Terms of Service

Word Search VS (the "App"), the associated web site at notjustapuzzle.com/play/, and the printed Word Search VS book series (collectively the "Service") are provided by Not Just a Puzzle ("we", "us", "our"), based in California, United States.

Last updated: [replaced automatically by postbuild.sh]

By using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you don't agree, please stop using the Service.

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1. Who can use the Service

You may use the Service if you are 13 years of age or older. Users under 13 need verifiable parental consent (see our Privacy Policy §7).

If you use the Service on behalf of an organization (school, business, event), you represent that you have authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

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2. What we provide

The Service lets you:

Play word-search puzzles solo, against a computer opponent, or head-to-head against friends
Create + share custom puzzles from your own word list
Cast the game to a TV for party play
Optionally purchase a "Pro" tier that removes the daily solo-play cap and hides ads
Optionally buy printed books via the notjustapuzzle.com storefront

We may add, remove, or change features at any time. We will not remove features that materially reduce the value of a paid subscription without either: (a) refunding the pro-rated remainder of your term, or (b) providing equivalent or better replacement features.

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3. Your account (optional)

You may play without an account. If you choose to sign in:

You are responsible for the security of your Apple ID / Google account credentials
You must provide accurate information
You must not impersonate another person or use offensive display names (see §5)
You may delete your account any time via Settings → Data & Privacy → Delete my data

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4. Word Search VS Pro subscription

4.1 Purchase

Pro is a paid tier available as:

Monthly — $1.99/mo, auto-renewing
Annual — $14.99/yr, auto-renewing
Lifetime — $39.99 one-time

All prices in USD. Local currency conversion is handled by Apple / Google. Payment is charged to your Apple ID or Google Play account at confirmation of purchase.

4.2 Auto-renewal

Monthly and annual subscriptions auto-renew unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the current period ends. You can manage or cancel via:

iOS: Settings → [your name] → Subscriptions → Word Search VS Pro
Android: Google Play → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions → Word Search VS Pro

Uninstalling the App does not cancel your subscription.

4.3 Refunds

Refund requests go through Apple / Google, not us:

iOS: https://reportaproblem.apple.com/
Android: https://play.google.com/store/account/orderhistory

We will honor refunds granted by the store platform. We do not otherwise offer refunds for partial months, unused time, or accidental purchases, but if you believe you have a special case, email support@notjustapuzzle.com and we will review individually.

4.4 Free trial (if offered)

If we offer a free trial, we will state its length clearly at purchase. Cancel any time during the trial and you will not be charged.

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5. Acceptable use

You agree NOT to use the Service to:

Harass, threaten, or discriminate against other players
Post display names, custom puzzle words, or chat messages that are obscene, hateful, or violate any law
Impersonate another person or entity
Cheat in multiplayer (using automation, exploits, or modified clients)
Reverse-engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract the source code
Access the Service by any means other than the official App and web client
Attempt to breach the security of the Service or of other users' data
Circumvent the daily play cap on the free tier (which is enforced client-side; abuse of the reset mechanism may result in account suspension)
Use automated tools to create fake room codes, spam matchmaking, or overload our servers

We may suspend or terminate access if you violate these rules. For severe violations (harassment, doxxing, threats), we may report to law enforcement.

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6. User content

You retain ownership of any content you create in the Service — specifically, your custom puzzle word lists.

By using the Service, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:

Store your custom words on Firebase so multiplayer works
Display them to players you invited to your custom room
Delete them per our retention policy (see Privacy Policy §4)

We do NOT use your custom words for:

Building new default word packs without your explicit permission
Training AI models
Selling or licensing to third parties
Any use beyond running the Service you asked for

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7. Intellectual property

7.1 What's ours

The Service, the "Word Search VS" and "Not Just a Puzzle" brand names, the neon-lightning visual identity, the puzzle generator algorithm, the default word packs (Everyday, Lifestyle, Hobbies, Academics, Animals, Food, Space, Nature, Sports, Tech), and the printed book series are our intellectual property or licensed to us. All rights reserved except as expressly granted here.

7.2 What you may do

You may:

Play the App for personal, non-commercial use
Record and share gameplay on social media (please tag @notjustapuzzle if convenient — not required)
Use screenshots in reviews, articles, or educational materials with attribution to "Word Search VS by Not Just a Puzzle"

7.3 What you may NOT do

Republish, sell, or rent the App or its content
Create derivative games or books using our word packs, puzzle art, or brand assets
Remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or attribution notices

7.4 DMCA / Copyright complaints

If you believe content in the Service infringes your copyright, send a notice to support@notjustapuzzle.com including:

Identification of the copyrighted work
Identification of the allegedly infringing material and where it appears
Your contact information
A statement of good-faith belief that use is unauthorized
A statement under penalty of perjury that the notice is accurate and you are the owner or authorized agent

We will investigate and remove infringing content promptly.

