Terms of Service for Root News

1. Agreement to Terms

By downloading, installing, or using the Root News mobile application ("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.

2. Description of Service

Root News is an AI-powered news aggregation and summarization service available in two tiers:

Free Tier

• Full access to AI-powered news summaries across 10+ categories
• Deep-dive articles on trending topics
• Trending news feed
• Customizable news feed based on your interests
• Ad-free experience

Root Pro (Premium Tier)

Everything in the free tier, plus:

• Ask Root: AI-powered Q&A on any article
• Daily Briefing: Personalized daily news briefing in text and audio format
• Priority access to new features

3. Account Types and Registration

3.1 Anonymous Accounts

• We create temporary anonymous accounts during onboarding for immediate service access
• Anonymous accounts provide full service functionality during subscription period
• Anonymous accounts can be upgraded to permanent accounts at any time

3.2 Permanent Accounts

• Created with email and password or Apple ID
• Provide persistent access to your preferences and settings
• Allow account recovery and cross-device synchronization

3.3 Account Responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality of your account credentials
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
• Provide accurate information when creating permanent accounts
• Use the Service only for personal, non-commercial purposes

4. Subscription and Payment

4.1 Subscription Types

• Free Tier: Available to all users with no subscription required for core news features
• Monthly Subscription (Root Pro): $4.99 per month
• Annual Subscription (Root Pro): $29.99 per year
• All paid subscriptions are processed through Apple App Store

4.2 Payment Processing

• All payments are processed by Apple through the App Store
• Subscription automatically renews unless cancelled
• Apple's payment terms and conditions apply
• We do not store or process payment information directly

4.3 Cancellation and Refunds

• Cancel subscription anytime through Apple App Store settings
• Cancellation takes effect at the end of current billing period
• Refunds are subject to Apple's refund policy
• No partial refunds for unused portions of subscription periods

5. Premium Features and Usage Limits

5.1 Ask Root

• Ask Root is an AI-powered Q&A feature available exclusively to Root Pro subscribers
• Usage is limited to 30 questions per day and 6 messages per article conversation
• Responses are generated by AI and may not always be fully accurate

5.2 Daily Briefing

• Daily Briefing is a personalized text summary generated once per day based on your selected news categories, available exclusively to Root Pro subscribers
• An audio version of the Daily Briefing is generated once per day using AI text-to-speech

5.3 Usage Limit Adjustments

We reserve the right to adjust usage limits at any time to maintain service quality and ensure a fair experience for all users.

6. User Conduct and Restrictions

6.1 Acceptable Use

You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You may:

• Access and read news summaries for personal use
• Customize your news preferences and settings
• Share news content through provided sharing features

6.2 Prohibited Activities

You may not:

• Attempt to reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the app
• Use automated systems to access the Service
• Share your account credentials with others
• Use the Service for commercial purposes without authorization
• Attempt to circumvent security measures
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Attempt to circumvent subscription requirements or usage limits
• Use Ask Root to generate content for commercial purposes
• Perform automated or bulk querying of the Ask Root feature

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 Our Content

• The Root News app, AI summaries, and user interface are owned by Root Labs OÜ
• Original news content remains the property of respective publishers
• Our AI-generated summaries are derivative works owned by Root Labs OÜ

7.2 Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Service for personal purposes in accordance with these Terms.

7.3 Feedback

Any feedback, suggestions, or improvements you provide become our property and may be used without compensation.

8. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our data collection and use practices are detailed in our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

By using the Service, you consent to our collection and use of your information as described in the Privacy Policy.

9. Third-Party Content and Services

9.1 News Sources

• We aggregate content from various third-party news sources
• We are not responsible for the accuracy of third-party content
• Original content remains subject to source publishers' terms

9.2 Apple Services

• App distribution through Apple App Store
• Payment processing through Apple's systems
• Apple's terms and conditions apply to these services

10. Service Availability and Modifications

10.1 Service Availability

• We strive to provide continuous service availability
• Service may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance or technical issues
• We do not guarantee uninterrupted access

10.2 Service Modifications

• We may modify, update, or discontinue features at any time
• Material changes will be communicated through the app or email
• Continued use constitutes acceptance of modifications

11. Content Accuracy and Disclaimers

11.1 AI-Generated Content

• News summaries are generated using artificial intelligence
• AI summaries may contain inaccuracies or omissions
• Users should verify important information with original sources
• We are not liable for decisions made based on AI summaries

11.2 Ask Root Responses

• Ask Root responses are AI-generated and may not be fully accurate or complete
• Responses should not be relied upon as professional, legal, medical, or financial advice
• Users should independently verify any information obtained through Ask Root

11.3 Daily Briefing and Audio

• Daily Briefing summaries are AI-generated from the day's top stories and may contain inaccuracies
• Audio briefings are produced using AI-generated speech and may occasionally mispronounce names, places, or specialized terms

11.4 Neutrality and Bias

• Root News strives for neutral, unbiased reporting in all AI-generated content
• AI systems may inadvertently reflect biases present in training data or source material
• We continuously work to identify and reduce bias in our AI outputs

11.5 Content Updates

• News content is updated multiple times daily
• AI processing may cause brief delays in new content availability
• Some news sources may be temporarily unavailable

12. Limitation of Liability

12.1 Service Disclaimer

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

12.2 Liability Limits

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OUR LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR THE SERVICE IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

12.3 Excluded Damages

WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS OR DATA.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of the Service or violation of these Terms.

14. Termination

14.1 Termination by You

• Cancel subscription anytime through Apple App Store
• Delete account through app settings or by contacting support
• Termination takes effect at end of current billing period

14.2 Termination by Us

We may terminate or suspend your account if you:

• Violate these Terms of Service
• Engage in fraudulent or illegal activity
• Abuse or misuse the Service

14.3 Effect of Termination

• Access to Service ends immediately upon termination
• Data may be deleted according to our Privacy Policy
• No refunds for remaining subscription period

15. Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes through:

• In-app notifications
• Email notifications (if email provided)
• Updated Terms posted on our website

Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of new Terms.

16. Governing Law and Disputes

16.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Estonia, without regard to conflict of law principles.

16.2 Dispute Resolution

Any disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in Estonia, except where prohibited by law.

16.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree to resolve disputes individually and waive the right to participate in class actions or collective proceedings.

17. Apple App Store Terms

Additional terms apply for users who download the app through Apple App Store:

• Apple is not responsible for the Service or these Terms
• Apple has no obligation to provide support for the Service
• Apple is not liable for any claims related to the Service
• In case of conflict, Apple's terms take precedence regarding app distribution

18. Severability

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

19. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, contact us:

20. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Root Labs OÜ regarding the Service.

21. Service Provider