Legal

Terms of Service

Effective Date: October 5, 2025

1. Acceptance of Terms

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

You must be at least 18 years old to use PartingWord, particularly for creating posthumous messages or scheduling future deliveries.

2. Description of Service

PartingWord allows you to compose, schedule, and deliver messages (text and voice recordings) to designated recipients at future dates or upon specific triggers, including posthumous delivery.

The Service includes:

• Written message composition and scheduling
• Voice note recording and scheduled delivery
• Recipient management
• 3-day warning period before scheduled delivery
• Token-based cancellation system
• Faith-based features including Rapture detection (optional)
• Legacy profile pages (optional)

3. User Responsibilities

You agree to:

• Provide accurate account information and keep it updated
• Only add recipients you have permission to contact
• Create content that is lawful and does not violate others' rights
• Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Review and verify your scheduled messages before delivery
• Use cancellation links when you need to prevent delivery
• Respect recipients' right to opt out of future communications

You agree NOT to:

• Use the Service for spam, harassment, or illegal purposes
• Impersonate others or misrepresent your identity
• Upload malicious code, viruses, or harmful content
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service or other users' accounts
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations

4. Posthumous Message Delivery

Important: PartingWord is designed to deliver messages after your passing or during specific life events. By scheduling posthumous messages, you acknowledge and agree that:

• Delivery Obligation: We will make commercially reasonable efforts to deliver scheduled messages, but delivery is not guaranteed due to technical limitations, recipient email changes, service interruptions, or other factors beyond our control.
• 3-Day Warning Period: Messages scheduled for future delivery will trigger a warning email 3 days before the scheduled date, allowing you to cancel if sent in error.
• Cancellation: You can cancel scheduled messages via the unique cancellation link provided in warning emails or through your account dashboard (before the 3-day period expires).
• Verification Responsibility: It is your responsibility to ensure recipient email addresses are accurate and to maintain your account in good standing.

5. Voice Recordings

Voice notes uploaded to PartingWord are:

• Storage: Stored securely in encrypted cloud storage (Supabase Storage) and accessible only to you and your designated recipients upon delivery.
• Delivery: Delivered via secure, time-limited links that expire after a reasonable period (typically 7 days from delivery).
• Ownership: You retain full ownership and rights to your voice recordings. We claim no ownership over your content.
• Size Limits: Voice recordings are subject to plan-based size limits (see your subscription tier for details).

6. Service Availability and Limitations

Best-Effort Service: PartingWord is provided on a best-effort basis. While we strive for high availability, we do not guarantee uninterrupted access or error-free operation.

Service Level: We target 99.5% uptime but do not provide formal SLA guarantees. Scheduled maintenance will be announced when possible.

Data Backup: We maintain regular backups, but you are responsible for keeping copies of important content outside of the Service.

7. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• PartingWord is provided "AS IS" without warranties of any kind, express or implied.
• We are not liable for failed deliveries, missed schedules, data loss, or any consequential, incidental, or indirect damages.
• Our total liability for any claim arising from your use of the Service is limited to the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim, or $100, whichever is greater.
• We are not responsible for content created by users, actions taken by recipients, or third-party services (email providers, payment processors, etc.).

8. Account Termination and Data Retention

Termination by You:

You may close your account at any time through your account settings. Upon closure:

• All pending message deliveries will be cancelled
• Your content will be deleted within 30 days (grace period for account recovery)
• Delivery logs and billing records will be retained for legal/accounting purposes

Termination by Us:

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that:

• Violate these Terms of Service
• Engage in abusive, harassing, or illegal behavior
• Have unpaid subscription fees for more than 30 days
• Remain inactive for more than 2 years without scheduled deliveries

Data Retention After Death:

Messages scheduled for posthumous delivery will be retained and delivered according to your instructions. After all scheduled deliveries are complete, your account data will be retained for 1 year, then permanently deleted unless we receive instructions from your executor or next-of-kin.

9. Subscription and Billing

Payment: Paid features are billed through Stripe, our payment processor. By subscribing, you agree to Stripe's terms and conditions.

Billing Cycle: Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled. You will be charged at the beginning of each billing period.

Cancellation: You may cancel your subscription at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.

Refunds: Refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis. No refunds for partial months or unused messages.

Plan Changes: You may upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time. Changes take effect immediately, with prorated billing adjustments.

10. Intellectual Property

Your Content: You retain all rights to content you create. By using the Service, you grant us a license to store, process, and deliver your content as necessary to provide the Service.

Our Content: The PartingWord name, logo, design, and code are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, or distribute our materials without permission.

11. Modifications to Terms

We may update these Terms of Service from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via email or through the Service. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of [Your State], United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Any disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the American Arbitration Association rules, except for claims that may be brought in small claims court.

13. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

Email: legal@partingword.com

Support: support@partingword.com

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: October 5, 2025

1. Introduction

PartingWord ("we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data.

