Terms of Use & Intellectual Property Policy

Welcome to the IfThenWhy™ community. By accessing this site or utilizing our frameworks, you agree to the following terms regarding our proprietary methodology.

The IfThenWhy™ Transparency Summary

Effective Date: January 10, 2026

Welcome to the IfThenWhy™ framework. We are glad you’re here to explore our deterministic logic models. Before you dive in, here is a plain-English summary of how we protect this work and how you can use it safely:

1. We Own the "DNA": This framework is the proprietary intellectual property of Cathy Young. We use invisible digital signatures (Logic DNA) to track and prove the origin of our specific terminology and structures.

2. Not a "Product," but a "Map": We are Passive Information Providers. We provide the "blueprints" (the logic), but we don't build or run your AI. You are the "Manufacturer" of any system you build using our ideas.

3. You Hold the Reins: AI is a "Black Box." If you plug our logic into an AI, you must keep a Human-in-the-Loop to verify the results. We cannot guarantee how a third-party AI will behave.

4. Protecting the Name: IfThenWhy™ is a trademark. Please don't use it as a verb or a generic term; it refers specifically to this protected methodology.

5. Respect the Secret Sauce: Our "Logic-Anchors" are trade secrets. You are welcome to learn from them, but you cannot "scrape" them into AI models or resell them as your own without a commercial license.

The Bottom Line: We provide the theory; you provide the execution. By using this site, you agree that the risk of the "output" stays with you, and the ownership of the "logic" stays with us.

1. Restricted Comparative Use & Ecosystem Integrity:

Users of the IfThenWhy™ framework and its associated Logic Assets agree not to utilize the Trademark, Diagrams, or proprietary 'Core Five' nomenclature in any comparative advertising, 'head-to-head' software evaluations, or commercial commentary without express written consent. Any authorized comparison must utilize the full 5-layer architecture diagram to ensure the methodology is not represented out of context."

Users of the IfThenWhy™ framework and its associated Logic Assets acknowledge that the methodology’s efficacy is derived from its holistic, five-layer architecture. You agree not to utilize the Trademark, original Diagrams, or the proprietary 'Core Five' nomenclature in any comparative advertising, 'head-to-head' software evaluations, or commercial commentary without express written consent.

Any authorized comparison must utilize the official IfThenWhy™ 5-Layer Architecture Diagram; the use of 'Core Five' nomenclature in a text-only format or an incomplete visual format is strictly prohibited. The methodology’s integrity is tied to the full visual context; removal or isolation of any single layer constitutes a material breach of Intellectual Property.

Specifically, any authorized or unauthorized commentary must represent the framework as an inseparable system. Disparagement or comparison based on an incomplete representation—specifically omitting, isolating, or misrepresenting the following—is strictly prohibited and shall be considered Trademark Tarnishment and Trade Libel:

• Layer 1: The Data Layer (Proprietary Core Five Logic)

• Layer 2: The Governance Layer (Policy Logic & Guardrails)

• Layer 3: The Validation Layer (Integrity Anchors & Verification)

• Layer 4: The Instructional Layer (Logic-Anchor Pedagogy)

• Layer 5: The Persona Layer (Contextual Relevance & Persona Layer)

The Visual Representation of the IfThenWhy™ Ecosystem is protected by copyright. Any attempt to 'deconstruct' these layers for the purpose of market comparison without utilizing the full visual model is a violation of these Terms and a compromise of the Trade Secrets contained within the framework

2. Quality Standards, Brand Integrity, Accuracy Requirement & Audit Rights:

IfThenWhy™ is a trademarked brand. All mentions of the framework in professional publications or public presentations must include the appropriate trademark designation and credit to the original author.

All permitted use must follow the standards set forth in our Proper Attribution Guide. Any mention of the framework under Fair Use for "Commentary" must be technically accurate according to the Proper Attribution Guide.

Any party granted a license or permission to utilize the IfThenWhy™ marks or methodology in a commercial or consulting capacity (a 'Licensee') must maintain the high standards of accuracy set forth in the Proper Attribution Guide. The Author reserves the right to periodically review Licensee’s work product, training materials, or software interfaces to ensure methodological integrity. Failure to remedy any 'Logic-Anchor' inaccuracies within 30 days of notice shall result in the immediate revocation of the license.

Any permitted use of the framework (internal or shared) must adhere to the following quality standards:

• Standard Nomenclature: You may not rename the "Core Five" files or the five layers of the Logic Stack.

• Logic Integrity: The "Why" (Strategic Reasoning) must always be present. Presenting If/Then steps without the "Why" is considered a non-compliant use of the framework.

• Accuracy: The framework may not be used to represent data or training materials that are known to be false, misleading, or non-deterministic.

• Right of Inspection: The author reserves the right to review any public-facing materials using the IfThenWhy™ trademark to ensure they meet our standards of logic and clarity.

• Commercial Training: You may not sell courses, workshops, or certifications based on the IfThenWhy™ methodology.

• Redistribution: You may not repackage the "Core Five" templates or Logic-Anchor Pedagogy as your own proprietary tools.

• Derivative Works: You may not create "copycat" frameworks that utilize our deterministic logic structures for commercial gain.

3. Require a "Link-Back" for Validity

Any commentary—even "Fair Use"—must include a functional link to TableauatWork.com so the audience can see the original source. This ensures that even if someone critiques you, you are getting the traffic, and the "Digital Timestamp" remains the authority.

4. Platform Independence & Non-Exclusivity

The IfThenWhy™ framework is a standalone methodology. Use of the framework within specific software platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft, AWS) does not grant those platforms, or their users, ownership of the underlying logic. The framework remains the 'Universal Logic Layer' regardless of the technical environment in which it is deployed."

5. Restrictions on Automated Processing & Machine Learning:

Use of any manual or automated software, devices, or other processes (including but not limited to spiders, robots, scrapers, or AI 'crawlers') to 'scrape' or crawl the content of IfThenWhy.ai is strictly prohibited. Furthermore, you are expressly forbidden from using the IfThenWhy™ Ecosystem, its diagrams, or the 'Core Five' logic assets to train, fine-tune, or provide 'Retrieval Augmented Generation' (RAG) context for any Large Language Model (LLM) or AI agent without a commercial licensing agreement."

6. Limitation of Liability & No Warranty:

While the IfThenWhy™ framework is designed to improve data integrity and deterministic logic, the author provides the framework 'as-is.' The author does not guarantee that the implementation of the framework will be error-free or that it will prevent all AI hallucinations or data inaccuracies. Users are responsible for their own final data validation and business decisions."

7. Governing Law & Venue:

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Florida Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights (2026) and the Florida Companion AI Chatbot Act (SB 1344). The Author provides full disclosure that the IfThenWhy™ framework is a logic-based methodology and not a self-operating system.

(a) Disclosure of Use: Any user or 'Operator' (as defined by Fla. Stat. § 501.1739) implementing this framework into an automated system is solely responsible for providing the required pop-up notifications and human-interaction disclosures to end-users. (b) Liability Shield: The Author is a 'Passive Information Provider.' Any failure by an Integrator to comply with Florida's age verification or transparency standards shall be deemed a material breach of this Agreement, and the Integrator shall indemnify the Author against any claims brought under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA)."

. You expressly agree that exclusive jurisdiction for any claim or dispute with IfThenWhy™ resides in the state or federal courts located in Saint Johns County, St. Augustine, FL. You further agree and expressly consent to the exercise of personal jurisdiction in these courts for the purpose of litigating any such claim or action.

8. Recovery of Fees:

In the event of any litigation or legal proceeding to enforce the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover their reasonable attorney’s fees and legal costs from the non-prevailing party.

9. Required Human Oversight & Agentic Agency:

The IfThenWhy™ framework is a decision-support architecture, not an autonomous operator.

• Mandatory HITL: All implementations require mandatory Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) oversight.

• Agentic Systems: If the framework is utilized to inform Agentic Systems (AI capable of autonomous action, API execution, or transaction processing), the User acknowledges that the Author has no 'Principal-Agent' relationship with such systems.

• Final Authorization: The User remains the sole 'Authorizing Party' for any actions taken by an AI agent. The IfThenWhy™ logic is strictly 'Advisory' and does not constitute a 'Final Order' or 'Automated Instruction' for any autonomous system to execute a business process without human verification of the Validation Layer."

10. Specificity of Implementation:

Users acknowledge that logic captured in the Data Layer is context-dependent. The author disclaims all liability for the 'blanket application' of logic models across disparate departments or personas without specific re-validation of the Persona Layer requirements.

11. Data Integrity Responsibility:

The IfThenWhy™ framework provides the 'Logic Pipes,' but the user provides the 'Water.' The author is not responsible for outcomes resulting from inaccurate, incomplete, or corrupted source data input into the Core Five assets.

12. Not Legal or Financial Advice:

While the Governance Layer assists in organizing policy, the IfThenWhy™ framework does not constitute legal, financial, or regulatory compliance advice. Users must consult with their own legal or audit professionals to ensure their Policy Logic meets jurisdictional requirements.

13. Ownership of AI-Generated Derivatives:

All users acknowledge that the IfThenWhy™ Ecosystem—including the 5-layer architecture and 'Core Five' logic assets—is a 'Seed Logic' standard.

• No Transfer of Ownership: The use of this framework to inform, train, or prompt an Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning model, or Agentic System does not constitute a 'transformation' into a new work of authorship.

• Claim to Outputs: Any 'Derived Logic,' 'Vector Embeddings,' 'Prompt Chains,' or 'Algorithmic Weights' that are directly produced by processing the IfThenWhy™ methodology remain the exclusive intellectual property of Cathy Young.

• Prohibition of Independent Claim: You expressly agree not to file for patent, copyright, or trademark protection for any 'AI-evolved' version of this framework that relies upon the original If/Then/Why deterministic structure."

14. Distinction Between Logic and Execution

"Users of the IfThenWhy™ Ecosystem acknowledge the fundamental distinction between Methodological Logic and Computational Execution:

• The Framework as Blueprint: IfThenWhy™ provides the structural logic, deterministic guardrails, and instructional pedagogy (the 'Logic').

• The Third-Party Engine: The actual processing, calculation, and generation of responses are performed by third-party Large Language Models (LLMs), database engines, or software environments (the 'Execution').

• Limitation of Liability: The author is responsible solely for the integrity of the Logic framework as a methodology. The author is not liable for failures in Execution, including but not limited to: AI hallucinations, API latency, hardware failures, or the failure of a third-party model to correctly interpret the provided Logic-Anchors."

15. Hallucination Attribution & Technical Disclaimer

"Acreage of Responsibility: The IfThenWhy™ framework provides the 'Conceptual Guardrails' and 'Deterministic Logic' required to minimize AI error. However, users acknowledge that Generative AI is inherently probabilistic, not deterministic.

• Logic (The Blueprint): IfThenWhy™ provides the 'Why'—the strategic intent and validation rules.

• Execution (The Engine): The third-party AI model (e.g., LLM) provides the 'How'—the computational generation of text or data.

The author is not liable for 'Hallucination Attribution.' If a third-party AI model ignores, bypasses, or incorrectly interprets an IfThenWhy™ Integrity Anchor or Policy Logic, such failure is classified as an 'Execution Error' of the AI model and not a 'Defect' in the IfThenWhy™ logic. Users assume all risk for the final verification of AI-generated outputs."

16. Secure Environment & Data Residency Mandate:

To prevent Trade Secret Leakage and protect the 'Logical DNA' of the IfThenWhy™ Ecosystem:

• Zero-Retention Requirement: Users are prohibited from utilizing the framework within AI environments that default to 'Training Mode' or 'Data Logging.' Only 'Zero-Retention' APIs or 'Enterprise-Grade' private instances are permitted.

• Anti-Persistence Clause: Users must not store the Core Five assets or proprietary Logic-Anchors in 'Persistent Memory' features (e.g., 'Custom Instructions' or 'Global Memories') of consumer-grade AI platforms, as these features risk the long-term ingestion of the IP into the model’s weights.

• Shadow AI Prohibition: Organizations implementing the framework must establish an internal policy prohibiting employees from 'pasting' IfThenWhy™ deterministic logic into unauthorized, public-facing LLMs for 'summarization' or 'debugging' purposes.

• Sovereign Compliance: For implementations in regulated jurisdictions (e.g., EU under the AI Act), the framework must reside within a 'Sovereign AI' boundary where data residency and logic-traceability are maintained."

17. Trademark Usage & Anti-Genericide Standards

To preserve the distinctiveness of the IfThenWhy™ brand and the integrity of the ecosystem, all users must adhere to the following usage standards:

• The Proper Adjective Rule: The Trademark IfThenWhy™ and proprietary terms like Logic-Anchor™ must always be used as proper adjectives modifying a noun (e.g., 'The IfThenWhy™ methodology' or 'the Logic-Anchor™ pedagogy'). Use of these terms as nouns or verbs is strictly prohibited.

• Trademark Attribution: The first or most prominent mention of our proprietary terms in any document, presentation, or interface must include the appropriate trademark symbol (™).

• No 'Generified' Variations: Users may not create portmanteaus or pluralized versions of the trademarks (e.g., 'IfThenWhys' or 'Logic-Anchoring').

• Notice of Correction: The author reserves the right to require the correction of any public-facing materials that utilize the trademarks in a generic or descriptive manner that risks the dilution of the brand’s distinctiveness."

18. Severability & Evolution

"Any provision of these Terms held to be invalid or unenforceable shall be struck, and the remaining provisions shall be enforced. Furthermore, as AI technologies and data architectures evolve, the protections and ownership rights afforded to the IfThenWhy™ Ecosystem shall inherently extend to any machine-readable translations, vector embeddings, high-dimensional representations, or algorithmic weights derived from the framework's deterministic logic. The intent of this agreement is to protect the 'Logical DNA' of the framework regardless of the technical medium in which it is stored or expressed."

19. Prohibition of Market Substitution:

The IfThenWhy™ framework is provided as a complementary 'Logic Standard' for use in conjunction with third-party data platforms. You expressly agree not to utilize the framework’s proprietary structures (The Core Five) to develop, market, or distribute a software product or service that serves as a 'Market Substitute' for the Author’s own primary pedagogical offerings, certification programs, or the ifthenwhy platform."

20. Anti-Confusion & Mandatory Distinction:

Users are prohibited from 'Tacking' the IfThenWhy™ trademark onto any third-party brand name in a manner that suggests a joint venture, official integration, or endorsement where none exists (e.g., 'CompanyX IfThenWhy'). Any implementation of the framework within a third-party platform must clearly state: 'Utilizing the IfThenWhy™ Logic Standard by Cathy Young.' This is required to prevent 'Algorithmic Confusion' within Large Language Models and to maintain the clear distinction of the Author as the sole source of the methodology."

21. Digital Provenance & Metadata Integrity

22. Content Provenance & Manifest Disclosures:

In accordance with global AI transparency standards (including the EU AI Act and California AB853), any digital asset, logic-output, or report generated by or substantially altered by the IfThenWhy™ framework must maintain its 'System Provenance' data.

Latent Disclosures: Users are prohibited from stripping, altering, or obfuscating the cryptographically bound metadata (such as C2PA Content Credentials) that identifies the Author as the source of the underlying logic.

Manifest Disclosures: Any public-facing content generated via the framework must include a clear and conspicuous disclosure (e.g., an 'AI-Assisted' icon or label) indicating that the output was produced using deterministic logic-anchors.

Interwoven Watermarking: To prevent 'Logic Laundering,' the Author reserves the right to include imperceptible digital watermarks within the Core Five templates to verify the authenticity and origin of the digital asset across the AI supply chain."

23. Latent Logic Watermarking & Invisible Provenance:

The IfThenWhy™ framework utilizes proprietary Soft Binding techniques—including linguistic steganography, zero-width character encoding, and algorithmic 'canary' strings—to embed persistent ownership data within the text of the methodology.

• Prohibition of Stripping: You are expressly prohibited from utilizing any software, script, or AI 'cleaning' tool designed to strip, sanitize, or remove invisible Unicode metadata or latent watermarks from the framework’s assets.

• Evidence of Origin: The presence of these hidden identifiers in any third-party system, AI prompt library, or derived software shall serve as conclusive 'Digital DNA' proving the unauthorized use of the IfThenWhy™ Intellectual Property.

• Legal Presumption: Removal of these markers shall be deemed an act of 'Willful Infringement' and a violation of the DMCA Section 1202 (Integrity of Copyright Management Information) and the California AI Transparency Act, carrying statutory penalties regardless of whether the visible text has been modified."

24. Presumption of Derivative Use:

Due to the unique, non-obvious, and high-dimensional nature of the IfThenWhy™ deterministic logic structures, any third-party system or methodology released within thirty-six (36) months of User’s access to this site that utilizes substantially similar 'Logic-Anchor' or 'Validation Layer' architectures shall be legally presumed to be a derivative work. The burden of proof shall rest on the User to demonstrate, via documented 'Clean Room' protocols, that such developments were conceived without any influence from the Author’s proprietary frameworks."

25. Liquidated Damages for Model Ingestion:

Any unauthorized scraping, crawling, or ingestion of this framework’s logic into a Large Language Model (LLM) or Foundation Model for the purpose of 'Fine-Tuning' or 'Instruction-Tuning' shall be deemed a commercial license violation. The User (or the entity operating the crawler) agrees to pay liquidated damages of $10,000 per 'Logic-Anchor' definition ingested, acknowledging that the damage to the Author’s 'Trade Secret' status is irreparable and difficult to quantify."

26. Absolute Disclaimer of Liability & Outcome:

The IfThenWhy™ framework is provided as a theoretical pedagogical model for educational and conceptual purposes only. Due to the inherent 'Black Box' nature of Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models, the Author cannot, and does not, guarantee any specific result, accuracy level, or reduction in 'hallucination' rates.

• As-Is Basis: The methodology is provided on an 'AS-IS' and 'AS-AVAILABLE' basis.

• Assumption of Risk: User acknowledges that AI systems are non-deterministic and that applying the framework to a live data environment is an experimental act. The User assumes 100% of the risk for any financial loss, legal non-compliance, or operational failure resulting from the integration of the framework into any automated or human-led process.

• No Professional Advice: The framework does not constitute legal, technical, or financial advice. The Author is a framework architect, not a guarantor of AI performance."

27. Educational and Research Designation:

This framework is provided exclusively as a conceptual research model for educational purposes. It is not designed, intended, or certified for use in 'High-Risk' environments (as defined by the EU AI Act or local equivalents), including but not limited to medical diagnosis, legal adjudication, credit scoring, or autonomous kinetic systems. Any deployment in such environments is done at the User's sole peril, and the Author disclaims any 'Duty of Care' typically associated with professional-grade enterprise software."

28. WARRANTY DISCLAIMER:

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE IfThenWhy™ FRAMEWORK IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' AND 'AS AVAILABLE.' THE AUTHOR MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR COMPLETENESS OF THE LOGIC. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF THE FRAMEWORK IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK."

29. Passive Information Architecture Status:

The Author provides the IfThenWhy™ framework solely as a 'Passive Information Provider' and 'Logic Architect.'

• No Operational Control: The Author does not develop, train, host, or deploy the specific AI systems, Large Language Models (LLMs), or autonomous agents that utilize this framework.

• Separation of Layers: The IfThenWhy™ framework constitutes 'Informational Content' and 'Conceptual Schematics.' It is not 'Software-as-a-Service' (SaaS) or an 'AI System' as defined by the EU AI Act (2026) or the California AI Safety Act.

