Terms of Service

Last Updated: March 10, 2025

Company Information: This website (chess.org) is operated by Caissa Bohemica, s.r.o., a company registered in the Czech Republic (Company ID/IN: 06248438, VAT/TIN: CZ06248438), with its registered office at Skalní 494/3, 460 05 Liberec, Czech Republic (the "Company", "we", or "us"). These Terms of Service (the “Terms”) govern your use of the chess.org platform and the purchase of our digital goods, including chess programs and training courses (collectively, the “Services” or “Digital Products”). By accessing our website or purchasing any Digital Product, you (“you” or the “Customer”) agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, please do not use our Services.

1. Digital Products and Delivery

Product Description: We offer digital goods, such as chess software programs and training courses. All products are delivered in an electronic form (for example, as download links, license keys, or course materials).

Delivery Method and Timing: Purchased Digital Products will be delivered to you via an email address you provide at checkout. We aim to deliver all digital purchases within one (1) business day after the payment is confirmed. "Business day" refers to Monday through Friday, excluding public holidays in the Czech Republic. In most cases, delivery is much faster (often almost immediate upon purchase), but please allow up to one business day for processing.

Delivery Issues: It is your responsibility to provide a valid email address and ensure you can receive emails from us (check spam or junk folders). If you do not receive the email with your digital purchase within the stated time frame, please contact us so we can assist in re-delivering your product. We are not liable for delays in delivery caused by incorrect email addresses or other issues beyond our control (such as general technical outages).

2. Purchases and Payment

Pricing: All prices for Digital Products are as listed on our website. Prices may be shown in various currencies, and any applicable taxes or fees will be indicated at checkout. By placing an order, you agree to pay the listed price and any applicable taxes/fees for that product.

Payment Processing: We use a third-party payment processor, Stripe, to process payment transactions. When you make a purchase, you will provide your payment information (such as credit or debit card details) through Stripe’s secure platform. We do not directly collect or store your complete payment card details on our servers. Stripe will process your payment under its own terms and privacy policy. By purchasing a product, you agree to Stripe processing your payment and you are subject to Stripe’s terms of service as well.

Payment Authorization: By submitting a payment through our site, you represent and warrant that you are authorized to use the payment method provided and that the payment information is correct. In case of payment issues (e.g. chargebacks or fraudulent transactions), we reserve the right to suspend delivery or access to the Digital Product until the issue is resolved.

All Sales Final: Please note that once a purchase is completed and the digital content is delivered, the sale is final. (See No Refunds Policy below for more details.) Make sure to review your order before confirming the purchase.

3. No Refunds Policy

All Sales Are Final: Due to the nature of digital goods, all sales are final, and we do not offer refunds or returns on any digital product purchases. Once the Digital Product has been delivered to you (for example, by email or download link), it is deemed used and cannot be returned. We are unable to issue refunds, exchange products, or accept cancellations after purchase, except where required by law.

Legal Right of Withdrawal (EU Customers): If you are a consumer in the European Union or a jurisdiction with similar consumer protection for digital content, by purchasing and accessing our Digital Products you expressly consent to immediate delivery of the content and acknowledge that you thereby lose any statutory right to withdraw from or cancel the purchase. This acknowledgment is obtained to comply with EU consumer laws for digital content. Essentially, once you have access to the digital content, you cannot cancel the contract and are not entitled to a refund, unless a refund is required under mandatory law (for example, if the digital product is defective in a way that cannot be remedied).

Exceptions: In the unlikely event that a digital product you purchased cannot be delivered or is found to be defective or not as described, please contact us. While we do not generally provide refunds, we may work with you to resolve the issue, which could include providing a replacement file or correcting the error. Any such remedy is at our sole discretion and in accordance with applicable law.

We encourage you to review product information, system requirements, and compatibility before purchasing to ensure the digital goods meet your needs, as refunds will not be provided for reasons such as incompatibility with your system or a change of mind after access.

4. License and Permitted Use

Limited License: When you purchase a chess program, course, or other digital content from us, you are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable license to download, access, and use that product for your own personal, non-commercial use only. You do not acquire any ownership rights to the digital content; the right of ownership remains with the Company or the original content creators. Your license to use the product is conditional upon your compliance with these Terms.

Permitted Use: You may install and use the software or access the digital content on your personal devices for your private use. For example, if you purchase a chess training course, you may download the materials for your personal study and use.

