Terms of Service

Effective Date: September 15, 2025

Welcome to Nova. These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Nova macOS application, command-line interface, related software components, documentation, websites, and any associated services or content (collectively, the “Services”).

By downloading, installing, accessing, or using any part of the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy (together, the “Agreement”). If you do not agree, do not install or use the Services.

1) Definitions

• “Nova,” “we,” “us,” “our” means the provider of the Services, including its affiliates and licensors.

• “You,” “your,” “User” means the person or entity accessing or using the Services.

• “Software” means the Nova macOS application, the Nova command-line tools, updates, modules, scripts, and related components.

• “Device” means a supported Apple macOS computer owned or controlled by you.

• “Beta” means any pre-release, experimental, preview, evaluation, developer, canary, or otherwise non-general-availability build of the Software.

• “$NVAI” means a community token referenced in Section 10 below.

2) Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction) to use the Services. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must review and accept these Terms and supervise your use. You represent that you are not barred from using the Services under applicable law (including export/sanctions restrictions).

3) Account Registration & Authentication

Some features may require authentication via third-party sign-in or a Nova account. Options may include: OpenAI (ChatGPT) login, Google Sign-In, or email/password.

• You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information and to keep it up to date.

• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials and for all activity under your account, authorized or not.

• You must promptly notify us of any suspected loss, theft, or unauthorized use of your account or Device.

• Third-party login providers are independent platforms with their own terms and privacy practices. Your use of those providers is subject to their terms.

4) Local Execution; User Control & Responsibility

• Local Operation. Nova is designed to run natively on your Device. Except for optional services you explicitly enable (e.g., sign-in, license checks, update checks, optional telemetry, or cloud threat-intel lookups), Nova is intended to operate locally and does not remotely control your system.

• Command Approval. The Software may recommend or prepare commands or scripts (e.g., to scan, quarantine, remove artifacts, modify configuration). You decide whether to approve and run them.

• Risks. Running commands may change system settings; affect performance, security, or stability; or modify, move, or delete files. Consequences can include data loss, corruption, privacy exposure, misconfiguration, boot issues, or hardware stress.

• Your Responsibilities. You are solely responsible for: (i) reviewing commands and output before execution; (ii) maintaining complete, tested backups; (iii) ensuring compatibility with your OS, tools, and policies; and (iv) complying with applicable laws and third-party terms. We do not guarantee any specific security outcome or risk mitigation.

5) System Requirements; Updates; Changes

• Requirements. A supported version of macOS, sufficient disk space, permissions, and network access (for optional features) may be required.

• Updates. We may provide patches or updates that automatically install or prompt you to install. Updates may change features, interfaces, or dependencies.

• Service Changes. We may add, modify, suspend, or discontinue features at any time. We have no obligation to maintain legacy versions or specific capabilities.

6) License Grant & Restrictions

• License. Subject to your compliance with the Agreement, Nova grants you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable license to install and use the Software on Devices you own or control for your personal or internal business purposes.

• Restrictions. You will not (and will not enable others to):

  1. copy, modify, translate, adapt, or create derivative works of the Software (except to the extent a specific component is licensed under permissive OSS terms that allow it);

  2. reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or otherwise attempt to derive source code or underlying ideas (except to the extent such restriction is prohibited by law);

  3. bypass, disable, or interfere with security-related features, license enforcement, or usage limits;

  4. rent, lease, lend, sell, sublicense, assign, distribute, or make the Software available to third parties (including “as a service” or time-sharing);

  5. use the Services for any illegal, harmful, or high-risk purposes (see Section 12).

• Open-Source Components. Certain components may be provided under separate open-source licenses. To the extent of any conflict, the applicable open-source license terms govern that component. A notice file or credits page will list such components when applicable.

7) Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to use the Services to:

• harass, harm, or exploit others;

• create, test, distribute, or operate malware, spyware, wallet drainers, keyloggers, or other harmful code;

• gain unauthorized access to networks, accounts, devices, or data;

• violate any applicable law, third-party rights, export controls, or sanctions;

• attempt to probe or compromise the Services or related infrastructure except as part of a mutually agreed and authorized security testing program.

