Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of terms

By installing or using the Sauron application ("App", "Service") on the Shopify platform, you ("Merchant", "you", "your") agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms") and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not install or use the App.

These Terms form a legally binding agreement between you and Sauron Labs ("Sauron", "we", "us", "our").

By installing the App, you represent that you are at least 18 years old, have authority to bind the business operating the Shopify store, and are not located in a jurisdiction where the Service is prohibited.

2. The Service

Sauron provides AI-powered SEO automation for Shopify stores, including:

• AI generation of meta titles, meta descriptions, and product copy
• Image alt text generation using computer vision
• Keyword research and search volume data
• Schema markup auto-injection (Product, FAQ, BreadcrumbList, LocalBusiness)
• Google Search Console integration and rank tracking
• Google Analytics 4 integration and organic revenue attribution
• Core Web Vitals and Lighthouse performance auditing
• AI blog post generation
• Backlink exchange network (opt-in feature on Growth plan and above)
• llms.txt generation for AI search visibility
• Weekly digest emails and rank-drop alerts

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature of the Service at any time. We will provide reasonable notice of material changes where possible.

3. Shopify platform relationship

The App is built on and distributed through the Shopify platform. By using the App, you also agree to Shopify's Terms of Service. Sauron is an independent developer and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a partner of Shopify Inc. beyond the standard App Store relationship.

4. Account and access

Access to the Service is granted through your Shopify admin. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your Shopify account. You must not share your Shopify admin credentials with unauthorized parties.

You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your store's Sauron installation, including AI-generated content that you publish to your Shopify store.

5. Billing and payment

5.1 Shopify billing

All billing for Sauron is processed through Shopify's billing system. By activating a paid plan, you authorize Shopify to charge your payment method on file. Subscription fees are charged in advance on a monthly or annual basis depending on the plan selected.

5.2 Plans and limits

Sauron offers the following plans (prices in USD):

• Free: Limited AI generations per month, basic features
• Starter ($39/month): Increased AI generation limits, GSC integration
• Growth ($99/month): Expanded limits, backlink exchange network, GA4
• Scale ($299/month): Unlimited generations, large catalog limits, priority support

Current plan features and limits are detailed on the pricing page. We reserve the right to change plan pricing with 30 days' notice to active subscribers.

5.3 Free trial

Paid plans include a free trial: 14 days on the Starter plan and 7 days on the Growth and Scale plans. If you cancel before the trial ends, you will not be charged. After the trial, your plan renews automatically.

5.4 Cancellation and refunds

You may cancel your subscription at any time through your Shopify admin (Apps → Sauron → Cancel subscription) or by uninstalling the App. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. We do not offer pro-rated refunds for partial billing periods. Unused plan limits do not roll over.

If you believe you were charged in error, contact billing@sauron.so within 14 days of the charge.

5.5 Plan downgrades

Downgrading to a lower plan takes effect at the start of the next billing cycle. Features exclusive to your previous plan will be deactivated at that point. Data associated with those features (e.g., backlink matches) is retained for 30 days after downgrade in case you reupgrade.

6. AI-generated content

6.1 Your responsibility for published content

AI-generated content is a suggestion, not a guarantee. You are solely responsible for reviewing, editing, and approving all AI-generated content before publishing it to your Shopify store. By publishing AI-generated content, you represent that it is accurate, not misleading, and compliant with applicable laws and Shopify's policies.

6.2 Accuracy limitations

AI language models can produce inaccurate, incomplete, or inappropriate output. Sauron does not warrant that AI-generated titles, descriptions, or blog posts are accurate, complete, or suitable for any particular purpose. You should review all generated content before publishing, particularly for:

• Regulated products (health claims, financial products, legal services)
• Technical specifications (dimensions, materials, compatibility)
• Pricing or promotional claims
• Claims about competitors

6.3 Ownership of generated content

Content generated by the Service using your product data and brand voice settings is owned by you. Sauron claims no intellectual property rights over content generated specifically for your store.

7. Acceptable use

You must not use the Service to:

• Generate content that is false, misleading, defamatory, or fraudulent
• Generate content that violates Shopify's Acceptable Use Policy
• Publish health claims that violate applicable regulations (FDA, ASA, etc.)
• Artificially manipulate search rankings in violation of Google's Webmaster Guidelines
• Circumvent plan limits through technical means
• Resell, sublicense, or white-label the Service without written permission
• Use the Service if you are a direct competitor of Sauron for the purpose of competitive intelligence
• Reverse engineer or attempt to extract the underlying AI prompts or model configurations

8. Intellectual property

The Sauron application, including its software, design, branding, and documentation, is owned by Sauron Labs and protected by copyright and intellectual property laws. You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the Service during your subscription period.

You retain all rights to your store's product data, brand materials, and content that you provide to the Service.

9. Third-party services

The Service integrates with third-party services including Google Search Console, Google Analytics 4, DataForSEO, OpenRouter, and Resend. Your use of these integrations is also subject to the respective third parties' terms of service. Sauron is not responsible for changes to, or discontinuation of, any third-party service.

10. SEO results disclaimer

Search engine rankings are determined by search engine algorithms outside our control. Sauron does not guarantee any specific search ranking improvements, traffic increases, or revenue outcomes from use of the Service. SEO results depend on many factors including competition, domain authority, content quality, and search engine algorithm changes. Sauron makes no guarantee of specific SEO outcomes.

10.1 The 90-day Build Guarantee

Separately from the above, we may offer a Build Guarantee: a promise about the volume of work the Service publishes to your store within a defined window, not about any search result. It is a promise of output, not of outcome, and nothing in it modifies section 10.

Where offered, the guarantee is governed solely by the eligibility terms stated in that offer, which will state the specific quantities promised. Eligibility additionally requires that, throughout the window, you (a) kept Google Search Console connected to the Service, (b) left the Service's automation ("Autopilot") switched on, and (c) held an active paid subscription. If you disable the automation, disconnect Search Console, or your store exceeds your plan's catalog limit, the Service cannot publish on your behalf and the guarantee does not apply for that period.

Content already published to your Shopify store under the Service — collection pages, page titles and meta descriptions, and blog articles — is written to your own Shopify account and remains yours whether or not a refund is issued. Features that require the Service to keep running (for example structured-data injection and backlink-network placements) end when your subscription does.

We may change or withdraw the guarantee for new sign-ups at any time; a guarantee in force when you subscribed continues to apply to that subscription for its stated window.

11. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR COMPLETELY SECURE.

12. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SAURON LABS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO SAURON IN THE THREE (3) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or the limitation of certain damages. In those jurisdictions, the limitations above apply to the extent permitted by law.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sauron Labs and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of: (a) your use of the Service; (b) content you publish using AI-generated output; (c) your violation of these Terms; or (d) your violation of any third party's rights.

14. Termination

Either party may terminate this agreement at any time. You may terminate by uninstalling the App. We may suspend or terminate your access if you violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or if your Shopify store is suspended or closed.

Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately. Sections 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15 survive termination.

15. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Before initiating legal proceedings, you agree to first contact us at legal@sauron.so to attempt resolution in good faith.

16. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify active subscribers by email at least 14 days before material changes take effect. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must discontinue use of the Service before the effective date.

17. Entire agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Sauron Labs regarding the Service and supersede any prior agreements.

18. Beta program ("The Founding 20")

This section applies only if we have accepted your store into the Sauron beta cohort. It is additional to, and does not replace, the rest of these Terms.

The operational terms of the cohort — what you receive, what you commit to, how the testimonial works, and what happens if either side does not deliver — are set out in The Founding 20 Agreement, which forms part of these Terms. Where that document and this section differ on a detail of the beta, that document governs. This section states the parts that stand on their own.

18.1 Places and selection

Places are limited and offered at our discretion. Applying does not entitle you to a place. We may close the cohort, or change or withdraw the beta offer for new applicants, at any time; an offer already accepted continues on the terms it was accepted under.

18.2 The founding price

Accepted stores are placed on a private Shopify App Pricing plan at the beta rate. That rate is held for as long as your subscription remains continuously active on that plan, including after the App becomes publicly listed and standard prices change. Billing runs through Shopify in the ordinary way under section 5, and you can cancel at any time from your Shopify admin. If you cancel, we do not guarantee the founding rate on any later re-subscription.

18.3 What we ask of you

In exchange for the founding price we ask that you connect Google Search Console within 7 days of install, leave the App's automation switched on for at least the first month, take part in a kickoff call and a closing conversation, and tell us when something does not work.

18.4 Testimonials and recordings

Providing a testimonial at the end of the beta period is one of the commitments the founding rate is priced against, and is described in full in clause 4 of The Founding 20 Agreement. Two parts of it are stated here because they are the parts that constrain us rather than you:

• The rate depends on giving a testimonial. It does not depend on what the testimonial says. We do not require, request, or imply that yours should be favourable. A critical testimonial satisfies the commitment in full, and we will not withdraw, raise, or otherwise change your rate because of what you said, nor ask you to re-record or soften it.
• Nothing is published without your written consent. Recording is separate from publishing. We will ask separately, in writing, before using your name, your store's name, your likeness, or any recording or quotation, and refusing does not affect your rate or your account. You may withdraw consent for future use at any time by contacting us, after which we will stop using the material in new placements and remove it from pages we control within a reasonable period. Where you do consent, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use that material to market the Service for as long as your consent stands.

18.5 How we disclose the relationship

Wherever we publish a beta tester's testimonial, we will state alongside it that the person is a beta tester on a discounted founding price that was conditioned on providing a testimonial. We do this because your discounted price is a material connection between us that a reader is entitled to know about when weighing what you said.

A testimonial describes one store's experience. It is not a prediction of your results, and nothing in a testimonial modifies section 10.

18.6 If the commitments are not met

Where the commitments in clause 3 of the Agreement are not met, we may move your store from the founding plan to the standard published rate for the equivalent plan, on at least 30 days' written notice, having first told you which commitment is outstanding and given you an opportunity to meet it. You may cancel instead at any time at no cost. We will not delete, suspend, or degrade content already published to your store in any circumstances, and we will not treat a critical testimonial as a failure to meet a commitment.

18.7 Shopify App Store reviews

The beta offer is not conditioned on a Shopify App Store review, and we will never offer you anything in exchange for one. Reviews on the Shopify App Store are governed by Shopify's own policies, which prohibit incentivising them. If you choose to leave one, it is your own unpaid opinion and nothing in these Terms asks you for it or for any particular rating.

18.8 Pre-release software

The beta is pre-release. It will contain defects, and features may change or be withdrawn during the cohort. Section 11 (Disclaimers) and section 12 (Limitation of liability) apply in full. Where you send us feedback, bug reports, or suggestions, you grant us an unrestricted right to use them to improve the Service, without obligation or payment to you.

19. Contact

• General: hello@sauron.so
• Billing: billing@sauron.so
• Legal: legal@sauron.so