Terms of Use

By clicking the “I Accept” button, checkbox, or other mechanism to signal assent, or by using the Software or Service (as each is defined below), you (i) accept this Agreement; (ii) agree to be bound by these terms and conditions; and (iii) have entered into a binding agreement between you and Epoch Works LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company, PO Box 514, Jerome, PA 15937, USA ("Epoch Works," "we," "us," "our").

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT SECTION 14 OF THESE TERMS OF USE (ALSO “TERMS” OR “AGREEMENT”), BELOW, CONTAINS PROVISIONS THAT GOVERN HOW CLAIMS THAT YOU AND EPOCH WORKS HAVE AGAINST EACH OTHER ARE RESOLVED. IN PARTICULAR, IT CONTAINS AN ARBITRATION AGREEMENT WHICH WILL, WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS, REQUIRE YOU TO SUBMIT CLAIMS THAT YOU HAVE AGAINST EPOCH WORKS TO BINDING AND FINAL ARBITRATION. YOU WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED TO PURSUE CLAIMS AND SEEK RELIEF AGAINST EPOCH WORKS ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION OR PROCEEDING AND YOU ARE WAIVING YOUR RIGHT TO SEEK RELIEF IN A COURT OF LAW AND TO HAVE A JURY TRIAL ON YOUR CLAIMS.

1. What these terms cover

These Terms of Use are the overall agreement between you and Epoch Works for Epoch Studio (“Software”) (collectively, the desktop application, the web demo, this website and any other services, the "Service"). You also agree to the terms in the following documents, which are incorporated by reference:

• The End User License Agreement (EULA) — the license to install and use the desktop Software, your ownership of your work, the no-training commitment, and prohibited uses.
• The Privacy Policy — what data the Service does and does not handle.

Where these Terms and one of those listed documents conflict, the more specific document controls for that topic. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.

By using the Service, you signify your assent to these Terms of Use and agree to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including U.S. export and re-export control laws and regulations, copyright laws and other laws regarding intellectual property. If you do not agree to these Terms of Use, please do not use the Service.

2. Who may use the Service

YOU REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT (i) YOU ARE AT LEAST EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD AND THAT YOU HAVE THE LEGAL CAPACITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS; OR (ii) YOU ARE AT LEAST THIRTEEN YEARS OLD AND YOU HAVE THE PERMISSION OF YOUR PARENT OR GUARDIAN TO ACCESS THE SOFTWARE OR SERVICE AND THEY HAVE ACCEPTED THIS CONTRACT ON YOUR BEHALF.

You may use the Service if you can form a binding contract with us and are not barred from doing so under applicable law. If you are using it on behalf of an organization, you represent that you are authorized to bind that organization.

3. Local-first

Epoch Studio is local-first. In normal use:

• No account is required to use the desktop application. Your projects are stored on your own device.
• We do not collect telemetry, analytics, or usage tracking for Epoch Studio without your consent. We do not ordinarily receive your manuscripts, your keystrokes, or a record of what you do in the app.
• Because your work lives on your device, you are responsible for your own backups.

Subject to the disclosures of the limited data collection in connection with Epoch Studio, Epoch Works may otherwise retain and use information collected in your use of the Service, provided such information does not individually identify you. Epoch Works may collect, use, and share your personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy.

International: Epoch Works makes no representation that the Service is appropriate or available for use in any particular jurisdiction. When you choose to access and use the Service, you agree that:

• you do so on your own initiative and at your own risk; and
• you will not use the Service if you are prohibited from receiving products, services, or software originating from the United States.

4. Bring your own AI keys; third-party services

Epoch Studio runs AI features against a local model by default. You may optionally connect third-party AI or research services (for example a cloud LLM provider, an image-generation provider, or a web lookup) by supplying your own API key or URL.

• When you connect such a service, your use of it is governed by that provider's own terms and privacy policy, and you are responsible for your keys, any fees they charge, and any content you choose to send to them.
• Your manuscript text is sent to a third-party cloud provider only when you have configured that provider and the privacy setting that blocks cloud manuscript routing is off.
• We are not responsible for third-party services and do not control their data handling or availability.

