Terms of Service
WordCracker is a free word game from a small independent team. By playing, you agree to be reasonable: you're at least 13, you won't try to break the game or harass other players, and you understand that the game is offered "as is." If we ever disagree, the disagreement is resolved in South Carolina under South Carolina law.
1. Acceptance
These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of WordCracker, available at wordcracker.net ("the Service"). By accessing or using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you don't agree, please don't use the Service.
2. Who we are
WordCracker (referred to here as "we," "us," or "our") is operated as an independent project based in the United States. The Service is offered as a free, ad-free, independent product.
3. Eligibility
You must be at least 13 years old to use WordCracker. If you are under 13, please don't use the Service. If you are between 13 and the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction, you represent that your parent or legal guardian is aware that you use the Service.
4. The Service
WordCracker is a word game playable in a web browser, as an installed Progressive Web App, and as apps for iOS and Android. We may add, remove, or change features at any time. The Service may be unavailable from time to time for maintenance, deployments, or reasons beyond our control. We make no guarantee that any specific feature will continue to be offered.
5. Accounts and identity
Most of the Service can be used without an account. Optional Google or Apple sign-in is offered to sync progress across devices. You are responsible for any activity that happens under your sign-in. You may not impersonate another person, use a name that misleads others (for example, a name designed to look like a moderator or staff member), or use a name containing slurs or sexual content. We reserve the right to reset an offensive display name to a default value.
6. Acceptable use
While using WordCracker, you agree that you will not:
- Harass, threaten, or abuse other players, including via display names or in-game emotes
- Cheat, exploit bugs to gain unfair advantage, or use scripts, bots, or other automation
- Reverse-engineer, decompile, scrape, or attempt to extract data from the Service in bulk
- Probe, scan, or test the security of the Service or attempt to bypass any access restriction
- Interfere with other players' ability to enjoy the Service (for example, by intentionally stalling matches or spamming reconnects)
- Use the Service for any commercial purpose without our written permission
- Use the Service in any way that violates applicable law
We reserve the right to remove leaderboard entries, revoke access, or terminate accounts that violate these rules.
7. Online play conduct
Online play lets you play friends you invite or other players. You may send curated emote reactions during a match; we do not offer free-text chat. Display names are filtered before being shown to other players, but no filter is perfect.
We have zero tolerance for objectionable content or abusive users. If another player's name or behavior is objectionable, you can Block or Report them from their player card (tap their name in or after an online match). Blocking stops their invites and hides them from your recent opponents. Reports come to us, and we review them within 24 hours. We may rename or remove offending names and suspend or delete the accounts responsible. You can also email support@wordcracker.net.
8. Intellectual property
The WordCracker name, logo, artwork, code, and game design are owned by WordCracker's operator and are protected by copyright and trademark law. You may share screenshots of your own gameplay, share your Daily Puzzle results, and link to the Service freely. You may not reproduce the artwork, redistribute the code, or create derivative works without permission.
Word lists used by the Service are derived from publicly-available English dictionaries. Game outcomes and your individual gameplay history are yours.
9. User content
The only content you submit to WordCracker is: (a) your chosen display name, (b) emote selections, (c) any bug reports or feedback you choose to send, (d) the moves and words you play in online matches, and (e) reports you file about other players. By submitting any of these, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use them as needed to operate, improve, and support the Service. You retain ownership of anything you submit.
10. Privacy
Our handling of personal data is described in the Privacy Policy. By using the Service, you also agree to the practices described there.
11. Service availability and changes
The Service is provided free of charge. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service at any time, including data stored on our servers, without notice. We will try to give reasonable warning of major changes when practical, but we cannot guarantee notice in every case.
12. Disclaimer of warranties
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE. YOU USE THE SERVICE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
13. Limitation of liability
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL WORDCRACKER OR ITS OPERATOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OUR TOTAL LIABILITY ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE WILL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (US $100.00). SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES, SO THESE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT FULLY APPLY TO YOU.
14. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless WordCracker and its operator from any claim, demand, loss, liability, or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of (a) your use of the Service, (b) your violation of these Terms, or (c) your violation of any third-party right.
15. Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles.
16. Dispute resolution and arbitration
Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service that cannot be resolved informally will be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. The arbitration will be held in South Carolina or in another mutually-agreed location, or by remote hearing.
Class-action waiver. You and WordCracker agree that any dispute will be resolved on an individual basis only, and not as a class action, collective action, or representative proceeding. The arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's claims and may not preside over any form of representative proceeding.
Small-claims exception. Either party may instead bring an individual claim in a small-claims court of competent jurisdiction.
Opt-out. You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by emailing privacy@wordcracker.net within 30 days of first using the Service, with the subject line "Arbitration opt-out" and your display name in the body. Opting out does not affect any other part of these Terms.
17. Termination
You may stop using the Service at any time. We may suspend or terminate access to the Service for any user who violates these Terms or who creates risk or legal exposure for us. Upon termination, the sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive (intellectual property, disclaimers, limitation of liability, dispute resolution, and these miscellaneous terms) will survive.
18. Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. The "Effective" date at the top of the page reflects the latest version. By continuing to use the Service after changes are posted, you accept the updated Terms. If you don't agree with a change, please stop using the Service.
19. Miscellaneous
These Terms are the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Service. If any provision is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect. Our failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of that provision. You may not assign these Terms without our written consent; we may assign them in connection with a transfer of the Service.
20. Contact
Questions about these Terms: privacy@wordcracker.net.