Legal

Terms & Conditions

1. Definitions

“We,” “us,” and “our” refer to the copyright holder and contributors offering the official LocalYapper project (Chaitanya and the open-source community). “You” means the individual or entity using the Application or Website. “Content” means software, documentation, and materials we distribute. “User content” means text you dictate, files you create, and data stored locally by the Application.

2. Open-source license (MIT)

The Application’s source code is licensed under the MIT License. The MIT License is reproduced in the repository’s LICENSE file and is incorporated here by reference. In case of conflict between these Terms and the MIT License regarding software copying and modification, the MIT License controls for those topics. These Terms govern use of the Website, support expectations, disclaimers, and liability limits that the MIT License does not fully address.

Under the MIT License, you may use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and sell copies of the software, subject to including the copyright notice and permission notice in all copies or substantial portions.

3. Eligibility

You must be able to form a binding contract in your jurisdiction. If you use the Application on behalf of an organisation, you represent that you have authority to bind that organisation. The Application is not intended for children under 13 (or the minimum age required locally).

4. Description of the service

LocalYapper is a local-first voice dictation desktop program for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It captures microphone audio into RAM, detects speech, transcribes using a local Parakeet model via sherpa-onnx, and pastes text into other applications using clipboard injection. Features, limitations, and platform requirements are described in the README and release notes.

We do not guarantee perfect transcription accuracy, compatibility with every application, or uninterrupted operation on every device.

5. Privacy and data

Your use is also subject to our Privacy Policy, which explains in detail that the official Application design does not collect or transmit your voice or transcripts to us. You are responsible for securing your device, backups, and local history. If you enable optional Website analytics or use third-party hosts (GitHub, font CDNs, counter APIs), their practices apply in addition to ours.

6. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

• Use the Application or Website in violation of applicable law, regulation, court order, or third-party rights;
• Record or transcribe conversations or audio where you lack lawful authority or required consent (including wiretapping, surveillance, or workplace laws);
• Deploy modified builds that misrepresent themselves as official releases without clear labelling;
• Attempt to disrupt, overload, or attack the Website, repository infrastructure, or third-party services we rely on;
• Reverse engineer or interfere with security features only where such restrictions are prohibited by applicable law — otherwise, the MIT License already permits study and modification of source code;
• Use the Application to generate unlawful content or to harass, defame, or harm others;
• Remove or obscure license notices required by the MIT License when redistributing binaries or source.

7. Third-party software and platforms

The Application incorporates and depends on open-source components (including Tauri, Rust crates, React, sherpa-onnx, model weights, and platform tools). Linux text injection may require system packages such as xclip, xdotool, wl-clipboard, or wtype. Your use of third-party components is subject to their respective licenses. Installers may be downloaded from GitHub Releases; GitHub’s terms apply to that download.

8. Updates, releases, and modifications

We may publish new versions, change features, or discontinue offerings. There is no obligation to provide updates, maintenance, or support, though we may do so voluntarily via the open-source project. You may update by installing newer releases from official distribution channels you trust. Autoupdate pings are not part of the documented official design.

9. Disclaimers

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE APPLICATION, WEBSITE, AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY OF TRANSCRIPTION, QUIET ENJOYMENT, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE.

WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT: (A) THE APPLICATION WILL BE ERROR-FREE OR UNINTERRUPTED; (B) DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED; (C) THE SOFTWARE OR WEBSITE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR HARMFUL COMPONENTS; (D) TRANSCRIPTION WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL, LEGAL, FINANCIAL, OR SAFETY-CRITICAL USE; OR (E) OPERATION IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT WILL NOT AFFECT OTHER SOFTWARE.

Do not rely on LocalYapper as the sole input method for emergencies or life-critical systems.

10. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS, COPYRIGHT HOLDERS, CONTRIBUTORS, OR SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, GOODWILL, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, OR PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS, THE APPLICATION, OR THE WEBSITE, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER THEORY, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS, THE APPLICATION, OR THE WEBSITE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (I) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US FOR THE APPLICATION IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (II) ZERO (US $0), BECAUSE THE APPLICATION IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE.

Some jurisdictions do not allow exclusion of certain warranties or limitation of liability for incidental or consequential damages; in those jurisdictions, the above limitations apply only to the extent permitted by law.

11. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the project authors, contributors, and copyright holders from and against any claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Application or Website; (b) your user content or dictated text; (c) your violation of these Terms or law; or (d) your violation of any third-party right, including privacy or intellectual property rights, especially where you record others without consent.

12. Export and sanctions

You represent that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national/resident of any country or person subject to comprehensive embargoes or sanctions where use would be prohibited. You will not use or export the software in violation of applicable export control or sanctions laws (including U.S., EU, UK, and Indian regimes where applicable).

13. Government users

The Application is “commercial computer software” offered to the U.S. Government only with the rights set forth in these Terms and the MIT License. Use by other governments is at their own risk and subject to local procurement rules.

14. Dispute resolution and governing law

Before filing a formal claim, you agree to try to resolve disputes informally by opening an issue at https://github.com/chayprabs/localyapper/issues and allowing a reasonable time to respond.

Except where prohibited by mandatory consumer protection laws in your country, these Terms are governed by the laws of India, without regard to conflict-of-law rules that would apply another jurisdiction’s laws. Courts in India shall have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes that cannot be resolved informally, unless your local law requires otherwise for consumers (in which case you may have rights to bring claims in your home courts).

Class action waiver (where enforceable): To the extent permitted, disputes will be brought only in an individual capacity, not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.

15. Regional notices

15.1 European Union / United Kingdom consumers

Nothing in these Terms limits mandatory statutory rights you may have as a consumer under EU or UK law. The disclaimers and liability limits apply only to the extent permitted in your jurisdiction.

15.2 India

Use of the Application must comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (where applicable to your processing), and other relevant Indian law. You are responsible for lawful processing of personal data you dictate or store locally.

15.3 United States

Some states provide additional consumer rights; these Terms do not waive rights that cannot be waived. ARBITRATION CLAUSES MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU IF PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW — the informal dispute step above remains recommended.

15.4 Australia and Asia-Pacific

Statutory guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law and similar regimes may apply to goods/services that cost money; for free software, limitations may differ. Review local law if you rely on the Application for commercial purposes.

16. Website-specific terms

The Website provides information and download links. We do not guarantee uninterrupted availability. Links to GitHub Releases are provided for convenience. Optional analytics and counters are described in the Privacy Policy. By downloading from the Website, you acknowledge that installer integrity should be verified using checksums or signatures published with official releases when available.

By downloading and installing LocalYapper from this Website or official release channels, you confirm that you have read and agree to these Terms and the Privacy Policy, and that you understand the software is provided as is under the MIT License without warranty.

17. General provisions

• Entire agreement: These Terms, the Privacy Policy, and the MIT License together form the agreement regarding the Website and use expectations for the project.
• Severability: If any provision is unenforceable, the remainder stays in effect.
• No waiver: Failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver.
• Assignment: You may not assign these Terms without consent; we may assign them in connection with a project transfer.
• Force majeure: We are not liable for delays caused by events beyond reasonable control.
• Language: The English version controls; translations are for convenience only.

18. Contact

Questions about these Terms: https://github.com/chayprabs/localyapper/issues.

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