Terms of Service

Introduction

Welcome to Joe Speaking, operated by JUST JOE TECHNOLOGIES INC. ("we," "our," or "us"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Joe Speaking application, website, and services (collectively, the "Service").

By accessing or using our Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of the Terms, you may not access the Service.

Use of Service

1. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old to use the Service. If you are under 18, you must have your parent or guardian's permission to use the Service.

2. Account Registration

You may use Joe Speaking without creating an account (local-only mode). However, to access cloud synchronization features, you must:

• Sign in with a valid Google account
• Provide accurate and complete information
• Maintain the security of your account
• Be responsible for all activities under your account

3. Acceptable Use

You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree NOT to:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Infringe upon the rights of others
• Transmit any harmful or malicious code
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service
• Use the Service to harass, abuse, or harm others
• Circumvent any security features or rate limits
• Use automated systems to access the Service without permission

Intellectual Property Rights

1. Our Content

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

2. Your Content

You retain all rights to the content you create using the Service, including:

• Audio recordings of your speech
• Transcripts and practice sessions
• IELTS Speaking Simulator session recordings and transcripts
• Custom prompts and settings

By using our Service, you grant us a limited license to:

• Store and process your content to provide the Service
• Generate AI feedback based on your recordings and transcripts
• Backup and sync your data across devices (if you enable cloud sync)

We will not use your content for any other purpose without your explicit consent.

Third-Party Services

The Service integrates with third-party services, including:

• Google OAuth: For authentication
• Google Generative AI (Gemini): For AI feedback generation and Gemini Live API for real-time conversation in the IELTS Speaking Simulator
• AssemblyAI & Soniox: For cloud-based transcription (optional)
• Supabase: For data storage and authentication
• Stripe: For payment processing

Your use of these third-party services is subject to their respective terms of service and privacy policies. We are not responsible for the actions of third-party service providers.

Payments and Subscriptions

1. Free Features

Joe Speaking offers core features free of charge, including:

• Local speech transcription using Whisper models
• AI-powered feedback with your own Gemini API key
• Unlimited local storage of practice sessions
• IELTS Speaking Simulator with real-time transcription (when using local transcription)

2. Paid Services & Credits

Joe Speaking uses a credit-based system for certain premium features (e.g., Cloud Transcription, AI Feedback via Server).

Credit System Terms:

• Value: Credits have no cash value and are non-transferable. They can only be used within the Joe Speaking application.
• Purchase: Credits are purchased in prepaid packages. The price of each package is displayed at the time of purchase.
• Expiration: Purchased credits do not expire as long as your account remains active.
• Usage: Credits are deducted based on actual usage (e.g., per minute of audio transcribed, per AI feedback request). Usage rates are displayed in the application settings.

Refund Policy:

• 7-Day Satisfaction Guarantee: If you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may request a refund within 7 days of the transaction, provided you have not consumed a significant portion of the credits.
• Process: To request a refund, please contact us at support@joespeaking.com with your transaction details.
• Effect of Refund: Upon processing a refund, the corresponding credits will be deducted from your account balance. If this results in a negative balance, you may be required to purchase additional credits to continue using premium features.
• Discretion: We reserve the right to deny refund requests in cases of suspected abuse or fraud.

Fair Use Policy:

• Rate Limiting: To ensure service quality for all users, we enforce rate limits on API usage (e.g., maximum requests per minute).
• Prohibited Use: You may not use automated scripts to "dump" credits or overload our systems.

Data and Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and protection of your personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

Key Privacy Points:

• Local-first approach: Your data stays on your device unless you opt into cloud sync
• Data ownership: You own your content and can export or delete it at any time
• Analytics opt-in: Product analytics are disabled by default and require your consent
• Security: We use encryption and industry-standard security practices

Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

1. Service "As Is"

The Service is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. We make no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding:

• The accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the Service
• The AI-generated feedback and scores
• Uninterrupted or error-free operation
• The results you may achieve using the Service

2. Educational Purpose

Joe Speaking is an educational tool designed to help you practice English speaking. The AI feedback, scores, and IELTS Speaking Simulator are:

• For practice and improvement purposes only
• Not a substitute for professional language assessment
• Not guaranteed to reflect official test scores (IELTS, CELPIP, etc.)
• Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of official IELTS testing organizations (British Council, IDP, Cambridge Assessment)

IELTS Speaking Simulator Disclaimer:

The IELTS Speaking Simulator is a practice tool that simulates the format and timing of the official IELTS Speaking test. However:

• Simulated scores are AI-generated estimates and may not accurately predict your actual IELTS score
• The questions are for practice purposes and may differ from actual IELTS test questions
• The AI examiner does not replicate the behavior of official IELTS examiners
• Real-time transcription may contain errors or inaccuracies
• Results should not be used to make decisions about test readiness or official test registration

3. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, JUST JOE TECHNOLOGIES INC. shall not be liable for:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages
• Loss of data, profits, or business opportunities
• Damages arising from your use or inability to use the Service
• Reliance on AI-generated content or feedback
• Actions of third-party service providers

Our total liability to you for all claims shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the past 12 months, or $100, whichever is greater.

Termination

1. Your Rights

You may stop using the Service at any time. If you have an account, you may:

• Export all your data from the Settings page
• Delete all your local data
• Request account deletion by contacting us

2. Our Rights

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to the Service if you:

• Violate these Terms
• Engage in fraudulent or illegal activities
• Abuse the Service or harm other users
• Fail to pay for paid services (when available)

3. Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to use the Service will immediately cease. We may delete your cloud-stored data after a reasonable grace period, but local data will remain on your device until you delete it.

Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by:

• Posting the updated Terms on this page
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending an email notification (if you have an account)

Your continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the new Terms, you must stop using the Service.

Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall be resolved through:

• Good faith negotiation between the parties
• Mediation, if negotiation fails
• Binding arbitration or courts of competent jurisdiction

Miscellaneous

1. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and JUST JOE TECHNOLOGIES INC. regarding the Service.

2. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

3. Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights.

4. Assignment

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

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding these Terms of Service, please contact us: