Terms of Service

Account Creation

• You must provide accurate and complete information when creating an account
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
• One person may only maintain one account

Account Responsibilities

• You are responsible for all activities under your account
• You must keep your contact information up to date
• You must not share your account with others
• You must comply with these Terms and applicable laws

Permitted Uses

• Use the Service for personal, non-commercial plant care purposes
• Upload plant photos for identification and care purposes
• Share appropriate content in community features
• Provide feedback to help improve our Service

Prohibited Uses

You may not use the Service to:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Upload inappropriate, offensive, or copyrighted content
• Attempt to reverse engineer or hack our systems
• Spam or send unsolicited communications to other users
• Impersonate others or provide false information
• Use automated systems to access the Service excessively
• Resell or redistribute our Service without permission
• Upload content containing malware or viruses

Subscription Plans

• Free tier with limited features available to all users
• Premium subscriptions unlock additional features and capabilities
• Subscription fees are charged in advance on a recurring basis
• Prices are subject to change with 30 days' notice

Payment and Billing

• Payments are processed securely through Stripe
• Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled
• No refunds for partial subscription periods
• Failed payments may result in service suspension
• You're responsible for applicable taxes

Cancellation

• You can cancel your subscription at any time
• Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period
• You retain access to premium features until the subscription expires
• No refunds are provided for unused subscription time

Your Content

• You retain ownership of photos and content you upload
• You grant us a license to use your content to provide our Service
• You represent that you have the right to upload all content
• You're responsible for ensuring your content doesn't violate others' rights

Our Content

• BotanicBuddy and all related content are our intellectual property
• Plant care guides and recommendations are provided for personal use only
• You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works
• AI-generated identifications and recommendations are licensed for your use

Third-Party Content

Some plant information is sourced from third-party databases. We respect intellectual property rights and will respond to valid takedown requests.

AI Identification

• Our AI achieves high accuracy but is not 100% reliable
• Identifications should be verified by experts for critical decisions
• We continuously improve our AI but cannot guarantee perfect results
• Environmental factors may affect identification accuracy

Care Recommendations

• Care advice is general guidance, not professional consultation
• Individual plant needs may vary based on specific conditions
• Always consider your local environment and plant's actual condition
• Consult professionals for valuable or sensitive plants

Disclaimers

BotanicBuddy is not responsible for plant health outcomes, plant death, or any consequences of following our recommendations. Use our Service as a helpful tool, but apply your own judgment and seek professional advice when needed.

Key Privacy Points

• We collect only information necessary to provide our Service
• Your plant photos are processed for identification and then handled per your settings
• We use industry-standard security measures to protect your data
• You can request deletion of your data at any time

Termination by You

• You can delete your account at any time through account settings
• Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone
• You remain responsible for any charges incurred before termination
• Some data may be retained for legal or operational purposes

Termination by BotanicBuddy

We may terminate your account if you:

• Violate these Terms or our Acceptable Use Policy
• Engage in fraudulent or illegal activities
• Abuse our Service or other users
• Fail to pay subscription fees

Effect of Termination

• Your access to the Service will be immediately suspended
• Your data will be deleted according to our data retention policy
• Outstanding payment obligations remain in effect
• Certain provisions of these Terms survive termination

Service Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING:

• Accuracy of plant identifications or care recommendations
• Uninterrupted or error-free operation
• Security of data transmission or storage
• Fitness for a particular purpose

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, BOTANICBUDDY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• Plant death, damage, or poor health outcomes
• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Loss of profits, data, or business opportunities
• Damages exceeding the amount paid for the Service in the last 12 months

Indemnification

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

Informal Resolution

Before filing any formal dispute, please contact us at legal@botanicbuddy.com to attempt to resolve the issue informally. We're committed to working with you to find a fair resolution.

Binding Arbitration

Any disputes that cannot be resolved informally shall be resolved through binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

• Arbitration will be conducted in English
• The arbitrator's decision is final and binding
• You waive your right to a jury trial
• Class action lawsuits are not permitted

Exceptions

This arbitration clause does not apply to disputes relating to intellectual property rights or small claims court proceedings.

Governing Law

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

Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes via email or through the Service. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

Severability

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

Entire Agreement

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