Terms of Service

These Terms of Service (the "Terms", "Agreement", or "ToS") govern your access to and use of the Argumentree platform and services (collectively, the "Service") provided by Dieter Stölzel, trading as Argumentree, a sole proprietorship (Einzelunternehmer) organized under the laws of Germany with its principal place of business at Havelberger Str. 1, 10559 Berlin, Germany (hereinafter "Argumentree", "we", "us", or "our").

By creating an account, accessing, or using the Service, you ("Customer", "you", or "your") acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Authority to Accept: By accepting these Terms, you represent and warrant that:

• If accepting on behalf of a company, organization, or other legal entity, you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms, and "you" and "Customer" refer to that entity;
• You are at least 18 years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts;
• You are not prohibited from using the Service under applicable laws or regulations.

Effective Date: These Terms are effective as of the date you first access or use the Service (the "Effective Date") and continue until terminated in accordance with Section 18.

3.1 Overview. Argumentree provides a cloud-based platform for structured argumentation, collaborative decision-making, and intelligent discussion management. The Service enables organizations to transform unstructured discussions into organized, analyzable argument hierarchies across various use cases including but not limited to:

• Business meetings and corporate communication enhancement
• DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) governance and proposal analysis
• Educational debate and academic assessment
• Legal argument structuring and case analysis
• Policy development and public consultation
• Community forums and collaborative reasoning

3.2 Core Features. Subject to the limitations of Customer's Subscription Plan, the Service includes:

• Argument Tree Structure: Hierarchical organization of arguments, supporting evidence, and counter-arguments
• Discussion Management: Creation and moderation of structured discussions, debates, and proposals
• Q&A System: Targeted question-and-answer functionality for clarification and deeper understanding
• Compromise Builder: Tools to develop and propose consensus solutions and middle-ground positions
• Voting Mechanisms: Support for various voting methods and decision-making processes
• Meeting Intelligence: Real-time meeting transcription, analysis, and argument extraction from meeting content
• AI-Powered Analysis: Automated argument quality assessment, logical fallacy detection, and sentiment analysis (see Section 10)
• Multi-Language Support: Interface translation and content translation across 10 supported languages
• Analytics & Dashboards: Comprehensive reporting on discussion metrics, user participation, and decision outcomes
• Mobile Applications: Native iOS and Android apps with full feature parity to web platform
• Blockchain Wallet Authentication: Optional login via blockchain wallets (see Section 9)

3.3 Service Availability. We strive to make the Service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, the Service is provided on an "as available" basis, and we do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation. We may:

• Perform scheduled maintenance during reasonable hours with advance notice (typically via email or in-app notification)
• Conduct emergency maintenance without notice when necessary for security or critical updates
• Experience temporary outages due to factors beyond our reasonable control, including internet service provider failures, hosting infrastructure issues, or force majeure events

3.4 Service Modifications. We reserve the right to modify, enhance, or discontinue any features or functionality of the Service at any time. We will make reasonable efforts to:

• Notify you of material changes to core features with at least 30 days' advance notice
• Provide alternatives or migration paths for discontinued features where reasonably feasible
• Continue supporting deprecated features for a reasonable transition period

Minor updates, improvements, and bug fixes may be deployed without notice and are considered part of the normal evolution of the Service.

3.5 Third-Party Integrations. The Service may integrate with or provide access to third-party services, platforms, or applications ("Third-Party Services"). Your use of Third-Party Services is subject to the terms and conditions of those third parties, and we are not responsible for Third-Party Services. We may remove or modify Third-Party Service integrations at any time.

3.6 Beta Features. We may offer access to features designated as "beta", "pilot", "experimental", "preview", or similar designations ("Beta Features"). Beta Features are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind and may be modified, discontinued, or never made generally available. Beta Features are not subject to any SLAs unless expressly stated otherwise.

4.1 Organization Creation. To use the Service, you must create an Organization account by providing accurate and complete information, including:

• Organization/company name
• Unique subdomain identifier (cannot be changed after registration)
• Administrator email address
• Secure password meeting our minimum requirements
• Selected Subscription Plan
• Use case selection (for platform optimization)

4.2 Account Security. You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of all account credentials (passwords, API keys, authentication tokens, blockchain wallet private keys)
• All activities that occur under your account, including actions by Authorized Users
• Immediately notifying us at security@argumentree.com of any unauthorized use or security breach
• Ensuring that each User maintains unique login credentials (account sharing is prohibited)
• Implementing appropriate access controls for Users within your Organization

4.3 User Management. As the Organization administrator, you may:

• Invite Authorized Users to join your Organization up to the limits of your Subscription Plan
• Assign roles and permissions to Users (admin, moderator, member, viewer, etc.)
• Remove Users from your Organization at any time
• Monitor User activity and access within your Organization

You are responsible for ensuring that all Authorized Users comply with these Terms. Any violation by an Authorized User will be deemed a violation by Customer.

4.4 Account Information Accuracy. You must:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• Update your account information promptly if it changes, particularly billing contact and administrator email addresses
• Ensure that the administrator email address is actively monitored for important Service notifications

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts with false, inaccurate, or incomplete information.

4.5 Account Suspension. We may suspend or restrict access to your account without prior notice if:

• We believe your account has been compromised or is being used fraudulently
• Your use of the Service violates these Terms or applicable laws
• Payment obligations are overdue (see Section 6)
• We are required to do so by law or legal process (e.g., court order, government request)
• Your use of the Service poses a security risk to us, other customers, or the Service itself

We will make reasonable efforts to notify you before suspension unless doing so would compromise security or violate legal obligations. Suspended accounts do not relieve you of payment obligations for the Subscription Period.

4.6 No Account Transfer. Your account and Organization are non-transferable. You may not sell, transfer, assign, or sublicense your account or any rights under these Terms to any third party without our prior written consent.

5.1 Available Plans. The Service is offered under the following Subscription Plans (subject to change per Section 5.5):

5.2 Plan Selection. You select your Subscription Plan during the registration process. You may upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time by accessing your account settings or contacting support@argumentree.com.

5.3 Plan Changes.

• Upgrades: Take effect immediately upon confirmation. You will be charged a pro-rated amount for the remainder of your current billing period at the new plan rate.
• Downgrades: Take effect at the start of your next billing cycle. You retain access to your current plan features until the billing cycle ends. If downgrading results in exceeding new plan limits (users, discussions), you must reduce usage to comply with new limits before the downgrade takes effect.

5.4 Usage Limits. Each Subscription Plan has specified limits on users, discussions, and other resources. If you exceed these limits:

• You will be notified and given the opportunity to upgrade to a higher plan
• Continued excess usage may result in service limitations or additional fees
• For Enterprise plans, overage fees may apply as specified in your custom agreement

5.5 Price Changes. We reserve the right to modify our pricing at any time. For existing customers:

• We will provide at least 30 days' advance notice of any price increases via email to your administrator address
• Price changes will take effect at the start of your next billing cycle following the notice period
• If you do not agree to a price increase, you may terminate your subscription before the new pricing takes effect (see Section 18.2)
• Annual subscription prices are locked in for the duration of your annual term

5.6 Taxes. All fees are exclusive of taxes, duties, or similar governmental assessments, including value-added tax (VAT), sales tax, use tax, or withholding taxes (collectively, "Taxes"). You are responsible for paying all Taxes associated with your subscription. If we are required to collect or pay Taxes, they will be invoiced to you separately unless you provide us with a valid tax exemption certificate.

6.1 Payment Methods. We accept payment via:

• Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) processed through our payment processor Stripe
• SEPA bank transfer (for European customers, Enterprise plans)
• Wire transfer (for Enterprise plans, subject to minimum contract value)
• Invoice payment (for Enterprise plans, subject to credit approval and NET-30 terms)

6.2 Billing Frequency.

• Monthly Plans: Billed in advance on the same day each month (your "Billing Date")
• Annual Plans: Billed in advance annually on your Billing Date (typically with a discount compared to monthly billing)
• Enterprise Plans: As specified in your custom agreement (monthly, quarterly, or annual billing available)

6.3 Auto-Renewal. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of each Subscription Period unless you cancel before the renewal date. By providing payment information, you authorize us to charge the applicable fees to your payment method automatically. You will receive a receipt for each successful payment via email.

6.4 Failed Payments. If a payment fails:

• We will attempt to process the payment again within 3-5 business days
• We will notify you via email and provide an opportunity to update your payment information
• If payment fails after 10 days, we may suspend your access to the Service until payment is received
• Accounts with payment failures exceeding 30 days may be terminated and Customer Data may be deleted per our data retention policy
• You remain responsible for all outstanding fees plus any collection costs or late fees (up to 1.5% per month or maximum allowed by law)

6.5 Refund Policy.

• Trial and Pilot Plans: No refunds applicable (plans are free)
• Paid Monthly Plans: No refunds for partial months. If you cancel mid-month, you retain access until the end of your paid period.
• Annual Plans: Pro-rated refunds may be provided at our discretion if you cancel within 30 days of your annual renewal and have not materially used the Service during the new annual period. Refund requests must be submitted to billing@argumentree.com.
• Enterprise Plans: Refund terms specified in your custom agreement
• Exceptions: We reserve the right to provide refunds at our sole discretion in cases of Service failures or other extenuating circumstances

6.6 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

For new paid subscriptions (Basic and Professional plans), we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee:

• Eligibility: The guarantee applies to your first paid subscription only. The 30-day period begins on the date of your first successful payment.
• How to Request: Submit your refund request through your account settings (Settings → Billing → Request Refund) or by emailing billing@argumentree.com within the 30-day period.
• Refund Amount: You will receive a full refund of the amount paid for your subscription.
• Processing Time: Refunds are typically processed within 5-10 business days and credited to your original payment method.
• One-Time Use: This guarantee can only be used once per organization. It cannot be combined with other promotions or used for subsequent subscriptions.
• Account Status: Upon refund, your subscription will be cancelled immediately and your organization will revert to the free tier. Your data will be preserved for 30 days.
• Exclusions: This guarantee does not apply to Enterprise plans (which have custom terms), trial or pilot conversions that occurred before this policy's effective date, or accounts terminated for Terms of Service violations.

6.7 Chargebacks & Disputes. If you dispute a charge with your payment provider instead of contacting us directly:

• Your account will be immediately suspended pending resolution
• If the chargeback is found to be unjustified, you will be responsible for the original charge plus a chargeback processing fee (typically $15-25) and reinstatement fee
• Repeated unjustified chargebacks may result in permanent account termination

We encourage you to contact billing@argumentree.com first to resolve any billing concerns before initiating a chargeback.

6.8 Invoices & Records. Invoices and payment receipts are available in your account dashboard. You should download and retain copies for your records. We maintain billing records for 7 years in compliance with German accounting requirements.

7.1 Trial Plan Terms. The Trial Plan allows you to evaluate the Service for 14 days at no cost. Trial Plan terms:

• No credit card required to start trial
• Full access to all core features (subject to trial plan limits)
• One trial per organization/email address
• Trial period starts upon account creation and cannot be paused or extended
• At trial expiration, you must upgrade to a paid plan to continue using the Service
• Customer Data created during trial will be retained for 30 days after trial expiration to allow time for upgrade; after 30 days, data will be permanently deleted unless you upgrade

7.2 Pilot Plan Terms. The Pilot Plan is an extended evaluation program for early adopters, providing 28 days of free access. Pilot Plan terms:

• No credit card required
• Includes all features available in Trial Plan plus higher limits
• Participation requires opt-in to user surveys and feedback collection to help improve the Service
• We may request feedback through email surveys, in-app prompts, or scheduled calls
• Pilot period is 28 days and cannot be extended
• Data retention after pilot expiration follows same policy as Trial Plan (30 days)
• Limited availability; we reserve the right to close pilot program at any time

7.3 Restrictions on Free Plans. Trial and Pilot Plans:

• Are limited to one per customer (determined by email, company name, or payment method)
• Cannot be used for production or commercial purposes requiring high availability
• May have limited or no technical support (community support only)
• Are not covered by any SLA or uptime guarantees
• May be terminated at our discretion if used in violation of these Terms

7.4 Conversion to Paid Plan. To continue using the Service after your Trial or Pilot expires:

• Select a paid Subscription Plan (Basic, Professional, or Enterprise) in your account settings
• Provide valid payment information
• All Customer Data created during trial/pilot will be automatically retained and accessible under your paid plan
• Paid subscription begins immediately upon upgrade and billing commences

7.5 Trial/Pilot Abuse Prevention. We reserve the right to terminate or refuse Trial/Pilot accounts if we detect:

• Creation of multiple trial accounts by the same individual or organization
• Use of trial for production workloads or commercial purposes
• Automated or bulk account creation
• Use of false information during registration
• Any attempt to circumvent trial limitations or duration

8.1 Customer Data Ownership. As between you and Argumentree, you retain all right, title, and interest (including all intellectual property rights) in and to Customer Data. We claim no ownership rights over Customer Data.

8.2 License to Process Customer Data. You grant Argumentree a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to access, use, process, copy, store, transmit, and display Customer Data solely as necessary to:

• Provide the Service to you in accordance with these Terms
• Maintain and improve the Service
• Comply with applicable laws and legal obligations (e.g., law enforcement requests, court orders)
• Enforce these Terms and prevent abuse of the Service

This license terminates when you delete Customer Data from the Service or upon termination of your account, except for Customer Data that must be retained for legal compliance or that has been anonymized for analytics purposes.

8.3 Use of Customer Data for Service Improvement.

• Anonymized Analytics: We may aggregate and anonymize Customer Data to create statistical and analytical data that does not identify you or any individual ("Anonymized Data"). We retain all rights to use Anonymized Data for any purpose, including service improvement, research, and marketing.
• NO Training on Customer Data: We do NOT use identifiable Customer Data to train our AI models or machine learning algorithms. Customer Data is processed in real-time for analysis purposes only and is not incorporated into our core AI training datasets.

8.4 Data Security & Backup.

• We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect Customer Data against unauthorized access, loss, or destruction
• We maintain regular backups of Customer Data for disaster recovery purposes
• Customer Responsibility: You are responsible for maintaining your own backups of Customer Data. While we maintain backups, they are for our internal disaster recovery purposes and may not be available to you on demand.
• We provide data export functionality for you to download your Customer Data at any time

8.5 Data Portability. You may export your Customer Data at any time through the data export feature in your account settings. Exported data will be provided in commonly used, machine-readable formats (JSON, CSV) where technically feasible.

8.6 Data Deletion.

• You may delete specific Customer Data (arguments, discussions, etc.) at any time through the Service interface
• Deleted data is removed from production systems within 7 days
• Deleted data is removed from backup systems within 30 days of deletion (standard backup retention cycle)
• Some metadata (anonymized usage statistics, audit logs) may be retained for compliance and security purposes
• Upon account termination, see Section 18.5 for data retention and deletion timelines

8.7 Customer Responsibilities. You are responsible for:

• The accuracy, quality, and legality of Customer Data
• Ensuring you have all necessary rights, consents, and permissions to provide Customer Data to us for processing
• Complying with all applicable laws when using the Service, including data protection and privacy laws (GDPR, etc.)
• Informing your Authorized Users about how their data will be processed through the Service
• Not uploading any data that infringes third-party rights or violates laws

8.8 Multi-Tenant Data Isolation. We maintain strict data isolation between Organizations. Your Customer Data is logically separated from other customers' data and is only accessible to your Authorized Users. We implement access controls, authentication mechanisms, and security measures to prevent cross-tenant data access.

9.1 Optional Authentication Method. The Service supports authentication via blockchain wallets (Ethereum, Cardano, Polkadot) as an alternative to email/password login. Wallet authentication is optional and provided for convenience, particularly for DAO governance use cases.

9.2 Not a Wallet Service. Argumentree is NOT a blockchain wallet provider, cryptocurrency exchange, or custodial service. We do NOT:

• Store or have access to your blockchain wallet private keys or seed phrases
• Control or have custody of any cryptocurrency or digital assets
• Facilitate cryptocurrency transactions or payments
• Process, hold, or manage any cryptocurrency on your behalf
• Store any blockchain data on-chain

9.3 How Wallet Authentication Works.

• You connect your blockchain wallet (MetaMask, Polkadot.js, Nami, etc.) to our Service
• We request a cryptographic signature from your wallet to verify ownership
• We store only your public wallet address (which is already publicly visible on the blockchain) linked to your account
• You use your wallet to sign authentication requests each time you log in
• This provides a secure, password-free login method without revealing your private keys

9.4 Wallet Security - Your Responsibility. You are solely responsible for:

• Securing your blockchain wallet and private keys
• Maintaining control and custody of your wallet (use hardware wallets for maximum security)
• Understanding the risks of blockchain technology and wallet usage
• Any consequences of losing access to your wallet (we cannot recover lost wallets or private keys)
• Ensuring you connect to the correct wallet provider (beware of phishing attempts)

9.5 Supported Wallets. We currently support wallets compatible with:

• Ethereum (via WalletConnect, MetaMask, etc.)
• Cardano (via Nami, Yoroi, etc.)
• Polkadot (via Polkadot.js extension, Talisman, etc.)

Wallet compatibility may change as standards evolve. We will provide reasonable notice before discontinuing support for any wallet type.

9.6 No On-Chain Data Storage. NO Customer Data, meeting transcripts, arguments, discussions, or any Service data is stored on any blockchain. All data is stored in our secure, off-chain databases. The blockchain is used ONLY for authentication signatures.

9.7 Regulatory Compliance. By using wallet authentication, you confirm that:

• You are not using the Service for any cryptocurrency trading, investment advice, or financial services
• You comply with all applicable laws regarding cryptocurrency and blockchain usage in your jurisdiction
• You understand that wallet authentication does not make the Service a "crypto" or "Web3" application subject to special regulations - it's simply an authentication method

9.8 Wallet Address Disclosure. If you use wallet authentication:

• Your wallet address (public address only) may be displayed to other users in your Organization for identification purposes (e.g., in DAO governance contexts)
• You can choose to hide or pseudonymize your wallet address in privacy settings if you prefer anonymity
• Wallet addresses are public information on blockchains and can be viewed by anyone with blockchain explorers

9.9 Disclaimer of Liability for Wallet Issues. We are not responsible for:

• Any malfunction, error, or security vulnerability in third-party wallet software
• Loss of access to your wallet due to lost private keys, forgotten passwords, or hardware failures
• Theft of cryptocurrency from your wallet (we do not hold or access your funds)
• Changes to blockchain protocols or wallet standards that may affect authentication functionality
• Transaction fees (gas fees) required by blockchain networks for signature operations

Use of blockchain wallet authentication is entirely at your own risk.

10.1 AI Feature Overview. The Service incorporates artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to enhance your experience. AI-Powered Features include:

• Argument Quality Analysis: Automated evaluation of argument strength, coherence, and logical structure
• Fallacy Detection: Identification of common logical fallacies and reasoning errors
• Sentiment Analysis: Detection of emotional tone and sentiment in discussions
• Meeting Transcription: Automated speech-to-text conversion for meeting audio/video
• Translation Services: Automated translation of content across 10 supported languages
• Content Summarization: Automated generation of discussion summaries and key points
• Smart Suggestions: AI-generated recommendations for improving arguments or resolving discussions
• Compromise Generation: AI-assisted identification of potential common ground and compromise positions

10.2 AI Service Providers. We utilize third-party AI service providers to power these features, including:

• Azure AI / Meta Llama (EU-hosted) for natural language processing and analysis
• Azure AI / Meta Llama (EU-hosted) for translation services
• Perplexity AI (Sonar API) for web-search-augmented research features
• [Future feature — provider TBD] for meeting transcription

These providers process Customer Data in accordance with their respective privacy policies and data processing agreements. See our Privacy Policy for details on subprocessors.

10.3 How AI Processes Your Data.

• AI features analyze Customer Data in real-time to provide insights and recommendations
• Data is sent to AI service providers via secure, encrypted connections for processing
• AI providers process data per our instructions and return results to the Service
• No Training on Your Data: We have contractual agreements with AI providers prohibiting them from using your Customer Data to train their foundational models. Your data is processed only for providing services to you, not to improve AI models for other customers.
• AI processing occurs on servers located in the European Union (Azure Sweden Central)

10.4 Pre-Submission Content Validation (EU AI Act Compliance).

Before your arguments are published, they are automatically analyzed by AI to ensure content quality:

• Toxicity Detection: Arguments are checked for harmful, offensive, or abusive language. Content scoring above our threshold is blocked from submission.
• Logical Consistency: Arguments are validated to ensure they are logically coherent and properly support or oppose their parent argument.
• Stance Alignment: The system verifies that your argument's position (PRO/CON) matches its actual content.
• Deduplication: Arguments are checked against existing content to prevent duplicate submissions.

Your Rights: If your content is blocked by automated validation:

• You will receive immediate feedback explaining why your submission was blocked
• You can edit and rephrase your argument to address the identified issues
• You can resubmit unlimited times until your content passes validation
• If you believe the validation was incorrect, you can contact support@argumentree.com for human review

This automated validation is classified as a "limited-risk" AI system under the EU AI Act because it does not permanently restrict access and you retain full control to modify and resubmit your content.

10.5 AI Limitations & Accuracy.

10.6 Your Rights Regarding AI Processing (GDPR Compliance).

• Right to Human Review: If you believe an AI-generated analysis or score has adversely affected a decision in your Organization, you may request human review by contacting support@argumentree.com
• Right to Opt-Out: You can disable certain AI features (translations, automated suggestions) in your Organization settings. Note that core features like argument structuring rely on AI and cannot be fully disabled.
• Transparency: AI-generated content is clearly labeled within the Service (e.g., "AI-generated summary", "AI quality score")
• Explainability: We provide explanations of how AI scores and analyses are determined where technically feasible

10.7 AI Evolution & Updates. AI technologies evolve rapidly. We may:

• Update AI models to improve accuracy and performance
• Change AI service providers to access better technology
• Add new AI-powered features
• Modify how AI features work based on technological advancements and user feedback

Material changes to AI processing that significantly affect privacy or data handling will be communicated per Section 19.

10.8 AI Content Responsibility. You acknowledge and agree that:

• You are responsible for reviewing and validating all AI-generated content before relying on it for decisions
• AI outputs are suggestions and tools to assist human decision-making, not replacements for human judgment
• You will not represent AI-generated content as human-created if accuracy or authenticity is material
• You indemnify us for any damages arising from your reliance on AI-generated content (subject to Section 16 limitations)

10.9 Prohibited AI Use. You may not:

• Attempt to reverse-engineer, extract, or replicate our AI models or prompts
• Use AI features to generate spam, misleading content, or manipulative arguments at scale
• Use AI features for any illegal purposes
• Deliberately attempt to cause AI features to produce harmful, biased, or offensive outputs
• Use AI translation features to circumvent content moderation or acceptable use policies

11.1 Your Content Ownership. You retain all ownership rights in content you create, post, or upload to the Service, including arguments, comments, questions, proposals, and other contributions ("User Content"). User Content is part of Customer Data governed by Section 8.

11.2 Content License to Argumentree. By posting User Content, you grant us a limited license to display, distribute, and process that content solely to provide the Service and as described in Section 8.2.

11.3 Content Responsibility. You are solely responsible for:

• All User Content you create or share through the Service
• Ensuring you have necessary rights and permissions to post User Content
• User Content accuracy, legality, and compliance with these Terms and applicable laws
• Any consequences arising from User Content

11.4 Content Representations & Warranties. By posting User Content, you represent and warrant that:

• You own or have necessary licenses/permissions for the User Content
• User Content does not infringe third-party intellectual property rights
• User Content complies with applicable laws and regulations
• User Content does not contain viruses, malware, or harmful code
• User Content does not violate any person's privacy or publicity rights

11.5 Content Moderation. We reserve the right, but have no obligation, to:

• Monitor, review, or screen User Content
• Remove or disable access to User Content that violates these Terms or applicable laws
• Suspend or terminate accounts of users who repeatedly violate content policies
• Cooperate with law enforcement regarding illegal content

We are not responsible for User Content and do not endorse any opinions, recommendations, or advice expressed in User Content.

11.6 Organization Content Policies. As Organization administrator, you may establish content guidelines for your Authorized Users. You are responsible for enforcing your own policies within your Organization.

11.7 Copyright Infringement Claims. If you believe User Content infringes your copyright, notify us at legal@argumentree.com with required information under applicable law (DMCA for US, InfoSoc Directive for EU). We will investigate and take appropriate action.

12.1 Permitted Use. The Service is intended for legitimate business, educational, and organizational purposes. You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes and in compliance with these Terms.

12.2 Prohibited Activities. You must NOT:

12.3 Fair Use of Resources.

• Use the Service in a manner consistent with normal business operations
• Do not create excessive API requests or automate mass actions
• Respect rate limits and usage restrictions specified for your Subscription Plan
• Do not use the Service to provide services to third parties without authorization

12.4 Enforcement. Violations may result in:

• Warning and requirement to cease violating activity
• Temporary suspension of Service access
• Removal of violating content
• Permanent account termination without refund
• Legal action and reporting to law enforcement if appropriate

12.5 Reporting Violations. To report violations of this Acceptable Use Policy, contact abuse@argumentree.com. We investigate all reports and take appropriate action.

13.1 Argumentree Platform Ownership. The Service, including all software, algorithms, designs, interfaces, documentation, trademarks, logos, and other intellectual property (the "Platform IP"), is owned by Argumentree or our licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, patent, and other intellectual property laws.

13.2 Limited License to Customer. Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, revocable license to access and use the Service during your Subscription Period solely for your internal business purposes.

This license does NOT grant you any rights to:

• Copy, modify, create derivative works, or reverse-engineer the Service
• Sell, rent, lease, sublicense, or distribute the Service
• Remove or modify any proprietary notices or labels
• Use our trademarks, logos, or branding without written permission
• Access the Service to build a competitive product or service

13.3 Customer Data Rights. As stated in Section 8, you retain all rights to Customer Data. We claim no ownership over Customer Data.

13.4 Feedback & Suggestions. If you provide us with feedback, suggestions, ideas, or recommendations regarding the Service ("Feedback"), you grant us a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, modify, and incorporate Feedback into the Service without compensation or attribution to you.

13.5 Trademarks. "Argumentree" and our logo are trademarks of Dieter Stölzel, trading as Argumentree. You may not use our trademarks without our prior written consent, except to identify the Service in accordance with standard business practices (e.g., "Powered by Argumentree").

13.6 Third-Party Intellectual Property. The Service may contain or link to third-party content, services, or software. Third-party intellectual property is owned by respective third parties and is subject to their terms.

13.7 Copyright Infringement. We respect intellectual property rights. If you believe content on the Service infringes your IP, contact legal@argumentree.com.

14.1 Confidential Information. Each party ("Disclosing Party") may disclose confidential information to the other party ("Receiving Party"). "Confidential Information" includes non-public business, technical, financial information, Customer Data, and information marked as confidential.

14.2 Protection Obligations. Receiving Party will:

• Use Confidential Information only for purposes of fulfilling obligations under these Terms
• Protect Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care used for its own confidential information (but no less than reasonable care)
• Not disclose Confidential Information except to employees, contractors, or agents with a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations

14.3 Exclusions. Confidential Information does not include information that:

• Is or becomes publicly available through no breach of these Terms
• Was lawfully known prior to disclosure
• Is independently developed without use of Confidential Information
• Is lawfully received from a third party without confidentiality restrictions

14.4 Required Disclosure. Receiving Party may disclose Confidential Information if required by law, court order, or government authority, provided it gives reasonable advance notice (if legally permitted) to allow Disclosing Party to seek protective measures.

14.5 Duration. Confidentiality obligations survive for 3 years after termination of these Terms, except for Customer Data which remains protected per our Privacy Policy.

15.1 Our Warranties. We warrant that:

• We have the legal right to provide the Service and enter into these Terms
• The Service will substantially conform to the Documentation during your Subscription Period
• We will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain Service security and availability
• We will not knowingly include malicious code (viruses, malware) in the Service

15.2 Customer Warranties. You warrant that:

• You have authority to enter these Terms and bind your organization
• Your use of the Service complies with all applicable laws
• Customer Data does not infringe third-party rights
• All information provided during registration is accurate and complete

15.4 Specific Disclaimers. We do not warrant that:

• The Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or completely secure
• Defects or errors will be corrected
• The Service will meet your specific requirements or expectations
• AI-generated content will be accurate, complete, or reliable
• Translations will be perfect or contextually accurate
• Results or outcomes from using the Service will meet your goals
• Third-party integrations will function without interruption

15.5 Remedy for Breach of Warranty. Your sole remedy for breach of our warranties in Section 15.1 is, at our option: (a) correction of the non-conforming Service, or (b) termination of these Terms and pro-rated refund of prepaid fees for the period after termination.

15.6 No Advice or Recommendations. The Service provides tools for discussion and decision-making but does not constitute professional advice (legal, financial, medical, or otherwise). You are solely responsible for decisions made using the Service.

16.3 Exceptions to Limitations. The limitations in Sections 16.1 and 16.2 do NOT apply to:

• Death or Personal Injury: Liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence
• Fraud or Willful Misconduct: Liability for fraud, intentional misconduct, or gross negligence
• Your Payment Obligations: Fees owed under these Terms
• Your Indemnification Obligations: Indemnity obligations in Section 17
• Your Confidentiality Breaches: Breaches of confidentiality causing actual damages
• Your Violations of Law: Liability arising from illegal use of the Service
• Matters That Cannot Be Limited by Law: Any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law

16.4 Basis of Bargain. You acknowledge that the fees reflect the allocation of risk set forth in these Terms, including these liability limitations. These limitations apply even if a remedy fails of its essential purpose.

16.5 Multiple Claims. The liability limitations apply in aggregate to all claims collectively, not per claim. Multiple claims do not expand the liability cap.

16.6 Third-Party Services. We are not liable for any third-party services, integrations, or content accessed through the Service. Your use of third-party services is subject to their terms and at your own risk.

16.7 Force Majeure. Neither party is liable for delays or failures due to causes beyond reasonable control (acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, strikes, internet failures, government actions, pandemics, or similar events).

16.8 German Law Compliance. If any limitation in this Section 16 is held unenforceable under German law, liability will be limited to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

17.1 Customer Indemnification. You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Argumentree, our affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, and licensors from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to:

• Your use or misuse of the Service
• Customer Data, including claims that Customer Data infringes third-party rights
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any laws or regulations
• Your breach of confidentiality obligations
• Claims by your Authorized Users or third parties arising from your use of the Service

17.2 Argumentree Indemnification. We agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Customer from third-party claims that the Service, when used as authorized under these Terms, infringes a third party's intellectual property rights.

This indemnification does NOT apply if the claim arises from:

• Modifications to the Service not made by Argumentree
• Use of the Service in combination with non-authorized third-party products
• Customer Data or your use of the Service in violation of these Terms
• Continued use after we notify you of potential infringement and provide alternatives

17.3 Indemnification Procedure. The indemnified party must:

• Promptly notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim
• Grant the indemnifying party sole control of defense and settlement
• Provide reasonable cooperation and assistance at indemnifying party's expense

The indemnifying party may not settle any claim in a manner that admits fault on behalf of the indemnified party or imposes obligations on indemnified party without prior written consent.

17.4 Exclusive Remedy. This Section 17 states the indemnifying party's sole liability and the indemnified party's exclusive remedy for intellectual property infringement claims.

17.5 Mitigation Rights. If the Service is subject to an infringement claim, we may, at our option and expense:

• Obtain the right for you to continue using the Service
• Replace or modify the Service to make it non-infringing
• If neither option is commercially reasonable, terminate these Terms and refund prepaid fees pro-rated for the unused portion of the Subscription Period

18.1 Term. These Terms commence on the Effective Date (when you first access the Service) and continue for the duration of your Subscription Period, automatically renewing unless terminated as provided in this Section 18.

18.2 Termination by Customer.

• Free Plans: You may terminate Trial or Pilot plans at any time by deleting your account through account settings
• Monthly Plans: You may cancel at any time; termination is effective at the end of your current billing cycle. No refunds for partial months.
• Annual Plans: You may cancel at any time; termination is effective at the end of your annual term. No refunds except as specified in Section 6.5.
• Enterprise Plans: Termination terms specified in your custom agreement

To cancel, go to Account Settings → Subscription → Cancel Subscription, or contact support@argumentree.com.

