Terms of Service for Clarity
Effective Date: March 22, 2026
Last Updated: March 22, 2026
Agreement to Terms
By downloading, installing, or using the Clarity mobile application (“Clarity,” “the app,” “our app”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use Clarity.
These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you (“User,” “you,” or “your”) and the Clarity developer (“we,” “us,” or “our”).
Description of Service
What Clarity Provides
Clarity is a news aggregation and translation application that:
- Aggregates Content: Collects AI and technology news from publicly available sources including RSS feeds, news websites, podcasts, and research publications
- Translates Content: Provides bilingual versions of articles in English and Traditional Chinese (繁體中文)
- Summarizes Content: Creates AI-generated summaries and audio briefings of articles
- Delivers Content: Presents content through a native iOS and macOS application
What Clarity Does NOT Provide
- Original news reporting or journalism
- Financial advice or investment recommendations
- Professional or medical advice
- Guaranteed accuracy of translated or summarized content
- Real-time breaking news alerts
- Personalized content recommendations based on tracking
Acceptance of Terms
Binding Agreement
Your use of Clarity constitutes acceptance of these Terms, including:
- These Terms of Service
- Our Privacy Policy
- Apple’s App Store Terms of Service
- Third-party content licenses (see Attribution section)
Modifications to Terms
We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting. Your continued use of Clarity after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.
Notification of Changes:
- Major changes: In-app notification
- Minor changes: Updated “Last Updated” date
- Version history maintained in this document
Eligibility and User Requirements
Age Requirements
- Minimum Age: 4+ (Apple App Store rating)
- Recommended Age: 13+ for comprehension of technical content
- Parental Guidance: Recommended for users under 13
Device Requirements
- iOS 18.0 or later
- macOS 15.0 or later
- Compatible iPhone, iPad, or Mac device
- Active internet connection for content updates
Geographic Restrictions
Clarity is available worldwide, subject to:
- App Store availability in your region
- No export control violations
- Compliance with local laws
User Obligations and Acceptable Use
Permitted Use
You may use Clarity for:
- ✅ Personal, non-commercial news consumption
- ✅ Educational purposes
- ✅ Research and reference
- ✅ Sharing individual articles via native iOS share features
Prohibited Use
You may NOT:
- ❌ Use automated tools to scrape or download content in bulk
- ❌ Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the app
- ❌ Redistribute or republish content without attribution
- ❌ Remove copyright notices or attributions
- ❌ Use content for commercial purposes without publisher permission
- ❌ Attempt to hack, overload, or disrupt our servers
- ❌ Bypass any security measures or access controls
- ❌ Use the app to violate any laws or regulations
- ❌ Impersonate Clarity or misrepresent affiliation
- ❌ Upload malicious code or viruses
Consequences of Violation
Violation of these Terms may result in:
- Immediate termination of access
- Legal action for damages
- Reporting to law enforcement (if applicable)
- Cooperation with Apple for App Store violations
Content and Intellectual Property
Original Publisher Rights
- Ownership: All news articles remain the property of original publishers
- Attribution: Clarity provides clear source attribution for all content
- Fair Use: Summaries and translations are provided under fair use doctrine (transformative use)
- Takedown Requests: Publishers may request content removal (see Contact section)
Clarity’s Intellectual Property
We own all rights to:
- Clarity app design and user interface
- Proprietary algorithms for content aggregation
- Translation and summarization processes
- Clarity branding, logo, and trademarks
License to You: We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use Clarity for personal purposes.
User-Generated Content
Clarity does not currently allow user-generated content. If this changes, terms will be updated.
Open Source Components
Clarity’s backend is open-source under [MIT License]. See our GitHub repository for details.
Third-Party Content and Links
External Links
Clarity contains links to external websites and original news articles. We are not responsible for:
- Content accuracy on external sites
- Privacy practices of third parties
- Availability or uptime of external sites
- Damages arising from third-party content
User Responsibility: You access third-party content at your own risk.
Third-Party Services
Clarity relies on:
- Supabase: Database hosting (Terms)
- Apple iCloud: Optional audio sync (Terms)
- News Publishers: Original content sources
Use of third-party services is subject to their respective terms.
Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability
Service Provided “AS IS”
Clarity is provided “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to:
- ❌ No warranty of accuracy or completeness
- ❌ No warranty of fitness for a particular purpose
- ❌ No warranty of uninterrupted or error-free service
- ❌ No warranty of security or data integrity
- ❌ No warranty of translation accuracy
Content Accuracy
- Translations: Machine-generated translations may contain errors
- Summaries: AI-generated summaries are interpretations, not verbatim
- Timeliness: Content may not reflect real-time events
- Verification: Always verify critical information with original sources
Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:
We shall NOT be liable for any:
- Indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages
- Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
- Damages arising from use or inability to use Clarity
- Reliance on content accuracy or completeness
- Third-party actions or content
- Service interruptions or downtime
- Data loss or corruption
Maximum Liability: If liability is found, our total liability shall not exceed $0 (zero dollars), as Clarity is provided free of charge.
Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Clarity and its developer from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from:
- Your violation of these Terms
- Your misuse of Clarity
- Your violation of third-party rights
- Your violation of applicable laws
- Your content (if user-generated content is enabled)
Service Availability and Modifications
No Guarantee of Availability
We do NOT guarantee that Clarity will be:
- Always available or accessible
- Free from bugs or errors
- Compatible with future iOS/macOS versions
- Continuously updated with new features
Right to Modify or Discontinue
We reserve the right to:
- Modify app features at any time
- Discontinue Clarity entirely without notice
- Change content sources or availability
- Implement usage limits or restrictions
- Change from free to paid (with advance notice)
No Refunds: Since Clarity is currently free, no refunds apply.
Pricing and Payment Terms
Current Pricing
Clarity is currently provided free of charge with:
- ❌ No subscription fees
- ❌ No in-app purchases
- ❌ No advertisements
- ❌ No data selling
Future Pricing Changes
If we introduce paid features, we will:
- ✅ Provide 30 days advance notice
- ✅ Maintain a free tier with basic features
- ✅ Allow existing users to opt out before charging
- ✅ Update these Terms accordingly
Grandfathering: Early users may receive preferential pricing (at our discretion).
Privacy and Data Protection
Privacy Policy
Your use of Clarity is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.
Key Points:
- We do NOT collect personal information
- We do NOT track your behavior
- We do NOT sell your data
- See Privacy Policy for full details
User Data Rights
Since we don’t collect personal data:
- Nothing to access, delete, or export
- No data portability obligations
- No data retention policies needed
Account and Access
No Account Required
Clarity does NOT require:
- Account registration
- Email or phone number
- Password or credentials
- Social media login
Access Termination
We may terminate your access to Clarity if:
- You violate these Terms
- You engage in abusive or illegal behavior
- Required by law or legal process
- At our sole discretion for any reason
No Refunds: Termination does not entitle you to refunds (app is free).
Export Controls and Legal Compliance
Export Regulations
Clarity may be subject to export control laws. You agree:
- Not to export or re-export Clarity to prohibited countries
- To comply with U.S. Export Administration Regulations
- To comply with local import/export laws
Prohibited Locations: Countries under U.S. embargo (if applicable).
Legal Compliance
You agree to:
- Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
- Not use Clarity for illegal purposes
- Respect intellectual property rights
- Honor copyright and attribution requirements
Dispute Resolution
Governing Law
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong, without regard to conflict of law principles.
Before filing a legal claim, you agree to:
- Contact us via email: helenshlee.dev@gmail.com
- Describe the dispute in detail
- Allow 30 days for good-faith resolution attempt
Arbitration (If Applicable)
[OPTIONAL - Consult a lawyer for arbitration clauses specific to your jurisdiction]
Jurisdiction and Venue
For legal disputes that cannot be resolved informally:
- Jurisdiction: Hong Kong courts
- Venue: Hong Kong
- Language: English
Class Action Waiver
You agree to resolve disputes individually, not as part of a class action or representative proceeding (to the extent permitted by law).
Apple-Specific Terms (iOS/macOS)
App Store Agreement
Your use of Clarity downloaded from the Apple App Store is also subject to Apple’s App Store Terms of Service.