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8. Artificial intelligence disclosure

We use third-party AI tools to generate our own marketing content (social media captions, video ad prompts, book cover mockups). AI is not used to process your personal data, moderate your gameplay, personalize what you see, or generate the puzzles you play.

Our puzzle grids are generated by a deterministic seeded algorithm we built and control — not by AI. Two players in the same room always see the exact same grid because they share the same random seed, not because AI generates matching output.

If we ever add AI features that process user data (an example we've considered: an AI-assisted profanity filter for room chat and custom words), we will:

Update this document and our Privacy Policy
Require explicit opt-in before your data is sent to any AI service
Disclose which AI vendor(s) are involved

You will always have the right to decline AI-assisted features and use the Service without them.

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9. Third-party services

The Service integrates:

Google Firebase (multiplayer, auth) — subject to Google's terms
Google Analytics 4 and Sentry (opt-in analytics + crash reporting)
Apple App Store and Google Play (distribution, payments)
Links out to notjustapuzzle.com for book purchases (subject to that site's terms)

We are not responsible for the availability, content, or practices of these third parties. Their terms and privacy policies apply when you interact with them directly.

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10. Disclaimers

The Service is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind, express or implied — including but not limited to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, or uninterrupted availability.

We do not warrant that:

Multiplayer will always be online (Firebase can and does have outages)
The App will be error-free or free of security vulnerabilities
The Service will work on every device, OS version, or network condition
Custom puzzles will always generate valid grids (very short or very long words may not fit — we surface an error when that happens)

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11. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

Our aggregate liability arising from or related to your use of the Service is limited to the greater of (a) the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim, or (b) $100 USD.
We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages — including loss of profits, data, goodwill, or business opportunity — even if we've been advised of the possibility.
These limits apply even if a remedy fails of its essential purpose.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitation of certain damages. If those laws apply to you, some of these limits may not apply, and you may have additional rights.

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12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us (Not Just a Puzzle, our founders, employees, and contractors) harmless from any claim or demand — including reasonable attorneys' fees — arising from your:

Violation of these Terms
Violation of a third party's rights (including intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights)
Content you post (display names, custom puzzles, chat messages)
Unauthorized access to the Service using your account

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13. Termination

You may stop using the Service any time — no notice required. You may delete your account and data via Settings → Data & Privacy → Delete my data.

We may suspend or terminate your access for violation of these Terms, illegal activity, or when required by law. If we terminate a paid subscription for reasons unrelated to your conduct, we will refund the pro-rated remainder.

Sections 5 (Acceptable Use), 6 (User Content License), 7 (Intellectual Property), 10 (Disclaimers), 11 (Limitation of Liability), 12 (Indemnification), 14 (Governing Law), and 15 (Dispute Resolution) survive termination.

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14. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods does not apply.

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15. Dispute resolution

15.1 Informal resolution first

Before filing any formal claim, contact us at support@notjustapuzzle.com and describe the issue. We will attempt to resolve in good faith within 30 days.

15.2 Arbitration (U.S. users only)

If informal resolution fails, U.S. users agree that any dispute will be resolved by binding individual arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA). No class actions. Arbitration will be held in Los Angeles County, California, or (at your election) via video conference.

You have the right to opt out of this arbitration clause by emailing support@notjustapuzzle.com with subject "OPT OUT OF ARBITRATION" within 30 days of first accepting these Terms. Opting out does not affect any other part of the Terms.

15.3 Non-U.S. users

If arbitration is unavailable or unenforceable in your jurisdiction, the courts of Los Angeles County, California, have exclusive jurisdiction, subject to any mandatory rules of your local consumer protection law.

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16. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms occasionally. If we make material changes, we will:

Update the "Last updated" date
Show an in-app notice on your next launch
Require re-acceptance if the change materially reduces your rights

Continued use of the Service after we post an update means you accept the updated Terms.

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17. Miscellaneous

Entire agreement: These Terms + the Privacy Policy are the entire agreement between you and us about the Service. They supersede any prior agreements.
Severability: If any provision is found invalid, the rest still applies.
No waiver: If we don't enforce a provision, it doesn't mean we waive our right to enforce it later.
Assignment: You may not assign these Terms without our consent. We may assign them (for example, in a merger or acquisition) without notice, and the acquirer will assume our obligations.
Force majeure: Neither party is liable for delays or failures caused by events outside their reasonable control (natural disasters, war, cyberattacks, government action, etc.).

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Contact

Not Just a Puzzle Email: support@notjustapuzzle.com

For subscription management, billing, or App Store issues: use Apple or Google's tools first — they handle payment mechanics directly. For everything else, email us.