18.3 Termination by Argumentree.

• For Cause: We may terminate immediately if you:
  • Materially breach these Terms and fail to cure within 10 days of notice
  • Fail to pay fees within 30 days of due date
  • Violate Acceptable Use Policy (Section 12)
  • Engage in fraudulent or illegal activity
  • Pose a security risk to the Service or other customers
• For Convenience: We may terminate for convenience with 30 days' notice, with pro-rated refund of prepaid fees
• Service Discontinuation: We may discontinue the Service entirely with 90 days' notice and full refund of prepaid fees

18.4 Suspension. We may suspend Service access immediately without terminating these Terms if:

• Your account is overdue for payment
• We reasonably believe suspension is necessary to prevent harm or liability
• Required by law or legal process
• Investigating potential Terms violations

We will attempt to provide notice before suspension except where immediate action is required for security or legal reasons. Suspended accounts remain responsible for fees during suspension.

18.5 Effect of Termination. Upon termination:

• Your right to access and use the Service immediately ceases
• All outstanding fees become immediately due and payable
• You must cease all use of the Service
• We will retain Customer Data for 30 days to allow you to export your data
• After 30 days, we will delete all Customer Data from production systems (removed from backups within additional 30 days per normal backup cycle)
• Certain data may be retained longer if required by law or if it has been anonymized for analytics

18.6 Survival. The following sections survive termination: Sections 8 (Data Ownership - to the extent of post-termination obligations), 11 (User Content), 13 (IP Rights), 14 (Confidentiality), 15 (Disclaimers), 16 (Limitation of Liability), 17 (Indemnification), 18.5 (Effect of Termination), 18.6 (Survival), 20 (Governing Law), and 22 (General Provisions).

18.7 No Refunds on Termination for Cause. If we terminate for cause (Section 18.3), you are not entitled to any refund of prepaid fees, and you remain liable for all fees through the end of your then-current Subscription Period.

19.1 Service Modifications. We may modify, update, enhance, or discontinue any aspect of the Service at any time. See Section 3.4 for details on service modifications.

19.2 Terms Modifications. We may modify these Terms from time to time to:

• Reflect changes to the Service or business practices
• Comply with legal or regulatory requirements
• Address security or operational concerns
• Improve clarity or correct errors

19.3 Notice of Material Changes.

• We will notify you of material changes to these Terms at least 30 days before they take effect
• Notice will be sent to your administrator email address and/or displayed in-app
• The updated Terms will be posted on our website with "Last Updated" date
• Material changes include modifications to pricing, liability limitations, or core rights

19.4 Acceptance of Modified Terms.

• Continued use of the Service after modified Terms take effect constitutes acceptance
• If you do not agree to modified Terms, you must stop using the Service and may terminate your subscription per Section 18.2
• If you terminate due to material adverse changes within 30 days of notice, we will provide a pro-rated refund of prepaid fees

19.5 Non-Material Changes. Minor changes (corrections, clarifications, formatting) may be made without advance notice. These do not constitute material changes and do not trigger termination rights.

19.6 Separate Agreements. If you have a separately negotiated written agreement with us (e.g., Enterprise Agreement), terms in that agreement govern to the extent of any conflict with these Terms.

20.1 Governing Law. These Terms and any disputes arising out of or related to these Terms or the Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding its conflict of law provisions and the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).

20.2 Jurisdiction & Venue. Subject to Section 20.3 (arbitration), the parties agree that the courts of Berlin, Germany shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising from these Terms. Both parties consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts and waive any objection to venue in Berlin.

20.3 Dispute Resolution Process. To expedite resolution and control costs, the parties agree to the following dispute resolution process:

Step 1: Informal Negotiation

• Before filing any formal proceeding, the parties will attempt to resolve disputes through good faith negotiations
• Either party may initiate negotiation by sending written notice describing the dispute to the other party
• Senior representatives of both parties will meet (in person or virtually) within 15 days
• Negotiations will continue for 30 days unless extended by mutual agreement

Step 2: Mediation (Optional)

• If informal negotiation fails, either party may propose non-binding mediation in Berlin, Germany
• Mediation costs will be shared equally
• Mediation proceedings are confidential

Step 3: Arbitration

Disputes not resolved through Steps 1-2 shall be finally resolved by binding arbitration under the Rules of Arbitration of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS) by one arbitrator appointed in accordance with said rules. The place of arbitration shall be Berlin, Germany. The language of arbitration shall be English or German as agreed by the parties.

20.4 Exceptions to Dispute Resolution. Either party may seek injunctive or equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to:

• Prevent infringement of intellectual property rights
• Enforce confidentiality obligations
• Address imminent harm or irreparable injury

20.5 Class Action Waiver. To the extent permitted by law, each party agrees to bring claims against the other only in an individual capacity and not as part of any class or representative action. Neither party may consolidate more than one person's claims or preside over any representative or class proceeding.

Note: Class action waivers may not be enforceable in all EU jurisdictions. This provision shall be severable if unenforceable.

20.6 Limitation Period. Any claim arising under these Terms must be brought within two (2) years of the date the cause of action arose, or such claim is permanently barred.

20.7 Costs & Attorneys' Fees. In any dispute resolution proceeding, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, except where prohibited by law.

20.8 Out-of-Court Dispute Resolution for Content Moderation (DSA Art. 21). If you are a user in the European Union and disagree with a content moderation decision (including content removal, account restrictions, or appeal outcomes), you have the right to select any certified out-of-court dispute settlement body to resolve the dispute. This is in addition to your right to judicial remedy.

• What is covered: Disputes about content moderation decisions, including decisions to remove content, restrict account access, demonetization, suspension, or termination, as well as decisions following an internal appeal.
• Certified bodies: You may choose any out-of-court dispute settlement body that has been certified by a Digital Services Coordinator of any EU Member State. A list of certified bodies will be maintained by the European Commission.
• Our commitment: We will engage in good faith with the certified body you select and are bound by the decision if you accept it. You are not bound by the decision and may still pursue judicial remedies.
• Costs: The fees charged by certified bodies are reasonable and proportionate. If the dispute is resolved in your favor, we will reimburse all fees you paid and bear any costs charged by the body.
• Time limit: You may engage a certified body within 6 months of receiving our final decision on your appeal.

