Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using Pieces ("the Service", "we", "our", or "us"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Pieces regarding your use of our publishing platform and any related services. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Service.

1.1 Eligibility

By using the Service, you represent and warrant that:

You are at least 18 years old, or the age of majority in your jurisdiction (whichever is greater), and have full legal capacity to enter into binding contracts
You are not barred from using the Service under applicable law
You will comply with these Terms and all applicable laws and regulations

1.2 Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. See Section 17 for details on how changes are communicated and your options.

2. Description of Service

Pieces is the pre-information market for digital content. A creator publishes a Piece with a funding goal, a deadline, and a kickback percentage they elect to share with bonders. Bonders stake into a bond pool that is capped at a fixed bond target. Backers contribute toward the goal, with backing capped so the goal is never exceeded. The moment backing reaches the goal, the Piece funds instantly: the creator is paid, the content is released publicly, and bonders are refunded their stake plus a kickback (paid out of the creator's earnings, split pro-rata across all bonders based on the kickback percentage selected at publish time). If the deadline passes without reaching the goal, bonders forfeit their stake and backers receive a refund plus a pro-rata share of the forfeited bond pool. The Service includes, but is not limited to:

Content funding through Pieces
Cryptocurrency payment processing and smart contracts
Public content release upon successful funding
Refund and kickback distribution systems
Creator and supporter account management

Creators may participate in their own Pieces as backers and bonders from their own account, on the same terms as any other participant.

2.1 Service Availability

While we strive to ensure high availability, we do not guarantee that the Service will be uninterrupted or error-free. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service without notice.

2.2 Beta Features

We may offer beta features for testing and evaluation. These features are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, and we may modify, suspend, or discontinue them at any time without notice.

3. User Accounts

You must create an account to access certain features of the Service. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account information and for all activities that occur under your account.

3.1 Account Security

Keep your credentials secure and do not share them with third parties
Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access or security breaches

3.2 Account Requirements

Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
Maintain and promptly update your account information
One account per individual or business entity unless explicitly authorized
Professional or business accounts must be authorized by the respective organization

3.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that:

Violate these Terms or our Content Guidelines
Engage in fraudulent or illegal activities
Pose a security risk to the Service or other users
Remain inactive for an extended period
Are subject to valid complaints from other users

Upon termination, you will lose access to your account and associated features. Funds held within smart contracts are subject to the contract's rules. Funds in your personal non-custodial wallet remain under your control; we cannot seize funds from wallets we do not custody.

3.4 Identity Verification

We or our service providers may require identity verification to comply with applicable Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. You agree to provide accurate identification information upon request. Failure to complete verification may limit access to certain features of the Service.

4. Data Privacy

Your use of the Service is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Service, you consent to the collection, use, and sharing of information as described in our Privacy Policy.

4.1 International Users

For users subject to GDPR or similar data protection regulations, we process personal data in accordance with applicable requirements and will respond to data subject rights requests.

5. Piece Operations and Fees

A 3% platform fee is charged to creators only on successfully funded Pieces. Pieces reserves the right to adjust fees in the future with notice to users.

5.1 Platform Fees

The current platform fee is 3%. The following applies:

When funded: a 3% platform fee is deducted from the creator's earnings before payment
No platform fee is charged on refunds, backer bonuses, or bonder kickbacks, or on Pieces that do not reach their funding goal

5.2 Piece Limits

We may impose limits on funding goals, backing amounts, durations, and number of active Pieces to ensure platform stability.

5.3 Non-Custodial Model and Smart Contracts

The Service operates through smart contracts. Transactions are public and irreversible. Refunds, fund distributions, and content release follow the contract's immutable logic and may be subject to network delays.

We do not hold or custody your funds or private keys
All transactions are initiated and authorized by your wallet
We cannot reverse or modify on-chain transactions
Events, indexing, and confirmations may be delayed by the network

5.4 Wallet and Gas Fees

You are responsible for your wallet security. We will never ask for your private keys. Gas fees are sponsored for all transactions on our platform.

