Acceptable Use Policy

Last Updated: December 29, 2024

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") governs your use of PolyRead AI (the "Service") operated by Apparent Group Limited ("Company," "we," "us," or "our"). This policy is incorporated into and forms part of our Terms and Conditions.

By using our Service, you agree to comply with this AUP. Violations may result in suspension or termination of your account.

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1. Purpose

PolyRead AI provides text-to-speech technology and voice cloning capabilities. This technology has tremendous potential for good—accessibility, content creation, education, and entertainment. However, it can also be misused to cause harm.

This AUP exists to:

Protect individuals from harm caused by synthetic voice misuse

Maintain the integrity and reputation of our Service

Ensure compliance with applicable laws

Foster a responsible AI community

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2. Prohibited Uses

You may NOT use PolyRead AI for any of the following purposes:

2.1 Fraud and Deception

❌ Impersonation for Fraud

Creating voice content to impersonate real individuals for financial fraud

Phone scams, "grandparent scams," or social engineering attacks

Fake emergency calls or distress messages

Fraudulent customer service or phishing schemes

❌ Deepfakes and Disinformation

Creating fake audio of real people saying things they never said

Generating content intended to deceive the public about events

Fabricating statements attributed to public figures, politicians, or celebrities

Election interference or political manipulation

❌ Identity Theft

Using someone's voice without authorization for identity verification bypass

Circumventing voice-based security or authentication systems

Creating synthetic identities for fraudulent purposes

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2.2 Harassment and Harm

❌ Harassment and Bullying

Creating audio content to harass, intimidate, or threaten individuals

Cyberbullying using synthetic voices

Non-consensual intimate audio content

Stalking or targeted harassment campaigns

❌ Hate Speech and Discrimination

Content promoting violence against protected groups

Racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise discriminatory content

Content glorifying terrorism, extremism, or hate groups

Dehumanizing or degrading content targeting individuals or groups

❌ Violence and Threats

Threats of violence against individuals or organizations

Content inciting violence or physical harm

Terrorist propaganda or recruitment materials

Instructions for violence or harmful activities

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2.3 Illegal Activities

❌ Criminal Activities

Any use that violates local, national, or international laws

Evidence tampering or obstruction of justice

Money laundering or financial crimes

Drug trafficking or illegal substance promotion

❌ Intellectual Property Infringement

Reproducing copyrighted audio content without authorization

Cloning voices of performers to create unauthorized performances

Circumventing digital rights management (DRM)

Creating counterfeit audio products

❌ Privacy Violations

Recording and cloning voices without consent

Creating audio that violates reasonable privacy expectations

Doxxing or revealing private information through audio

Surveillance or monitoring without consent

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2.4 Harmful Content

❌ Child Safety

Any content involving minors in harmful contexts

Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in any form

Content that sexualizes or exploits minors

Grooming or predatory content

❌ Dangerous Activities

Instructions for creating weapons or explosives

Promotion of self-harm or suicide

Content encouraging dangerous challenges or activities

Medical misinformation that could cause harm

❌ Spam and Abuse

Automated bulk generation for spam purposes

Robocall generation or phone spam

SEO manipulation through generated audio

Overwhelming or attacking other services

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3. Voice Cloning Ethics Guidelines

Voice cloning is a powerful feature that requires responsible use. You MUST comply with the following guidelines:

3.1 Consent Requirements

✅ You MUST have explicit consent from the voice owner before creating a clone.

Acceptable consent includes:

Written permission (email, signed agreement, contract)

Recorded verbal consent

Terms of a licensing agreement

Your own voice (self-consent)

Consent must be:

Informed (the person understands how their voice will be used)

Specific (covers the intended use cases)

Freely given (not coerced or obtained under false pretenses)

Documented (you can provide proof if requested)

3.2 Permitted Voice Cloning Uses

✅ With proper consent, you may use voice cloning for:

Personal projects and creative content

Commercial productions (with appropriate licensing)

Accessibility applications (helping those who have lost their voice)

Educational content and training materials

Entertainment and artistic expression

Preserving voices of loved ones (with their consent)

3.3 Prohibited Voice Cloning Uses

❌ Even with consent, you may NOT use voice clones for:

Fraud, scams, or deception

Creating non-consensual intimate content

Impersonating someone to gain unauthorized access

Any purpose that violates this AUP

3.4 Public Figures and Celebrities

Cloning voices of public figures requires:

Explicit authorization from the individual or their authorized representative

Compliance with applicable right of publicity laws

Appropriate licensing agreements

Parody and satire: Limited use for clear parody or satire may be permitted under applicable laws, but content must be clearly identifiable as parody and not intended to deceive.

3.5 Deceased Individuals

Cloning voices of deceased individuals requires:

Consent from the estate or authorized representative

Compliance with applicable posthumous publicity rights

Sensitivity and respect for the deceased and their families

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4. Content Restrictions

4.1 Content You May Create

✅ Permitted content includes:

Audiobooks and narration

Podcasts and talk shows

YouTube videos and social media content

Educational courses and tutorials

Marketing and advertising materials

Accessibility tools and applications

Entertainment and creative projects

Voice assistants and interactive applications

Language learning content

Personal projects and experiments

4.2 Content Requiring Extra Care

⚠️ The following content requires careful consideration:

News and journalism (ensure accuracy and transparency)

Political content (avoid deception or manipulation)

Content involving real people (obtain appropriate permissions)

Sensitive topics (handle with care and accuracy)

4.3 Labeling and Disclosure

We strongly recommend (and may require for certain uses):

Disclosing that content was generated using AI/synthetic voices

Adding watermarks or metadata identifying AI-generated content

Not misrepresenting AI-generated content as human-created

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5. Fair Use and System Integrity

5.1 Fair Use Guidelines

Our "Unlimited" plans are subject to fair use:

✅ Fair use includes:

Creating content for your own projects

Generating audio for commercial purposes

Using our API for your applications

Client work and professional services

❌ Not fair use:

Reselling or sublicensing API access

Operating a competing TTS service

Automated abuse designed to strain resources

Sharing accounts with multiple users

5.2 System Integrity

You may NOT:

Attempt to reverse engineer our technology

Probe, scan, or test system vulnerabilities

Introduce malware or malicious code

Overwhelm our systems with excessive requests

Circumvent security measures or rate limits

Use automated systems except through our official API

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6. Reporting Violations

6.1 How to Report

If you become aware of any violation of this AUP, please report it to:

Email: abuse@polyreadai.com Include in your report:

Description of the violation

Evidence (screenshots, audio files, URLs)

Your contact information (optional but helpful)

6.2 What Happens After a Report

We review all reports within 48 hours

We investigate the alleged violation

We take appropriate action based on our findings

We may contact you for additional information

We notify the reported party (if appropriate)

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7. Consequences for Violations

7.1 Actions We May Take

Depending on the severity and nature of the violation, we may:

7.2 Factors We Consider

Severity of the violation

Intent (accidental vs. deliberate)

History of violations

Cooperation with our investigation

Harm caused or potential harm

Legal requirements

7.3 Appeals Process

If you believe action was taken against your account in error:

Email appeals@polyreadai.com within 14 days

Explain why you believe the decision was incorrect

Provide any supporting evidence

We will review and respond within 7 business days

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8. Your Responsibilities

By using PolyRead AI, you agree to:

✓Use the Service only for lawful purposes

✓Obtain proper consent for voice cloning

✓Respect intellectual property rights

✓Create content responsibly and ethically

✓Report violations you become aware of

✓Keep your account secure

✓Comply with all applicable laws and regulations

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9. Our Commitment

We are committed to:

Developing and deploying AI responsibly

Protecting individuals from harm

Cooperating with law enforcement when legally required

Continuously improving our safety measures

Listening to community feedback

Being transparent about our policies and practices

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10. Updates to This Policy

We may update this AUP as technology evolves and new concerns emerge. Significant changes will be communicated via:

Email notification

Notice on our website

In-app notification

Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

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11. Contact Us

For questions about this Acceptable Use Policy:

Apparent Group Limited

General: support@polyreadai.com

Abuse Reports: abuse@polyreadai.com

Appeals: appeals@polyreadai.com

Address: Flat/RM 05-06, 18/F, Hollywood Plaza, 610 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

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Remember: With great power comes great responsibility. Use PolyRead AI to create, inspire, and make the world more accessible—not to deceive or harm.