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Sotto – Terms of Service

Effective date: 15 December 2025
Last updated: 20 December 2025

Sotto is a couples messaging application with AI-powered features (the "Service"), provided through the Sotto iOS app (the "App") and related backend services.

1. Introduction & Agreement

1.1 Parties and scope

1.1.1 These Terms govern your access to and use of the App and the Service, including any features, content, and related services provided by Stratara (collectively, "Sotto" or the "Service").

1.1.2 These Terms apply to all Users of Sotto, including paid subscribers and free Users (if a free tier is offered).

1.2 Acceptance of the Terms

1.2.1 By doing any of the following, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms:

• downloading or installing the App;
• creating an account;
• pairing with a partner;
• subscribing to paid features; or
• accessing or using any part of the Service.

1.2.2 If you do not agree, you must not install, access, or use the Service and must delete the App from your devices.

1.3 Relationship with Privacy Policy and other documents

1.3.1 Your use of the Service is also subject to our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal data. The Privacy Policy is available at:
https://stratara.ai/legal/sotto/privacy-policy.html

1.3.2 By using the Service, you acknowledge that your personal data will be processed in accordance with the Privacy Policy.

1.3.3 We may publish additional policies or feature-specific notices (for example, in-app consent screens for AI processing or optional features). If they apply to your use, they form part of these Terms.

1.3.4 If anything in these Terms conflicts with the Privacy Policy regarding personal data processing, the Privacy Policy prevails.

1.4 Relationship with Apple

1.4.1 These Terms are between you and Stratara only, and not with Apple Inc. ("Apple"). Apple is not responsible for the Service or its content.

1.4.2 You acknowledge and agree that:

• Apple is a third‑party beneficiary of these Terms; and
• upon your acceptance of these Terms, Apple has the right (and will be deemed to have accepted the right) to enforce these Terms against you in relation to your use of the Service on Apple‑branded devices.

1.4.3 Your use of the Service is also subject to Apple's applicable terms (including the Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions). If there is a conflict between those Apple terms and these Terms in relation to App Store transactions, Apple's terms will prevail to the extent of the conflict.

2. Eligibility, Audience & Territory

2.1 Minimum age and capacity

2.1.1 The Service is intended for adults. You must be 18 years or older to use Sotto.

2.1.2 By using the Service, you represent and warrant that:

• you are at least 18 years old; and
• you have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract.

2.2 Intended use

2.2.1 Sotto is designed for private use by romantic couples. It is not intended for organisational, enterprise, clinical, or professional counselling use.

2.2.2 Sotto is not an emergency service and is not intended for crisis situations (see Section 9.6).

2.3 Geographic availability

2.3.1 The Service may be available globally where the App Store and our infrastructure support it, but we do not guarantee availability in every country.

2.3.2 We may restrict access to the Service (or specific features) in territories where:

• local laws or platform rules require it; or
• providing the Service would create legal, regulatory, or operational risk.

2.4 Sanctions and export compliance

2.4.1 You agree not to use the Service in violation of applicable sanctions, export control, or trade compliance laws.

2.4.2 We may suspend or terminate access where we reasonably believe continued service would breach such laws or expose us (or our service providers) to regulatory risk.

3. Description of the Service

3.1 Core concept

3.1.1 Sotto is a two-person messaging service for couples, combined with an AI assistant ("Sotto AI") that can generate insights and summaries based on your conversations.

3.2 Two-user-only model

3.2.1 A Sotto "Couple" consists of exactly two users. There are no group chats.

3.2.2 You cannot use Sotto to message anyone other than your paired partner through the Service.

3.3 AI features and activation threshold

3.3.1 Sotto AI may provide features such as:

• daily/weekly/monthly briefs and insights;
• memory entries, commitments, events, and other structured relationship artifacts;
• direct AI interactions; and
• voice transcription and media descriptions (as described in the Privacy Policy).

3.3.2 Some AI features may activate only after a minimum amount of conversation context (for example, after approximately 230 messages are exchanged), to improve the usefulness and reduce misleading outputs.

3.3.3 Some AI features may be optional or require explicit enabling/consent in the App. If you do not enable AI processing, related AI features may not work.

3.4 Service changes

3.4.1 The Service may change over time. We may add, modify, or remove features, including AI providers, models, and functionality.

3.4.2 If a change materially affects your rights or how personal data is processed, we will reflect it in the Privacy Policy and, where required by law, provide appropriate notice.

4. Accounts, Pairing & Security

4.1 Account creation

4.1.1 To use Sotto, you must create an account, typically via phone number verification (SMS OTP).

4.1.2 You agree to provide accurate and up-to-date information and to keep your account secure.

4.2 Pairing and the "Couple" space

4.2.1 One partner creates a Couple and generates a pairing code. The second partner joins by entering that code.

4.2.2 Pairing establishes a shared Couple space and may exchange cryptographic material between your devices (as implemented by the Service).

4.2.3 You must only pair with someone who knowingly agrees to pair with you. You must not use pairing codes to access another person's conversations or device.

4.3 Account limitations

4.3.1 One account per phone number. One active Couple per user at a time.

4.3.2 You may not sell, rent, or transfer your account to someone else.

4.4 Device and account security

4.4.1 You are responsible for:

• keeping your device secured (passcode/biometrics);
• keeping your OS and App updated; and
• keeping pairing codes confidential.

4.4.2 If you believe your account has been compromised, you must contact support promptly at [email protected].

4.5 Inactive accounts

4.5.1 We may treat an account as inactive if you have not used the Service for a prolonged period (for example, 12 months).

4.5.2 We may deactivate or delete inactive accounts in accordance with applicable law and the Privacy Policy.

5. Couple Model, Shared Space & Partner Responsibilities

5.1 Shared conversation space

5.1.1 Messages and media you send through Sotto are intended to be shared with your Partner.

5.1.2 You are responsible for what you share and the consequences of sharing it with your Partner.

5.2 Shared AI outputs

5.2.1 Certain Outputs (briefs, insights, memory entries, structured items) are designed to be consistent across both partners and may be shared to both devices as part of the Service.

5.2.2 Whether a specific AI interaction or Output is shared may depend on the feature and the App's UI. The App will indicate where content is shared within the Couple.

5.3 Partner disputes

5.3.1 We do not mediate disputes between partners and we do not determine which partner is "right".

5.3.2 You acknowledge that in a two-person system, actions by either partner (for example, account deletion) can affect the shared experience.

5.4 Unpairing and account deletion

5.4.1 Either partner may delete their account. Account deletion generally:

• removes that user from the Couple;
• clears local data on the deleting user's device (subject to device/OS behaviour); and
• triggers deletion/purging of server-side data associated with that user and the Couple, as described in the Privacy Policy.

5.4.2 The other partner may retain:

• their own local message history stored on their device; and
• any Outputs already synced to their device.

5.4.3 You acknowledge we cannot delete content stored on your Partner's device.

6. Messaging, Encryption & Data Recovery

6.1 End-to-end encryption for partner messaging

6.1.1 Sotto is designed so that partner-to-partner messages and media are relayed using end-to-end encryption for delivery/sync, meaning we generally cannot read the content of those messages during normal relay.

6.1.2 "End-to-end encrypted" does not mean you should assume your partner will keep content private. Your partner may save, screenshot, export, or share messages and Outputs outside the Service.

6.2 AI processing exception (important)

6.2.1 AI cannot operate on encrypted text. If you use AI features that require it, Sotto processes bounded portions of conversation on our servers and shares limited data with third-party AI subprocessors to generate Outputs, as described in the Privacy Policy.

6.2.2 This is a deliberate trade-off: E2EE for partner messaging, with a limited exception for AI features.

6.3 Data recovery limitation

6.3.1 Because message history is designed to live on your devices, we may be unable to recover conversations if both devices are lost, wiped, or unavailable.

6.3.2 You are responsible for your own device security and backups (where supported by your device and settings).

6.4 Legal requests

6.4.1 We may respond to valid legal requests as required by law. Due to encryption design, we may not be able to produce readable message content for partner-to-partner E2EE messages.

7. AI Features: Consent, Third Parties, and Limitations

7.1 What AI may process

7.1.1 Depending on the feature, AI processing may involve:

• message text content in bounded chunks (typically recent windows);
• timestamps and interaction patterns;
• transcripts derived from voice notes (where voice transcription is used);
• text descriptions derived from low-resolution media previews (where media description is used); and
• limited surrounding context needed to produce coherent Outputs.

7.1.2 We aim to minimise what is sent for AI processing (bounded chunks, not full archives by default) as described in the Privacy Policy.

7.2 Third-party AI subprocessors

7.2.1 We use third-party AI service providers ("AI subprocessors") to deliver certain AI features.

7.2.2 Our current list of AI subprocessors for Sotto (including their roles and typical data processed) is published here:
https://stratara.ai/legal/sotto/subprocessors

7.2.3 Third-party AI providers may process technical metadata (such as IP address and request logs) under their own policies.

7.3 Your acknowledgement and consent

7.3.1 By enabling or using AI features, you explicitly acknowledge and agree that:

• your content will be processed by AI systems;
• third-party AI subprocessors may receive and process limited inputs to deliver the feature; and
• Outputs are generated automatically and may be incorrect.

