Note
This English translation is provided for convenience. Only the German version is legally binding.
§ 1 Scope and provider
(1) These terms apply to all contracts for the use of the "Mattly" app for iPhone and iPad (app) and of the website https://mattlyapp.com including the web app (website), together "Mattly". The provider and your contracting party is Omid Efazat, sole proprietor, Gartenfelder Str. 52, 13599 Berlin, Germany, email: [email protected] ("we" or "us").
(2) Mattly is intended for consumers for private use. Conflicting terms of users do not apply.
(3) The participation terms additionally apply to Kronen, the shop, vouchers and the "Invite friends" program. How we process personal data is explained in the privacy policy.
(4) These terms are available in German and English. Only the German version is legally binding.
§ 2 Mattly services
(1) Mattly is a platform for playing and learning chess. Depending on platform and version this includes in particular: games against computer opponents and against bot clones built from publicly available games of a Chess.com or Lichess player; online games against other people, live (rated or unrated) and as correspondence chess "Daily" with 1, 3 or 7 days per move; games through your own Lichess account (Lichess pool); puzzles and training; game review with an AI coach; roast mode; text chat, voice chat and direct messages; friends, clubs, leagues and leaderboards; Mattly TV for watching public rated games; public profiles; Kronen and the shop.
(2) The basic features are free. Additional features come with the paid Mattly Plus (§ 7). Before buying, the app and the website show which features are free and which belong to Plus.
(3) Engine, review and coach run on your device or in your browser. Engine evaluations, coach hints and bot clones are generated automatically and may be inaccurate in individual cases. A bot clone only imitates a playing style based on public games; it is neither the person concerned nor authorised by them.
(4) Lichess pool and game import: if you connect your Lichess account, you sign in directly at lichess.org and play there under the Lichess terms. When you import games or create bot clones, your device fetches public data directly from Chess.com or Lichess. We are not affiliated with these services and are not responsible for their availability.
(5) We keep developing Mattly and may change, replace or discontinue features if there is a valid reason (for example technical development, security, legal requirements or changes at Apple, Lichess or Chess.com), the change is reasonable for you and causes you no additional costs. For paid services we will inform you in text form in good time about changes that impair your access or the usability more than insignificantly. You may then terminate the contract free of charge within 30 days after the information or after the change, whichever is later (§ 327r BGB).
(6) We strive for high availability but do not owe uninterrupted availability of the online features. Maintenance, security updates and disruptions beyond our control may cause interruptions. Your statutory rights in case of defects of paid services remain unaffected.
§ 3 Use without an account, account and age
(1) You can use a lot without an account, for example games against bots, puzzles, review and the board editor. Online features require a Mattly account. You sign in with "Sign in with Apple" or with your email address and a one time code. One account works for both app and website.
(2) The contract for free use with an account is concluded when you complete the sign up.
(3) From the age of 16 you may create an account yourself. Aged 13 to 15 you need the consent of your parents or other legal guardians. Under 13 you may not create an account, but you may use the features that need no account. Purchases by minors require the consent of their legal guardians. Voice chat and message requests with people who are not your friends are available from 16, vouchers from 18. For this you must state your birth year truthfully.
(4) Your details must be true. Protect your access (Apple Account, email inbox, device) from others. One account per person. Accounts may not be sold, transferred or shared.
(5) Username, display name, profile photo, bio and social links must not infringe the rights of others, must not be offensive, indecent, misleading or unlawful and must not suggest that you are someone else (for example Mattly, our team, the founder or a well known person). We may reset or remove inadmissible names and images.
§ 4 Public content and rights of use
(1) Your profile is public: username, display name, profile photo, country, bio, social links, ratings, statistics, achievements and your recent games are visible to everyone, also on the website at mattlyapp.com/@username. Finished online games can be replayed via a link. Ongoing rated live games can be watched on Mattly TV. Results appear in leagues and leaderboards.
(2) Content you post (for example profile photo, bio, chat, messages, club name and description, shared roast cards) remains yours. You grant us a simple, free and non transferable right to store, technically process and display it in Mattly to the extent and for as long as necessary to operate Mattly. After you delete your account, games remain visible to your opponents in anonymised form.
(3) Only post content for which you hold the necessary rights.
(4) Mattly itself (software, design, pieces, boards, sounds, texts, logos and trademarks) is protected. For the duration of the contract you receive a simple, non transferable right to use Mattly for private, non commercial purposes under these terms. Automated access (bots, scrapers) without our permission, circumventing technical protection measures and decompiling beyond what the law permits (§ 69e UrhG) are not allowed.
§ 5 Fair play and rules of conduct
(1) In online games (live, Daily, rated or unrated) you play alone and without assistance. Prohibited are in particular engines, review or coach features, endgame databases and help from other people during an ongoing game, arranged or gifted results, losing on purpose and using several accounts to influence ratings, leagues, Kronen or rewards. Private notes on your own game are allowed. Games via Lichess are additionally subject to the Lichess rules.
(2) Treat others with respect. Prohibited are in particular insults, harassment, threats, discrimination, hate speech, sexual or violence glorifying content, spam, advertising, fraud, publishing other people's personal data without their permission and any other unlawful content.
(3) You must not manipulate Mattly. Prohibited are in particular exploiting bugs, circumventing security and fair play measures (for example App Attest) and manipulating Kronen, invitations, leagues and leaderboards.
(4) To protect fair competition we automatically analyse rated games with a chess engine (Stockfish) and compare your moves with the engine moves and with your rating. Suspicious results and reports by other users are reviewed by a human. A ban for cheating is never based solely on the automated analysis.
(5) You can report players, chat messages and direct messages in the app and on the website and block players. Blocking ends a friendship and stops chat, voice chat, messages and challenges between you.
§ 6 Moderation, measures and notice and action under the Digital Services Act
(1) Chat and direct messages pass an automatic word filter that hides inadmissible words.
(2) Anyone can notify us of content they consider unlawful or in breach of these terms (Art. 16 DSA): with the report function or by email to [email protected]. A notice by email should identify the content precisely (for example username, game or message), explain why it is unlawful, contain the name and email address of the notifier (except for notices on certain offences against children) and state that the information is accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge. We confirm receipt, decide promptly, diligently and objectively and inform the notifier of the outcome.
(3) In case of breaches of these terms or of the law we may, depending on severity, frequency and fault and taking your legitimate interests into account: remove or hide content, reset names and images, warn you, suspend individual features (for example chat, voice chat, direct messages or rated games), withdraw ratings, results, league places, Kronen and rewards obtained through the breach, refuse vouchers, suspend your account temporarily and, for serious or repeated breaches, permanently, and terminate the contract for good cause (§ 15).
(4) We inform you of every measure with a statement of reasons (Art. 17 DSA) unless the law prevents this. You may object within six months by email to [email protected]. A human will then review the case again and we will tell you the result. You may also turn to an out of court dispute settlement body certified under Art. 21 DSA or to a court. These options also apply to people whose notice we rejected.
(5) If someone repeatedly provides manifestly unlawful content or repeatedly submits manifestly unfounded notices, we may, after a prior warning, suspend their account or stop processing their notices for a reasonable period (Art. 23 DSA). We pass on information about criminal offences involving a threat to the life or safety of persons to the competent authorities (Art. 18 DSA).
(6) Our point of contact for users and authorities is [email protected] (German and English).
(7) If we rightfully suspend Plus or your account because of a breach for which you are responsible, we do not refund fees already paid for the period of the suspension, to the extent permitted by law.
§ 7 Mattly Plus
(1) Mattly Plus unlocks additional features. You see the current scope on the Plus page before buying. Plus applies to your Mattly account in app and website, no matter where you bought it.
(2) Plus is available as a monthly subscription (€10.99 per month), a yearly subscription (€99.99 per year) and a one time purchase "Lifetime" (€249.99). The prices shown to you before purchase apply.
(3) Monthly and yearly subscriptions come with a free 7 day trial, but only for your first subscription. The trial automatically converts into the chosen paid subscription unless you cancel before it ends. We remind you 2 days before the trial ends.
(4) Once after signing up, a special offer may be shown to you for 10 minutes: monthly €4.99 per month, yearly €49.99 per year (each with the trial under para. 3 if you are eligible) or Lifetime €99.99. The offer price also applies to all renewals of that subscription as long as it runs without interruption. The offer is only valid within the period shown and only once per account.
(5) Lifetime is a one time purchase without renewal. It unlocks Plus for your account permanently, including future Plus features, for the entire lifetime of the Mattly service (not for your own lifetime). Lifetime is tied to your account and not transferable. We operate Mattly for an indefinite period. Should we discontinue Mattly, we will announce this at least three months in advance. If the service ends within 24 months after your Lifetime purchase, we refund one twenty fourth of the price paid for each full month missing until the end of these 24 months; this also applies to App Store purchases.
(6) "1 month Plus" from the Kronen shop gives you 30 days of Plus without payment and without renewal (see participation terms).
(7) If you already have Plus, you do not need a second one. Several purchases from different sources (for example an Apple subscription and Lifetime) run and bill independently. You must cancel an Apple subscription yourself at Apple.
§ 8 Purchases in the app through Apple
(1) In the app you buy Plus as an in app purchase in the App Store. Apple is the seller. The purchase is processed through your Apple Account and Apple's terms and privacy notices apply in addition. Apple shows you the price including any taxes in the purchase dialog.
(2) Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase or after the free trial ends. Subscriptions renew automatically for the same period unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Likewise, cancel the free trial at least 24 hours before it ends. You can cancel at any time in your Apple Account settings (Subscriptions).
(3) Withdrawal, refunds and cancellations of App Store purchases are handled exclusively by Apple (reportaproblem.apple.com). We cannot cancel or refund App Store purchases ourselves, except for the refund under § 7 (5).
(4) These terms govern the use of Mattly also for purchases through Apple. Apple is not responsible for Mattly or its content.
§ 9 Purchases on the website
(1) On the website we sell Plus ourselves. Your contracting party is Omid Efazat. Payments are processed by our payment service provider Stripe Payments Europe, Ltd., 1 Grand Canal Street Lower, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin, D02 H210, Ireland (Stripe). You can pay with the payment methods shown on the checkout page.
(2) How the contract is concluded: you choose a plan on the Plus page and are redirected to Stripe's checkout page. Before ordering you see plan, price, term and any trial there and can check and correct your entries. There you tick a checkbox to confirm that these terms apply and to request the immediate start of Plus (subscription) or to consent to the immediate unlock (Lifetime), with the wording from the withdrawal policy. By clicking the order button you make a binding offer with an obligation to pay. The contract is concluded when we accept the offer, at the latest when Plus is unlocked. Right afterwards you receive a contract confirmation by email with all contract details, your declaration on the checkout page and these terms and the withdrawal policy attached. We do not keep the contract text accessible for you; you can view, save and print these terms on the website at any time.
(3) All prices are final prices. No VAT is charged under § 19 UStG (German small business rule). You receive invoices by email and find them on the website under Settings, "Manage subscription".
(4) A subscription initially runs for one month or one year from the end of the free trial or, without a trial, from the purchase. It renews automatically for the same period unless you cancel beforehand. The price is due at the start of each period and is collected with the chosen payment method. You can cancel at any time effective at the end of the current period, including during the trial. After the first period has expired you may in addition cancel a yearly subscription at any time with one month's notice; we then refund the prepaid amount for the time after the end of the contract pro rata by days to your payment method once the contract has ended.
(5) You can cancel with the cancellation button "Cancel contracts here" at https://mattlyapp.com/kuendigen (also without signing in), in the website settings under "Cancel subscription" or in text form, for example by email to [email protected]. We confirm the cancellation by email with the date it takes effect.
(6) If a payment fails, Stripe retries it for a few days. During this time Plus remains active for up to 7 days. If the payment does not succeed, the subscription ends.
(7) If we issue promotion codes, you can redeem them on the checkout page. The conditions stated with the promotion apply.
(8) If a Lifetime payment is fully refunded or charged back, Lifetime ends.
§ 10 Right of withdrawal
(1) If you buy Plus as a consumer on the website, you have a statutory right of withdrawal. The details are in the withdrawal policy at https://mattlyapp.com/en/withdrawal. You can also declare the withdrawal with the withdrawal function "Withdraw from contract" at https://mattlyapp.com/widerrufen.
