Licensing Terms
SearchTrace Explorer – Freeware License Agreement (Closed Source)
Version 1.0.0
Developed by Andrew Smith
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1. Grant of Use
SearchTrace Explorer is provided free of charge as closed-source software.
You are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the software subject to the terms of this agreement.
Permitted Uses
You may use this software for:
• Internal organisational use
• Personal or academic forensic research
• Training and education
• Internal investigations, casework, and reporting
• Internal operational or analytical workflows
• Professional and commercial services, including but not limited to:
•	Digital forensic investigations
•	Incident response and breach analysis
•	Expert witness work
•	Investigative reporting
•	Consulting or advisory services
You may charge clients or third parties for professional services performed using the software, provided that:
• The software itself is not sold, licensed, rented, or otherwise provided to clients
• Clients are charged for services and professional expertise, not for software access
• Clients do not receive copies of the software
• Clients do not gain interactive access to, or operational control of, the software
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Prohibited Uses
This license expressly does not permit:
• Selling, licensing, or monetising the software itself
• Redistributing, sublicensing, or transferring the software to third parties
• Providing the software as a hosted service or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
• Allowing third parties to directly operate, access, or control the software
• Bundling the software with paid products, platforms, or toolkits
• White-labeling, rebranding, or presenting the software as your own
• Reverse engineering, decompiling, disassembling, or attempting to derive source code
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Commercial Software Distribution
Any use involving:
• Sale or licensing of the software
• Distribution to third parties
• Integration into commercial products
• Offering the software as a forensic platform or service
requires explicit prior written permission from the author.
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2. “As-Is” Disclaimer
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
• MERCHANTABILITY
• FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
• NON-INFRINGEMENT
• ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR RELIABILITY OF OUTPUT
• SUITABILITY FOR LEGAL, EVIDENTIARY, OR COURT USE
Users are solely responsible for independently validating all results, findings, and conclusions generated by the software.
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3. Limitation of Liability
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM:
• Use or misuse of the software
• Inability to use the software
• Errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in forensic interpretation
• Loss, corruption, or exposure of data
• Incorrect analysis, reporting, or conclusions
• Reliance on outputs for legal, evidentiary, or operational decisions
Use of the software is entirely at the user’s own risk.
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4. Evidence Handling and Legal Responsibilities
The user is solely responsible for:
• Maintaining proper forensic chain-of-custody
• Ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards
• Verifying timestamps, metadata, and artefact interpretations
• Determining the admissibility and appropriateness of evidence in legal or regulatory contexts
The software does not replace professional judgment or legal expertise.
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5. Redistribution
Redistribution of this software, whether in original or modified form, is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from the author.
This includes, but is not limited to:
• Public or private redistribution
• Sharing within third-party organisations
• Inclusion in tool collections or forensic distributions
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6. Acceptance of License
By installing, copying, or using SearchTrace Explorer, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the terms of this license agreement.
If you do not agree to these terms, you must not use the software.

SearchTrace Explorer is freeware. This license governs all use of the software.
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