Terms of Service for The Common Ground

1. Acceptance of These Terms

By downloading, installing, or using The Common Ground mobile application or website (collectively, "TCG" or the "Service") you enter into a binding contract with its U.S. operators, Aakash Gnanakumar and Arjun Ponnala ("the Operators," "we," "our," or "us"). If you do not agree, do not use TCG.

2. Eligibility

• You must be 17 years of age or older and reside in the United States.
• By using TCG you represent that you (a) can form a legally binding contract, (b) have not been suspended or removed from TCG, and (c) will comply with these Terms and all applicable U.S. laws.

3. User Accounts

• Registration requires a verifiable mobile phone number.
• You are responsible for (a) safeguarding your verification code and device, (b) keeping account information accurate, and (c) all activity occurring under your account.
• We may deactivate accounts or refuse access to protect the Service or other users.

4. Limited License to You

We grant you a personal, revocable, non-transferable, and non-exclusive license to install and use TCG solely for lawful, personal debate and discussion, subject to these Terms. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of TCG except as expressly allowed.

5. Your Content & Our License

"User Content" means any text, votes, replies, or other material you submit.

• Your ownership. You retain any rights you hold in User Content.
• License to TCG. You grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to host, store, reproduce, publicly display, adapt, and otherwise use your User Content for (a) operating, improving, and promoting TCG, (b) enforcing community guidelines, and (c) creating aggregate insights.
• OpenAI processing. De-identified excerpts of discussion text may be transmitted to OpenAI, LLC for real-time summarization, as detailed in the Privacy Policy.
• Content removal. We may remove or reclassify User Content at any time for any reason, including violations of these Terms or our Community Guidelines.

6. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

1. Break the law (e.g., post illegal content, stalk, threaten, or harass).
2. Exploit or harm minors or encourage self-harm or violence.
3. Engage in hate speech or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
4. Spam or manipulate the voting system, create multiple accounts, or use bots.
5. Reverse-engineer the Service or access it via unauthorized means (scraping, malware, etc.).
6. Infringe intellectual-property rights or remove notices that appear in TCG.
7. Interfere with the Service's normal operation or another user's enjoyment.

Violation may result in content removal, account suspension, or referral to law enforcement.

7. Intellectual Property

All software, interfaces, graphics, trademarks, and logos appearing in TCG are owned by the Operators or licensed to us. Except for the limited license in Section 4, no rights are granted to you by implication or otherwise.

8. Third-Party Services & Links

TCG may contain links or integrations with third-party services (e.g., SMS gateways, OpenAI). We are not responsible for third-party content, terms, or privacy practices. Your dealings with third parties are solely between you and the third party.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

TCG is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE." To the maximum extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and reliability of communications. We do not guarantee that TCG will be uninterrupted, secure, error-free, or that content will be preserved or remain accessible.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Operators shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, data, goodwill, or other intangible losses, arising from or relating to (a) your use or inability to use TCG; (b) any conduct or content of other users; or (c) unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your content. Our total liability to you for all claims in any 12-month period will not exceed US $10. If other users cause harm—including, but not limited to, doxxing or bullying—TCG bears no responsibility or liability for such actions.

11. Indemnification

You will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Operators from any third-party claims, damages, and costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your (a) use of TCG, (b) User Content, or (c) breach of these Terms.

12. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access at any time, with or without notice, for any breach of these Terms or to protect the Service. You may stop using TCG and delete your account at any time. Sections 5–15 survive termination.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California and applicable U.S. federal law, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

14. Dispute Resolution & Binding Arbitration

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY — IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.

1. Informal resolution. Contact us first at thecommonground366@gmail.com so we can resolve disputes informally.
2. Arbitration. If we cannot resolve a dispute informally, you and we agree to resolve any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or TCG by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules.
3. Class-action waiver. Proceedings may take place only on an individual basis; class, consolidated, or representative actions are not permitted.
4. Exceptions. Either party may file claims in small-claims court or seek injunctive relief for intellectual-property misuse.
5. Opt-out. You may opt out of arbitration within 30 days of first agreeing to these Terms by emailing us your clear intent to opt out; otherwise this clause applies.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms for operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. If we make material changes, we will (a) post the revised Terms in-app and on our website and (b) display a notice the next time you open or foreground TCG on the day the changes take effect. Continued use after the notice is equivalent to acceptance.

16. Miscellaneous

• Severability. If any provision is unenforceable, the remainder remains in effect.
• Assignment. You may not assign or transfer your rights; we may do so without restriction.
• No waiver. Failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of our right to do so later.
• Entire agreement. These Terms (plus the Privacy Policy and any in-app guidelines) are the entire agreement between you and us regarding TCG.

17. Contact