Terms of Service

TERMS OF SERVICE Last updated: April 29, 2026 These Terms of Service (“Terms”) are a legal agreement between you and BruceLabs (“we,” “us,” or “our”), the maker of the Rooted application (“App”). By creating an account, accessing, or using the App, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the App. Rooted is a video-first daily accountability app designed for small, private groups called “circles.” It is built as a safer alternative to traditional social media, emphasizing meaningful connection over public broadcasting. 1. ELIGIBILITY You must be at least 13 years of age to create an account or use Rooted. By creating an account, you represent and warrant that you are 13 years of age or older. If you are under 18, you represent that your parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agrees to these Terms on your behalf. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that a user is under 13, we will promptly terminate their account and delete their data. 2. YOUR ACCOUNT You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You agree to: - Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration - Update your information as needed to keep it accurate - Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized use of your account - Not share your account or credentials with any other person We reserve the right to suspend or disable any account that we reasonably believe violates these Terms. 3. HOW ROOTED WORKS Rooted is organized around circles -- small private groups of 2 to 8 people. Each day, members of a circle receive a prompt and can respond with a short video. Key features: - Videos are shared only within your designated circle(s) and are never made publicly available. - Video responses are automatically deleted from our servers 7 days after upload. - All content is visible only to members of the circle in which it was shared. Rooted is not a public social network. There are no public profiles, no followers, and no algorithmic feeds. 4. COST AND FUTURE PAYMENTS Rooted is currently free to use. We may introduce paid subscription plans in the future. If we do, we will notify you in advance and provide clear pricing and terms before any charges apply. You will never be charged without your explicit consent. Any future subscriptions will be processed through Apple’s App Store or Google Play using their in-app purchase systems. 5. USER CONTENT “User Content” means any videos, text, images, or other materials you submit, upload, or share through the App. Ownership: You retain all rights, title, and interest in your User Content. We do not claim ownership of anything you create. License to us: By submitting User Content, you grant BruceLabs a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to store, process, transcode, cache, and display your User Content solely for the purpose of operating and providing the App’s functionality to you and members of your circle(s). This license ends when your User Content is deleted from our servers. Content characteristics: - User Content is shared only within your designated circle(s) and is never made publicly available by us. - Video responses are automatically deleted from our servers 7 days after upload. - We do not use your User Content for advertising, marketing, or training of artificial intelligence models. You represent and warrant that: - You own or have the necessary rights to submit your User Content - Your User Content does not infringe the intellectual property or privacy rights of any third party - Your User Content complies with these Terms and all applicable laws 6. ACCEPTABLE USE Rooted is designed to be a safe space for all users, including teenagers. You agree not to use the App to: - Post, share, or transmit any content depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in any form -- this will result in immediate account termination and reporting to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and law enforcement - Post nudity, sexually explicit content, or pornography - Engage in harassment, bullying, intimidation, or threats directed at any person - Post hate speech, content promoting discrimination, or attacks based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic - Post graphic violence, gore, or content glorifying violence - Impersonate any person or entity, or misrepresent your identity or affiliation - Upload viruses, malware, or other harmful code - Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the App, other accounts, or our systems - Use the App for any commercial purpose, spam, or unauthorized advertising - Share, redistribute, or publish another user’s content outside of the App without their explicit consent - Circumvent, disable, or interfere with any security features of the App - Use the App to violate any applicable law or regulation We take these prohibitions seriously. Violations may result in content removal, account suspension, permanent ban, or reporting to law enforcement, at our sole discretion. 7. CONTENT MODERATION AND ADMIN ACCESS We reserve the right to review, monitor, flag, and remove any User Content that we believe violates these Terms or is otherwise harmful, at our sole discretion and without prior notice. Users may report content they believe violates these Terms using the in-app reporting feature. Administrative access: BruceLabs personnel (including the app operator) may access, review, or inspect User Content and account information as reasonably necessary for the following purposes: - Responding to user support requests - Investigating reports of abuse or Terms violations - Ensuring the safety and security of all users - Troubleshooting technical issues - Complying with legal obligations or law enforcement requests We will exercise this access responsibly and only to the extent necessary for the stated purposes. 8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY The App, including its design, code, branding, logos, and all non-User Content materials, is owned by BruceLabs and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, reverse engineer, or create derivative works from any part of the App except as expressly permitted by these Terms. “Rooted” and the Rooted logo are trademarks of BruceLabs. You may not use our trademarks without prior written permission. 9. PRIVACY Your use of the App is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, and protect your information. By using the App, you consent to the practices described in the Privacy Policy. Your data is stored on servers hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS) in the United States. 10. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE APP IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE. BRUCELABS SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT: - THE APP WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE - THE RESULTS OBTAINED FROM THE APP WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE - ANY ERRORS IN THE APP WILL BE CORRECTED - THE APP WILL MEET YOUR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OR EXPECTATIONS YOU USE THE APP AT YOUR OWN RISK. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT POSTED BY OTHER USERS WITHIN YOUR CIRCLES. NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED FROM BRUCELABS OR THROUGH THE APP SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THESE TERMS. 11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW: (a) BRUCELABS, ITS OWNER, OPERATORS, AFFILIATES, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, DATA, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF (OR INABILITY TO USE) THE APP. (b) IN NO EVENT SHALL BRUCELABS’ TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE APP EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT, IF ANY, YOU HAVE PAID TO BRUCELABS IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM. (c) THESE LIMITATIONS APPLY REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY (WHETHER CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE) AND EVEN IF BRUCELABS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. (d) SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES. IN SUCH JURISDICTIONS, OUR LIABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. 12. INDEMNIFICATION You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless BruceLabs, its owner, operators, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to: - Your use of the App - Your User Content - Your violation of these Terms - Your violation of any rights of a third party - Your violation of any applicable law or regulation 13. DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ARBITRATION PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING YOUR RIGHT TO FILE A LAWSUIT IN COURT. (a) Informal resolution first: Before initiating any formal proceeding, you agree to contact us at [email protected] and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least 30 days. (b) Binding arbitration: If we cannot resolve the dispute informally, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the App shall be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall take place in the United States, and the arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding. (c) No class actions: YOU AND BRUCELABS AGREE THAT EACH PARTY MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. The arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person’s claims and may not preside over any form of class or representative proceeding. (d) Small claims exception: Notwithstanding the above, either party may bring an individual action in small claims court for disputes within the court’s jurisdiction. (e) Opt-out: You may opt out of this arbitration clause by sending written notice to [email protected] within 30 days of first creating your account. If you opt out, disputes will be resolved in court as described in the Governing Law section. (f) Severability: If any part of this arbitration clause is found to be unenforceable, the remaining parts shall still apply. If the class action waiver is found to be unenforceable, then the entire arbitration clause shall be void. 14. TERMINATION By us: We may suspend or terminate your account and access to the App at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice, including but not limited to violations of these Terms. In the event of termination for cause, we are under no obligation to provide notice or an opportunity to cure. By you: You may delete your account at any time through the App settings (Profile > Delete Account). Account deletion has a 30-day grace period during which you can cancel the deletion and restore your account. After 30 days, your account and personal data are permanently and irreversibly deleted in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Effect of termination: Upon termination, your right to use the App ceases immediately. Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination will survive, including but not limited to: Intellectual Property, Disclaimer of Warranties, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification, Dispute Resolution, and Governing Law. 15. MODIFICATIONS TO THE APP AND TERMS We reserve the right to: - Modify, update, suspend, or discontinue any part of the App at any time, with or without notice - Update these Terms at any time by posting revised Terms within the App Material changes: For material changes to these Terms, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you through the App or via email. Your continued use of the App after the effective date of revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of those changes. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must stop using the App and delete your account. We are not liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the App. 16. GOVERNING LAW These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States and the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles. To the extent that litigation is permitted under these Terms (including claims not subject to arbitration), you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Texas. 17. GENERAL PROVISIONS Entire agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and BruceLabs regarding your use of the App and supersede all prior agreements. Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent possible, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Waiver: Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. Assignment: You may not assign or transfer your rights under these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations under these Terms without restriction. Force majeure: We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations where such failure or delay results from causes beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, pandemic, war, terrorism, labor disputes, power failures, internet or telecommunications failures, or government actions. Notices: We may provide notices to you through the App, via email to the address associated with your account, or by other reasonable means. You may contact us at [email protected]. 18. CONTACT INFORMATION If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us: Email: [email protected] Developer: BruceLabs (io.brucelabs.rooted) Thank you for using Rooted. We built this app to help people stay connected and accountable in a safe, private environment.