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Stage Index Licence

Stage Index™ Licence & Partner Use | IFB Gaming

Important: The Stage Index™ is controlled by IFB Gaming. Public access and authorised partner deployment are distinct from permission to reproduce, modify, host or sublicense the Stage Index. The Digital Inclusion Toolkit remains separately licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Stage Index™ · IFB Gaming

Access, deployment &
proprietary use

The Stage Index™ is an IFB Gaming digital inclusion assessment framework designed to help identify where a person or community is in their digital inclusion journey and connect that assessment to appropriate support.

Owner IFB Gaming
Version 2.1 — September 2026
Jurisdiction England & Wales
Model Public access + authorised deployment
For everyone

Public access

Individuals and organisations may use the publicly available Stage Index through the IFB Gaming website for personal, community or exploratory assessment, subject to these terms.

No separate licence purchase is required for ordinary public access.
For formal programmes

Licensed use

Structured delivery, integration, paid services, bespoke reporting or other uses outside ordinary access may require a written partner or licence agreement.

IFB Gaming can define the scope, duration and conditions of that arrangement.
A note on free access The Stage Index may be made available free to users and partners at IFB Gaming’s discretion. Free access does not transfer intellectual property, create a perpetual right to use the methodology independently, or authorise third-party hosting or sublicensing.
Partner directory listing vs Partner Deployment Partner directory listing is included in free access and will remain free. Stage Index Partner Deployment, a dedicated URL or QR code, tracking and reporting, and active promotion, is a separate, optional service that may be offered under a paid, tiered arrangement from 2027. Exact terms are set out in the applicable Partner Deployment agreement, not in these general terms.
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Definitions

In these terms, the following definitions apply:

“Stage Index™”
The IFB Gaming digital inclusion assessment framework, including its name, staged progression model, assessment criteria, scoring structure, user journey, presentation, associated methodology and related materials, whether published or unpublished.
“IFB Gaming”
IFB Gaming UK, the organisation responsible for the Stage Index and the rights associated with it.
“Public Access”
Ordinary use of the Stage Index through an IFB Gaming-controlled public webpage or other IFB Gaming-controlled access point.
“Partner Deployment”
An arrangement under which IFB Gaming authorises an organisation to distribute an IFB Gaming-controlled URL, QR code or other access mechanism that directs users to the Stage Index.
“Licensed Materials”
Documents, templates, guidance, reports or other materials expressly made available by IFB Gaming under a written licence or partner arrangement.
“Partner”
An organisation that has been accepted by IFB Gaming for listing, referral, deployment or another defined Stage Index relationship.
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Public Access

IFB Gaming may make the Stage Index available to the public without charge. Public availability is intended to support digital inclusion assessment and navigation and does not mean that the underlying methodology, software, content, scoring framework or intellectual property is released into the public domain.

✓Individuals may complete the publicly available Stage Index for their own assessment.
✓Community and frontline organisations may direct people to the public Stage Index.
✓Organisations may reference and link to the official Stage Index, with appropriate attribution.
✓Organisations may request a formal partner deployment where a dedicated access route would be useful.

IFB Gaming may update, replace, restrict or withdraw public access to the Stage Index. Where an organisation has a separate written agreement, that agreement will determine any additional rights or commitments.

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Authorised Partner Deployment

IFB Gaming may provide an authorised Partner with a unique access URL or QR code. This is designed to let organisations make the Stage Index easier to deploy through their own websites, referral pathways, community programmes, email communications, printed materials or service directories.

Example deployment

A partner does not receive a copy of the Stage Index. Instead, IFB Gaming can create an official access route such as:

https://ifbgaming.com/stage-index/abilitynet/

The URL is an example only. IFB Gaming determines the final URL structure and whether a particular organisation receives one.

What the partner can do

Publish the authorised URL or QR code, explain that it provides access to the IFB Gaming Stage Index, and use it as part of an agreed referral or support pathway.

What the partner does not receive

No ownership, source code, independent hosting rights, sublicence, right to modify the methodology, or right to represent the Stage Index as its own.

Partner listing is separate from deployment

An organisation may be listed in the Stage Index partner directory without receiving a unique deployment URL. A directory listing is a referral relationship and does not, by itself, grant rights to reproduce or independently operate the Stage Index.

Partner Deployment pricing From 2027, Partner Deployment may be offered under a tiered fee structure based on organisation size and reach. Existing partners will be notified of applicable terms before any charge takes effect. Basic directory listing is unaffected and remains free.
Recommended operating model Assessment → evidence → appropriate support → referral. Partner organisations can sit within that ecosystem without needing to own or reproduce the Stage Index itself.
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Licence Grant

Subject to these terms, IFB Gaming grants a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable permission to use the Stage Index only in the manner expressly permitted by these terms or a separate written agreement.

✓Access the publicly available Stage Index through IFB Gaming-controlled access points.
✓Link to the official Stage Index from an organisation’s website or communication materials.
✓Use an IFB Gaming-issued partner URL or QR code where authorised.
✓Reference the Stage Index in reports, presentations and publications with appropriate attribution.

Any use beyond these permissions requires prior written approval from IFB Gaming or a separate written agreement.

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Restrictions

Without prior written permission from IFB Gaming, you may not:

✕Copy, reproduce, mirror, republish or independently host the Stage Index or its methodology.
✕Adapt, modify, translate or create derivative versions of the Stage Index methodology, scoring framework or core assessment.
✕Use the Stage Index as part of a paid service, consultancy, training package or commercial product unless expressly authorised.
✕Sublicence, assign or transfer Stage Index rights to another organisation.
✕Remove or obscure IFB Gaming attribution or branding where attribution is required.
✕Represent or imply that your organisation owns, operates or independently licenses the Stage Index unless that has been expressly agreed in writing.
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Attribution Requirements

Where you reference the Stage Index outside the IFB Gaming website, use clear attribution:

Stage Index™ is a digital inclusion assessment tool developed by IFB Gaming.

Where practical, link the attribution to the official Stage Index or this licence page. Partner organisations should not alter the meaning of the attribution or present the Stage Index as an internally developed tool.

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Intellectual Property

The Stage Index™, including its name, presentation, methodology, staged model, assessment criteria, scoring framework and associated materials, remains the intellectual property of IFB Gaming or its relevant rights holders. No ownership is transferred by public access, directory listing, partner deployment or a written licence unless expressly stated in writing.

A unique partner URL is an access mechanism only. It does not create a sublicence to host the Stage Index independently.

The Digital Inclusion Toolkit published by IFB Gaming is separately licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0. That licence does not automatically extend to the Stage Index.

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Data, Reporting & Partner Analytics

Where IFB Gaming creates partner-specific access routes, the organisation may be identified as the referral or deployment source for that route. Any analytics, aggregate reporting or service information collected through the Stage Index will be handled in accordance with the relevant privacy information and any separate agreement.

A partner URL should not be treated as permission to collect, export, copy or independently process Stage Index data beyond what is lawfully available to that organisation and expressly permitted by the relevant arrangement.

Important The technical implementation of partner analytics, cookies, personal data processing and reporting should be aligned with IFB Gaming’s actual website architecture and privacy documentation before this model is activated.
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No Warranty

The Stage Index and associated materials are provided for digital inclusion assessment and navigation purposes. To the extent permitted by law, IFB Gaming does not warrant that the Stage Index will meet a particular organisation’s requirements or produce a particular outcome.

Nothing in these terms is intended to exclude or limit liability where such exclusion or limitation would be unlawful.

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Termination & Withdrawal

IFB Gaming may suspend or withdraw a partner deployment route where an organisation breaches these terms, misrepresents its relationship with IFB Gaming, uses the Stage Index outside the agreed scope, or where IFB Gaming reasonably considers suspension necessary to protect the integrity of the Stage Index.

Where a separate written agreement applies, termination will be governed by that agreement.

●On termination of an authorised deployment, the organisation must stop presenting itself as an authorised Stage Index deployment partner.
●Any copies of Licensed Materials must be dealt with in accordance with the applicable written agreement.
●Existing public references to the Stage Index should not imply continuing authorisation where authorisation has ended.
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Acceptance

By using the publicly available Stage Index, you acknowledge these terms. A partner deployment or other structured use may additionally require written acceptance, onboarding or a countersigned agreement.

If you do not agree to these terms, do not use the Stage Index or any Licensed Materials beyond what is permitted by applicable law.

To request a partner listing, unique deployment URL, formal licence, bespoke arrangement or permission for another use, contact info@ifbgaming.com.

PA

Partner Agreement — When Formal Authorisation Is Needed

IFB Gaming may use a countersigned partner agreement where an organisation wishes to use the Stage Index in structured delivery, integrate it into a funded programme, commission bespoke reporting, receive a dedicated deployment route, or undertake another activity outside ordinary public access.

Possible partner journey

1. Enquire

Tell IFB Gaming how the organisation wants to use or refer to the Stage Index.

2. Agree scope

Confirm listing, deployment, reporting and any other permissions required.

3. Deploy

Receive the agreed URL, QR code, materials or partner documentation.

4. Review

Review usage and partnership arrangements as the Stage Index develops.

Where a countersigned agreement is required, the agreement will take precedence over these general terms to the extent of any conflict.

Licensee / Partner
Name and title
Organisation
Date
IFB Gaming
Name and title
Date