Effective Date: 2025-01-01

Terms of Service

Note: This document is provided for your convenience and does not constitute legal advice. Consult your counsel to adapt this to your specific circumstances and jurisdiction.

1. Overview

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the eDots application and related software, features, and services (collectively, the "App"). By using the App, you agree to these Terms.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old (or the minimum age required by your jurisdiction) to use the App. If you are between 13 and the age of majority in your jurisdiction, you must have a parent or legal guardian’s permission.

3. Your Content

Ownership: You retain ownership of all content you create, upload, or store in the App ("User Content"), including text, images, attachments, tags, and metadata.
License to Operate the App: You grant us a limited, non-exclusive, revocable license to process your User Content solely as needed to operate and provide the App’s features to you (e.g., local storage, iCloud sync, sharing via CloudKit, export/import, and generating widgets).
Your Responsibility: You’re responsible for your User Content and compliance with applicable laws, including intellectual property and privacy rights of others.

4. Cloud Sync and Sharing

iCloud and CloudKit: The App supports optional sync across your devices using Apple iCloud’s CloudKit. When enabled, your User Content is stored in your iCloud account and synchronized using Apple services. Apple’s terms and privacy policies apply to your use of iCloud and CloudKit.
CloudKit Sharing: The App allows sharing Collections using CloudKit sharing. Participants may see your display name and any information Apple surfaces for sharing per Apple’s settings. You control which content is shared and with whom.
No Third‑Party SDKs: The App does not integrate third‑party SDKs for analytics or advertising.

5. Optional AI Feature

The App may offer an optional AI-assisted content generation feature. If you use it:

First‑Party Service: Prompts or input you provide for AI generation may be sent to our first‑party service at dots.e-studio.ai to process your request. We do not use third‑party analytics or advertising SDKs in the App.
Minimal Identifiers: The App includes a device-generated identifier (X-Device-ID, non-personal and resettable) in the request header to support rate-limiting, abuse prevention, and service quality.
Content Handling: Your prompt and the AI-generated output may be transiently processed to deliver results. We do not sell your data.

Details of data handling are described in the Privacy Policy.

6. Permissions and System Services

Some features require permissions you control:

Photos: To attach or display images from your library.
Location (optional): To tag dots with your location or search places through Apple services.
Notifications: To deliver reminders or status updates. On Apple platforms, CloudKit may use push notifications for sync events.

You can change or revoke permissions at any time in system settings. Some features may not function without the relevant permission.

7. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

Use the App for unlawful purposes or to infringe rights of others.
Upload malware or content that is harmful, abusive, or violates applicable laws.
Attempt to reverse engineer, interfere with, or disrupt the App or related services.

We may suspend or terminate access for violations of these Terms or applicable laws.

8. Intellectual Property

The App, its UI, branding, and underlying software are protected by intellectual property laws. Except for your User Content, all rights are reserved by us and our licensors.

9. Feedback

If you provide feedback or suggestions, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use them for improving the App without obligation to you.

10. Disclaimers

THE APP IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE APP WILL BE ERROR-FREE OR UNINTERRUPTED.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, OR REVENUE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATING TO THE APP SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID (IF ANY) FOR THE APP IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.

12. Termination

You may stop using the App at any time. We may suspend or terminate your access if you violate these Terms or where required by law. Upon termination, certain sections (e.g., ownership, disclaimers, limitations of liability) will continue to apply.

13. Changes to the Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated within the App or via other reasonable means. Your continued use after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of China, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. You consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in China to resolve any dispute arising from these Terms or the App.

15. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact: Arno Nan, yeqingnan@icloud.com.