Built with Chinaski

Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Chinaski content management system ("Chinaski" or "the software") and of this website. By downloading, installing, accessing, or using Chinaski, or by using this website, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the software or the website.

1. Definitions

  • "The project" means the Chinaski open-source project and its contributors.
  • "The software" means the Chinaski content management system and its source code as distributed by the project.
  • "Operator" means any person or organisation that installs or runs an instance of the software.
  • "This website" means the public site on which these Terms are published.

2. Software licence

Chinaski is open-source software, released under the terms set out in the LICENSE file included with the source distribution. Those licence terms govern your rights to use, copy, modify, and redistribute the software and prevail over any conflicting statement in these Terms with respect to the software itself. Subject to that licence, you are granted a non-exclusive, worldwide right to use the software.

3. Self-hosted operation

Chinaski is self-hosted software. The project does not host instances, does not operate any server on your behalf, and has no access to your instance, database, content, or your users' data. As an Operator you are solely responsible for:

  • provisioning, configuring, securing, and maintaining the server on which the software runs;
  • the content you create, publish, or distribute through the software;
  • backing up your data and testing the software in your own environment;
  • compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to your site and its visitors.

4. Acceptable use

You must not use Chinaski, or this website, to:

  • publish or distribute content that is unlawful, fraudulent, defamatory, harassing, or that infringes the intellectual-property or privacy rights of others;
  • distribute malware or attempt to gain unauthorised access to any system, network, or data;
  • misrepresent your affiliation with the project, or remove or falsify required attribution or licence notices;
  • use the software in any manner that violates applicable export-control or sanctions laws.

You are solely responsible for the content you publish and for ensuring your use complies with applicable law.

5. Intellectual property and attribution

The software's source code is licensed as described in Section 2. The name "Chinaski", the project's logos, and other project marks remain the property of the project and are not licensed for use in any way that implies endorsement or affiliation without permission. Contributions you submit to the project are governed by the project's contribution terms and the applicable licence.

6. Third-party services

Chinaski can integrate with optional third-party services, including large-language-model APIs, SMTP providers, content-delivery networks, and analytics platforms. The project does not control these services and is not responsible for their availability, security, or practices. Your use of any third-party service is governed by that provider's own terms and privacy policy.

7. The website

This website is provided for informational and documentation purposes. The project may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the website at any time without notice. Content on the website is provided "as is"; see the Disclaimer for details.

8. Disclaimer of warranties

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the software and the website are provided "as is" and "as available", without warranty of any kind, whether express, implied, or statutory, including any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement. The project does not warrant that the software or website will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free of harmful components.

9. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall the project or its contributors be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, data, goodwill, or business, arising out of or related to your use of (or inability to use) the software or the website, whether based in contract, tort, strict liability, or any other theory, and even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Where liability cannot be excluded, it is limited to the minimum amount permitted by law.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the project and its contributors from and against any claims, damages, liabilities, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to the content you publish, your operation of an instance, or your breach of these Terms or of applicable law.

11. Termination

Your rights under the software licence continue for as long as you comply with its terms. The project may cease distributing or supporting the software at any time. The disclaimers, limitations of liability, and indemnification provisions of these Terms survive any termination.

12. Changes to these Terms

These Terms may be updated from time to time. Material changes are reflected by the "Last updated" date below. Your continued use of the software or website after changes are published constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

13. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the project maintainer is based, without regard to its conflict-of-law rules. To the extent permitted by law, the courts of that jurisdiction have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising from these Terms.

14. Severability and entire agreement

If any provision of these Terms is held unenforceable, that provision will be limited or severed to the minimum extent necessary and the remaining provisions will remain in full force. These Terms, together with the software licence and any policies referenced here, constitute the entire agreement between you and the project regarding the software and the website.

15. Contact

Questions about these Terms may be directed to the project through its published contact channels.

Last updated: June 2026