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Terms of Service

Effective March 5, 2026  ·  Last updated March 5, 2026

  • ✅ Your stuff is yours. We don't own your messages, photos, or posts. You do.
  • 🔒 We don't sell your data. Not now, not ever. We're not that kind of app.
  • 🤝 Be kind to each other. Don't harass, bully, or do anything illegal. Basically, don't be a jerk.
  • 🔐 Keep your password safe. Your account is your responsibility. Don't share your login.
  • 👤 Kids need a parent. Under 13? A parent or guardian needs to set up your account.
  • 🚫 We can ban bad actors. If you break the rules, we might suspend or remove your account.
  • 📝 We might update these terms. We'll give you a heads up if anything big changes.
  • Questions? Email us at contact@use-circles.com anytime.

This summary is here to be helpful, but it's not legally binding. Check the For lawyers section at the top for the full terms.

Welcome to Circles. By using our app or website you agree to these Terms of Service ("Terms"). Please read them carefully. If you do not agree, do not use Circles.

Contents

  1. Acceptance of Terms
  2. Eligibility & Age Requirements
  3. Accounts & Registration
  4. Acceptable Use
  5. User Content
  6. Intellectual Property
  7. Privacy
  8. Termination & Suspension
  9. Disclaimers
  10. Limitation of Liability
  11. Indemnification
  12. Dispute Resolution
  13. Changes to These Terms
  14. General Provisions
  15. Contact Us

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("you" or "User") and [Your Company Name] ("Circles," "we," "us," or "our"), the operator of the Circles application and related services (collectively, the "Service"). By creating an account, accessing, or using the Service in any way, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

If you are using the Service on behalf of an organization, you represent and warrant that you have authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

2. Eligibility & Age Requirements

Circles is available to users of all ages, subject to the following conditions:

  • Children under 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction): A parent or legal guardian must create and supervise the child's account. By creating an account for a child, the parent or guardian agrees to these Terms on the child's behalf and accepts full responsibility for the child's use of the Service. We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the United States and equivalent laws in other jurisdictions. See our Privacy Policy for details on how we handle children's data.
  • Users aged 13–17 (or below the age of majority in your jurisdiction): You represent that you have obtained the consent of a parent or legal guardian to use the Service and that they have reviewed and agreed to these Terms.
  • Adults (18+): You represent that you are at least 18 years old, or the age of majority in your jurisdiction, whichever is greater.

We reserve the right to request proof of age or parental consent at any time and to suspend or terminate accounts that do not meet these requirements.

3. Accounts & Registration

To use certain features of the Service, you must register for an account. When you register, you agree to:

  • Provide accurate, current, and complete information.
  • Maintain and promptly update your account information.
  • Keep your login credentials confidential and not share them with any third party.
  • Notify us immediately at contact@use-circles.com if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.

You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account, whether or not you authorized it. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to secure your account.

4. Acceptable Use

Circles is designed to help you connect privately with the people you choose. You agree not to use the Service to:

  • Harass, bully, threaten, stalk, or intimidate other users.
  • Post, share, or transmit content that is unlawful, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, hateful, or that promotes violence or discrimination.
  • Share content involving the sexual exploitation or abuse of minors in any form.
  • Impersonate any person or entity, or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity.
  • Distribute spam, chain letters, or unsolicited commercial messages.
  • Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or any other malicious code.
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other users' accounts, our systems, or any connected networks.
  • Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Service.
  • Use automated means (bots, scrapers, crawlers) to access or interact with the Service without our prior written consent.
  • Use the Service for any illegal purpose or in violation of any applicable local, national, or international law.
  • Engage in any activity that interferes with or disrupts the Service or the servers and networks connected to it.

We reserve the right to investigate and take appropriate action against anyone who, in our sole discretion, violates these rules, including removing content, suspending or terminating accounts, and reporting violations to law enforcement.

5. User Content

Ownership. You retain ownership of all content you create, upload, post, or share through the Service ("User Content"). Circles does not claim ownership of your User Content.

