Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the website at theblackledger.app and the digital case files, activation codes, and related services made available through it (the "Service").

The Service is provided by Demetre Gatchava (დემეტრე ღაჭავა), an individual based in Georgia ("Black Ledger," "we," "us," or "our").

By creating an account, purchasing a case file, or otherwise using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. The Service

Black Ledger is a digital entertainment product. We sell fictional investigation case files: each purchase grants you an activation code that unlocks a digital case file inside your bureau account. The cases, characters, evidence, and storylines are entirely fictional and are intended solely for entertainment. Nothing in the Service represents real persons, real events, real investigations, or actual legal advice.

2. Eligibility

By using the Service, you represent that:

• you are at least 18 years old (or the legal age of majority in your jurisdiction, whichever is higher) to make a purchase;
• you are at least 16 years old to register an account and use any portion of the Service;
• you have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms;
• you are not prohibited from using the Service under the laws of your jurisdiction.

3. Account Registration

To access purchased case files you must create an account with a valid email address and a password. You are responsible for keeping your account credentials secure and for any activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately at support@theblackledger.app if you suspect unauthorized access.

You may close your account at any time by contacting us. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

4. Purchases and Payment

All purchases are processed by Stripe. The price for each case file is displayed at checkout. By completing a purchase you authorize us, through Stripe, to charge the payment method you provide.

After successful payment, an activation code will be delivered to the email address you provided at checkout. Activation codes are intended for the purchasing customer only.

5. License Grant

When you purchase a case file and redeem its activation code, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable license to access and play through that case file inside your bureau account, for personal, non-commercial entertainment use. You may not:

• share, resell, redistribute, or transfer your activation code or case access to anyone else;
• copy, scrape, mirror, or download bulk content from the Service;
• use the Service or its content for commercial purposes, including but not limited to live events, streamed play-throughs as paid content, or derivative works for sale, without our prior written permission;
• attempt to bypass authentication, paywalls, rate limits, or other protective measures;
• reverse-engineer, decompile, or otherwise attempt to extract source code or game logic.

6. Activation Codes

Each activation code is single-use and is bound to the first account that redeems it. Sharing an activation code, posting it publicly, or attempting to use a code that does not belong to you violates these Terms and may result in immediate termination of your account without refund.

7. Refund Policy

Because Black Ledger sells digital products, our refund policy is:

• You may request a full refund within 7 days of purchase if you have not redeemed the activation code. Once an activation code is redeemed against an account, the case file is considered delivered and the sale is final.
• To request a refund, email support@theblackledger.app with your purchase email and the order or session reference. We will verify the unredeemed status of the activation code and process the refund through Stripe to the original payment method.
• Outside of the 7-day window, or once the activation code has been redeemed, refunds are at our sole discretion and are typically not granted.
• If a transaction is determined to be fraudulent, we may refund and revoke the activation code at any time.

Statutory consumer rights, where applicable, are not affected by this policy.

8. Intellectual Property

All content made available through the Service — including case files, narratives, characters, evidence text, hints, checkpoints, designs, code, branding, and the Black Ledger name and logo — is owned by Demetre Gatchava or licensed to us. We retain all rights not expressly granted to you in these Terms.

9. User Submissions

When you submit content through the Service — such as theory submissions, checkpoint answers, or support messages — you grant us a worldwide, royalty-free license to store, process, and use that content as necessary to operate the Service. You represent that any content you submit is yours to share and does not infringe any third party's rights.

10. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• use the Service for any unlawful purpose;
• upload or transmit malicious code, viruses, or harmful automation;
• impersonate another person or misrepresent your affiliation;
• interfere with or disrupt the integrity, security, or performance of the Service;
• use any automated means to access the Service except via officially documented APIs (we have none currently);
• harass, threaten, or send abusive content through any of our forms or channels.

11. Disclaimers

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to 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 completely secure.

Black Ledger is a fictional entertainment product. It does not represent real police investigations, real persons, real events, or real legal procedures. Nothing in the Service constitutes legal, medical, financial, or other professional advice.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall Demetre Gatchava be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to lost profits, lost data, or business interruption, arising out of or related to your use of the Service.

Our total cumulative liability for any claim arising out of or related to the Service shall not exceed the amount you paid to us during the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim, or one hundred United States dollars (USD 100), whichever is greater.

13. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Demetre Gatchava from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in any way connected with your breach of these Terms, your misuse of the Service, or your violation of any law or third-party right.

14. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time, with or without cause and with or without notice, if we believe you have violated these Terms or applicable law. Sections that by their nature should survive termination (Intellectual Property, Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification, Governing Law) will survive.

15. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of Georgia, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. Any dispute arising out of or related to these Terms or the Service shall be resolved exclusively in the courts of Tbilisi, Georgia.

16. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you by email. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of the updated Terms constitutes acceptance.

17. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact:

Demetre Gatchava
support@theblackledger.app