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Terms of Service

Last Updated: February 23, 2026

1. Agreement to Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a legally binding agreement between you and the individual operator of Pause ("Operator," "we," "our," or "us") regarding your use of the Pause mobile application and related services (collectively, the "App").

By creating an account or using the App, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, you may not use the App.

Our Contact Information:

Operator: Tianjun Zheng (Surrey, BC, Canada)
Email: support@midnightstudio.app

2. Description of Service

Pause is a relationship wellness application designed to help couples:

  • Submit disagreements to an AI-guided "court" flow for reflection and resolution
  • Answer daily questions and track shared streaks
  • Send appreciations and messages to each other
  • Save memories and milestones
  • Plan shared events and dates
  • Unlock optional AI insights

The App is for entertainment, reflection, and relationship enrichment purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional counseling, therapy, legal advice, or medical services.

AI Processing Notice: When you use AI features (such as court verdicts and insights), you direct us to process and transmit relevant submitted content to our AI service providers to generate responses, as further described in our Privacy Policy.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: AI-generated verdicts and insights are for entertainment and reflection only. They do not constitute professional advice or guidance. If you are experiencing serious relationship difficulties, abuse, or mental health concerns, seek help from qualified professionals or local support resources.

3. Eligibility and Account Registration

3.1 Age Requirement

You must be at least 16 years old to use the App. By using the App, you represent that you meet this age requirement.

3.2 Account Information

You agree to:

  • Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
  • Maintain and update your information to keep it accurate
  • Keep your login credentials secure and confidential
  • Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account

You are responsible for all activity on your account. We are not liable for losses resulting from your failure to secure your credentials.

3.3 One Account Per Person

You may create only one account. Multiple accounts for the same person are prohibited.

4. Partner Connections

4.1 Connecting with a Partner

The App allows you to connect with one partner to share content, cases, appreciations, and calendar events. By connecting, you consent to share specified data with your partner as described in our Privacy Policy.

4.2 Partner Consent

You represent that:

  • You have your partner's consent to connect accounts
  • Both parties are willing participants in using the App together
  • You will not use the App to harass, coerce, or manipulate your partner

4.3 Disconnecting

Either partner may disconnect at any time. Upon disconnection:

  • Future content will no longer be shared
  • Historical shared content may remain visible to both parties unless removed or the account is deleted
  • We cannot control screenshots, exports, or copies your partner may have made while connected

4.4 Abuse and Safety

If you are experiencing relationship abuse, coercion, or harassment related to the App, disconnect immediately and seek help from local resources or emergency services.

5. User Content and License

5.1 Your Content

"User Content" means any content you submit, upload, or create in the App, including:

  • Profile information (name, bio, photos)
  • Court case submissions and feelings
  • Appreciations and messages
  • Daily question responses
  • Calendar events
  • Memories (photos and captions)

You retain ownership of your User Content. However, you grant us a limited license to use it as described below.

5.2 License to Us

By submitting User Content, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable license to:

  • Store, process, and display your User Content to operate the App
  • Transmit User Content to your partner (if connected)
  • Use third-party service providers to process User Content as needed to deliver App features
  • Create de-identified, aggregated analytics (including annual Pause Wrapped summaries)

Scope and Duration:

  • This license is limited to operating and improving the App
  • It ends when you delete your account, subject to our retention period
  • We do not claim ownership of your User Content
  • We do not use your User Content for advertising or unrelated purposes

5.3 Sublicensing to Service Providers

The license above includes the right to sublicense to third-party vendors who help us operate the App, including:

  • Supabase (database, authentication, and storage)
  • OpenRouter and underlying model providers (AI verdict generation)
  • OpenAI (embeddings and safety moderation)
  • RevenueCat (subscription management)
  • Apple and Google (payments and notifications)

These vendors are contractually required to use your content only to provide services to us.

5.4 Your Responsibilities

You represent and warrant that:

  • You own or have the necessary rights to submit your User Content
  • Your User Content does not violate any third-party rights
  • Your User Content complies with these Terms and applicable law

6. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree NOT to use the App to:

6.1 Prohibited Content

  • Submit illegal, fraudulent, or deceptive content
  • Harass, abuse, threaten, or intimidate any person
  • Submit hate speech, discriminatory content, or content promoting violence
  • Share sexually explicit content involving minors
  • Violate anyone's privacy, publicity, or data protection rights
  • Infringe on intellectual property rights
  • Impersonate another person or entity

6.2 Prohibited Actions

  • Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract source code from the App
  • Circumvent security features or access restrictions
  • Use automated tools (bots, scrapers) to access the App
  • Interfere with or disrupt the App's operation or servers
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other users' accounts or data
  • Use the App for any commercial purpose without our written permission

6.3 Reporting Violations

If you encounter content or behavior that violates these Terms, please report it to support@midnightstudio.app with relevant details.

6.4 Enforcement

We reserve the right to:

  • Remove User Content that violates these Terms
  • Suspend or terminate accounts for violations
  • Report illegal activity to law enforcement

7. Subscriptions and Payments

7.1 Subscription Plans

The App offers optional premium features through auto-renewing subscriptions ("Pause Gold"). Details, pricing, and features are displayed in the App and may change.

7.2 Billing Through App Stores

All subscriptions are processed and billed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store:

  • We do not process payments directly and do not store your payment information
  • Billing, refunds, and disputes are handled by Apple or Google according to their terms
  • Your subscription is subject to the applicable App Store terms

7.3 Auto-Renewal

Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled before the end of the current billing period. You will be charged through your App Store account at the start of each renewal period.

7.4 Refunds

Refund requests are handled by Apple or Google. We do not control refund decisions.

7.5 Restoring Purchases

If you reinstall the App or switch devices, you can restore your subscription using the "Restore Purchases" feature in the App.

8. Intellectual Property

8.1 Our Property

The App, including its design, code, features, text, graphics, logos, and AI-generated content (excluding User Content), is owned by the Operator and protected by intellectual property laws.

You may not:

  • Copy, modify, or create derivative works from the App
  • Use our trademarks or branding without permission
  • Remove or alter any copyright or proprietary notices

8.2 AI-Generated Output

AI-generated verdicts and insights are created using your User Content and AI models. You may use this output for personal, non-commercial purposes within the App.

8.3 Feedback

If you provide feedback or suggestions, you grant us a perpetual, royalty-free license to use them without compensation or attribution.

9. Privacy

Your use of the App is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

10. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

10.1 "As Is" and "As Available"

THE APP IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

10.2 Not Professional Services

THE APP DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE, MEDICAL ADVICE, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, OR PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP SERVICES. Do not rely on AI content as a substitute for professional help.

10.3 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE OPERATOR SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, OR RELATIONSHIP HARM.

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE APP SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF:

  • The amount you paid us in subscription fees in the 12 months before the claim arose, OR
  • $100 USD

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations. In those jurisdictions, our liability is limited to the fullest extent permitted by law.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Operator from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

  • Your use of the App
  • Your User Content
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of any third-party rights

12. Termination

12.1 Termination by You

You may stop using the App and delete your account at any time through in-app settings. If you are connected to a partner, you must disconnect first. See our Privacy Policy for data retention after account deletion.

12.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account for violations of these Terms, unlawful activity, or abuse of the App.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

13.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict of law principles.

13.2 Venue and Jurisdiction

Any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms or the App shall be brought in the courts located in British Columbia, Canada. You consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Changes will be effective when posted, with the "Last Updated" date revised. For material changes, we will provide notice via email or in-app notification.

Your continued use of the App after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

15. General Provisions

15.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and the Operator regarding the App.

15.2 Severability

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

15.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

15.4 Assignment

You may not assign these Terms or your account without our written consent. We may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

15.5 Electronic Communications

By using the App, you consent to receive electronic communications from us (emails and in-app messages). These communications satisfy legal requirements that notices be in writing.

15.6 Export and Sanctions Compliance

You agree to comply with applicable export control and sanctions laws of Canada, the United States, and other relevant jurisdictions.

16. Contact Information

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

Operator: Tianjun Zheng
Email: support@midnightstudio.app
Address: Surrey, BC, Canada