License Grant. By posting User Content, you grant Circles a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, and distribute your User Content solely for the purpose of operating, improving, and providing the Service to you and your chosen contacts. This license ends when you delete your User Content or your account, except where your content has been shared with others and they have not deleted it, or where retention is required by law.

Your Responsibilities. You are solely responsible for your User Content. You represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary rights to post your User Content and that it does not infringe the intellectual property or other rights of any third party.

Content Moderation. While Circles is a private platform, we reserve the right (but are not obligated) to review, monitor, or remove User Content that violates these Terms or applicable law. We may use automated tools and human review to detect content that violates our policies, particularly content that endangers children.

6. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its design, features, functionality, logos, trademarks, and underlying technology, is owned by or licensed to Circles and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of the Service or its content, nor may you reverse engineer or attempt to extract the source code of the software, unless applicable law expressly permits it.

"Circles" and associated logos are trademarks of [Your Company Name]. You may not use them without our prior written consent.

7. Privacy

Your privacy matters to us. Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share your personal information. By using the Service, you consent to our data practices as described in the Privacy Policy. The Privacy Policy is incorporated into and forms part of these Terms.

8. Termination & Suspension

By You. You may delete your account at any time through the app settings or by contacting us at contact@use-circles.com. Upon deletion, we will remove your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy, subject to any legal retention obligations.

By Us. We may suspend or terminate your account, or restrict your access to all or part of the Service, at any time and for any reason, including but not limited to:

  • Violation of these Terms or any applicable law.
  • Conduct that we determine, in our sole discretion, is harmful to other users, third parties, or the Service.
  • Extended periods of inactivity.
  • Requests by law enforcement or government agencies.

Where practicable, we will provide notice before or at the time of suspension or termination, along with an explanation of the reason. You may appeal a suspension or termination by contacting contact@use-circles.com.

Effect of Termination. Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately. Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination (including but not limited to Sections 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12) will continue to apply.

9. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, CIRCLES DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE.

We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, that defects will be corrected, or that the Service or the servers that make it available are free of viruses or other harmful components. We do not endorse, guarantee, or assume responsibility for any User Content or third-party content, product, or service.

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL CIRCLES, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY (CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE), EVEN IF CIRCLES HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNTS YOU HAVE PAID TO CIRCLES IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (USD $100).

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES. IN SUCH JURISDICTIONS, OUR LIABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Circles and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use of the Service; (b) your User Content; (c) your violation of these Terms; or (d) your violation of any third-party rights.

12. Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution. Before filing a formal legal claim, you agree to contact us at contact@use-circles.com and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least thirty (30) days.

Governing Law. These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [Your Jurisdiction], without regard to its conflict of law principles.

Arbitration. If we cannot resolve a dispute informally, you and Circles agree to resolve any claims relating to these Terms or the Service through final and binding arbitration administered by [Arbitration Body, e.g., JAMS or AAA] under its then-current rules, except that either party may bring claims in small claims court if eligible. The arbitration shall take place in [City, Country] (or remotely, at your election). The arbitrator's decision will be final and enforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction.

Class Action Waiver. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YOU AND CIRCLES AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.

Exceptions. Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief in court for matters related to intellectual property, data security, or unauthorized access.

Note: Arbitration clauses and class action waivers may not be enforceable in all jurisdictions. Where prohibited by law, the courts of your jurisdiction will have exclusive jurisdiction.

13. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you by posting the updated Terms within the app, sending you a push notification or email, or by other reasonable means at least thirty (30) days before the changes take effect. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page will be revised accordingly.

Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of the updated Terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree with the revised Terms, you must stop using the Service and delete your account.

14. General Provisions

  • Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Circles regarding the Service and supersede all prior agreements.
  • Severability. If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
  • Waiver. Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.
  • Assignment. You may not assign or transfer your rights under these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations without restriction.
  • No Third-Party Beneficiaries. These Terms do not confer any third-party beneficiary rights.
  • Force Majeure. Circles shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, war, terrorism, pandemics, government actions, or failures of third-party services.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about these Terms, please contact us:

  • Email: contact@use-circles.com
  • Mailing Address: [Your Company Name], [Street Address], [City, State/Province, Postal Code, Country]
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