Terms of Service

1. Scope of services

Hillnote is a local-first text editor, available on desktop and mobile, that offers:

• Local editing and document management
• AI-assisted writing features powered by locally-executed models via Ollama
• Optional premium AI models (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini) which may process data on their servers
• Optional integration of third-party LLMs (Large Language Models) which may have their own licenses
• Optional cloud sync that keeps a workspace in step across your devices
• Optional collaboration — sharing a workspace with people you invite, by role
• Optional publishing of a workspace to the web, including custom-domain mapping on some plans
• Optional paid subscription plans that unlock additional storage and features

2. Account & access

You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the security of your device and Hillnote installation
• Managing any user-specific settings or preferences within the app
• Keeping your account credentials confidential and all activity under your account

You can use Hillnote fully offline without an account. An account is only required for the optional cloud features — sync, collaboration, and publishing.

3. Use of AI features

Hillnote provides AI features through locally running models and optional premium models. You agree that:

• All AI features are used at your own discretion and risk
• The AI-generated content may be inaccurate, biased, or incomplete
• You are responsible for reviewing and verifying any output before use
• You will not use the software for illegal, harmful, or unethical purposes
• You will not reverse-engineer or tamper with AI model integrations
• When using premium models, your queries and content may be processed on third-party servers and potentially used for model training
• You understand and accept the data handling practices of any premium models you choose to use

4. Third-party model terms

Hillnote allows you to use AI models via Ollama, premium models, or import others. By doing so, you acknowledge:

• Models are owned and maintained by third parties
• Premium models (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini) may process your data on their servers and potentially use it for training
• You must read and agree to the individual model's license terms and privacy policies before use
• Hillnote is not liable for any breaches of such terms or data handling by third-party model providers
• You can choose to use only local models if you prefer to keep all data on your device

You can find license details by visiting each model's repository or homepage.

5. Local data & privacy

Hillnote is local-first: it does not send your data to remote servers unless you explicitly enable a feature that does so, such as sync, collaboration, or publishing.

• By default, documents, history, and AI usage data are stored locally on your device
• You are responsible for securing your files
• Hillnote does not track usage or collect identifiable analytics by default
• When you turn on a cloud feature, the data involved is handled as described in our Privacy Policy

6. Sync, collaboration & publishing

When you enable a cloud feature, you agree that:

• You own or have the rights to the content you sync, share, or publish, and you are responsible for it
• You will not use these features to store or distribute unlawful, infringing, or harmful content, and you will comply with our acceptable-use expectations
• When you invite collaborators, you authorize them to access the shared workspace under the role you assign, and you are responsible for whom you invite
• Collaborators and anyone who has synced a shared workspace keep their own local copy; removing them, or deleting your account, does not delete copies already on their devices
• Content you publish to the web is public — you are responsible for what you make public, and we may suspend a published site that violates these terms or the law
• Cloud features rely on third-party infrastructure (including AWS) and may change, be limited by your plan, or be temporarily unavailable

7. Subscriptions & billing

Some features require a paid plan. If you subscribe:

• Fees, billing cycle, and what each plan includes are shown at checkout and on our pricing page
• Payments are processed by a third-party payment processor; we do not store full card details
• Paid plans renew automatically for the same period unless you cancel before the renewal date
• You can cancel anytime and keep access until the end of the current billing period; except where the law requires otherwise, fees already paid are non-refundable
• We may change plan pricing or contents on reasonable notice, effective at your next renewal
• If a payment fails or a plan lapses, paid features may be disabled while your local files remain yours

8. Disclaimers & limitations

Hillnote is provided "as is." We do not make any guarantees regarding:

• AI accuracy or reliability
• The availability of specific models
• Compatibility with all hardware
• Uninterrupted service or bug-free performance

We disclaim any liability for loss of data, productivity, or opportunity resulting from Hillnote usage.

9. Ownership & licensing

• Hillnote's core application is proprietary and licensed, not sold
• Some integrated features may use open-source components under separate licenses
• You may not copy, resell, reverse-engineer, or redistribute the software without written consent

10. Updates & modifications

We reserve the right to:

• Modify or discontinue features without notice
• Update these terms from time to time

You will be notified of significant changes during app startup or via release notes.

11. Termination

You may stop using Hillnote at any time, and you can request deletion of your account and synced data whenever you like. We may suspend or terminate access to the cloud features, or your account, in the event of:

• Violation of these terms or our acceptable-use expectations
• Misuse of AI, sync, collaboration, or publishing
• Non-payment of a paid plan
• Legal or regulatory requirements

Ending your account stops the cloud features and any active subscription, but the files on your own devices remain yours. See Delete your account for how deletion works and what we can and can't reach.

12. Jurisdiction

These terms are governed by the laws of India. All disputes will be subject to courts located in Bangalore, India.

13. Limitation of liability

In no event shall Hillnote or its affiliates be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, data, or revenue, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from your use of or inability to use the service.

14. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Hillnote and its officers, directors, employees, and affiliates from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of your use of the service, violation of these terms, or infringement of any intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity.

15. Export control & compliance

You agree to comply with all applicable export laws and regulations. You will not use, export, or re-export Hillnote software in violation of any applicable laws, including without limitation, export laws and regulations.

16. No professional advice

AI-generated content provided by Hillnote is not professional advice. You should not rely on it for legal, medical, financial, or other critical decisions. Always consult a qualified professional.

Contact

For questions, issues, or feedback, email [email protected].