(2) For App Store purchases Apple's rules apply (§ 8 (3)).
(3) You can end the free use at any time (§ 15).
§ 11 Kronen, shop and designs
(1) Kronen are virtual points without monetary value. They cannot be bought, paid out or transferred. The participation terms contain the details.
(2) Designs (for example pieces, boards, themes, effects, sounds and profile frames) are digital content within Mattly. You receive a simple, non transferable right to use them in Mattly, not ownership. You can use Plus designs while Plus is active. Legendary designs acquired with Kronen can be used while Plus is active; they stay assigned to your account and become usable again as soon as you have Plus again. Other designs acquired with Kronen remain usable for as long as your account exists.
§ 12 Roast mode
(1) Roast mode comments on your games with humour like a cheeky sports commentator, in three levels. It relies solely on verified facts from the game and never makes fun of personal characteristics.
(2) Speech output uses a voice of your device or browser. In the app the text may additionally be converted into a natural voice by a speech synthesis provider through our server; only the text of the roast is transmitted. Voices are subject to daily limits.
(3) If you share a roast card, it is visible to everyone with the link, together with your username, display name and profile photo.
§ 13 Rights in case of defects
The statutory rights in case of defects apply, for digital products in particular §§ 327 et seq. BGB. We provide the updates necessary to keep Mattly in conformity with the contract. For App Store purchases your rights under the purchase contract lie against Apple; our obligations under these terms remain unaffected.
§ 14 Liability
(1) We are liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence, for injury to life, body or health, under the German Product Liability Act, for fraudulently concealed defects and within the scope of any guarantee given.
(2) For slight negligence we are only liable for breach of essential contractual obligations, meaning obligations whose fulfilment makes the proper performance of the contract possible in the first place and on whose compliance you may regularly rely. In this case liability is limited to the typical, foreseeable damage.
(3) Otherwise our liability is excluded. These rules also apply to our vicarious agents.
(4) App and website store games against bots, reviews, notes and settings only locally on your device or in your browser. If you delete the app or your browser data, this data is gone.
§ 15 Term, termination and account deletion
(1) The contract for free use runs for an indefinite period. You can end it at any time by deleting your account in the app or on the website under Settings, "Delete account" or by giving us notice in text form.
(2) When you delete your account we end a website subscription automatically and immediately; no further payments are charged. There is no refund for the period already paid, except for a yearly subscription after its first period: then we refund the prepaid amount for the time from one month after the deletion pro rata (§ 9 (4)). Deleting the account does not end an App Store subscription; cancel it yourself in your Apple Account under Subscriptions. On deletion, Kronen, designs, ratings, league places and a Lifetime unlock lapse; there is no refund for them.
(3) We can terminate the contract for free use with four weeks' notice in text form. We can terminate subscriptions with one month's notice to the end of a period. Lifetime is governed by § 7 (5).
(4) The right of both parties to terminate for good cause remains unaffected. Good cause for us exists in particular in case of serious breaches of § 5 or § 6 or breaches repeated despite a warning, fraud and criminal offences.
§ 16 Changes to these terms
(1) We may change these terms with effect for the future if there is a valid reason, in particular new laws or case law, new features, security reasons or changes at Apple or Stripe, and the change is reasonable for you. We will not change the essential scope of Plus or the prices of running subscriptions without your express consent.
(2) We send you changed terms by email or show them in the app or on the website at least six weeks before they take effect, with a note on the changes. If you do not object within six weeks of receipt, the changes are deemed accepted. We expressly point out this consequence and your right to object in the notice. If you object, the previous terms continue to apply; we may then terminate the contract under § 15 (3).
§ 17 Final provisions
(1) The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. If you are a consumer with habitual residence in another country, the mandatory consumer protection provisions of that country remain unaffected.
(2) For consumers the statutory places of jurisdiction apply.
(3) We are neither willing nor obliged to take part in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.
(4) If a provision of these terms is invalid, the remaining provisions remain valid. The statutory provisions take the place of the invalid provision.
Last updated: 21 October 2026