Terms of Service

Agreement to Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User", "you") and Vault ("we", "us", "our") regarding your use of the Vault platform. By creating an account or using our services, you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Service Description

Vault provides a secure digital asset inheritance platform that:

• Stores encrypted digital assets using client-side encryption
• Monitors user activity through a heartbeat system
• Facilitates gradual asset release to verified nominees after prolonged inactivity
• Implements multi-stage verification for nominee authentication
• Provides audit logs for security monitoring

Vault operates on a zero-knowledge encryption model, meaning we cannot access or decrypt your stored data.

2. Eligibility

To use Vault, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts
• Provide accurate and truthful information during registration
• Not be prohibited by law from using our services
• Maintain a valid email address for critical communications

3. Account Responsibilities

3.1 Master Passphrase Security

You agree to:

• Create a strong, unique master passphrase (minimum 12 characters)
• Never share your passphrase with anyone, including Vault staff
• Store your passphrase securely using a password manager or offline backup
• Not use the same passphrase for other services
• Immediately notify us if you suspect unauthorized access

3.2 Account Activity

You are responsible for all activity under your account. You agree to:

• Maintain one account per person (no multiple accounts)
• Provide accurate contact information (email, phone)
• Verify your email address within 72 hours of registration
• Keep your account information current and updated
• Log out from shared or public devices

4. Heartbeat & Inactivity Policy

4.1 Heartbeat System

To prevent premature asset release, you must demonstrate continued activity by:

• Logging into your account
• Manually sending a heartbeat via the dashboard
• Creating, updating, or deleting vault items

4.2 Inactivity Timeline

4.3 Release Stages

Assets are released gradually based on importance level:

• Stage 1 (Day 148): LOW importance items released to verified nominee
• Stage 2 (Day 155): MEDIUM importance items released (+7 days)
• Stage 3 (Day 169): HIGH importance items released (+14 days)

5. Nominee Designation

5.1 Nominee Verification

Nominees must complete three verification steps:

• Phone Verification: 6-digit SMS code (10-minute expiry, 5 attempts max)
• Secret Code Verification: Code provided by you (5 attempts max)
• Acceptance: Explicit acceptance via email link

5.2 Nominee Limitations

• Only one active nominee allowed per account
• You may revoke nominee access at any time before release completion
• Nominees can decline nomination without penalty
• Nominees have no access to your vault while you remain active
• Revoked or declined nominees are permanently removed

5.3 Your Obligations

• Choose a trustworthy nominee who consents to the role
• Provide accurate nominee contact information
• Securely communicate the secret code to your nominee
• Inform your nominee of their responsibilities
• Update nominee information if contact details change

6. Prohibited Uses

You agree NOT to:

• Store illegal content (pirated media, stolen data, child exploitation material)
• Use the service to facilitate fraud, money laundering, or other criminal activity
• Attempt to bypass security measures or access other users' vaults
• Automate account creation or heartbeat submission (rate limits apply)
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or extract source code
• Use bots, scrapers, or automated tools without authorization
• Impersonate others or create fake accounts
• Upload malware, viruses, or malicious code
• Overload servers with excessive API requests

7. Service Availability & Reliability

7.1 Uptime

We strive for 99.9% uptime but cannot guarantee uninterrupted service. Planned maintenance will be announced in advance. The heartbeat system is designed with grace periods to accommodate temporary outages.

7.2 Modifications

We reserve the right to:

• Modify features, pricing, or functionality with 30 days' notice
• Discontinue the service (with 90 days' notice and data export option)
• Update security protocols without notice (for critical vulnerabilities)
• Change inactivity thresholds or release timings (with email notification)

8. Limitation of Liability

• Data Loss: Loss of vault contents due to forgotten passphrases, account deletion, or technical failures
• Unauthorized Access: If your passphrase or account is compromised due to your actions
• Nominee Disputes: Conflicts between you and your nominee regarding asset access
• Service Interruptions: Temporary unavailability due to maintenance, attacks, or infrastructure failures
• Third-Party Services: Failures of email providers, SMS gateways, or hosting services
• Legal Conflicts: If asset release conflicts with legal claims, wills, or court orders
• Financial Losses: Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from service use

Maximum Liability: In no event shall our total liability exceed the amount you paid for the service in the 12 months preceding the claim.

9. Your Backup Obligations

10. Account Termination

10.1 Voluntary Termination

You may delete your account at any time. Upon deletion:

• All vault items are permanently deleted within 30 days
• Nominee access is immediately revoked
• Audit logs are retained for 7 years (legal compliance)
• You cannot recover deleted data after the 30-day grace period

10.2 Involuntary Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account if you:

• Violate these Terms or applicable laws
• Engage in prohibited uses or abusive behavior
• Fail to pay fees (if applicable)
• Provide false information during registration
• Attempt to compromise platform security

11. Dispute Resolution

11.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating legal action, you agree to contact us at legal@vault-platform.com to attempt informal resolution for 30 days.

11.2 Arbitration

Any disputes not resolved informally shall be settled through binding arbitration, not litigation. You waive your right to participate in class-action lawsuits or class-wide arbitration.

11.3 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of [Your Jurisdiction], without regard to conflict of law principles.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Vault, its affiliates, and personnel from any claims, damages, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any laws or third-party rights
• Content you store in your vault
• Disputes with your nominee or other users

13. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms periodically. Material changes will be communicated via email 30 days in advance. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. If you disagree with updated Terms, you must delete your account before the effective date.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full effect.

15. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Vault. No other representations, warranties, or conditions apply unless explicitly agreed in writing.

16. Contact Information

For questions or concerns about these Terms: