Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Step Up mobile application and website at thestepupchallenge.com (together, the "Service"), operated by Dekode (Pty) Ltd ("Dekode", "we", "us", or "our"), a company registered in South Africa.

By creating an account or using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use Step Up. By using the Service, you represent that you meet this age requirement.

2. Your Account

You sign in using Google, Apple, or email credentials approved by the Service. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You must notify us promptly if you suspect unauthorised access.

You agree to provide accurate information and to keep your profile (display name, avatar) appropriate for a general audience.

3. The Service

Step Up lets you create and join step-counting challenges with other users. The app reads step data from Apple Health or Health Connect on your device and syncs it to our servers to track progress in your active challenges.

We strive to keep the Service available and accurate, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted access or that step counts will always sync perfectly. Step data depends on your device's health platform, which is outside our control.

4. Health & Fitness Disclaimer

Step Up is a fitness motivation tool, not a medical device or health service. The step counts and challenge results provided by the Service are for informational and entertainment purposes only. They do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

You should consult a healthcare professional before starting any exercise programme. You participate in challenges at your own risk and are solely responsible for your physical well-being.

5. User Content

You may create content through the Service, including challenge names, display names, profile photos, and timeline messages ("User Content").

Ownership: You retain ownership of your User Content. By posting it, you grant Dekode a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use, display, and distribute your User Content solely for the purpose of operating and improving the Service. This licence ends when you delete your content or your account.

Acceptable use: You agree not to post content that is:

• Illegal, threatening, abusive, harassing, or defamatory
• Sexually explicit or obscene
• Infringing on someone else's intellectual property or privacy
• Spam, phishing, or misleading

We reserve the right to remove any User Content that violates these Terms or that we reasonably consider harmful, and to suspend or terminate accounts that repeatedly violate this policy. We are not obligated to monitor all User Content but may do so at our discretion.

6. Fair Play

Step Up is built around honest competition. You agree not to:

• Manipulate or fabricate step data
• Use automated tools, bots, or modified devices to generate false steps
• Exploit bugs or vulnerabilities in the Service
• Interfere with other users' experience

We use server-side verification to detect anomalies. Accounts found to be cheating may be suspended or permanently banned at our sole discretion.

7. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its design, code, branding, and content (excluding User Content), is owned by Dekode and protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or reverse-engineer any part of the Service without our written permission.

8. Termination

You may stop using the Service at any time. To request deletion of your account and associated data, use our account deletion page or email deleteme@thestepupchallenge.com.

We may suspend or terminate your access if you violate these Terms or if we need to discontinue the Service. Where possible, we will provide reasonable notice.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by South African law, Dekode and its directors, employees, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Service, including but not limited to:

• Loss of data, profits, or goodwill
• Inaccurate step counts or challenge results
• Service interruptions or downtime
• Injury resulting from physical activity

Our total liability for any claim related to the Service shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim (which, as the Service is currently free, is zero).

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Dekode from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of the Service, your User Content, or your violation of these Terms.

11. Disclaimers

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the revised Terms on this page and updating the effective date. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of South Africa.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, contact us at:

• General: hello@thestepupchallenge.com
• Privacy: privacy@thestepupchallenge.com
• Account deletion: thestepupchallenge.com/delete-account