Terms of Service

Welcome to Shelfie!

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Shelfie mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service"). By creating an account or using Shelfie, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.

1. Definitions

• "Shelfie," "we," "us," or "our" refers to Shelfie Inc. and its affiliates
• "You" or "User" refers to any person or entity using the Service
• "Content" refers to recipes, photos, text, data, and other materials posted on the Service
• "Shelfie Core" and "Shelfie Pro" refer to paid subscription tiers (also called "Founder's Tier")
• "Free Tier" refers to the basic, free version of the Service

2. Eligibility

2.1 Age Requirement

You must be at least 13 years old (or 16 years old if located in the European Union) to use Shelfie.

• If you are under 18, you must have parental or guardian consent
• By using the Service, you represent that you meet these age requirements

2.2 Account Integrity

You must provide accurate and complete information when creating your account. You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your password
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access

4. Acceptable Use Policy

4.1 Permitted Use

You may use Shelfie to:

• Manage your kitchen pantry and grocery lists
• Discover and cook recipes
• Track food expiry dates and reduce waste
• Share recipes and grocery lists with family members
• Access Shelfie Core or Shelfie Pro features if you have an active subscription

4.2 Prohibited Use

You agree NOT to:

Content Violations:

• Post illegal, harmful, or offensive content (hate speech, violence, sexual content)
• Infringe on intellectual property rights (e.g., copying copyrighted recipes without attribution)
• Post spam, advertisements, or unsolicited promotions

Security Violations:

• Hack, reverse-engineer, or attempt to access unauthorized areas of the Service
• Use bots, scrapers, or automated tools to extract data
• Interfere with the Service's functionality or other users' experience
• Bypass paywalls or paid features without a valid subscription

Misuse:

• Create multiple accounts to abuse free trials or promotions
• Share your paid account with unauthorized users
• Use the Service for commercial purposes without our written consent
• Impersonate others or misrepresent your affiliation with Shelfie

4.3 Enforcement

Violation of these Terms may result in:

• Warning or suspension of your account
• Permanent termination of your account
• Legal action (for serious violations)

5. User-Generated Content

5.1 Your Content

You retain ownership of content you post to Shelfie (e.g., photos, recipe reviews, custom recipes).

By posting content, you grant us a license to:

• Display, reproduce, and distribute your content within the Service
• Use your content to improve AI recipe recommendations (anonymized and aggregated)
• Share your content with other users (e.g., if you post a community substitution)

This license is:

• Non-exclusive: You can post the same content elsewhere
• Royalty-free: We do not pay you for using your content
• Worldwide and perpetual: Lasts until you delete your account or the content

5.2 Content Moderation

We reserve the right to:

• Review and moderate user-generated content
• Remove content that violates these Terms or our Community Guidelines
• Suspend or ban users who repeatedly violate our policies

We are not responsible for user-generated content and do not endorse or verify its accuracy.

5.3 Copyright Infringement (DMCA)

If you believe your copyrighted work has been infringed on Shelfie, contact our DMCA agent:

Email: dmca@shelfie.food

Include:

• Your contact information
• A description of the copyrighted work
• The URL or location of the infringing content
• A statement that you have a good-faith belief the use is unauthorized
• Your physical or electronic signature

We will investigate and remove infringing content within 10 business days.

Counter-Notice: If your content was removed in error, you may submit a counter-notice to the same email.

6. Paid Subscriptions

6.1 Subscription Plans

Shelfie offers paid subscriptions — Shelfie Core and Shelfie Pro — with enhanced features:

• Unlimited recipe saves (Free Tier: 10 saves)
• Unlimited AI pantry scans (Free Tier: 5/month)
• Advanced meal planner
• Grocery list export (PDF, email)
• Priority support

Pricing (subject to change with 30 days' notice):

• Monthly: $7.99/month
• Annual: $69.99/year (save 27%)

Prices are in USD and may vary by region due to currency conversion and taxes.

6.2 Billing & Renewals

• Subscriptions automatically renew unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the renewal date
• You will be charged via your Apple App Store or Google Play Store account
• Manage or cancel your subscription in your device's account settings

6.3 Free Trials

New users may receive a 7-day free trial of Shelfie Core features.

• You will not be charged during the trial period
• Cancel anytime before the trial ends to avoid charges
• Only one free trial per user (per device or account)

6.4 Refund Policy

Apple App Store & Google Play Store:

• Refunds are handled by Apple and Google, per their respective policies
• We cannot issue refunds directly for in-app purchases
• Contact Apple or Google support to request a refund

Exceptions: If you experience a technical issue preventing you from using paid features, contact support@shelfie.food and we will work with you to resolve it.

6.5 Cancellation

You can cancel your subscription at any time:

• iOS: Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions → Shelfie
• Android: Play Store → Account → Payments & Subscriptions → Subscriptions → Shelfie

After cancellation:

• You retain paid access until the end of your current billing period
• Your account automatically reverts to the Free Tier

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 Shelfie's Content

All content provided by Shelfie (recipes, app design, logos, text, graphics) is owned by Shelfie or our licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You may:

• View and use recipes for personal, non-commercial purposes
• Save recipes to your account

You may NOT:

• Reproduce, distribute, or sell Shelfie's content without permission
• Use Shelfie's name, logo, or branding without written consent
• Scrape or copy our recipe database for commercial use

7.2 Recipe Attribution

Many recipes on Shelfie are sourced from:

• User-generated content (with proper licenses, as described above)
• AI-generated recipes (we prompt AI to "create unique variations" rather than replicate copyrighted recipes)
• Public domain recipes (e.g., traditional recipes)
• Licensed content from partner websites (with attribution)

We make reasonable efforts to:

• Provide attribution to original recipe authors
• Comply with Creative Commons licenses where applicable
• Remove recipes if requested by copyright holders

Note on AI-Generated Recipes: We instruct our AI provider to "create unique variations" rather than "find recipes" to minimize copyright risk. However, AI may occasionally generate content similar to existing recipes. If you believe a recipe infringes your copyright, contact legal@shelfie.food.

7.3 Trademarks

"Shelfie," the Shelfie logo, and other marks are trademarks of Shelfie Inc. You may not use these without our written permission.

8. Third-Party Services

Shelfie integrates with third-party services:

• Apple Sign-In and Google Sign-In (authentication)
• Apple Health and Google Fit (nutrition tracking)
• Supabase (backend infrastructure)
• Google Gemini AI (recipe generation)
• RevenueCat (subscription management)
• Firebase (crash reporting and analytics)
• PostHog (product analytics)

These services have their own terms and privacy policies. We are not responsible for their practices or availability.

9. Disclaimers & Limitations of Liability

9.1 Service "As Is"

Shelfie is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to:

• Merchantability
• Fitness for a particular purpose
• Non-infringement
• Accuracy or reliability of content
• Uninterrupted or error-free operation

9.2 No Medical or Nutritional Advice

Shelfie provides general information about recipes and nutrition but is not a substitute for professional medical or nutritional advice.

• Nutritional data is estimated and may be inaccurate
• Always consult a doctor, dietitian, or nutritionist before making significant dietary changes
• We are not responsible for allergic reactions, food poisoning, or health issues resulting from recipes

9.3 User Responsibility

You are responsible for:

• Verifying the safety and suitability of recipes
• Ensuring ingredients are fresh and safe to consume
• Following proper food handling and cooking practices
• Checking for allergens and dietary restrictions
• Using common sense when evaluating AI-generated recipes

9.4 Limitation of Liability

Indirect, Incidental, Special, or Consequential Damages, including but not limited to:

• Loss of profits, data, or goodwill
• Damages resulting from use or inability to use the Service
• Personal injury (including food poisoning, allergic reactions, or health complications related to food consumption)
• Property damage (including kitchen fires or equipment damage)
• Financial loss (including wasted groceries or failed meal preparations)

Maximum Liability: Our total liability to you for any claim shall not exceed the amount you paid to Shelfie in the 12 months prior to the claim, or $50 USD, whichever is greater.

9.5 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold Shelfie harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your infringement of third-party rights (e.g., copyright)
• Your misuse of the Service
• Any health or safety issues arising from recipes you follow
• Any injury or property damage resulting from cooking activities

10. Data Privacy

Your use of Shelfie is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains:

• What data we collect
• How we use and share it
• Your privacy rights (GDPR, CCPA)

By using the Service, you consent to our data practices as described in the Privacy Policy.

Read the full Privacy Policy: Privacy Policy

11. Account Deletion

You can delete your account at any time:

• Settings → Privacy → Delete Account
• All your data will be permanently deleted within 30 days (see Privacy Policy for details)

We do not require you to email us or contact support to delete your account. Account deletion is available directly in the app UI.

12. Termination

12.1 By You

You can delete your account at any time via Settings → Privacy → Delete Account.

12.2 By Us

We may suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms
• You engage in fraudulent or illegal activity
• We are required to do so by law
• We discontinue the Service (with 30 days' notice)

12.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• You lose access to your account and data
• Paid subscriptions are non-refundable (except as required by law)
• Sections that should survive (e.g., indemnification, liability) remain in effect

13. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Changes will be posted with a new "Effective Date" at the top.

Significant changes will be notified via:

• In-app notification
• Email to registered users

Your continued use of Shelfie after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

If you do not agree to the new Terms, you must stop using the Service and delete your account.

14. Dispute Resolution

14.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

14.2 Arbitration (US Users)

Mandatory Arbitration: Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of Shelfie will be resolved through binding arbitration rather than in court, except:

• Small claims court (for disputes under $10,000)
• Intellectual property disputes

Arbitration will be conducted by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules.

Class Action Waiver: You agree to arbitrate disputes on an individual basis only. You waive the right to participate in class actions or class-wide arbitration.

Opt-Out: You may opt out of arbitration by emailing legal@shelfie.food within 30 days of creating your account. Include your name, email, and a statement that you wish to opt out.

14.3 EU/EEA Users

If you are located in the European Union or European Economic Area, you have the right to bring disputes before the courts of your country of residence.

15. Miscellaneous

15.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Shelfie.

15.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.

15.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision.

15.4 Assignment

You may not transfer your account or these Terms to another party without our consent. We may assign these Terms to a successor entity (e.g., in a merger or acquisition).

15.5 Force Majeure

We are not liable for delays or failures caused by events beyond our control (e.g., natural disasters, pandemics, cyberattacks, government actions).

16. Contact Us

General Questions: support@shelfie.food

Legal Inquiries: legal@shelfie.food

DMCA Complaints: dmca@shelfie.food

Security Issues: security@shelfie.food

Mailing Address:

Shelfie Inc.
[Your Company Address]
[City, State, ZIP]
United States