Terms of Service

Effective Date: January 1, 2024
Last Updated: January 27, 2026

Welcome to CaptchaShield. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our CAPTCHA and bot protection services, including our website, APIs, widgets, and dashboard (collectively, the "Service"). By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, accessing the Service, or using any part of CaptchaShield, you agree to comply with and be legally bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use the Service.

You represent that you are at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms. If you are using the Service on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

2. Description of Service

CaptchaShield provides CAPTCHA and bot protection services designed to help website owners distinguish between legitimate human users and automated bots. The Service includes:

• CAPTCHA Widget: A client-side JavaScript widget for user verification
• Verification API: Server-side endpoints for validating CAPTCHA tokens
• Dashboard: Web interface for managing sites, viewing analytics, and configuring settings
• Documentation and Support: Technical resources and customer assistance
• Additional Features: As described on our website and in product documentation

3. Account Registration and Responsibilities

3.1 Account Creation

To use CaptchaShield, you must create an account by providing accurate, complete, and current information. You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of unauthorized access or security breaches
• Keeping your contact information up to date

3.2 Account Security

You must use a strong, unique password and enable multi-factor authentication (if available). You agree not to:

• Share your account credentials with others
• Use another person's account without permission
• Create multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions
• Sell, transfer, or sublicense your account

3.3 Account Types

We offer different account types (free, paid, enterprise) with varying features, limits, and support levels. Your rights and access are determined by your subscription plan.

4. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree to use the Service lawfully and in accordance with these Terms. You must not:

4.1 Prohibited Activities

• Abuse or Circumvent: Attempt to bypass, disable, or interfere with the CAPTCHA system or its security features
• Reverse Engineering: Decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer the Service or its algorithms
• Unauthorized Access: Access or attempt to access systems, data, or accounts without authorization
• Service Disruption: Overload, flood, or disrupt the Service or its infrastructure
• Automated Abuse: Use bots, scrapers, or automated tools to interact with the Service in unauthorized ways
• Malicious Code: Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or other harmful code
• False Information: Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information
• Illegal Content: Use the Service for illegal activities or to host/transmit illegal content
• Intellectual Property Infringement: Violate copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights
• Spam and Unsolicited Communications: Use the Service to send spam or unsolicited messages
• Resale Without Authorization: Resell or redistribute the Service without our explicit permission

4.2 Content Restrictions

You must not use CaptchaShield on websites or applications that:

• Promote illegal activities, violence, or hatred
• Distribute child sexual abuse material
• Facilitate fraud, scams, or deceptive practices
• Violate third-party rights or privacy
• Engage in phishing or social engineering attacks

5. API and Widget Usage

5.1 Integration Requirements

When integrating CaptchaShield into your applications, you must:

• Use official SDKs, widgets, and APIs as documented
• Implement server-side token verification for all protected actions
• Use tokens only once and verify them immediately
• Protect your secret keys and never expose them in client-side code
• Display appropriate attribution as required by your plan
• Comply with our integration guidelines and best practices

5.2 Rate Limits and Quotas

Your account is subject to rate limits and usage quotas based on your subscription plan:

• Free plans: Limited verifications per month
• Paid plans: Higher limits as specified in your plan
• Enterprise plans: Custom limits negotiated in your agreement

Exceeding limits may result in throttling, temporary suspension, or additional charges. We may adjust limits to ensure fair use and service stability.

5.3 API Guidelines

• Do not make excessive requests or attempt to overwhelm the API
• Implement exponential backoff for retries
• Cache responses appropriately (do not cache verification results)
• Monitor your usage and stay within allocated limits

6. Payments and Subscriptions

6.1 Fees and Billing

Paid plans require payment of subscription fees as described on our pricing page:

• Fees are charged in advance on a monthly or annual basis
• All fees are non-refundable unless otherwise stated
• Prices may change with 30 days' notice (existing subscriptions honored until renewal)
• You authorize us to charge your payment method for all fees

6.2 Payment Methods

We accept payment via credit card, debit card, and other methods as available. You must provide valid payment information and keep it current.

6.3 Auto-Renewal

Subscriptions automatically renew unless you cancel before the renewal date. You will be charged the then-current rate for your plan.

6.4 Cancellation

You may cancel your subscription at any time through the dashboard. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. No refunds for partial periods.

6.5 Late Payments and Suspension

If payment fails, we may:

• Retry charging your payment method
• Suspend your access to the Service
• Downgrade your account to a free plan
• Terminate your account after repeated failures

6.6 Taxes

Fees are exclusive of taxes. You are responsible for all applicable taxes (sales, VAT, GST, etc.), except for taxes based on our income.