By using PartingWord, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

Account Information:

• Email address (used for login and notifications)
• Full name (optional, for personalization)
• Password (stored as encrypted hash)
• Subscription plan and billing information (processed by Stripe)

Content You Create:

• Messages (text content, titles, scheduling details)
• Voice recordings (audio files, duration, waveform data)
• Recipient information (names, email addresses, relationships)
• Legacy profile content (photos, stories, optional public pages)

Usage Data:

• Login timestamps and activity logs
• Message delivery attempts and status
• Email open rates and engagement (anonymized)
• Device information and IP addresses (for security)
• Check-in activity (for optional Rapture detection feature)

Payment Information:

• Processed by Stripe (we do not store credit card numbers)
• Transaction history and billing records

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Operate and provide the Service (message storage, scheduling, delivery)
• Send you notifications (warning emails, delivery confirmations)
• Process payments and manage subscriptions
• Improve the Service (analytics, bug fixes, feature development)
• Prevent fraud and maintain security
• Comply with legal obligations
• Respond to support requests

We DO NOT:

• Sell your personal information to third parties
• Use your messages or voice recordings for advertising
• Share your content with anyone except your designated recipients
• Read your messages unless required for support or legal reasons

4. Data Storage and Security

Where Your Data is Stored:

• Database: Supabase (PostgreSQL hosted in US data centers, encrypted at rest)
• Voice Files: Supabase Storage (encrypted, access-controlled)
• Images: Supabase Storage (for legacy profile photos)
• Email Delivery: Third-party SMTP provider (emails in transit only)
• Payments: Stripe (PCI-compliant payment processing)

Security Measures:

• HTTPS encryption for all data in transit
• Encryption at rest for database and file storage
• Row-level security policies to prevent unauthorized access
• Regular security audits and monitoring
• Secure password hashing (bcrypt)
• Rate limiting to prevent abuse

While we implement industry-standard security measures, no system is completely secure. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials.

5. Data Retention

Active Accounts:

Your data is retained as long as your account is active and for the duration needed to fulfill scheduled deliveries.

After Account Closure:

• 30-day grace period: Account and content retained for recovery
• After 30 days: Messages, voice recordings, and personal content permanently deleted
• Retained for legal/accounting purposes: Billing records (7 years), delivery logs (2 years), abuse reports (as required by law)

Posthumous Accounts:

For accounts with pending posthumous deliveries, your data is retained until all scheduled messages are delivered, plus 1 year. After that period, data is permanently deleted unless we receive instructions from an authorized executor or next-of-kin.

Delivered Messages:

After a message is delivered, we retain delivery logs (recipient email, delivery status, timestamp) for 2 years, then permanently delete them.

6. Recipient Privacy and Opt-Out

Recipient Rights: Recipients of your messages have the right to:

• Opt out of future messages via unsubscribe links in all delivery emails
• Request removal from your recipient list by contacting support
• Report abuse or unwanted messages

Opt-Out Enforcement: When a recipient opts out, we add their email to a suppression list to prevent future deliveries from your account. This suppression is permanent and cannot be overridden.

Your Responsibility: You must have permission to add recipients to your account. Do not add recipients who have not consented to receive messages from you.

7. Your Privacy Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of all personal data we store about you
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and all associated data (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Data Portability: Export your messages, voice notes, and recipient data in a machine-readable format
• Restriction: Request limitation of processing in certain circumstances
• Objection: Object to processing of your data for marketing purposes

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@partingword.com. We will respond within 30 days.

8. GDPR Compliance (EU Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Lawful Basis: We process your data based on consent (when you sign up) and contractual necessity (to provide the Service).
• Data Transfers: Your data may be transferred to and stored in the United States. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers.
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: You may file a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe we have violated your privacy rights.

9. CCPA Compliance (California Residents)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to Know: Request disclosure of personal information we collect, use, and share about you
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Opt-Out of Sale: We do not sell personal information, so this does not apply
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights

California residents may designate an authorized agent to make requests on their behalf. To verify requests, we may ask for proof of California residency and identity.

10. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Authentication Cookies: Keep you logged in (required for service functionality)
• Analytics: Understand how users interact with the Service (Vercel Analytics, anonymized)
• Security: Detect and prevent fraud

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but this may affect service functionality. Authentication cookies are essential and cannot be disabled if you want to use the Service.

11. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policies:

• Supabase: Database and file storage (Privacy Policy)
• Stripe: Payment processing (Privacy Policy)
• Vercel: Hosting and analytics (Privacy Policy)
• Email Provider: SMTP delivery service (transient data only)

These services may collect their own analytics and usage data. Please review their privacy policies for details.

12. Children's Privacy

PartingWord is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected data from a minor, please contact us immediately at privacy@partingword.com.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via email or through the Service. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

The "Last Updated" date at the top indicates when this policy was last revised.

14. Contact Us

For questions about this Privacy Policy or to exercise your privacy rights, contact us:

Email: privacy@partingword.com

Support: support@partingword.com

Legal: legal@partingword.com

Mailing Address: [Your Company Address]