Pico AI Server – Terms of Service

Version 1.1 | Last updated 30 Jun 2025

These Terms of Service ("Terms") form a contract between you and Starling Protocol, Inc. ("Pico," "we," "us," or "our"). By downloading, installing, or using Pico AI Server (the "Software") or any related features (together, the "Services"), you agree to everything below and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Services.

1. Who may use Pico

  • Age 13+. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must accept these Terms for you.
  • Local-admin accounts. The person who installs Pico ("Admin") may create local user accounts or enable sign-in with Google, Dropbox, etc. Those accounts stay only on that computer; Pico never sees your passwords.

2. Your license

We grant you a personal, non-exclusive, revocable license to install and run one copy of the Software on Apple devices you own or control, solely in accordance with these Terms and Apple's App Store rules. All other rights are reserved.

3. Acceptable use

You agree NOT to:

  1. Violate any law, regulation, or third-party right (including export controls).
  2. Upload or generate illegal, harassing, or copyrighted content you do not own.
  3. Reverse-engineer, decompile, or hack the Software or our reverse-proxy.
  4. Interfere with another user's ability to run Pico.

4. Third-party services

If you use Google, Dropbox, Tavily, Exa, or any other third-party feature, you must follow their separate terms and policies. We are not responsible for what those companies do.

5. Intellectual property

  • Your stuff. Whatever you type in and whatever the local models output is yours (or your rightful owner's).
  • Our stuff. All source code, logos, and documentation are ours or our licensors'.
  • Feedback. If you send us suggestions or bug reports, you give us an unlimited, irrevocable right to use them without compensation.

6. AI-output warning

Large-language models can be wrong, biased, or fabricated. Treat every result as unverified. We provide no professional, legal, medical, or financial advice.

7. Disclaimer of warranties

The Services are provided "as is" and "as available." We make no warranties—express, implied, or statutory—including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, or non-infringement. Some places do not allow warranty disclaimers; if that is you, parts of this section may not apply.

8. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent allowed by law, our total liability for any claim arising out of or relating to the Services is limited to the greater of (a) US $100 or (b) the amount you paid us for Pico AI Server. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, or for losses caused by AI-generated content or third-party services.

9. Indemnity

If your use of the Services violates these Terms or the law and causes us legal trouble, you will defend, indemnify, and hold us harmless from all liabilities and costs (including reasonable attorney fees).

10. Termination

We may suspend or end your license (a) if you violate these Terms or (b) if we discontinue Pico. You may stop using Pico at any time. Sections 5–17 survive termination.

11. Changes to these Terms

We can update these Terms. When we do, we will change the date above and show you an in-app pop-up. Continuing to use Pico after the pop-up appears means you accept the new Terms.

12. Governing law

These Terms are governed by California law (excluding conflict-of-law rules).

13. Dispute resolution, arbitration & class-action waiver

Before filing a lawsuit, you and Pico agree to try to resolve any dispute informally for 30 days. If we cannot, any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services will be finally settled by binding arbitration administered by JAMS under its Streamlined Rules. The arbitration will take place in Alameda County, California, or, if you prefer, by video/phone. YOU AND PICO WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL OR TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION. Either party may seek injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to stop misuse of intellectual property.

14. DMCA notice (U.S. only)

If you believe content served through a Pico instance accessible to you infringes your copyright, please send a notice to:

DMCA Agent – Starling Protocol, Inc.
dmca@picoai.app

Include: (i) your signature, (ii) the work infringed, (iii) the location of the infringing material, (iv) your contact info, (v) a statement of good-faith belief, and (vi) a statement under penalty of perjury that your notice is accurate. We will respond per the DMCA.

15. Export controls

You may not download or use the Software if you are located in, or are a national of, a country embargoed by the United States, or if you are on the U.S. Treasury's list of Specially Designated Nationals or the U.S. Commerce Department's Denied Persons List.

16. Refunds & consumer rights

Refunds for purchases made through the Mac App Store are handled by Apple (see https://support.apple.com). Nothing in these Terms limits any non-waivable consumer rights you enjoy under applicable law (e.g., EU Directive 2011/83/EU).

17. Miscellaneous

  • Force majeure – We are not liable for events outside our reasonable control.
  • Severability – If any part of these Terms is unenforceable, the rest remains.
  • Assignment – You may not transfer these Terms without our consent; we may transfer them as part of a merger or sale.
  • Entire agreement – These Terms and our Privacy Policy are the whole deal between you and us.
  • No waiver – If we do not enforce a right immediately, we are not giving it up.

18. Contact

legal@picoai.app

Thanks for reading—and happy experimenting with local AI!