Shapus Word - Terms of Service

# Shapus Word Terms of Service Last Updated: August 24, 2025 ## Article 1 (Scope) 1. These Terms of Service (the “Terms”) set forth the conditions for using the English learning app “Shapus Word” and related services (app, web, API, notifications, and any other features collectively, the “Service”), as provided by Seiji Aoyama (operating under the trade name “Shapus”) (“we,” “us,” or “our”). 2. By using the Service, users are deemed to have agreed to these Terms. ## Article 2 (Definitions) For purposes of these Terms: 1. User: Any person who uses the Service. 2. Registered User: A User who creates an account to use the Service. 3. Guest User: A User who uses the Service without creating an account (limited features only, if available). 4. User Content: Any information a User registers, creates, transmits, or shares through the Service (including text, images, audio, and metadata). 5. Generated Images: Content (for example, images) generated by us or by third-party services. 6. Third-Party Service Providers: External vendors that provide functions or process data at our direction. 7. Authentication Provider: External authentication services adopted now or in the future (for example, Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft). 8. OTP (One-Time Passcode): A short-lived verification code sent to a phone number or email address. 9. Authentication Data: Data related to sign-in and account protection, which may include OAuth subject IDs, verification results, success or failure counts, link or unlink events, account state, risk scores, device fingerprints, and IP address. 10. Primary Login Method: The principal sign-in method associated with an account, which we may designate or change. ## Article 3 (Account and Age) 1. An account is required to access all features of the Service. One account per natural person; account sharing, transfer, or resale is not allowed. 2. The Service is intended for users aged 13 and over; users under 13 may not use the Service. If a higher minimum age applies in a User’s jurisdiction, that higher age controls. 3. We do not collect or store passwords. Sign-in uses Authentication Providers and/or OTP. Users are responsible for managing their authentication methods and any devices used for sign-in, keeping contact information up to date, and preventing unauthorized access. 4. We may permit linking or unlinking multiple authentication methods to one account and may consolidate duplicate accounts at our discretion. 5. Account recovery requires access to at least one registered authentication method. If a User loses access to all registered methods (including due to phone number reassignment or inaccessible email), we may be unable to restore the account. 6. Security-critical notifications (for example, re-authentication prompts, lock notices) may be required and cannot be opted out in some cases. ## Article 4 (Account Security) 1. We may require additional verification, impose rate limits, or temporarily restrict features or access where we assess elevated risk. 2. We may cap OTP sends, decline certain number types (including VoIP or virtual numbers), block automated or suspicious sign-in attempts, and require re-authentication at any time. 3. We may invalidate sessions, force sign-out, or place an account on hold upon anomaly detection, suspected compromise, or to protect Users and the Service. 4. We may implement geographic, device, or network-based access restrictions if reasonably necessary for security or compliance. 5. Security takes precedence over convenience in our operation of the Service. ## Article 5 (Provision, Changes, and Discontinuation) 1. We may add, modify, or discontinue all or part of the Service at any time without prior notice. 2. We may update authentication providers, delivery channels (SMS, email, push), risk controls, re-authentication requirements, and rate limits from time to time. 3. Material changes will be announced by in-Service notice or by email to the address on file. 4. We are not liable for any losses arising from actions taken under this Section. ## Article 6 (Treatment of User Content) 1. Users retain ownership of their User Content. 2. Users grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, sublicensable, and transferable license to use User Content for providing, operating, improving quality, research and development, and marketing of the Service (including non-identifying case studies), including storing, reproducing, adapting, publishing, displaying, distributing, analyzing, and backing up such content. 3. We have no obligation to monitor, store, or delete User Content; however, we may, at our discretion, remove, hide, or restrict access to content. 4. Users may use Generated Images for learning purposes. We may use Generated Images in a non-identifying manner to improve and market the Service; separate consent may be requested if using a user’s name or likeness. 5. Users warrant that their User Content does not infringe any third-party rights. ## Article 7 (Prohibited Conduct) Users must not: 1. Violate laws or public order, or infringe the rights of others (including copyrights, trademarks, publicity or privacy). 2. Post or share violent, discriminatory, pornographic, or otherwise excessively offensive content. 3. Engage in impersonation, false statements, spam, or harassment. 4. Interfere with the operation or security of the Service or systems (including reverse engineering, excessive load, scraping, or automated access). 5. Obtain or attempt to obtain OTP codes without authorization, use another person’s phone number or email for verification, use temporary, shared, or virtual numbers in a manner we deem inappropriate, evade rate limits or risk controls, automate sign-in, or create or operate multiple accounts without our explicit written permission. 6. Engage in any conduct we deem inappropriate. ## Article 8 (Fees and Billing) 1. Some features may become paid in the future. Fees, billing terms, and conditions will be set by us and disclosed in-app or by other reasonable means. 2. For any subscription offering, unless otherwise stated, subscriptions auto-renew and continue to be billed unless canceled by the renewal date through the specified method. 3. Payments, cancellations, and refunds follow the applicable app store rules. Except where required by law, we do not provide refunds outside the app store process. 