Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Living Yard ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Service.

2. Description of Service

Living Yard is a web application that helps users:

• Discover native plants suitable for their region
• Track plants in their garden
• Log wildlife observations
• Understand the ecological impact of their landscaping choices
• Learn about food web relationships between plants and wildlife

3. Account Registration

To use certain features of the Service, you must create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information
• Maintain the security of your password
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use

4. User Conduct

You agree not to:

• Use the Service for any unlawful purpose
• Upload malicious content, viruses, or harmful code
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Service
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or its servers
• Scrape, crawl, or use automated means to access the Service without permission
• Impersonate others or misrepresent your affiliation
• Upload content that infringes on others' intellectual property rights

5. User Content

You retain ownership of content you upload (photos, observations, notes). By uploading content, you grant us a limited license to:

• Store and display your content within the Service
• Process photos for AI-powered species identification
• Use anonymized, aggregated data to improve the Service

You are responsible for ensuring you have the right to upload any content you submit.

6. Free Service

Living Yard is provided as a free service. All features are available to all users at no cost. We reserve the right to introduce paid features in the future, but existing free features will remain accessible.

7. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its design, features, and content (excluding user-uploaded content), is owned by Living Yard and protected by intellectual property laws. You may not:

• Copy, modify, or distribute the Service without permission
• Use our trademarks or branding without authorization
• Reverse engineer or attempt to extract source code

8. Data Sources and Accuracy

The Service includes plant and wildlife data from various sources including GBIF, iNaturalist, USDA PLANTS Database, and academic research. While we strive for accuracy:

• Information is provided for educational purposes only
• We do not guarantee the accuracy of species identifications
• Native range data is approximate and may vary by microclimate
• Always verify plant selections with local experts before planting

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT:

• The Service will be uninterrupted or error-free
• Results from using the Service will be accurate or reliable
• The Service will meet your specific requirements

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, LIVING YARD SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, OR GOODWILL, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE.

Our total liability for any claims related to the Service shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim, or $100, whichever is greater.

11. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account at any time for violations of these Terms. You may delete your account at any time through your profile settings. Upon termination:

• Your access to the Service will cease immediately
• Your data will be deleted in accordance with our Privacy Policy
• Any outstanding subscription fees remain due

12. Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting a notice on the Service or sending an email. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States. Any disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration or in the courts of the state where Living Yard is headquartered.

14. Contact Us

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