Terms of Service
Last Updated: November 17, 2025
About Engagic
Engagic is an open-source civic technology platform (AGPL-3.0 licensed) that provides access to public meeting data from local governments across the United States. The code is free and open. The hosted API service (api.engagic.org) is provided as a public good with reasonable usage limits.
The Deal
Public data stays public. We believe government meeting information should be accessible to everyone. We built this infrastructure to make that happen.
The code is free. Engagic is AGPL-3.0 licensed. If you want unlimited access and can handle your own infrastructure costs (servers, LLM processing, bandwidth), clone the repo and self-host. No restrictions.
The hosted API has limits. Running this service costs real money (LLM processing, server hosting, labor). We provide a free tier for reasonable personal use. Heavy usage requires partnership or payment.
Usage Tiers
Resident Tier
Personal research, casual browsing, individual civic engagement
Free forever
No registration required
Community Tier
501(c)(3) nonprofits, accredited journalists, civic advocacy organizations
Requirements:
- Proof of nonprofit status or press credentials
- Public attribution of data source
- Email contact for partnership
Free with attribution
Contact: hello@engagic.orgEnterprise Tier
Commercial products, for-profit ventures, paid research services
Requirements:
- Commercial license agreement
- Payment for infrastructure costs
Contact for pricing
Contact: admin@motioncount.comAttribution Requirements
If you use Engagic data in a public-facing product or publication (website, app, research paper, article), you must provide clear attribution:
Minimum acceptable attribution:
Data provided by Engagic (engagic.org)Preferred attribution (with link):
Meeting data processed and provided by Engagic,
an open-source civic technology platform.Attribution Waived For:
- Personal/private use (not public-facing)
- Basic tier users (though appreciated)
Attribution Required For:
- Nonprofit/journalist tier
- Any commercial use
- Any derivative products/services
Acceptable Use
You MAY:
- Use the API for personal research and civic engagement
- Build tools that help citizens understand local government
- Cite Engagic data in journalism, research, or advocacy
- Self-host the open-source code without restriction (AGPL-3.0)
- Use the data for nonprofit civic tech projects with attribution
You MAY NOT:
- Resell raw Engagic data without adding significant value
- Use automated tools to circumvent rate limits
- Use the API in ways that harm civic discourse or spread misinformation
- Claim data as your own without attribution
- Use the service to harass, stalk, or threaten public officials or citizens
Data Accuracy and Liability
Engagic provides meeting data AS-IS with no warranties. While we strive for accuracy:
- Data is sourced from official government websites but may contain errors - we make every effort to always provide the totality of attachments used to generate the summary, for each item, as well the main overall agenda.
- LLM-generated summaries are AI-assisted and may be imperfect - if you see any deviations or hallucinations, please contact us
- Official meeting packets remain the authoritative source - all information should be double checked on your city's website
- We are not liable for decisions made based on Engagic data - but we sure hope you go out and do good with it
Always verify important information with official government sources before taking action.
Rate Limiting and Enforcement
The API enforces rate limits automatically:
- Per-minute limits: Prevent server overload
- Daily limits: Ensure fair access for all users
- 429 errors: Returned when limits exceeded
Repeated rate limit violations or attempts to circumvent limits may result in:
- Temporary IP blocks
- Permanent bans for egregious abuse
We're reasonable, hit us up.
Changes to Terms
We may update these terms as the project evolves. Changes will be posted at:
Continued use of the API after changes constitutes acceptance.
Open Source License
The Engagic codebase is licensed under AGPL-3.0. This means:
- You can view, modify, and distribute the code
- If you run a modified version as a service, you must make your modifications public
- Commercial use of the code is allowed (see tier requirements for hosted API)
Full license: https://github.com/Engagic/engagic/blob/main/LICENSE
Contact
Questions, partnerships, or access requests:
The Philosophy
Civic data should be open. Infrastructure costs money. We're trying to balance both.
If you're an individual wanting to check your city's meetings: use it freely.
If you're a nonprofit fighting for housing justice: let's partner.
If you're a commercial entity building on our work: let's talk.