Terms of Service | Legal — The Story Maker

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and Story Master Technologies Private Limited ("Company," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or using The Story Maker platform (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1.0 Eligibility & Account

1.1 Age Requirement

You must be at least 16 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) to create an account and use the Service. By registering, you represent that you meet this requirement.

1.2 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activities under your account. You must notify us immediately at contact@thestorymaker.app if you suspect unauthorized access.

1.3 Accurate Information

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete registration information and to update it as necessary. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts with verifiably false information.

2.0 Description of the Service

2.1 Platform Overview

The Story Maker is an AI-powered film pre-production platform offering 39+ production tools including screenplay writing, story beat generation, character development, script coverage & feedback, production budgeting, schedule optimization, location scouting, cast & crew budgeting, VFX estimation, post-production timeline planning, marketing EPK generation, festival strategy, financing roadmaps, and related creative workflows.

2.2 AI-Powered Features

The Service uses large language models routed through OpenRouter to multiple AI providers. AI features operate across three quality tiers — Fast (0.7× base cost), Standard (1.0×), and Premium (1.5×) — each consuming different amounts of credits.

2.3 Service Availability

We strive for high availability but do not guarantee uninterrupted access. The Service may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, updates, or factors beyond our control. We will endeavor to provide advance notice of planned maintenance.

3.0 User Content & Intellectual Property

3.1 Your Content

You retain all rights, title, and interest in your User Materials (as defined in our Privacy Policy). By using the Service, you grant us a limited, non-exclusive license to process your content solely to provide and improve the Service for you. You may export your User Materials at any time in PDF, DOCX, Fountain, Final Draft (FDX), or plain text formats.

3.2 AI-Generated Output Ownership

Subject to applicable law, you own the rights to AI-Generated Outputs created through your use of the Service, to the maximum extent permitted by the intellectual property laws of your jurisdiction. You acknowledge that:

Copyright protection for AI-generated works varies by jurisdiction and is an evolving area of law.
The Company makes no warranty regarding the copyrightability or registrability of AI-Generated Outputs.
You are solely responsible for reviewing, editing, and verifying all AI-Generated Outputs before use in any commercial or professional context.

3.3 WGA Compliance & Screenwriting Credits

In accordance with the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA):

AI-generated content is classified as "Not Literary Material" under the WGA MBA. The Service is designed as a writing assistance tool, and the User remains the primary author for credit determination purposes.
The Company does not claim writing credit on any screenplay, teleplay, or other literary material created using the Service.
Users who are WGA members are responsible for complying with their guild obligations regarding the use of AI tools. The Company provides the tool; guild compliance is the User's responsibility.

3.4 AI Output Disclaimer

The Company is not liable for "AI Hallucinations," factual errors, biased outputs, or any inaccuracies in AI-Generated Outputs. AI models may produce content that is factually incorrect, culturally insensitive, or legally problematic. You agree to review all outputs before use and bear full responsibility for any content you publish, distribute, or submit using AI-Generated Outputs.

4.0 Acceptable Use Policy

4.1 Prohibited Uses

You agree NOT to use the Service to:

Generate content that promotes violence, hate speech, or illegal activities
Create deepfakes, non-consensual intimate imagery, or child exploitation material
Circumvent credit consumption limits or abuse referral/promotional systems
Reverse-engineer, decompile, or extract AI model weights or proprietary algorithms
Use automated scripts or bots to access the Service (except authorized APIs)
Impersonate other users, entities, or Company personnel
Violate any applicable law, regulation, or third-party rights

4.2 Enforcement

Violations may result in warnings, temporary suspension, permanent account termination, and/or forfeiture of remaining credits at our sole discretion. Severe violations will be reported to law enforcement.

5.0 Credits & Payments

All credit-related terms are governed by the Credit Policy and Paid Service Terms, which are incorporated into these Terms by reference.

6.0 Limitation of Liability

6.1 Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR ACCURACY OF AI-GENERATED OUTPUTS.

6.2 Liability Cap

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE COMPANY'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNTS YOU PAID TO US IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) USD $100.

6.3 Exclusion of Consequential Damages

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COMPANY BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR CREATIVE WORKS, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY.

7.0 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Company and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Service, (b) your User Materials, (c) your violation of these Terms, or (d) your violation of any third-party rights.

8.0 Termination

8.1 By You

You may close your account at any time via the account settings page or by emailing contact@thestorymaker.app. Account deletion is subject to a 30-day grace period during which you may recover your data.

8.2 By Us

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violation of these Terms, with or without notice. In the event of termination for cause, any remaining credits are forfeited.

8.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to access the Service ceases immediately. We will retain your data for the period specified in our Privacy Policy and applicable retention schedules. Sections 3, 6, 7, and 9 survive termination.

9.0 Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

9.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. For users in the European Economic Area, nothing in these Terms affects your rights under mandatory consumer protection laws of your country of residence.

9.2 Dispute Resolution

Any dispute arising from these Terms shall be resolved first through good-faith negotiation. If unresolved within 30 days, disputes shall be submitted to binding arbitration under the Indian Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, with the seat of arbitration in Bangalore, India.

10.0 Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via in-app notification and email at least 30 days before they take effect. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance. If you disagree with the changes, you must stop using the Service and close your account.

11.0 General Provisions

11.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, Credit Policy, Paid Service Terms, and Cookie Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and the Company regarding the Service.

11.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

11.3 No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

11.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer your rights under these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations without restriction.

12.0 Contact

For questions regarding these Terms:

Email: contact@thestorymaker.app
Entity: Story Master Technologies Private Limited, India