Terms of service

1Acceptance of these terms

These Terms of Service form an agreement between you and Antar Labs LLC concerning the Merlin application, its content and related services, collectively the "Services." Your use of the Services following an opportunity to review these terms constitutes acceptance. If you disagree, discontinue use.

The Privacy Policy describes our handling of personal information. Agreement to these terms does not constitute any separately required consent to data processing.

The iOS application is also subject to Apple's Standard Licensed Application End User License Agreement, the "Standard EULA," which controls conflicts concerning the application license. Mandatory consumer protections prevail over both agreements.

2Eligibility and your account

You must be at least 13 to use Merlin, and old enough to enter into this agreement where you live or have a parent or guardian's permission. Purchases are made through your Apple Account and are subject to Apple's own age and Family Sharing rules.

An account is optional. If you sign in with Apple, you are responsible for protecting your Apple Account and for activity you authorize. Account impersonation, resale, and use to evade restrictions are prohibited. Notify us of suspected unauthorized access. Your statutory rights concerning unauthorized use or charges remain unaffected.

3The Services

Merlin reads books, articles, PDFs and notes aloud in a voice synthesized on your iPhone. The voice model is downloaded once, over Wi-Fi, after the app tells you its size; a lighter built-in voice reads until it arrives. Availability of features depends on your device, iOS version, app version and purchase. Fetching an article and managing an account or a purchase require internet access; listening does not.

Merlin is a reading voice, not a narrator. Synthesized speech may mispronounce names and unusual words, and it is not an audiobook recording of the work. Speech synthesis works the phone hard; long chapters can warm the device, and Merlin pauses rendering when it runs hot.

4The books and content you add

You add books, articles, PDFs and notes to Merlin yourself, and you are responsible for having the right to use them this way. Merlin is for listening to content you own or are otherwise entitled to read, for personal, non-commercial use. Do not use Merlin to make, distribute or sell recordings of works you do not have the rights to.

Your content stays on your device. We do not receive, store, review or claim any rights in it. The audio Merlin makes from it is for your own listening on that device.

We may use voluntarily submitted product feedback without compensation, subject to the Privacy Policy.

5Merlin Pro, subscriptions and payment

Merlin Pro is sold through Apple as a monthly or yearly subscription or as a one-time lifetime purchase, and billed to your Apple Account. The offer presented before purchase specifies the features, price, billing period, taxes and any introductory terms. Charges occur upon purchase confirmation or conversion of a free trial. Offers and eligibility may vary.

Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current subscription or trial period ends. Apple may charge during that 24-hour period. A trial converts to the subscription disclosed in the offer unless canceled in time. Apple determines trial eligibility; unused trial time may be forfeited under its rules. Renewal does not depend on receiving a reminder, including the optional reminder Merlin can schedule for you.

Cancel or change a plan through Apple's subscription settings, also available in iPhone Settings under your name and Subscriptions. Cancellation generally takes effect after the paid period; trial access may end immediately. Deleting Merlin or your Merlin account does not cancel billing. Eligible purchases can be restored with "Restore purchases" in the app using the original Apple Account.

Apple administers price-change notices, required consent, plan changes and refunds. Refund requests may be submitted at reportaproblem.apple.com. You retain all statutory refund and other consumer remedies.

The lifetime purchase does not renew and provides the access specified in the offer for as long as Merlin is offered. It excludes separately identified future products unless stated otherwise.

6Acceptable use

You must not:

• Use Merlin for unlawful activity, including infringing another person's copyright or other rights.
• Upload malicious code, disrupt the Services, attempt unauthorized access, or probe other users' accounts or information.
• Bypass payment checks or access controls, or use Merlin Pro without paying for it.
• Extract, resell or commercially exploit the voice model, the audio Merlin makes, or the Services without our written permission.
• Reverse engineer the app or its underlying services except to the extent applicable law expressly permits the activity.

7Intellectual property

The Services' software, design, trademarks and materials belong to Antar Labs LLC or its licensors, excluding your content. No rights are granted beyond permitted personal use. Reproduction, distribution or commercial exploitation requires permission unless authorized by law.

The app license is subject to the Standard EULA and Apple's usage rules, including applicable Family Sharing rights. Merlin is built with open-source software, including the Kokoro voice model, whose licenses are listed under Acknowledgements in the app's Settings; those materials remain subject to their respective licenses.

8Third-party services

When you use Apple's sign-in or payment services, fetch an article from a website, or use another company's service through Merlin, its terms may also apply. We do not control third-party websites or endorse the content available through links you add. This does not limit our responsibility for our own services or the providers acting on our behalf, as required by law.

9Suspension and termination

You may stop using the Services or delete your account at any time. The Privacy Policy describes account deletion and retention.

We may suspend or terminate access for material violations, fraud, security or safety risks, or legal requirements. Where practicable and lawful, we will provide notice and an opportunity to address the issue. Restrictions may be appealed to support@antar.dev. Termination does not waive privacy or consumer rights or cancel an Apple subscription.

10Changes to the Services

We may update or modify the Services, including the voices offered, and availability may be affected by maintenance or interruptions. Continued use may require compatible software. If we discontinue a service or substantially reduce a paid offer, we will give reasonable advance notice where practicable and honor applicable purchase terms and consumer remedies.

11Disclaimer of warranties

To the extent permitted by law, we supply the Services "as is" and "as available," without warranties of accuracy of the synthesized speech, uninterrupted availability, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. This does not exclude statutory guarantees, duties of reasonable care and skill, or rights concerning defective or misdescribed digital content.

12Limitation of liability

Where permitted by law, Antar Labs LLC excludes liability for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive losses, including lost profits, opportunities or anticipated savings. Our aggregate liability under these service terms is limited to the greater of US $100 or the fees you paid for Merlin in the 12 months preceding the event.

These limits do not apply to fraud, willful misconduct, gross negligence, death or personal injury caused by negligence, or any liability or remedy that cannot legally be limited. Your non-waivable privacy and consumer rights remain unaffected. App-license claims remain subject to the Standard EULA and mandatory law.

13Governing law and disputes

Pennsylvania law governs these service terms, excluding conflict-of-law rules, without limiting mandatory protections in your place of residence. The Standard EULA governs the choice of law for app-license matters.

Disputes may be brought before a court with lawful jurisdiction, including local courts where consumer law permits. You may contact us to seek resolution, but doing so is not a prerequisite to exercising legal rights. These terms do not impose arbitration or a class-action waiver.

14Apple-specific terms

Antar Labs LLC is responsible for Merlin, its content, maintenance, support and applicable claims. Apple is not a party to these service terms and has no maintenance or support obligation. If the app fails to meet an applicable warranty, you may notify Apple for a refund of its purchase price. To the extent permitted by law, other warranty responsibilities belong to us.

Apple and its subsidiaries may enforce these Apple-specific provisions as third-party beneficiaries. You must comply with applicable third-party agreements and export and sanctions laws. Apple's usage rules and the Standard EULA remain applicable.

15General provisions

We may revise these terms prospectively and will provide reasonable notice of material changes. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance where permitted by law; express agreement will be requested when required. You may discontinue use and cancel future renewals if you disagree.

An unenforceable provision does not affect the remaining terms. Failure to enforce a right is not a waiver. Transfers of your account require permission unless permitted by law. We may transfer this agreement in a lawful business transaction while preserving your contractual and privacy protections.

These terms, the Standard EULA and your purchase offer govern their respective subject matter. Nothing excludes liability for misrepresentation where unlawful. Provisions concerning ownership, accrued obligations, liability and disputes survive termination as applicable.

16Contact information

For questions about these terms, your account or a purchase, contact:

You can also visit the Merlin support page. Apple billing and refund requests can be submitted through Apple's purchase support.