Terms of Service

Description of the Service

Once Upon a Timer is a browser-based productivity tool focused on timekeeping and atmosphere. The Service currently includes, among other things:

• Timer and stopwatch modes — switch between a countdown-style focus timer and a stopwatch for measuring elapsed time.
• TimeMark logging — record session checkpoints or split/lap times dynamically while using the timer or stopwatch.
• Ambient soundscapes — optional audio you can enable or disable to accompany your session.
• Background imagery — choose from curated or browsed background images to personalize the experience. Some images are supplied via the Unsplash platform and are shown with photographer attribution where applicable.
• Appearance and preferences — light and dark theme, clock display preferences, and related settings stored on your device.
• Language selection — switch between supported language interfaces (such as English and Spanish).
• Keyboard accessibility — utilize desktop keyboard shortcuts to control countdown inputs, toggle preferences, and open settings panels.
• Optional visual effects — lightweight decorative overlays (for example seasonal or ambient effects) that you may see during use.
• Progressive Web App — the Service may be installable from supported browsers using a web app manifest; installation is optional.

Features may be added, changed, or discontinued over time. The Service is offered for personal and professional productivity use, not as a substitute for professional, medical, legal, or therapeutic advice.

Accounts

Core use of the Service does not require creating an account or signing in. If we introduce sign-in or accounts in the future, additional terms may apply and will be made available in connection with those features.

Third-party services and content

The Service relies on infrastructure and content from third parties, including but not limited to:

• Google Firebase — we use Firebase-backed services for background search and related operations. When you select certain Unsplash-sourced images in production, the Service may contact our backend so Unsplash compliance requirements can be met.
• Unsplash— photos and metadata are subject to Unsplash's terms and license for end users and developers. Attribution is displayed where required.
• Analytics — on some deployments, usage analytics (for example Google Analytics via Firebase) may be enabled to understand aggregate usage. Whether analytics runs depends on how the Service is built and hosted for a given environment.

Your use of third-party services may also be subject to those providers' terms and privacy notices. We do not control third-party sites or services.

Device storage

The Service stores preferences and session-related data in your browser (for example local storage and cookies), including items such as theme, timer mode, and background choices, so the experience can persist between visits. See our Privacy Policy for more detail on data practices.

Acceptable use

You agree not to:

• Use the Service in violation of applicable laws or regulations.
• Attempt to disrupt, overload, scrape, or reverse engineer the Service or its backends beyond normal personal use.
• Misrepresent affiliation with the operator of the Service or the Service itself.
• Use the Service to infringe intellectual property or privacy rights of others.

Intellectual property

The Service's branding, design, software, and original assets are owned by the operator of the Service or its licensors and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws. Unsplash photographs remain subject to their respective licenses and attributions. Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Service for its intended purpose.

Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR FREE OF HARMFUL COMPONENTS. YOU USE TIMER, AUDIO, AND VISUAL FEATURES AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION (FOR EXAMPLE REGARDING SOUND VOLUME, SCREEN USE, OR DISTRACTION IN SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS DRIVING OR OPERATING MACHINERY).

Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE OPERATOR OF THE SERVICE AND ITS CONTRIBUTORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW CERTAIN LIMITATIONS; IN THOSE CASES, OUR LIABILITY WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

Changes to the Service or these Terms

We may modify the Service or these Terms at any time. We will try to reflect material changes by updating the "Last updated" date above. Continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms, except where applicable law requires a different process.

Contact

For questions about these Terms, please use the contact channels provided on the site or with the application listing, if any.