Legal

Terms of Service

Last updated June 8, 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the PolarHQ website, the PolarHQ open-source software, and any reference instance operated by the PolarHQ project (together, the "Services"). By using the Services you agree to these Terms.

Note: PolarHQ is self-hosted, open-source software. When you run PolarHQ on your own server, you are the operator and the data controller. These Terms cover the project's own website and any demo instance we operate; the software itself is governed by its open-source licence.

1. The software is open source

PolarHQ is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 (AGPL-3.0). Your rights to use, copy, modify, and distribute the software are defined by that licence. Nothing in these Terms limits the rights the AGPL grants you, and in any conflict between these Terms and the AGPL with respect to the software, the AGPL controls.

2. Self-hosting and your responsibilities

When you deploy PolarHQ yourself, you are solely responsible for:

  • The server, storage, networking, and backups on which you run it.
  • Securing your deployment, including keys, credentials, and recovery codes.
  • Complying with all laws that apply to you and your users, including data-protection and privacy law.
  • The conduct of any users you grant access to your instance.

The PolarHQ project provides the software "as a tool" and does not operate, monitor, or control instances you run.

3. Acceptable use

You agree not to use the Services to:

  • Break the law or infringe anyone's rights, including intellectual-property rights.
  • Store or distribute content you have no right to store or distribute.
  • Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any system, or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Services.
  • Misrepresent your affiliation with the PolarHQ project.

On any instance you do not operate, you must also follow that operator's rules.

4. Accounts and security

If an instance requires an account, you are responsible for safeguarding your credentials and your encryption keys.

Because PolarHQ is end-to-end encrypted, a lost password may mean permanently lost data. Keep your recovery code somewhere safe. Neither the project nor any operator can recover encrypted data without your keys.

5. Intellectual property

The PolarHQ name, logo, and brand assets belong to the PolarHQ project. The AGPL licenses the code; it does not grant rights to the trademarks. You may not use the PolarHQ name or logo in a way that implies endorsement without permission.

Content you create or upload remains yours. You grant the operator of your chosen instance only the limited, technical rights needed to store and serve that content back to you.

6. No warranty

THE SERVICES AND SOFTWARE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE", WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. PolarHQ is alpha software under active development and may contain defects.

7. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE POLARHQ PROJECT AND ITS CONTRIBUTORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES OR SOFTWARE.

8. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by the "last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the Services after a change means you accept the revised Terms.

9. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Reach the project through the repository or the contact details published on the website.

This document is a template provided for a self-hosted, open-source project and is not legal advice. If you operate a PolarHQ instance for others, consult a lawyer to produce terms that fit your jurisdiction and circumstances.