7.3.2 If you do not want your content processed for AI features, you should not enable those features (where the App offers such controls) and you should not use AI-dependent functionality.

7.4 AI limitations and non-reliance

7.4.1 Outputs may be inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading. The AI may misunderstand context, tone, sarcasm, or emotional nuance.

7.4.2 You agree not to rely on Outputs for medical, mental health, legal, financial, or other professional decisions.

7.4.3 You remain solely responsible for your choices, communications, and relationship decisions.

7.5 No therapy / no counselling

7.5.1 Sotto is not therapy, not couples counselling, and not a substitute for professional care.

7.5.2 If you believe you are in an unsafe situation or experiencing abuse, you should prioritise your safety and seek help from appropriate local services.

7.6 No emergencies

7.6.1 The Service is not designed for crisis support, emergency response, or urgent safety situations.

8. User Content: Ownership, Licence, and Responsibilities

8.1 Ownership

8.1.1 You retain ownership of the User Content you create.

8.1.2 Your Partner retains ownership of the User Content they create.

8.2 Licence to Stratara (limited and purpose-bound)

8.2.1 You grant Stratara a limited, non-exclusive, worldwide licence to use, host, transmit, and process your User Content solely to:

• operate the Service (including transmitting content to your Partner);
• provide AI features (including processing via AI subprocessors as described in these Terms and the Privacy Policy); and
• maintain, secure, and improve reliability of the Service (for example, diagnosing issues and preventing abuse).

8.2.2 This licence is for the purpose of providing the Service and does not transfer ownership of your content to us.

8.3 Content responsibility

8.3.1 You are responsible for the content you send and for ensuring you have the right to send it.

8.3.2 You must not use the Service to store or share content you do not have the legal right to share.

9. Optional Features and Settings

Sotto may offer optional features that share additional information with your Partner and/or our servers. Where offered, these features can be controlled in settings.

9.1 Location tags (labels only)

If you enable location tags, you may share named place labels (for example "Home" or "Work") with your Partner. We do not intend to store your precise GPS coordinates on our servers for this feature (see Privacy Policy for details).

9.2 Battery sharing

If enabled, your battery percentage and charging state may be shared with your Partner.

9.3 Motion tags ("on the move")

If enabled, an activity type (walking/driving/cycling) may be shared with your Partner.

9.4 Discreet notifications

If enabled, short message preview text may be processed by an AI subprocessor for classification to reduce sensitive previews in push notifications (see Privacy Policy and the subprocessor list).

9.5 Anonymous analytics (opt-out)

We may collect aggregate usage analytics for product improvement. You may be able to disable analytics in settings (see Privacy Policy).

10. Subscriptions, Billing & Purchases (Apple In‑App Purchase)

10.1 Paid features

10.1.1 Some features may require a subscription ("Subscription"). Subscription options and pricing are shown in the App at the time of purchase.

10.1.2 If a free tier exists, we may limit features or usage.

10.2 Apple billing

10.2.1 Subscriptions are processed through Apple's in-app purchase system. Apple may be the merchant of record.

10.2.2 We do not receive your payment card details from Apple.

10.3 Auto-renewal and cancellation

10.3.1 Unless you cancel, your Subscription renews automatically at the renewal price disclosed at purchase.

10.3.2 You can manage and cancel Subscriptions through your Apple App Store account settings.

10.4 Trials and introductory offers

10.4.1 If we offer a free trial or introductory price, the trial length and the post-trial price are disclosed at sign-up.

10.4.2 If you do not cancel before the trial ends, you will be charged automatically.

10.5 Restore purchases

10.5.1 If your subscription access is not recognised on a device, you can use "Restore Purchases" in the App (where available).

10.6 Refunds

10.6.1 Refunds are generally handled under Apple's refund policies and processes, unless we explicitly agree otherwise in writing.

10.7 Changes to pricing or plans

10.7.1 We may change pricing or plan structure. If required, notice and user consent for price changes may be handled through Apple's systems.

11. Acceptable Use and Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to use the Service to:

• break any law or regulation;
• harass, threaten, stalk, or abuse your Partner;
• exploit or harm others, including by enabling coercive control (for example, pressuring a Partner to enable optional tracking-like features);
• distribute illegal content;
• attempt to bypass encryption, security, or access controls;
• reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to derive source code (except to the extent such restrictions are prohibited by law);
• interfere with or disrupt the Service, infrastructure, or security;
• scrape, probe, or load-test the Service without our written permission;
• use the Service to create or distribute malware, spam, or automated messaging.

12. Reporting, Safety, and Enforcement

12.1 Reporting

12.1.1 If you want to report misuse, abuse, or safety concerns, contact: [email protected].

12.1.2 We may also provide in-app reporting flows.

12.2 No proactive moderation of E2EE messages

12.2.1 Because partner-to-partner messages are designed to be end-to-end encrypted in normal relay, we do not proactively monitor those message contents.

12.2.2 This does not mean misuse is allowed. We may investigate and take action based on reports, account-level signals, and other information available to us.

12.3 Enforcement actions

12.3.1 We may suspend or terminate accounts where we reasonably believe there is:

• a violation of these Terms;
• illegal activity;
• security threats; or
• abuse of the Service.

12.3.2 We may also limit features, rate-limit, or require additional verification for security reasons.

13. Third‑Party Services

13.1 The Service may depend on third parties, including:

• Apple services (App Store, in-app purchase, push notification infrastructure);
• AI subprocessors (see the public list at https://stratara.ai/legal/sotto/subprocessors);
• infrastructure and hosting providers.

13.2 Third-party services are outside our direct control. Outages, latency, and changes in those services may affect Sotto.

13.3 Where third-party terms apply to you directly (for example, Apple's terms), you agree to comply with them.

14. Intellectual Property

14.1 Stratara owns all rights, title, and interest in and to the Service, App, branding, design, and underlying technology, excluding User Content.

14.2 You may not use our trademarks, logos, or branding without our written permission.

14.3 AI Outputs are generated from your use of the Service. You may use Outputs for personal purposes within the Service. We retain all rights to the underlying systems, prompts, and methods used to generate Outputs.

14.4 If you provide feedback, you grant Stratara a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use that feedback without restriction.

15. Service Availability, Changes, and Termination

15.1 Availability

15.1.1 We aim for high availability but do not guarantee that the Service will be uninterrupted or error-free.

15.1.2 Some features require internet connectivity. Push notifications require Apple's push services.

15.2 Changes

15.2.1 We may update, maintain, modify, or discontinue the Service or any part of it.

15.2.2 We may require you to install updates for security or compatibility reasons.

15.3 Termination by you

15.3.1 You may stop using the Service at any time.

15.3.2 You may delete your account via in-app settings (where available) or by contacting support.

15.4 Termination by us

15.4.1 We may suspend or terminate your access if you violate these Terms or if we must do so for legal, security, or safety reasons.

15.4.2 Where practicable, we may provide notice, but we are not required to do so in urgent situations (for example, abuse, attacks, or legal compliance).

16. Disclaimers

16.1 Service provided "as is". To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Service is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranties of any kind.

16.2 AI disclaimer. We do not guarantee that AI Outputs are accurate, complete, reliable, or suitable for any purpose.

16.3 Relationship outcomes. We are not responsible for relationship decisions, outcomes, or disputes between partners.

16.4 Data loss. We are not responsible for loss of messages or data resulting from device loss, device failure, user actions, or configuration, to the extent permitted by law.

16.5 Third parties. We are not responsible for failures or changes in third-party services (including Apple, AI providers, and infrastructure providers), to the extent permitted by law.

17. Limitation of Liability

17.1 Cap on liability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Stratara's total liability arising out of or related to the Service will not exceed the amount you paid to Stratara for the Service in the 12 months before the event giving rise to the claim (or €100 if you paid nothing).

17.2 Excluded damages. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Stratara will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for loss of profits, loss of goodwill, or loss of data.

17.3 Non-waivable rights. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where it cannot be excluded by law (for example, liability for fraud, or certain consumer protection liabilities). If you are a consumer, you may have mandatory rights that apply regardless of these Terms.

18. Indemnity

To the maximum extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify and hold Stratara harmless from claims, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from:

• your breach of these Terms;
• your unlawful use of the Service; or
• your User Content infringing the rights of others.

19. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

19.1 Governing law. These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Israel, excluding conflict-of-law rules.

19.2 Jurisdiction. Subject to any mandatory consumer protection rules, the competent courts in Israel will have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising out of or related to these Terms or the Service.

19.3 Consumer protections. If you are a consumer in the EEA/UK (or another jurisdiction with mandatory consumer rules), you may have the right to bring claims in your local courts and rely on mandatory local consumer protection laws.

20. Changes to these Terms

20.1 We may update these Terms from time to time.

20.2 If changes are material, we will provide notice in-app or through other reasonable means.

20.3 Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of updated Terms constitutes acceptance, unless we require explicit acceptance in the App.

21. Miscellaneous

21.1 Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any feature-specific notices, form the entire agreement between you and Stratara regarding the Service.

21.2 Severability. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.

21.3 No waiver. A failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver.

21.4 Assignment. You may not assign these Terms without our consent. We may assign these Terms as part of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, or by operation of law.

21.5 Language. If we provide translations, the English version will control in case of conflict, unless prohibited by applicable law.

22. Contact

Support: [email protected]

Privacy: [email protected]