Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using PanelChat ("Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you disagree with any part of these terms, you may not access the Service. These Terms apply to all visitors, users, and others who access or use the Service.

2. Description of Service

PanelChat is an AI-powered panel discussion platform that allows users to:

• Ask questions to panels of AI experts with different perspectives
• Create custom panel configurations
• Upload backgrounder documents for context
• Validate claims and export conversations
• Access multiple AI models (Claude, GPT, Gemini, etc.)

3. Account Tiers and Usage

3.1 Guest Mode

• Limited to 3 questions total (1 main + 1 follow-up + 1 additional)
• Access to C-Suite Advisory Board panel only
• No file uploads or custom panels
• Data stored in browser only

3.2 Trial Account ($5)

• $5 prepaid credit, valid for 7 days or until depleted
• Billed at 3x the most expensive AI model's token rate
• Unlimited questions within budget
• Custom panel creation and file uploads (5MB limit)
• One AI-assisted panel generation included

3.3 Basic Plan ($29/month)

• $10 usage credit included per month
• Overage billed at 3x rate
• Cloud storage for panels and conversations
• Backgrounder uploads up to 10MB
• Email support

3.4 Pro Plan ($99/month)

• $50 usage credit included per month
• Unlimited custom panels and AI panel generation
• Priority support
• Advanced analytics

3.5 Enterprise (Custom Pricing)

• Bring your own API keys
• Team collaboration and SSO
• Custom MCP server integration
• Dedicated support and SLA

4. Billing and Payment

4.1 Payment Terms

• All payments processed securely through Stripe
• Subscription fees billed monthly in advance
• Usage overage charged at the end of billing period
• Trial credits are non-refundable once purchased

4.2 Usage Calculation

Usage is calculated based on AI token consumption at 3x the rate of Claude Opus 4 (our most expensive model baseline):

• Input tokens and output tokens are both counted
• Current rate: $135 per 1 million tokens (3x $45 base rate)
• Rates may change with AI provider pricing updates (30 days notice given)

4.3 Cancellation and Refunds

• You may cancel your subscription at any time
• No refunds for partial months
• Access continues until end of current billing period
• Unused credits expire at cancellation
• Trial credits are non-refundable

4.4 Failed Payments

If payment fails, your account may be downgraded to Guest tier after 7 days. We will attempt to collect payment up to 3 times before canceling your subscription.

5. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree NOT to use PanelChat to:

• Violate any laws or regulations
• Infringe on intellectual property rights
• Generate harmful, abusive, or illegal content
• Harass, threaten, or impersonate others
• Distribute malware or spam
• Attempt to reverse engineer or hack the Service
• Resell or redistribute the Service without authorization
• Abuse rate limits or engage in excessive API usage
• Generate content that violates AI provider policies

Violation may result in immediate account suspension or termination without refund.

6. Content and Intellectual Property

6.1 Your Content

• You retain ownership of questions, panels, and content you create
• You grant us a license to process your content through AI models to provide the Service
• You are responsible for ensuring you have rights to any content you upload
• You may export and delete your content at any time

6.2 AI-Generated Content

AI responses are generated by third-party models (Anthropic, OpenAI, etc.):

• AI outputs may be inaccurate, biased, or incomplete
• You are responsible for verifying AI-generated content before use
• PanelChat makes no warranties about AI output accuracy
• Intellectual property rights in AI outputs subject to AI provider terms

6.3 Our Intellectual Property

The PanelChat platform, including design, features, code, and trademarks, is our property and protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws. You may not copy, modify, or create derivative works without permission.

7. Third-Party AI Providers

PanelChat integrates with third-party AI providers. By using the Service, you also agree to their terms:

• Anthropic Terms of Service
• OpenAI Terms of Use
• Google Terms of Service

We are not responsible for AI provider outages, changes to their policies, or their data handling practices.

8. Data Privacy

Your use of PanelChat is also governed by our Privacy Policy. Please review it to understand how we collect, use, and protect your data. By using the Service, you consent to our data practices as described in the Privacy Policy.

9. Disclaimers and Warranties

9.1 Service "As Is"

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING:

• Implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose
• Warranties of accuracy, reliability, or completeness of AI outputs
• Warranties of uninterrupted or error-free operation
• Warranties of data security or backup

9.2 AI Content Disclaimer

AI-generated content may contain errors, biases, or inaccuracies. PanelChat does not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy of AI outputs. Always verify important information from authoritative sources.

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PANELCHAT SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• Indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of profits, data, use, or goodwill
• Service interruptions or data loss
• Damages resulting from reliance on AI-generated content
• Third-party actions (including AI provider outages)

Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim, or $100, whichever is greater.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless PanelChat and its affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Service, (b) your violation of these Terms, (c) your violation of any rights of others, or (d) your Content.

12. Account Termination

12.1 By You

You may terminate your account at any time through account settings or by contacting support. Termination does not relieve you of payment obligations for services already provided.

12.2 By Us

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately if:

• You violate these Terms or our Acceptable Use Policy
• Your payment fails and is not resolved within 7 days
• We reasonably believe your account is being used fraudulently
• We discontinue the Service (30 days notice provided)

13. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or in-app notice at least 30 days before taking effect. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. If you disagree with changes, you may terminate your account.

14. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

14.1 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of [Your State/Country], without regard to conflict of law principles.

14.2 Arbitration

Any disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with [Arbitration Association] rules, except for claims that may be brought in small claims court. You waive your right to a jury trial and to participate in class actions.

15. Miscellaneous

15.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and PanelChat.

15.2 Severability

If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect.

15.3 Assignment

You may not assign these Terms without our consent. We may assign these Terms to any successor or affiliate.

15.4 Force Majeure

We are not liable for delays or failures due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control (natural disasters, AI provider outages, internet failures, etc.).

16. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact us: