Terms of Service
STATUS: DRAFT. This document has not been reviewed by licensed counsel. It describes how Sparkshed actually behaves today and is published so that behaviour is inspectable, but it is not legal advice and it is not a finished agreement. See the counsel review packet for what is still outstanding.
Acceptance of terms
By using Sparkshed ("The Garage", sparkshed.dev), you agree to these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, do not use the service.
You must be at least 13 years old to sign in or enable telemetry. Users under 13 may use the simulator locally (no account, no uploads) with adult supervision.
Description of service
Sparkshed provides an in-browser electronics simulator, AI-assisted design generation, parts catalog, and order facilitation. It is an educational and prototyping tool — not a professional EDA (Electronic Design Automation) suite, not a certified engineering tool, and not a manufacturer.
Simulation disclaimer
The simulator models digital logic and basic DC electrical behavior. It does not model analog effects (noise, parasitics, thermal, EMI/RF), does not simulate AC circuits, and does not certify designs for safety or regulatory compliance. A design that simulates correctly may still fail on real hardware. You are solely responsible for verifying the safety and correctness of any physical build derived from a Sparkshed design.
AI-generated content
The Ask Genie and Copilot features use large language models (LLMs) to suggest circuit designs. Every suggestion uses only real manufacturer part numbers from our catalog and passes an electrical rule check. However, the AI does not guarantee correctness, optimality, or fitness for purpose. Treat AI suggestions as starting points, not final designs.
User-generated content
You retain ownership of the circuit designs you create. By publishing a design publicly, you grant Sparkshed a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to display and distribute it through the platform.
You agree not to publish content that is illegal, harmful, infringing, or violates our Content Moderation Policy.
We reserve the right to remove content that violates these terms.
Orders and third-party services
Sparkshed is not the seller of record for any physical parts, PCBs, or assemblies. When you order through our partner links (PCBWay, DigiKey, Mouser, LCSC), you are transacting directly with those partners. Their terms, warranties, and return policies apply.
Sparkshed may earn affiliate commissions on qualifying purchases. This does not affect the price you pay.
Limitation of liability
Sparkshed is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, express or implied. We are not liable for damages arising from the use or inability to use the service, including but not limited to: hardware damage from building a Sparkshed design, personal injury from electronics work, or data loss.
Our total liability for any claim is limited to the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim (typically $0 for free tier users).
Account terms
You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account. You may not share your account credentials.
We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms or engage in abusive behavior.
You may delete your account at any time. All your data will be permanently deleted within 30 days.
Changes to terms
We may update these terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via the service or email. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.
Contact
For legal inquiries: legal@sparkshed.dev