users agree to engage respectfully with all community members; provide constructive feedback and criticism; maintain scientific rigor and intellectual honesty; respect intellectual property and proper attribution; refrain from harassment, discrimination, or abusive behavior; and disclose conflicts of interest relevant to scientific claims.
Content on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute professional scientific, medical, legal, or financial advice. Always consult qualified professionals for specific guidance.
Our website may contain links to external sites. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or practices of these third-party websites.
The Ic² Research Institute respects intellectual property rights and complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). If you believe content on this website infringes your copyright, please submit a written notice to our designated agent at mkb.info@proton.me containing: a description of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed; the specific URL of the allegedly infringing content; your contact information; a statement of good faith belief that the use is not authorized; and a statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act.
We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated to subscribers via email. Continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the modified terms.
These Terms of Use are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to conflict of law provisions. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles County, California.
The Ic² Research Institute operates a community discussion forum powered by PeepSo, accessible to registered members of the website. The forum is currently in development and not yet fully active. These terms apply from the moment any member accesses or posts to the forum, including during the soft-launch or beta period.
Open Science Community: The forum is intended to be a serious, welcoming space for researchers, independent scientists, and curious minds to discuss the COSMIC Framework, open physics, consciousness research, and related subjects. Intellectual honesty and respectful engagement are non-negotiable expectations.
To participate in the forum, you must register for an account using a valid email address and create a display name. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials. Each person may maintain only one account. Accounts found to be duplicates or created to evade prior sanctions may be removed without notice.
By posting in the community forum, you agree to: engage respectfully with all community members, including those whose views differ from your own; keep discussions relevant to science, research, and the subjects of this community; clearly distinguish speculation, opinion, and established fact from one another; provide attribution when referencing or building on others' work; disclose any conflicts of interest relevant to a scientific claim you are making; and accept constructive criticism of your ideas without personal offense.
The following are strictly prohibited and may result in content removal or account suspension:
You retain full ownership of original content you post in the forum. By posting, you grant the Ic² Research Institute a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display your content within the platform. You may request removal of your content at any time by contacting mkb.info@proton.me. The institute will not republish or commercially exploit your forum contributions without your explicit written consent. Do not post content that you do not have the right to share.
The forum is moderated by Michael K. Baines and any designated community moderators. Moderation decisions are made in good faith and in accordance with these guidelines. If your content is removed or your account is suspended, you may appeal by contacting mkb.info@proton.me with a clear explanation. Appeals will be reviewed and responded to within 14 days.
The forum is provided on a best-effort basis. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the forum at any time without liability. We do not guarantee uninterrupted access or indefinite retention of posted content, and we recommend members keep copies of significant contributions.
Interested in collaborating? The Ic² Research Institute welcomes researchers, independent scientists, writers, and technically skilled contributors. Collaborators retain 100% ownership of their original work and may publish under the institute's auspices or independently. There are no fees, no gatekeeping, and no institutional barriers to participation.
To inquire about research collaboration, joining as a contributing member, or proposing a joint project, contact:
We aim to respond to all collaboration inquiries within 7 days. Please include a brief description of your background, the nature of your proposed contribution, and any relevant links to prior work or publications.
Your forum activity, display name, posts, and profile information you choose to share, is visible to other registered members. We do not publish or sell member information to third parties. Your email address is never displayed publicly in the forum. For full details on how member data is handled, see the Privacy Policy section of this page.
Core Principle: We collect only what is strictly necessary to operate the platform. We do not sell, rent, trade, license, share, or monetize your personal information in any form, ever. We do not use your data to build behavioral profiles, target you with advertising, or derive commercial value from it.
This Privacy Policy applies to the Ic² Research Institute website (eequalsicsquared.com) operated by Michael K. Baines. For privacy-related inquiries, contact us at mkb.info@proton.me.
We do not build behavioral profiles, track you across other websites, use pixel tracking, or collect sensitive personal categories such as health data, biometrics, or precise location.
Your information is used only for the following purposes: sending newsletters, research updates, and event information you have subscribed to; enabling community features such as discussions and member profiles; responding to your direct inquiries; processing voluntary financial contributions through PayPal; maintaining security and technical operation of the website; and complying with legal obligations. We will never use your information for purposes beyond those listed without first obtaining your explicit consent.
We do not sell, rent, trade, license, or share your personal information with any third party for commercial purposes. This is a foundational principle, not merely a legal formality. There are no data licensing arrangements, advertising partnerships, or data broker relationships associated with this website.
We may share data only in the following narrow circumstances:
We will never share your data with data brokers, advertising networks, analytics companies that profile users, or any commercial third party beyond those listed above.
We retain your data only as long as necessary for its stated purpose. Newsletter subscriber data is retained until you unsubscribe. Account data is retained until you request deletion. Basic server logs are retained for no longer than 90 days. You may request deletion at any time by contacting mkb.info@proton.me.
To exercise these rights, contact us at mkb.info@proton.me. We will respond within 30 days.
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):
To submit a verifiable consumer request, contact mkb.info@proton.me. We will respond within 45 days as required by California law.
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, the GDPR or equivalent legislation applies. We process your personal data on the following lawful bases: Consent for newsletter subscriptions (which you may withdraw at any time); Legitimate Interests for basic website security; and Legal Obligation when required by law.
EEA/UK residents also have the right to data portability, the right to restrict processing, and the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority. Contact mkb.info@proton.me to exercise these rights.
We use only the minimal set of cookies necessary for the site to function, including session and security cookies. If we use analytics, it is configured to anonymize IP addresses and disable cross-site data sharing. You may manage cookies at any time through your browser settings.
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections (HTTPS) and access controls. No internet transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Our website is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately at mkb.info@proton.me and we will promptly delete it.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated to registered users via email. The effective date at the top of this section reflects when the policy was last revised.
For privacy-related questions or to exercise your rights, contact: mkb.info@proton.me
Contributions to Ic² Research Institute are NOT tax-deductible charitable donations. Ic² Research Institute is not a registered 501(c)(3) organization, a charitable trust, or any other form of tax-exempt entity under U.S. federal or state law. Any financial contribution you make is treated as ordinary income to Michael K. Baines personally and does not qualify as a charitable deduction on your federal or state tax return. You should not treat any contribution as a deductible gift without first consulting a qualified tax professional.
We disclose this transparently because your financial decisions deserve accurate information. We have not sought 501(c)(3) status in order to preserve full independence and operational flexibility during the institute's current phase of development. Legal entity formation is planned for a future date. If and when our tax status changes, we will update this disclosure immediately and notify all registered users and subscribers.
Any monetary contributions made through the website are voluntary support payments to Michael K. Baines as the sole operator of the institute. They are not: charitable gifts eligible for tax deduction; investments in any company or venture; membership fees conferring legal ownership rights; or payments for guaranteed goods or services (unless a specific product purchase is made through a future commerce platform — see Commerce & Sales section).
We are deeply grateful for every contribution and use all funds to advance open science research, website development, and the expansion of the Ic² Research Institute community.
Nothing on this website constitutes a solicitation of investment or an offer to sell securities. Contributions are purely voluntary support and confer no ownership interest, equity stake, or financial return.
In keeping with our commitment to radical transparency, we aim to publicly document how contributions are used to support research operations. Contribution summaries may be published periodically on the website.
Contributions received are reportable income to Michael K. Baines under applicable U.S. tax law. Contributors who provide personal information during a contribution transaction should be aware that we may be required to collect and report certain information to tax authorities if applicable thresholds are met, consistent with IRS regulations.
We do not currently sell any products or services. As of March 2026, no items, subscriptions, or services are available for purchase through this website. Voluntary financial contributions processed through PayPal are support payments, not product purchases.
We may in the future offer branded merchandise and physical products (such as apparel, books, or other Ic² Research Institute branded items) through this website or a linked storefront. When any commerce capability is activated, the following terms will apply:
The book "A Quest for The Big TOE" is currently offered as a free PDF download for personal, non-commercial use. Any future commercial sale of physical or digital editions will be clearly disclosed with separate purchase terms. Free downloads do not constitute a commercial transaction and are provided as a contribution to open science.
For any future product sales, we will collect and remit sales tax as required by applicable U.S. state and local laws. International buyers are responsible for any applicable customs duties, import taxes, or VAT that may apply in their jurisdiction. International shipping and tax information will be clearly disclosed at the time of purchase.
Any future sales will comply with applicable consumer protection laws, including the FTC's rules on advertising and endorsements, California consumer protection statutes, and applicable international consumer protection regulations. All product claims will be truthful and substantiated.
We do not sell advertising space on this website. Any content we publish represents our genuine views. If we ever publish sponsored content or affiliate-linked recommendations in the future, it will be clearly labeled as such in accordance with FTC disclosure requirements.
Research published by Ic² Research Institute represents theoretical and experimental work in consciousness, computation, and physics. All findings should be understood within the context of ongoing scientific inquiry and are subject to revision as new evidence emerges.
Claims of "validated predictions" refer to experimental or observational results that appear consistent with our theoretical framework. This does not constitute definitive proof, and alternative explanations may exist. We maintain cryptographic timestamps on all predictions to establish scientific priority transparently.
Scientific Method: We document all predictions with publication dates to establish scientific priority. We openly acknowledge both successes and failures in our research program. Radical transparency is a core operating principle.
Unless explicitly stated, materials may not have undergone formal peer review through traditional academic channels. We clearly mark the review status of all publications. Preprints and working papers are labeled as such.
Research materials are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We make no guarantees about the accuracy or completeness of information, fitness for any particular purpose, non-infringement of intellectual property, or future experimental outcomes.
Users attempting to replicate our research do so at their own risk. We provide methodologies for transparency but cannot guarantee specific results. Replication attempts should follow standard safety protocols applicable to the experiment type.
We update research materials as new information becomes available. Users should check publication dates and version histories. Significant corrections are logged and publicly noted.
Ic² Research Institute and Michael K. Baines shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use of our research, materials, or website.
Ic² Research Institute is committed to open science. Most of our content is freely available under permissive licenses to enable the widest possible dissemination and building upon of research.
Unless otherwise specified, research publications are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share, adapt, and use the material for any purpose including commercially, provided you give appropriate attribution, link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.
Open-source code repositories are typically licensed under the MIT License unless otherwise stated in individual repositories on GitHub.
Research data is generally released under CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0), dedicated to the public domain with no restrictions, to maximize scientific reuse.
The book "A Quest for The Big TOE" is copyrighted material by Michael K. Baines. The PDF is provided for free personal and educational use only. Redistribution, resale, or commercial use requires prior written permission.
Website design elements, logos, graphics, and editorial content not covered by a CC license are the exclusive property of Michael K. Baines / Ic² Research Institute, all rights reserved. The Ic² name and logo are proprietary. Use for commentary, citation, or reference is permitted; commercial use requires prior written permission.
When citing our work, please include the title of the work, author name(s), publication date, URL to the source material, and applicable license information.
If you believe content on our site infringes your copyright, contact our designated DMCA agent at mkb.info@proton.me with: a description of the copyrighted work; the location of the allegedly infringing content; your contact information; and a statement of good faith belief that the use is not authorized.
Some content may include third-party materials with different licensing terms. These are clearly marked with appropriate attributions where applicable.