Terms of Service - Zenland DAO

1. Introduction

Welcome to Zenland DAO ("Protocol," "we," "us," or "our"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Zenland decentralized escrow protocol, including our website, smart contracts, and any related services (collectively, the "Services").

Zenland DAO is a decentralized protocol with no central operator. It consists of open-source smart contracts deployed on the Ethereum blockchain that enable peer-to-peer escrow transactions. There is no company, corporation, or legal entity that operates or controls the Protocol.

2. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use the Services. Your continued use of the Services constitutes your acceptance of any modifications to these Terms.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use the Services. By using the Services, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms. You also represent that you are not a person barred from using the Services under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction.

4. Nature of the Protocol

Zenland DAO is a decentralized protocol that operates autonomously through smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. The Protocol does not have a central operator, administrator, or controlling entity.

The Protocol provides a non-custodial interface for users to interact with smart contracts. We do not hold, control, or have access to your funds at any time. All transactions are executed directly on the blockchain by the users themselves.

We do not operate any backend servers, databases, or centralized infrastructure. We do not collect, store, or process any personal data. The Protocol is purely a frontend interface to interact with decentralized smart contracts.

5. Smart Contracts

The escrow functionality is provided by immutable smart contracts deployed on the Ethereum blockchain. Once deployed, these contracts cannot be modified, paused, or controlled by anyone, including the Protocol developers or DAO participants.

You acknowledge that smart contracts may contain bugs, vulnerabilities, or unexpected behaviors. You use the smart contracts entirely at your own risk. The Protocol provides no warranty that the smart contracts will function as intended or be free from errors.

6. User Responsibilities

When using the Services, you are solely responsible for:

Managing and securing your cryptocurrency wallet and private keys
Any loss of funds due to lost, stolen, or compromised private keys
Determining and fulfilling any tax obligations arising from your use of the Services
Compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction
Evaluating the trustworthiness of counterparties in escrow transactions

7. Prohibited Uses

You agree not to use the Services for:

Any illegal activities or in furtherance of illegal activities
Fraud, scams, or any form of deceptive practices
Money laundering or terrorist financing
Financing terrorism or any sanctioned activities
Transactions involving sanctioned persons, entities, or jurisdictions
Any transactions involving persons under 18 years of age
Attempting to exploit, hack, or disrupt the smart contracts or Protocol

8. Dispute Resolution

Disputes between escrow parties are resolved exclusively by agents selected at the time of escrow creation. Agents are independent third parties who stake collateral and earn fees for resolving disputes. The Protocol and DAO do not participate in individual dispute resolution.

Agent decisions are final and binding. The Protocol has no ability to reverse, modify, or override agent decisions. By using an escrow with an agent, you agree to accept the agent's decision.

If you believe an agent has acted improperly (e.g., accepted bribes, acted in bad faith), you may submit a complaint to DAOForum.org with supporting evidence. The DAO may vote to slash the agent's stake, but this does not reverse the escrow outcome or provide you with any compensation.

9. Locked Escrows (No Agent)

You may create escrows without an agent ("locked escrows"). In locked escrows, funds can only be released or refunded if both parties agree. If parties disagree, funds remain locked in the smart contract permanently.

⚠️ WARNING: Locked escrows can result in permanent loss of funds if parties cannot reach agreement. There is no mechanism to recover funds from a disputed locked escrow. Use locked escrows only with parties you trust or when the stakes justify the risk.

10. Fees

The Protocol charges a creation fee when escrows are created. Fees are collected by the DAO Treasury and may be changed through DAO governance for future escrows. Fee changes do not affect existing escrows.

Agents may charge additional fees for dispute resolution. Agent fees are displayed at the time of escrow creation and are deducted from the escrow amount when a dispute is resolved.

11. Risks

Using the Services involves significant risks, including but not limited to:

Cryptocurrency price volatility
Smart contract bugs, vulnerabilities, or exploits
Permanent loss of funds due to user error, lost keys, or protocol issues
Regulatory changes that may affect the legality of the Services
Blockchain network congestion, failures, or reorganizations

12. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not warrant that the Services will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure, or that any defects will be corrected. We make no representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided through the Services.

13. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL ZENLAND DAO, ITS CONTRIBUTORS, DEVELOPERS, DAO PARTICIPANTS, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, OR USE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF FEES YOU PAID TO THE PROTOCOL IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Zenland DAO, its contributors, developers, DAO participants, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or in connection with: (a) your use of the Services; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any rights of any third party; or (d) your violation of any applicable laws or regulations.

15. Modifications to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time by posting the revised Terms on our website. Your continued use of the Services after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

16. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with principles of law common to decentralized protocols. To the extent any traditional jurisdiction applies, any disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with applicable arbitration rules. You waive any right to participate in class action lawsuits or class-wide arbitration.

17. Contact

As a decentralized protocol, Zenland DAO does not have traditional customer support channels. For community support and discussions, please visit DAOForum.org or our community Telegram channel.