Apple as Third-Party Beneficiary
Apple is a third-party beneficiary of these Terms and may enforce them directly against you.
Developer Responsibility
- Apple is NOT responsible for Clarity’s functionality or content
- All support and maintenance is provided by us, not Apple
- Claims regarding Clarity should be directed to us, not Apple
Product Claims
In the event of Clarity’s failure to conform to warranty:
- Contact us for refund (if applicable)
- Apple has no warranty obligations
- Apple is not responsible for product liability claims
Intellectual Property Claims
If a third party claims Clarity infringes their IP rights:
- We are responsible for investigation and resolution
- Apple is not responsible for IP infringement claims
Termination
Your Right to Terminate
You may stop using Clarity at any time by:
- Deleting the app from your device
- Disabling background refresh
- No account to cancel (none required)
Our Right to Terminate
We may terminate or suspend your access to Clarity:
- Immediately, without notice
- For any reason or no reason
- Permanently or temporarily
- With or without cause
Effect of Termination
Upon termination:
- Your license to use Clarity ends immediately
- Delete the app from all devices
- These Terms survive termination (liability, indemnification, etc.)
- No refunds owed (app is free)
Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid:
- That provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary
- Remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect
- The intent of the invalid provision will be preserved to the extent possible
Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Clarity regarding use of the app. They supersede any prior agreements, understandings, or representations.
Not Included:
- Verbal agreements or promises
- Marketing materials or promotional content
- Email communications (unless explicitly incorporated)
Assignment
Your Rights
You may NOT assign or transfer these Terms or your rights under them without our written consent.
Our Rights
We may assign these Terms to:
- A successor or acquiring entity
- An affiliate or subsidiary
- Any third party, at our discretion
Waiver
Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision or our right to enforce it in the future.
Force Majeure
We are not liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including:
- Natural disasters
- War, terrorism, or civil unrest
- Internet or telecommunications failures
- Government actions or regulations
- Pandemics or public health emergencies
- Third-party service outages (Supabase, Apple, etc.)
Questions About Terms
Content Takedown Requests
Publishers may request content removal:
- Email: helenshlee.dev@gmail.com
- Subject: “Content Removal Request”
- Include: Article URL, publication date, reason for removal
Legal Notices
For legal notices or copyright claims:
- Email: helenshlee.dev@gmail.com
- Subject: “Legal Notice”
Special Provisions by Jurisdiction
California Users (USA)
Under California Civil Code Section 1789.3, you may contact the Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services:
- Address: 1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N 112, Sacramento, CA 95834
- Phone: (916) 445-1254 or (800) 952-5210
European Users (GDPR)
Since Clarity does not collect personal data, GDPR obligations do not apply. See our Privacy Policy for details.
Other Jurisdictions
Local laws may provide additional rights not specified in these Terms. We respect all applicable consumer protection laws.
Open Source License
Clarity’s backend code is licensed under the MIT License:
MIT License
Copyright (c) 2026 Helen Lee
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.
Source Code: https://github.com/helencute/Clarity-app
Summary (TL;DR)
What You Agree To:
- Use Clarity for personal, non-commercial purposes
- Respect original publishers’ copyrights
- Not reverse engineer or abuse the app
- Accept content “as is” without guarantees
What We Promise:
- Provide free news aggregation and translation
- Respect your privacy (no data collection)
- Maintain service on a best-effort basis
- Update Terms transparently
What We Don’t Promise:
- Perfect accuracy of translations or summaries
- Uninterrupted availability
- Specific features or content sources
- Liability for damages (app is free)
Your Rights:
- Stop using Clarity anytime (just delete the app)
- Contact us with questions or concerns
- Request content removal (if you’re the publisher)
Questions or Concerns?
We’re here to help. Contact us:
📧 Email: helenshlee.dev@gmail.com
🐛 Issues: GitHub Issues
💬 Response: Within 7 business days
Version History
- v1.0 (March 22, 2026): Initial Terms of Service
These Terms of Service are effective as of March 22, 2026.
By using Clarity, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.
Clarity is provided by an individual developer committed to transparency and user rights.