Terms & Platform Usage Rights

ARKshield is a free proof-capture tool. The "Service" means the ARKshield website together with the official ARKshield applications for iOS and Android. All clients connect to the same ARKshield backend and are governed by these Terms.

The Service lets users capture watermarked photos and related evidence on a device, and share the resulting proofs with recipients through per-recipient links. The core capture, watermarking, and sharing experience is free to end users. Advertising supports that free experience and may appear on the Service where enabled; not every client or release displays advertising.

Users select a primary industry (and optionally a sub-industry) so that advertising shown to them is relevant. Selecting an industry does not change the core capture experience, and does not create any additional commercial obligations for the user.

To capture proofs on a mobile device you must grant the ARKshield app access to your camera. Location access is optional: when you grant it, and the device provides a reading, location data is recorded with the proof. When location is denied or unavailable, a proof can still be created and is marked accordingly.

You may revoke camera or location permission at any time in your device's operating system settings. Revoking permissions may limit or disable capture features. The Service uses the camera only for live in-app proof capture and does not access it in the background.

Where a client keeps a temporary local queue of captured proofs (for example when the device is offline), that queue holds already-watermarked media and its metadata on the device only until upload succeeds, after which the local copy is cleared.

By creating an ARKshield account and submitting photos, videos, or related metadata ("Content") to the platform from any client — the website or the official iOS and Android applications — you grant ARKshield a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to host, store, reproduce, modify, watermark, display, distribute, and otherwise use your Content for any lawful purpose related to operating, improving, promoting, and developing the platform. This includes use in connection with the services we provide, product development, dataset creation, and marketing or promotional purposes. You retain ownership of your original Content — the license above is a grant of rights, not a transfer of ownership. You represent that you have all rights necessary to grant this license. ARKshield may retain and continue to use your Content indefinitely, including after account closure. This license is in addition to any rights you retain in the Content itself.

This license applies to Content submitted from any client of the Service — the website or the official iOS and Android applications — without distinction.

You accept this clause when you create an account. Your acceptance is stored with a version identifier and timestamp on your profile.

Proofs are created only from a live in-app camera capture. Selecting an existing photo from a device gallery or uploading a file as a proof is not supported. Every photo is cryptographically watermarked at the moment of capture, before it leaves the capture pipeline. Watermarks cannot be removed by recipients. Removal is possible only through ARKshield. Any attempt by a recipient to strip or alter a watermark is a violation of these Terms and of the rights of the Content owner and the platform.

The recipient-facing image and report present key facts in plain language, including when the photo was taken, where it was taken, and the direction the camera was facing (shown as both a compass degree and a plain-language cardinal direction). The same core facts are burned into the visible watermark on each image so the evidence remains self-defending even if the image is screenshotted, printed, or forwarded outside the platform.

The presence of a watermark and the platform's verification features do not constitute a formal certification, legal advice, or a guarantee that any particular proof will be accepted as evidence in a court, insurance claim, regulatory proceeding, or other dispute.

You retain full access to every proof and record you create for the lifetime of your account. No archival or retention policy will remove your access to your own Content while your account remains active.

Certain share links may remain available to recipients according to the rules in effect at the time the share was created.

Owners share proofs by sending a per-recipient link from the platform. Each link may optionally allow the recipient to download the watermarked images. Watermarks cannot be removed by recipients. Share links are intended to remain usable for as long as the underlying proof exists, subject to the owner's ability to manage or revoke access where the product supports it.

The recipient report presents each photo with plain-language evidence details (when, where, and camera direction), a map indicator of capture location, and a clear trust notice about watermarking. The same key facts are embedded on the image itself.

The recipient report also displays the capturer's contact information as stored on their profile at the time of capture: name, email address, and phone number. This allows the recipient to know who created the proof and how to reach them. By using the platform and creating proofs, you understand and agree that this contact information may be shown to recipients of proofs you share.

Recipients of shared proofs are subject to the recipient notice and watermark rules displayed on the share page. Redistribution without the owner's permission is prohibited.

When you create an account you provide a display name, email address, and phone number. These fields are stored on your profile. Display name and phone number may be edited by you at any time through your profile settings. Email remains associated with your authentication account.

Every new account is automatically issued a unique QR code and alphanumeric referral code. These codes may be used to create a relationship between any two user accounts. Any future benefit or "thank you" value that may be attached to a successful referral link is still under definition. The referral code system is independent of the advertising pricing model and the reciprocal advertising discount.

You are responsible for how you share and use your referral code. Abuse of the referral system may result in suspension or termination of the related accounts.

Advertising supports the free core experience. Within ARKshield and related surfaces, advertising may appear in a structured set of up to three slots:

• Slot 1: promotion of advertising opportunities on the platform itself ("Advertise with us").
• Slot 2: advertiser matched to the user's selected industry.
• Slot 3: advertiser matched to the user's more specific sub-industry.

Pricing for advertisers is adjusted by business size (local, regional, multi-state, national/enterprise). A reciprocal discount is available when an advertiser agrees to allow ARKshield to advertise with them. Advertiser listings follow a defined lifecycle (draft → awaiting payment → pending review → approved or rejected) and become visible only when approved and supported by an active subscription (or marked as comped by an administrator). Detailed pricing, eligibility, and lifecycle rules are set out in the then-current Advertiser Operations SOP.

Advertising from direct competitors to the platform's core functions is not permitted. Advertising is designed to be user-initiated where the product allows; forced pop-ups or interstitials are not part of the intended experience.

Users are responsible for retaining all records required by law for their activities. The platform maintains certain audit trails, photographic evidence, timestamps, geolocation data, and related records as part of the service. These platform records are intended to support transparency and dispute resolution; they do not relieve any user of independent recordkeeping duties under applicable law.

Where the platform facilitates money movement — including advertising subscriptions or other charges — its role is limited to processing the transaction according to the rules then in effect. Specific pricing and payout timing are governed by the applicable product surfaces and SOPs.

Users are responsible for any taxes arising from their use of the platform or from amounts they receive. The platform may issue tax forms where required by law.

The platform, including the free proof-capture experience, is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE." To the maximum extent permitted by law, ARKshield and its affiliates disclaim all warranties, whether express, implied, or statutory, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

Proofs, watermarks, geolocation data, timestamps, direction data, and other platform-generated records are tools intended to support documentation and transparency. They do not constitute legal advice, formal certification, or a guarantee of outcome in any court proceeding, insurance claim, regulatory matter, or commercial dispute.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, ARKshield's total liability arising out of or relating to the platform shall not exceed the greater of (a) the amounts you paid to ARKshield in the twelve months preceding the claim or (b) one hundred U.S. dollars (USD $100). Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations; in those jurisdictions the limitation will apply to the fullest extent permitted.

We may update these Terms from time to time. The version identifier and effective date will be revised when changes are made.

When the Terms version changes, every user on the platform must accept the new version the next time they sign in before continuing to use the platform. Acceptance is recorded with the new version identifier and a timestamp on the user's profile. Users who do not accept the updated Terms may sign out; continued use requires acceptance.

Advertisers are additionally expected to follow the then-current Advertiser Operations SOP.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Ohio, USA, without regard to conflict-of-law rules, except where prohibited by local mandatory law that applies to you as a consumer.

Questions about these Terms may be sent to support@arkvelocity.com, or directed through the support channels available in your dashboard or account settings.

See also the Privacy Policy and the account deletion process.