5. Your work is yours

As between you and Epoch Works, you retain all right, title, and interest in the work you create with the Service — your manuscripts, notes, characters, worlds, images you supply, and the outputs you assemble (your "Content"). These Terms grant us no ownership of and no copyright in your Content. We do not use your Content to train, fine-tune, or evaluate any model without your explicit, separate, opt-in consent. We receive only a license for your Content in order to provide the Service. For clarity, any analytics or usage data collected by Epoch Works as authorized is not Content. Content also excludes information that you submit to our social media pages or publicly available website.

Unsolicited Submissions and Feedback. Please be aware that Epoch Works does not accept unsolicited submissions of concepts, creative ideas, suggestions, stories, scripts, or other potential creative content (“Unsolicited Submissions”). Therefore, please do not send Epoch Works any Unsolicited Submissions. In the event you do send us an Unsolicited Submission, you understand and agree that your Unsolicited Submission or feedback does not create any fiduciary relationship between you and Epoch Works and that we are under no obligation to refrain from using the Unsolicited Submission (in whole or in part), to keep it confidential, or to compensate you for our use of it. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we will engage in commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the confidentiality of relevant information and portions of manuscripts that may be sent to Epoch Works through support tickets.

6. AI-assisted output and copyright

Epoch Studio helps you write, analyze, illustrate, and publish with AI assistance. We make no representation that AI-assisted output is original, non-infringing, or eligible for copyright or other registration, and we do not register or guarantee any legal protection for your Content. You are solely responsible for clearing rights in and publishing your work.

1. AI output can be wrong. It may be inaccurate, inconsistent, biased, or unsuitable. You are responsible for reviewing and deciding what to use, and any resulting liability or consequences.
2. Purely AI-generated material generally cannot be copyrighted — only your human contribution is protectable, and registering a work may require disclaiming the AI-generated portions.

7. Purchase, price, and refunds

• Epoch Studio is offered as a one-time purchase of a lifetime license for use of the version number you buy, with no ongoing subscription fees. The price is the amount displayed on the purchase page for the version of your purchase.
• Where you buy matters for refunds. If you purchase through a store (for example Steam), that store's refund policy governs, and you request refunds through the store. If you purchase directly from us, our direct refund policy applies. To make a direct refund request, you must do so within thirty (30) days of purchase and include a list of the reasons you wish a refund. All refunds are in our sole discretion.
• A free demo may be offered (for example the web demo). It is provided as-is for evaluation and may be limited or withdrawn at any time.
• Taxes. Prices may be exclusive of taxes; you are responsible for applicable taxes unless we state otherwise or the store collects them.

8. Acceptable Use

You agree not to use the Service to do anything illegal, to infringe others' intellectual property, or to produce harmful content (including non-consensual intimate imagery, sexual content involving minors, and deceptive deepfakes of real people without consent). You further agree to comply with the restrictions contained in the End User License Agreement in connection with the Software. We may suspend access to the Service if you breach these terms.

9. Intellectual property in the Service itself

The Service — its Software, design, name, logos, branding and other services — is owned by Epoch Works and its licensors and is protected by intellectual-property law. "Epoch Studio," "Epoch Works," and "Epoch Engine" are trademarks of Epoch Works LLC (rights arising from use in commerce). These Terms grant you the license described in the EULA and no other rights in the Service. Open-source components and AI models are governed by their own licenses, reproduced in the Third-Party Notices available with the software download.

Without limiting the foregoing, Epoch Works shall own and retain all right, title and interest in and to: (a) the Service and Software, all improvements, enhancements or modifications thereto, including those resulting from feature requests or other suggestions or feedback; (b) any software, applications, inventions or other technology developed in connection with the Service or Software by Epoch Works, whether or not through professional services, implementation services or support; and (c) all intellectual property rights related to any of the foregoing.

10. COPYRIGHT NOTICES

Epoch Works respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects users of the Service to do the same. If you believe in good faith that materials available on or through the Service infringe your copyright, you may send a written notice of claimed infringement to Epoch Works’s designated copyright agent at: epochworksllc@gmail.com or Epoch Works LLC, PO Box 514, Jerome, PA 15937, USA (“Copyright Agent”). To be valid, your notice must include: (i) an electronic or physical signature of the person authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner; (ii) a description of the copyrighted work you claim has been infringed; (iii) a description of where the material you claim is infringing is located on the Service; (iv) your address, telephone number, and email address; (v) a statement by you that you have a good-faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and (vi) a statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the above information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner’s behalf. Epoch Works will respond to valid notices by removing or disabling access to the allegedly infringing material. If your content is removed in response to a notice of claimed infringement and you believe the removal was made in error, you may submit a counter-notification to the Copyright Agent. To be valid, your counter-notification must include: (i) your physical or electronic signature; (ii) identification of the material that has been removed and the location at which the material appeared before it was removed; (iii) a statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good-faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification; and (iv) your name, address, and telephone number, and a statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the federal district court for the judicial district in which your address is located, and that you will accept service of process from the person who provided the original notification of infringement. Epoch Works reserves the right to terminate access by users who are repeat infringers.

11. Disclaimers

THE MATERIALS, CONTENT ON THIS SITE AND SERVICE ARE PROVIDED “AS IS”, “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. EPOCH WORKS SHALL HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY CONTENT, MATERIALS POSTED ON THE SITE OR SERVICE. EPOCH WORKS MAKES NO GUARANTEES AS TO UPTIME OR AVAILABILITY OF THE SERVICE. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE PURSUANT TO THE APPLICABLE LAW, EPOCH WORKS DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NONINFRINGEMENT OR OTHER VIOLATION OF RIGHTS. THE SERVICE MAY BE SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS, DELAYS, AND OTHER PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE USE OF THE INTERNET AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS. EPOCH WORKS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DELAYS, DELIVERY FAILURES, OR OTHER DAMAGE RESULTING FROM SUCH PROBLEMS, INCLUDING INTERNET CONGESTION, VIRUS ATTACKS, AND DENIAL OF SERVICE (DOS) ATTACKS. IN PARTICULAR, WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR THE ACCURACY OR SUITABILITY OF AI OUTPUT, FOR THIRD-PARTY SERVICES YOU CONNECT, OR FOR LOSS OF LOCALLY STORED DATA (KEEP YOUR OWN BACKUPS).

12. Limitations of Liability

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, NEGLIGENCE, SHALL EPOCH WORKS OR ITS THIRD PARTY LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF DATA OR PROFIT, ARISING OUT OF THE USE, OR THE INABILITY TO USE, THE MATERIALS ON THIS SITE OR THE SERVICE, EVEN IF EPOCH WORKS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY REMEDY. EPOCH WORKS’S AND ITS LICENSORS’ ENTIRE AND AGGREGATE LIABILITY, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, SHALL NOT EXCEED $50, EVEN IF EPOCH WORKS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY REMEDY. IF YOUR USE OF MATERIALS FROM THIS SITE OR THE SERVICE RESULTS IN THE NEED FOR SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION OF EQUIPMENT OR DATA, YOU ASSUME ANY COSTS THEREOF. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

13. Changes to the Service and to these Terms

We may update, change, or discontinue parts of the Service. You acknowledge and agree that Epoch Works may stop (permanently or temporarily) providing the Services (or any features within the Services), updates, upgrades, security patches, vulnerability fixes, third-party integrations, maintenance, or other improvements or changes to you or to users generally at Epoch Works’s sole discretion, without prior notice to you. We may also update these Terms by posting the new terms here; material changes will be subject to notification in the Software, by public posting on our website or sent to you by email, or otherwise communicated, and continued use after they take effect constitutes acceptance. It is your duty to check these terms frequently and to stop accessing the Site or Services if you do not agree to them.

14. Governing law and disputes

The laws of the State of Pennsylvania, excluding its conflicts of law rules, govern this Agreement and your use of the Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the arbitration set forth below shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act. For the avoidance of doubt, the choice of Pennsylvania governing law shall not supersede any mandatory consumer protection legislation in such jurisdictions.

Except for claims concerning intellectual property violations, any dispute, controversy or claim arising under, out of or relating to this Agreement and any subsequent amendments of this Agreement, including, without limitation, its formation, validity, binding effect, interpretation, performance, breach or termination, as well as non-contractual claims, shall be submitted to arbitration before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in accordance with the applicable consumer AAA Arbitration Rules.  The place of arbitration shall be Pittsburgh, PA. The language to be used in the arbitral proceedings shall be English.  The parties may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or other interim or conservatory relief as necessary, without breach of this Section and without abridgment of the powers of the arbitrator.  The arbitrator may award any form of individual or equitable relief, including injunctive relief. Any award will be final and conclusive to the parties and may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.  You agree to the entry of injunctive relief to stop any lawsuit or to remove you as a participant in such a suit.

By using the Service in any manner, you agree to this arbitration agreement. In doing so, YOU GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO GO TO COURT to assert or defend any claims between you and Epoch Works. YOU ALSO GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION OR OTHER CLASS PROCEEDING. This provision preventing you from bringing, joining or participating in class action lawsuits is an independent covenant.

You may opt-out of this Section by providing written notice of your decision within thirty (30) days of the date that you first use the site or Service.

All claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement, to the Services, or to your relationship with Epoch Works that, for whatever reason, are not submitted to arbitration, including but not limited to intellectual property claims or disputes, will be litigated exclusively in the federal or state courts of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. You and Epoch Works consent to the exercise of personal jurisdiction of such courts in the State of Pennsylvania and waive any claim that such courts constitute an inconvenient forum.

15. Indemnity
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Epoch Works and its directors, officers, shareholders, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, agents, and licensors (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") from and against all losses, expenses, damages and costs, including reasonable attorney fees and costs, resulting from: (i) your breach of any of the representations, warranties, and terms made hereunder; (ii) your use of the Service; (iii) your creation, addition or transmission of any content onto or from the Service; or (iv) your willful misconduct.

16. Miscellaneous

16.1 This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof and supersede all proposals and prior discussions and writings between the parties with respect thereto.

16.2 You shall not assign or transfer this Agreement without the prior written consent of Epoch Works. Any other attempt to assign or transfer this Agreement by you shall be void.

16.3 If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be or becomes unenforceable or illegal, such provision shall be reformed to the minimum extent necessary in order for this Agreement to remain in effect in accordance with its terms as modified by such reformation. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of this Agreement as a whole and any such provision should be enforced by authorities, and reconstructed if need be, to apply to the maximum extent allowable under applicable law.

16.4 The failure by either party to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Agreement, to exercise any election or option provided herein, or to require at any time the performance of the other of any of the provisions herein will not in any way be construed as a waiver of such provisions. No failure or delay in enforcing any right or exercising any remedy will be deemed a waiver of any right or remedy.

16.5 Epoch Works may terminate your access to our site or the Service for any reason at any time. The provisions that by their nature are designed to survive termination or expiration of this Agreement shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement or your access to our site or Service.

16.6 The materials on this site and Service are provided with “Restricted Rights.” Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in applicable laws and regulations. Use of the materials by the Government constitutes acknowledgment of Epoch Works’s proprietary rights in them.

16.7 Epoch Works shall not be liable to you for any delay or failure of Epoch Works to perform its obligations hereunder if such delay or failure arises from any cause or causes beyond the reasonable control of Epoch Works. Such causes shall include, but are not limited to, acts of God, floods, fires, loss of electricity or other utilities, labor strike, or delays by you in performing any requirements hereunder.

17. Contact

Questions about these Terms: epochworksllc@gmail.com, or Epoch Works LLC, PO Box 514, Jerome, PA 15937, USA.