Terms of Service

Last Updated: October 7, 2024

These Terms of Service govern your use of Dr. Tunnel, an AI-powered therapy assistant. By using our service, you agree to these terms and acknowledge the limitations and responsibilities outlined below.

⚠️ Important Medical Disclaimer

Dr. Tunnel is an AI assistant and does NOT replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please contact emergency services immediately (911 in the US) or go to your nearest emergency room.

1. Acceptance of Terms

Agreement to Terms

By accessing, downloading, or using Dr. Tunnel, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these terms, you must not use our service.

Eligibility

  • You must be at least 17 years old to use Dr. Tunnel
  • You must have the legal capacity to enter into this agreement
  • You must not be prohibited from using our services under applicable law
  • Users under 18 may require parental consent in some jurisdictions

Binding Agreement

These terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Dr. Tunnel. Your continued use of the service constitutes acceptance of any updates to these terms.

2. AI Therapy Limitations

🤖 Understanding AI Limitations

Dr. Tunnel is powered by artificial intelligence and has important limitations that you must understand before using the service.

What Dr. Tunnel IS

  • AI-Powered Support Tool: A conversational AI trained in therapeutic techniques
  • Supplemental Resource: Designed to support your mental wellness journey
  • 24/7 Available Assistant: Accessible when human therapists may not be available
  • Evidence-Based Guidance: Uses established therapeutic methodologies like CBT and mindfulness

What Dr. Tunnel IS NOT

  • Not a Licensed Therapist: Dr. Tunnel is not a human mental health professional
  • Not Medical Treatment: Cannot diagnose, treat, or cure mental health conditions
  • Not Crisis Intervention: Not equipped for emergency mental health situations
  • Not a Replacement: Does not replace professional therapy, medication, or medical care

When to Seek Professional Help

You should immediately seek professional medical or mental health care if you experience:

  • Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
  • Plans to harm others
  • Severe depression or anxiety that interferes with daily functioning
  • Symptoms of psychosis (hallucinations, delusions)
  • Substance abuse problems
  • Eating disorder symptoms
  • Severe trauma reactions

3. Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Appropriate Use

  • Mental Wellness Support: Use Dr. Tunnel for emotional support and wellness guidance
  • Self-Reflection: Engage in conversations that promote self-awareness and growth
  • Coping Strategies: Learn and practice healthy coping mechanisms
  • Stress Management: Discuss everyday stress and anxiety management

Usage Restrictions

  • No Crisis Use: Do not use during mental health emergencies
  • No Medical Advice: Do not seek diagnosis or medical treatment recommendations
  • No Substitute for Therapy: Do not use as a complete replacement for professional treatment
  • Age Appropriate: Content and conversations must be appropriate for your age

Healthy Usage Patterns

  • Use Dr. Tunnel as part of a balanced mental health approach
  • Continue or seek professional therapy when appropriate
  • Respect the cooldown periods designed for your wellbeing
  • Practice self-care beyond AI interactions

4. Cooldown System

⏰ Healthy Usage System

Dr. Tunnel includes a cooldown system designed to encourage balanced mental health practices and prevent over-reliance on digital support.

How It Works

  • Session Limits: Limited number of messages per session period
  • Reset Schedule: Automatic reset every 8 hours
  • Gradual Access: Designed to encourage reflection between sessions
  • Health-First Design: Promotes balanced mental health practices

Purpose and Benefits

  • Prevent Over-Dependence: Encourages diverse support systems
  • Promote Reflection: Time between sessions for processing insights
  • Encourage Professional Help: Motivates seeking human support when needed
  • Support Healthy Boundaries: Models appropriate therapeutic boundaries

Your Agreement

By using Dr. Tunnel, you agree to respect the cooldown system and understand it's designed for your wellbeing. Attempting to circumvent these limitations through multiple accounts or other means violates these terms.

5. User Responsibilities

Account Security

  • Maintain confidentiality of your account credentials
  • Notify us immediately of any unauthorized account access
  • Use strong passwords and enable security features when available
  • You are responsible for all activities under your account

Information Accuracy

  • Provide accurate information when required
  • Keep your account information up to date
  • Do not impersonate others or provide false identity information

Appropriate Communication

  • Engage respectfully and appropriately with the AI
  • Understand that conversations may be used to improve the service (anonymized)
  • Report any technical issues or inappropriate AI responses

6. Prohibited Conduct

You may not use Dr. Tunnel for:

  • Illegal Activities: Any unlawful purposes or activities
  • Harmful Content: Sharing content that promotes self-harm or harm to others
  • Harassment: Abusive, threatening, or harassing behavior (even toward AI)
  • Spam or Abuse: Excessive messaging or system abuse
  • Commercial Use: Using the service for commercial purposes without permission
  • Data Mining: Attempting to extract or reverse engineer our technology
  • Security Violations: Attempting to breach security or access unauthorized data
  • Circumvention: Bypassing usage limits or technical restrictions

