Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

By accessing and using PlanningForge ("Service," "we," "us," or "our"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Service.

2. Description of Service

PlanningForge is a cloud-based agile planning and estimation platform designed to help software development teams:

• Conduct planning poker sessions and story estimation
• Manage user stories and backlogs
• Collaborate on project planning and sprint planning
• Utilize AI-powered features for story analysis and estimation suggestions
• Generate team performance insights and analytics

3. User Accounts and Registration

3.1 Account Creation

To use our Service, you must create an account by providing accurate, current, and complete information. You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use
• Keeping your account information up to date

3.2 Account Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years old to create an account
• You must have the legal authority to enter into this agreement
• You must not be prohibited from using our Service under applicable laws
• One person may not maintain multiple accounts

3.3 Organization Accounts

Organization administrators are responsible for:

• Managing user access and permissions within their organization
• Ensuring compliance with these Terms by all organization members
• Maintaining accurate billing and subscription information
• Data governance and privacy settings for their organization

4. Acceptable Use Policy

4.1 Permitted Uses

You may use our Service for legitimate business purposes related to agile project planning, estimation, and team collaboration.

4.2 Prohibited Uses

You agree not to:

• Use the Service for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
• Violate any laws, regulations, or third-party rights
• Upload malicious code, viruses, or harmful content
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers
• Use automated tools to access or scrape the Service
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Service
• Remove or alter any proprietary notices or labels
• Use the Service to compete with us or develop competing products
• Share your account access with unauthorized third parties

4.3 Content Standards

Content you submit must not:

• Contain personal information of individuals without consent
• Infringe on intellectual property rights
• Contain offensive, discriminatory, or harmful material
• Include confidential information you're not authorized to share
• Violate privacy laws or regulations

5. Subscription Plans and Billing

5.1 Subscription Tiers

We offer various subscription plans with different features and usage limits. Current plans and pricing are available on our website.

5.2 Billing Terms

• Subscriptions are billed in advance on a monthly or annual basis
• All fees are non-refundable unless otherwise specified
• We may change pricing with 30 days' notice
• Late payments may result in service suspension
• You're responsible for all taxes and fees

5.3 AI Feature Billing

AI-powered features may incur additional charges based on usage:

• Charges are calculated based on AI provider costs and usage volume
• Organizations can set monthly AI budgets and usage limits
• Usage tracking and billing reports are available in your account
• AI features may be suspended if budget limits are exceeded

5.4 Free Trial and Cancellation

• Free trials are available for new customers with limitations
• You may cancel your subscription at any time
• Cancellations take effect at the end of the current billing period
• Data access may be limited after cancellation

6. Data and Privacy

6.1 Your Data

You retain ownership of all data you submit to our Service. We process your data according to our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

6.2 Data Security

• We implement industry-standard security measures
• Data is encrypted in transit and at rest
• Regular security audits and monitoring are performed
• Access controls and authentication mechanisms are enforced

6.3 Data Processing for AI Features

When you enable AI features:

• Your content may be processed by third-party AI providers
• You can control data sharing through privacy mode settings
• Anonymized data may be used to improve our AI models
• You can disable AI features at any time

6.4 Data Backup and Recovery

• We maintain regular backups of your data
• Data recovery services are available upon request
• You're responsible for maintaining your own data copies
• We're not liable for data loss due to user actions

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 Our Intellectual Property

PlanningForge and all related trademarks, logos, and intellectual property are owned by us. You may not use our intellectual property without explicit written permission.

7.2 User Content License

You grant us a limited, non-exclusive license to:

• Host, store, and process your content to provide the Service
• Use anonymized, aggregated data to improve our Service
• Create derivative works necessary for Service provision
• Share content within your organization as you direct

7.3 Third-Party Content

Our Service may include third-party content or integrate with third-party services. Such content is subject to the respective third party's terms and conditions.

7.4 DMCA Compliance

We respond to valid DMCA takedown notices. If you believe your copyrighted work has been used without authorization, please contact us with detailed information about the alleged infringement.

8. Service Availability and Support

8.1 Service Level

• We strive to maintain 99.9% uptime for our Service
• Scheduled maintenance will be announced in advance
• Emergency maintenance may occur without notice
• Service availability may vary by subscription tier

8.2 Customer Support

• Support is provided via email and in-app messaging
• Response times vary by subscription tier and issue severity
• Premium support may be available for enterprise customers
• Community forums and documentation are available to all users

8.3 Service Modifications

We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of our Service at any time with reasonable notice. We're not liable for any modifications or discontinuation of Service features.

9. Termination

9.1 Termination by You

• You may terminate your account at any time
• Cancellation takes effect at the end of your billing period
• You remain responsible for charges incurred before termination
• You can export your data before termination

9.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account if you:

• Violate these Terms or our policies
• Fail to pay required fees
• Engage in prohibited or harmful activities
• Provide false or misleading information

9.3 Effect of Termination

• Your access to the Service will be immediately suspended
• Your data may be deleted after 30 days
• Outstanding fees remain due and payable
• Provisions of these Terms that should survive will continue to apply

10. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

10.1 Service Disclaimers

OUR SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING:

• Merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose
• Accuracy, reliability, or completeness of content
• Uninterrupted or error-free operation
• Security or freedom from viruses or harmful code

10.2 AI Feature Disclaimers

• AI-generated suggestions are for informational purposes only
• We don't guarantee the accuracy of AI predictions or analyses
• Users should exercise their own judgment in decision-making
• AI features depend on third-party providers and may be subject to limitations

10.3 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OUR LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE IS LIMITED TO:

• The amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim
• Direct damages only (no indirect, consequential, or punitive damages)
• Actual damages proven with reasonable certainty

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claims, damages, costs, or expenses arising from:

• Your use of the Service or violation of these Terms
• Content you submit or share through the Service
• Infringement of third-party rights
• Your organization's use of the Service by its members

12. Dispute Resolution

12.1 Informal Resolution

Before filing any formal dispute, you agree to contact us to seek informal resolution of any issues.

12.2 Binding Arbitration

Any disputes that cannot be resolved informally will be settled through binding arbitration rather than court proceedings, except for:

• Small claims court disputes under applicable limits
• Intellectual property disputes
• Injunctive relief requests

12.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree to pursue disputes individually and waive any right to participate in class actions or collective proceedings.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of [Your Jurisdiction] without regard to conflict of law principles. Any legal proceedings must be brought in the courts of [Your Jurisdiction].

14. International Users

Our Service is operated from [Your Country/Region]. Users outside this jurisdiction use the Service at their own risk and are responsible for compliance with local laws.

15. Accessibility

We strive to make our Service accessible to users with disabilities and comply with applicable accessibility standards. If you encounter accessibility barriers, please contact us.

16. Export Controls

The Service may be subject to export control laws. You agree to comply with all applicable export and import laws and regulations.

17. Updates to Terms

We may modify these Terms from time to time. We'll notify you of material changes by:

• Posting updated Terms on our website
• Sending email notifications to registered users
• Providing in-app notifications

Continued use of the Service after changes constitute acceptance of the updated Terms.

18. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

19. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other referenced policies, constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Service.

20. Contact Information

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

21. Effective Date

These Terms of Service are effective as of October 23, 2025 and apply to all users of PlanningForge.