6. Intellectual Property

The Service and its original content, features, and functionality are owned by Pieces and are protected by international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.

6.1 License Grant

Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable license to:

Access and use the Service for its intended purpose
Create and manage Pieces within the platform
Integrate the Service with authorized third-party services
Download and use any client-side software we provide

7. User Content

You retain ownership of intellectual property rights in content you submit to the Service. By submitting content, you grant Pieces specific rights and licenses as detailed below.

7.1 Content License

You grant Pieces a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license (with the right to sublicense) to:

Use, host, store, and process your content to provide the Service
Distribute your content publicly when Pieces are funded
Create derivative works necessary for Service functionality
Display content to authorized users and supporters

7.2 Content Restrictions

You agree not to submit content that violates our Content Guidelines, including but not limited to:

Child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
Terrorism or violent extremism content
Non-consensual intimate imagery
Pornographic or sexually explicit material
Graphic violence or gore
Hateful content targeting protected groups
Content promoting self-harm or suicide
Infringement on intellectual property rights
Content that violates privacy or publicity rights
Malware or malicious code
Content that facilitates illegal activities

Content is automatically screened for prohibited material. Violations will result in content removal and may result in account termination.

7.3 Preview Content

Preview content is provided by creators and is optional. Creators may include preview files that are publicly visible to potential backers before the Piece funds. Preview content must comply with these Terms and the Content Guidelines. Creators are responsible for ensuring previews are a fair representation of their content. Consistently misleading previews may result in rating penalties or account action.

7.4 Copyright Claims

If you believe content on Pieces infringes your copyright, please see our DMCA Policy for information on how to submit a takedown notice.

8. Prohibited Uses and Conduct

You agree not to use the Service in any manner that could interfere with, disable, disrupt, overburden, or impair the Service.

8.1 Prohibited Activities

Any unlawful purpose or illegal activities
Violation of laws, regulations, or third-party rights
Transmission of malware or harmful code
Impersonation or misrepresentation
Interference with the Service's operation
Unauthorized access attempts
Data mining or scraping without permission
Circumvention of security measures

8.2 Prohibited Financial Conduct

The following financial behaviors are strictly prohibited:

Proxy or Sock-Puppet Backing: Routing backings or bonds through other accounts, wallets, or third parties to misrepresent organic demand. Creators may openly back and bond their own Pieces from their own account.
Rating Manipulation: Artificially inflating your creator rating through fraudulent backings, fake accounts, or purchased votes
Sybil Attacks: Operating multiple accounts to gain unfair advantages, circumvent restrictions, or inflate metrics
Wash Trading: Engaging in transactions with yourself or coordinating transactions to artificially inflate volume or activity
Market Manipulation: Any coordinated activity intended to manipulate funding outcomes or deceive users
Money Laundering: Using the platform to conceal the origins of illegally obtained funds or to facilitate money laundering activities

Violations of prohibited financial conduct may result in immediate account termination.

8.3 Smart Contract Restrictions

No manipulation of Piece parameters
No unauthorized access to smart contracts
No reverse engineering of our systems
No interference with security features

9. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to the Service immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason.

9.1 Effects of Termination

Immediate cessation of access to all Services
Data retention according to our policies
Survival of relevant Terms provisions

9.2 Funds Upon Termination

Upon account termination:

Funds in your personal non-custodial wallet remain under your control; we cannot access or seize these funds
Funds held within smart contracts (creator commitments, backed funds) are subject to the contract's rules
Active Pieces may be suspended or removed from public view
Backers retain their rights to refunds per the smart contract logic

10. Disclaimers and Risks

Cryptocurrency prices are volatile; values may fluctuate significantly
Smart contracts may contain undiscovered bugs despite review
Network forks, upgrades, or disruptions can impact transactions
Regulatory changes may affect Service availability or features

10.1 Not Financial, Legal, or Tax Advice

Nothing in the Service constitutes legal, tax, investment, or financial advice. You are solely responsible for determining the tax implications of your transactions. Consult qualified professionals for advice specific to your situation. We do not guarantee any financial returns or outcomes.

10.2 No Investment Product

Pieces is the pre-information market for digital content. Backing or bonding a Piece is not an investment and does not constitute the purchase of a security, share, or financial instrument. Outcomes are determined entirely by the smart contract: if a Piece is funded, backers receive public access to the content and bonders are refunded their stake plus a kickback (based on the kickback percentage set by the creator at publish time); if it is not funded, backers receive a refund plus a pro-rata share of the forfeited bonds, and the content is not released. No financial returns or outcomes are promised.

11. Warranty Disclaimer

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 LAW, PIECES DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT
WARRANTIES THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE
WARRANTIES REGARDING THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY CONTENT
WARRANTIES THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED OR THAT THE SERVICE IS FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS
WARRANTIES REGARDING SMART CONTRACT FUNCTIONALITY, BLOCKCHAIN NETWORK AVAILABILITY, OR TRANSACTION FINALITY

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU USE THE SERVICE AT YOUR OWN RISK. ANY MATERIAL DOWNLOADED OR OTHERWISE OBTAINED THROUGH THE SERVICE IS DONE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK.

12. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL PIECES, ITS DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, PARTNERS, AGENTS, SUPPLIERS, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION:

LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES
LOSSES RESULTING FROM UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR USE OF OUR SERVERS OR ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION STORED THEREIN
LOSSES RESULTING FROM SMART CONTRACT BUGS, EXPLOITS, OR VULNERABILITIES
LOSSES RESULTING FROM BLOCKCHAIN NETWORK FAILURES, FORKS, ATTACKS, OR PROTOCOL CHANGES
LOSSES RESULTING FROM HACKS, SECURITY BREACHES, OR THIRD-PARTY ATTACKS ON THE SERVICE OR UNDERLYING INFRASTRUCTURE
LOSSES RESULTING FROM THE CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE SERVICE
LOSSES RESULTING FROM ANY CONTENT OR CONDUCT OF ANY USER
LOSSES ARISING FROM REGULATORY ACTIONS OR CHANGES IN LAW

IN NO EVENT SHALL PIECES'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SERVICE EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO PIECES IN PLATFORM FEES DURING THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100).

THE LIMITATIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY TO ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, STATUTE, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR OTHERWISE, AND WHETHER OR NOT PIECES HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY SUCH DAMAGE.

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. IN SUCH JURISDICTIONS, OUR LIABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

13. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Pieces, its directors, officers, employees, agents, licensors, and service providers from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees) arising from:

Your use of and access to the Service
Your violation of these Terms
Your violation of any third-party right, including intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights
Any content you submit, post, or transmit through the Service
Your conduct in connection with the Service
Any claim that your content caused damage to a third party

This indemnification obligation will survive the termination of these Terms and your use of the Service.

14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Delaware, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

15. Dispute Resolution

15.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating any formal dispute resolution, you agree to first contact us at [email protected] to attempt to resolve the dispute informally. We will attempt to resolve the dispute within 30 days.

15.2 Arbitration Agreement

If the dispute cannot be resolved informally, you and Pieces agree to resolve any claims relating to these Terms or the Service through final and binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules.

Arbitration will be conducted in English
The arbitrator's decision will be final and binding
Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction
Each party will bear its own costs, unless otherwise awarded by the arbitrator

15.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action. If this class action waiver is found to be unenforceable, then the entirety of this arbitration agreement shall be null and void.

15.4 Exceptions

Either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent the actual or threatened infringement, misappropriation, or violation of intellectual property rights.

16. Force Majeure

Pieces shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, network failures, blockchain disruptions, or regulatory changes.

17. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes via email or prominent notice on the Service. Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

18. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms or the Service, contact us at [email protected].

19. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of these Terms. The remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect, and the invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable while preserving its original intent.

20. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, Content Guidelines, and DMCA Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Pieces regarding your use of the Service. These Terms supersede all prior agreements, communications, and understandings, whether oral or written, regarding the subject matter herein.

No waiver of any term of these Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term. Our failure to assert any right or provision under these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.