We may investigate and take any action we deem appropriate (including suspension, termination, referral to authorities, or legal action).

8) Beta Disclaimer; Pre-Release Features

Beta builds are experimental and may be incomplete, unstable, or inaccurate. Features may change without notice; performance and results may vary. You use Beta at your sole risk. We may limit Beta availability, cap usage, or revoke access at any time.

9) Payments; Trials; Refunds

• Beta Access. During Beta, some or all functionality may be free. We may introduce paid features, subscriptions, or licenses later.

• Fees. When applicable, you agree to pay all fees and taxes (if any) and authorize us or our payment processor to charge your payment method. Fees are non-refundable except where required by law or where we expressly state otherwise.

• No Circumvention. You agree not to bypass any paywall, license check, quota, or meter.

10) Community Token ($NVAI) Disclosures

Nova’s development may be partially supported by a community token known as $NVAI. $NVAI is not sold by Nova within these Services. If you acquire $NVAI elsewhere, you acknowledge and agree:

• $NVAI does not convey any equity, ownership, dividends, profit-share, governance, or creditor rights in Nova or its affiliates.

• $NVAI is not an investment, security, or note, and is not offered through these Services. Nothing herein is an offer to sell or solicitation to buy any security.

• $NVAI is intended solely as a community-driven, experimental mechanism that may support ecosystem initiatives at Nova’s discretion. There is no promise or expectation of profit, appreciation, liquidity, or future utility.

• Jurisdictional restrictions may apply. You are solely responsible for complying with local laws, taxes, and reporting obligations related to any token activities.

• Nova does not control third-party marketplaces, smart contracts, bridges, or exchanges and bears no responsibility for losses or issues arising from them.

• We may reference $NVAI in communications (e.g., transparency reports, burns, locks, contributions), but such references are forward-looking statements subject to change without notice.

11) Security; No Professional Advice

• Best-Effort Tooling. The Services provide tools, heuristics, and detections on a best-effort basis. They do not guarantee threat prevention or removal.

• No Professional Advice. Outputs may include suggestions about security posture. These are informational and not legal, financial, or professional advice. You should consult qualified professionals for advice tailored to your situation.

• Third-Party Tools. Commands may invoke system utilities or third-party tools. You are responsible for reviewing and approving execution.

12) High-Risk Use Disclaimer

The Services are not designed for use in hazardous environments or mission-critical systems (e.g., medical devices, life support, emergency communications, nuclear facilities, air traffic control) where failure could lead to death, personal injury, or severe environmental/financial damage. You must not use the Services for any High-Risk Use.

13) User Content; Logs; Telemetry

• Local by Default. The Software is designed to execute locally. By default, Nova does not transmit your local files for analysis unless you enable a feature that requires network communication (e.g., sign-in, update checks, license verification, optional cloud lookups, or you explicitly submit a sample).

• Optional Telemetry. If you opt in, Nova may collect limited technical/diagnostic data (e.g., version, OS, feature flags, crash traces) to improve stability and security. Telemetry content and retention are described in the Privacy Policy. You can opt out where offered.

• Submitted Content. If you voluntarily submit logs, suspicious samples, or feedback, you grant Nova a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, analyze, modify, and create derivative works from such submissions for the purposes of operating, improving, and securing the Services. Do not submit data you are not authorized to share.

14) Intellectual Property; Feedback

• Ownership. The Services (including Software, UI, models, documentation, and branding) are owned by Nova and its licensors and are protected by intellectual property laws.

• Feedback. If you provide suggestions, bug reports, or ideas (“Feedback”), you grant Nova a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free license to use and exploit the Feedback without restriction or obligation to you.

15) Third-Party Services & Dependencies

The Services may depend on or interoperate with third-party services (e.g., Apple, OpenAI, Google, package registries, threat feeds). Nova is not responsible for third-party services, their availability, or their terms. Your use of such services is governed by their terms and privacy policies.

16) DMCA & Copyright Policy

If you believe content within the Services infringes your copyright, send a notice compliant with 17 U.S.C. §512(c)(3) to our designated agent:

DMCA Agent: Legal Department, Nova
Email: support@nshield.org
Subject: “DMCA Takedown Request – Nova”

We may remove or disable allegedly infringing material and, where appropriate, terminate repeat infringers. [Replace with your preferred agent info if you appoint an external service.]

17) Export Control; Sanctions; Anti-Corruption

You represent that you are not located in, under control of, or a national/resident of any country or party subject to U.S. embargoes or sanctions, and you are not on any U.S. government denied-party list. You will comply with U.S. Export Administration Regulations, U.S. sanctions, and all similar laws. You will not use the Services for any prohibited end use. You also agree to comply with applicable anti-bribery/anti-corruption laws (including the U.S. FCPA and U.K. Bribery Act).

18) Privacy

Your use of the Services is subject to our Privacy Policy, which describes how we handle personal information, telemetry options, retention, and your choices. Where the Software processes data locally, outputs and effects remain on your Device unless you choose to share them.

19) Disclaimers

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE,” WITH ALL FAULTS. NOVA AND ITS AFFILIATES AND LICENSORS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, AVAILABILITY, OR SECURITY. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE ERROR-FREE, UNINTERRUPTED, OR IMMUNE FROM THREATS, OR THAT ANY DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED. YOU ALONE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DECISIONS TO EXECUTE COMMANDS AND FOR BACKUPS.

20) Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• NOVA, ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, SUPPLIERS, AND LICENSORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES; LOSS OF DATA; LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUE; BUSINESS INTERRUPTION; COMPUTER FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION; SECURITY INCIDENTS; OR COSTS OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES, ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE SERVICES OR THIS AGREEMENT, HOWEVER CAUSED AND UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

• IN NO EVENT WILL NOVA’S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATING TO THE SERVICES EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO NOVA FOR THE SERVICES IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY, OR (B) USD $50.
  Some jurisdictions do not allow certain exclusions or limitations; some of the above may not apply to you. Nothing excludes liability that cannot be excluded by law.

21) Indemnification

You will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Nova and its affiliates, officers, employees, and licensors from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from or related to: (a) your use or misuse of the Services; (b) your decision to execute commands or scripts; (c) your violation of this Agreement or any law; or (d) your infringement or violation of third-party rights.

22) Term; Suspension; Termination

This Agreement becomes effective when you first install or use the Services and continues until terminated. We may suspend or terminate your access at any time for any or no reason, including violation of these Terms or risk to the Services or others. You may terminate by uninstalling the Software and ceasing all use. Upon termination, your license ends and you must stop using and destroy all copies of the Software. Sections that, by their nature, should survive (including 4–5, 6–7, 10–12, 14–22, 24–27) will survive.

23) Government Use

If you are a U.S. Government end user, the Software is “commercial computer software” and “commercial computer software documentation” provided with only those rights set forth in this Agreement, per FAR 12.212 and DFARS 227.7202, as applicable.

24) Notices; Electronic Communications

We may provide notices (including updates to these Terms) via the Software UI, website, or email. You agree to receive communications electronically and that such communications satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.

25) Assignment

You may not assign or transfer this Agreement without Nova’s prior written consent. Nova may assign or transfer this Agreement, in whole or in part, without restriction.

26) Governing Law; Venue; Jury & Class Waiver

This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Wyoming, USA, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. You consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in Casper, Wyoming for any dispute not subject to arbitration or where arbitration is unavailable. To the maximum extent permitted by law, you and Nova waive any right to a jury trial and to participate in a class, consolidated, or representative action.

27) Force Majeure

Nova will not be liable for any delay or failure to perform resulting from causes beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, labor disputes, shortages, cyberattacks, war, terrorism, civil unrest, utilities or communications failures, or governmental action.

28) Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via the Services or our website. Your continued use after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree, you must stop using the Services.

29) Severability; No Waiver

If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect. Our failure to enforce any right or provision is not a waiver of such right or provision.

30) Entire Agreement; Order of Precedence

These Terms and the Privacy Policy constitute the entire agreement between you and Nova regarding the Services and supersede all prior or contemporaneous agreements on the subject matter. In the event of conflict between these Terms and any open-source license for a specific component, the open-source license governs that component.

31) Contact

Questions, notices, or complaints:
Email: support@nshield.org