The rules of using PuzzleTide.

1) Acceptance

By accessing or using the Services, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Services.

2) Eligibility & Accounts

• You must be at least 13 years old to use the Services. If you are 13–17, a parent or guardian should review these Terms.
• Account registration (when available) requires a valid email. Keep credentials confidential; you are responsible for all activity under your account.
• Authorized team members may access restricted management tools subject to these Terms.

3) User Content & License

• You retain ownership of puzzles, word lists, clues, comments, and other content you submit ("User Content").
• You grant PuzzleTide a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, reproduce, adapt, publish, display, distribute, and create derivative works from User Content solely to operate, promote, and improve the Services.
• You must have the rights to the content you submit and ensure it does not infringe others’ rights.
• Do not include personal data in word lists or puzzle text. Submissions may be moderated (including via automated tools) and may be rejected or removed.

4) Puzzle Maker & AI Features

Puzzle creation tools may send text you enter to third-party AI services to generate clues or perform moderation. You are responsible for the prompts and outputs you choose to publish. AI outputs are provided for convenience and may contain inaccuracies; review them before sharing.

5) Acceptable Use

• No illegal, infringing, hateful, violent, or sexually explicit content (including content involving minors).
• No personal data about yourself or others in puzzles (emails, phone numbers, addresses, IDs).
• No attempts to interfere with security, scrape at scale, or disrupt servers or networks.
• No automated use that degrades performance or bypasses rate limits.
• No impersonation of PuzzleTide or misrepresentation of affiliation.

6) Intellectual Property

• The Services, including site design, code, puzzle formats, and branding, are owned by PuzzleTide and its licensors.
• Except for your User Content, you receive a limited, revocable, non-transferable license to access and use the Services for personal, non-commercial entertainment and education.
• Downloading printable puzzles is permitted for personal or classroom use; commercial redistribution requires written permission.

7) Third-Party Services

The Services rely on third parties for hosting, analytics, and AI. Their terms may apply. We are not responsible for third-party services, sites, or content.

8) Disclaimers

The Services are provided "as is" and "as available." To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

9) Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, PuzzleTide will not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages, or for lost profits, revenues, data, or goodwill. In all cases, our total liability for claims relating to the Services will not exceed USD $100 or the amount you paid to us in the past 12 months (whichever is greater).

10) Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold PuzzleTide harmless from claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the Services or your User Content, except to the extent caused by our own negligence or intentional misconduct.

11) Suspension & Termination

• We may suspend or terminate access at our discretion for violations of these Terms, legal requirements, security risks, or technical reasons.
• You may stop using the Services at any time. Certain obligations (e.g., licenses you grant, indemnities, limitations of liability) survive termination.

12) Governing Law & Venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States and the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Courts located in Delaware will have exclusive jurisdiction, except where local law requires otherwise. Mandatory consumer protection laws of your country of residence still apply.

13) Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms to reflect service changes, legal requirements, or security needs. Material changes will be posted with a new "Last updated" date and, where required, additional notice. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.