Terms of Service

Last Updated: June 20, 2026

Welcome to Maelo. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Maelo platform at maelo.app and its related apps and services (the "Service"), operated by Maelo App Inc. ("Maelo"), a federal corporation (Corporations Canada No. 1736630-2) based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

1. What Maelo Is — and Is Not

Maelo is a booking, portfolio, and payments platform that connects independent tattoo artists ("Artists") with their clients ("Clients"). Maelo provides the software; it does not provide tattooing or any other artistic, cosmetic, or health service.

Any booking, deposit, quote, or cancellation policy is a contract between the Artist and the Client. Maelo is not a party to it.
Maelo does not employ Artists, set their prices, or control how or whether they perform their services.
Maelo does not guarantee the quality, safety, legality, or suitability of any Artist's services, nor any Client's conduct or ability to pay.
Each Artist sets their own booking policies, deposit terms, and cancellation rules, which govern the Artist–Client relationship.

2. Eligibility

To use the Service you must:

Be at least 18 years of age (tattoo services are age-restricted; some jurisdictions require Clients to be older)
Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract
Not be barred from using the Service under any applicable law

3. Accounts

When you create an account you agree to:

Provide accurate, current, and complete information
Keep your login credentials secure and confidential
Notify us promptly of any unauthorized access
Accept responsibility for all activity under your account

4. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

Violate any applicable law or regulation
Infringe the intellectual-property or privacy rights of others
Upload unlawful, harmful, hateful, harassing, or infringing content
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service or other accounts
Transmit spam or malware, or disrupt or overload the Service
Impersonate any person or entity
Collect other users' data without their consent

5. Artist Responsibilities

Artists agree to:

Hold and maintain all licences, permits, certifications, and insurance required to operate lawfully in their jurisdiction
Comply with all applicable health, safety, and sanitation regulations
Provide accurate descriptions of services, availability, and pricing
Honour confirmed bookings or give reasonable notice and follow their own published cancellation/refund policy
Set clear, lawful booking policies and apply them fairly
Only upload content they own or are licensed to use
Handle any Client personal information they receive in accordance with applicable privacy law (see Section 11)

6. Client Responsibilities

Clients agree to:

Provide accurate information when submitting a booking request
Read and follow the Artist's booking policies before booking
Honour confirmed bookings or give reasonable notice of cancellation
Pay deposits and fees as agreed with the Artist
Communicate respectfully

7. Bookings, Deposits, Payments, and Fees

Booking requests are offers to book that the Artist may accept, decline, or modify.
Deposits and prices are set by the Artist. A deposit is a prepayment toward the Artist's service; refundability is governed by the Artist's published policy and applicable consumer-protection law.
Payment processing is provided by Stripe. By using payment features you also agree to Stripe's terms. Maelo does not store full card numbers.
Platform fees may be charged and will be clearly disclosed before the relevant transaction. Taxes are the responsibility of the party legally required to collect or remit them.
Disputes about a service, deposit, or refund are between the Artist and the Client. Maelo may, but is not obligated to, assist.

8. Intellectual Property

Our content: The Service — including its software, design, and Maelo branding — is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws. You may not copy, modify, or distribute it without permission.

Your content: You retain ownership of content you upload (portfolio images, references, messages). You grant Maelo a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, display, and process that content solely to operate and provide the Service. You represent that you have the rights to the content you upload.

9. Third-Party Services

The Service integrates with third parties such as Stripe (payments), Cloudflare (hosting, security, edge AI), Apple/Google (calendar and maps), and social platforms. Your use of those integrations is subject to the relevant third party's terms. Maelo is not responsible for the availability, accuracy, or content of third-party services.

10. AI Features

Maelo offers optional AI features (e.g., draft message suggestions and background generation). AI output is a suggestion only and does not make decisions with legal or similarly significant effects; final decisions remain with you. See the Privacy Policy for how AI data is handled, isolated, and how to opt out.

11. Privacy

Your use of the Service is governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains what personal information we collect and how we use, disclose, and protect it under Canada's PIPEDA, British Columbia's PIPA, and — for applicable users — the EU/UK GDPR.

12. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. MAELO DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE, AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE QUALITY, SAFETY, OR LEGALITY OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY ARTISTS OR THE CONDUCT OF ANY USER. Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law (including the BC Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act).

13. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, MAELO WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE. MAELO'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID MAELO IN THE TWELVE MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM, OR (B) CAD $100. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so parts of this section may not apply to you.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Maelo and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claim, damage, loss, or expense (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the Service, your content, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any law or third-party right.

15. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access at any time, with or without cause or notice. You may stop using the Service and delete your account at any time. On termination:

Your right to use the Service ends immediately
You remain liable for any outstanding obligations
Provisions that by their nature should survive (IP, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnity, governing law) will survive

16. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable there, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. You agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Vancouver, British Columbia, except where applicable consumer-protection law gives you the right to bring a claim in your local jurisdiction.

17. Changes to These Terms

We may modify these Terms. If we make material changes we will update the "Last Updated" date and, where appropriate or required, notify you by email or in-app. Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

18. Contact

Maelo App Inc. — questions about these Terms? Contact us at support@maelo.app.