Terms of Service

Proof: Evidence Vault  ยท  Effective March 31, 2026

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The short version: Proof is a tool for creating tamper-evident records. When you use the Acknowledgement feature, you are creating a legally binding electronic record under the E-SIGN Act. Use it honestly and only for lawful purposes.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, installing, or using Proof: Evidence Vault ("Proof," "the App," "we," "us"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, do not use the App.

These Terms apply to all users of the App, including users who create proof records ("Senders") and users who receive acknowledgement requests ("Acknowledgers").

2. What Proof Does

Proof is an iOS application that creates timestamped, cryptographically hashed records of photos, videos, notes, and other evidence. Key features include:

All proof records are stored locally on your device. The optional Acknowledgement feature transmits minimal metadata to our server solely to facilitate the acknowledgement workflow. Vault file sharing (.proofvault) transfers data directly between devices and does not pass through our servers.

3. Electronic Acknowledgements & E-Signatures

This section is the most legally significant part of these Terms. Please read it carefully before using the Acknowledgement feature.

3.1 Legal Effect

When an Acknowledger taps "Acknowledge" in the Proof app or on the web acknowledgement page, they are providing a legally binding electronic signature and acknowledgement under the following laws:

By acknowledging, the Acknowledger confirms they have reviewed the proof record displayed and consent to their full name, verified email address, IP address, device information, and a precise timestamp being permanently and irrevocably recorded as evidence of their acknowledgement.

3.2 Identity Verification

The Acknowledgement feature uses email-based one-time password (OTP) verification to confirm the Acknowledger's identity. By entering and submitting the OTP code sent to their email address, the Acknowledger affirms that:

3.3 Sender Responsibilities

Senders who request acknowledgements represent and warrant that:

3.4 No Legal Advice

Proof is a tool, not a lawyer. While we have designed the Acknowledgement feature to be consistent with applicable electronic signature laws, we make no guarantee that any particular acknowledgement will be accepted as valid evidence in any specific legal proceeding. The admissibility of electronic records is determined by courts on a case-by-case basis. For high-stakes legal matters, consult a qualified attorney.

3.5 Record Retention

Acknowledgement records are stored on our server for 30 days from creation, after which unacknowledged tokens expire and are deleted. Completed acknowledgements are retained indefinitely. The Certificate of Evidence PDF generated by the App is your permanent, self-contained record โ€” we recommend saving it.

4. Acceptable Use

You agree not to use Proof to:

We reserve the right to disable access to acknowledgement tokens that we reasonably believe are being used for unlawful or abusive purposes.

5. Data & Privacy

Your use of Proof is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

In summary: all proof records, photos, and content stay on your device. The only data transmitted to our servers is the minimal metadata required for the optional Acknowledgement feature (proof title, category, hash, sealed date, and โ€” when used โ€” the acknowledger's name, verified email, IP address, and timestamp).

6. Trusted Timestamping & Blockchain Services

Proof submits proof hashes to third-party services to provide additional timestamp verification:

ServiceProviderPurpose
RFC 3161 Timestamp Authority FreeTSA (freetsa.org) Independent cryptographic proof of creation time
OpenTimestamps Calendars OpenTimestamps.org Bitcoin blockchain hash anchoring

Only your proof's SHA-256 hash is transmitted โ€” never your photos, notes, or personal information. These services are provided on a best-effort basis. Proof is not responsible for the availability or accuracy of third-party timestamping services.

7. Intellectual Property

Proof: Evidence Vault, including its design, code, branding, and Certificate of Evidence template, is owned by James Cuadros and protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

You retain full ownership of all evidence records, photos, and content you create with the App. By using the Acknowledgement feature, you grant us a limited, non-exclusive licence to store and transmit the proof metadata strictly as necessary to operate the acknowledgement service.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE APP IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTY 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: (a) the App will be uninterrupted or error-free; (b) any proof record will be accepted as admissible evidence in any legal proceeding; (c) the cryptographic or timestamping techniques used will remain secure indefinitely; or (d) third-party timestamping services will remain available.

9. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, JAMES CUADROS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF DATA, LOSS OF PROFITS, OR LOSS OF A LEGAL CLAIM, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF PROOF.

TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY DIRECT CLAIM ARISING UNDER THESE TERMS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU ACTUALLY PAID FOR ANY IN-APP PURCHASES, OR, IF YOU HAVE NOT MADE ANY PURCHASES, THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT PERMITTED BY LAW.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain warranties or liabilities, so the above may not apply to you in full.

10. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada and applicable federal Canadian law, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Users in the United States also acknowledge that the Acknowledgement feature is designed to comply with the federal E-SIGN Act and UETA. Nothing in these Terms limits any rights you may have under applicable consumer protection laws in your jurisdiction.

11. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Effective" date at the top of this page and, for material changes, notify users via an in-app notice on next launch. Continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

12. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Contact us at me@jamescuadros.com.

To request deletion of acknowledgement data stored on our servers, email us with the subject line "Data Deletion Request" and include the acknowledgement token (found in the shared link URL).