Terms of Service

Welcome to Chirp! These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of Chirp's services, including our website, mobile applications, and any related services (collectively, the "Services"). By accessing or using our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Chirp, you agree to:

• Comply with these Terms of Service
• Comply with our Privacy Policy and Community Guidelines
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Be legally able to enter into a binding agreement

If you are using Chirp on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

2. Eligibility

To use Chirp, you must:

• Be at least 13 years of age (or the minimum age required in your country)
• Provide accurate and complete registration information
• Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Not be prohibited from using our Services under applicable law

If you are between 13 and 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction), you represent that your parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to these Terms.

3. Account Registration

3.1 Creating an Account

You may create an account using:

• Email and password
• Google OAuth
• Clerk authentication

3.2 Account Security

You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access
• Using a strong, unique password

3.3 Account Information

You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Update your information to keep it accurate
• Not impersonate any person or entity
• Not create multiple accounts without permission

4. User Content

4.1 Your Content

You retain ownership of content you post on Chirp ("User Content"), including:

• Posts and comments
• Stories (deleted after 24 hours)
• Messages
• Media uploads (images, videos)
• Profile information

4.2 License Grant

By posting User Content, you grant Chirp a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:

• Use, reproduce, and display your User Content
• Distribute and modify your User Content as necessary to provide Services
• Create derivative works for platform functionality
• Sublicense these rights to our service providers

This license ends when you delete your content or account, except for content shared with others or cached/archived copies.

4.3 Content Standards

You agree NOT to post content that:

• Is illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, or harassing
• Violates intellectual property rights
• Contains malware, viruses, or malicious code
• Is spam, unsolicited advertising, or promotional material
• Contains nudity, pornography, or sexually explicit material
• Promotes violence, terrorism, or hate speech
• Infringes on privacy rights of others
• Is false, misleading, or deceptive
• Violates any applicable law or regulation

4.4 Content Moderation

We reserve the right to:

• Remove or refuse to post any User Content
• Suspend or terminate accounts for violations
• Report illegal activity to law enforcement
• Take legal action against violators

We are not obligated to monitor or review User Content but may do so to enforce these Terms.

5. Prohibited Conduct

You agree NOT to:

• Use automated systems (bots, scrapers) without permission
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Interfere with or disrupt our Services
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble our software
• Collect information about other users without consent
• Sell, rent, or commercialize any aspect of the Services
• Create accounts using automated means
• Engage in any fraudulent or deceptive practices
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Harass, bully, or intimidate other users

6. Intellectual Property

6.1 Our Rights

Chirp and its original content, features, and functionality are owned by Chirp, Inc. and are protected by:

• Copyright laws
• Trademark laws
• Trade secret laws
• Other intellectual property laws

6.2 Trademarks

The Chirp name, logo, and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans are trademarks of Chirp, Inc. You may not use these without our prior written permission.

6.3 Copyright Infringement

If you believe your copyright has been infringed, please contact us with:

• Description of the copyrighted work
• Location of the infringing material
• Your contact information
• A statement of good faith belief
• A statement of accuracy under penalty of perjury
• Your physical or electronic signature

Email copyright notices to: copyright@chirp.com

7. Third-Party Services

Our Services integrate with third-party services including:

• Google OAuth for authentication
• Clerk for authentication
• ImageKit for media storage
• Stripe for payment processing
• Email service providers

Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and policies. We are not responsible for third-party services.

8. Subscription and Payments

8.1 Subscription Plans

We may offer subscription plans with additional features. By subscribing, you agree to:

• Pay all applicable fees
• Provide accurate payment information
• Authorize recurring charges

8.2 Billing

• Subscriptions are billed in advance on a recurring basis
• Fees are non-refundable except as required by law
• We may change fees with 30 days' notice
• You can cancel anytime; cancellation is effective at the end of the billing period

8.3 Payment Processing

Payments are processed by Stripe. We do not store your payment card details. Payment processing is subject to Stripe's terms and conditions.

9. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection and use of personal information is described in our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using Chirp, you consent to our data practices as described in the Privacy Policy.

10. Termination

10.1 Termination by You

You may delete your account at any time through account settings. Upon deletion:

• Your access to Services will be terminated
• Your User Content will be deleted (subject to retention requirements)
• Some information may be retained as described in our Privacy Policy

10.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms
• Your conduct creates liability or harm
• Required by law or legal request
• We discontinue Services (with notice)

10.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your right to use Services immediately ceases
• Provisions that should survive termination remain in effect
• You remain liable for any obligations incurred before termination

11. Disclaimers

12. Limitation of Liability

13. Indemnification

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

• Your use of the Services
• Your User Content
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another
• Your violation of applicable law

14. Dispute Resolution

14.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of [Your Jurisdiction], without regard to conflict of law principles.

14.2 Arbitration

Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of Services shall be resolved through binding arbitration, except:

• Small claims court matters
• Intellectual property disputes
• Injunctive relief requests

14.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree that disputes will be resolved individually. You waive the right to participate in class action lawsuits or class-wide arbitration.

15. Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. When we make changes:

• We will post the updated Terms with a new effective date
• We will notify you via email or platform notification for material changes
• Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance
• If you don't agree to changes, you must stop using Services

16. General Provisions

16.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, along with our Privacy Policy and Community Guidelines, constitute the entire agreement between you and Chirp.

16.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full effect.

16.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision does not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

16.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms. We may assign these Terms without restriction.

16.5 Force Majeure

We are not liable for any failure or delay due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

16.6 Export Compliance

You agree to comply with all export and import laws and regulations.

16.7 Feedback

Any feedback, suggestions, or ideas you provide to us become our property, and we may use them without compensation or attribution.

17. Community Guidelines

In addition to these Terms, all users must follow our Community Guidelines, which include:

• Be Respectful: Treat others with dignity and respect
• Be Safe: Don't share content that endangers safety
• Be Honest: Don't spread misinformation or impersonate others
• Be Legal: Comply with all applicable laws
• Be Kind: Foster a positive community environment

18. Accessibility

We strive to make our Services accessible to all users. If you encounter accessibility barriers, please contact us so we can work to provide access.