Terms of Service

The short version

Be respectful, don't abuse the service, and use Alera to help your family eat well. We're not liable if a recipe doesn't turn out or you have an allergic reaction—always verify ingredients yourself. Alera is provided "as is" for free. We can change or shut down the service at any time.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Alera ("the Service"), you agree to these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you don't agree, don't use the Service.

We may modify these Terms at any time. We'll notify you of material changes via email or an in-app notice. Continued use after changes means you accept the new Terms.

2. Description of Service

Alera is a meal planning tool that helps families plan weekly menus using AI-powered recipe generation. The Service includes:

• AI-generated recipes based on user preferences
• Meal calendar and planning tools
• Shopping list generation
• Family collaboration features
• Recipe library and feedback system

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use Alera. By using the Service, you represent that you meet this age requirement.

4. User Accounts

4.1 Account Creation

You're responsible for:

• Providing accurate information when creating your account
• Maintaining the security of your password
• All activity that occurs under your account

4.2 Account Security

If you believe your account has been compromised, change your password immediately and contact us at hello@alera.family.

5. OAuth 2.0 Authorization

To connect third-party services to Alera, we use the OAuth 2.0 authorization protocol ("OAuth"). OAuth allows you to grant Alera limited, scoped access to your accounts on third-party platforms without sharing your passwords with us.

When you initiate an OAuth authorization flow:

• You will be redirected to the third-party platform (e.g., Google) to authenticate and review the specific permissions being requested.
• You must affirmatively grant the requested permissions before Alera is authorized to act on your behalf.
• Alera will receive an access token and, where applicable, a refresh token. These tokens are stored securely and used solely to perform actions you authorize.
• You may revoke Alera's access at any time through the third-party platform's account settings or through Alera's account management interface.

The specific permissions requested via OAuth will be limited to those necessary to provide the Service and will be disclosed at the time of authorization.

Revoking OAuth access will prevent Alera from accessing your connected accounts going forward but will not affect data previously retrieved and stored in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

6. Acceptable Use

6.1 You May:

• Use Alera to plan meals for yourself and your family
• Share meal plans with family members you invite
• Create, save, and rate recipes
• Provide feedback to improve the Service

6.2 You May Not:

• Use Alera for commercial purposes (e.g., running a meal planning business)
• Scrape, copy, or redistribute AI-generated recipes at scale
• Reverse-engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract source code
• Use automated tools (bots, scripts) to access the Service
• Overload our servers with excessive requests
• Share your account credentials with others
• Use the Service to violate any laws

7. AI-Generated Content

7.1 Recipe Generation

Alera uses AI (Claude by Anthropic) to generate recipes. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated recipes:

• May contain errors or unclear instructions
• Should be reviewed before cooking
• Are suggestions, not professional culinary advice

7.2 Dietary Restrictions

CRITICAL: While Alera attempts to honor dietary restrictions, you must verify all ingredients yourself. We are not liable for allergic reactions or health issues resulting from AI-generated recipes.

If you have severe allergies or medical dietary restrictions, always double-check ingredients before cooking.

7.3 Nutritional Information

Nutritional information is estimated and may not be accurate. Consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist for specific dietary needs.

8. User-Generated Content

8.1 Your Content

You retain ownership of recipes you create, meal plans, and feedback you provide. However, by using the Service, you grant Alera a license to:

• Store and display your content within the Service
• Use aggregated, anonymized data to improve the Service
• Share your content with family members you invite

8.2 Prohibited Content

Don't post content that is:

• Illegal, hateful, or harmful
• Infringing on others' intellectual property
• Spam or malicious

9. Intellectual Property

Alera, including its design, code, algorithms, and branding, is owned by Alera Family and protected by intellectual property laws.

AI-generated recipes are provided for your personal use. You may cook and share them with family and friends, but commercial redistribution (e.g., publishing in a cookbook, selling meal plans) is prohibited without permission.

10. Service Availability

10.1 "As Is" Service

Alera is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We don't guarantee that:

• The Service will be available 24/7 without interruption
• AI-generated recipes will be error-free
• Your data will never be lost (always export important recipes)

10.2 Changes to Service

We may:

• Add, modify, or remove features
• Change pricing (currently free, but may introduce paid tiers)
• Shut down the Service entirely

We'll provide notice for significant changes when possible.

11. Termination

11.1 Your Right to Terminate

You may delete your account at any time from Profile Settings → Account → Delete Account.

11.2 Our Right to Terminate

We may suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms
• You abuse the Service (excessive API usage, scraping)
• Your account is inactive for over 2 years

We'll provide notice when possible, but may terminate immediately for serious violations.

12. Disclaimers

12.1 No Medical or Nutritional Advice

Alera is not a substitute for professional dietary, nutritional, or medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider for health-related dietary needs.

12.2 No Food Safety Guarantee

We are not responsible for foodborne illness, allergic reactions, or other health issues resulting from recipes. Always:

• Verify ingredients if you have allergies
• Cook food to safe internal temperatures
• Follow proper food handling practices

12.3 Third-Party Links

Alera may link to third-party websites (e.g., Google Play Store). We're not responsible for their content or practices.

13. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

Alera, its creator, and service providers are not liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from:

• Use or inability to use the Service
• AI-generated recipe errors
• Data loss or corruption
• Health issues from recipes
• Service downtime or changes

In jurisdictions that don't allow limitation of liability, our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Because the Service is free, you agree that your sole remedy for any issue is to stop using Alera.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Alera from any claims, damages, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your use of the Service
• Your user-generated content

15. Dispute Resolution

15.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

15.2 Informal Resolution

Before filing a legal claim, please contact us at hello@alera.family to resolve the issue informally.

15.3 Arbitration

Any disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration in Thurston County, Washington, rather than in court. You waive your right to a jury trial.

16. Miscellaneous

16.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Alera.

16.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.

16.3 No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any provision doesn't waive our right to enforce it later.

16.4 Contact

Questions about these Terms? Email: hello@alera.family