Terms of Service

1. Scope

These terms govern the use of the ChatStonks platform, operated by Timo Schwertfeger, c/o IP-Management #11071, Ludwig-Erhard-Straße 18, 20459 Hamburg, Germany. By creating an account, you agree to these terms.

2. Service Description

ChatStonks is an entertainment platform where users can trade virtual currency (Stonks, ⌬) based on streamer valuations. Stonks have no real-world monetary value and cannot be exchanged for real money, goods, or services. ChatStonks is not a financial service and does not provide investment advice.

Creator valuations are based on publicly available Twitch data, are intended for entertainment purposes only, and do not represent financial advice or endorsement by the creators.

3. Alpha Testing

ChatStonks is in public alpha testing. Features may change or be removed without notice. Data, including virtual currency balances and trading history, may be reset at any time during the testing period.

4. Registration and Account

• You must be at least 16 years old to use ChatStonks
• Sign-in requires a valid Twitch account or a valid email address (email sign-in)
• One account per person
• You are responsible for all activity on your account
• Balance and trading history resets are limited to a maximum of 3 per account

5. User Obligations

• Be respectful to other users and creators
• No harassment, hate speech, or targeted abuse
• No spam, manipulation, or exploitation of platform mechanics
• No advertising, self-promotion, sponsored content, affiliate links, or other promotional content in profiles, posts, comments, or other user-generated areas. Exceptions apply only under official ChatStonks partnerships.
• No impersonation of streamers or other users
• Usernames must not contain illegal, insulting, hateful, or otherwise prohibited terms (including those on our internal blocklist), must not impersonate persons or brands, and must not have a promotional character. We reserve the right to block violating usernames or replace them with a neutral placeholder and prompt you to pick a new one.
• Content must comply with German law

6. User Content

Users retain ownership of the content they create (posts, comments, images, profile information). By posting content, you grant ChatStonks a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, transferable, and sublicensable license to store, reproduce, modify (in particular for format and medium adaptation), publicly display, and distribute such content. The license covers platform operation and the promotion of ChatStonks, including use in advertising materials and marketing campaigns on and off the platform, also through partners engaged by us. The license survives deletion of your account for content that has previously been distributed or sublicensed to third parties.

You warrant that you hold all rights necessary for the content you upload and that it does not infringe any third-party rights (in particular copyright, trademark, or personality rights). Uploading third-party content without the required rights (e.g. copyrighted images, memes containing protected material) is not permitted.

We reserve the right to remove content that violates these terms. You will receive a reason when content is removed.

We reserve the right to suspend or delete accounts for violations of these terms or at any time during the alpha phase.

7. Creator Data and Presentation

All creator data displayed on ChatStonks (name, profile picture, stream statistics) is sourced from the public Twitch API. No private data is collected.

A creator's presence on ChatStonks does not imply affiliation, partnership, or endorsement by the creator. Valuations are entertainment metrics, not judgments of a creator's quality.

The platform aims to spotlight creators and introduce them to a wider audience. Creator data is displayed solely within the platform for entertainment purposes and is not resold or used for advertising. Advertising and marketing by ChatStonks promotes the platform itself, not individual creators or their content; creator data is not featured in advertising materials.

Any creator may request removal of their profile by contacting hello@chatstonks.com. Requests are processed within 7 days.

8. Reporting Illegal Content

If you encounter illegal content on the platform, you can report it by email to hello@chatstonks.com. We will confirm receipt and inform you of the outcome.

ChatStonks also provides in-platform reporting tools to flag content. We review reports promptly and take appropriate action. Despite our best efforts, we cannot monitor all user-generated content in real time.

9. Data Protection

Details on data processing can be found in our Privacy Policy. You can delete your account and export your data at any time in your settings.

10. Limitation of Liability

• We are fully liable for intent and gross negligence, as well as for damages resulting from injury to life, body, or health.
• For simple negligence, we are only liable for breach of cardinal obligations (essential contractual duties), limited to foreseeable, typically occurring damages.
• We are not liable for loss of virtual currency due to technical issues or account resets during the alpha phase.
• No guarantee is made for availability or uninterrupted operation of the platform.
• Our platform may contain links to third-party websites. We have no control over their content, availability, or data practices and assume no liability for them. Visiting external links is at your own risk.

11. Changes to Terms

Changes to these terms will be communicated via the platform. You must actively accept the updated terms before continuing to use the platform. If you do not agree with the updated terms, you may delete your account at any time.

12. Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

German law applies. Mandatory consumer protection provisions of the country where you habitually reside remain unaffected.

13. Final Provisions

If any provision of these terms is or becomes invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected.