Billing¶

IPTO uses a metered usage model. You pay for the value you consume -- retrieval events, citations, downloads, and outcomes -- rather than a flat fee for storage or access.

Metered usage¶

Every time a buyer retrieves content from the marketplace, the platform records a billable event. Charges are based on the number and type of events, not on the volume of data transferred or stored.

This model aligns cost with value: you pay when you use data, and providers earn when their data is used.

Info

Providers pay a platform subscription to host and index their data. Buyers pay metered charges for retrieval and usage. Both sides have full visibility into their costs and earnings.

Billable event types¶

The platform meters four types of billable events.

Event type	Description
Retrieval	A search result is returned to a buyer. This is the primary billing unit. Each unique result in a query response that is marked as billable generates a retrieval event.
Citation	A previously retrieved result is used in a buyer's downstream output (e.g., included in an agent response or report). Citation events are recorded explicitly by the buyer.
Download	A buyer requests access to the original file behind a retrieved result. Download events are generated when a presigned download URL is issued.
Outcome	A buyer's workflow produces measurable downstream value linked to a prior retrieval. Outcome events are recorded explicitly and carry the associated revenue amount.

Note

Duplicate events within the same query session are deduplicated. You are not charged twice for the same result in the same request.

Data providers earn a share of the usage revenue generated by buyers accessing their datasets. The revenue share model works as follows:

When buyers retrieve, cite, download, or generate outcomes from a provider's dataset, the platform records the associated charges.
At the end of each settlement period, the platform calculates the provider's earnings based on the gross usage revenue attributed to their datasets.
After applying any holds or adjustments, the net payout amount is made available to the provider.

The provider's share reflects the value their data contributes to the marketplace. The platform retains the remainder to cover infrastructure, operations, and marketplace services.

Tip

Providers can track their revenue attribution in real time through the provider analytics dashboard and the payouts API. There is no need to wait for the end of the billing period to understand how your data is performing.

Settlement periods¶

Billing and payouts follow a monthly settlement cycle.

Buyer invoicing is calculated monthly. Invoices aggregate all metered usage events and any recurring plan charges for the billing period.
Provider payout calculation happens monthly. Payouts are derived from the usage revenue attributed to the provider's datasets during the period.
Provider payout release occurs after the settlement period closes and any applicable hold or review windows have passed.

flowchart LR
    A[Usage events recorded] --> B[Monthly period closes]
    B --> C[Buyer invoice generated]
    B --> D[Provider payout calculated]
    D --> E[Hold & review window]
    E --> F[Payout released]

Spend visibility for buyers¶

Buyers have full transparency into their usage and costs through both the dashboard and the API.

Spend summaries -- View total charges broken down by day, dataset, or API key.
Search activity -- Review your search history, including which datasets and objects were accessed.
Access history -- See a record of every dataset and asset your tenant has interacted with.
Invoice details -- Access detailed invoices for each billing period, including line items for retrieval, citation, download, and outcome charges.

All spend data is available programmatically through the API, making it straightforward to integrate billing visibility into your own dashboards and reporting tools.

Payout visibility for providers¶

Providers have full transparency into their earnings and payout status.

Revenue attribution -- See which datasets are generating revenue and from which usage event types.
Payout statements -- Review detailed payout summaries for each billing period, including gross revenue, holds, and net payout amounts.
Payout status tracking -- Monitor whether payouts are pending, approved, paid, or held.
Analytics -- Access keyword-level and usage-level analytics to understand how buyers are using your data.

Payout data is accessible through the provider dashboard and the payouts API.

FAQ¶

When am I charged for a search that returns no results?

You are not charged. Billing is based on billable results returned, not on queries submitted. If a search returns zero results, no retrieval events are created and nothing is billed.

How can I estimate my monthly costs as a buyer?

Use the spend summary API or dashboard to review your historical usage patterns. Costs are driven by the number of retrieval, citation, download, and outcome events your workflows generate. The spend breakdown by API key and dataset helps you forecast future usage.

How quickly do providers see revenue from buyer usage?

Revenue attribution appears in the provider analytics dashboard in near real time. However, actual payouts follow the monthly settlement cycle and are released after the hold and review window closes.

What happens if there is a billing dispute?

Disputed charges may result in a hold on the associated payout. The platform resolves disputes through a review process. Holds and reversals are tracked as separate ledger entries and never modify historical billing records.

Are there any included usage allowances before metered charges apply?

Some plan tiers include a baseline usage allowance. Metered charges apply once the allowance is exhausted. Check your plan details for the specific allowances included in your tier.