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Terms of Service

What This Is

OpenDescent is a decentralized, peer-to-peer communication platform. By downloading, installing, or using OpenDescent, you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, don't use the software.

Your Account

Your account is a cryptographic keypair. There is no username or password. You are solely responsible for keeping your private key and mnemonic phrase safe. If you lose them, your identity and data cannot be recovered.

You are responsible for everything that happens under your identity. Don't share your private keys.

Acceptable Use

You may use OpenDescent for lawful purposes. You agree not to:

• Use the platform to distribute illegal content in your jurisdiction
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users
• Deliberately disrupt the network (flooding, spamming, denial-of-service)
• Attempt to compromise other users' encryption or impersonate other identities
• Use the relay infrastructure for purposes unrelated to OpenDescent

We believe in free expression. We will not moderate or censor content — because we technically cannot (messages are end-to-end encrypted). But we encourage users to use the built-in blocking and reporting tools for content they find objectionable.

The Decentralized Nature

OpenDescent is a decentralized network. This means:

• We do not control, moderate, or monitor the content on the network
• We cannot delete your messages, posts, or data — only you can
• We cannot ban users from the network — anyone can run a node
• The network continues to function independently of any single operator

We operate relay nodes to help peers connect, but these are infrastructure — not content hosts.

Pro Subscriptions

• Monthly Pro subscriptions are billed at £5/month through Stripe. You can cancel anytime from your Stripe customer portal.
• Founder's Edition is a one-time £1 payment for lifetime Pro access. This offer is limited to the first 101 users and is non-refundable.
• Pro features are unlocked via a signed license key verified locally on your device. No ongoing server validation is required.
• Refunds for monthly subscriptions may be requested within 7 days of charge by contacting us on GitHub.

Open Source

OpenDescent is released under the MIT License. The source code is freely available. You may fork, modify, and distribute the software under the terms of that license.

The OpenDescent name, logo, and branding are not covered by the MIT License and remain the property of the project maintainers.

No Warranty

OpenDescent is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not guarantee that the software will be error-free, uninterrupted, or secure against all threats. Use it at your own risk.

We are not responsible for any data loss, security breaches on your device, or consequences arising from your use of the platform.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, OpenDescent and its contributors shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the software.

Changes

These terms may be updated. Changes will be published here with a new date. Continued use of OpenDescent after changes constitutes acceptance.

Contact

Questions? Open an issue on GitHub.