Legal
Partner Program Terms
Terms for researchers approved as Open Lab partners. Version of 1 October 2026.
For help, visit Support or check the documentation.
These terms apply to researchers whose application to the Open Lab partner program has been approved by Open Lab Online UG (haftungsbeschränkt), Konstanz, Germany ("Open Lab"). Partners recommend Open Lab using their referral links and receive a commission on what referred accounts pay. Partners act independently; the program creates no employment, agency or exclusive relationship. The Terms of Service continue to apply to your account.
- You earn 20% of the net amount (excluding VAT) of every invoice actually paid by an account that signed up through one of your referral links, for 12 months from that account's first commissioned invoice. A different rate applies only if Open Lab agrees it with you in writing.
- Commission accrues only while your partner account is active, and only on invoices paid after your approval as a partner.
- No commission is paid on your own account, on accounts you control, or on accounts whose purchase you decide on or approve on behalf of an institution you work for.
- Refunded or disputed amounts earn no commission. If a refund or dispute is found before payout, the commission is reduced or removed.
- While you are an active partner, your referral links earn commission instead of referral credits.
- A commission becomes payable 60 days after the referred account's payment. You can request a payout once at least 25 EUR (or 25 GBP or USD) is payable in one currency.
- Open Lab reviews every payout request and may delay or decline it while a breach of these terms is being investigated.
- Payouts are sent through Tremendous to the email address of your Open Lab account. You choose how to receive the money (for example PayPal or bank transfer) on Tremendous's page. Open Lab pays Tremendous's transaction fees.
- Before your first payout you provide your legal name, address, country and tax status (and VAT ID where applicable). Open Lab issues a self-billed invoice (Gutschrift) for each payout using these details; you agree to this and will keep the details up to date.
You are responsible for declaring and paying any taxes on your commission. If you are employed by a university or another public institution, check your employer's rules on secondary income and on accepting benefits before you join, and do not use the program in connection with purchasing decisions you make or influence for your institution.
- Say that you receive a commission when you recommend Open Lab with your link (for example "affiliate link" or "Anzeige"), wherever you use it.
- Describe Open Lab accurately. Do not make claims about features, prices or compliance that Open Lab does not make.
- No unsolicited bulk messages, no paid search ads on the name "Open Lab", no fake or self-created accounts, and no incentives that misrepresent what someone is signing up for.
Open Lab may change these terms or end the program with 30 days' notice by email. You may leave at any time. Commission earned in line with these terms before the change or end remains payable. Open Lab may suspend a partner account immediately for a breach of these terms; commission connected to fraudulent or self-referred accounts is forfeited.
Open Lab processes your application and payout details to run the program and pay you (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR), and keeps payout records for as long as German tax law requires (Art. 6(1)(c)). Your name, email address and payout amount are shared with Tremendous to deliver the payment. See the Privacy Policy for your rights.
German law applies. Questions about the program: info@open-lab.online.
Questions about the partner program?
Write to info@open-lab.online.