This out-of-court dispute resolution right is provided in accordance with Article 21 of the Digital Services Act (EU) 2022/2065 and does not affect your statutory rights or access to courts.

21.1 Privacy Policy. Our collection, use, and processing of personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy, available at argumentree.com/privacy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Service, you consent to such processing per the Privacy Policy.

21.2 GDPR Compliance. We comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG). Our processing of personal data is conducted in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

21.3 Data Processing Agreement (DPA). To the extent Customer Data includes personal data of data subjects in the EU/EEA, a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) incorporating Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission is available at argumentree.com/dpa and forms part of these Terms.

21.4 Roles & Responsibilities.

• For Service Data: Argumentree is the data controller for account information, billing data, and usage analytics
• For Customer Data: Customer is the data controller, and Argumentree acts as data processor, processing personal data only per Customer's instructions
• Customer is responsible for obtaining necessary consents and having legal basis to process personal data of Authorized Users and end-users

21.5 Data Subject Rights. We provide functionality for you to facilitate data subject rights requests (access, rectification, erasure, portability). See Privacy Policy for details on how to submit requests.

21.6 Data Breach Notification. In the event of a personal data breach affecting Customer Data, we will notify you without undue delay and no later than 72 hours after becoming aware of the breach, to the extent required by GDPR Article 33.

21.7 Subprocessors. We maintain a list of subprocessors (third-party service providers) at argumentree.com/subprocessors. We will provide 30 days' notice before adding new subprocessors. You may object to new subprocessors by terminating these Terms per Section 18.2.

21.8 Data Transfers. Customer Data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the EU/EEA. We ensure such transfers comply with GDPR through:

• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)
• EU-US Data Privacy Framework (if certified)
• Adequacy decisions by the European Commission
• Other appropriate safeguards as required by GDPR Article 46

21.9 Data Protection Contact. For data protection inquiries, please contact us at privacy@argumentree.com. As a small business (Einzelunternehmer) with fewer than 20 employees involved in data processing, we are not required to appoint a Data Protection Officer under GDPR Article 37 or German BDSG §38.

21.10 Cooperation. We will reasonably cooperate with Customer to enable Customer to comply with its data protection obligations, including assisting with data protection impact assessments and consultations with supervisory authorities where required.

22.1 Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, DPA, and any separately executed written agreements, constitute the entire agreement between you and Argumentree regarding the Service and supersede all prior or contemporaneous agreements, communications, and proposals (whether oral, written, or electronic) between the parties.

22.2 Order of Precedence. In the event of conflict between documents, the following order applies (highest to lowest):

1. Separately executed written amendments
2. Enterprise Agreement or Master Service Agreement (if applicable)
3. Data Processing Agreement (DPA)
4. These Terms of Service
5. Privacy Policy

22.3 Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction:

• The remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect
• The invalid provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable
• If modification is not possible, the invalid provision will be severed and the remaining Terms will continue

22.4 Waiver. No waiver of any provision of these Terms will be deemed or constitute a waiver of any other provision, nor will any waiver constitute a continuing waiver. No failure or delay in exercising any right or remedy will constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy.

22.5 Assignment.

• By Customer: You may not assign or transfer these Terms or any rights hereunder without our prior written consent. Any attempted assignment in violation of this section is void.
• By Argumentree: We may assign these Terms without restriction, including to an affiliate or in connection with a merger, acquisition, corporate reorganization, or sale of assets.
• These Terms bind and benefit the parties' permitted successors and assigns.

22.6 Notices.

• To Customer: Notices to you will be sent to the administrator email address on file or displayed prominently in the Service. You agree to keep your email address current.
• To Argumentree: Legal notices to us must be sent by registered mail or email to the address in Section 23.
• Notices by email are deemed received when sent; notices by mail are deemed received 3 business days after posting.

22.7 Relationship of Parties. The parties are independent contractors. These Terms do not create a partnership, franchise, joint venture, agency, employment, or fiduciary relationship. Neither party has authority to bind the other or incur obligations on the other's behalf.

22.8 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. These Terms are for the sole benefit of the parties and their permitted successors and assigns. No third party has any right to enforce or receive benefits under these Terms, except as expressly provided (e.g., indemnified parties in Section 17).

22.9 Export Compliance. The Service and related technology may be subject to export control laws and regulations. You agree to comply with all applicable export and import laws and not to export, re-export, or transfer the Service to prohibited countries, entities, or persons.

22.10 Government Users. If you are a government entity or using the Service on behalf of a government, additional terms may apply. Contact legal@argumentree.com for government-specific terms.

22.11 Language. These Terms are drafted in English. Any translation is provided for convenience only. In case of conflict between English and translated versions, the English version prevails.

22.12 Interpretation. Section headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation. "Including" means "including without limitation." "Or" is not exclusive. "May" grants permission but not obligation. "Will" and "shall" express obligation.

22.13 Counterparts. These Terms may be executed in counterparts, each of which is deemed an original and all of which together constitute one agreement. Electronic signatures are valid and binding.

22.14 Survival. All provisions that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including but not limited to ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity, limitations of liability, and dispute resolution provisions.

22.15 Updates & Amendments. We may update these Terms as provided in Section 19. No other amendments are valid unless in writing and signed by both parties' authorized representatives.

For questions, concerns, or notices regarding these Terms or the Service, please contact:

Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Version: 1.0
Last Updated: January 1, 2026