File Upload Terms and Conditions

Last updated: Nov 4, 2025

By uploading files to Merple (operated by MERPLE-NET), you agree to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions. Please review them carefully before uploading any content.

Acceptance of Terms

By using our file upload service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these terms. If you do not agree to these terms, you must not use our file upload service.

Permitted Use

Our file upload service is provided for legitimate purposes only. You may upload files for:

• Personal storage and backup
• Sharing content with authorized users
• Business and professional purposes
• Any lawful purpose that complies with these terms

Prohibited Content

You agree that you will NOT upload, store, or share any files that:

• Contain illegal content or facilitate illegal activities
• Infringe upon intellectual property rights (copyrights, trademarks, patents, etc.)
• Contain malware, viruses, or any malicious code
• Include child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or content exploiting minors
• Contain hate speech, harassment, or discriminatory content
• Include non-consensual intimate images or "revenge porn"
• Facilitate terrorism, violence, or harm to others
• Violate privacy rights or contain unauthorized personal information of others
• Are used for phishing, fraud, or deceptive purposes
• Violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law

Your Responsibilities

When using our file upload service, you are responsible for:

• Ownership and Rights: Ensuring you own or have permission to upload all files
• Content Legality: Verifying that your uploads comply with all applicable laws
• Security: Maintaining the security of your account credentials
• Backups: Maintaining your own backups of important files
• Account Activity: All activity that occurs under your account
• Monitoring Sharing: Ensuring anyone you share files with complies with these terms

Our Privacy Commitment

File Privacy

We respect your privacy and commit to the following:

• No Routine Access: We do not routinely access, read, or view your uploaded files
• Encryption: Files are encrypted during transmission and at rest
• Private by Default: Your files are private unless you choose to share them
• No Data Mining: We do not use your file contents for advertising or marketing purposes
• Employee Access Controls: Strict access controls limit who can access user data

When We May Access Your Files

We may access your uploaded files only in the following circumstances:

• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or legal process
• Safety and Security: To investigate suspected violations of these terms
• Technical Issues: To troubleshoot technical problems at your request
• Automated Scanning: Using automated tools to detect malware or prohibited content
• Terms Enforcement: To enforce these terms and protect our rights
• With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize us to access specific files

Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your files, including:

• Encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL)
• Encryption of data at rest
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and authentication requirements
• Monitoring for suspicious activity

However, no system is completely secure. You acknowledge that you upload files at your own risk and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Storage Limits and File Retention

Storage Quotas

• Each account has a storage quota based on your subscription plan
• We reserve the right to modify storage limits with reasonable notice
• You are responsible for monitoring your storage usage

File Retention

• Files remain on our servers as long as your account is active
• Deleted files may be recoverable for up to 30 days
• After account termination, files may be deleted after 90 days
• We may delete files to comply with storage limits or legal requirements

Intellectual Property

Your Content

You retain all ownership rights to the files you upload. By uploading files, you grant us a limited license to:

• Store and host your files
• Display files to you and users you authorize
• Make technical copies necessary for backup and service delivery
• Process files as necessary to provide our services

This license ends when you delete your files or terminate your account, except for:

• Backup copies retained for a reasonable period
• Content you've shared with others that they've saved
• Technical caches that may persist temporarily

Copyright Infringement

We respect intellectual property rights. If you believe content on our service infringes your copyright, please contact us at support@merple.net with detailed information about the alleged infringement.

Service Availability

• We strive to provide reliable service but do not guarantee 100% uptime
• We may perform maintenance that temporarily interrupts service
• We are not liable for any loss or damage from service interruptions
• We reserve the right to modify or discontinue features with notice

Account Termination

Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us or using account settings. Upon termination, we will delete your files according to our retention policy.

Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these terms
• You upload prohibited content
• Your account is used for fraudulent or illegal purposes
• We are required to do so by law
• Your account has been inactive for an extended period

Where possible, we will provide notice before termination unless prohibited by law or urgent circumstances require immediate action.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• We provide the service "as is" without warranties of any kind
• We are not liable for any loss of data, profits, or indirect damages
• Our total liability is limited to the amount you paid us in the past 12 months
• We are not responsible for third-party actions or content
• You use the service at your own risk

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Merple, MERPLE-NET, and our affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from your use of the service, your uploaded content, or your violation of these terms.

GDPR and Privacy Rights

If you are located in the European Union, you have additional rights under GDPR:

• Right to Access: Request information about your stored files
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate information
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your files and data
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your files in a portable format
• Right to Object: Object to certain data processing activities
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request limits on how we process your data

To exercise these rights, contact us at support@merple.net.

Dispute Resolution

In the event of any dispute:

• First, contact us to resolve the issue informally
• These terms are governed by Romanian law
• Disputes will be resolved in the courts of Romania
• EU residents may have additional consumer protection rights

Changes to These Terms

We may update these terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by email or through the service. Your continued use of the service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

Severability

If any provision of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.