Terms of service

Last updated 27 August 2026

Pending legal review. This document was drafted to describe how the service actually works and is accurate to the implemented architecture. It has not been reviewed by a qualified lawyer in the operating jurisdiction, and must be before launch — see OWNER_ACTION_REQUIRED.md in the repository.

1. What the service is

Scanlight generates QR codes and, on paid plans, operates redirects for dynamic codes. It is not a link shortener sold as such, an advertising network, or a hosting service for the content a code points at.

2. Static and dynamic codes are different products

A static code encodes your destination directly. It is generated in your browser, does not route through us, and continues to function independently of this service, this agreement, or our continued existence. Nothing in these terms can disable a static code you have already downloaded, because there is no mechanism by which we could.

A dynamic code encodes a short link we operate. It functions only while this service operates and your account is in good standing. If your subscription ends, the code continues working for the grace period published on our pricing page, after which it displays a neutral notice. We will never redirect your codes to advertising or to any destination you did not choose.

3. Accounts

You are responsible for the security of your account and for all activity under it. You must provide an email address you control, and you must be legally capable of entering into this agreement.

4. Acceptable use

Manual checks operate on public DNS and may be run for any domain. Continuous monitoring requires you to demonstrate control of the domain by publishing a verification record. You must not use the service to attempt unauthorised access to any system, to circumvent rate limits, or in any way that degrades it for others. The Acceptable Use Policy forms part of these terms.

5. Subscriptions and billing

Paid plans are billed in advance, monthly or annually, through Stripe. Prices are shown before purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled. You may cancel at any time from your account without contacting us; cancellation takes effect at the end of the period you have already paid for, and no refund is issued for the remainder of that period unless required by law.

If a payment fails, your plan continues during a grace period while the payment provider retries. If payment is not resolved, monitoring is suspended and the account reverts to the free tier. Your configuration is retained for the period published in the Privacy Policy so that you can reactivate.

6. Plan limits

Each plan carries stated limits on dynamic codes, campaigns and monthly scans. Exceeding the scan allowance pauses analytics recording; it does not stop redirects, because a printed code that stopped working over a quota would be unacceptable. Static code generation is unlimited on every plan including free.

7. Availability

The service is provided on a commercially reasonable efforts basis, with no guaranteed uptime. We recognise that dynamic codes are printed on physical objects and design the redirect accordingly, but we do not offer a service level agreement. If uninterrupted availability is essential to you, use static codes, which depend on nothing.

8. Your data

Handling of personal data is described in the Privacy Policy. You may delete your account at any time from your account settings, which removes your personal data and monitoring history on the schedule described there.

9. Intellectual property

The service, its diagnostic content and its interface remain our property. Reports generated about domains you control are yours to use freely.

10. Liability

The service is provided “as is”. To the maximum extent permitted by law we exclude implied warranties, and our aggregate liability is limited to the amount you paid in the twelve months preceding the claim. We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, including lost business or scans not recorded. Nothing here limits liability that cannot lawfully be limited.

11. Changes

We may update these terms. Material changes will be notified by email to account holders at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use after that constitutes acceptance.

12. Contact

support@scanlight.org