Terms of Service

By accessing or using sootcase (the “Service”), whether via our website, mobile application, or any other interface, you (“you” or “User”) agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”) and our Privacy Policy.

If you are using sootcase on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization to these Terms, and references to “you” include that organization.

If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not access or use the Service. Your continued use of sootcase after any modifications to these Terms constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

sootcase is an AI-powered travel companion platform designed to help individuals and groups plan, organize, and manage their travel experiences. The Service includes, but is not limited to:

• AI-assisted itinerary building and trip planning via Peggy, our AI travel companion
• Document storage and organization for travel-related files (passports, visas, bookings, etc.)
• Group trip collaboration tools including shared itineraries and real-time updates
• Weather forecasts, destination insights, and travel recommendations
• Photo and memory management for your trips
• Polls, notes, and communication tools for group coordination

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Service at any time. We will make reasonable efforts to provide advance notice of significant changes.

To access most features of sootcase, you must create an account. When registering, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• Maintain and promptly update your account information to keep it accurate
• Keep your password secure and confidential — you are responsible for all activity under your account
• Notify us immediately at support@sootcase.com if you suspect unauthorized access to your account
• Be at least 16 years of age (or the minimum age in your jurisdiction for digital services)

You may not create an account for anyone other than yourself without their explicit permission. Each person may maintain only one active account. We reserve the right to terminate duplicate accounts.

Accounts created using automated means, or accounts used to engage in unauthorized activities, will be permanently suspended without notice.

You agree to use sootcase only for lawful purposes and in a way that does not infringe the rights of others or restrict their use of the Service. The following are strictly prohibited:

• Using the Service for any unlawful purpose or to facilitate illegal activities
• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Service, other accounts, or related systems
• Transmitting harmful, harassing, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable content
• Scraping, crawling, or data mining the Service without our express written permission
• Uploading or transmitting viruses, malware, or any code designed to disrupt or damage the Service
• Impersonating any person, organization, or entity, including sootcase employees
• Selling, reselling, or commercially exploiting any part of the Service without authorization
• Interfering with or disrupting the integrity or performance of the Service
• Using automated tools to interact with the Service in an abusive or excessive manner
• Circumventing any access controls, security measures, or usage limitations

Violations may result in immediate account suspension or termination, and we reserve the right to report illegal activity to appropriate authorities.

The sootcase Service — including its design, interface, branding, AI models, software code, content, trademarks, and all associated intellectual property — is owned by sootcase and protected by applicable intellectual property laws worldwide.

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Service for your personal, non-commercial purposes, subject to these Terms. This license does not include:

• Copying, modifying, or creating derivative works of our platform or content
• Reverse engineering, decompiling, or disassembling any part of the Service
• Removing or altering any proprietary notices or labels on the Service
• Using our name, logo, or branding without our express written consent

Any feedback, suggestions, or ideas you provide about the Service may be used by us freely and without any obligation to compensate you.

sootcase allows you to upload, store, and share content including documents, photos, itinerary details, notes, and other materials (“User Content”). You retain ownership of all User Content you submit.

By uploading User Content to sootcase, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, store, process, display, and transmit your content solely for the purpose of operating and improving the Service. We will never sell your User Content to third parties.

You represent and warrant that:

• You own or have the necessary rights to upload and share the content
• Your content does not violate any third-party intellectual property, privacy, or other rights
• Your content complies with all applicable laws and these Terms
• You have obtained appropriate consent from any individuals identifiable in photos or documents

We reserve the right to remove any User Content that violates these Terms or that we determine, in our sole discretion, to be harmful, illegal, or otherwise objectionable — without prior notice.

Your privacy matters deeply to us. Our Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and protect your personal information and is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

By using sootcase, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in our Privacy Policy. Key principles we adhere to:

• We never sell your personal data to third parties
• Your travel data is encrypted at rest and in transit
• You can export or delete your data at any time from your account settings
• We use industry-standard security measures to protect your information
• We are transparent about what data we collect and why

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or United Kingdom, you have additional rights under GDPR and UK GDPR, including the right to access, rectify, or erase your personal data.

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SOOTCASE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING:

• Implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement
• Warranties that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or completely secure
• Warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any information provided
• Warranties that defects or errors will be corrected

Travel recommendations, AI-generated itineraries, weather data, and other content provided through sootcase are for informational purposes only. We strongly recommend independently verifying critical travel information including visa requirements, entry restrictions, health advisories, and booking confirmations.

sootcase is not a licensed travel agency and does not guarantee the availability, accuracy, or suitability of any travel options, accommodations, or services mentioned in the platform.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SOOTCASE AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AFFILIATES, AND LICENSORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of profits, data, goodwill, or other intangible losses
• Damages resulting from unauthorized access to or alteration of your data
• Damages arising from the conduct of any third party using the Service
• Any travel-related losses, including missed flights, cancelled bookings, or adverse experiences

IN ALL CASES, OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) $100 USD.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain warranties or liability, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you. In such cases, our liability will be limited to the minimum extent permitted by law.

Either party may terminate the relationship under these Terms at any time:

• You may delete your account at any time from your account settings — your data will be removed per our Privacy Policy
• We may suspend or terminate your access immediately if you breach these Terms
• We may terminate accounts that have been inactive for an extended period, with reasonable notice
• We may discontinue the Service with reasonable advance notice to registered users

Upon termination, all rights and licenses granted to you under these Terms will immediately cease. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination — including intellectual property rights, disclaimers, liability limitations, and dispute resolution — will survive.

If your account is terminated due to a breach of these Terms, you may not create a new account without our express written permission.

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

Before initiating any formal dispute, you agree to first contact us at legal@sootcase.com and attempt to resolve the matter informally. We will make a good-faith effort to resolve most concerns within 30 days.

If a dispute cannot be resolved informally, both parties agree to submit to binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration will be conducted in English, remotely or in Wilmington, Delaware. Class action lawsuits and class-wide arbitrations are expressly waived.

Notwithstanding the above, either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent the actual or threatened infringement, misappropriation, or violation of intellectual property rights.

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, the law, or for other operational reasons. When we make material changes, we will:

• Post the updated Terms with a new “Last Updated” date
• Notify registered users via email at least 14 days before significant changes take effect
• Display a prominent notice within the app for material changes
• Seek your explicit consent where required by applicable law

Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must stop using the Service and may delete your account.

We encourage you to review these Terms periodically. The most current version will always be available at sootcase.com/terms.

If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback about these Terms, we'd love to hear from you. You can reach us through the following channels: