Terms of Service

Last Updated: April 3, 2026  ·  Effective Date: April 3, 2026

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your use of Notanem, a writing application provided by Jonathan Sims (“we,” “us,” or “our”). By using the Notanem desktop application, mobile application, or any related services (collectively, the “App”), you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the App.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, downloading, installing, or using the App, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

2. Description of Service

Notanem is a local-first writing application designed for novelists and long-form writers. The App provides tools for writing, organizing, annotating, plotting, and sharing manuscripts. Your creative content is stored on your device. Optional features such as sharing, cross-device sync, and mobile sync require an internet connection, an account, and an active subscription (see Section 4).

3. Accounts

Registration

To access certain features, you may create an account using an email address and password, or through Google or Apple sign-in. You must provide accurate information and keep your credentials secure.

Local-Only Use

You may use the App without creating an account. In local-only mode, sharing and cross-device features are unavailable, but all writing and organizational features work fully.

Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. Notify us promptly if you become aware of unauthorized use of your account.

4. Subscriptions and Pricing

Free Local Use

The Notanem desktop application may be downloaded and used for free without an account. All local writing, organizing, and plotting features are available without a subscription.

Paid Features

Certain features that rely on server infrastructure — including cross-device sync, mobile sync, sharing manuscripts with readers, and receiving feedback — require an active paid subscription. We reserve the right to determine which features require a subscription and to change this classification over time.

Billing

Subscriptions are billed through Stripe at the prices published on our website at the time of purchase. You may cancel your subscription at any time through the Stripe Customer Portal. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period — you retain access to paid features until then.

Refunds

If you are unsatisfied with the service, contact us to request a refund of your most recent charge. Refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Effect of Lapsed Subscription

If your subscription expires or is cancelled, your account remains active and you can continue to use all local features of the App. Access to infrastructure-dependent features (sync, sharing, mobile sync) will be suspended until you resubscribe. Content previously synced or shared remains on your devices and is not affected.

5. Beta and Early Access Programs

Beta Access

We may offer access to the App or certain features on a beta or early access basis, whether through a private beta, public beta, or other pre-release program. Beta access is provided at our sole discretion and may be subject to participant caps or other limitations.

No Entitlement to Perpetual Access

Participation in a beta or early access program does not entitle you to permanent free access to any features. Features available during a beta period may become paid features, be modified, or be removed at general availability. We will provide reasonable notice before transitioning beta features to paid status.

Beta Features

Features offered during beta may be incomplete, unstable, or subject to change. Beta features are provided “as is” without any warranty or guarantee of continued availability. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue beta features at any time without prior notice.

Founder Status

At our discretion, we may grant certain early users a “founder” designation that provides ongoing access to infrastructure features at no cost. Founder status, where granted, is a voluntary benefit and may be subject to its own terms communicated at the time of grant.

6. Your Content

Ownership

You own all content you create using Notanem. We do not claim any ownership, license, or rights over your manuscripts, notes, plot elements, annotations, or any other creative work. Your content is stored on your device and remains yours.

Content You Share

When you use the App’s sharing features to send content to readers, you grant us a limited, temporary license to store and transmit that content solely for the purpose of delivering it to your intended recipient. This license terminates automatically when the shared content is deleted from our servers per our data retention schedule (see Privacy Policy).

Feedback Content

Feedback provided by readers through the App is owned by the respective reader. When feedback is delivered to you, it is stored on your device. We do not retain feedback beyond the temporary delivery period described in our Privacy Policy.

7. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Use the App for any unlawful purpose
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users’ accounts
• Interfere with or disrupt the App’s services or infrastructure
• Transmit malicious code, viruses, or harmful content through the sharing features
• Impersonate another person or entity
• Use the sharing features to distribute unsolicited content or spam
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the App, except as permitted by applicable law
• Circumvent or disable any security features of the App

8. Sharing and Contacts

When you share content with other users or add contacts:

• You are responsible for ensuring you have the right to share the content you send
• Recipients may retain copies of shared content on their devices
• You may block users from sending you shares or contact requests
• We are not responsible for how recipients use content you share with them

9. Intellectual Property

The App, including its design, code, features, and documentation (excluding your content), is owned by Jonathan Sims and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. These Terms do not grant you any rights to our trademarks, logos, or branding.

10. Disclaimers

THE APP IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not warrant that:

• The App will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure
• Defects will be corrected in any particular timeframe
• The App will meet your specific requirements
• Data stored on your device will not be subject to loss or corruption

You are solely responsible for maintaining backups of your content. While the App provides export functionality, we are not responsible for data loss due to device failure, software errors, or any other cause.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL JONATHAN SIMS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF THE APP, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE APP SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR FIFTY DOLLARS ($50), WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Jonathan Sims from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to your use of the App, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any third-party rights.

13. Termination

By You

You may stop using the App at any time. Your content remains on your device regardless of whether you continue using the App. You may request deletion of your account by contacting us.

By Us

We may suspend or terminate your access to account-dependent features if you violate these Terms. We will make reasonable efforts to notify you before or at the time of termination. Termination does not affect content stored locally on your device.

Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your right to use account-dependent features ceases
• Content stored on your device remains yours and is unaffected
• Provisions that by their nature should survive termination will survive (including Sections 6, 10, 11, 12, and 16)

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by updating the “Last Updated” date and, where appropriate, through the App. Your continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you disagree with changes, you should stop using the account-dependent features of the App.

15. Third-Party Services

The App integrates with third-party services (Supabase, Stripe, Google, Apple) for authentication, payment processing, and data relay. Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and privacy policies. We are not responsible for the practices of third-party services.

16. General Provisions

Governing Law

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

Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from these Terms or the App shall first be addressed through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, disputes shall be resolved in the courts located in Washington County, Oregon.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and EULA, constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding the App.

Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

Assignment

You may not assign your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations without restriction.

Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact:

Jonathan Sims
Email: write@notanem.com