Terms of Service
Please read these terms carefully before using ReadyPlayerOn. They explain your rights, responsibilities, and the safety protections that apply to all users.
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing, downloading, or using the ReadyPlayerOn mobile application (the "App"), website (readyplayeron.com), and related services (collectively, the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (the "Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use the Service.
Gairware ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes by updating the "Last Updated" date above and, for significant changes, by posting a prominent notice in the App. Your continued use of the Service after changes indicates your acceptance of the revised Terms.
2. Eligibility and Age Requirements
2.1 Minimum Age Requirement
ReadyPlayerOn is intended for users aged 13 years and older. By using this Service, you represent and warrant that:
- You are at least 13 years of age
- You are legally capable of entering into binding agreements
- You have not been banned or suspended from using the Service
- All information provided during registration is true, accurate, and complete
2.2 Users Under 13
Users under 13 cannot create accounts. The Service automatically blocks registration for anyone who indicates they are under 13 years old. This is a legal requirement under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
2.3 Teen Safety Mode (Ages 13-17)
If you are between 13 and 17 years old:
- Your account is automatically enrolled in Teen Safety Mode
- Teen Safety Mode applies strict protective features (detailed in Section 7)
- You cannot opt out of Teen Safety Mode
- Your gaming activity may have different protections and restrictions than adult accounts
2.4 Parental Consent for Minors (Ages 13-17)
For users aged 13-17: By creating an account, you represent that:
- A parent or legal guardian is aware of your use of this Service
- Your parent or guardian consents to your participation
- You will not use this Service to contact strangers or unknown individuals
- You will report any inappropriate contact immediately to your parent/guardian and to ReadyPlayerOn
For parents/guardians: By permitting your child to use this Service, you acknowledge that you have read these Terms and our Privacy Policy and consent to:
- Your child's participation in ReadyPlayerOn
- The collection and processing of your child's data as described in our Privacy Policy
- Teen Safety Mode protections being applied to your child's account
3. Account Registration and Security
3.1 Account Creation
To use ReadyPlayerOn, you must:
- Create an account with a valid email address
- Verify your age during registration (required by law)
- Create a secure password
- Accept these Terms and our Privacy Policy
- Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
3.2 Account Information
You are responsible for:
- Keeping your account credentials confidential
- Maintaining accurate and current information in your account
- Notifying us immediately of unauthorised access or use
- All activities that occur under your account, whether authorised or not
We are not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from your failure to secure your account.
3.3 Account Suspension and Termination
We may suspend or terminate your account if you:
- Violate these Terms or our policies
- Are under 13 years of age
- Provide false or misleading information
- Engage in illegal, abusive, or harmful behavior
- Repeatedly violate safety policies
If we terminate your account for violating our child safety policies, you may be permanently banned from using the Service.
4. User Conduct and Prohibited Activities
4.1 Respect and Safety
By using ReadyPlayerOn, you agree to:
- Treat all users with respect and dignity
- Not engage in harassment, bullying, or abuse
- Not send unsolicited or unwanted messages
- Not impersonate other people or organisations
- Not use the Service to threaten, stalk, or harm others
4.2 Prohibited Content
You may not use the Service to:
- Share profanity, slurs, or hate speech
- Share sexual, violent, or graphic content
- Share personal information about yourself or others (real names, addresses, phone numbers, social media handles, or school/workplace information)
- Share external links or attempt to direct users to other platforms
- Share personally identifiable information of others without consent
- Engage in "grooming," predatory behaviour, or attempts to establish inappropriate relationships
- Exploit, abuse, or endanger minors in any way
- Create or share illegal content
4.3 Content Filtering
ReadyPlayerOn uses automated content filtering to protect users from harmful content. Our system:
- Filters messages before they are sent (not after)
- Blocks prohibited content including profanity, personal information, external links, and grooming patterns
- Cannot be bypassed by users
- Logs filtered content for safety monitoring
- May restrict teen accounts more strictly than adult accounts
If your message is blocked, you will be notified. Repeated attempts to send filtered content may result in warnings, ping rate limiting, or account suspension.
4.4 Account Security and Fair Use
You may not:
- Share your account with others or use someone else's account
- Attempt to access the Service by unauthorised means
- Use automated tools, bots, or scripts (except as authorised by ReadyPlayerOn)
- Attempt to circumvent safety features or content filters
- Sell, buy, or trade accounts
- Use the Service to spam, scam, or defraud others
- Engage in any form of harassment or abuse
5. Platform Connections and Integration
5.1 Connecting Gaming Platforms
ReadyPlayerOn allows you to connect your accounts on other gaming platforms, including:
- Steam
- Discord
- Xbox Live / Game Pass
- PlayStation Network (PSN)
- Twitch (for gaming status)
- Nintendo (via friend code)
5.2 How Platform Connections Work
When you connect a platform account:
- ReadyPlayerOn requests permission to access limited information (your profile, friend list, and online status)
- You will see a login screen for that platform (hosted by the platform, not ReadyPlayerOn)
- Once authorised, ReadyPlayerOn stores your connection securely
- We fetch your gaming status and friend information to display in the App
- We never store your platform passwords
5.3 Platform Permissions
By connecting a gaming platform, you authorise ReadyPlayerOn to:
- Access your public profile information (username, profile picture, avatar)
- View your friend list
- Check your online status and current game
- Retrieve your gaming activity (games played, playtime, achievements)
- Not post on your behalf, spend currency, or make purchases
ReadyPlayerOn will not:
- Modify your platform account
- Change your settings or preferences
- Message your friends
- Spend money or make purchases
- Access your email or private messages
- Store your platform passwords
5.4 Disconnecting Platforms
You may disconnect any platform at any time in your account settings. Once disconnected:
- ReadyPlayerOn stops accessing that platform's data
- Any stored access tokens are deleted
- Your gaming status for that platform will no longer be displayed
- You must reconnect if you want ReadyPlayerOn to access that platform again
5.5 Third-Party Platforms
Your use of third-party gaming platforms is governed by their own terms of service and privacy policies, not by these Terms. ReadyPlayerOn is not responsible for:
- Content on third-party platforms
- How third-party platforms collect or use your data
- Outages or service interruptions from third-party platforms
- Actions or policies of third-party platforms
6. Privacy and Data Collection
6.1 Privacy Policy
Your use of ReadyPlayerOn is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains:
- What personal data we collect
- How we use your data
- Who we share your data with
- How long we keep your data
- Your rights regarding your data
- How to contact us about privacy concerns
The Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Please review our Privacy Policy carefully before using the Service.
6.2 Data Security
ReadyPlayerOn uses industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including:
- Encrypted connections (HTTPS/SSL)
- Secure password storage
- Access controls and authentication
- Regular security audits
However, no security system is completely impenetrable. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data. You use the Service at your own risk.
6.3 Children's Data (COPPA Compliance)
For users under 13, we comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). We:
- Require parental consent before collecting data from children
- Collect only the minimum data necessary
- Do not share children's data with third parties (except as required by law)
- Allow parents to request access to or deletion of their child's data
- Do not use children's data for behavioural advertising
6.4 UK and European Users (GDPR and Data Protection Act Compliance)
If you are located in the United Kingdom, European Union, or European Economic Area, your data is protected under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. You have the right to:
- Access your personal data
- Correct inaccurate data
- Delete your data
- Restrict our processing
- Receive your data in a portable format
- Object to certain uses of your data
- Lodge a complaint with your supervisory authority (ICO in the UK)
To exercise these rights, contact us at gair@gairware.com.
6.5 California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), including the right to:
- Know what personal information is collected
- Know whether your personal information is sold or disclosed and to whom
- Say no to the sale or sharing of your personal information
- Delete personal information collected from you
- Correct inaccurate personal information
- Opt-out of behavioral advertising
To exercise these rights, contact us at gair@gairware.com.
7. Child Safety and Teen Protections
ReadyPlayerOn takes child safety seriously. The Service includes mandatory safety features, particularly for teen users (ages 13-17).
7.1 Teen Safety Mode
All accounts for users aged 13-17 are automatically enrolled in Teen Safety Mode. Teen Safety Mode cannot be disabled and includes:
Mandatory Protections:
- Strict content filtering of all messages
- Ping rate limiting (20 pings per day, 5 per hour maximum)
- Quiet hours enforcement (10:00 PM - 7:00 AM)
- Restricted contact with unknown adults
- Automatic reporting of safety concerns
7.2 Friend Interaction Rules for Teens
Teen accounts can only ping:
- Other teen accounts (ages 13-17)
- Adults (18+) who are verified mutual friends on your gaming platforms (Steam, Discord, Xbox, etc.)
Teen accounts cannot ping:
- Unknown adults or "stranger" accounts
- This prevents predators from making first contact with minors
If an adult wants to ping a teen they don't know:
- The adult must first be a confirmed friend on at least one gaming platform
- The friendship must already exist (on Steam, Discord, etc.)
This requirement protects teens while allowing them to play with their real-world gaming friends.
7.3 Ping Rate Limits
Teen accounts (13-17):
- Maximum 20 pings per day
- Maximum 5 pings per hour
- Quiet hours: Cannot send pings between 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM
- Violations may result in temporary ping restrictions
Adult accounts (18+):
- Maximum 100 pings per day
- Maximum 20 pings per hour
- No quiet hours restrictions
- Spam pings may result in rate limiting
7.4 Content Filtering
ReadyPlayerOn automatically filters all messages and pings for:
Always blocked:
- Profanity and slurs
- Personal information (names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social media handles)
- External links and URLs
- Grooming language and predatory phrases
- Requests for sexual, violent, or graphic content
For teens (13-17), also filtered:
- Potentially unsafe language
- Requests to move conversations off-platform
- Requests for personal information
For adults (18+):
- Same base filters (profanity, personal info, external links)
- Stricter filtering available as optional setting
If content is filtered:
- Your message will not be delivered
- You will receive a notification explaining why
- The filtered content is logged for safety analysis
- Repeated violations may result in warnings or rate limiting
7.5 Reporting and Blocking
All users can:
- Report inappropriate behavior, harassment, or safety concerns
- Block users to prevent them from sending you messages
- Unblock users if you change your mind
- View a history of reports you've made
- View a list of blocked users
For teens: Reporting a user automatically blocks them and triggers a review by our safety team.
7.6 Warning System
If you violate safety policies:
- First violation: Warning in the App with explanation
- Repeated violations: Temporary restrictions (reduced ping rate, quiet mode)
- Severe violations: Account suspension or permanent termination
- Child safety violations: Permanent ban and potential law enforcement referral
Warnings are cumulative and may result in escalating penalties.
7.7 Safety Team Review
ReadyPlayerOn has a dedicated safety team that:
- Reviews all reports within 24 hours
- Investigates safety concerns thoroughly
- Takes action against violators (warnings, suspensions, bans)
- Works with law enforcement when required by law
- Protects the privacy of reporters
7.8 Parent/Guardian Tools (Coming Soon)
For accounts with linked parent/guardian access:
- View your teen's friend list and connections
- See safety alerts and warnings (coming in Phase 2)
- Manage quiet hours and ping limits (coming in Phase 2)
- Contact our safety team regarding your teen's account
8. Intellectual Property Rights
8.1 ReadyPlayerOn Content
ReadyPlayerOn and all content created by ReadyPlayerOn (including logos, design, text, graphics, software code, and features) are owned by Gairware and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.
You may not:
- Copy, modify, or create derivative works of ReadyPlayerOn
- Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the software
- Remove copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices
- Sell, trade, or redistribute ReadyPlayerOn or any part of it
- Use ReadyPlayerOn to create a competing service
8.2 User-Generated Content
When you send a message or ping using ReadyPlayerOn, you retain ownership of your content. However, by using the Service, you grant us the right to:
- Store and transmit your messages to intended recipients
- Log your messages for safety, compliance, and service improvement purposes
- Analyze messages for content filtering and safety analytics
- Delete messages according to our retention policies
8.3 Third-Party Content
ReadyPlayerOn may display content from third parties, including:
- Your gaming platform profiles and information (Steam, Discord, etc.)
- Gaming statistics and achievements
- Platform-provided artwork and logos
Use of third-party content is subject to the terms of those third parties. ReadyPlayerOn is not responsible for third-party content.
8.4 Trademarks
"ReadyPlayerOn" and the ReadyPlayerOn logo are trademarks of Gairware. You may not use these trademarks without our permission. Third-party trademarks (Steam, Discord, Xbox, PlayStation, Twitch) are owned by their respective companies.
9. Feedback and Feature Voting
9.1 Feedback Submissions
You may submit feedback, suggestions, and feature requests through the App. By submitting feedback:
- You grant us a perpetual, royalty-free licence to use, modify, and implement your ideas
- You acknowledge that we may already be working on similar features
- You understand that we are not obligated to implement any suggestion
- You will not receive compensation for implemented suggestions
9.2 Feature Voting
The App may allow you to vote on proposed features:
- Votes help us prioritise development but do not guarantee implementation
- Vote counts are for internal use and may not be publicly displayed
- We reserve the right to implement or decline any feature regardless of vote count
10. Theme Marketplace
10.1 Theme System
ReadyPlayerOn may offer customisable themes:
- Some themes may be available for free
- Some themes may require Boost Points or other methods to acquire
- Themes are cosmetic only and do not affect functionality
- Themes are licensed, not sold, and remain our intellectual property
10.2 Theme Purchases
If you acquire premium themes:
- All acquisitions are final and non-refundable
- Themes are tied to your account and cannot be transferred
- We reserve the right to modify or remove themes at any time
- Themes may be forfeited upon account deletion or termination
11. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability
11.1 "AS IS" Disclaimer
ReadyPlayerOn is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis without warranties of any kind. We make no representations or warranties that:
- The Service will be uninterrupted or error-free
- The Service will meet your needs or expectations
- Any content is accurate, complete, or non-infringing
- The Service is free from viruses, malware, or other harmful code
Some jurisdictions do not allow exclusions of implied warranties, so these disclaimers may not apply to you in full. Where you are a consumer under UK law, certain statutory rights cannot be excluded.
11.2 Content Filtering Disclaimer
While ReadyPlayerOn uses advanced content filtering technology, no filter is 100% effective. We cannot guarantee that:
- All harmful content will be blocked
- No harmful content will reach users
- Filtered content will be detected with perfect accuracy
- The filter will prevent all predatory behavior
Parents and guardians: Please monitor your teen's use of the App and discuss online safety regularly.
11.3 Third-Party Services
ReadyPlayerOn relies on third-party services including:
- Gaming platform APIs (Steam, Discord, Xbox, PSN)
- Cloud hosting and storage
- Authentication and security services
We are not responsible for:
- Outages or disruptions from third-party services
- Data loss or corruption from third parties
- Errors, inaccuracies, or security breaches by third parties
- Changes to third-party services that affect ReadyPlayerOn
11.4 Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, GAIRWARE IS NOT LIABLE FOR:
- Indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages
- Loss of data, revenue, profits, or business opportunities
- Loss of use or enjoyment of the Service
- Any other losses, even if we were advised of the possibility
This includes:
- Harmful or inappropriate messages received from other users
- Actions or content from other users
- Failure to deliver messages or pings
- Suspension or termination of your account
- Loss or deletion of your account information
Our total liability for any claim related to ReadyPlayerOn is limited to the amount you paid us in the 12 months before the claim (or £100, whichever is greater).
Please note: Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for death, personal injury, fraud, or liability that cannot be limited under applicable law (including consumer protection laws in the UK).
12. Termination
12.1 Termination by You
You may terminate your account at any time by:
- Going to your account settings
- Selecting "Delete Account"
- Following the confirmation prompts
- Your account will be deleted within 30 days
Upon deletion:
- Your messages and pings are permanently deleted
- Your platform connections are disconnected
- You will no longer receive notifications
- You may not create a new account with the same email address for 90 days
12.2 Termination by ReadyPlayerOn
We may terminate or suspend your account immediately without notice if you:
- Violate these Terms
- Are under 13 years of age
- Engage in illegal activity
- Violate child safety policies
- Harm other users
- Abuse the Service
We may also terminate your account with 30 days' notice for:
- Inactivity (no login for 12 months)
- Material breach of these Terms (with opportunity to cure)
- Business or technical reasons
Upon termination:
- You lose all access to ReadyPlayerOn
- Your data will be deleted according to our retention policies
- You may not create a new account with the same credentials
- You remain liable for any violations of these Terms
12.3 Survival
The following sections survive termination:
- Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability
- Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
- Any payment obligations
- Indemnification (if applicable)
13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
13.1 Governing Law
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, without regard to its conflicts of law principles.
Gairware is registered in the United Kingdom under company number [to be added]. These Terms apply regardless of where you are located, but local consumer protection laws may provide you with additional rights that cannot be excluded.
13.2 Dispute Resolution
For most disputes, we hope to resolve them amicably through our customer support team. Contact us at gair@gairware.com before pursuing legal action. We will attempt to resolve any complaint within 30 days of receipt.
13.3 Court Jurisdiction
If we cannot resolve your dispute through negotiation:
- You may bring proceedings in the courts of England and Wales
- For claims under £10,000, you may use the small claims court procedure
- For higher value claims, disputes will be handled in the County Courts or High Court as appropriate
- Nothing in these Terms prevents you from bringing a claim in another court of competent jurisdiction
13.4 Consumer Rights
If you are a consumer under UK Consumer Rights Act 2015, you have statutory rights that cannot be excluded by these Terms. These include:
- The right to goods and services provided with reasonable care and skill
- The right to goods and services supplied within a reasonable timeframe
- The right to goods and services at a reasonable cost
- The right to purchase digital content that is fit for purpose
These statutory rights remain in force regardless of any limitation of liability clause in these Terms.
13.5 Class Actions
You agree that any dispute resolution will be conducted on an individual basis. However, you retain the right to bring claims in a court of competent jurisdiction where multiple parties may have similar claims (collective proceedings).
14. Contact Information
14.1 Support and General Inquiries
For questions, feedback, or support regarding the Service:
- Email: gair@gairware.com
- Website: readyplayeron.com/support
- In-App: Support chat available in Settings > Help
Response time: 24-48 hours for most inquiries
14.2 Safety Concerns and Reporting
If you experience harassment, abuse, or any safety concern:
- Email: gair@gairware.com
- In-App: Report button available on all user profiles and messages
- For emergencies: Contact local law enforcement
Response time: Within 24 hours (same day for safety emergencies)
14.3 Legal Notices and Privacy Questions
For legal inquiries, privacy concerns, or requests to exercise your rights:
- Email: gair@gairware.com
Legal Department
[Registered Address to be added]
United Kingdom
Response time: Within 30 days (or as required by applicable law)
14.4 Parent/Guardian Inquiries
If you are a parent or guardian with concerns about your child's account:
- Email: gair@gairware.com
We can help with:
- Account oversight and monitoring tools
- Safety settings and controls
- Concerns about contact with other users
- Account suspension or deletion
15. Miscellaneous
15.1 Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Gairware regarding the Service and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.
15.2 Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
15.3 Waiver
Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision or the right to enforce it at a later time.
15.4 Assignment
You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights under them without our consent. We may assign these Terms to a successor company or acquire a merger, acquisition, or change of control without notification.
15.5 Notices
We may send you notices regarding the Service by:
- Email to your registered email address
- Message to your account
- Posting on the App or website
You agree to receive notices in these ways and that such notices are effective upon sending.
15.6 No Third-Party Beneficiaries
These Terms are for the benefit of you and Gairware only. No third party has any rights or claims under these Terms.
15.7 Headings
Section headings are for reference only and do not affect the interpretation of these Terms.
16. Summary for Teens and Parents
For Teens Using ReadyPlayerOn:
- You must be at least 13 years old to use this app
- Teen Safety Mode is mandatory - it's there to protect you
- You can only ping other teens or your real-world gaming friends - this prevents strangers from contacting you
- Content filters block harmful messages - profanity, personal info, external links, and predatory language
- You have quiet hours (10 PM - 7 AM) when you can't send pings
- Report anything weird immediately - use the report button on messages or profiles
- Your password is your responsibility - don't share it with anyone
- Your data is private - we only use it to run the app and keep you safe
For Parents/Guardians:
- You are responsible for your teen's use of this app - please monitor their activity
- ReadyPlayerOn has built-in safety features, but no filter is perfect - please talk to your teen about online safety
- ReadyPlayerOn collects minimal data and protects it carefully (see Privacy Policy)
- Your consent is required for teens to use this app - by allowing your teen to use it, you agree to these Terms
- You have access tools to view your teen's connections and safety alerts (coming soon)
- Contact us immediately if you notice any concerning activity: gair@gairware.com
- Your teen can't opt out of safety features - we enforce them automatically
- You can delete your teen's account at any time - contact us for help
Acknowledgment
By using ReadyPlayerOn, you acknowledge that:
- You have read and understand these Terms of Service
- You agree to be bound by all provisions
- You are of legal age to form a binding contract (or have parental consent if under 18)
- You understand the safety features and child protections
- You will use the Service lawfully and respectfully
Thank you for helping us build a safe, respectful gaming community.
Child Safety Compliance Note
This Terms of Service includes comprehensive child safety protections compliant with:
- COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) - US federal requirement for users under 13
- GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) - EU/UK requirements for data protection
- UK Age Appropriate Design Code (AADC) - ICO guidance for age-appropriate services for children
- Data Protection Act 2018 - UK implementation of GDPR
ReadyPlayerOn is designed with child safety as a core principle, not an afterthought. All safety features are mandatory and cannot be disabled by users or parents.