Kukatu – Terms of Use, Privacy & Cookie Policy

Welcome to Kukatu, a mobile app owned and operated by Kukatu Ltd, registered in the United Kingdom. These Terms govern your use of our app, including its features, services, and community. By using Kukatu, you agree to this agreement.

If you do not agree, please do not use the app.

1. About Kukatu

Kukatu helps users explore books, join communities, chat, organize their lives, and receive AI-powered recommendations. Additional features may include shopping, challenges, affiliate links, and merchandise.

2. Eligibility & Age Restriction

You must be 18 years or older to use Kukatu.

By registering, you confirm that:

• You meet this minimum age requirement, and
• You agree to comply with these terms

3. Community Guidelines

To ensure a safe and welcoming space:

• Be respectful and kind
• No harassment, threats, hate speech, or spam
• Keep content relevant to books, reading, wellness, or productivity
• Use appropriate language
• Respect copyright, trademarks, and intellectual property

4. Account Responsibilities

• You must provide accurate information when creating an account
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your login credentials
• Do not impersonate others or create false identities
• Report suspicious activity to info@kukatu.co.uk

5. User Content & Moderation

Users may post messages, updates, or book discussions. You are responsible for your content.

• Do not post illegal, offensive, or infringing material
• Kukatu Ltd reserves the right to monitor, remove, or moderate content at our discretion
• In serious cases (e.g., threats, exploitation, hate speech), content may be reported to law enforcement
• We may suspend or terminate accounts violating our policies

6. Messaging & Planner Tools

• Messaging is intended for personal and book-related discussion
• Voice messages and audio/video calls are available for book club communication
• Planner features are provided as-is for your convenience
• Kukatu Ltd is not responsible for missed events, data loss, or misuse of these tools

7. AI Features

Kukatu may use AI models to provide book suggestions, summaries, or productivity help.

• AI responses are for informational use only
• We do not guarantee the accuracy, appropriateness, or reliability of AI content
• Do not rely on AI for legal, financial, mental health, or medical advice
• AI use may be limited or restricted in certain regions

8. Affiliate Links, Promotions & Monetization

Kukatu may include affiliate links or partner content.

• We may earn a small commission if you make purchases via these links
• This does not affect your price or experience
• Sponsored content or promoted books will be clearly marked
• Kukatu Ltd may receive compensation from partners or publishers

9. E-Commerce & Merchandise

We may offer branded products, digital themes, or merchandise.

• Ensure your information is correct when placing orders
• All sales are final unless stated otherwise
• Defective items must be reported within 14 days to info@kukatu.co.uk
• Kukatu Ltd is not liable for third-party vendor delays, damages, or losses

10. Privacy & Data Protection (UK GDPR + CCPA Compliant)

We collect limited personal data necessary to operate Kukatu.

What We Collect:

• Email address and login details
• Profile settings and preferences
• In-app activity (e.g., reading, messages, planner use)
• Optional data you enter (e.g., reviews, notes)
• Analytics and crash data
• Device permissions usage (camera, microphone, photo library access)
• Voice messages and call metadata (duration, participants)
• Scanned book ISBN data

Why We Collect It:

• To operate and improve the app
• To personalize content and AI suggestions
• To offer affiliate or in-app features
• To protect users and comply with legal duties

How We Protect Your Data:

• We use encryption, access controls, and best practices
• We limit access to necessary staff and service providers
• We only store data as long as needed for operations and law

Your Rights:

Under UK GDPR and CCPA, you may:

• Access, correct, or delete your data
• Request data portability
• Withdraw consent or object to processing
• File a complaint with the ICO (UK) or relevant authority

To exercise your rights, contact: info@kukatu.co.uk

10.1. Device Permissions & Data Usage

Kukatu requires certain device permissions to provide full functionality. You can manage these permissions in your device settings at any time.

Camera Permission:

• Book Scanning: We use your camera to scan book barcodes (ISBN) for quick book lookup and addition to your library
• Video Calls: Enable face-to-face communication with your book club members
• Camera data is processed locally and not stored unless you save a book or join a video call

Microphone Permission:

• Voice Messages: Record and send voice notes in book club chats
• Audio/Video Calls: Participate in voice and video calls with club members
• Audio is transmitted in real-time during calls and stored only for voice messages you send

Photo Library Permission:

• Profile Pictures: Upload custom profile pictures
• Club Pictures: Set custom images for your book clubs
• Book Covers: Add custom book cover images
• Photos are uploaded to our secure servers and associated with your account

Notification Permission:

• Chat Messages: Receive alerts for new messages in your book clubs
• Event Reminders: Get notified about upcoming book club meetings and reading deadlines
• Reading Goals: Receive motivational updates on your reading progress
• System Updates: Important app updates and announcements
• You can customize notification preferences in app settings

Background Processing:

• Message Sync: Keep your messages up-to-date
• Notification Delivery: Ensure timely delivery of important alerts
• Call Availability: Receive incoming calls when app is in background
• Background processing is optimized to minimize battery usage

Network Access:

• Real-time Messaging: Send and receive messages instantly
• Content Sync: Keep your books, clubs, and planner synchronized
• Media Upload/Download: Share images, voice messages, and book data

Important: All permissions are optional but some features may be limited without them. You maintain full control over these permissions through your device settings.

11. Book Content & User Reviews

Content You Create:

• Book reviews, ratings, and reading notes remain your intellectual property
• By posting content, you grant Kukatu a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute your content
• You may delete your content at any time through the app
• We may preserve deleted content for legal compliance or dispute resolution

Content Standards:

• Reviews must be honest and based on actual reading experience
• No spoilers without proper warnings
• No plagiarized content from other review sites
• Respect authors and other readers in your reviews
• We reserve the right to remove reviews that violate our guidelines

12. DMCA & Copyright Policy

Kukatu respects intellectual property rights. If you believe content infringes your copyright:

To Report Infringement:

Send a DMCA notice to info@kukatu.co.uk including:

1. Your contact information
2. Description of the copyrighted work
3. URL or location of the infringing content
4. Statement of good faith belief
5. Statement of accuracy under penalty of perjury
6. Your physical or electronic signature

Counter-Notice:

If your content was removed and you believe it was wrongly identified:

• Submit a counter-notice with the required legal elements
• We will restore content after 10 business days unless the claimant files legal action

Repeat Infringers:

Accounts with multiple valid copyright violations may be terminated.

13. Data Retention & Deletion

Active Accounts:

• Profile data retained while account is active
• Messages retained for 2 years or until deleted by user
• Reading activity retained indefinitely for recommendations
• Voice messages retained for 90 days unless saved by recipient

After Account Deletion:

• Personal data deleted within 30 days
• Some data may be retained for up to 90 days in backups
• Anonymized analytics data may be retained indefinitely
• Data required for legal compliance retained as necessary

Your Rights:

• Request data export before deletion
• Some content (like messages to others) may remain visible
• Deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed

14. Dispute Resolution & Arbitration

Informal Resolution:

Before filing any legal claim, contact us at info@kukatu.co.uk to attempt resolution.

Binding Arbitration:

• Disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration in London, UK
• No class actions or jury trials
• Each party bears their own costs unless arbitrator decides otherwise
• Small claims court available for qualifying disputes

Exceptions:

This arbitration agreement does not apply to:

• Intellectual property disputes
• Injunctive relief requests
• Small claims under £10,000

15. Third-Party Services

Kukatu integrates with third-party services that have their own terms:

Book Data Providers:

• Open Library API for book information
• Google Books API for cover images and metadata
• ISBN databases for barcode scanning

Infrastructure Services:

• Supabase for database and authentication
• Cloud storage providers for media files
• Analytics services for app improvement

Your Consent:

By using features that rely on third-party services, you agree to their respective terms and privacy policies.

16. Cookies & Tracking (PECR + GDPR Compliance)

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

• Login sessions
• Usage analytics
• Affiliate tracking
• Improving your experience

You will be asked to consent to cookies on first use (in compliance with PECR).
You may also disable cookies via your device or browser settings.

17. Accessibility Commitment

Kukatu aims to be accessible to all users. If you face accessibility issues (e.g., screen readers, navigation), contact info@kukatu.co.uk — we'll do our best to help or improve functionality.

18. Export Restrictions & Global Use

You may not use Kukatu in countries where its technology or services are restricted or prohibited by law.

Users are responsible for complying with their local laws, especially in jurisdictions with limitations on data storage or AI usage.

19. Account Termination

You may delete your account at any time from the app settings.
We may suspend or delete accounts that:

• Violate this agreement
• Abuse community features
• Endanger other users
• Breach local laws or third-party rights

Some data may be retained as required by legal or operational obligations.

20. Limitation of Liability

• Kukatu Ltd is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• We provide the app "as-is" with no guarantee of availability or feature uptime
• Your use of Kukatu is at your own risk
• We are not responsible for loss of data, personal choices based on AI suggestions, or third-party services

21. Legal Jurisdiction

This agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of England and Wales.

22. Changes to This Policy

We may update this agreement from time to time.
Users will be notified of significant changes via in-app message or email.
Your continued use of Kukatu confirms your acceptance of any changes.