Legal

Terms of Use for 2048 Chain

Effective Date: April 20, 2026

Last Updated: April 20, 2026

Please read these Terms of Use ("Terms") carefully before using the 2048 Chain application ("the App") operated by Kevin Merz ("we", "us", "our").

By downloading, installing, or using the App, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the App.

1. Description of Service

2048 Chain is an iOS puzzle game that expands the classic number-merge mechanic with additional features. The App provides:

• Classic number-merge puzzle gameplay on a 4x4 grid
• Combo multipliers for chained merges in a single swipe
• Daily challenges with the same seeded board for all players
• Streak tracking for daily challenge completion
• Earned rewinds to undo moves
• Four visual themes (one free, three Pro)
• Rich haptic feedback and sound effects
• 100% offline functionality

2. System Requirements

• iOS 16 or later
• Compatible with iPhone and iPad

3. License Grant

• We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the App for personal, non-commercial purposes.
• You may install the App on any devices you own or control.
• This license does not include the right to modify, distribute, or create derivative works of the App.

4. Premium Features (Pro Unlock)

4.1 Free vs Pro

The App is fully playable for free. The Pro unlock is a one-time, non-consumable in-app purchase that adds:

• Three exclusive visual themes (Neon, Minimal, Retro)
• Unlimited rewinds

4.2 Billing

• All purchases are processed through the App Store.
• Pro is a one-time purchase, not a subscription.
• Your purchase is tied to your Apple ID and can be restored on any device signed into the same account.
• Price may vary by region. See the App Store for the price in your local currency.

4.3 Refunds

• Refunds are handled by Apple according to their refund policies.
• We do not provide direct refunds for purchases made through the App Store.
• To request a refund, visit reportaproblem.apple.com.

5. User Responsibilities

By using the App, you agree to:

• Use the App only for its intended purpose
• Not attempt to reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the App
• Not redistribute or sublicense the App
• Not exploit, cheat, or manipulate gameplay mechanics in ways that harm other users' experience

6. Intellectual Property

• The App and all its contents, features, and functionality are owned by Kevin Merz and are protected by international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.
• The name "2048 Chain" and the app icon are trademarks of Kevin Merz.
• The underlying "2048" puzzle mechanic is a widely used game design and is not claimed as proprietary.
• You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of the App or its content.

7. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE APP IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to:

• Implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement
• Warranties that the App will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure
• Warranties regarding compatibility with future OS versions

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW:

• We shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid for the App

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Kevin Merz from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses arising out of or related to:

• Your use of the App
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another person or entity

10. Modifications to the App

We reserve the right to:

• Modify, suspend, or discontinue the App or any feature at any time without notice
• Update the App to fix bugs, add features, or comply with legal requirements
• Change Pro pricing for future purchases (existing purchases are unaffected)

11. Termination

• You may stop using the App at any time by uninstalling it.
• We may terminate or suspend your access to the App at any time, without prior notice, for conduct that we believe violates these Terms.
• Upon termination, your right to use the App ceases immediately.
• Sections regarding disclaimers, limitation of liability, and indemnification survive termination.

12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

• Governing Law: These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Germany, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
• Jurisdiction: Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the App shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Soest, Germany.
• EU Consumers: If you are a consumer in the European Union, you may also bring proceedings in your country of residence. Nothing in these Terms affects your rights as a consumer under mandatory consumer protection laws.
• Online Dispute Resolution: The European Commission provides an online dispute resolution platform at https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr.

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

14. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding the App and supersede any prior agreements.

15. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by updating the "Effective Date" at the top. Your continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

16. Contact

For questions about these Terms, please contact:

Kevin Merz
E-Mail: MerzKevin@me.com

Privacy Policy for 2048 Chain

Effective Date: April 20, 2026

Last Updated: April 20, 2026

This privacy policy explains how 2048 Chain ("the App", "we", "us") handles your data. 2048 Chain is developed and operated by Kevin Merz.

1. Our Privacy Commitment

2048 Chain is built with privacy as a fundamental principle:

• No user accounts required — The app works entirely without registration
• No data collection — We do not collect, store, or transmit any personal data
• No analytics — The app contains no tracking or analytics SDKs
• No advertising — The app contains no ads
• Local-only storage — All data is stored locally on your device
• No network connections — The app does not connect to any servers (except for App Store license verification)

2. Data Stored Locally on Your Device

2048 Chain stores the following data locally using UserDefaults:

2.1 Game Progress

• What: Current board state, high score, combo record, and game history
• Storage: UserDefaults (local only)
• Purpose: To resume your game and track your records
• Your control: Reset via Settings or by deleting the app

2.2 Daily Challenge Streak

• What: Your completed daily challenges and current streak count
• Storage: UserDefaults (local only)
• Purpose: To track your streak and show your calendar history
• Your control: Reset by deleting the app

2.3 App Preferences

• What: Sound on/off, haptic on/off, selected theme, onboarding completion
• Storage: UserDefaults (local only)
• Purpose: To remember your preferences between app launches
• Your control: Change in Settings or reset by deleting the app

2.4 Pro Status

• What: Whether Pro features are unlocked
• Storage: Verified via StoreKit (Apple's framework)
• Purpose: To enable Pro themes and unlimited rewinds after purchase
• Your control: Managed through App Store

2.5 Rating Flow Status

• What: Whether you have been asked to rate the app and your response
• Storage: UserDefaults (local only)
• Purpose: To respect your choice and not ask repeatedly

3. Data We Do NOT Collect

2048 Chain does not collect, store, or transmit:

• Personal information (name, email, etc.)
• Device identifiers or hardware information
• Usage analytics or statistics
• Crash reports
• Location data
• Browsing history or app usage history
• Any data from other applications
• Network traffic or connection data

4. Third-Party Services

4.1 Apple App Store / StoreKit

• Purpose: In-app purchase processing and license verification
• Data shared: None by us; Apple processes payments according to their privacy policy
• Privacy Policy: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/

We do not use any other third-party services, SDKs, or analytics platforms.

5. Data Security

• All data is stored locally using standard iOS security mechanisms
• The app is sandboxed for additional security
• No data is transmitted over the network
• Purchase verification uses Apple's secure StoreKit framework

6. Data Retention and Deletion

• Local data: Retained until you uninstall the app or reset preferences
• Purchase history: Managed by Apple through your Apple ID
• Complete deletion: Uninstalling the app removes all locally stored data

7. No Tracking

We do not track users in any way:

• No advertising identifiers
• No analytics tracking
• No fingerprinting
• No cross-app or cross-site tracking

2048 Chain is listed as "Data Not Collected" in the App Store privacy nutrition labels.

8. Children's Privacy

2048 Chain does not collect any data from any users, including children. The app is rated 4+ and contains no objectionable content.

9. International Users

Since 2048 Chain does not collect or transmit any data, there are no international data transfers to disclose. All data remains locally on your device.

10. Your Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area, you have rights under GDPR. However, since 2048 Chain does not collect any personal data:

• Access: All your data is stored locally on your device — you have full access
• Deletion: Uninstall the app to delete all data
• Portability: Settings are stored in standard iOS format

For questions about data rights, contact: MerzKevin@me.com

11. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

For California residents: 2048 Chain does not sell personal information. We do not collect personal information as defined by CCPA.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The effective date at the top indicates when this policy was last revised. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact

For questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact:

Kevin Merz
E-Mail: MerzKevin@me.com