Terms of Service for chesszone.io
Effective Date: January 7, 2025
Welcome to chesszone.io, your platform for playing chess, solving puzzles, and engaging with the chess community. By accessing or using our services, you agree to these Terms of Service ("Terms"). Please read them carefully.
1. Acceptance of Terms
By creating an account, accessing, or using chesszone.io (the "Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you may not use our services.
2. Description of Services
chesszone.io provides the following services:
- Playing chess games against other users or bots.
- Solving chess puzzles to improve skills.
- Account creation to track progress, achievements, and game history.
- Participation in leaderboards, tournaments, and challenges.
Additional features may be introduced over time.
Public Beta: chesszone.io is currently in a public beta phase. During this period, the Platform may be subject to updates, feature changes, and occasional disruptions as we refine the user experience.
3. Account Creation and Security
3.1 Eligibility
- You must be at least 13 years old to create an account.
- If you are under the age of majority in your jurisdiction, you must have parental or guardian permission.
3.2 Registration
When creating an account, you must provide accurate information and maintain the security of your login credentials. You are responsible for all activities under your account.
3.3 Account Termination
chesszone.io reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts for violations of these Terms, fraudulent activities, or other reasons at our discretion.
4. User Conduct
By using chesszone.io, you agree to maintain respect, fairness, and integrity while engaging with the Platform. Violations of fair play and community standards may result in penalties, including account suspension, bans, or restricted access.
4.1 General Guidelines
- Respect Others: Avoid offensive, abusive, or inappropriate language in games, chats, or forums.
- Follow the Rules: Do not engage in cheating, exploit bugs, or use unauthorized tools to gain an unfair advantage.
- Obey Laws: Ensure your activities comply with applicable laws and regulations.
4.2 Fair Play Violations
Fair play is critical to chesszone.io. The following activities are strictly prohibited:
Cheating
- Using external assistance (e.g., chess engines, opening books, endgame tablebases, or other software) during active games.
- Receiving move recommendations from another person or software, including while streaming or on social media.
- In correspondence games, only the ChessZone opening explorer, chess books, or databases are allowed.
Boosting
- Inflating ratings artificially by arranging wins or playing against opponents intentionally deflating their ratings.
Sandbagging
- Intentionally deflating ratings by resigning early, losing, or drawing without effort to gain an unfair advantage later.
Speedruns
- Starting from a low rating and rapidly increasing it through matches is not permitted.
Ragesitting, Ragequitting, and Aborting
- Leaving games, letting the clock run, or frequently aborting games disrupts the experience for others and is considered unsportsmanlike.
Sledging
- Distracting opponents through chat, repeated draw offers, take-back requests, time additions, or disruptive game challenges.
Account Sharing
- Sharing accounts is generally not allowed except for specific activities like "hand and brain" or educational purposes. These must be clearly stated in the account profile and disclosed to opponents.
Cheating Accusations
- Publicly accusing others of cheating is prohibited. Report suspected cheating via the reporting tools on the Platform.
Ban Avoidance
- Creating new accounts to bypass restrictions or bans without permission is not allowed.
Multiple Accounts
- Users are allowed one account.
- Titled players or others with specific needs (e.g., blindfold play or private preparation) may request permission for up to two accounts.
- Excessive accounts (more than three) or creating and closing multiple accounts is not permitted.
4.3 Penalties
Violations may result in:
- Temporary timeouts or rankbans.
- Leaderboard exclusion or public account marks.
- Account suspension, closure, or communication restrictions.
- Complete removal of access or placement in restricted play pools.
- IP or device bans.
chesszone.io reserves the right to apply penalties at its sole discretion and combine multiple actions if necessary.
5. Content Ownership and Licensing
5.1 User-Generated Content
- Users may generate content, such as game moves, puzzles, and forum posts.
- By submitting content, you grant chesszone.io a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute the content for the purpose of operating the Platform.
5.2 Intellectual Property
- chesszone.io owns all rights to its branding, software, and original content, including puzzles, AI bots, and designs.
- You may not copy, modify, distribute, or sell any part of the Platform without prior written permission.
6. Privacy Policy
chesszone.io values your privacy. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your personal data.
7. Fees and Payments
7.1 Free and Paid Services
- chesszone.io offers both free and premium features.
- Premium features may include advanced puzzles, enhanced AI bots, ad-free experiences, or exclusive tournaments.
7.2 Payment Terms
- Payments are processed via secure third-party payment providers.
- All purchases are final unless otherwise stated. Refunds may be granted at our discretion.
8. Disclaimers
- The Platform is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind.
- chesszone.io does not guarantee uninterrupted service or error-free operation.
- Users are responsible for their internet connection, device compatibility, and associated costs.
9. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, chesszone.io and its affiliates shall not be liable for:
- Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use of the Platform.
- Loss of data, earnings, or reputational harm caused by Platform disruptions.
In jurisdictions where limitations are prohibited, liability is limited to the minimum extent allowed by law.
10. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold chesszone.io, its affiliates, and employees harmless from any claims, liabilities, or damages arising from your use of the Platform or violation of these Terms.
11. Modifications to Terms
chesszone.io reserves the right to update these Terms at any time. Updates will be posted on the Platform, and continued use after changes constitute acceptance.
12. Contact Information
For questions or concerns about these Terms, please contact us at:
Email: support@chesszone.io (TBD)
13. Miscellaneous
- If any part of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full effect.
- These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and chesszone.io concerning your use of the Platform.
Thank you for being a part of chesszone.io. Happy Chessing!