Consequences

Violation of these conduct rules may result in:

  • Warning or temporary suspension
  • Permanent account termination
  • Legal action if required by law
  • Reporting to appropriate authorities when necessary

7. Intellectual Property

Our Rights

  • Service Content: Dr. Tunnel's AI responses, algorithms, and technology are proprietary
  • Trademarks: "Dr. Tunnel" and related marks are our intellectual property
  • Software: The application and underlying technology are protected by copyright

Your Rights

  • Your Conversations: You retain rights to your input and conversations
  • Personal Data: Your personal information remains yours (see Privacy Policy)
  • Limited License: We grant you a limited license to use the service for personal, non-commercial use

User-Generated Content

  • You grant us a license to use your conversations to improve the service
  • We may use anonymized conversation data for research and development
  • You warrant that your content doesn't infringe on others' rights

8. Billing and Payment

Pricing Model

  • Current Model: Free to download with usage limitations
  • Future Pricing: We reserve the right to introduce paid features
  • Advance Notice: 30 days notice before implementing paid services

Payment Terms (When Applicable)

  • Payment Processing: Payments processed through secure third-party providers
  • Refund Policy: Refunds handled according to our refund policy (to be published)
  • Billing Disputes: Contact support for billing issues within 30 days

Service Modifications

We reserve the right to modify pricing, features, or service levels with appropriate notice to users.

9. Account Management and Termination

Your Right to Terminate

  • Voluntary Termination: You may delete your account at any time
  • Data Deletion: Your data will be deleted according to our Privacy Policy
  • No Refunds: Termination doesn't entitle you to refunds of paid services

Our Right to Terminate

We may suspend or terminate your account for:

  • Violation of these Terms of Service
  • Fraudulent or illegal activity
  • Abuse of the service or other users
  • Extended periods of inactivity (3+ years)
  • Business reasons (with 30 days notice)

Effect of Termination

  • Immediate loss of access to the service
  • Deletion of account data according to our retention policy
  • Survival of certain terms (liability limitations, intellectual property)

10. Service Availability

Service Levels

  • Best Effort: We strive for high availability but don't guarantee uptime
  • Maintenance: Scheduled maintenance may temporarily interrupt service
  • Updates: Service may be temporarily unavailable during updates

Service Modifications

  • Feature Changes: We may modify or discontinue features with notice
  • Service Evolution: The AI and features will continue to improve over time
  • Platform Changes: Availability on different platforms may change

No Warranties

Dr. Tunnel is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We don't guarantee that the service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or meet your specific needs.

11. Limitation of Liability

⚖️ Important Legal Limitations

Please read this section carefully as it limits our liability for any damages you may experience.

Liability Limitations

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DR. TUNNEL SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

  • Any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages
  • Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
  • Personal injury or property damage arising from service use
  • Decisions made based on AI advice or guidance
  • Mental health outcomes or lack of improvement
  • Service interruptions or technical failures

Maximum Liability

Our total liability to you for any claims related to the service shall not exceed the amount you paid for the service in the 12 months preceding the claim, or $100, whichever is greater.

Medical Disclaimer

We are not liable for any medical or mental health outcomes. Dr. Tunnel is not medical treatment, and you use it at your own risk. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals for medical advice.

12. Indemnification

Your Indemnification Obligations

You agree to indemnify and hold Dr. Tunnel harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from:

  • Your use of the service
  • Your violation of these terms
  • Your violation of any third party's rights
  • Any content you provide to the service

13. Dispute Resolution

Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of the United States and the state where Dr. Tunnel is headquartered, without regard to conflict of law provisions.

Dispute Resolution Process

  1. Contact Us First: Attempt to resolve disputes by contacting support@drtunnel.app
  2. Mediation: If initial contact doesn't resolve the issue, we encourage mediation
  3. Arbitration: Binding arbitration may be required for certain disputes
  4. Class Action Waiver: You agree not to participate in class action lawsuits against us

Jurisdiction

Any legal proceedings must be brought in the courts having jurisdiction over Dr. Tunnel's principal place of business.

14. Changes to Terms

Modification Process

  • Notice Period: 30 days advance notice for material changes
  • Notification Methods: Email, in-app notifications, and website updates
  • Effective Date: Changes become effective on the specified date

Your Options

  • Accept Changes: Continue using the service after the effective date
  • Reject Changes: Stop using the service and delete your account
  • Continued Use: Using the service after changes indicates acceptance

15. Contact Information

General Support

Email: support@drtunnel.app

Response Time: Within 2-3 business days

Legal Inquiries

Email: legal@drtunnel.app

For: Terms of Service questions, legal notices

Emergency Resources

🚨 If you're in crisis:

  • Emergency Services: 911 (US) or your local emergency number
  • Suicide Prevention: Call or text 988 (US)
  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741