Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using GroundRules (“the App”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you disagree with any part of the terms, you may not access the App.

You must be at least 18 years of age (21 in certain states) to use this App. By using the App, you represent and warrant that you are of legal age to form a binding contract in your jurisdiction.

2. Description of Service

GroundRules is a skill-based challenge platform where users can create and participate in head-to-head challenges with other users, settled by submitted proof. Community voting on outcomes is a planned future feature. The App facilitates peer-to-peer skill challenges for entertainment purposes only.

IMPORTANT: This is NOT gambling or a game of chance. All challenges on GroundRules are:

• Skill-based or performance-based challenges
• Mutually agreed upon by all participants
• Subject to objective verification criteria
• Determined by verifiable proof and participant agreement, not random chance

GroundRules is a platform facilitator only. We do not participate in, influence, or determine the outcome of any challenges.

3. User Accounts

To use the App, you must create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and promptly update your account information
• Maintain the security of your password and account
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

You may not use another person’s account or create an account for anyone other than yourself. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account for violations of these Terms.

4. User Conduct and Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to:

• Use the App if you are under the minimum age in your jurisdiction (18, or 21 in certain states)
• Create challenges involving illegal activities
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Use the App for commercial purposes without authorization
• Attempt to manipulate challenge outcomes through fraud or deception
• Use bots, scripts, or automated tools
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or hack the App
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Engage in money laundering or fraudulent financial activity

Violations may result in account suspension or termination. We may withhold or recover funds obtained through fraud or abuse, but we do not forfeit balances as a penalty for ordinary challenge outcomes.

ZERO TOLERANCE FOR OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT AND ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR: We have a zero-tolerance policy for objectionable content and abusive users. Objectionable content includes, without limitation, content that is harassing, threatening, hateful, sexually explicit, violent, defamatory, or otherwise offensive, as well as content that infringes another person's rights.

Every user-generated submission — including challenge details, video and photo proof, comments, chat messages, usernames, and profile information — is subject to this policy. You can report objectionable content or abusive users from anywhere it appears in the App, and you can block other users.

We review reports of objectionable content and abusive behavior and will act on them within 24 hours — removing the content and ejecting the user who provided it where appropriate. We may suspend or permanently terminate accounts that violate this policy.

5. Financial Terms

Deposits

• You may add funds to your account via approved payment methods
• All deposits are final and non-refundable except as required by law
• Minimum deposit amounts may apply

Withdrawals

• You may withdraw your balance at any time, subject to verification
• Withdrawals are processed within 3-5 business days
• You are responsible for any fees charged by your payment provider
• We reserve the right to verify your identity before processing withdrawals

Platform Fees

• We charge a platform fee of 5-10% on the total pot (10% under $100, 8% for $100-499, 5% for $500+)
• Cancellation fee: 5% of stake (minimum $0.25) if creator cancels or doesn’t start in time
• Fees are automatically deducted from winnings
• Fee structure is subject to change with notice

Unresolved Challenges

• If a challenge cannot be resolved from the submitted proof, it is refunded — each player receives their stake back minus a small fee
• This fee never exceeds the standard platform fee. We do not impose penalties or forfeit funds for an unresolved or tied result
• When players disagree, the challenge ends in No Consensus: both players are refunded their stake minus a small fee and no winner is declared

6. Challenge Creation and Participation

Creating Challenges

• You must clearly define objective, verifiable terms
• All participants must explicitly accept terms before challenge activation
• You cannot modify terms after participants have accepted
• Minimum and maximum challenge amounts may apply

Resolution

• All participants must submit proof within the specified time frame
• Result confirmations are binding and cannot be changed after submission
• Participant agreement on the submitted proof determines the outcome
• If participants cannot agree, the challenge ends in No Consensus — both players are refunded their stake minus a small fee and no winner is declared
• Community voting on outcomes is a planned future feature

Disputes

• We do not arbitrate disputes between users
• Users are encouraged to resolve disputes through the agreed challenge terms and submitted proof
• Persistent abuse of the dispute process may result in suspension

7. Intellectual Property

The App and its original content, features, and functionality are owned by GroundRules and are protected by international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You retain all rights to content you submit to the App. By submitting content, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and display your content in connection with operating the App.

8. Disclaimers

THE APP IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT:

• The App will function uninterrupted or error-free
• Defects will be corrected
• The App is free of viruses or harmful components
• Results obtained from using the App will be accurate or reliable

YOU USE THE APP AT YOUR OWN RISK.

9. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, GROUNDRULES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, OR $100, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless GroundRules, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of:

• Your use of the App
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another user
• Your violation of any applicable laws

11. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account immediately, without prior notice, for any reason, including:

• Breach of these Terms
• Fraudulent activity
• Violation of applicable laws
• Repeated abuse of the dispute or refund process
• Request by law enforcement

Upon termination:

• Your right to use the App will cease immediately
• You may withdraw your remaining balance (subject to verification)
• We reserve the right to forfeit balances obtained through fraud or abuse

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, United States, without regard to conflict of law provisions.

Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Nassau County, New York.

13. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes via email or in-app notification.

Your continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms. If you disagree with the changes, you must stop using the App.

14. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms? Contact us at:

Email: legal@groundrules.app
Support: support@groundrules.app
Phone: (516) 387-2140

By using GroundRules, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.