Terms of Service — Bubbs

Last updated: 2026-04-21 (v1.0)  ·  Terms version hash: tos-v1.0-20260421

These terms govern your use of the Bubbs mobile app and the associated cloud services. By installing Bubbs or creating a caregiver pairing, you agree to them. If you don't, don't install Bubbs. The privacy policy is part of these terms by reference.

1. Who these terms are between

Between you (the caregiver installing Bubbs and/or the adult responsible for the child who uses Bubbs) and Abilene Website Design ("we," "us").

A child who uses the child-mode board is not a party to these terms. The caregiver is the account holder and the responsible party.

2. What Bubbs is

Bubbs is an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) app that lets a non-verbal or minimally-verbal user tap picture tiles to produce speech, and — when a caregiver subscribes — delivers the composed message to a paired caregiver phone.

Bubbs is not a medical device. It is not a replacement for speech-language therapy, medical treatment, or any form of clinical care. Do not use Bubbs for any emergency communication — it is not a reliable channel for a life-threatening situation.

3. Pricing and the free trial

• Bubbs is a paid app: $9.99/month, billed by Apple, with a 7-day free trial the first time you install. You can cancel during the trial at no charge.
• The subscription covers the whole family: the child's iPad, paired caregiver phones, the message bridge, photo sync, and all updates.
• Subscription details (price, renewal date, cancellation) are listed in the app before you start the trial and managed through your Apple ID.

4. Your account

There is no "account" in the traditional sense. We use anonymous authentication, which means:

• You do not create a username or password.
• We do not have a way to recover data lost when you uninstall the app, unless you first export it (Settings → Your data & privacy → "Download my data").
• You are responsible for the devices on which Bubbs is installed and for keeping those devices secure.

5. Pairing and consent

Pairing a caregiver device to a child device means messages the child composes will be sent to the caregiver. You represent that:

• You have the legal right to install Bubbs on the child's device (you are the parent, legal guardian, or authorized caregiver).
• You have the legal right to pair each caregiver device (every paired adult is aware and has consented to receive the child's messages).
• You will unpair any device that should no longer receive messages (e.g., after a custody change, after a caregiver relationship ends).

We provide the Remove action in Settings → Devices, and rotating the pairing QR nonce invalidates outstanding unscanned codes within 5 minutes.

6. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

• Reverse-engineer, decompile, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code except as required by applicable law.
• Probe, scan, or test the vulnerability of our infrastructure. (See the Privacy Policy §9 for the responsible-disclosure address.)
• Use Bubbs to transmit content that is illegal under applicable law.
• Impersonate another person, or misrepresent your relationship to the child whose device is paired.
• Rely on Bubbs for time-critical or safety-critical communication.

7. Subscriptions and billing

• Plans. We offer a monthly, an annual, and a lifetime plan. Prices are shown in the app before you subscribe and are controlled by Apple/Google in your local currency.
• Renewal. Monthly and annual plans auto-renew through your Apple ID / Google account unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the period.
• Cancellation. Cancel at any time via Settings → Subscriptions in iOS, or Play Store → Subscriptions in Android. We cannot cancel on your behalf. Your current period stays active; we do not pro-rate.
• Refunds. All purchases are processed by Apple or Google under their refund policies. We are not able to issue refunds directly.
• Price changes. If we change prices on a plan you're already subscribed to, you'll be notified at least 30 days before the change takes effect. You can cancel before then.
• What happens if the subscription lapses. When the trial ends or a subscription cancels, the app returns to the paywall on the next launch. We don't delete your tile photos, vocab customization, or message history — if you resubscribe, everything is exactly where you left it.

8. Content, data, and IP

• Your content (the tile photos you set, the custom words you add, the messages sent by the child) belongs to you. By using Bubbs you grant us a limited license to process that content solely to deliver the service: storing it, transmitting it to paired devices, and retaining it per the retention schedule in the Privacy Policy.
• Our content (the app, the default tile set, the code, the name "Bubbs," the icon, the design) belongs to us. You may not use our trademarks without written permission.
• Feedback you send us (bug reports, feature requests) is not confidential and we may use it without obligation to you.

9. Availability and changes

We will do our best to keep Bubbs available 24/7, but we do not guarantee uptime. Scheduled maintenance, third-party outages (Apple, Google, our backend providers), and unexpected incidents can make the service briefly unavailable.

We may update the app to fix bugs, add features, or comply with platform rules. Some updates may change behavior. If an update materially removes or changes a feature you relied on, we'll notify you in-app.

10. Disclaimers

BUBBS IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW WE DISCLAIM ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE APP WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR THAT MESSAGES WILL ALWAYS BE DELIVERED.

11. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF BUBBS IS LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE TWELVE MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM. WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES.

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on certain damages; in those jurisdictions this limitation applies only to the extent permitted.

12. Indemnity

You agree to defend and hold us harmless from any third-party claim arising from your misuse of Bubbs or your violation of these terms.

13. Termination

You can stop using Bubbs at any time. We can terminate or suspend access if you materially breach these terms, if continued service would expose us or another user to legal or security risk, or if Bubbs is discontinued. On termination we'll delete your data per the Privacy Policy retention schedule.

14. Governing law and disputes

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. Disputes will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Taylor County, Texas, unless you are a consumer whose local law grants a non-waivable right to another forum.

Nothing in this section strips you of consumer protections under your home jurisdiction's law.

15. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms. If the update is material we'll notify you in-app and (where we have an address for you) by email. Your continued use after the effective date means you accept the updated terms.

16. Contact

Abilene Website Design
Email: bubbs@abilenewebsitedesign.com
Mail: [mailing address — added before public launch]