Terms of Service

These terms of service ("Terms") are a legally binding agreement between you ("you", "your") and Spodic ("Spodic", "we", "us", "our"), a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak) based in the Netherlands. They govern your access to and use of spodic.com, the Spodic browser extension, and the Spodic API (together, "the Service").

By creating an account, installing the browser extension, or otherwise using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. Description of the Service

Spodic is a speed reading platform that uses Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) to help users read text more efficiently. The Service includes a web application hosted at spodic.com, a companion browser extension, and optional AI-powered features such as text summarization.

Some features of the Service are available without an account (such as pasting text on the homepage). Other features (such as saving reading progress, syncing across devices, uploading files, and using AI features) require an account and may be subject to subscription tier limits.

2. Accounts

To use most features of the Service, you must create an account by providing a valid email address. Authentication is handled through magic links sent to your email; we do not use passwords.

You are responsible for maintaining access to the email address associated with your account. If you lose access to your email, we may not be able to verify your identity or recover your account. You must notify us promptly if you believe your account has been accessed by an unauthorized party.

You may not create accounts for other people without their permission, create multiple accounts to circumvent usage limits or evade a ban, or provide false or misleading information when creating an account. We reserve the right to refuse, suspend, or terminate any account at our discretion if we believe these conditions have been violated.

3. User content and responsibility

You retain full ownership of any text, articles, documents, or files you paste, import, or upload to Spodic ("User Content"). We claim no intellectual property rights over your User Content.

You are solely responsible for ensuring that you have the legal right to upload, paste, or otherwise process any content through the Service. This includes, but is not limited to: articles, academic papers, ebooks, documents, and any other text or files. If content is protected by copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights, and you do not have the right to reproduce or process it, you may not use it with Spodic.

Spodic does not actively monitor, moderate, screen, or review User Content. We have no obligation to do so, and we assume no responsibility for the legality, accuracy, or appropriateness of content that users submit. The presence of content on the Service does not imply our endorsement or approval of that content.

If we receive a valid legal notice regarding specific content (such as a DMCA takedown request, or an equivalent notice under Directive 2001/29/EC or the Dutch Auteurswet), we will act in accordance with applicable law, which may include removing the content and, if necessary, suspending or terminating the associated account.

By using the Service, you agree not to upload or process content that:

Is illegal under the laws of the Netherlands or the European Union.
Infringes on the intellectual property rights of any third party.
Contains malware, viruses, harmful code, or material intended to disrupt the Service or other users' devices.
Contains material that is defamatory, harassing, threatening, or that promotes violence or discrimination.

4. License to user content

By uploading User Content, you grant Spodic a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to store, process, display, and transmit that content solely for the purpose of providing the Service to you. This includes storing text in our database, storing files in cloud object storage, displaying text in the RSVP reader, and transmitting text to our AI provider when you initiate a summarization request.

This license exists only for the duration that the content is on the Service. It terminates immediately when you delete the content or delete your account. We do not use your User Content for training AI models, for advertising, or for any purpose other than providing the Service to you.

5. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

Use the Service for any purpose that is illegal under applicable law.
Attempt to reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or otherwise derive the source code of the Service, except to the extent that such restriction is prohibited by applicable law (including EU Directive 2009/24/EC on the legal protection of computer programs).
Use automated scripts, bots, scrapers, or other automated tools to access or interact with the Service in a way that exceeds normal individual use, unless explicitly authorized by Spodic in writing.
Circumvent, disable, or interfere with rate limits, storage quotas, authentication mechanisms, or other usage restrictions or security features of the Service.
Resell, redistribute, sublicense, or commercially exploit access to the Service or any content obtained through it without our prior written consent.
Interfere with or disrupt the operation of the Service, its servers, or networks connected to the Service, including through denial-of-service attacks or other malicious activity.
Impersonate another person or entity, or falsely represent your affiliation with any person or entity.
Use the Service to harvest, collect, or store personal data of other users.

Violation of these acceptable use terms may result in immediate suspension or termination of your account, without prior notice, at our sole discretion.

6. AI features

Spodic offers optional AI-powered features, currently including text summarization. These features are powered by third-party AI models (currently DeepSeek) and are provided as a convenience to help you engage with text more efficiently.

When you use AI features, the text content of the item being processed is sent to our AI provider's servers for processing. No personal account data (such as your email address, settings, or reading history) is sent to the AI provider. For full details, see our Privacy Policy.

AI-generated content (including summaries) may contain inaccuracies, omissions, hallucinations, or errors. AI output is generated by statistical models that do not understand the content they process. You should not rely on AI-generated content for academic citation, legal analysis, medical guidance, financial decisions, or any situation where accuracy is critical. AI summaries are not a substitute for reading the original text.

Spodic is not liable for any consequences arising from reliance on AI-generated output, including but not limited to incorrect information, missed nuances, or misrepresentations of the original text.

7. Credits and AI usage

AI features consume credits from your account. The number of credits consumed per request depends on the length of the text being processed. Credit allocations vary by subscription tier.

Free tier: A one-time credit allocation is provided when you create an account. These credits do not renew.
Paid tiers: Credits reset at the beginning of each billing cycle. Unused credits do not roll over to the next cycle.

We reserve the right to adjust credit allocations, consumption rates, pricing, and rate limits at any time. Changes to paid plans will be communicated to subscribers in advance of the next billing cycle. If you disagree with the changes, you may cancel your subscription before the new billing cycle begins.

8. Subscriptions and payments

Spodic offers free and paid subscription tiers. The features and limits associated with each tier are described on our website and may change over time.

8.1 Payment processing

All payment processing is handled by Polar, our Merchant of Record. By subscribing to a paid plan, you also agree to Polar's terms of service. Spodic does not directly collect, process, or store your payment information. Polar handles billing, invoicing, VAT calculation, and payment compliance on our behalf.

8.2 Billing

Subscriptions are billed on a recurring basis (monthly or annually, depending on the plan you choose). Your subscription automatically renews at the end of each billing period unless you cancel before the renewal date. The renewal price will be the current price of your plan at the time of renewal, unless we have notified you of a price change in advance.

8.3 Cancellation

You may cancel your subscription at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. You will retain access to paid features and your remaining credits until that period ends. After cancellation takes effect, your account will revert to the free tier.

8.4 Refunds

Because the Service provides immediate access to digital content and features upon payment, refunds are generally not available once a billing period has begun. However, we handle refund requests on a case-by-case basis. If you believe you are entitled to a refund (for example, due to a billing error or a Service outage that materially prevented use), contact [email protected] within 14 days of the charge in question.

8.5 Price changes

We may change subscription prices from time to time. For existing subscribers, we will provide at least 30 days' notice before a price increase takes effect. If you do not agree with the new price, you may cancel before the next billing cycle.

9. Storage and file limits

Each subscription tier includes a storage quota for uploaded files. The current storage limits are displayed on our pricing page and may change over time. Individual files are subject to a maximum size limit of 50 MB per file, regardless of tier.

If your total storage usage reaches your tier's limit, you will not be able to upload additional files until you delete existing files or upgrade to a tier with a higher limit. We do not automatically delete your files if you downgrade to a lower tier, but you will be unable to upload new files until your usage falls within the new tier's limit.

Spodic currently accepts the following file types: PDF, ePub, DOCX, TXT, HTML, and Markdown. We may modify the list of supported formats at any time. If we discontinue support for a format, existing files of that format already in your library will not be deleted, but you may not be able to upload new files of that format.

10. Intellectual property

The Spodic name, logo, website design, application code, API, browser extension, documentation, and all associated materials are the intellectual property of Spodic or its licensors and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other applicable laws.

You may not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, create derivative works from, publicly display, or commercially exploit any part of the Service or its underlying technology without our prior written consent, except as necessary for normal use of the Service (for example, your browser caching page assets, or the browser extension storing data locally as part of its normal operation).

These Terms do not grant you any right, title, or interest in or to the Service, except for the limited right to use the Service in accordance with these Terms.

11. Disclaimer of warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

SPODIC DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, SECURE, OR FREE FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. SPODIC DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE RESULTS OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF THE SERVICE (INCLUDING AI-GENERATED CONTENT) WILL BE ACCURATE, RELIABLE, OR COMPLETE. SPODIC DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL MEET YOUR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.

YOU USE THE SERVICE AT YOUR OWN RISK. YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR DEVICE, LOSS OF DATA, OR OTHER HARM THAT RESULTS FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties. In such cases, the exclusions above apply to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

12. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL SPODIC, ITS OWNER, OR ITS AFFILIATES BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF REVENUE, LOSS OF DATA, LOSS OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, LOSS OF GOODWILL, OR COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE SERVICES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE), EVEN IF SPODIC HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SPODIC'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF: (A) THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID TO SPODIC IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) FIFTY EUROS (€50).

THE LIMITATIONS IN THIS SECTION APPLY TO ALL CLAIMS, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND WHETHER OR NOT SPODIC HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for: (a) death or personal injury caused by negligence; (b) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; (c) any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under the laws of the Netherlands or the European Union, including mandatory consumer protection rights.

If you are a consumer in the European Union, you are entitled to the mandatory protections of the consumer protection laws of your country of residence. Nothing in these Terms is intended to override those protections.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Spodic, its owner, and its affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to:

Your use of the Service in violation of these Terms.
User Content you upload, paste, import, or otherwise submit through the Service, including any claims that your User Content infringes the intellectual property rights or other rights of any third party.
Your violation of any applicable law or regulation in connection with your use of the Service.
Any dispute between you and a third party arising from your use of the Service.

This indemnification obligation survives the termination of your account and these Terms. If you are a consumer in the European Union, this clause applies only to the extent permitted by applicable consumer protection laws in your jurisdiction.

14. Account termination

14.1 Termination by you

You may delete your account at any time through the Service or by contacting [email protected]. Upon deletion, all data associated with your account (reading items, uploaded files, settings, sessions, and any stored summaries) will be permanently removed within 30 days. If you have an active paid subscription, deleting your account will cancel it at the end of the current billing period.

14.2 Termination by Spodic

We may suspend or terminate your account and access to the Service, with or without notice, if:

You materially violate these Terms, including the acceptable use policy (Section 5) or the user content policy (Section 3).
Your account is used for illegal activity.
Continued operation of your account poses a security risk to the Service or other users.
We are required to do so by law or a valid legal order.

Where possible and not prohibited by law, we will notify you before taking action and give you an opportunity to address the issue. In cases of severe or repeated violations, or where there is an immediate risk, we may act without prior notice.

14.3 Effect of termination

Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately. We may, but are not obligated to, provide you with a reasonable opportunity to export your data before permanent deletion. The following sections survive termination: Section 3 (User Content and Responsibility), Section 10 (Intellectual Property), Section 11 (Disclaimer of Warranties), Section 12 (Limitation of Liability), Section 13 (Indemnification), Section 16 (Governing Law), and Section 18 (General Provisions).

15. Third-party services and links

The Service integrates with or may link to third-party services, including Cloudflare (infrastructure), Resend (email delivery), DeepSeek (AI processing), and Polar (payments). Your use of these third-party services is subject to their own terms and privacy policies. Spodic is not responsible for the availability, accuracy, content, or practices of third-party services.

The Service may also display or link to third-party websites through User Content (for example, articles imported by URL). We do not endorse or assume responsibility for any third-party content or websites.

16. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any disputes arising from or related to these Terms or the Service will be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in the Netherlands.

If you are a consumer residing in the European Union, you may also invoke the mandatory consumer protection laws of your country of residence. Nothing in these Terms limits your rights as a consumer under applicable EU law, including your right to bring proceedings in the courts of your country of residence.

EU consumers may also use the European Commission's Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform at ec.europa.eu/odr to attempt to resolve disputes online.

17. Force majeure

Spodic will not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms where such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond our reasonable control. This includes, but is not limited to: natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, pandemics, government actions or regulations, infrastructure failures (including third-party hosting or network failures), cyberattacks, power outages, or failures of third-party service providers on whom the Service depends.

If a force majeure event continues for more than 60 consecutive days, either party may terminate these Terms by providing written notice to the other party.

18. General provisions

18.1 Entire agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any additional terms specific to paid plans or features, constitute the entire agreement between you and Spodic regarding the Service. They supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications, proposals, and agreements (whether oral or written) between you and Spodic regarding the Service.

18.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect. The invalid or unenforceable provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable while preserving its original intent, or severed entirely if modification is not possible.

18.3 Waiver

The failure of Spodic to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. Any waiver of any provision of these Terms will be effective only if in writing and signed by Spodic.

18.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms to any third party without our prior written consent. Spodic may assign these Terms, in whole or in part, to any successor or affiliate in connection with a merger, acquisition, corporate reorganization, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets, provided that the assignee agrees to be bound by these Terms.

18.5 Notices

We may send you notices related to the Service (including changes to these Terms) by email to the address associated with your account, or by posting a notice on the Service. You are responsible for keeping your email address current. Notices sent by email are considered received 24 hours after the email is sent. Notices posted on the Service are considered received when they are first published.

18.6 No third-party beneficiaries

These Terms do not create any third-party beneficiary rights. No person or entity other than you and Spodic has any rights under these Terms.

19. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time as the Service evolves. When we make changes, we will revise the "last updated" date at the top of this page. For material changes that substantially affect your rights or obligations, we will make reasonable efforts to notify active users by email at least 30 days before the changes take effect.

Your continued use of the Service after the updated Terms take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree with the changes, you should stop using the Service and delete your account before the changes take effect.

Previous versions of these Terms are available upon request by emailing [email protected].

20. Contact

For questions about these Terms or the Service:

Email: [email protected]
Spodic
The Netherlands

For privacy-related inquiries, see our Privacy Policy or email [email protected].