The Ark Studios — Terms of Use

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of The Ark Studios platform, including the website at TheArkStudios.com, any subdomains, apps, tools, dashboards, and related services (collectively, the "Platform" or "Services").

The Platform is operated by Imoportuweb Negócios e Publicidade Lda (the "Company," "we," "us," or "our").
Company details: NIF/VAT: PT518443493, email: legal@thearkstudios.com.

By creating an account, purchasing, subscribing, uploading content, or otherwise using the Services, you agree to these Terms.

1) Definitions

• "Account" means your registered account on the Platform.
• "Creator" means a user who uploads, submits, publishes, or monetizes content on the Platform.
• "Viewer" means a user who views content and/or purchases access to content.
• "Content" means any text, images, photos, audio, voice recordings, video, music, metadata, prompts, titles, thumbnails, descriptions, comments, or other materials submitted or made available through the Services.
• "Creator Content" means Content uploaded or published by a Creator.
• "User Content" means Content you submit (including Creator Content).
• "AI Features" means any automated tools used to assist with scripting, editing, moderation, image generation, rendering, encoding, transcription, translation, or similar processing.

2) Acceptance of Terms; Changes

2.1 Agreement. By using the Services, you confirm you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.

2.2 Changes. We may update these Terms from time to time. If changes are material, we will provide notice (e.g., on the Platform or via email). Continued use after the effective date of updated Terms constitutes acceptance. We may require you to re-accept updated Terms to continue using certain features (including Creator features and monetization).

3) Eligibility; Age; Legal Capacity

3.1 Minimum age for Creators (strict). You may not become a Creator, publish Creator Content, subscribe as a Creator, or receive payouts unless you are at least 18 years old or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction of residence, whichever is higher.

3.2 Viewers. Viewers must meet the minimum age required to use online services in their country. Certain content may be age-gated.

3.3 Legal capacity. By using the Services, you represent and warrant that you have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms.

3.4 Verification. We may request age/identity verification (including via payment processors or KYC providers) and may restrict, suspend, or terminate Accounts that cannot be verified or are suspected of being ineligible.

4) Accounts; Security; Responsibility

4.1 Account registration. You must provide accurate, current, and complete information. You must keep your Account information updated.

4.2 Security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity under your Account. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use.

4.3 One person, one Account (policy). We may limit multiple Accounts per person and may take action against Accounts used to evade enforcement.

5) The Services (High-Level)

5.1 Platform purpose. The Ark Studios enables users to create and publish story-based videos and related media experiences, including Creator dashboards and Viewer discovery and viewing.

5.2 No guarantee. We do not guarantee that the Services will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that any Content will achieve any views, revenue, or audience.

5.3 AI Features disclosure. Some parts of the Services may use AI Features to process Content (e.g., formatting, editing, generation, moderation, encoding). You acknowledge and agree that outputs may be imperfect and must be reviewed by you prior to publishing.

6) Creator Rules: Rights, Releases, and Responsibilities (Critical)

If you upload, publish, or monetize Creator Content, you are a Creator and you agree to all Creator obligations in these Terms.

6.1 You must have rights to everything you upload. You represent and warrant that you own, or have obtained all necessary rights, licenses, consents, permissions, and releases for all Content you submit, including without limitation:

• photos/images and video footage,
• music, sound recordings, and voice performances,
• scripts, text, diaries, historical text, social media-derived content (where applicable),
• trademarks/logos shown,
• and any other third-party materials.

6.2 Image, likeness, and voice releases (people in your Content). You represent and warrant that:

• every identifiable person appearing in your Creator Content has provided informed permission to be recorded and to have their image/likeness/voice used and published through the Services; and
• where required, you have obtained a written release from each identifiable person.

6.3 Minors appearing in Content. If a minor is identifiable in your Creator Content, you represent and warrant that you have obtained prior written consent from the minor's parent or legal guardian, and that the Content does not endanger or exploit minors in any way. We may require proof of these consents.

6.4 Prohibited sensitive content. You must not upload Content that is sexually explicit, pornographic, depicts sexual violence, exploits minors, or is otherwise prohibited under Section 10 (Prohibited Content). This applies regardless of artistic intent.

6.5 Proof on request. The Ark Studios, operated by Imoportuweb Negócios e Publicidade Lda, reserves the right to request copies of releases, licenses, and permissions at any time. Failure to provide them promptly may result in Content removal, monetization suspension, or Account termination.

6.6 You are responsible for claims. You are solely responsible for your Creator Content and any consequences of publishing it, including claims related to privacy, publicity rights, defamation, copyright, and contractual disputes.

7) Ownership; Platform License; Promotional Use

7.1 You own your Content. As between you and us, you retain ownership of your User Content, subject to the licenses granted in these Terms.

7.2 License you grant to The Ark Studios. By submitting User Content, you grant the Company a worldwide, non-exclusive, transferable, sublicensable, royalty-free license to host, store, cache, reproduce, modify, adapt, translate, create derivative works (for technical/formatting purposes), publish, publicly perform, publicly display, distribute, and otherwise use your User Content:

• to operate, improve, and provide the Services,
• to display your Content to Viewers,
• to enable sharing and discovery within the Platform,
• to comply with legal obligations,
• and as otherwise permitted by these Terms.

7.3 Promotional license. You also grant us the right to use your Creator Content (including thumbnails, short clips, stills, titles, and Creator name/handle) for marketing and promotion of:

• your Creator Content, and/or
• The Ark Studios Platform,

across our channels (including social media, ads, email, and the Platform itself), unless prohibited by law. We will not materially change the meaning of your story in promotional snippets, but we may edit length/format for placement.

7.4 Duration of license. The licenses in this Section last for as long as your Content is hosted on the Services, plus a reasonable period thereafter for backups, caching, dispute resolution, legal compliance, and technical processing.

7.5 Moral rights. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you waive and/or agree not to assert moral rights (or similar rights) that may interfere with the operation, formatting, or promotion of the Services. Where such waiver is not permitted, you agree not to unreasonably withhold consent for technical edits required to operate the Services.

8) Viewer Access; Limited Viewing License

8.1 Viewer license. When you purchase or access content as a Viewer (e.g., pay-per-view), you receive a limited, personal, non-transferable, revocable license to stream/view the content for the period/terms displayed at the time of purchase.

8.2 No redistribution. You may not copy, download (unless explicitly allowed), record, redistribute, publicly perform, upload elsewhere, or commercially exploit content you view on the Platform.

9) Payments, Subscriptions, Fees, Taxes (High-Level)

9.1 Pricing. Pricing, subscription tiers, pay-per-view pricing, and any generation fees will be shown on the Platform at checkout.

9.2 Payment processors. Payments are processed by third parties (e.g., Stripe, PayPal). Your use of those services is subject to their terms. We do not store full card details.

9.3 Taxes/VAT. Prices may include or exclude VAT/sales tax as required by law and as displayed at checkout. You are responsible for any taxes applicable to your purchases and/or earnings, except where we are legally required to collect/withhold.

9.4 No earnings guarantee. We do not guarantee any Creator revenue, views, tips, or payouts.

9.5 Refunds. Refund policies (including for subscriptions, generation fees, and pay-per-view) will be as stated on the Platform and as required by applicable law. If you are an EU/EEA consumer, you may have mandatory rights for certain digital services; where the law allows, you may be asked to expressly acknowledge that performance begins immediately and that certain withdrawal rights may be limited once access is provided.

9.6 Separate program terms. Monetization, revenue sharing, payout thresholds, eligibility, withholding, and KYC/verification requirements may be governed by additional terms (e.g., Creator Revenue Program Terms) incorporated by reference. If there is a conflict, those program terms control for monetization matters.

10) Prohibited Content and Conduct

You may not use the Services to create, upload, publish, share, or promote Content that:

10.1 Sexual exploitation and pornographic content

• contains child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or any sexual content involving minors,
• depicts or promotes non-consensual sexual content,
• depicts bestiality,
• is pornographic or explicitly sexual,
• is primarily intended to arouse sexually (including explicit nudity or explicit sexual acts).

10.2 Violence, extremism, hate

• depicts or promotes extreme violence or gore,
• promotes terrorism or violent extremist organizations,
• contains hate speech or harassment targeting protected characteristics,
• incites violence or discrimination.

10.3 Illegal activity

• facilitates or promotes illegal activities (including illegal drugs/weapons trafficking),
• provides instructions for wrongdoing intended to cause harm.

10.4 Privacy, impersonation, and harmful conduct

• doxxes or shares personal data without consent,
• impersonates others or misleads users about identity/affiliation,
• contains defamatory content, threats, stalking, or harassment.

10.5 IP infringement

• infringes copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights,
• uses unlicensed music, footage, or images.

10.6 Platform abuse

• attempts to bypass paywalls, security, or moderation,
• scrapes the Platform without permission,
• spams, manipulates views, or engages in fraudulent activity (including payment fraud).

We may remove Content, restrict reach, disable monetization, suspend, or terminate Accounts for violations.

11) Moderation; Enforcement; Reporting

11.1 Moderation methods. We may use automated systems and human review to detect and enforce these Terms and our Community Guidelines. You acknowledge that moderation is not perfect and is not a guarantee that prohibited Content will never appear.

11.2 Enforcement actions. We may take actions including:

• removing or restricting Content,
• applying age gates,
• demonetizing Content,
• issuing warnings/strikes,
• suspending or terminating Accounts,
• reporting to authorities where required or appropriate.

11.3 Reporting. The Platform will provide mechanisms to report Content and user behavior. False reporting or abuse of reporting tools may itself be a violation.

11.4 Appeals. We may provide appeal processes for certain enforcement actions, but we are not obligated to restore Content.

12) Copyright / Rights Complaints (Notice-and-Action)

12.1 Respect for rights. We respect intellectual property and privacy/publicity rights.

12.2 Submitting a notice. If you believe Content on the Platform infringes your copyright or other legal rights, you may submit a notice through the method described on our Copyright & Takedown Policy page. Notices should include sufficient information to identify the work and the allegedly infringing material, and contact information for the complaining party.

12.3 Our response. We may remove or restrict access to Content upon receiving a valid notice, and we may contact the uploader/Creator for additional information or a response.

12.4 Counter-notice / disputes. If you believe Content was removed by mistake, we may allow a counter-notice or dispute process consistent with applicable law and our policies.

13) Third-Party Services and Links

The Services may integrate or link to third-party services (e.g., payment processors, content tools). We are not responsible for third-party services, their content, or their practices. Your use of third-party services is at your own risk and subject to their terms.

14) Disclaimers

14.1 Service provided "as is." To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis, without warranties of any kind (express or implied), including fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, or availability.

14.2 AI output disclaimer. AI Features may produce inaccurate, incomplete, or objectionable output. You are responsible for reviewing and ensuring your Content complies with these Terms and all applicable laws before publishing.

14.3 No professional advice. Content on the Platform is for informational/entertainment purposes and does not constitute legal, medical, financial, or other professional advice.

15) Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law:

• The Company will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, revenues, data, goodwill, or other intangible losses, arising out of or related to your use of the Services;
• Our total liability for all claims relating to the Services will not exceed €100.00 (one hundred Euros), unless mandatory law requires otherwise.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations; in that case, limitations apply to the maximum extent permitted by law.

16) Indemnification (Creator and User Responsibility)

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Imoportuweb Negócios e Publicidade Lda, and its directors, officers, employees, contractors, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to:

• your User Content (including Creator Content),
• your breach of these Terms,
• your violation of any law or third-party right (including copyright, privacy, or publicity rights),
• your failure to obtain required consents/releases.

17) Suspension; Termination

17.1 By you. You may stop using the Services at any time. Account deletion options may be provided in settings, subject to legal retention requirements.

17.2 By us. We may suspend or terminate your Account, remove Content, or restrict access if we believe you violated these Terms, pose risk to the Platform, or as required by law.

17.3 Effect of termination. Upon termination, your right to use the Services ends. Sections that by their nature should survive will survive (including licenses needed for legal/technical reasons, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnity, and dispute provisions).

18) Privacy; Cookies

Our collection and use of personal data are described in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. By using the Services, you acknowledge those policies.

19) Governing Law; Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of Portugal, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles.

To the extent permitted by law, courts located in Portugal will have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising out of or related to these Terms and the Services. If you are a consumer, you may have mandatory rights to bring claims in your country of residence as required by applicable law.

20) Miscellaneous

20.1 Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force.

20.2 No waiver. Our failure to enforce any right is not a waiver.

20.3 Assignment. You may not assign these Terms without our consent. We may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets.

20.4 Entire agreement. These Terms, together with any policies and additional terms referenced (Community Guidelines, Creator Revenue Program Terms, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy), form the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Services.

21) Contact

Questions about these Terms or legal notices should be directed to: