Terms of Service for PictaCast

1. Description of Service

PictaCast is a web-based application that allows users to cast and display local photo albums and audio files from their personal devices directly to Chromecast-enabled TVs and smart displays.

2. Privacy and Local Data Processing

PictaCast is designed with your privacy in mind:

• Local Processing: The photos, folders, and music files you select to display via PictaCast are processed locally on your device and streamed directly to your casting receiver over your local network.
• No Cloud Storage of Media: We do not upload, store, or transmit your personal photos, videos, or audio files to our servers.
• Account Data: We only store minimal data required to authenticate your account and manage your subscription status. Your actual name, email address, and profile picture are only kept in a secure session cookie in your browser; our database only stores an anonymized cryptographic hash of your email.

For more details on how we handle your data, please review our Privacy Policy.

3. Accounts and Authentication

To use PictaCast, you must sign in using a valid Google account. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.

4. Free Trials and Premium Upgrades

• Free Usage: PictaCast offers a free tier which includes a daily time limit for casting (e.g., 10 minutes per day). Once the daily limit is reached, casting will pause until the limit resets the following day.
• Premium Upgrades: Users may purchase a full, unlimited version of PictaCast. Payments are processed securely through our third-party payment provider (Stripe).
• Refunds: We offer a 14-day money-back guarantee.

5. User Responsibilities and Acceptable Use

By using PictaCast, you agree that:

• You have the legal right and necessary permissions to view, cast, and display the media files you select.
• You will not use the Service to display illegal, non-consensual, or highly offensive material in public or shared settings where it violates local laws.
• You will not attempt to reverse engineer, hack, or disrupt the Service.

6. Hardware Warning and Limitation of Liability (Screen Burn-in)

PictaCast allows you to set custom delays for your photo slideshows. Please be aware that displaying static images on certain types of televisions (such as OLED or Plasma screens) for extended periods may result in permanent screen damage known as "burn-in." You are solely responsible for understanding the technical limitations of your television or display hardware.

PictaCast, its creators, and affiliates shall not be held liable for any hardware damage, screen burn-in, or hardware degradation resulting from the use of our Service.

7. Intellectual Property

• Your Content: You retain all ownership and intellectual property rights to the photos and music you cast using the Service.
• Our Service: The PictaCast web app, logos, UI design, code, and curated preset music tracks (if applicable) are the intellectual property of PictaCast and may not be copied, distributed, or modified without our express written consent.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties & Limitation of Liability

The Service is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or completely compatible with all browsers, routers, or Chromecast hardware. Connection stability depends on your local network environment.

PictaCast and its creators shall not be liable for any damages, losses, or claims arising out of temporary or permanent server downtime, service interruptions, or inability to access the application. By using the Service, you acknowledge that occasional downtime may occur and agree that you cannot hold us legally responsible for any resulting inconvenience or loss.

9. Changes to the Service and Terms

We reserve the right to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Service (or any part thereof) with or without notice. We may also update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of PictaCast after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms.

10. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Malta.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

• Email: support@pictacast.com
• Website: pictacast.com