Terms of Service
Last updated: February 11, 2026
Plain-language summary: Fade is a bot detection tool, not a legal service. It helps you become aware of AI recording bots in your meetings, but it cannot guarantee it will catch every bot, and it cannot detect recording happening on other people's devices. Use it as one layer of awareness, not as your sole line of defense. The objection templates are informational starting points, not legal advice.
1. Acceptance of Terms
By downloading, installing, or using Fade ("the Software"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Software. We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the Software after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
2. Description of Service
Fade is a macOS desktop application that detects the presence of AI-powered recording and transcription bots in online meetings. It does this by scanning running processes, calendar event attendees, and meeting participant lists. Fade also provides templates for expressing non-consent to AI recording, and logs objections with timestamps for the user's records.
3. What Fade Is NOT
This is important. Please read this section carefully.
- Fade is not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. The non-consent templates and objection tools provided by Fade are informational resources. They are not legal documents drafted for your specific jurisdiction, circumstances, or legal needs. You should consult a qualified attorney for legal advice regarding recording consent laws in your jurisdiction.
- Fade is not a guarantee of detection. While we maintain a database of 180+ known AI bot signatures and update it regularly, new bots emerge frequently. Fade may not detect every AI recording tool, particularly new or obscure ones that have not yet been added to our signature database.
- Fade cannot detect recording on other people's devices. If another meeting participant runs a recording tool locally on their own computer (such as Granola, Cluely, or a phone recording app), Fade cannot detect it. These tools operate entirely on the other person's hardware and are invisible to your Mac. No software can detect this. Fade detects bots that join meetings as visible participants, bots added to calendar invites, recording indicators shown by meeting platforms, and recording tools running on your Mac.
- Fade does not prevent recording. Fade is a detection and awareness tool. It tells you when it identifies a bot. It does not block, disable, or interfere with any recording tool's operation.
- Fade is not a substitute for informed consent practices. Organizations and individuals should have clear policies about meeting recording. Fade is one tool that can support awareness, but it does not replace proper consent workflows, organizational policies, or direct communication between meeting participants.
4. License Grant
Free Tier
Fade's Free tier grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the Software on any Mac computers you personally own or control, for personal or professional use. Free tier includes local process detection only.
Pro Tier
A valid Pro license (obtained through purchase or an active trial) grants you access to additional features including calendar scanning, meeting participant monitoring, recording indicator detection, one-click objection tools, and evidence logging. A Pro license is granted per-user and may be activated on the Mac computers you personally own or control.
Trial
We offer a 14-day free trial of Pro features. The trial begins when you activate it during onboarding or through the app settings. No credit card is required. When the trial ends, Pro features become unavailable until you purchase a license.
5. Restrictions
You agree not to:
- Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Software, except to the extent permitted by applicable law.
- Redistribute, sublicense, rent, lease, or lend the Software to third parties.
- Remove, alter, or obscure any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices in the Software.
- Use the Software for any purpose that violates applicable law.
- Attempt to circumvent license validation mechanisms.
6. Objection Templates and Legal Language
Fade includes templates that reference recording consent laws, including California Penal Code Section 632, GDPR provisions, and general non-consent language. These templates are provided as informational starting points only.
- The templates are not tailored to your specific legal jurisdiction or situation.
- Using a template does not create an attorney-client relationship with Hamlet Software or any other entity.
- Filing an objection through Fade does not guarantee legal enforceability of your non-consent.
- Recording consent laws vary significantly by jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions require all-party consent; others require only one-party consent. Some have specific exceptions for business calls. The applicability of any non-consent statement depends on your jurisdiction and circumstances.
- The evidence log (timestamps, bot names, template used) is maintained locally on your device for your own records. Whether this log is admissible or useful in legal proceedings depends on your jurisdiction and the specific circumstances.
We strongly recommend consulting a qualified attorney if you intend to rely on Fade's objection features for legal purposes.
7. Detection Limitations
You acknowledge and understand that:
- Fade's bot signature database is not exhaustive. New AI recording tools are released frequently, and there will always be a gap between a new tool's release and its addition to Fade's database.
- Fade cannot detect recording tools running on devices you do not control. If another meeting participant is recording on their own computer, phone, or external device, Fade cannot detect this.
- Fade cannot detect platform-native recording initiated by meeting hosts through the meeting platform itself if the platform does not surface a visible indicator in its UI.
- Calendar scanning depends on bots being added as calendar attendees. If a bot joins a meeting without a calendar invite, calendar scanning will not detect it (though participant monitoring may).
- Participant monitoring depends on the macOS Accessibility API and the specific UI structure of meeting applications. Changes to Zoom, Teams, or Meet UI may temporarily affect detection accuracy.
- Process detection relies on known process names and bundle identifiers. Recording tools that disguise their process names may evade detection.
8. Intellectual Property
Fade, including its design, code, bot signature database, brand assets, and documentation, is the intellectual property of Hamlet Software. Your license to use Fade does not transfer any ownership rights.
9. Payment and Refunds
Pro licenses are sold through our website. Prices are listed at the time of purchase. We offer refunds within 30 days of purchase if you are unsatisfied, no questions asked. To request a refund, contact us at support@usefade.com.
10. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING:
- We do not warrant that Fade will detect all AI recording bots or tools.
- We do not warrant that the bot signature database is complete or current at any given time.
- We do not warrant that the objection templates will be legally effective or enforceable in your jurisdiction.
- We do not warrant that Fade will be compatible with all versions of macOS, Zoom, Teams, Meet, or any other third-party software.
- We do not warrant uninterrupted or error-free operation of the Software.
11. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HAMLET SOFTWARE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
- Damages arising from undetected recording or transcription of your meetings.
- Damages arising from reliance on objection templates or evidence logs in legal proceedings.
- Damages arising from the breach of attorney-client privilege or other confidential communications.
- Loss of data, revenue, or business opportunities.
OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SOFTWARE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR YOUR FADE LICENSE IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.
12. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Hamlet Software and its officers, directors, and employees from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising from your use of the Software or your violation of these Terms.
13. Termination
You may stop using Fade at any time by uninstalling it. We may terminate or suspend your license if you violate these Terms. Upon termination, your right to use the Software ceases, but provisions that by their nature should survive (including disclaimers, limitations of liability, and indemnification) will remain in effect.
14. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in San Francisco County, California.
15. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
16. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Hamlet Software regarding the use of Fade.
17. Contact
If you have questions about these Terms, contact us at:
Email: legal@usefade.com