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Terms of Service

Last updated: January 2025

Welcome to Kelp. These Terms of Service govern your use of our AI-powered information filtration service. By creating an account and using Kelp, you agree to these terms.

Please read these terms carefully. If you don't agree with any part, please don't use our service.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Kelp ("the Service"), you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy.

If you're using Kelp on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have the authority to bind that organization to these terms.

2. Service Description

Kelp is an AI-powered information filtration service designed for knowledge workers. We provide:

  • Personalized content curation based on your professional interests and preferences
  • AI-generated summaries and insights from publicly available sources (news, blogs, research papers, industry publications)
  • Weekly email digests delivering curated content to your inbox
  • A web interface (Kelp Forest) for exploring and refining your personalized feed
  • Preference management tools to continuously improve content relevance

Kelp aggregates and synthesizes publicly available information. We do not create original reporting or guarantee the accuracy of source content.

3. User Accounts

Account Creation

To use Kelp, you must create an account by signing in with Google. You agree to:

  • Provide accurate and complete information during onboarding
  • Maintain one account per person (no multiple accounts)
  • Keep your Google account credentials secure
  • Notify us immediately of any unauthorized account access

Account Responsibility

You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account. We're not liable for any losses resulting from unauthorized use of your account.

Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old to use Kelp. If you're under 18, you must have permission from a parent or guardian. Kelp is intended for professional use by knowledge workers.

4. Acceptable Use

When using Kelp, you agree NOT to:

  • Abuse or Overload the Service: Excessive automated requests, scraping, or attempts to overwhelm our systems
  • Reverse Engineer: Attempt to decompile, reverse engineer, or extract our algorithms or source code
  • Resell or Redistribute: Commercially resell, redistribute, or republish Kelp-curated content without permission
  • Violate Laws: Use Kelp for illegal purposes or to violate intellectual property rights
  • Impersonate Others: Create accounts using false identities or impersonate other users
  • Interfere with Security: Attempt to bypass security measures, access unauthorized data, or inject malicious code
  • Harm Others: Use Kelp to harass, abuse, or harm other users or third parties

Violation of these terms may result in immediate account suspension or termination.

5. Content & Intellectual Property

Source Content

Kelp aggregates content from publicly available sources (RSS feeds, APIs, web pages). Original content remains the property of its respective creators and publishers. Kelp does not claim ownership of source material.

AI-Generated Summaries

Summaries, insights, and analysis generated by Kelp's AI are provided "as-is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, you should verify important information with original sources.

Your Data

You retain ownership of your preference data, topic selections, and feedback. By using Kelp, you grant us a license to use this information to personalize your experience and improve our service, as described in our Privacy Policy.

Kelp's Intellectual Property

The Kelp platform, including our algorithms, curation systems, design, branding, and software, is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, or create derivative works without our written permission.

Trademarks

"Kelp" and the Kelp logo are trademarks of Kelp Information Filtration. You may not use our trademarks without prior written consent.

6. AI-Generated Content Disclaimer

Kelp uses artificial intelligence (Google Gemini via Vercel AI Gateway) to analyze, summarize, and rank content. While we strive for accuracy and relevance, AI systems can make mistakes or produce unexpected results.

Important Notice:

  • AI summaries may contain errors, omissions, or misinterpretations
  • Content rankings are algorithmic and may not reflect all relevant factors
  • Kelp is a research and information tool, not professional advice
  • Always verify critical information with original sources before making decisions

Kelp is designed to help knowledge workers discover relevant information efficiently. It is not a substitute for professional judgment, critical thinking, or consulting with qualified experts in your field.

7. Service Availability

We strive to keep Kelp available 24/7, but we cannot guarantee uninterrupted access. The service may be temporarily unavailable due to:

  • Scheduled maintenance or updates
  • Technical issues or server outages
  • Third-party service disruptions (AI providers, hosting, email delivery)
  • Security incidents or emergencies

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the service at any time, with or without notice. We'll make reasonable efforts to notify users of significant changes.

8. Pricing & Payments

Current Pricing

Kelp currently operates on a free tier while in early development. We may introduce paid subscription plans in the future with additional features.

Future Premium Features

When we introduce paid plans, we may offer features such as:

  • Unlimited content sources and saved articles
  • Custom AI models or advanced personalization
  • Integration with private information sources
  • Team collaboration features
  • Priority support

Pricing Changes

We reserve the right to change pricing at any time. If you're on a paid plan, we'll notify you at least 30 days before any price increase. Your continued use after the price change constitutes acceptance.

Refunds

Once we introduce paid plans, refunds will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Contact billing@kelp.nyc if you have billing concerns.

9. Limitation of Liability

Kelp is provided "as-is" and "as-available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to:

  • Accuracy, completeness, or reliability of content
  • Fitness for a particular purpose
  • Non-infringement of third-party rights
  • Freedom from errors, viruses, or other harmful components

Disclaimer of Damages:

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Kelp and its operators shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, use, or goodwill, arising from your use of or inability to use the service.

Some jurisdictions don't allow exclusion of certain warranties or limitations on liability, so the above may not fully apply to you.

In no event shall our total liability to you exceed the amount you paid to Kelp in the 12 months preceding the claim (or $100 if you haven't paid anything).

10. Termination

Termination by You

You can stop using Kelp and delete your account at any time by contacting hello@kelp.nyc. We'll delete your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Termination by Us

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if you:

  • Violate these Terms of Service
  • Engage in abusive, harmful, or illegal behavior
  • Fail to pay for a paid subscription (when applicable)
  • Attempt to compromise security or system integrity

We'll make reasonable efforts to notify you before termination, except in cases of severe violations or legal requirements.

Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your access to Kelp will cease immediately. Sections of these terms that by their nature should survive (intellectual property, limitation of liability, dispute resolution) will remain in effect.

11. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms of Service from time to time to reflect changes in our service, legal requirements, or business practices. When we make significant changes, we'll:

  • Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
  • Notify you via email or through the Kelp interface
  • Give you an opportunity to review the changes before they take effect

Your continued use of Kelp after changes become effective indicates your acceptance of the updated terms. If you don't agree with the changes, you should stop using the service and delete your account.

12. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

Governing Law

These Terms of Service are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Dispute Resolution

If you have a dispute with Kelp, please contact us first at legal@kelp.nyc so we can try to resolve it informally. We're committed to working with you in good faith.

If we can't resolve the dispute informally, you agree that any legal action must be brought in the state or federal courts located in New York County, New York, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of these courts.

Class Action Waiver

To the extent permitted by law, you agree that any disputes will be resolved on an individual basis. You waive your right to participate in class actions, class arbitrations, or representative actions.

13. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

Legal & Terms Inquiries

Email: legal@kelp.nyc

General Support: hello@kelp.nyc

We respond to inquiries within 48 hours.