Terms of Service

Acceptance of Terms

By installing, accessing, or using Accountability Shield (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and Accountability Shield ("we," "us," or "our").

Service Description

Accountability Shield is a Chrome browser extension that provides:

• Website blocking: Ability to block access to specific websites based on your configuration
• Accountability notifications: Email notifications sent to designated "accountability partners" when you attempt to access blocked sites
• Group management: Organization of blocked sites into accountability groups
• Cross-device sync: Synchronization of your blocking configuration across devices

The Service is designed to help you build better digital habits through voluntary accountability, not to provide absolute website blocking or parental controls.

Your Responsibilities

Account Requirements

• You must be at least 13 years old to use this Service
• You must provide accurate and complete registration information
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account and password
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account

Acceptable Use

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

• Circumvent, disable, or tamper with the blocking functionality
• Use the Service to harass, abuse, or harm others
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts
• Use the Service in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Service
• Share your account credentials with others

Accountability Partner Consent

Service Limitations

Not a Complete Solution

Accountability Shield is designed as an accountability tool, not a foolproof blocking system. You acknowledge that:

• The Service can be uninstalled or disabled at any time
• Technical limitations may allow access to blocked sites in certain circumstances
• The Service works only in Chrome browser and does not block sites in other browsers or apps
• Blocking is based on domain names and may not catch all variations of a website

No Guarantee of Effectiveness

While we strive to provide reliable service, we do not guarantee that:

• All blocked sites will be successfully prevented
• Notifications will always be delivered to accountability partners
• The Service will be available 100% of the time without interruption
• Using the Service will result in breaking any specific habit or addiction

Intellectual Property

Our Property

The Service, including its code, design, features, and content, is owned by Accountability Shield and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

Your Content

You retain ownership of any content you create through the Service (e.g., custom blocking lists, group names). By using the Service, you grant us a license to use this content solely for providing and improving the Service.

Feedback

If you provide feedback, suggestions, or ideas about the Service, you grant us the right to use them without compensation or attribution.

Payment and Subscription

Free Trial

The Service is currently offered as a free trial. No credit card or payment is required to use the Service during the trial period.

Future Paid Plans

We may introduce paid subscription plans in the future. If we do:

• We will provide advance notice to all users
• Current users will have the option to continue on a paid plan or discontinue use
• Pricing and payment terms will be clearly communicated
• You may cancel your subscription at any time

Refunds

If/when paid plans are introduced, refund policies will be clearly stated and will comply with applicable consumer protection laws.

Termination

By You

You may terminate your account at any time by:

• Deleting your account through the extension settings
• Uninstalling the extension
• Contacting us at [email protected]

By Us

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to the Service if:

• You violate these Terms
• You use the Service for illegal activities
• Your account has been inactive for an extended period
• We discontinue the Service (with notice)

Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your access to the Service will cease immediately
• Your account data will be deleted according to our Privacy Policy
• Provisions that should reasonably survive termination (e.g., intellectual property, disclaimers) will continue to apply

Disclaimers

Not Medical or Therapeutic Advice

Accountability Shield is a productivity and accountability tool, not a medical device or therapeutic service. The Service does not provide medical, mental health, or addiction treatment services. If you are struggling with addiction or compulsive behaviors, please seek professional help from qualified healthcare providers.

No Guarantee of Results

We do not guarantee that using the Service will:

• Help you break any specific habit or addiction
• Improve your productivity or well-being
• Prevent access to all unwanted content
• Result in any particular outcome

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• Accountability Shield, its officers, directors, employees, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Service.
• Our total liability to you for any claims arising from the Service shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim (currently $0 during free trial).
• We are not responsible for any damages resulting from:
  • Service interruptions or unavailability
  • Data loss or corruption
  • Actions of accountability partners
  • Circumvention of blocking features
  • Third-party services we integrate with

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

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Accountability Shield and its affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your use or misuse of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of others
• Adding accountability partners without their consent

Privacy

Your use of the Service is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your data.

Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms from time to time. When we do:

• We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• For material changes, we will notify you via email or in-app notification
• Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the new Terms
• If you disagree with the changes, you may terminate your account

Governing Law and Disputes

Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [Your State/Country], without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Dispute Resolution

If you have a dispute with us:

1. Contact us first: Email [email protected] and we will attempt to resolve the issue informally.
2. Mediation: If informal resolution fails, we agree to participate in good-faith mediation before pursuing litigation.
3. Arbitration: Any disputes not resolved through mediation shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with [Arbitration Organization] rules.

Class Action Waiver

You agree to resolve disputes with us on an individual basis only, and not as part of any class, representative, or collective action.

Miscellaneous

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Accountability Shield regarding the Service.

Severability

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

No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not be deemed a waiver of such right or provision.

Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our written consent. We may assign these Terms to any affiliate or successor.

Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure to perform our obligations due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control (e.g., natural disasters, war, pandemics, internet outages).