Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and FreshMinds Academy ("we," "our," or "us") regarding your use of the FreshMinds Academy mobile application (the "App") and related services.

By creating an account, downloading, accessing, or using the App, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

2. Description of Service

FreshMinds Academy is an educational mobile platform designed to provide comprehensive digital learning resources, courses, and exam preparation. Our services include:

2.1 Core Features

• Video Lessons - High-quality video lessons across curriculum subjects with offline access
• Practice Exams - Interactive assessments to test your knowledge and exam readiness
• Competitions - Timed academic challenges with live leaderboards and awards
• Progress Tracking - Analytics to monitor study progress and completion
• Offline Access - Secure offline downloads for seamless learning without internet
• Study Materials - Comprehensive lesson notes, summaries, and revision guides

2.2 Service Availability

We strive to provide continuous service availability. However, we do not guarantee uninterrupted access and may suspend or modify the service for maintenance, updates, or technical issues without prior notice.

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Registration

To use FreshMinds Academy, you must create an account by providing:

• A valid Ethiopian phone number (+251...) as your primary login identifier
• Your full name
• A secure password
• An email address (optional, for notifications and recovery)

3.2 Account Requirements

• You must be at least 13 years old to create an account
• You must provide accurate and complete information
• You must maintain the confidentiality of your password
• You are responsible for all activities under your account
• One account per person - sharing accounts is prohibited

3.3 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account. You must:

• Keep your password confidential and secure
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
• Not share your login credentials with others
• Use a strong, unique password

3.4 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms of Service
• You engage in fraudulent activity or exam cheating
• Your account remains inactive for more than 2 years
• You provide false or misleading information
• Your actions harm other users or our platform

You may also delete your account at any time through the app settings or by contacting support.

4. User Conduct and Prohibited Activities

4.1 Acceptable Use

You agree to use FreshMinds Academy for lawful educational purposes only. You agree NOT to:

• ❌ Share your account credentials or allow others to use your account
• ❌ Cheat on exams or competitions using unfair means
• ❌ Attempt to manipulate rankings or scores
• ❌ Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the App
• ❌ Copy, distribute, or redistribute our educational content
• ❌ Upload viruses, malware, or malicious code
• ❌ Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• ❌ Use the App for commercial purposes without authorization
• ❌ Circumvent security features or access restrictions
• ❌ Scrape, crawl, or extract data using automated means
• ❌ Impersonate other users or our staff

4.2 Academic Integrity

FreshMinds Academy is built on principles of academic integrity. Cheating on exams, sharing answers in competitions, or using unauthorized aids violates these Terms and may result in immediate account termination without refund.

4.3 Consequences of Violations

Violations of these Terms may result in:

• Warning and temporary suspension
• Permanent account termination
• Loss of access to paid programs without refund
• Legal action if applicable

5. Content Ownership and Intellectual Property

5.1 Our Content

All content available through FreshMinds Academy, including but not limited to videos, exams, text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is the exclusive property of FreshMinds Academy and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

5.2 Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to:

• Access and view educational content for personal learning
• Download content for offline use within the App
• Print materials for personal study purposes

You may NOT:

• Redistribute, sell, or commercially exploit our content
• Modify, adapt, or create derivative works
• Remove copyright or proprietary notices
• Upload our content to other platforms or websites
• Share downloaded videos outside the App

5.3 Your Data

You retain ownership of your personal data and learning progress. By using the App, you grant us permission to:

• Store and process your data as described in our Privacy Policy
• Use aggregated, anonymized data for analytics and improvement
• Display your name and ranking in competition leaderboards

6. Payment, Billing, and Refunds

6.1 Paid Programs

Some educational programs require payment for access. Prices are displayed in Ethiopian Birr (ETB) and may be subject to change. You will always see the current price before making a purchase.

6.2 Payment Processing

• Payments for premium programs are submitted via supported bank transfer or approved payment options
• Users submit payment verification details through the app for administrative activation
• All payment transactions and access grants are securely recorded in your account
• Access is activated upon verification of payment confirmation

6.3 Access Duration

When you purchase a program, you receive access for the specified duration (e.g., 6 months, 1 year, lifetime). Access automatically expires at the end of the period unless otherwise stated.

6.4 Refund Policy

6.5 Refund Process

To request a refund:

1. Email freshmindssupport@gmail.com within 7 days of purchase
2. Include your order number and reason for refund
3. We will process approved refunds within 14 business days
4. Refunds are issued to the original payment method

6.6 No Refunds Policy

Refunds will NOT be provided for:

• Account termination due to Terms violations
• User's failure to complete a course
• Technical issues on the user's device
• Changed mind after accessing content

7. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

7.1 Service "As Is"

We do not warrant that:

• The App will be error-free or uninterrupted
• Defects will be corrected promptly
• The App is free from viruses or harmful components
• Results from exams or courses will guarantee employment or certification

7.2 Educational Purpose

The content provided is for educational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that our content is complete, current, or error-free. Always verify critical information with official sources and certified professionals.

7.3 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, FreshMinds Academy and its affiliates, directors, employees, or agents shall NOT be liable for:

• Indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages
• Loss of profits, data, or use
• Service interruptions or data loss
• Exam result disputes or grading errors
• Third-party service failures (hosting, video delivery, etc.)
• User's failure to achieve learning goals or pass exams

Maximum Liability: Our total liability to you for any claims arising from your use of FreshMinds Academy shall not exceed the amount you paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim.

7.4 Third-Party Services

The App may integrate with third-party services (payment processors, video hosting, etc.). We are not responsible for the availability, accuracy, or practices of these third-party services.

8. Data Loss and Backups

While we implement regular backup procedures, we are not liable for any data loss. We recommend you maintain your own records of important learning materials.

Your learning progress is synced to our servers, but local downloaded content may be lost if you uninstall the app or clear app data.

9. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and protection of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

By using FreshMinds Academy, you consent to our Privacy Policy.

10. Changes to the App and Terms

10.1 Service Modifications

We reserve the right to:

• Modify or discontinue features without notice
• Add or remove educational content
• Change pricing for new purchases (existing purchases honored)
• Update the App to improve performance or fix bugs

10.2 Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make significant changes, we will notify you via:

• In-app notification
• Email to your registered email address
• Notice on our website

The "Last Updated" date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Your continued use of the App after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must stop using the App and may request account deletion.

11. Dispute Resolution

11.1 Informal Resolution

If you have a dispute with us, please contact us first at freshmindssupport@gmail.com to resolve the matter informally. Most disputes can be resolved quickly through good-faith communication.

11.2 Mediation

If informal resolution fails, we agree to attempt mediation before pursuing legal action.

11.3 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Ethiopia. Any legal action or proceeding arising from these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the courts of Ethiopia.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless FreshMinds Academy and its affiliates, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any law or third-party rights
• Your use or misuse of the App
• Any content you submit or share

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

14. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and FreshMinds Academy regarding your use of the App and supersede all prior agreements.

15. Waiver

Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not be deemed a waiver of such provision or our right to enforce it in the future.

16. Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, accidents, pandemics, strikes, or shortages of transportation facilities, fuel, energy, labor, or materials.

18. Acknowledgment

By using FreshMinds Academy, you acknowledge that:

• You have read and understood these Terms of Service
• You agree to be bound by these Terms
• You have read and understood our Privacy Policy
• You are of legal age to enter into this agreement
• You will use the App in compliance with all applicable laws