Prohibited Uses: You must not engage in any of the following activities with respect to our Digital Products or any content from our website or Services:

• Redistribution or Resale: You may not copy, distribute, share, resell, donate, or sublicense any Digital Product to any other person or entity. This means you cannot upload our content to file-sharing sites, share it on forums, sell it on marketplaces, or otherwise transfer it to others (either for free or for consideration). The license is for your use only.
• Modification or Derivative Works: You may not modify, adapt, translate, or create derivative works based on the digital content, except where the Digital Product explicitly provides materials meant for customization (and even then, solely for your personal use). You also may not remove or alter any copyright notices or digital rights management (DRM) information that may be embedded in the product.
• Reverse Engineering: If the digital product is software, you are not allowed to reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the software, nor attempt to circumvent any technical protection measures or licensing control in the software, except to the extent that such activity is expressly permitted by applicable law notwithstanding this limitation.
• Commercial Use: You may not use the Digital Products or any part of their content for any commercial purpose. For instance, you cannot incorporate our chess training materials into a class or product you sell, and you cannot use our chess programs as part of a commercial service (such as running a coaching business where you share the software with clients), without explicit permission and a separate license from us.
• Unlawful Use: You must not use the digital goods or our Services for any unlawful purpose, nor in furtherance of any illegal activities. Any use of our products that violates intellectual property rights or these Terms will result in an immediate termination of the license granted to you.

Intellectual Property Rights: All Digital Products and content available on chess.org (including software code, text, images, videos, and course materials) are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. The Company and/or its content suppliers retain all rights, title, and interest in and to the Products. The Caissa Bohemica name, logo, and any product names are trademarks of the Company. You agree not to infringe or violate these rights. Unauthorized use of our intellectual property may result in civil or criminal penalties.

Feedback: If you provide us with feedback, suggestions, or ideas regarding our products or services, you acknowledge that such feedback is given voluntarily and we are free to use it as we see fit, without any obligation to you.

5. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. We collect and process personal data from you when you use our site or purchase products. By using our Services or making a purchase, you consent to the collection and use of your data as outlined in this section and in our full Privacy Policy (provided below and/or available on our website). Our Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

Personal Data Collection: In order to fulfill your orders and provide our Services, we will ask you to provide certain personal data, such as your name, email address, and billing details. We use this information solely for legitimate business purposes, for example processing the payments (through Stripe), delivering your digital goods, providing receipts or invoices, and communicating with you about your purchase. We may also collect technical data (like IP address or device information via cookies) to ensure the functionality and security of our site and to improve user experience.

Use and Sharing of Data: We will process your personal data in compliance with applicable data protection laws, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We do not sell your personal data to any third parties. We only share your data with third-party service providers as necessary — for example, with Stripe for payment processing and with email service providers to send you the product download or access information. Those providers are bound by confidentiality and data protection obligations. For details on all aspects of how we collect, use, store, and protect personal data, please review our Privacy Policy below. If you have any questions or requests regarding your personal data, you can contact us as described in the Privacy Policy.

By agreeing to these Terms and purchasing our products, you also acknowledge that you have read and understood our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with how we process data as described, please refrain from using our Services.

6. Limitation of Liability

Use at Your Own Risk: Our Digital Products and Services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. While we strive to ensure that our chess programs and training courses are of high quality, accurate, and useful, we make no explicit warranties or guarantees about the results you will achieve, the fitness of the products for your particular purpose, or that the content is error-free. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties (express or implied) including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

Technical Issues and Compatibility: You are responsible for ensuring that your computer or device meets the minimum requirements for using our digital goods (such as having a compatible operating system or required software). The Company is not responsible for technical problems that may occur when using our products if those problems are due to your hardware, software environment, internet connection, or other issues on your side. For example, if your device does not support a file format or if you have insufficient internet connectivity to download a course, that is beyond our control. We will, however, provide reasonable support to help you access your purchased content.

Customer Misuse: We are not liable for any issues arising from misuse of the Digital Products. "Misuse" includes but is not limited to altering the product, using it in a manner not intended (for example, using a training course in a way that violates these Terms or attempting to modify a program in an unauthorized manner), or failing to follow provided instructions. You are liable for any damage to your devices or loss of data that results from unauthorized modifications or improper use of our software or content.

Limitation of Liability: To the maximum extent allowed by applicable law, in no event will the Company (Caissa Bohemica, s.r.o.), its owners, directors, employees, or partners be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or exemplary damages arising out of or in connection with your use of our Services or Digital Products. This includes, for example, any loss of profit, loss of data, business interruption, computer damage, or other commercial or personal damages or losses, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Our aggregate liability for any claim arising from these Terms or your use of our Services (whether in contract or any other form of liability) may not exceed the amount you paid for the digital product in question. For example, if you purchased a course for USD 50, our liability to you for any issue related to that course will be capped at USD 50.

Exceptions: Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain warranties or liabilities. If laws applicable to you and these Terms deem an exclusion of warranty or limitation of liability illegal or unenforceable, such provisions will apply to you only to the maximum extent permitted by law. Nothing in these Terms seeks to exclude or limit our liability for gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or any other liability which cannot be excluded under the law.

7. Governing Law

These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms, the Services, or your purchase/use of any Digital Product will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Czech Republic, without regard to its conflict of law principles. This governing law applies no matter where in the world you reside, but if you are a consumer, you may also have certain rights under your local consumer protection laws.

By using the Services, you agree that the laws of the Czech Republic will govern any disputes and that these Terms are to be considered a contract made and performed in the Czech Republic.

8. Dispute Resolution

Initial Resolution Efforts: We sincerely hope you have no issues with our products or services. If a dispute or concern arises, we encourage you to contact us first trying to resolve the matter informally. A quick conversation or email exchange can often clear up misunderstandings or issues.

Jurisdiction and Venue: If we cannot resolve a dispute amicably, you and the Company agree that the dispute will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Czech Republic. Specifically, unless otherwise required by law, any legal proceedings will be brought in the competent courts of the Czech Republic (for example, a court located in the region where our Company is registered, such as Liberec, Czech Republic). You and we consent to the personal jurisdiction of these courts.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (Arbitration/Mediation): As an alternative to going to court, either party may propose to resolve the dispute through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, such as mediation or arbitration:

• Mediation: Before or during any court case, either party can suggest mediation, where a neutral third-party mediator helps facilitate a resolution. Mediation is voluntary and non-binding unless a settlement is reached. It can be a quicker and less formal way to resolve disagreements. If both parties agree, we will cooperate in selecting a mediator and attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute through mediation.
• Arbitration: As another option, the parties may agree to submit the dispute to binding arbitration. In arbitration, a neutral arbitrator (or a panel) will render an award on the dispute, which can be enforced similarly to a court judgment. Arbitration can sometimes be faster or more confidential than court. Note: We do not require arbitration in these Terms, but we are open to it if both sides mutually agree. The terms of any arbitration (such as which arbitration service or rules to follow) would be discussed and agreed upon in a separate written agreement at that time.
• Costs: Typically, each party would bear its own costs for mediation or arbitration, and split the mediator/arbitrator fees, unless agreed or decided otherwise.

Important: If we do not mutually agree to use arbitration or mediation, then the default method of resolving disputes will be through the court system as described above. These ADR options do not apply unless both you and the Company voluntarily agree to them after a dispute arises. Nothing in this section limits either party’s right to seek interim relief in a court of law, if necessary, to prevent harm (for example, to stop an intellectual property infringement).

For consumers in the EU: You may also have the right to use the EU Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform to facilitate the resolution of disputes for online purchases. While we believe direct communication is the best first step, we provide this information as part of EU regulation compliance.

9. Amendment of the Terms

Right to Update: The Company reserves the right to amend, revise, or change these Terms of Service at any time. If we amend the Terms, we will post the updated version on this page and update the "Last Updated" date at the top. It is your responsibility to review the Terms periodically.

Acceptance of Changes: Changes to the Terms will become effective immediately upon being posted, or as of any later date that may be specified in the updated Terms. By continuing to use the chess.org website or Services after any changes come into effect, you agree to the revised Terms. If you do not agree with a change, you must stop using the platform and Services. We may (but are not obligated to) notify registered users of significant changes via email or a notice on our website.

10. Miscellaneous Provisions

Severability: If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision will be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable (if possible), and the remaining provisions of these Terms will remain in full force and effect. An unenforceable provision will not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of the Terms.

Waiver: Our failure to enforce any part of these Terms is not a waiver of our right to later enforce that or any other part of the Terms. Any waiver of compliance with these Terms must be made in writing and signed by an authorized representative of Caissa Bohemica, s.r.o.

Entire Agreement: These Terms (along with any additional rules or policies posted on our site, such as our Privacy Policy and any end-user license agreements that might accompany specific products) constitute the entire agreement between you and the Company regarding the use of our Services and the purchase of Digital Products. They supersede any prior agreements, understandings, or communications (whether written or oral) relating to the same subject matter.

Transfer/Assignment: You may not assign or transfer any rights or obligations under these Terms to any other party without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations to an affiliate or in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, or by operation of law or otherwise.

11. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about these Terms of Service or our Services, please feel free to contact us:

• Caissa Bohemica, s.r.o. (Chess.org)
  Skalní 494/3, 460 05 Liberec
  Czech Republic
  Email: shop@chess.org

We will do our best to respond to your inquiries within a reasonable time frame.