LanguageTool Legal Updates: What You Need to Know

We're excited to announce some important updates regarding our service terms, privacy policy and how your personal data is handled at LanguageTool. Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s changing and what it means for you as a user.

New Data Controller: Learneo, Inc.

In April 2023, LanguageTool was acquired by Learneo, Inc., a company based in California, USA. Due to the acquisition, and our aim to streamline our operations and align with our business goals with Learneo’s, we have adopted the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use so that we can effectively collaborate as one company. In short, by joining the Learneo family, LanguageTool users will now follow the same privacy policy and terms as other Learneo services.

Privacy Policy updates

This is a summary of what we have changed on our Privacy Policy:

• The company now responsible for processing your data for LanguageTool services is Learneo, Inc., based in California, USA. This means your personal data may be transferred outside of Germany, but only for the reasons explained in our privacy policy.
• We've also updated our contact details for privacy and legal questions and made it simpler for you to reach out and exercise your privacy rights.
• As part of the Learneo services and with this update, we may use your personal data for some new purposes, including:
  • Operating and securing Learneo services, including by using shared IT and Security systems, technology and infrastructure;
  • Providing customer support or responding to correspondence we receive from you;
  • Integrations with other Learneo services.
• We care about your privacy and want to be clear about how we handle your information. To keep things straightforward, we no longer use what you input to help train our language models.

Updated Service Terms

This is a summary of what we have changed on our Service Terms (also referred to as the General Terms and Conditions):

• We’ve made the rules about arbitration clearer, including how to opt out and the process itself.
• We defined that LanguageTool is not meant for users under the age of 16.
• New terms have been added for Team Plan subscriptions and how you can use pre-release or beta features.
• We’ve updated details about your and our legal rights, such as limiting our liability, disclaimers, your responsibility to cover certain costs (indemnity), and how we may use the content and feedback you provide.
• For users in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, we’ve clarified where disputes will be resolved and which laws will apply.
• For EEA users, we’ve added details about your right to withdraw from using the service.
• We’ve made overall improvements to the Service Terms by rewording and rearranging sections to make them easier to understand.

Opt-Out 

If you disagree with the new terms, you can terminate your account by clicking here (if you’re on a basic plan) or contacting our support team. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our support team. Thank you for being a part of the LanguageTool community!

FAQs

General Questions

Q. Is there any difference between “Service Terms” and “General Terms and Conditions?”

A. No, there is no difference. We are in the process of updating how we identify the terms and conditions governing your use of LanguageTool services from “General Terms and Conditions” to “Service Terms.” Until the update is complete, you may notice both terms being used. . 

Q: Why are you updating the Service Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy?  

A: We are updating the Service Terms (also referred to as the General Terms and Conditions)  and Privacy Policy to better reflect our operational realities and business goals. By aligning with Learneo, Inc., we aim to simplify our processes and enhance the services we provide. This update also informs our users of our decision to stop using customer inputs to train our language models. You can also contact our support team should you have more questions. 

Q: When will the updated terms become effective?

A: The updated Service Terms (also referred to as the General Terms and Conditions) and Privacy Policy will become effective for all users on the date TBC.

Q: What if I don't agree with the new Service Terms? 

A: If you do not agree with the new terms, you have the option to terminate your account and/or subscription at any time. If you’re on a basic plan, you can delete the account yourself by following these instructions. You can also contact our support team should you have more questions. 

Q: I want to unsubscribe from your emails

A: You may have received a notice about our updated Privacy Policy and Service Terms (also referred to as the General Terms and Conditions) because you have used our services in the past. We wanted to ensure you are informed about these important changes, especially if you decide to use our services again in the future. Please note that this notification does not mean you are subscribed to our newsletter or other ongoing communications.

If you are receiving newsletters or other promotional emails and wish to unsubscribe, please follow the unsubscribe link provided at the bottom of those emails. If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to contact our support team.

General Terms and Conditions

Q: What are the key updates to the Service Terms?

A: The key updates to our Service Terms (also referred to as the General Terms and Conditions) and Conditions include clearer rules about arbitration, how to opt out, and defining that LanguageTool is not for users under 16. We've added new terms for Team Plan subscriptions and the use of beta features. Updates also cover legal rights, such as limiting liability, disclaimers, and user responsibility for indemnity. For users in the EEA or Switzerland, we clarified laws governing disputes and your right to withdraw from the service. Overall, we've reorganized and reworded sections to enhance readability.For more information, please review our blog article or read our Service Terms here.

Privacy Policy

Q: What has changed in the Privacy Policy?

A: LanguageTool is now managed by Learneo, Inc., based in California, USA, and Learneo is now the company responsible for how your personal information is processed when you use LanguageTool. This change helps us align our privacy practices with those of other Learneo services. We’ve also made updates to help clarify and provide more detail about the personal information we collect and how we use it.  We have also made important product changes with your privacy in mind, and with this update we will no longer use customer inputs to train our language models. This is a default setting that will apply to all LanguageTool users without any need to opt-in. For a detailed overview, please refer to our blog article discussing these updates or read our updated privacy policy here.

Q: Have you changed the personal data you collect when I use LanguageTool?  

A: No, the types of personal data we collect when you use LanguageTool remains the same as from before this update, and we’ve made it easier for you to review the personal data we do collect. However, we may use your personal data for some new purposes that weren’t in our privacy policy before, including:

• Operating and securing Learneo services, including by using shared IT and security systems, technology and infrastructure; or
• Providing customer support or responding to correspondence we receive from you.

We have also made important product changes with your privacy in mind, and with this update we will no longer use customer inputs to train our language models. This is a default setting that will apply to all LanguageTool users without any need to opt-in.

Next Steps

Q: How will you notify me of these changes?  

A: When you use the LanguageTool Services on or after the effective date, we will request your acceptance of the updated Service Terms (also referred to as the General Terms and Conditions) and acknowledgment of the updated Privacy Policy.

Q: Can you delete my personal data?A: Yes, we can delete your personal data according to our updated privacy policy. Should you want your personal data deleted, feel free to contact our support team for assistance.

Q: What should I do if I have more questions?  

A: If you have any further questions, feel free to contact our support team for assistance.