Terms of Service

Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Patrins — including uploading files, generating share links, creating an account, or simply visiting patrins.com — you agree to be legally bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree to these terms, you must immediately stop using the service. Use of Patrins constitutes ongoing acceptance of the most current version of these terms.

If you are using Patrins on behalf of a company or organization, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these terms.

Definitions

What Patrins Is

Patrins is a privacy-first, encrypted file hosting and sharing platform. We allow users to upload files, generate direct share links, and optionally store files permanently under a registered account.

Patrins is not a backup service, a cloud sync tool, or a content distribution network for commercial use without a specific agreement. We provide file hosting with a strong emphasis on user privacy and data minimization.

Encryption & Privacy

Patrins uses AES-256-GCM client-side encryption. Files are encrypted in your browser before being uploaded. The decryption key is embedded in the URL fragment (#key=...) and is never transmitted to or stored on Patrins servers.

This means:

• Patrins cannot read, inspect, or view the contents of any file you upload.
• If you lose your share link (containing the key fragment), Patrins cannot recover access to your file. The file becomes permanently inaccessible.
• In the event of a legal demand, data breach, or server compromise, the ciphertext stored by Patrins cannot be decrypted without the key that only you hold.
• Patrins does not log file names, types, or contents. We store only the encrypted binary and minimal metadata required to operate the service (e.g. file size, upload timestamp, account association if logged in).

You are solely responsible for keeping your share links safe. Anyone with the full link — including the key fragment — can decrypt and download the file.

Accounts

An account is not required to upload temporary files. However, registered accounts provide access to permanent storage, plan management, and additional features.

• You must provide a valid email address to register. You are responsible for keeping your credentials confidential.
• You may not create accounts using false identities or on behalf of others without their consent.
• You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account, whether or not you authorized it.
• Notify us immediately at [email protected] if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.
• Accounts are non-transferable. You may not sell, share, or transfer your account to another person.

Storage & Plans

Patrins offers tiered storage plans. All plans, including free, support a maximum file size of 2 TB per upload.

Patrins reserves the right to modify plan pricing and features with reasonable notice. Existing paid subscribers will be notified at least 30 days before any pricing change takes effect.

Uploads & Files

When you upload a file to Patrins, you acknowledge the following:

• You are solely responsible for the content you upload and any consequences of sharing it.
• Uploading a file does not transfer any intellectual property rights to Patrins. You retain full ownership.
• You represent that you have the legal right to upload and share the content, and that it does not violate any third-party rights.
• Due to zero-knowledge encryption, Patrins cannot proactively scan or moderate uploaded file contents. You are entirely responsible for compliance.
• Patrins does not guarantee file availability, redundancy, or durability. Do not rely on Patrins as your sole copy of important data.

Acceptable Use

Patrins is intended for lawful file storage and sharing. The following are permitted uses:

• Storing and sharing personal files, documents, media, or backups
• Distributing your own original software, source code, or creative works
• Sharing files privately with colleagues, clients, or collaborators
• Hosting files for personal or small-scale commercial use under a paid plan
• Using the API to integrate file hosting into your own applications
• Sending large files that are impractical to send via email

Prohibited Content & Behavior

Regardless of encryption, you must not use Patrins to upload, store, or distribute any of the following:

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) — zero tolerance. Violations are reported immediately to law enforcement and relevant authorities.
• Malware, ransomware, spyware, or exploits — files designed to damage, compromise, or gain unauthorized access to systems.
• Phishing and fraud — files, pages, or content intended to deceive users into revealing credentials or personal information.
• Copyright-infringing content — pirated software, cracked games, unlicensed movies, music, or books shared publicly without authorization from the rights holder.
• Non-consensual intimate imagery — private sexual images or recordings shared without the subject's consent ("revenge porn").
• Terrorist or extremist content — material promoting, glorifying, or facilitating terrorism, genocide, or mass violence.
• Stolen personal data — databases of credentials, identity information, financial records, or private data obtained without authorization.
• Content used to harass or dox individuals — private information about a person shared to facilitate harassment, stalking, or harm.
• Automated abuse — using scripts, bots, or automated tools to mass-upload, scrape, or abuse Patrins infrastructure without prior written permission.
• Circumventing storage limits — creating multiple accounts, using automated tools, or exploiting free temporary upload quotas to evade paid plan requirements at scale.

DMCA & Copyright Takedowns

Patrins respects intellectual property rights and complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). If you believe a file hosted on Patrins infringes your copyright, you may submit a takedown request.

A valid DMCA notice must include:

• Your full legal name and contact information
• The direct URL(s) to the allegedly infringing file(s)
• Description of the copyrighted work you claim has been infringed
• A statement of good faith belief that the use is not authorized
• Your physical or electronic signature

Send DMCA notices to: [email protected]

Important: because files are zero-knowledge encrypted, we can disable access to a share link or delete the stored ciphertext, but we cannot view or confirm the contents ourselves. We rely on the accuracy of your claim. Filing a false DMCA notice may expose you to legal liability.

Repeat infringers will have their accounts terminated.

Sharing & Links

When you create a share link, you are making the referenced file accessible to anyone who possesses that link. You are responsible for who you share your links with.

• Share links are permanent (for files in permanent storage) unless you delete the file or your account is terminated.
• Temporary upload links expire after 7 days. After that, the file and link are permanently gone.
• Do not publicly post links to files that contain sensitive, private, or personally identifiable information unless all subjects have consented.
• Patrins may disable a share link if it is reported for abuse, even if we cannot verify the encrypted contents.

Deletion & Data Retention

Understanding how and when files are deleted is important when using Patrins.

Patrins is not responsible for data loss resulting from file deletion, account termination, or service outages. Always maintain your own copies of critical data.

Content Ownership

You retain full ownership of all files you upload to Patrins. We claim no intellectual property rights over your content.

By uploading, you grant Patrins a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free license solely to: store your encrypted file on our infrastructure, transmit it to recipients who request it via a valid share link, and perform technical operations necessary to operate the service (e.g. redundancy, CDN delivery).

This license does not grant Patrins the right to use, reproduce, modify, publish, or distribute your content for any purpose beyond providing the file hosting service itself.

Because files are zero-knowledge encrypted, Patrins cannot access, read, or derive any value from your content. We have no means of using it for advertising, training, or any other purpose.

Paid Plans & Billing

Paid plans (Standard and Premium) are billed monthly based on storage purchased. The following applies to all paid subscriptions:

• Subscriptions auto-renew monthly. You may cancel at any time from your account dashboard.
• Canceling a subscription does not result in an immediate refund. Your plan remains active until the end of the current billing period.
• Refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis. Contact [email protected] within 7 days of a charge if you believe it was made in error.
• If a payment fails, we will attempt to notify you via email. Continued failure may result in plan downgrade to the Free tier.
• Accounts terminated for ToS violations are not eligible for refunds.

Termination

Patrins reserves the right to suspend or permanently terminate your account, delete your files, and revoke access to the service at any time, with or without notice, if we have reason to believe you have violated these Terms of Service.

You may terminate your account at any time from your account settings. Upon doing so, your permanent files will be scheduled for deletion within 30 days.

Patrins may also discontinue the service entirely with at least 90 days' notice, during which time you may download or export your files.

Disclaimer & Limitation of Liability

Patrins is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We make no warranties — express or implied — regarding the reliability, availability, security, or fitness of the service for any particular purpose.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Patrins shall not be liable for:

• Loss of data, files, or encryption keys
• Unauthorized access to your account or files
• Service outages, downtime, or interruptions
• Any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from use of the service
• Damages arising from content uploaded by other users or third parties

Our total liability to you for any claim arising from use of Patrins shall not exceed the total amount you have paid to Patrins in the 12 months preceding the claim.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms of Service at any time. When we make material changes, we will notify registered users by email and update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

Your continued use of Patrins after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms. If you do not agree to the updated terms, you must stop using the service and may request account deletion.

Non-material changes (e.g. fixing typos, clarifying language without changing meaning) may be made without notice.

Contact

For questions, reports, or concerns about these Terms of Service: