---
name: terms-of-service
description: "Creates terms of service documents for websites, SaaS products, and digital platforms with plain-language annotations. Use when a user is launching a website, app, or online service and needs legal terms governing usage, liability, and user conduct."
---

# Terms of Service Generator

## When to Use This Skill

- Launching a new website, app, or SaaS product
- Selling digital products or online courses
- Running a membership site or community platform
- Updating outdated terms after changing business model
- Adding user-generated content features to a platform

**IMPORTANT: This skill generates starting-point terms of service. It is NOT legal advice. Always have a qualified attorney review before publishing.**

## Core Principle

**TERMS OF SERVICE PROTECT BOTH PARTIES. Good terms set clear expectations — what users can expect from you and what you expect from them.**

## Workflow

### Step 1: Gather Business Details

Ask the user:
1. What type of platform? (website, SaaS, e-commerce, community, course)
2. Do users create accounts?
3. Do users pay for anything? (subscriptions, one-time purchases)
4. Is there user-generated content? (comments, uploads, posts)
5. What's your refund/cancellation policy?
6. Business name and website URL?

**Minimum needed: questions 1 and 6.**

### Step 2: Determine Required Sections

| Platform Type | Extra Sections Needed |
|--------------|----------------------|
| SaaS | Service availability, SLA, data ownership, API usage |
| E-commerce | Purchase terms, shipping, returns, product warranties |
| Course/Membership | Access terms, refund windows, content licensing |
| Community/UGC | Acceptable use, content moderation, IP ownership |
| All types | Limitation of liability, termination, dispute resolution |

### Step 3: Draft the Terms

Write these sections:

1. **Agreement to Terms** — By using the site, you agree
2. **Description of Service** — What we provide
3. **User Accounts** (if applicable) — Registration, responsibilities, security
4. **Acceptable Use** — What users can and can't do
5. **Payment Terms** (if applicable) — Pricing, billing, refunds
6. **Intellectual Property** — Who owns what
7. **User Content** (if applicable) — License granted, content rules
8. **Limitation of Liability** — Caps on damages
9. **Disclaimers** — No warranties, "as is" provision
10. **Termination** — When and how accounts can be closed
11. **Dispute Resolution** — Governing law, arbitration vs. court
12. **Changes to Terms** — How users are notified of updates
13. **Contact Information**

Add **plain-language annotations** in italics for each section.

### Step 4: Review & Deliver

1. Verify all revenue models are covered in payment terms
2. Check that content ownership is clearly defined
3. Ensure refund/cancellation policy is explicit
4. Add "Last Updated" date
5. Remind user to get legal review

## Examples

### Example 1: SaaS Product Terms (Excerpt)

> **Terms of Service**
> Last Updated: [Current Date]
>
> **1. Agreement to Terms**
>
> By accessing or using TaskFlow ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.
>
> *In plain language: By using TaskFlow, you're agreeing to these rules. If you don't agree, please don't use the product.*
>
> **5. Payment Terms**
>
> a) **Subscription Billing.** TaskFlow subscriptions are billed monthly or annually in advance. Your subscription automatically renews at the end of each billing period unless you cancel before the renewal date.
>
> b) **Free Trial.** New accounts receive a 14-day free trial. No credit card is required for the trial. If you do not subscribe before the trial ends, your account will be downgraded to a limited free tier.
>
> c) **Refunds.** Monthly subscriptions: no refunds for partial months. Annual subscriptions: pro-rated refund available within the first 30 days. After 30 days, no refunds for the remainder of the annual term.
>
> d) **Price Changes.** We may change pricing with 30 days' notice. Price changes apply to the next billing cycle, not the current one.
>
> *In plain language: You pay at the start of each month or year. You can cancel anytime, but we don't refund partial periods (except annual plans within 30 days). If we raise prices, you'll know 30 days in advance.*
>
> **6. Intellectual Property**
>
> a) **Our IP.** TaskFlow, its logo, design, and underlying technology are owned by [Company Name]. You may not copy, modify, or reverse-engineer any part of the Service.
>
> b) **Your Data.** You retain full ownership of all data, content, and files you upload to TaskFlow. We do not claim any intellectual property rights over your content.
>
> c) **License to Us.** By uploading content, you grant us a limited license to store, display, and process your content solely for the purpose of providing the Service. This license terminates when you delete your content or close your account.
>
> *In plain language: We own TaskFlow. You own your stuff. We only use your data to make the product work for you. Delete your account and we delete your data.*

### Example 2: Online Course Terms (Excerpt)

> **7. Course Access & Refunds**
>
> a) **Access.** Upon purchase, you receive lifetime access to the course materials as they exist at the time of purchase. "Lifetime" means for as long as the course platform remains operational.
>
> b) **Updates.** We may update course content at our discretion. Major updates are provided free to existing students. If the course is substantially redesigned and relaunched as a new product, existing students receive a minimum 50% discount.
>
> c) **Refund Policy.** Full refund available within 14 days of purchase, no questions asked. After 14 days, or after completing more than 50% of the course modules (whichever comes first), no refunds are available.
>
> d) **Sharing.** Your course access is for your individual use only. Sharing login credentials, downloading and distributing course materials, or screen-recording lessons is prohibited and will result in immediate access revocation without refund.
>
> *In plain language: You get the course forever (as long as we're around). Full refund within 14 days. Don't share your login or record the lessons — that's not fair to us or other students who paid.*

## Recovery & Fallbacks

- **User operates internationally:** Default to including both US and international provisions. Specify governing law (typically the state where the business is incorporated).
- **User doesn't know their refund policy:** Recommend: 14-day refund for digital products, 30-day for physical. Make it generous — it builds trust and reduces chargebacks.
- **User has a complex platform:** For multi-sided platforms (marketplace, community + courses), address each user type separately in the terms.
- **User wants "bulletproof" legal protection:** No terms of service can guarantee full protection. They reduce risk and set expectations. Always recommend legal review for the final version.

## Constraints

- **ALWAYS include the legal disclaimer** — this is not legal advice
- **NEVER use only legalese** — include plain-language annotations for every section
- Specify governing law jurisdiction
- Include a clear update notification process
- Date every version with "Last Updated"
- Make refund/cancellation terms specific and unambiguous
- Always include contact information for legal questions