7. Service Availability and Modifications

7.1 Service Level

We strive to provide reliable, high-availability service. However, we do not guarantee:

• Uninterrupted or error-free operation
• Specific uptime percentages (except in Enterprise SLAs)
• Compatibility with all platforms and configurations
• Specific response times or performance metrics

7.2 Maintenance and Downtime

We may perform scheduled maintenance with advance notice. Emergency maintenance may occur without notice. We are not liable for downtime resulting from maintenance, updates, or technical issues.

7.3 Service Modifications

We reserve the right to:

• Modify, update, or discontinue features
• Change API endpoints and specifications (with reasonable notice)
• Update the Service to improve security and functionality
• Deprecate legacy features with migration paths

We will provide reasonable notice of material changes that negatively impact your use.

8. Intellectual Property Rights

8.1 Our Rights

CaptchaShield and all related technology, software, algorithms, trademarks, logos, and content are owned by CaptchaShield and protected by intellectual property laws. We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the Service in accordance with these Terms.

8.2 Your Rights

You retain ownership of your account data, site configurations, and content you provide. By using the Service, you grant us a license to process this data as necessary to provide the Service.

8.3 Restrictions

You may not:

• Copy, modify, or create derivative works of the Service
• Use our trademarks without permission
• Remove or alter proprietary notices
• Claim ownership of our intellectual property

8.4 Feedback

If you provide suggestions, ideas, or feedback, we may use them freely without obligation or compensation.

9. Termination and Suspension

9.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by:

• Using the account deletion feature in the dashboard
• Contacting support at [email protected]

Upon termination, your access will cease, and your data will be deleted according to our retention policy.

9.2 Termination or Suspension by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately if:

• You violate these Terms or our policies
• Your account is used for illegal or fraudulent activities
• Payment fails or you have outstanding fees
• We are required to do so by law or legal process
• Your use poses a security risk or harms other users
• We discontinue the Service (with reasonable notice)

9.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your license to use the Service ends immediately
• Access to your account and data will be disabled
• You must stop using the API, widget, and all Service components
• Outstanding fees remain due and payable
• Sections of these Terms that should survive (warranties, limitations of liability, etc.) will continue to apply

10. Warranties and Disclaimers

10.1 AS-IS Service

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING:

• MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
• NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS
• ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR COMPLETENESS
• ERROR-FREE OR UNINTERRUPTED OPERATION
• SECURITY OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES

10.2 No Guarantee of Detection

While we strive to provide effective bot protection, we do not guarantee that:

• All bots will be detected or blocked
• All legitimate users will pass verification
• The Service will prevent all fraud or abuse

10.3 Third-Party Services

We are not responsible for third-party services, integrations, or content accessed through or in connection with the Service.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

11.1 Exclusion of Damages

WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING:

• LOST PROFITS, REVENUE, OR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
• DATA LOSS OR CORRUPTION
• SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS OR DELAYS
• UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS OR SECURITY BREACHES
• FAILURE TO DETECT BOTS OR PREVENT FRAUD
• USER FRUSTRATION OR LOSS OF LEGITIMATE TRAFFIC

11.2 Cap on Liability

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATED TO THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF:

• THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO US IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR
• $100 USD

11.3 Exceptions

These limitations do not apply to:

• Our gross negligence or willful misconduct
• Death or personal injury caused by our negligence
• Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
• Liabilities that cannot be excluded by law

12. Indemnification

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

• Your use or misuse of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms or applicable laws
• Your content, websites, or applications
• Infringement of third-party rights
• Your breach of security or confidentiality obligations

13. Governing Law and Disputes

13.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States and the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles.

13.2 Dispute Resolution

We encourage you to contact us first to resolve disputes informally. If informal resolution fails:

• Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Delaware, United States
• You waive the right to participate in class actions or class arbitrations
• Each party may seek injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction

13.3 Time Limit for Claims

Any claim related to the Service must be filed within one (1) year of the date the claim arose, or it is permanently barred.

14. General Provisions

14.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any additional agreements (e.g., Enterprise Agreements), constitute the entire agreement between you and CaptchaShield.

14.2 Amendments

We may modify these Terms at any time by posting updated Terms on our website. Material changes will be notified via email or dashboard notice. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

14.3 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations to affiliates, successors, or acquirers.

14.4 Severability

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

14.5 Waiver

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

14.6 Force Majeure

We are not liable for delays or failures due to events beyond our reasonable control (natural disasters, war, terrorism, pandemics, internet outages, etc.).

14.7 Relationship

These Terms do not create a partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship.

15. Contact and Notices

For questions or concerns about these Terms, contact us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://captchashield.com

Notices to you may be sent via email to your registered address. Notices to us must be sent to the above email address.

Thank you for using CaptchaShield. We're committed to providing reliable, privacy-focused bot protection for your applications.