Rules, guidelines, and important disclosures for using Ic² Research Institute and The COSMIC Framework.
By accessing and using this website, you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions. If you do not agree, please do not use this website.
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. 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 Section 10 for full financial disclosures.
This website and its content are provided for informational and educational purposes. You may:
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Unless otherwise specified under an open license, all content on this website — including text, graphics, logos, and software — is the property of Michael K. Baines or its content suppliers and is protected by copyright laws. The book "A Quest for The Big TOE: The COSMIC Framework's Theory of Everything" is copyrighted material.
Research publications are generally available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Code is generally available under the MIT License. See our full Copyright & Licensing policy for details.
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.
The PDF download of the book is provided for personal use only. By downloading the book, you agree to use it for personal, educational purposes only; not redistribute, resell, or share the file; and respect the copyright and intellectual property rights of the author.
The Ic² Research Institute operates a community discussion forum powered by PeepSo. The forum is currently in development and not yet fully active. By accessing or posting in the forum at any time, including during a beta or soft-launch period, you agree to the following additional terms.
You agree to engage respectfully with all members; clearly distinguish your speculation, opinion, and established fact; attribute others' work appropriately; and disclose conflicts of interest relevant to scientific claims. The following are strictly prohibited and may result in content removal or account suspension: harassment or personal attacks; spam or unsolicited promotion; content infringing intellectual property rights; deliberate misinformation; illegal content including defamatory statements; impersonation; and sharing another member's personal information without consent.
You retain full ownership of original content you post in the forum. By posting, you grant the institute a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display your content within the platform. You may request removal at any time. Moderation decisions may be appealed by contacting mkb.info@proton.me.
We welcome collaborators. Contributors 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 inquire about research collaboration or joining as a contributing member, contact mkb.info@proton.me with the subject line "Collaboration Inquiry." Include a brief description of your background, proposed contribution, and any relevant links to prior work. We aim to respond within 7 days.
When participating in discussions or community features, you agree to be respectful and courteous; not post offensive, harmful, or illegal content; not spam or engage in unsolicited promotion; respect intellectual property rights; maintain scientific rigor and intellectual honesty; and disclose relevant conflicts of interest.
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.
We collect only the minimum information necessary to operate the site. We do not sell, rent, trade, or monetize your personal information in any form. For full details, see our Privacy Policy.
Contributions are NOT tax-deductible. Ic² Research Institute is not a 501(c)(3) organization or any other tax-exempt entity. Any monetary contribution you make is treated as ordinary income to Michael K. Baines personally under applicable U.S. tax law and does not qualify as a charitable deduction on your tax return. Consult a qualified tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Contributions are voluntary support payments. They are not investments, equity purchases, or payments for guaranteed services. They confer no ownership interest or financial return. We use contributions to fund open science research, website development, and community operations.
We do not currently sell any products or services. As of March 2026, no items are available for purchase through this website. Voluntary contributions through PayPal are support payments, not product transactions.
We may in the future offer branded merchandise and physical products (such as apparel or books). Before launching any commerce features, we will: publish clear purchase terms and a return/refund policy; display all prices and applicable taxes transparently; collect and remit sales tax as required by law; and notify all subscribers in advance. International buyers will be responsible for any applicable customs duties or VAT. Any future sponsored content or affiliate relationships will be clearly disclosed in accordance with FTC requirements.
The theories, frameworks, and predictions presented on this website represent ongoing scientific exploration. Unless explicitly noted, materials may not have undergone formal peer review. Claims of "validated predictions" indicate results consistent with our framework, not definitive proof. Alternative explanations may exist. Do not treat any content as established scientific consensus without independent verification.
This website and its content are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information on this site.
In no event shall Ic² Research Institute or Michael K. Baines be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use of this website or its content.
This website may contain links to external sites. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of those sites.
We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated to subscribers via email before taking effect. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of the website after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.
These Terms & Conditions shall be 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.
For questions about these Terms & Conditions, contact:
Email: mkb.info@proton.me
Website: www.eequalsicsquared.com