Software License Agreement

This Software License Agreement ("Agreement") is a contract between you ("You" or "Licensee") and Mikael Vesavuori ("we," "us," or "MikroChat"). By using our software, you agree to these terms.

If you don't agree, please don't use the Software.

1. What You're Getting

We're giving you a perpetual, free license to use MikroChat for any use case, private or commercial. MikroChat is not open source, but it is free to use.

What you get:

• Free use for any purpose, including commercial
• All updates and patches
• Self-host anywhere, including air-gapped environments
• Community support via discussions

Sponsorships

MikroChat is sustained by voluntary sponsorships. Commercial and organizational users are encouraged to sponsor a sum reflecting the value they get from MikroChat. Sponsorships are entirely optional and do not affect your license or access to the Software.

2. What You Can't Do

To keep things sustainable and fair, please don't:

• Reverse engineer or tamper with the Software: Don't try to decompile, disassemble, or modify the provided code
• Circumvent restrictions: Any restrictions, implicit or explicit, in the software are to be respected
• Redistribute the Software: Don't distribute MikroChat or bundle it as part of another product
• Remove our copyright notices: Keep the attributions intact
• Build a competitor: Don't use it for competitive analysis or to create a competing product

Pretty straightforward: use it, don't break it or redistribute it.

3. Self-Hosting and Installation

MikroChat is delivered as software for you to run on your own infrastructure. This means:

You're responsible for:

• Setting up your hosting environment
• Installing and configuring the Software
• Keeping your deployment secure
• Backing up your data
• Updating to new releases

We provide:

• Installation documentation
• Security advisories when needed

Since you're running everything on your side, you have complete control over your data and infrastructure.

4. Support

Reality check: I run MikroChat alongside a full-time job, so support is limited. Critical security issues get priority attention.

Support is provided on a best-effort basis through community channels:

• Access to documentation and guides
• Community discussions for questions and feedback
• Software is provided as-is
• Updates come when they come

There is no guaranteed response time or dedicated support channel. Your feedback is welcome and helps shape the roadmap, though we can't promise every feature.

5. Your Data Stays Yours

One of MikroChat's core principles is that your data never leaves your infrastructure.

What stays in your environment:

• All your operational data
• User information
• Configurations and content
• Everything the Software processes

What we collect (for sponsorships only):

• Contact and payment details if you choose to sponsor (processed by Polar)

We process any sponsorship data under GDPR. Email contact@mikrochat.com to access, correct, or delete your information.

6. Security and Compliance

What we do:

• Regular security scanning during development
• Generate Software Bill of Materials (SBOM)
• Follow security best practices
• Provide timely security patches for known vulnerabilities

What you're responsible for:

• Your deployment's security
• Access controls and authentication
• Compliance with regulations that apply to your organization
• Monitoring and applying security updates
• Data protection and backups

We build MikroChat with security as a priority, but as a self-hosted solution, you control the implementation and compliance with any regulatory frameworks.

7. Ownership

We own the Software - the code, intellectual property, trademarks, everything. Your perpetual license gives you the right to use it, not own it.

You own:

• Your data and content
• Your configurations
• Anything you create using MikroChat

We never access your content in your self-hosted deployment.

8. The Honest Truth About Warranties

MikroChat is provided "as is."

We work hard to make MikroChat excellent, but we can't guarantee:

• It will be perfect or bug-free
• It will work in every possible environment
• Updates won't occasionally introduce issues
• It will meet your specific requirements
• It will always be available

This is a one-person side project, not a billion-dollar enterprise software company. I care deeply about quality, but I also have to be realistic about resources and limitations.

To the extent permitted by law, we disclaim warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

If you're an EU consumer: This doesn't affect your mandatory statutory rights that can't be waived.

9. Liability Limits

Maximum liability: €0. MikroChat is provided free of charge.

We're not liable for:

• Lost profits, data, or business opportunities
• Indirect or consequential damages
• Business interruption
• Damages from your use or inability to use the Software

This applies even if we knew damages were possible. MikroChat is free software and these limits reflect that.

You agree to protect us from claims arising from your use of the Software, violation of this Agreement, or violation of laws.

EU consumer exception: Mandatory rights like liability for fraud, negligence causing death/injury, or other rights that can't be waived by law still apply.

10. Ending This Agreement

You can stop anytime:

• Just uninstall MikroChat and stop using it
• No need to notify us (though you can if you want)
• Your perpetual license remains valid if you return later

We can terminate if:

• You violate this Agreement
• You abuse the Software or violate the terms of use
• You engage in fraud or harmful behavior

If terminated:

• Your right to use the Software ends immediately
• Uninstall it and delete all copies
• The liability protections and dispute resolution terms survive

Since MikroChat is free, there are no refunds. Voluntary sponsorships are non-refundable.

11. Updates and Changes

Software updates:

• All updates are free
• Some updates may require migration effort on your part

Agreement changes:

• We may update this Agreement without notice
• Continued use means you accept the changes
• Material changes will be clearly highlighted

12. Sponsorships

MikroChat is free to use. Sponsorships are voluntary and processed through Polar.

• Sponsorships do not grant additional rights, features, or support
• Sponsorships are non-refundable
• The sponsorship model may change in the future, but the free license terms remain

13. Legal Stuff

Governing law: This Agreement is governed by Swedish law. Any disputes will be handled under Swedish jurisdiction.

Dispute resolution:

1. First, let's talk it out in good faith for up to 30 days
2. If that doesn't work, binding arbitration under mutually agreed rules
3. Either party can seek court injunctions for IP protection

The fine print:

• This is the complete agreement between us
• If part of it is unenforceable, the rest still applies
• Not enforcing something once doesn't mean we've given up that right
• You can't transfer your license without our written permission
• We can assign this Agreement to others
• This Agreement is written in English; translations are for convenience only

Export compliance: Don't use MikroChat in violation of EU or Swedish export control laws.

No partnership: This Agreement doesn't create any partnership, employment, or agency relationship.

14. Contact

Questions about this Agreement or anything in general?

Website: mikrochat.com
Email: contact@mikrochat.com