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Legal · Operated by ChessVS, Inc.

Terms of Service

Working version · pre-launch alpha. A final, attorney-reviewed version will be published before public launch.

Effective date: 2026-10-01 · Alpha working version

A comprehensive, attorney-reviewed version will be published prior to public launch. Material changes will be communicated to registered users with 30 days' notice. Questions: [email protected].

1. Agreement to Terms

These Terms govern your access to and use of the ChessVS service, including the website at chessvs.club, the ChessVS game application, and related services (the "Service"), operated by ChessVS, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("ChessVS," "we," "us," "our"). By creating an account, accessing the Service, or making a purchase, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

2. The Service

ChessVS is a competitive online chess game. The Service includes:

  • Standard chess gameplay with full FIDE rules preserved
  • Collectible Battle Card mechanics that grant pieces situational abilities, layered on top of standard play
  • Player matchmaking, ELO rating tracking, and tournament participation
  • Account customization, social features, and community participation

The Service is provided on an "as-is" and "as-available" basis. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of it at any time, with reasonable notice when feasible.

3. Account Registration

To access most features you must create an account. You agree that: you are at least 13 (or the minimum legal age in your jurisdiction, whichever is greater); your information is accurate; you are responsible for your credentials and all activity under your account; and you will not share or transfer your account without our written consent. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or present a risk to the Service.

Usernames

Your username is your public in-game identity (shown on your profile, leaderboards, and match results). It must be family-friendly and free of profanity, sexual, violent, hateful, or otherwise offensive content; must not impersonate another person or imply a false affiliation; must not infringe third-party rights; and must not be used to advertise unrelated products. We may refuse, reclaim, or require the change of any username that does not meet these standards, and may reserve certain names.

4. Founding Member Tiers

During the launch period, ChessVS offers one-time founding-member tier purchases. Each tier includes a defined bundle of digital deliverables that may include: username reservation, bundled digital starter content (in-game piece variants and customization items), and tier-specific recognition. Specific contents are described at the time of purchase. These are one-time, non-recurring purchases of game services and digital content, non-refundable except where required by law. Payments are made in USDC and processed by our payment processor, Coinbase Business, under Coinbase's privacy policy (US buyers can pay by debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or bank transfer; credit cards are not accepted); we do not store full card or bank account numbers. Founding-member tiers are not investments, securities, or interests in ChessVS, Inc.

5. In-Game Items & Currency

The Service includes in-game items (cards, customization items) and in-game currency. You understand that:

  • In-game items and currency have no real-world monetary value. Their value exists solely within the Service.
  • In-game currency is earned through gameplay. It cannot be purchased with real money and cannot be exchanged for cash or other currency.
  • You receive a limited license to use in-game items within the Service, not ownership of the items themselves.
  • For technical record-keeping, certain gameplay records may be written to a public test network (blockchain). Such records are public and permanent by the nature of that infrastructure; see the Privacy Policy. This record-keeping does not change the character of in-game items as no-monetary-value digital goods.

6. Acceptable Use

You agree not to: use chess engines or AI assistance during competitive matches; create multiple accounts to circumvent matchmaking, ratings, or tier benefits; buy, sell, or transfer accounts; engage in collusion or match-fixing; harass, threaten, or abuse other users; or choose a username that violates Section 3. We may recalculate ratings, void tournament results, and suspend or ban accounts for confirmed violations; our anti-cheat decisions are final, subject to our support process.

7. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its software, designs, text, graphics, and trademarks (including "Bitcoinia" and "Etheryst"), is owned by ChessVS, Inc. or its licensors and is protected by law. We grant you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Service for personal, non-commercial play. You retain rights to content you create; you grant us a license to host and display it as needed to operate the Service.

8. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind. To the maximum extent permitted by law, ChessVS, Inc. is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, and our total liability is capped at the greater of $100 USD or the fees you paid us in the 30 days before the claim.

9. Changes & Contact

We may update these Terms; material changes will be communicated with reasonable notice. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. Contact: [email protected].