README_DISCLAIMER_AND_ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.txt

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY NOTICE:

The United States Government shall not be liable or responsible for 
any maintenance, updating or for correction of any errors in the NICS 
Software or subsequent approved version releases.

THE NICS SOFTWARE VERSION 1.0 AND ANY OF ITS SUBSEQUENT VERSION 
RELEASES, (NICS SOFTWARE) IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF 
ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT 
LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTY THAT THE NICS SOFTWARE WILL CONFORM TO 
SPECIFICATIONS, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS 
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT, ANY WARRANTY 
THAT THE NICS SOFTWARE WILL BE ERROR FREE, OR ANY WARRANTY THAT THE 
DOCUMENTATION, IF PROVIDED, WILL CONFORM TO THE NICS SOFTWARE.  IN NO 
EVENT SHALL THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OR ITS CONTRACTORS OR 
SUBCONTRACTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED 
TO, DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT 
OF, RESULTING FROM, OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE NICS SOFTWARE OR 
ANY OTHER PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION, WHETHER OR NOT BASED UPON WARRANTY, 
CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, WHETHER OR NOT INJURY WAS SUSTAINED BY 
PERSONS OR PROPERTY OR OTHERWISE, AND WHETHER OR NOT LOSS WAS 
SUSTAINED FROM, OR AROSE OUT OF THE RESULTS OF, OR USE OF, THE NICS 
SOFTWARE OR ANY PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION. THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 
DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND LIABILITIES REGARDING THIRD PARTY 
SOFTWARE, IF PRESENT IN THE NICS SOFTWARE, AND DISTRIBUTES IT “AS IS.”

LICENSEE AGREES TO WAIVE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT AND THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT’S CONTRACTORS AND 
SUBCONTRACTORS, AND SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT AND THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT’S CONTRACTORS AND 
SUBCONTRACTORS FOR ANY LIABILITIES, DEMANDS, DAMAGES, EXPENSES, OR 
LOSSES THAT MAY ARISE FROM RECIPIENT’S USE OF THE NICS SOFTWARE OR 
PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING ANY LIABILITIES OR DAMAGES FROM 
PRODUCTS BASED ON, OR RESULTING FROM, THE USE THEREOF.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NOTICE:

To acknowledge the contribution of U.S. government sponsors, 
including DHS and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense 
for Research and Engineering in the development of the NICS Software, 
the following statement must be prominently placed on any DHS 
approved release of the NICS Software.:

This NICS Software Program was developed with funds from the 
Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate 
and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and 
Engineering.

The identities “DHS NICS” and “NICS” constitute intellectual property 
of DHS, and shall be used according to the following terms:

(i)            DHS hereby licenses the use of “NICS” to facilitate the
uploading of the NICS Software, including any enhancements, 
improvements, modifications, and derivatives thereof, to MIT LL and 
the Homeland Security Enterprise.

(ii)           As a condition of that license:

A.            No user shall use the “DHS NICS” identity, or any
variation or adaptation thereof, other than “NICS” in any 
enhancement, improvement, modification or derivative work without the 
prior written consent of DHS.

                B.            No user shall make any trademark claim
to the “DHS NICS” and “NICS” identities, or any other confusing 
similar identity, and no user shall seek registration of these 
identities at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

(iii)          Request to use the NICS Trademark By Non HSE Users:

                A.            Users not part of the HSE may request
permission to use the NICS trademark via email at IPREQUEST@hq.dhs.gov.