Terms of Service

Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to MAK Cards Online! By using our service, you agree to these Terms of Service.

If you do not agree with any part of these terms, please do not use the service.

We may update these Terms at any time. By continuing to use the service after changes are made, you agree to the new terms.

Service Description

MAK Cards Online is a web platform for working with metaphorical associative cards (MAC) in individual and group formats.

The service provides:

• Infinite canvas for card layouts
• Decks of metaphorical cards
• Real-time collaboration (up to 150 participants)
• Chat for participant communication
• Notes (private, public, anonymous)
• Room and environment selection
• User-created card decks and rooms (user-generated content)
• Game pieces: tokens and dice for transformational games
• Collectible items: decorative objects purchasable with Pearls
• Pearl Shop: purchase Pearl packages for in-platform currency
• Persistent session saving (Premium/PRO users)
• Public leaderboard page

The service is hosted in two regions:

• Global service: board.journalingapp.app and app.makcards.online
• Russian server: hosted in Russia for local compliance

Sessions created on one domain are not accessible from another domain.

Right to Use

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable right to use the service for personal or professional purposes within the law.

You may:

• Use the service without registration
• Create sessions and invite participants
• Work with cards and notes
• Communicate with other participants via chat

You may NOT:

• Use the service for illegal activities
• Attempt to hack or disrupt the platform
• Create automated scripts to abuse the service
• Post malicious content, spam, or illegal material
• Upload content that infringes third-party intellectual property rights, including scanned or photographed commercial products without the rights holder's permission
• Copy, modify, or distribute parts of the service without permission
• Use the service for mass mailing or DDoS attacks

Accounts and Devices

The service works without mandatory registration. On first visit, your browser generates cryptographic keys for device identification.

Optionally, you can authenticate via Google OAuth or Yandex OAuth to:

• Create a persistent account linked to your email
• Link multiple devices to one account
• Receive Premium subscription and achievement badges
• View notification history across devices

You agree to:

• Provide accurate information during OAuth authentication
• Maintain security of your Google/Yandex account (we are not responsible for compromised OAuth accounts)
• Not share your access keys with third parties
• Notify us of any unauthorized access to your account
• Not create multiple accounts to abuse promo codes or circumvent restrictions

User Content

Definition

"User Content" or "User-Generated Content" (UGC) means any content uploaded or created by users on the platform, including but not limited to: card images, deck covers, group backs, tiles, word card text, deck and group metadata, room backgrounds, notes, and chat messages.

Platform as Host

MAK Cards Online is a user-generated content platform. Users retain full ownership of all content they create and upload. The platform provides hosting and display services only. We do not claim ownership of User Content, do not endorse it, and do not verify its legality or accuracy. Each user is solely responsible for the content they upload.

Ownership

You retain all intellectual property rights to User Content you create and upload. Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership of your content to us.

License to the Platform

You grant MAK Cards Online a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, store, display, reproduce, modify, and create derivative works of your User Content for technical processing purposes (including but not limited to resizing, compression, tiling, thumbnail generation, watermarking), and to publicly display and distribute your User Content to other users solely as necessary to operate the Service, including collaborative sessions and the public deck library. You also grant a sublicense to other users of the Service to view and use your public User Content within the Service.

This license terminates when you delete your content or account, except for: (a) copies required for legal compliance or dispute resolution; (b) technical backups retained for a limited period per our data retention policy; (c) copies already distributed to other users' sessions prior to deletion, which remain available until those sessions end.

Representations and Warranties

By uploading or publishing content on the platform, you represent and warrant that:

• (a) You are the original creator of all images, text, and other materials included in this content, or you have obtained all necessary rights, licenses, and permissions from the rights holder(s) to upload, digitally reproduce, and distribute this content through MAK Cards Online;
• (b) This content does not infringe any copyright, trademark, trade secret, right of publicity, or other intellectual property or proprietary right of any third party;
• (c) This content does not include materials obtained by scanning, photographing, or otherwise reproducing commercial products (including but not limited to card decks, game boards, artwork, or illustrations) without express written permission from the rights holder. Purchasing a physical product does not grant the right to create or distribute digital copies;
• (d) You understand that submitting content that infringes third-party rights may result in removal of your content, suspension or termination of your account, and potential legal liability;
• (e) You agree to indemnify and hold harmless MAK Cards Online, its operators, and affiliates from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your violation of these representations.

Disclaimer

We do not pre-screen, verify, or endorse User Content. We are not responsible for the accuracy, legality, or appropriateness of any User Content. Use of User Content is at your own risk.

Content Moderation

We do not moderate content in real-time. However:

• Team members (moderators) may review reported content and user-generated decks submitted for publication
• We process intellectual property claims in accordance with our Copyright Policy
• We reserve the right to remove or disable access to content violating these Terms, applicable law, or third-party rights
• Repeated violations may result in account suspension or termination (see Repeat Infringer Policy in our Copyright Policy)

Intellectual Property

Platform IP

All rights to the platform, its design, source code, built-in card decks, and other proprietary materials belong to the service owners or respective rights holders. Downloading, copying, or distributing platform materials outside the service is prohibited without explicit permission.

User IP

Users retain full ownership of their User Content as described in the "User Content" section above. The platform does not claim any intellectual property rights over User Content beyond the license granted to operate the Service.

IP Claims

If you believe that content on our platform infringes your intellectual property rights, please refer to our Copyright Policy for instructions on filing a Formal Copyright Notice. You may also contact us at copyright@journalingapp.app.

Intellectual Property Claims

MAK Cards Online respects intellectual property rights and expects users to do the same. We respond to notices of alleged copyright infringement in accordance with the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA §512), the EU Digital Services Act (DSA Art. 16), and Russian Federal Law 149-FZ Art. 15.7.

Filing a Notice

If you believe your copyrighted work has been used on our platform without authorization, you may submit a Formal Copyright Notice. Your notice must include identification of the copyrighted work, the infringing URL, a statement of good faith belief, a statement under penalty of perjury, and your electronic signature. Full requirements are detailed in our Copyright Policy.

Contact:

• Email: copyright@journalingapp.app
• In-app: Use the "Report" button on any deck and select "I am the rights holder" to file a notice directly

Processing Timeline

We acknowledge receipt of valid notices within 1 hour and disable access to infringing content within 24 hours of receiving a valid notice.

Counter-Notification

If your content was removed and you believe the removal was in error, you may file a counter-notification. If the original complainant does not file a court action within 10–14 business days, we will restore the content. Details are in our Copyright Policy.

Repeat Infringer Policy

In accordance with DMCA §512(i), we have adopted and reasonably implement a policy for terminating accounts of repeat infringers:

• 1st strike: Content disabled, warning notification
• 2nd strike: Content disabled, account restricted (upload/publish disabled for 30 days)
• 3rd strike: Account terminated, all user content disabled

Strikes may be provisional (pending counter-notification) or final. Provisional strikes that are successfully counter-notified are reversed and do not count toward the threshold. Final strikes expire after 12 months of clean history. Full details are in our Copyright Policy.

Premium Subscriptions

Premium subscriptions provide enhanced features and may be granted via promo codes or purchased with Pearls (in-platform currency).

Premium benefits may include:

• Custom deck and room editors with extended content slots
• Access to exclusive premium decks and rooms
• Higher usage limits
• Priority support
• Persistent session saving (up to 20 saved sessions)

Terms:

• Premium subscriptions are time-limited (expiration date specified when granted)
• No automatic renewal
• Promo code activations are final and non-refundable
• Pearl purchases for Premium are final and non-refundable. Pearl balance is not convertible to cash.
• We reserve the right to modify Premium features with 30 days' notice
• Premium does not exempt you from these Terms or usage limits for abuse
• Termination of your account forfeits remaining Premium time without refund

Achievement Badges

Achievement badges are special statuses granted by platform administrators to recognize contributions or expertise.

Badge types:

• Team (MOD): Moderator status with access to moderation tools
• PRO: Verified professional (psychologist, coach, facilitator)
• Contributor: Content creator or platform contributor

You agree that:

• Achievements are granted at our sole discretion
• Team members must follow the Moderator Code of Conduct
• We may revoke achievements for violations or inactivity
• Achievement badges are public and visible to all users
• Achievements do not create employment or partnership relationship

Promo Codes

Promo codes grant Premium subscriptions, achievement badges, or Pearls (in-platform currency).

Rules:

• Promo codes may be single-use (first activation only) or user-specific (tied to your email)
• Codes may have expiration dates
• You may activate only one promo code per benefit type (e.g., one Premium code)
• Sharing user-specific codes with others is prohibited
• Codes obtained fraudulently or through violations will be voided
• We reserve the right to void codes and revoke benefits if fraud is detected
• Promo codes have no cash value and are non-transferable
• Activations are final and cannot be reversed

Pearls (In-Platform Currency)

Pearls are a virtual currency used within the platform for purchasing Premium subscriptions, collectible items, and deck invite codes.

Key terms:

• Pearls have no cash value and cannot be withdrawn, exchanged for real money, or transferred between accounts
• Pearl purchases are final and non-refundable
• We reserve the right to modify Pearl pricing with 30 days' notice
• Pearls may be earned through promo codes, Deck Pledge rewards, or purchased in the Pearl Shop
• Termination of your account forfeits remaining Pearl balance without refund
• We reserve the right to void Pearls obtained through fraud or abuse

Collectible Items

Collectible items (e.g., Zen Stones, Bloom) are virtual decorative objects purchased with Pearls:

• Items are stored in your inventory and can be placed on the canvas during sessions
• Items can be gifted to session hosts. Gifted items cannot be re-gifted — only purchased items may be gifted
• Item purchases are final and non-refundable
• We reserve the right to modify item catalog and pricing

Deck Invite Codes

Authors can generate invite codes to grant access to their decks:

• Invite code generation costs Pearls (based on deck size and invite type)
• Codes may be private (email-locked) or public (for open sessions)
• Generated codes are non-refundable
• Deck must contain at least 35 cards to generate invite codes

Deck Pledge

Authors may pledge their decks to earn Pearls (10 Pearls per card):

• Pledging locks the deck from editing and deletion
• Unpledging deducts the earned Pearls from your balance
• If your Pearl balance is insufficient, unpledging is not possible

Moderation

Users with the Team (MOD) achievement serve as volunteer moderators.

Moderator powers:

• Create and check promo codes
• Send in-app notifications to users
• View user profiles (email, Premium status, achievements)
• Review user-generated content submitted for publication
• Process intellectual property claims and issue Statements of Reasons

Moderators must:

• Act in good faith and respect user privacy
• Not abuse moderation tools for personal gain
• Not share confidential user information
• Follow platform guidelines and applicable law

We reserve the right to:

• Revoke Team achievement for abuse or misconduct
• Review and audit all moderator actions
• Remove content or take actions independent of moderators

Moderators are not employees and volunteer without compensation.

Notifications

We may send in-app notifications about:

• Promo code activations
• Premium subscription status changes
• Achievement awards
• Important system announcements
• Service updates

Notifications are delivered only within the app. We do not send marketing emails or SMS without your explicit consent.

You can view and delete notifications in your profile.

Leaderboard

The platform features a public leaderboard page displaying top users by various metrics (gifts received, decks created, rooms created, invites accepted).

By using the service, you agree that:

• Your display name, masked email (first 2 characters + domain), and avatar (if not hidden) may appear on the public leaderboard
• Your achievement badges (PRO, Contributor) and Premium status may be displayed
• The Team (MOD) badge is not shown on the leaderboard
• You can control avatar visibility in your profile settings

Usage Limits

We apply rate limiting to protect against abuse:

• Chat: up to 10 messages per minute
• API: up to 60 requests per minute
• WebSocket: up to 60 events per minute

Exceeding limits may result in temporary access restrictions. Systematic violations may lead to device blocking.

Termination of Access

We reserve the right to:

• Terminate or suspend your access to the service at any time without warning
• Delete sessions violating these Terms
• Block devices or accounts used for abuse
• Terminate accounts of repeat intellectual property infringers in accordance with our Repeat Infringer Policy
• Revoke Premium subscriptions and achievement badges

Upon termination:

• Your access to the service ends immediately
• Remaining Premium time is forfeited without refund
• Achievement badges are revoked
• Account data may be deleted (subject to legal retention requirements)

You may stop using the service at any time by deleting browser data or requesting account deletion.

Disclaimer of Warranties

The service is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without any warranties.

We do not guarantee:

• Uninterrupted service operation
• Absence of errors or vulnerabilities
• Data preservation during technical failures
• Service availability at all times

We are not responsible for:

• Data loss due to technical problems
• Actions of other session participants
• Internet or third-party service interruptions

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from use or inability to use the service.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Loss of data, profits, or reputation
• Psychological harm from card use
• Damage from other users' actions

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless MAK Cards Online, its operators, affiliates, officers, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to:

• Your User Content, including any claims that it infringes or misappropriates third-party intellectual property or other rights
• Your violation of these Terms of Service
• Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
• Your breach of the representations and warranties set forth in the "User Content" section

Professional Responsibility

If you use the service as a psychologist, coach, or other professional, you are solely responsible for the quality and ethics of services provided.

The service is a tool, not a substitute for professional help. We are not responsible for session outcomes or decisions made by participants.

Third Parties

The service may contain links to third-party resources or use third-party services (e.g., Google OAuth, Cloudflare).

We are not responsible for the privacy policies, content, or availability of third-party services.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by international law (for board.journalingapp.app and app.makcards.online) and the laws of the Russian Federation (for the Russian server).

All disputes are resolved through negotiation. If negotiations fail, disputes are handled according to applicable law.

Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms at any time. We will post changes on this page and update the "Last updated" date.

For material changes, we will notify you through the platform interface.

Continued use of the service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

Contact

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

Email: support@journalingapp.app