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Terms of Service

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Terms of Service

Terms of Service

Last updated: 2025-08-19

These Terms of Service (the "Terms") govern your use of RefineryBox—the desktop application (the "Software"), the website and any related pages (the "Site"), and support or other related services (together, the "Services"). By installing, accessing, or using the Software or Services, you agree to these Terms.

RefineryBox is developed and operated by Frank Li, an independent developer("RefineryBox", "we", "us", or "our").

Contact: f842213079@gmail.com

1. Definitions

  • "You" / "User": The individual or legal entity using the Software.
  • "License": The rights granted to you to install and use the Software under these Terms.
  • "BYOK": Bring Your Own Keys—your own credentials for third-party AI providers.
  • "Third-Party Services": AI providers, payment processors, email/hosting and other vendors not operated by us.

2. License Grant (Single-User, Perpetual)

Upon purchase, we grant you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable, perpetual license to install and use the Software for personal or commercial purposes, on devices you own or control.

Reasonable device use: You may install the Software on a reasonable number of your own devices (e.g., laptop + desktop). If you need more installs (e.g., multiple workstations), contact us for approval.

The License is not a sale of the Software or any intellectual property rights.

We may use technical measures to validate licensing and prevent unauthorized use.

3. BYOK (Bring Your Own Keys)

You must supply and manage your own API keys for Third-Party Services (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic).

Costs & compliance: You are responsible for all Third-Party fees and for complying with their terms, policies, and usage rules (including content restrictions and data-use settings).

Keys are stored locally via your operating system keychain; we do not receive them. See our Privacy Policy for details.

4. Acceptable Use & Restrictions

You may not, and agree not to permit others to:

  • rent, lease, sell, sublicense, assign, publish, or redistribute the Software or license keys;
  • share a license across multiple users or organizations without our prior written consent;
  • reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to derive source code, except to the extent such restrictions are prohibited by law;
  • remove or obscure proprietary notices, trademarks, or legends;
  • circumvent or attempt to circumvent technical protections, license checks, usage limits, or payment requirements;
  • use the Software for unlawful, infringing, defamatory, or harmful purposes, or to violate any third-party rights;
  • use the Software in high-risk environments where failure could result in death, personal injury, or severe environmental/property damage;
  • use the Software to violate the acceptable-use policies of Third-Party Services or to evade their rate limits, security controls, or data-use settings.

5. Ownership & Feedback

The Software is licensed, not sold. We retain all rights, title, and interest in and to the Software and related intellectual property.

If you provide feedback, suggestions, or improvement ideas, you grant us a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free license to use and incorporate them without restriction or obligation to you.

6. Third-Party Services

The Software may interact with Third-Party Services via your BYOK credentials. We do not control those services and are not responsible for their availability, security, data handling, or results. Your use of such services is subject to their own terms and privacy policies.

We make no warranty regarding Third-Party Services, their outputs, or compatibility now or in the future.

Providers may change models, pricing, policies, or availability at any time.

7. Updates; Changes; Discontinuation

We may provide updates, bug fixes, or improvements from time to time. Updates may modify or remove features. We are not obligated to maintain or support any specific feature or integration.

We may, at our discretion, discontinue or sunset features that rely on Third-Party Services or that are impractical to maintain, while keeping the Software functioning in a reasonable manner.

Beta/Preview features may be experimental, time-limited, or disabled at any time and are provided as-is.

8. Support

Best-effort email support is available at f842213079@gmail.com. We do not provide guaranteed response times or service-level agreements.

9. Payment, Taxes & Licensing

Licenses are offered as a one-time purchase (perpetual license) unless specified otherwise at checkout.

Prices shown at the time of purchase apply; taxes (e.g., VAT/GST/sales tax) may be added where required by law.

Payments are processed by Third-Party payment processors; we do not store payment card details.

We may deactivate a license in cases of fraud, chargebacks, abuse, or material breach of these Terms.

10. Refund Policy

We offer a 3-day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied, contact f842213079@gmail.com within 3 days of purchase for a full refund.

We may request your order details to verify the purchase.

On refund, your license will be revoked/deactivated.

This policy is subject to the additional terms (if any) posted in refund-policy.md. Where they differ, this section controls unless the posted Refund Policy explicitly states otherwise.

Your statutory/consumer rights are not affected.

11. Privacy

The Software is designed to be local-first and avoid collection of your content. Our practices are described in the Privacy Policy at privacy-policy.md (incorporated by reference).

12. Warranty Disclaimer

THE SOFTWARE AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE", WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

YOUR USE OF THE SOFTWARE AND ANY THIRD-PARTY SERVICES IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE ERROR-FREE OPERATION, UNINTERRUPTED AVAILABILITY, OR THAT THE SOFTWARE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS.

13. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, USE, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SOFTWARE OR THESE TERMS, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATING TO THE SOFTWARE OR SERVICES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR YOUR LICENSE.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations; in such cases, the above limits apply to the fullest extent permitted.

14. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless RefineryBox and its affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to:

(a) your use of the Software or Services;

(b) your violation of these Terms;

(c) your violation of any law or third-party rights; or

(d) your use of or interaction with Third-Party Services.

15. Term & Termination

These Terms are effective until terminated. We may suspend or terminate your License immediately if you materially breach these Terms. You may terminate at any time by ceasing use and deleting the Software.

Upon termination:

  • your rights under the License end; and
  • you must cease use and destroy all copies of the Software in your possession or control.

Sections that by their nature should survive (including §§5, 10–16, 18–19) will survive termination.

16. Export Compliance & Sanctions

You represent that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national/resident of any country or person subject to embargoes or sanctions. You will not export, re-export, or transfer the Software in violation of applicable export control or sanctions laws (including those of the PRC, U.S., EU, and UN, as applicable).

17. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

Unless the mandatory laws of your place of residence require otherwise, these Terms are governed by the laws of the People's Republic of China, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles.

You and we agree to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China for any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms, except that either party may seek injunctive or equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Consumers may also bring claims in their local courts where required by law.

18. Open-Source Components

The Software may include or link to open-source components subject to their own licenses. To the extent of any conflict, those open-source licenses control with respect to their components.

19. Miscellaneous

Severability. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.

No Waiver. Our failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver.

Assignment. You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your License without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

Force Majeure. We are not liable for delays or failures due to events beyond our reasonable control (e.g., natural disasters, war, labor disputes, internet/service provider failures).

Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and Refund Policy (if any), constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Software and supersede all prior or contemporaneous understandings.

Changes to These Terms. We may update these Terms from time to time. We will update the "Last updated" date above and post the revised Terms on the Site. Material changes will be reasonably highlighted. Your continued use after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

Notices; Electronic Communications. We may provide notices by posting on the Site or by emailing the address you provide during purchase or support communications. You consent to receive communications electronically.

20. Contact

Questions about these Terms: f842213079@gmail.com