Terms of Service

Last Updated: January 1, 2026

1. Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using burode.chat ("Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you disagree with any part of these terms, you may not access the Service.

2. Description of Service

burode.chat provides an AI-powered assistant to help expats navigate German bureaucracy. The Service includes:

• AI chat assistance
• Document analysis (Pro users)
• Web search for current regulations (Pro users)
• Chat history storage

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Creation

• You must provide accurate, complete information
• You must be at least 18 years old
• One account per person
• You're responsible for maintaining account security
• You're responsible for all activity under your account

3.2 Account Termination

• You may delete your account at any time through account settings
• We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms
• Upon termination, your data will be deleted within 30 days

4. Subscription Plans and Payment

4.1 Plans

• Free Tier: 15 messages per month, 7-day chat history
• Pro Tier: €10/month or €100/year, unlimited messages, permanent history, document upload, web search

4.2 Billing

• Payments processed via Stripe
• Subscriptions renew automatically
• You may cancel at any time
• No refunds for partial billing periods
• Price changes require 30 days notice

4.3 Cancellation

• Cancel anytime through account settings
• Access continues until end of billing period
• No refunds for unused time

5. User Content and Data

5.1 Your Content

• You retain all rights to content you submit (messages, documents)
• You grant us license to use your content only to provide the Service
• You're responsible for the legality of content you submit
• We don't claim ownership of your content

5.2 Our Use of Data

• We use your data only as described in our Privacy Policy
• We may use anonymized data to improve the Service
• We don't sell your personal data to third parties

6. Our Intellectual Property

6.1 Ownership

• The Service, including logo, design, code, and content, is owned by Blackie Studio
• You may not copy, modify, or distribute our intellectual property
• "Burode" and our logo are our trademarks

6.2 Feedback

• If you provide feedback or suggestions, we may use them without compensation or attribution
• You grant us unlimited rights to any feedback provided

7. Acceptable Use Policy

7.1 You May Not:

• Use the Service for illegal purposes
• Violate any laws or regulations
• Infringe on others' intellectual property
• Harass, abuse, or harm others
• Spam or send unsolicited communications
• Attempt to hack, reverse engineer, or disrupt the Service
• Share your account credentials
• Create multiple accounts to circumvent limitations
• Use the Service to generate harmful content

7.2 Consequences

• Violation may result in immediate account termination
• We reserve the right to report illegal activity to authorities

8. AI-Generated Content Disclaimer

8.1 Nature of Service

• Our Service uses AI (OpenAI) to generate responses
• AI responses may contain errors or inaccuracies
• AI responses are for informational purposes only

8.2 Not Professional Advice

• The Service does NOT provide legal, financial, or professional advice
• Do not rely solely on AI responses for important decisions
• Always verify information with official sources
• Consult qualified professionals for legal/tax/visa matters

8.3 No Guarantees

• We don't guarantee accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of information
• Information may be outdated as regulations change
• We're not responsible for decisions made based on AI responses

9. Third-Party Services

9.1 Service Providers

We use third-party services:

• OpenAI (AI processing)
• Stripe (payments)
• Resend (email)
• OVH (hosting)

9.2 Third-Party Links

• Service may contain links to external websites
• We're not responsible for third-party content or practices
• Use third-party services at your own risk

10. Service Availability

10.1 Uptime

• We strive for high availability but don't guarantee 100% uptime
• Service may be interrupted for maintenance, updates, or technical issues
• We're not liable for service interruptions

10.2 Changes to Service

• We may modify, suspend, or discontinue features at any time
• We'll notify users of significant changes
• Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance

11. Disclaimers

11.1 "As Is" Service

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

11.2 No Warranty

• We don't warrant that the Service will be error-free or uninterrupted
• We don't warrant the accuracy or reliability of AI-generated content
• We don't warrant that defects will be corrected

12. Limitation of Liability

12.1 Maximum Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, BLACKIE STUDIO SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES.

12.2 Damage Cap

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY, OR €100, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Blackie Studio from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another party
• Content you submit to the Service

14. Dispute Resolution

14.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by German law.

14.2 Jurisdiction

Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Bonn, Germany.

14.3 Informal Resolution

Before filing a claim, contact us at support@burode.chat to resolve the dispute informally.

15. Changes to Terms

15.1 Right to Modify

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time.

15.2 Notice

• Material changes will be notified via email or prominent Service notice
• Changes effective 30 days after notification
• Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance

15.3 Rejection

If you don't agree to changes, you must stop using the Service and may cancel your subscription.

16. General Provisions

16.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Blackie Studio regarding the Service.

16.2 Severability

If any provision is found unenforceable, remaining provisions remain in effect.

16.3 Waiver

Failure to enforce any provision doesn't waive our right to enforce it later.

16.4 Assignment

We may assign these Terms; you may not assign them without our consent.

16.5 No Agency

These Terms don't create any partnership, employment, or agency relationship.

17. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms:

• Email: support@burode.chat
• Address: Blackie Studio, Hofgartenstraße 4A, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany

By using burode.chat, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.