Terms of Service

1. Overview of the Services

1.1 What Cookstack provides

Cookstack is a cookbook companion available as a free mobile application for iOS and Android, together with our website and related online features (collectively, the “Services”). Features may include:

• Scanning ISBN barcodes and adding cookbooks to a digital shelf
• Browsing and searching indexed recipes associated with cookbooks
• Bookmarks, custom lists, meal planning, grocery lists, and cook logging
• Ratings, reviews, and comments
• Account sync across devices
• Support tools such as FAQ, contact support, and bug reports
• Share links that open catalog items in the App

Features may change over time as we improve the product. Some catalog titles may be incomplete until recipes are indexed.

1.2 Free download and optional paid features

Cookstack is free to download. We may offer optional paid upgrades, subscriptions, or in-app purchases through the Apple App Store or Google Play. If offered, pricing, trial terms, and renewal details are shown in the store listing or purchase flow before you confirm.

1.3 Availability

An internet connection is required for account creation, catalog lookups, syncing, and many other features. Availability may vary by region, device, store rules, or maintenance. We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation.

2. Eligibility and accounts

2.1 Age

You must be at least 13 years old (or the minimum age required in your jurisdiction) to use Cookstack. If you are under the age of majority where you live, you may use the Services only with a parent or guardian’s consent and supervision.

2.2 Account registration

You must create an account with a valid email and password. You must confirm your email before signing in. You agree to provide accurate information and to keep it updated.

2.3 Account security

You are responsible for safeguarding your credentials and for activity under your account. Notify us promptly if you suspect unauthorized access. We may suspend or terminate accounts that appear compromised or abused.

2.4 Account deletion

You may delete your account from App settings where available. Deletion removes or anonymizes personal account data as described in our Privacy Policy, subject to legal retention needs.

3. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

• Violate any law or third-party rights
• Harass, threaten, defame, or harm others
• Post spam, scams, malware, or deceptive content
• Upload illegal, sexual, exploitative, or otherwise prohibited content
• Attempt unauthorized access to systems, accounts, or data
• Scrape, reverse engineer, or overload the Services except as allowed by law
• Interfere with catalog integrity, moderation, or other users’ experience
• Misrepresent your identity or affiliation
• Use the Services for commercial scraping, bulk redistribution, or competing data products without our written permission

We may remove content, limit features, or suspend accounts that violate these Terms or create risk to users or the platform.

4. User content and community

4.1 Your content

You retain ownership of content you create (such as reviews, comments, lists notes, or support messages). By posting or submitting content, you grant Cookstack a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, store, reproduce, display, and distribute that content as needed to operate and improve the Services.

4.2 Responsibility

You are solely responsible for your content and for ensuring you have the rights to share it. Do not post others’ private information without permission.

4.3 Moderation

We may (but are not obligated to) review, edit, refuse, or remove content, and may use automated tools plus human review. Reporting tools in the App help us investigate issues. Enforcement decisions are made at our discretion.

5. Catalog, recipes, and cooking disclaimer

Book and recipe information may come from publishers, public sources, partners, automated indexing, or community input. Titles, ingredients, instructions, times, and images may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate.

Cooking is at your own risk. Always follow food safety guidance, allergen awareness, and common sense. Cookstack is not a substitute for professional culinary, nutritional, or medical advice. We are not responsible for illness, injury, property damage, or other outcomes from preparing recipes found through the Services.

6. Intellectual property

6.1 Cookstack IP

The App, website, branding, software, design, and original materials we create are owned by Cookstack or its licensors and are protected by intellectual property laws. Except for rights expressly granted, no license is conferred.

6.2 Third-party cookbook and recipe rights

Cookbooks and recipes remain the property of their respective rights holders. Cookstack provides organizational and discovery tools; it does not transfer ownership of publisher or author copyrights to you. Do not use the Services to infringe copyrights or to redistribute protected materials unlawfully.

6.3 Feedback

If you send ideas or feedback, you grant us permission to use them without restriction or compensation.

7. Purchases, trials, and refunds

If you buy optional paid features, billing is handled by Apple or Google under their terms. Manage or cancel renewals in your store account settings. Refunds are governed by the applicable store’s policies; we generally cannot issue refunds directly for store-billed purchases. Restoring purchases requires the same store account originally used.

8. Third-party services

The Services may integrate or link to third parties (app stores, payment processors, hosting providers, email delivery, analytics or crash tools, and external recipe/book sources). Their terms and privacy policies apply to their services. We are not responsible for third-party content or practices.

9. Privacy

Our collection and use of personal information is described in the Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

10. Disclaimers

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT CATALOG DATA WILL BE COMPLETE OR ACCURATE.

11. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, COOKSTACK AND ITS OPERATORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM RELATING TO THE SERVICES WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNTS YOU PAID US (IF ANY) FOR THE SERVICES IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM OR (B) USD $50.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations; in those places, our liability is limited to the fullest extent allowed.

12. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Cookstack and its operators from claims, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of your use of the Services, your content, or your violation of these Terms or applicable law.

13. Suspension and termination

You may stop using the Services at any time. We may suspend or terminate access if you violate these Terms, create risk or legal exposure, or if we discontinue the Services. Upon termination, licenses you granted to operate your content for the Services end, except where retention is required or permitted by law or our Privacy Policy.

14. Changes to the Services or Terms

We may modify the Services and these Terms. We will update the “Last updated” date when we post changes. Material changes may be highlighted in-app or by email when appropriate. Continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

15. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws applicable in the jurisdiction where Cookstack’s operating entity is established, without regard to conflict-of-law rules, except where mandatory consumer protections in your country require otherwise. Courts in that jurisdiction will have exclusive venue for disputes, subject to those mandatory rights.

16. General

• If any provision is unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.
• Our failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of our right to do so later.
• You may not assign these Terms without our consent; we may assign them in connection with a reorganization or sale.
• These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any in-app store disclosures, are the entire agreement between you and Cookstack regarding the Services.

17. Contact

Legal notices: [email protected]

Privacy: [email protected]

Product support: Contact Support inside the Cookstack App.