Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using Social Spork ("Service", "Platform", "we", "us", or "our"), you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our Service.

2. Description of Service

Social Spork is a free recipe aggregation platform that extracts and displays recipes from publicly available social media content (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) using AI technology. We provide:

• Recipe extraction from social media URLs submitted by users
• Searchable recipe database with proper creator attribution
• Recipe categorization, tags, and nutritional estimates
• Free access to all content without user accounts (currently)

3. User Conduct and Submissions

3.1 Acceptable Use

You agree to use Social Spork only for lawful purposes. You may not:

• Submit URLs to content you do not have permission to share
• Submit private, unlisted, or age-restricted content
• Attempt to overwhelm our systems with excessive requests
• Use automated scripts or bots without permission
• Reproduce, modify, or redistribute our content for commercial purposes
• Remove or obscure creator attribution information

3.2 Content Submission

When you submit a social media URL to our platform, you represent and warrant that:

• The content is publicly accessible
• You are not violating any platform's terms of service
• The content does not violate any third-party rights
• The submission is made in good faith for recipe discovery purposes

4. Intellectual Property

4.1 Creator Rights

All recipe content originates from social media creators. We respect intellectual property rights and maintain proper attribution:

• Original creators retain all rights to their content
• We display creator information prominently on every recipe
• We link directly to the original social media post
• Recipe extraction falls under fair use for informational purposes

4.2 Platform Content

Social Spork owns the following intellectual property:

• Platform design, layout, and user interface
• Search algorithms and categorization systems
• AI-generated enhancements (descriptions, tags, nutrition estimates)
• Database structure and compilation

4.3 DMCA Takedown Process

We respect copyright law and respond to valid DMCA takedown notices. If you believe your content has been used inappropriately:

1. Email us at legal@social-spork.com with:
   • Your contact information
   • URL of the recipe page on our site
   • URL of your original content
   • Statement of good faith belief
   • Statement under penalty of perjury
   • Your physical or electronic signature
2. We will review and respond within 48-72 hours
3. Confirmed violations will be removed immediately

5. AI-Generated Content Disclaimer

Our platform uses artificial intelligence (OpenAI GPT models) to:

• Extract recipes from video transcriptions
• Generate descriptions and cooking instructions
• Estimate nutritional information
• Categorize and tag recipes

IMPORTANT: AI-generated content may contain errors. Users should:

• Always refer to the original video for accurate instructions
• Verify nutritional information with professional sources
• Use common sense and cooking knowledge
• Report inaccuracies to help us improve

6. Disclaimers and Limitations

6.1 No Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. We do not warrant that:

• The service will be uninterrupted or error-free
• Recipes are accurate, complete, or safe to follow
• AI-extracted content perfectly matches original sources
• Nutritional information is medically accurate

6.2 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SOCIAL SPORK SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• Injury, illness, or allergic reactions from following recipes
• Inaccurate nutritional information or dietary guidance
• Errors in AI-generated recipe instructions
• Loss of data or service interruptions
• Third-party content or social media platform changes

6.3 Health and Safety Disclaimer

WARNING: Recipes on this platform are for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for:

• Food allergies or dietary restrictions not labeled
• Foodborne illness from improper preparation
• Cross-contamination or food safety issues
• Medical advice or dietary guidance

Always consult healthcare professionals for dietary advice. Check ingredients for allergens.

7. Third-Party Services

Our platform integrates with and links to third-party services:

• Social Media Platforms: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube (content sources)
• Cloud Infrastructure: AWS, MongoDB Atlas (data hosting)
• AI Services: OpenAI (content processing)
• Advertising: Google AdSense (when implemented)
• Analytics: Google Analytics (usage tracking)

These third parties have their own terms and privacy policies. We are not responsible for their practices.

8. Privacy and Data Collection

Please review our Privacy Policy for details on data collection and usage. Key points:

• We currently do not require user accounts
• We collect anonymous analytics data
• We do not sell personal information
• We use cookies for functionality and analytics

9. Monetization and Advertising

Social Spork is free for users. We may monetize through:

• Display Advertising: Google AdSense and direct partnerships
• Affiliate Marketing: Commissions from kitchen tools, meal kits, groceries
• Creator Partnerships: Revenue sharing with recipe creators

Advertisements and affiliate links will be clearly labeled. We do not endorse products.

10. Account Creation (Future)

If we implement user accounts in the future:

• You are responsible for account security
• You must provide accurate registration information
• We may terminate accounts for violations
• You can request account deletion at any time

11. Termination

We reserve the right to:

• Remove any content at our discretion
• Block access for Terms violations
• Discontinue the Service with 30 days notice
• Modify or limit features without liability

12. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective when posted. Continued use constitutes acceptance of modified terms. Material changes will be announced via:

• Email notification (if accounts are implemented)
• Prominent notice on the website
• Updated "Last Updated" date

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Social Spork, its officers, directors, employees, contractors, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, debt, or expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) arising from:

• Your use of and access to the Service
• Your violation of any term of these Terms of Service
• Your violation of any third-party right, including without limitation any copyright, trademark, property, publicity, or privacy right
• Any content or URLs you submit to the Service
• Any claim that your submission caused damage to a third party
• Your breach of any representation or warranty contained in these Terms

This indemnification obligation will survive termination of these Terms and your use of the Service. We reserve the right to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you, in which event you will cooperate with us in asserting any available defenses.

14. Dispute Resolution and Arbitration

14.1 Mandatory Arbitration

Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service (including any question regarding existence, validity, or termination) shall be resolved through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, except as otherwise provided herein.

The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator selected in accordance with AAA rules. The arbitration shall take place in San Diego County, California, or remotely via videoconference. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding, and judgment may be entered upon it in any court of competent jurisdiction.

14.2 Class Action Waiver

YOU AND SOCIAL SPORK AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.

Unless both you and Social Spork agree otherwise, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's claims and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding.

14.3 Exceptions to Arbitration

Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may bring a lawsuit in court for:

• Claims in small claims court (where the amount in controversy is less than $10,000)
• Injunctive or other equitable relief to protect intellectual property rights
• Claims related to the validity or enforceability of either party's intellectual property

14.4 30-Day Right to Opt Out

You have the right to opt out of binding arbitration within 30 days of first accepting these Terms by sending written notice to legal@social-spork.com with the subject line "ARBITRATION OPT-OUT." Your notice must include your name, address, and a clear statement that you wish to opt out of this arbitration agreement.

15. Limitation of Damages

IN NO EVENT SHALL SOCIAL SPORK'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES, AND CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, OR OTHERWISE) EXCEED THE GREATER OF:

• (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO SOCIAL SPORK IN THE 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CLAIM, OR
• (B) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00 USD)

This limitation applies even if Social Spork has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

16. Enhanced Allergen and Dietary Warning

17. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to conflict of law provisions. To the extent any lawsuit or court proceeding is permitted under these Terms, both you and Social Spork consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Delaware for the purpose of litigating all such claims or disputes.

18. Severability

If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.

15. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or legal notices: