Terms of Service

Last updated: June 15, 2026 Effective date: June 15, 2026 Version: 1.1

Article 1 (Purpose)

These Terms govern the rights, obligations, and responsibilities between pikle ("Company") and users in connection with the use of the 4·8·16 social service ("Service") provided by the Company.

Article 2 (Definitions)

  1. "Service": all services available through the pikle app and related websites provided by the Company
  2. "User": a member or non-member who uses the Service under these Terms
  3. "Member": a person who has provided personal information and registered with the Company
  4. "Content": all forms of information created by users within the Service, such as votes, posts, and comments
  5. "pikle": a voting-format content where one of two options is chosen
  6. "4·8·16": a voting-format content where a final option is decided in a tournament format
  7. "Paid membership (PIKLE Pro)": the Company's paid subscription service providing additional features and benefits

Article 3 (Effect and Amendment of Terms)

  1. These Terms take effect by being posted within the Service or otherwise notified to users.
  2. The Company may amend these Terms within the bounds of applicable law.
  3. Amendments are announced 7 days before the effective date; material changes are announced 30 days in advance.
  4. If you do not agree to amended Terms, you may stop using the Service and withdraw.

Article 4 (Provision of the Service)

  1. The Company provides the following services:
  • Creating and participating in pikle votes
  • Creating and participating in 4·8·16
  • Writing and viewing feed posts
  • Social features (follow, comment, like, etc.)
  • Personalized content recommendations
  1. The Service is provided 24/7 in principle.
  2. The Service may be temporarily suspended for system maintenance, equipment replacement, etc.

Article 5 (Membership)

  1. Membership is formed when a user agrees to these Terms, enters member information, and the Company approves.
  2. The following information must be provided at sign-up:
  • Required: email, phone number, or social account info; nickname; username
  • Optional: profile photo, interests, expertise
  1. The Company may refuse membership if:
  • The user uses a false name or another person's information
  • The user previously lost membership status
  • The purpose is otherwise unlawful or in breach of these Terms

Article 6 (Member Obligations)

  1. Members must not:
  • Misappropriate others' information or register false information
  • Infringe the Company's copyright or intellectual property
  • Defame others or cause them harm
  • Post obscene or violent content
  • Disrupt operations or attempt to hack the system
  • Post unauthorized commercial advertising
  • Otherwise violate applicable laws and these Terms
  1. Members must comply with these Terms, the Community Guidelines, and applicable laws.

Article 7 (Content Rights and Responsibilities)

  1. Copyright in user-generated content belongs to the respective user.
  2. By posting content to the Service, the user grants the Company the right to:
  • Post and display the content within the Service
  • Use it for Service promotion
  • Use anonymized data for statistics and analysis
  1. Users are legally responsible for the content they post.
  2. The Company may remove content that violates these Terms or law without prior notice.

Article 8 (Paid Services and Subscriptions)

  1. The Company offers the "PIKLE Pro" paid membership, operated as an auto-renewing subscription:
  • Subscription period: 1 month / 6 months / 1 year
  • Auto-renewal: automatically renews before the current period ends, with payment charged at renewal

  1. All payments are processed through Apple App Store or Google Play in-app purchases; the Company does not directly collect or store payment instrument details such as card numbers.

  2. You can cancel or unsubscribe in your Apple ID or Google Account subscription management screen. Upon cancellation, only auto-renewal stops, and you may continue using the Service until the already-paid period ends.

  3. Refunds are handled per the separate "Refund Policy" and the policies of the Apple App Store / Google Play.

  4. Free PIKLE Pro benefits granted via expert verification, friend referral, etc. are promotions that may be provided, changed, or ended at the Company's discretion, and are not eligible for cash refunds.

  5. If subscription prices change, you will be notified in advance per Apple / Google policy; if you do not consent, the subscription ends at the next renewal.

Article 9 (Use of AI and Algorithms)

  1. Consent to AI use: The Company uses AI and algorithmic technologies to improve service quality. By agreeing to these Terms, you consent to:
  • Personalized feeds via content recommendation algorithms
  • Algorithm-based analysis and statistics of vote data
  • AI-based data processing for service improvement
  • Algorithm-based adjustments to improve content quality
  1. Data use: AI processes user data for:
  • Interest-based content recommendation
  • Statistical analysis of vote results
  • Spam and inappropriate-content detection
  • Usage-pattern analysis and improvement

  1. Transparency: The Company provides reasonable information about how AI is used.

  2. Objection: You may object to AI-based decisions; the Company reviews and responds within a reasonable period.

Article 10 (Content Filtering)

  1. The Company provides the following content filters:
  • Political/social-issue content filter
  • Everyday/casual content filter
  • Adult-related content filter (19+)
  1. Users can choose filter options during onboarding and in settings.
  2. Filter settings affect only your feed exposure and do not delete the content itself.

Article 11 (Restrictions on Use)

  1. The Company may restrict use if:
  • These Terms or the Community Guidelines are violated
  • A user harasses or defames another user
  • There is illegal or crime-related activity
  • There is serious disruption to operations
  1. Restriction measures:
  • Warning
  • Temporary suspension (1 day / 7 days / 30 days)
  • Permanent suspension (account deletion)
  1. Users may object to restrictions.

Article 12 (Disclaimer)

  1. The Company is not liable for:
  • Service interruptions due to force majeure such as natural disasters
  • Service issues due to the user's fault
  • Disputes between users or between a user and a third party
  • The accuracy or reliability of content posted by users

  1. The Company is not liable for free services unless otherwise provided by law.

  2. Payment and refunds for paid services follow the "Refund Policy" and each store's (Apple App Store / Google Play) policies.

Article 13 (Dispute Resolution)

  1. Governing law: All disputes regarding these Terms and use of the Service are governed by the laws of the Republic of Korea. For users located where the Company is established (Delaware, USA), the laws of the State of Delaware may apply supplementally.
  2. Jurisdiction: For users residing in the Republic of Korea, the Seoul Central District Court has exclusive jurisdiction in the first instance.
  3. The parties shall negotiate in good faith to resolve disputes; if unresolved, the matter follows the court's judgment.

Article 14 (Contact)

For inquiries regarding the Service:

  • Operator: PIKLE, Inc.
  • Address: 1111B S Governors Ave # 49087, Dover, DE 19904, USA
  • Email: contact@pikleapp.com
  • Support: in-app contact

Addendum

  1. These Terms take effect on June 15, 2026.

Change History

  • Version 1.1 — 2026-06-15: Added the Paid Services and Subscriptions article (Article 8); added PIKLE Pro to definitions; added phone number to sign-up information; clarified paid-service refunds in the disclaimer.
  • Version 1.0 — 2026-04-26: Initial release