Terms and Conditions for Locae

Last Updated: July 08, 2025

Welcome to Locae, a location-based social app that allows you to connect with nearby people through profiles, private messaging, and stories, and discover local stores (e.g., clothing, kirana, furniture shops). These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of the Locae mobile application ("App") and related services provided by Locae ("we," "us," or "our"). By downloading, accessing, or using the App, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By using the App, you confirm that you are at least 13 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms. If you are using the App on behalf of a business (e.g., as a shop owner), you represent that you have the authority to bind that business to these Terms. We may update these Terms from time to time, and the updated version will be effective upon posting in the App or on our website at /terms-and-conditions. Your continued use of the App after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

2. Account Registration and Responsibilities

a. Account Creation

  • To use certain features of the App (e.g., creating a profile, messaging, or setting up a store), you must register an account using a valid email address and password.
  • Normal Users: You may provide optional profile information (e.g., name, age, gender, photo, bio) to personalize your experience.
  • Shop Owners: You may provide store details (e.g., store name, category, product listings, one-time location) to create a discoverable store profile.
  • You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities under your account.

b. Account Security

  • Notify us immediately at support@locae.in if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.
  • We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to protect your account credentials.

c. Accurate Information

  • You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update it as needed.
  • Providing false or misleading information (e.g., fake store details or user profiles) may result in account termination.

3. Use of the App

a. Permitted Use

  • The App is intended for personal use by normal users to connect with others and discover local stores, and for shop owners to promote their businesses.
  • You may use the App to:
    • Create and manage user or store profiles.
    • Send and receive private messages or share stories (normal users only).
    • Discover nearby users or stores based on location.
    • View and interact with advertisements displayed via AdMob.

b. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

  • Use the App for illegal, harmful, or unauthorized purposes.
  • Post or share content that is offensive, defamatory, obscene, or infringes on others' rights (e.g., intellectual property, privacy).
  • Harass, bully, or discriminate against other users based on race, gender, religion, or other protected characteristics.
  • Impersonate another person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation with a business.
  • Use automated tools (e.g., bots, scrapers) to access or collect data from the App.
  • Attempt to hack, disrupt, or overload the App's servers or infrastructure.
  • Share malicious content, such as viruses or malware.
  • Use the App to solicit or engage in commercial activities outside of authorized shop owner features.

c. Content Guidelines

  • User-generated content (e.g., profiles, messages, stories, store listings) must comply with these Terms and applicable laws.
  • We reserve the right to remove or moderate content that violates these Terms, at our sole discretion.

4. Location-Based Services

  • Normal Users: The App uses your precise location (with permission) to show nearby users and stores. Only your most recent location is stored, updated via an "upsert" process. You can disable location sharing in the App's settings, which will prevent your profile from appearing in searches.
  • Shop Owners: You provide a one-time store location (with permission) for discovery by normal users. You can update or request deletion of this location via the App's settings or by contacting us.
  • We are not responsible for inaccuracies in location data provided by your device or for any consequences arising from location sharing.

5. Intellectual Property

a. Our Content

  • The App, including its design, code, logos, and content (excluding user-generated content), is owned by Locae or our licensors and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.
  • You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works of our content without our written permission.

b. Your Content

  • You retain ownership of content you create (e.g., profiles, messages, store listings, photos).
  • By posting content, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, store, display, and distribute it solely to operate and provide the App's services (e.g., showing your store profile to nearby users).
  • You represent that you have the right to share your content and that it does not infringe on third-party rights.

c. Third-Party Content

  • Content from other users or third parties (e.g., AdMob ads) is their responsibility. We are not liable for such content's accuracy or legality.

6. Third-Party Services

  • The App uses third-party services, including:
    • Firebase (by Google): For authentication and messaging.
    • Supabase: For storing profiles, location, and notification data.
    • Wasabi Cloud Storage: For media files (e.g., photos, videos).
    • AdMob (by Google): For displaying advertisements.
  • These services are governed by their own terms and privacy policies, linked in our Privacy Policy. You agree to comply with their terms when using the App.

7. Payments and Fees

  • The App is currently free to use for both normal users and shop owners, supported by AdMob advertisements.
  • We may introduce premium features or fees in the future. If so, we will notify you, and your continued use will constitute agreement to any applicable fees.
  • Shop owners are responsible for any taxes or legal obligations related to their business activities on the App.

8. Termination

  • By You: You may stop using the App or delete your account at any time. To delete your account and associated data, contact us at support@locae.in.
  • By Us: We may suspend or terminate your account or access to the App if you violate these Terms, engage in prohibited conduct, or for any reason at our discretion, with or without notice.
  • Upon termination, your right to use the App ceases, but these Terms' provisions (e.g., intellectual property, liability) will survive.

9. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

a. Disclaimers

  • The App is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose or uninterrupted access.
  • We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or safety of user-generated content, location data, or third-party services (e.g., AdMob ads).
  • Interactions with other users or stores are at your own risk. We are not responsible for disputes or harm arising from such interactions.

b. Limitation of Liability

  • To the fullest extent permitted by law, Locae, its affiliates, and service providers will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the App, even if advised of such damages.
  • Our total liability for any claim related to the App will not exceed $100 USD or the amount you paid us (if any) in the past 12 months.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Locae, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and employees from any claims, damages, or losses arising from your use of the App, violation of these Terms, or infringement of third-party rights (e.g., posting unauthorized content).

11. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

  • These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, USA, without regard to conflict of law principles.
  • Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the App will be resolved through binding arbitration in California, USA, administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, unless prohibited by law. You waive any right to participate in class actions.
  • For users in the European Union, you may also have access to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms under EU law.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms or need assistance, contact us at:

13. Miscellaneous

  • Entire Agreement: These Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Locae regarding the App.
  • Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found invalid, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.
  • No Waiver: Our failure to enforce any right or provision does not waive that right or provision.
  • Assignment: We may assign these Terms to another entity (e.g., in case of a merger). You may not assign your rights without our consent.

Thank you for using Locae! We're committed to providing a safe and enjoyable platform for connecting with others and discovering local stores. If anything in these Terms is unclear, please reach out.