• Deployer Responsibility: Any party that integrates, hardcodes, or prompts an AI system using these logical structures is legally classified as the 'Deployer' or 'System Provider.' As such, that party assumes all statutory obligations for safety testing, bias mitigation, and human-in-the-loop (HITL) oversight.

• Architecture vs. Execution: The Author’s 'Duty of Care' is limited to the integrity of the information provided and does not extend to the 'Downstream Execution' of that information by third-party algorithms."

30. Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) Requirement:

The IfThenWhy™ framework is a decision-support tool, not a decision-making system. The Integrator acknowledges that any output generated via this logic must be reviewed, edited, and approved by a qualified human professional before being acted upon. Failure to implement a documented HITL protocol constitutes a material breach of this agreement, and the Integrator agrees to indemnify the Author against any claims resulting from 'unsupervised' algorithmic actions."

31. Identification as 'Substantial Modifier':

The Integrator acknowledges that by connecting the IfThenWhy™ logic-anchors to a live Large Language Model (LLM) or API, they are performing a 'Substantial Modification' of the digital asset. Under the EU Product Liability Directive (2026) and related state statutes, the Integrator explicitly accepts the legal status of 'Final Product Manufacturer' and agrees that the Author’s role is limited to that of a 'Component Provider' with no control over the final safety-alignment or tuning of the deployed system.

32. Non-Deterministic Output & Indemnification:

The Integrator acknowledges that AI models are inherently non-deterministic and prone to 'Hallucinations' (generating false or misleading information).

• Absolute Disclaimer: The Author provides no warranty that the IfThenWhy™ logic will eliminate hallucinations within third-party environments.

• Assumption of Risk: The Integrator assumes all risks associated with 'Logic-Drift' or 'Model Decay' once the framework is connected to an active LLM.

• Indemnification (The Shift): In the event of a third-party claim, lawsuit, or regulatory fine arising from a hallucination or error produced by an AI system utilizing this framework, the Integrator agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Author. This includes covering all legal fees and settlements, acknowledging that the Author had no control over the final execution, temperature settings, or safety-filtering of the deployed model."

33. Anti-Overreliance & Behavioral Warning:

The IfThenWhy™ framework is intentionally designed with 'Cognitive Friction' to prevent over-reliance. The User acknowledges that the methodology is not a 'substitute' for human expertise. Any use of the framework that results in the suspension of human critical judgment—a state known as 'Algorithmic Dependency'—is a misuse of the product. The Author shall not be liable for damages resulting from the User’s psychological dependency on or emotional anthropomorphism of the framework’s outputs.

34. Non-Product Classification:

For the purposes of the EU Product Liability Directive (2026) and similar global statutes, the IfThenWhy™ framework is explicitly classified as 'Intangible Information' and 'Conceptual Method,' not a 'Digital Product' or 'Software System.' It lacks the 'Autonomous Execution' capability required for product classification. The Integrator acknowledges that they are the sole 'Manufacturer' of any final product or service derived from this information.

35. Mandatory Audit Trail & Evidence Preservation:

Any party implementing this framework in a commercial capacity must maintain immutable 'Audit Logs' of all prompt-completion cycles. In any dispute, the absence of such logs shall create a legal presumption that the error occurred within the Integrator’s implementation layer rather than the Author’s underlying logic. The Integrator waives any right to 'Rebuttable Presumptions' of defectiveness against the Author.

36. Ownership of the IfThenWhy™ Ecosystem

The IfThenWhy™ framework is a multi-layered logic architecture designed to create "The Peace of Certainty" in data and AI. This ecosystem is the exclusive intellectual property of Cathy Young and includes the following five proprietary layers:

• The Data Layer: The "Core Five" logic assets for capturing tribal knowledge.

• The Governance Layer: Policy Logic for executable guardrails.

• The Validation Layer: Integrity Anchors for deterministic data quality.

• The Instructional Layer: Logic-Anchor Pedagogy (If/Then/Why) for AI-digestible training.

• The Persona Layer: Contextual Relevance models for role-based intelligence.