4. Where permitted by law and applicable app store rules, if a User’s fraudulent or excessive authentication requests cause us to incur direct costs, we may charge the User for the actual costs incurred. We may also limit features or require alternative authentication methods. ## Article 9 (Intellectual Property) 1. All intellectual property rights in and to the Service and related content (excluding User Content) belong to us or the rightful owners. 2. Users may use the Service for personal learning purposes only. ## Article 10 (Third-Party Services) 1. We may use domestic and foreign service providers for authentication, hosting, storage, delivery, analytics, translation, speech evaluation, image generation, notifications, and other purposes. 2. Authentication Providers may act as independent controllers for their own processing and are governed by their own terms and privacy policies; we are not responsible for those services or their changes. 3. We may replace, add, or discontinue such providers at our discretion without notice. 4. We are not liable for losses arising from changes, suspensions, or failures of third-party services, including SMS or email delivery issues or outages. ## Article 11 (Data Retention and Deletion) 1. We may retain User Content and logs for a reasonable period for legal compliance, operations, security, troubleshooting, backups, and other necessary purposes. 2. Even after account closure or deletion, data may persist in backups or where required by law or technical constraints. 3. We may retain security and fraud-prevention data, including hashed identifiers and blacklists, indefinitely, for as long as reasonably necessary for protection of the Service. 4. Content already shared (for example, chats, gifts, reports) may continue to exist on recipients’ devices or environments. 5. Details of our data practices are described in our Privacy Policy, which controls for data-protection matters. ## Article 12 (Disclaimer of Warranties) 1. The Service is provided on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis, without any warranty of accuracy, completeness, usefulness, fitness for a particular purpose, security, or continuity. 2. We do not warrant the quality, suitability, or effectiveness of outputs such as translations, OCR, Generated Images, statistics, or reports. 3. We do not guarantee any learning outcomes from use of the Service. 4. Due to the nature of AI, content generated by or through the Service may be erroneous, inaccurate, or perceived as inappropriate or offensive. Users understand this and use such content at their own risk and remain responsible for verification. 5. We do not warrant the availability, timeliness, or deliverability of authentication or notifications, including SMS, email, or push. ## Article 13 (Limitation of Liability) 1. We are not liable for any losses unless caused by our willful misconduct or gross negligence. 2. In all cases, our aggregate liability is capped at the amount the User actually paid to us in the preceding 12 months (or 0 yen if the Service was free). 3. We are not liable for indirect, special, incidental, consequential damages, or lost profits. ## Article 14 (Feedback) Any suggestions, requests, or ideas a User provides (the “Feedback”) may be used by us irrevocably and free of charge for product or service development, improvement, and promotion, without any obligation of compensation. ## Article 15 (Suspension and Termination) 1. In addition to cases of breach of these Terms, we may, at our discretion, suspend account use, invalidate sessions, require re-authentication, delete content, terminate these Terms, or take other measures at any time based on risk assessment, fraud detection, abnormal failure counts, suspicious login patterns, security risk, or notifications from Authentication Providers or carriers. 2. Users may terminate their use at any time in the manner we specify. ## Article 16 (Assignment) 1. We may assign or transfer our position under these Terms and our rights and obligations hereunder to a third party without prior notice, including as part of a business transfer or restructuring. Such transfer may include account and related data, including authentication data, subject to applicable law. 2. Users may not assign or transfer their position or any rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. ## Article 17 (Ads and Third-Party Content) The Service may, in the future, include advertising or other third-party content. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, legality, or suitability of such third-party content. ## Article 18 (Notices) Our notices to Users take effect upon posting within the Service or upon sending to the email address registered by the User. Security-critical notices may be mandatory and not subject to opt-out. ## Article 19 (Interpretation and Precedence) If these Terms conflict with our Privacy Policy, the Privacy Policy controls for data-protection matters, and these Terms control for ownership, licensing, and other non-privacy matters. ## Article 20 (Changes to These Terms) 1. We may modify these Terms as needed. 2. Modifications take effect upon in-Service posting or email notice. Continued use of the Service after such posting or notice constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. If separate consent is required by applicable law, we may request such consent. Changes to authentication methods (including provider selection, delivery channels, re-authentication requirements, rate limits, and risk controls) are deemed non-material modifications and may be implemented without prior notice, to the extent permitted by applicable law and applicable app store rules. ## Article 21 (Governing Law and Jurisdiction) These Terms are governed by the laws of Japan. Any disputes arising out of or related to the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tokyo District Court as the court of first instance. ## Article 22 (Severability and Survival) 1. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force and effect. 2. Sections 6 (Treatment of User Content), 11 (Data Retention and Deletion), 12 (Disclaimer of Warranties), 13 (Limitation of Liability), 14 (Feedback), 16 (Assignment), 21 (Governing Law and Jurisdiction), and 22 (Severability and Survival) survive termination. ## Article 23 (Contact) Provider: Seiji Aoyama (operating under the trade name “Shapus”) Email: [support@shapus.com](mailto:support@shapus.com)