Terms of Service

Overview

These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a legally binding agreement between you and KOALA STACK DIGITAL (ABN 39194545109) ("we", "us", or "our") governing your use of the Kikupuku iOS application and any related services that refer to these Terms (collectively, the "Service").

Kikupuku is an app for learning Japanese vocabulary. By downloading, signing in to, or using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service. Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect and handle information and is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

Eligibility and Accounts

Access. Kikupuku is free to download and use. Core features — such as saving vocabulary, spaced-repetition review, quizzes, kanji writing practice, decks, and progress tracking — do not require a subscription. An optional paid subscription, Kikupuku Pro, unlocks additional features described in these Terms. Subscription access is managed through Apple's App Store and our subscription partners (RevenueCat and Superwall).

Sign-in. You must sign in with Apple or Google. We do not offer email-and-password registration. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your Apple or Google account and for all activity that occurs through your Kikupuku account.

Age. The Service is not directed at children under 13. By using Kikupuku, you represent that you meet the minimum age required by Apple and applicable law to enter into these Terms and to subscribe through the App Store.

Subscriptions and Billing

App Store billing. All subscriptions are billed through Apple's App Store. We do not process payment card details directly. Prices, billing currency, available plans, and any introductory offers (including free trials) are shown in the App Store and in-app paywall at the time of purchase and may vary by region. We do not guarantee any specific price in these Terms.

Plans and trials. Kikupuku Pro is offered as subscription plans configured in our billing systems (for example, annual and monthly options). An annual plan may include an introductory free trial. Where a trial is offered, it typically requires a payment method up front and converts to a paid subscription unless you cancel before the trial ends, in accordance with Apple's rules.

Managing your subscription. You can view, change, or cancel your subscription at any time through your Apple ID account settings (Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions). Cancelling stops future charges but does not automatically delete your Kikupuku account or local learning data — you keep access to the free features of the app.

Refunds. Refund requests are handled by Apple under Apple's App Store terms and policies, not by us directly.

The Service

Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to use Kikupuku on devices you own or control for your own Japanese vocabulary learning. Access to Kikupuku Pro features additionally requires an active subscription or trial.

The free tier of Kikupuku includes features such as:

• capturing words via text search against the built-in dictionary
• saving and reviewing vocabulary using spaced repetition
• tracking learning progress, streaks, and related statistics
• custom decks and official premade decks (including JLPT-oriented and topic decks)
• handwriting (Write) practice for kanji
• an optional global leaderboard

Kikupuku Pro features. Some features are available only with an active Kikupuku Pro subscription or trial. These currently include AI-assisted search and word insights (such as example sentences and cultural notes), photo text recognition (OCR) capture, audio recording with transcription (Listen), text-to-speech pronunciation playback, AI-generated illustrations, and manual cloud backup and restore. The exact set of Pro features is shown in the app and may change over time.

Local-first design. Your vocabulary, review history, photos, recordings, and most other learning data are stored primarily in a database on your iPhone. Network features process specific requests on our servers and return results to your device; they do not replace your on-device database as the primary store.

Cloud backup. If you use Cloud Backup, you manually save a compressed copy of selected learning data to our cloud storage. Backup does not run continuously in the background. You are responsible for creating backups if you want protection against device loss or app removal. A backup may include a limited number of AI-generated flashcard illustrations associated with your newest words. Cloud backup does not include photo JPEG files you capture for OCR, raw Listen audio recordings, or on-device text-to-speech cache files.

Availability. We aim to keep the Service available and reliable, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted access. Features — especially those that depend on network connectivity or third-party providers — may change, be rate-limited, or be temporarily unavailable.

Educational and AI Disclaimers

Study aid only. Kikupuku is a vocabulary study tool. It is not a formal language course, certification programme, or guarantee of exam results (including JLPT or any other test). Metrics such as "words remembered" reflect app-defined spaced-repetition thresholds, not official language proficiency.

Automated and AI-generated content. The Service uses automated and AI-assisted processing for features such as word suggestions, enrichments, translations, example sentences, photo text recognition, audio transcription, text-to-speech, and flashcard illustrations. This output may be inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, or contextually inappropriate. You are responsible for verifying important meanings, readings, and usage before relying on them.

No professional advice. Nothing in the Service constitutes professional, academic, immigration, legal, or other specialist advice.

Server Features and Rate Limits

Pro-only server features. Some features call our servers (and third-party processors we use) rather than running entirely on your device. These currently include AI-assisted search and suggestions, word insights and enrichment, photo text recognition (OCR), Listen transcription and transcript processing, text-to-speech synthesis, AI-generated flashcard illustrations, and cloud backup storage. Access to these features requires an active Kikupuku Pro subscription or trial (or another access we explicitly grant). Our servers may refuse unauthenticated requests or requests from accounts without Pro access.

Fair-use rate limits. Metered server features are subject to fair-use limits that apply per account. Limits are currently tracked on a weekly basis (they reset at the start of each new week in our systems). Approximate limits for each feature may be shown in the app (for example, under Account / AI usage). Limits exist to control cost, protect service quality, and reduce abuse. We may change which features are metered, the period used, or the numerical caps at any time.

What counts toward a limit. A unit is typically counted when our server accepts a request that performs paid or costly work — for example, synthesising a new pronunciation, generating a new illustration, running OCR on a photo, or calling an AI model for search or enrichment. Replaying content that is already stored on your device (such as a text-to-speech clip already cached on your iPhone) generally does not make a new server request and therefore does not count toward that week's limit. Prefetching or regenerating uncached content may count.

When you hit a limit. If you reach a feature's weekly cap, that feature may be temporarily unavailable until the limit resets. Hitting a rate limit is not an additional paywall: it does not require any purchase beyond your Kikupuku Pro subscription, and it does not unlock higher caps by paying extra inside the app unless we clearly offer that later. Other free and Pro features that are not at their limit remain available.

No circumvention. You may not attempt to bypass, stack, or evade rate limits or Pro access controls (including by creating multiple accounts for the purpose of multiplying caps, automating requests outside normal app use, or reverse engineering the Service). We may suspend or terminate accounts that abuse metered features.

Uploads and Media Processing

Certain Kikupuku features upload content from your device to our servers (or to processors acting on our behalf) so we can provide the feature you requested. Uploads are not used to train a public model for unrelated commercial products, and they are processed for the purposes described in these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

Photo capture (OCR). When you use Photo capture, an image you take or select may be uploaded so we can recognise Japanese text and return tappable words. The original photo is stored primarily on your device. Photo JPEG files are not included in Cloud Backup.

Listen (audio). When you use Listen, short audio recordings you make may be uploaded for transcription and language enrichment. Processed transcripts (not the raw audio file) may be included in Cloud Backup. Raw recordings remain primarily on-device and are not part of the backup blob.

AI illustrations and speech. When you generate a flashcard illustration or synthesise pronunciation, the app sends the relevant text (such as a word meaning or reading) to our servers. Generated images and audio may be cached on your device for offline replay. A limited set of flashcard images may also be stored with Cloud Backup as described below.

Cloud Backup uploads. If you choose Cloud Backup, the app uploads a compressed snapshot of selected learning data (vocabulary, review progress, decks, sessions, transcripts, OCR results, handwriting and grammar progress, and certain preferences) and may upload flashcard illustration files for a limited number of your newest illustrated words. Older illustration files may be replaced or removed from cloud storage as newer ones are backed up. Backup is manual; it is not continuous sync.

Your responsibilities for uploads. You must only upload photos, audio, and other content that you have the right to use and that is lawful. Do not upload or process content that is illegal, infringing, harassing, sexually exploitative, or that captures other people without a lawful basis where required. We may refuse, delete, or restrict processing of uploads that appear to violate these Terms or applicable law, and we may apply technical limits on file size, duration, format, or frequency.

Your Content

Ownership. You retain ownership of the vocabulary, notes, photos, audio, and other learning content you create or import into Kikupuku, subject to third-party rights in any source material you use.

Licence to operate the Service. You grant us a limited licence to host, process, transmit, and display your content only as needed to provide the Service — for example, to run OCR or transcription, generate enrichments or illustrations, store an optional cloud backup (including limited flashcard images), and maintain cached word lookups that improve search for all users. This licence ends when your content is deleted from our systems, except where retention is required by law or reasonably necessary for backup integrity for a limited period.

Your responsibility. You are responsible for the content you add to the app and for ensuring you have the rights to use and process it (including photos and recordings of text or speech created by others).

Official Decks and Third-Party Materials

Kikupuku includes official premade decks and bundled learning assets (such as kanji stroke data derived from third-party sources). These materials are licensed for use within the app as part of the Service. They may not be copied, redistributed, or used to create a competing product except as permitted by applicable law.

JLPT-oriented decks are study aids. Kikupuku is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Japan Foundation or JLPT organisers unless we state otherwise in writing.

Leaderboard

Participation in the global leaderboard is optional. If you join, you choose a public display name (handle) and your ranking is based on your count of "words remembered" as calculated by the app. Because Kikupuku is local-first, this count is reported from your device and is subject to reasonable server-side sanity checks — it is not independently audited by us.

You agree not to manipulate leaderboard rankings, impersonate others, use offensive handles, or otherwise misuse the feature. We may adjust, remove, or reset leaderboard entries that appear fraudulent or abusive.

Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• use the Service in violation of applicable law
• attempt to circumvent subscription access, authentication, or rate limits
• reverse engineer, decompile, or scrape the Service except where permitted by law
• interfere with or disrupt the Service, servers, or networks
• upload, process, or share unlawful, infringing, harassing, or abusive content (including via Photo, Listen, or Cloud Backup)
• use automated means to access server features beyond normal app use
• misrepresent your identity or affiliation, including on the leaderboard

Intellectual Property

Kikupuku, including its software, design, branding, and original content we provide, is owned by us or our licensors and is protected by intellectual property laws. These Terms do not grant you any right to use our trademarks, logos, or branding without our prior written consent.

If you believe content in the Service infringes your rights, contact us at support@koalastack.com with sufficient detail for us to review the claim.

Account Deletion and Termination

By you. You may delete your account from Account → Delete Account in the app. Deletion permanently removes your authentication account, cloud backup (if any), leaderboard entry, and server-side records associated with your account, and deletes local app data as part of that process. Account deletion cannot be undone.

By us. We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service if you materially breach these Terms, misuse the Service, or if we are required to do so by law or by a platform provider. Termination of access does not entitle you to a refund except where required by law or Apple's policies.

Third-Party Services

The Service relies on third-party providers to operate, including Apple, Google, Supabase, RevenueCat, Superwall, PostHog, Sentry, AssemblyAI, and AI service providers accessed through our servers. Your use of those providers' services (such as Sign in with Apple, Sign in with Google, and App Store billing) is also subject to their terms and policies. See our Privacy Policy for more detail on how data is shared with these providers.

Disclaimers

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Service is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, whether express, implied, or statutory, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, or that learning outcomes will meet your expectations.

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any consumer guarantee, right, or remedy that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable non-excludable law.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, KOALA STACK DIGITAL and its directors, employees, and contractors will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, data, goodwill, or learning progress, arising from or related to your use of the Service — even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, our total liability for any claim arising out of or relating to the Service or these Terms is limited to the greater of (a) the amount you paid us for the Service in the twelve months before the event giving rise to the claim, or (b) AUD $100.

The limitations in this section do not apply to liability that cannot be limited under applicable law, including rights you may have under the Australian Consumer Law.

Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless KOALA STACK DIGITAL from claims, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your misuse of the Service, your content, or your breach of these Terms, except to the extent caused by our negligence or misconduct.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page when we make changes. Your continued use of the Service after revised Terms are posted constitutes acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree to updated Terms, you must stop using the Service and may cancel any subscription through Apple.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia, without regard to conflict of law principles. You agree that the courts of Queensland, Australia have non-exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising from or relating to these Terms or the Service, except where applicable consumer law gives you the right to bring proceedings in another jurisdiction.

Contact

If you have questions about these Terms, contact us:

KOALA STACK DIGITAL
2/290 Boundary st
Spring Hill QLD 4000
Australia
Email: support@koalastack.com