Terms of Service

1. What Slate Provides

Slate is a focus and routine product that helps users block selected apps, app categories, websites, or distractions using software settings, schedules, routines, and NFC Blocks.

Slate is not a medical, mental health, emergency, security, or safety-critical product.

Slate may allow users to:

• Create blocking routines
• Schedule automatic blocking
• Manually start blocking sessions
• Use NFC Blocks to unblock
• Track activity or session history
• Customize app-blocking preferences

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old to use Slate.

If you are under the age of majority in your location, you may use Slate only with permission from a parent or guardian.

By using Slate, you confirm that you can legally agree to these Terms.

3. No Account Required

The Slate app does not require an account or an internet connection for its core blocking, routine, and NFC features.

You remain responsible for keeping your iPhone secure and for the settings, permissions, and routines you configure on it.

4. Device Permissions

Slate may require permissions such as:

• Screen Time or Family Controls permissions
• Managed Settings permissions
• Device Activity permissions
• NFC scanning permissions
• Notification permissions

5. App Blocking Limitations

If you deny or revoke permissions, some features may not work.

You are responsible for understanding and approving the permissions you grant to Slate through iOS.

Slate depends on Apple APIs, iOS behavior, device settings, permissions, NFC behavior, and other systems outside our full control.

We do not guarantee that Slate will block every app, website, notification, or distraction in every situation.

Slate may not work perfectly in every situation. For example:

• iOS may change how app blocking or NFC works.
• Permissions may be revoked.
• Screen Time-related APIs may behave differently across devices or iOS versions.
• NFC scanning may require user interaction.
• Some apps, websites, notifications, or system features may not be blockable.
• Blocks may fail if the app is deleted, permissions are changed, or the device is modified.

6. NFC Blocks

Each Slate Block is a compact magnetic physical product with rounded edges, a durable enclosure, and passive NFC functionality. It requires no battery, power source, or charging.

The app and Blocks are intended for users age 13 and older. A Block must not be used if its enclosure is cracked, opened, or damaged.

You understand that:

• Slate currently requires an iPhone 7 or later and is not compatible with Android.
• The Slate app requires NFC and Screen Time-related permissions to provide its core features.
• NFC tags may be scanned by compatible devices.
• NFC tag data may be copied by someone with physical access.
• NFC tag IDs are not passwords.
• You should not publicly share your tag ID or tag URL.
• You are responsible for keeping your Slate Block in a secure and appropriate location.
• Keep Blocks dry, avoid excessive heat, and do not open, modify, crush, or puncture the enclosure.
• Keep Blocks away from children and pets. If a magnet becomes exposed or is swallowed, seek immediate medical attention.
• Keep Blocks at least 6 inches (15 cm) from pacemakers, implanted medical devices, and other magnet-sensitive equipment.

7. Acceptable Use

You may not use Slate to:

• Violate laws or regulations
• Access or interfere with someone else's device without permission
• Track, control, or restrict another person without proper consent
• Reverse engineer, modify, or tamper with Slate
• Abuse, overload, or attack our systems
• Copy NFC tags for unauthorized use
• Circumvent payment or subscription systems
• Use Slate in a way that harms Slate, users, or third parties

8. Subscriptions, Purchases, and Payments

Website prices are stated in United States dollars (USD). Stripe processes website payments, and shipping charges and applicable taxes are shown at checkout when configured.

The Slate – Block Distractions app is free to download, and no subscription is currently required to use the app with Slate Blocks.

You agree to provide accurate payment, contact, and shipping information. We may cancel or refuse an order because of suspected fraud, payment failure, inventory error, pricing error, or legal restriction.

9. Hardware Orders

Each order includes the exact number of Slate Blocks selected at purchase, a box, protective packing foam, a setup card, and one magnetic wall-mount sticker. Other accessories are not included unless the product page expressly says otherwise.

Orders are accepted only for delivery within the United States and are estimated to arrive within 7 calendar days after purchase. Delivery dates are estimates rather than guarantees. If we learn that an order will be delayed, we will provide notice and the choices required by applicable law.

You may cancel your order for a full refund at any time before it ships by contacting support@blockedbyslate.com. Once an order ships, it cannot be canceled, but it remains eligible for Slate's 30-day money-back guarantee.

The original purchaser may request a full refund for any reason by emailing support@blockedbyslate.com within 30 calendar days after the carrier records the order as delivered. Include the email used at checkout and the order number, if available. No product return is required.

An eligible guarantee refund includes the amounts paid for the Slate Blocks, add-ons, original standard shipping, and applicable sales tax. Refunds are issued to the original payment method. We may request reasonable information to verify the order and prevent duplicate or fraudulent refunds.

The voluntary 30-day guarantee does not cover duplicate refunds, fraudulent claims, or Blocks that were deliberately opened, modified, or damaged. It does not limit rights or remedies that cannot legally be waived.

Visible transit damage must be reported within 7 days after delivery. Include your order details and clear photographs of the damaged Block and packaging. After review, Slate will provide an appropriate replacement or refund.

For a manufacturing defect, contact support@blockedbyslate.com with your order details and evidence of the problem. Slate will provide a repair, replacement, or refund as required by applicable law.

Damage caused after delivery by misuse, impact, excessive heat, moisture, opening or modifying the enclosure, or other customer-caused damage is not eligible for a voluntary replacement or refund, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

For a potentially lost shipment, we will confirm the submitted address, review tracking, and may open a carrier investigation. If the carrier confirms loss or the investigation remains unresolved, Slate will offer a replacement or refund. Address errors entered by the customer and shipments marked delivered are reviewed individually.

10. Beta and Prototype Features

Slate may include experimental, beta, or prototype features.

These features may change, break, be removed, or work inconsistently.

You should not rely on beta features for important, emergency, or safety-critical situations.

11. User Content and Feedback

If you submit feedback, ideas, suggestions, bug reports, or feature requests, you allow Slate to use them without compensation or restriction.

You are responsible for any content you submit through Slate.

You may not submit content that violates laws, infringes rights, or harms others.

12. Intellectual Property

Slate, including its app, website, designs, logos, branding, software, text, graphics, and other materials, is owned by Slate or its licensors.

These Terms do not give you ownership of Slate's intellectual property.

You may not copy, distribute, sell, modify, or create derivative works from Slate except as allowed by law or with our written permission.

13. Privacy

Your use of Slate is also governed by our Privacy Policy.

By using Slate, you agree that we may collect and use information as described in the Privacy Policy.

14. Third-Party Services

Slate may rely on or link to third-party services, including Apple, hosting providers, analytics providers, crash-reporting providers, authentication providers, and payment processors.

We are not responsible for third-party services, terms, policies, outages, or actions.

15. Disclaimers

Slate does not provide an additional voluntary, extended, or lifetime warranty. This statement does not disclaim or limit an implied warranty, statutory warranty, or consumer remedy that cannot lawfully be disclaimed or limited.

Passive NFC technology requires no battery or charging, but product life depends on ordinary handling, storage conditions, and the enclosure remaining intact.

We do not guarantee that Slate will always block or unblock apps correctly, prevent distraction, improve sleep, improve productivity, or produce any specific result.

16. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent allowed by law, Slate and its owners, employees, contractors, partners, and affiliates will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages.

To the fullest extent allowed by law, our total liability for any claim related to Slate will not exceed the amount you paid to Slate in the 12 months before the claim, or $100 if you paid nothing.

Some locations do not allow certain liability limits, so some limits may not apply to you.

17. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Slate from claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses arising from:

• Your use of Slate
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of law
• Your violation of another person's rights
• Your misuse of NFC Blocks or app-blocking features

18. Termination

You may stop using Slate at any time.

Sections that should reasonably survive termination will continue to apply.

We may suspend or terminate your access if:

• You violate these Terms
• Your use creates risk or legal exposure
• We discontinue Slate or a feature
• We are required to do so by law

19. Changes to Slate

We may update, modify, suspend, or discontinue Slate or any feature at any time.

We may also update these Terms. If changes are material, we may notify you through the app, website, email, or another reasonable method.

Your continued use of Slate after changes means you accept the updated Terms.

20. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States, without regard to conflict-of-law rules.

Any dispute will be handled in a court of competent jurisdiction serving Middlesex County, Massachusetts, unless applicable law requires another forum.

Nothing in these Terms limits mandatory consumer protections that apply based on where you live.

21. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms, contact us at:

Slate

Email: support@blockedbyslate.com