Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to ThoughtBites ("we," "our," or "us"). By downloading, accessing, or using the ThoughtBites mobile application (the "App"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms").

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the App. We may update these Terms from time to time, and your continued use of the App after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

Please also review our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, and protect your information.

2. Description of Service

ThoughtBites is an educational mobile application that delivers bite-sized learning content ("Bites") across various topics including psychology, business, productivity, and more. The App provides:

• Daily personalized learning content based on your selected interests
• The ability to save, share, and interact with content
• Links to original source articles for further reading (some legacy content may include extended "Deep Dive" articles)
• Progress tracking and reading history

The App is currently provided free of charge. We reserve the right to introduce paid features or subscriptions in the future, with appropriate notice.

3. User Accounts

Account Creation

To use ThoughtBites, you must create an account using a valid email address. You agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information
• Maintain the security of your password
• Promptly update your information if it changes
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account

Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. Notify us immediately at support@thoughtbites.app if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.

Age Requirement

You must be at least 13 years old to use ThoughtBites. By using the App, you represent that you meet this age requirement.

4. Acceptable Use

You agree to use ThoughtBites only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree NOT to:

• Use the App in any way that violates any applicable law or regulation
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the App, other users' accounts, or our systems
• Interfere with or disrupt the App's functionality or servers
• Use automated systems, bots, or scripts to access the App
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the App
• Copy, modify, or distribute our content without permission
• Use the App to transmit spam, malware, or harmful content
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• Use the App for any commercial purpose without our written consent

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend your account for violations of these rules.

5. Intellectual Property

Our Content

All content in ThoughtBites, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, icons, images, audio, and software, is owned by ThoughtBites or our content licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works from, publicly display, or commercially exploit any content from the App without our express written permission.

Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to:

• Download and install the App on your personal device
• Access and view content for your personal, non-commercial use
• Share content using the App's built-in sharing features

This license terminates automatically if you violate these Terms.

Brand Identity

"ThoughtBites," our logo, and other identifying marks are proprietary to ThoughtBites. You may not use our name, logo, or branding without prior written permission.

6. User Feedback and Interactions

When you interact with the App (such as voting on content, reporting issues, or providing feedback), you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide license to use such feedback to improve our services.

You may flag content that you believe is inaccurate or inappropriate. We review flagged content but are not obligated to take any specific action.

We value your input and may use aggregated, anonymized data from user interactions to improve content quality and the user experience.

7. Content Disclaimer

ThoughtBites provides educational content for informational purposes only.

Our content is designed to introduce concepts and provide general knowledge across various topics. It is NOT intended to be:

• Professional advice: Content is not a substitute for professional medical, legal, financial, psychological, or other professional advice
• Comprehensive education: Bites are summaries and starting points, not complete treatments of complex subjects
• Personalized recommendations: Content is general in nature and may not apply to your specific situation

Always consult qualified professionals for advice specific to your circumstances. Do not make important decisions based solely on content from ThoughtBites.

Curated and AI-Summarized Content

Content in ThoughtBites is curated from published third-party articles and summarized using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. All content is reviewed by a human editor before publishing.

Our content creation process works as follows: we source articles from established publications via RSS feeds, use AI to extract and distill key insights into bite-sized summaries, and then have a human editor review each piece before it is published. The AI does not generate content from scratch -- it summarizes and distills information from real source material.

While we strive for accuracy through this process, AI-summarized content:

• May contain inaccuracies: Summarization may inadvertently misrepresent, oversimplify, or omit important details from the original source
• May lack context: Condensed summaries may omit nuances, exceptions, or context that would be relevant to your specific situation
• May reflect source biases: Our summaries are derived from third-party articles, which may themselves contain biases or inaccuracies

We provide links to the original source articles so you can read the full context. You are solely responsible for verifying any information before relying on it for decisions affecting your health, finances, legal matters, business, relationships, or any other important aspect of your life.

Third-Party Content

ThoughtBites curates and summarizes content from third-party publications. We provide attribution and links to the original source articles. We do not claim ownership of the original articles. All rights to the original content remain with the respective authors and publishers.

Your Responsibility

By using ThoughtBites, you acknowledge and agree that:

• You will independently verify information before acting on it
• You will consult qualified professionals for advice specific to your circumstances
• You will not rely solely on ThoughtBites content for important decisions
• You understand that content is provided as educational starting points, not definitive answers
• You accept full responsibility for any actions you take based on content in the App

No Liability for Content Accuracy

ThoughtBites expressly disclaims any liability for errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in any content, whether AI-summarized, curated, or otherwise. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, suitability, or availability of any content.

If you notice inaccuracies, please report them through the App or by contacting us at support@thoughtbites.app. We appreciate user feedback and use it to improve content quality, but we are not obligated to correct or update any specific content.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE APP IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to:

• Implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement
• Warranties that the App will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
• Warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any content
• Warranties that defects will be corrected

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so some of the above exclusions may not apply to you.

9. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THOUGHTBITES AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Any loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses
• Any damages arising from your use or inability to use the App
• Any damages arising from unauthorized access to your account or data
• Any damages arising from third-party content or conduct

In no event shall our total liability exceed the amount you paid us in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim, or $100 USD, whichever is greater.

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on liability, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless ThoughtBites and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to:

• Your use of the App
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another party
• Your violation of any applicable law or regulation

11. Termination

Termination by You

You may stop using the App at any time. To delete your account and associated data, contact us at support@thoughtbites.app.

Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your access to the App at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Reasons for termination may include:

• Violation of these Terms
• Conduct that we believe is harmful to other users or the App
• Extended periods of inactivity
• Discontinuation of the App or any part of it

Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to use the App ceases immediately. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination (including intellectual property, disclaimers, limitations of liability, and indemnification) shall survive.

12. Changes to the App and Terms

Changes to the App

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the App at any time without notice. We shall not be liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation.

Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• Displaying a notice in the App
• Sending an email notification for significant changes

Your continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

13. Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution

Before filing any formal legal action, you agree to contact us at support@thoughtbites.app and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least 30 days.

Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Jurisdiction

Any legal action or proceeding arising out of these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Connecticut, and you consent to the jurisdiction of such courts.

14. General Provisions

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and ThoughtBites regarding the App.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights under them without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations without restriction.

No Third-Party Beneficiaries

These Terms do not create any third-party beneficiary rights.

15. Apple App Store Terms

If you downloaded the App from the Apple App Store, the following additional terms apply:

• These Terms are between you and ThoughtBites only, not Apple
• Apple has no obligation to provide maintenance or support for the App
• Apple is not responsible for any product warranties or claims
• Apple is not responsible for addressing any claims related to the App
• Apple is a third-party beneficiary of these Terms and may enforce them against you
• You must comply with any applicable third-party terms when using the App

16. Google Play Store Terms

If you downloaded the App from the Google Play Store, the following additional terms apply:

• These Terms are between you and ThoughtBites only, not Google
• Google has no obligation to provide maintenance or support for the App
• Google is not responsible for any product warranties or claims
• Google is not responsible for addressing any claims related to the App or your use of it
• You acknowledge that Google is a third-party beneficiary of these Terms
• You must comply with Google Play's Terms of Service when using the App