Terms of Service

    Terms of Service

    Effective Date: Sep 11th, 2025


    Introduction

    Welcome to OurCircles! These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the OurCircles mobile application ("Service"). By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please refrain from using the Service. OurCircles is designed to provide a unique social experience, combining elements of meaningful connections, content creation, and community engagement. We strive to offer a secure, innovative, and user-friendly platform for our community.


    Eligibility

    • You must be at least 13 years old to use the Service. If you are under 18, your legal guardian must review and agree to these Terms on your behalf.
    • You confirm that you have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms and comply with them.
    • By using the Service, you represent that you have not been previously removed from the Service for violating our Terms or engaging in harmful or illegal behavior. You also agree not to use the Service for any unlawful purpose or in a way that could harm others.

    Account Registration and Security

    • To access certain features, you must create an account with accurate, current, and complete information. You are responsible for keeping this information updated.
    • You are solely responsible for safeguarding your login credentials and any activity occurring under your account.
    • We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, pose security risks, or contain false information.
    • You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security.

    User Roles and Responsibilities

    The Service allows users to assume different roles with specific permissions:

    • Initiator: Creates Circles/Anecdotes and determines its settings, including privacy and content permissions.
    • Contributor: Adds content to Circles/Anecdotes based on the Initiator’s permissions.
    • Connection: Connects with other users to engage with content, share experiences, and build relationships.
    • Fan: Follows users and interacts with their content, including reacting, reflecting, and sharing.

    You agree to use the Service responsibly and within the permissions and limitations assigned to your role. Misuse of roles or permissions may result in account suspension or termination.


    User Content and Licensing

    • You retain ownership of any content ("User Content") you create, post, or share through the Service.
    • By posting content, you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sublicensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, distribute, modify, publicly display, and reproduce your content for operating, marketing, and improving the Service.
    • Some User Content may be retained after account deletion for legal and operational purposes.
    • You are solely responsible for the content you post, and you agree not to post content that infringes on the rights of others or violates any laws.

    Prohibited Conduct

    You may not:

    • Violate any applicable laws or regulations.
    • Post or share content that is illegal, harmful, defamatory, or infringes on third-party rights. This includes content that promotes or glorifies self-harm, violence, or hate speech.
    • Engage in any form of child exploitation. You are strictly prohibited from posting, sharing, or soliciting child sexual abuse material or any other content related to the sexual exploitation of minors.
    • Post or share any form of sexual content, including nudity, sexually explicit material, or sexually provocative content. However, we do allow an exceptions for artistic, educational, or satirical purposes.
    • Use the Service for commercial purposes without written consent.
    • Attempt unauthorized access to accounts, data, or features. This includes creating fake accounts, using multiple accounts to manipulate the service, or attempting to circumvent a ban.
    • Introduce viruses, bots, or malicious code into the Service. You may not engage in data scraping or automated data collection without our express permission.
    • Engage in harassment, bullying, or hate speech against any person or group. This includes sharing private information (doxxing) or misusing the app's reporting features to silence or harass others.
    • Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity.
    • Use the data of other users for any purpose other than what is intended by the app.

    Content Screening and Moderation

    We use a proactive, AI-powered Moderation and Relevancy Check system to screen all submitted content before it is posted. In this process:

    • All content is subject to an automated screening process to ensure it complies with our Moderation and Relevancy Guidelines.
    • Content will only be posted if it successfully passes this initial check.
    • We reserve the right to review and remove any content that may have bypassed the initial screening.
    • Users can flag or report content that they believe is a violation.
    • Violations may result in warnings, temporary account suspension, or a permanent ban, depending on the severity and frequency of the offense.
    • All moderation decisions are final, though we may offer an appeals process for certain cases.

    Privacy and Data Collection

    • Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your data.
    • By using the Service, you consent to the collection and use of personal data, including location, date of birth, and usage data, as described in our Privacy Policy.
    • We may share your data with third-party service providers to improve the Service, but we will not sell your data to advertisers without your explicit consent.

    Intellectual Property Rights

    • The Service, including software, designs, trademarks, and text, is owned by us or our licensors.
    • You may not copy, modify, or distribute any part of the Service without written permission.
    • Any unauthorized use of the Service’s intellectual property may result in legal action.

    Account Termination and Suspension

    • We may suspend or terminate accounts for violations of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or security risks.
    • Users may delete their accounts at any time through the app settings. Some user data may be retained for compliance and operational purposes.
    • Upon termination, your right to use the Service will immediately cease, and you must cease all use of the Service.

    Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

    • The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied.
    • We do not guarantee uninterrupted access, error-free performance, or protection from security threats.
    • We are not responsible for:
      • Loss of data or content.
      • Unauthorized access due to user negligence.
      • Third-party interactions between users.
      • Bugs, viruses, or service disruptions beyond our control.
    • In no event shall OurCircles be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses.

    Changes to the Terms

    • We may update these Terms periodically. Users will be notified of significant changes via the Service.
    • Continued use of the Service after changes are made constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
    • If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must cease using the Service.

    Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

    • Informal Dispute Resolution: We believe that most issues can be resolved quickly and efficiently through direct communication. We encourage you to first contact us to seek an informal resolution to any dispute.
    • Apple Standard EULA: For all users who download the app from the Apple App Store, this agreement is subject to the Apple Standard End User License Agreement (EULA), which is legally binding. This EULA governs key terms like product claims, intellectual property, and limitations of liability, and specifies its own governing law and dispute resolution process.
    • Class Action Waiver: You agree to resolve any disputes on an individual basis and waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration. This clause applies to your use of our Service, regardless of the platform.
    • Our Terms: To the extent that these Terms of Service do not conflict with the Apple EULA, they will govern your use of our service.

    Contact Information

    For inquiries regarding these Terms, contact us at:

    By using OurCircles, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms of Service.


    Additional Provisions

    For inquiries regarding these Terms, contact us at:

    • Third-Party Links: The Service may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by OurCircles. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services.
    • Indemnification: You agree to indemnify and hold harmless OurCircles and its affiliates, officers, agents, and employees from any claim or demand made by any third party due to or arising out of your breach of these Terms or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party.
    • Survival: Any provisions of these Terms that, by their nature, should survive termination of these Terms will survive termination, including but not limited to ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity, and limitations of liability.

    By using OurCircles, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms of Service. We are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all users, and we appreciate your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines.