Terms of Service
1. About the Platform
In the Story ("Its") is an application developed and operated by Hands Held Apps LLC ("we", "our", "us"), a California limited liability company, that enables reading and creating interactive stories. Available for browsers, iOS, and Android, it offers immersive experiences with features such as plot choices, soundtracks, interactive illustrations, and a memory system that adapts the narrative to the reader's decisions.
2. Eligibility
2.1 You must be at least 13 years of age to create an account and use In the Story. If you are between 13 and 18 years of age, you must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian to use the platform.
2.2 By creating an account, you represent and warrant that you meet the eligibility requirements stated above and that the information you provide is accurate and complete.
3. For Readers — Content Licensing
3.1 By registering as a reader, you will have access to interactive content published on the platform. Some content may be free, others paid.
3.2 Content is licensed, not sold. All content acquired on the platform is licensed to you by the content provider (the author or publisher) for personal and non-commercial use only. You do not acquire any ownership interest in any content. When downloading or accessing content on the Its platform, you receive a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable license to view and interact with the content on devices registered to your account through the In the Story application.
3.3 You may not copy, redistribute, resell, lend, sublicense, or create derivative works from any content obtained through the platform. You may not circumvent, modify, or disable any digital rights management or access-control technology associated with the content.
3.4 Content availability may change. Previously available content may be removed due to licensing changes, publisher decisions, or rights holder requests. We are not liable for the unavailability of previously accessible content.
3.5 Your progress, decisions, and inventory are saved locally on your device to enable the continue-reading functionality and personalize your reading experience.
4. For Authors
4.1 Authors can publish their stories independently or hire our complete production service (white-glove), which includes illustrations, soundtrack, cover, and interactive elements. Costs can be offset by royalties generated from readings, with no need for upfront payment.
4.2 By publishing content on Its, you acknowledge and ensure that:
a) You are the legitimate holder of the copyright of the material or have the proper authorizations to publish it;
b) You are not violating third-party intellectual property rights, including trademarks, patents, trade secrets, copyrights, or other proprietary rights;
c) You are not using characters, universes, or creative elements protected by copyright without proper authorization from the holders;
d) You take full legal responsibility for any copyright or intellectual property violation related to your content.
5. Content and Intellectual Property
5.1 All content published on Its, whether by readers or authors, must respect copyright laws, current legislation, and platform guidelines.
5.2 By publishing on Its, the author declares to be the owner of the rights to the work or to have permission for use and distribution.
5.3 The platform reserves the right to remove content that violates these terms, including (but not limited to) works that infringe upon third-party copyrights or intellectual property, without prior notice.
5.4 If you believe your work has been reproduced or distributed in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or if you are aware of any material that infringes these terms, please contact us at: authors@inthestory.app
6. Moderation and Conduct
6.1 Content Classification: authors must appropriately classify the content of their works according to the platform's content guidelines.
6.2 Prohibited Content: it is not allowed to publish or share content that:
a) Advocates for illegal drug use;
b) Promotes, glorifies, or positively depicts rape or sexual violence;
c) Contains child pornography or any content that objectifies or sexualizes minors;
d) Incites violence, discrimination, hatred, or terrorism;
e) Is illegal in the applicable jurisdiction or violates third-party rights;
f) Contains malware or malicious software.
6.3 Its may suspend or delete accounts that violate these rules, without prior notice.
7. Account Termination
7.1 We may suspend or terminate your account and access to the platform at any time if you violate these terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or for any other reason at our sole discretion.
7.2 Upon termination of your account, your license to all content accessed through the platform is immediately revoked. You will no longer be able to access any previously licensed content.
7.3 You may delete your account at any time through the application settings. Upon voluntary deletion, your personal data will be removed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
8. Purchases and Refunds
8.1 Authors can receive royalties according to the performance of their stories. The calculation criteria, deadlines, and payment methods will be detailed in a separate contract when joining paid publication.
8.2 Purchases made through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store are subject to the respective store's terms and refund policies. The store's refund policy takes precedence over any platform-specific policy for in-app purchases.
8.3 For purchases made directly through the platform (where applicable), readers may request a refund within 15 (fifteen) days after purchase, provided they have not read more than 30% of the content. Refunds will be processed through the original payment method.
9. Privacy
User data is handled according to our Privacy Policy. Information such as reading progress, preferences, and contact data will be securely stored and used to improve your experience on the platform.
10. Disclaimer of Warranties
10.1 Its is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
10.2 We do not warrant that the platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content available through the platform.
11. Limitation of Liability
11.1 Hands Held Apps LLC will not be liable for:
a) Direct, indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages resulting from the use or inability to use the platform;
b) Any actions, content, information, or data of third parties;
c) Interruptions or errors in the operation of the platform;
d) Viruses or other malicious code that may be transmitted through the platform;
e) Any content accessed through the platform;
f) Loss of content access due to account termination, content removal, or platform changes.
11.2 Our maximum aggregate liability related to these terms, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), or otherwise, will not exceed the total amount you paid for the services in the twelve months preceding the event giving rise to the liability, or $50.00 (fifty dollars), whichever is greater.
12. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Hands Held Apps LLC, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising out of or in any way connected with your access to or use of the platform, your violation of these terms, or your infringement of any intellectual property or other rights of any third party.
13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
13.1 These terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
13.2 Any dispute arising out of or relating to these terms or the platform shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the State of California, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.
13.3 You agree that any cause of action arising out of or related to the platform must be commenced within one (1) year after the cause of action accrues. Otherwise, such cause of action is permanently barred.
14. California Residents
If you are a California resident, you are entitled to the following specific consumer rights notice: the provider of this platform is Hands Held Apps LLC, California. We do not sell your personal information. For questions or complaints, contact us at contact@inthestory.app. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs at 1625 North Market Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95834.
15. Changes to Terms
15.1 We may update these Terms of Service from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you by email or through a prominent notice within the application at least 30 days before the changes take effect.
15.2 Your continued use of the platform after the effective date of the revised terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree to the new terms, you must stop using the platform and may delete your account.
16. General Provisions
16.1 Severability: if any provision of these terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these terms will otherwise remain in full force and effect.
16.2 Entire Agreement: these terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Hands Held Apps LLC regarding the use of the platform.
16.3 Waiver: the failure of Hands Held Apps LLC to enforce any right or provision of these terms will not be deemed a waiver of such right or provision.
17. Contact
If you have questions, suggestions, or requests, please contact our team via email: authors@inthestory.app
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