Terms of Service

§ 01

Scope and Provider

These Terms of Service govern the use of the SaaS platform AltOwl, available at altowl.com.

Provider:
s1 media, Patrick Tangemann & Kolja Wagschal GbR
Uesener Feldstraße 20a, 28832 Achim, Germany
Email: team@s1-media.de

Deviating, conflicting, or supplementary terms of the user shall only apply if the provider has expressly agreed to them in writing.

§ 02

Service Description

AltOwl is an AI-powered service for the automatic generation of alt texts for images (image descriptions for accessibility and SEO). The service provides:

Automatic alt text generation via a REST API
Processing of image URLs and direct image uploads
User management with personal API keys
Credit-based billing model (1 credit = 1 generated alt text)

The provider delivers the service using AI models from several providers (currently Google, OpenAI and Anthropic; the current list is available under sub-processors). The provider automatically selects a model per job and reserves the right to change AI models, providers and technical infrastructure at any time as long as the core functionality is maintained.

2.1 Automatically generated content

Alt texts are generated fully automatically by AI models and are not reviewed by humans before delivery. Such texts may render image content incompletely, imprecisely or incorrectly — for example by confusing objects, animals or persons or misreading text in the image. The user is obliged to review generated texts before publication and to adjust them where necessary. The provider owes the technical generation of a descriptive text, not its factual accuracy or compliance with specific accessibility requirements (e.g. BFSG, WCAG) in the individual case.

2.2 WordPress plugin

The provider offers a WordPress plugin that transmits media library images to the service and writes the results back to the media library. The plugin is made available under an open-source licence; these terms apply to its use accordingly. The user ensures that only authorised persons operate the plugin.

§ 03

Contract Formation and Registration

The contract is formed upon the user's registration on the platform. By registering, the user confirms having read and accepted these Terms of Service.

Registration requires:

Provision of a valid email address
Choosing a secure password
Confirmation of the email address via the verification link sent
Legal capacity (minimum age 18) or explicit consent of a legal guardian

                After successful registration and email confirmation, every user receives 10 free credits as a welcome bonus.
            

The provider may reject registrations without stating reasons.

§ 04

Credits, Prices and Payment

4.1 Credit System

Use of the service is based on credits. One credit is consumed per generated alt text; the credit is reserved when the job is submitted and finally debited upon successful generation. If an image cannot be processed (e.g. because it is unreachable or rejected by the provider), the credit is refunded automatically. If an alt text is requested again for the same image with the same settings, the service returns the stored result; one credit is charged for this as well.

Credits can be purchased in packages. Unused credits do not expire and remain valid as long as the user account exists. Credits are non-transferable and are not paid out in money except in the cases set out in § 8 and in the data processing agreement.

4.2 Prices

The current prices for credit packages are displayed on the platform under "Buy Credits". All prices are exclusive of applicable statutory VAT unless stated otherwise.

4.3 Payment

Credits are paid in advance. Payment is made immediately upon purchase via the payment provider Stripe. Credits are credited to the user account only after successful receipt of payment.

4.4 Price Changes

The provider reserves the right to change prices for new credit purchases. Already purchased credits are not affected by price changes.

§ 05

User Obligations

The user agrees to:

Keep their API key confidential and not make it accessible to third parties.
Use the service exclusively for legal purposes.
Not process images containing unlawful, offensive, or immoral content.
To submit only images for which the user holds the necessary rights and whose processing by AI services is legally permissible (in particular where persons are depicted).
To comply with the usage policies of the AI providers used insofar as they concern the user (no submission of content to generate unlawful, violent or sexualised descriptions).
Notify the provider immediately if there is suspicion that the API key is being misused by third parties.
Not use the service in a way that impairs the operation of the platform.

The user is liable for all damages arising from the breach of these obligations, unless the user is not responsible for the breach.

§ 06

Availability and Maintenance

The provider strives for high service availability of 99% annually, excluding planned and unplanned maintenance and events outside the provider's control.

The provider is entitled to temporarily interrupt the service if necessary for technical reasons or system security. Where possible, users will be informed in advance. There is no entitlement to credit compensation for brief outages.

§ 07

Limitation of Liability

The provider is liable without limitation for damages resulting from injury to life, body, or health, and for damages based on intentional or gross negligent conduct.

For slightly negligent property damage, the provider is only liable for breach of essential contractual obligations (cardinal obligations), limited to the foreseeable, contract-typical damage. Otherwise, liability for slightly negligently caused property damage is excluded.

In particular, the provider assumes no warranty for:

The accuracy, completeness, or suitability of generated alt texts for a specific purpose
The maintenance of third-party services (in particular the AI providers used and the payment provider)
Damage resulting from the user publishing automatically generated alt texts without review (§ 2.1)
Data loss due to technical failures, insofar as the provider is not responsible for them

§ 08

Term and Termination

The contract runs for an indefinite period. Both parties may terminate the contract at any time without notice.

The user can delete their account at any time via account settings or by contacting team@s1-media.de.

The provider is entitled to immediately suspend or delete a user's account if:

The user violates these Terms of Service or applicable law
There is suspicion of abusive use or sharing of the API key
Payment arrears exist

After cancellation or deletion of the account, remaining credits will not be refunded, unless the termination is due to a material cause attributable to the provider.

§ 09

Right of Withdrawal (Consumers)

For consumers: You have the right to withdraw from this contract within fourteen days without giving any reason. The withdrawal period is fourteen days from the date of contract conclusion.

                Expiry of the right of withdrawal for digital content: The right of withdrawal expires prematurely for contracts on the supply of digital content if the provider has begun performance after the consumer has expressly agreed that the provider may begin performance before the end of the withdrawal period.
            

By using purchased credits for alt text generation, the consumer agrees to immediate execution and acknowledges the associated expiry of the right of withdrawal.

§ 10

Data Protection

Details on the processing of personal data are set out in our Privacy Policy.

Insofar as the user submits images in which persons are recognisable, the provider processes them as a processor within the meaning of Art. 28 GDPR. For this purpose the parties enter into the provider's Data Processing Agreement, which is accepted upon registration and forms part of this contract. As controller, the user is responsible for being permitted to transmit the images and names the provider in its own privacy policy; the provider supplies a suggested text.

§ 11

Amendments to Terms

The provider reserves the right to amend these Terms of Service with future effect. Changes will be communicated to the user by email at least 30 days before they take effect.

If the user does not object within 30 days of receiving notification, the amended Terms shall be deemed accepted. The provider will specifically point out this right of objection in the notification. If the user objects, the provider is entitled to terminate the contractual relationship.

§ 12

Final Provisions

The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. In relation to consumers, this choice of law applies only insofar as it does not deprive them of protection under mandatory provisions of the law of their country of habitual residence.

If the user is a merchant, legal entity under public law, or public-law special fund, the exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from this contract is the provider's registered office (Achim).

Should individual provisions of these Terms of Service be or become invalid or unenforceable, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected.