Terms of Service
Last updated: November 8, 2025
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using AlgoArena ("the Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use the Platform. We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time, and your continued use of the Platform constitutes acceptance of any changes.
2. Description of Service
AlgoArena is a competitive programming platform that provides:
- Real-time 1v1 coding battles
- Practice problems and interview preparation
- ELO-based ranking and matchmaking system
- AI-powered code analysis and feedback
- Community features including friends and leaderboards
- Premium subscription options
3. User Accounts
3.1 Account Creation
You must create an account to use most features of the Platform. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update such information to keep it accurate, current, and complete.
3.2 Account Security
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You must immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account.
3.3 Age Requirements
You must be at least 13 years old to use the Platform. If you are under 18, you represent that you have your parent or guardian's permission to use the Platform.
4. User Conduct
You agree NOT to:
- Use the Platform for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
- Violate any laws in your jurisdiction
- Cheat or use unauthorized tools during battles
- Harass, abuse, or harm other users
- Share your account with others
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Platform or other accounts
- Interfere with or disrupt the Platform's servers or networks
- Upload or transmit viruses or malicious code
- Collect or harvest personal information of other users
- Use bots, scripts, or automated tools to access the Platform
- Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Platform
- Create multiple accounts to manipulate rankings or matchmaking
5. Fair Play and Anti-Cheat
5.1 Anti-Cheat Measures and Data Collection
During battles, we implement comprehensive anti-cheat measures including:
- Keystroke timing and typing pattern analysis
- Code evolution tracking (periodic snapshots of your code)
- Window focus monitoring (detecting tab switches)
- Copy-paste prevention at the UI level
- Typing burst detection (unusual rapid code insertion)
- Test run frequency and pattern analysis
By participating in battles, you explicitly consent to this detailed monitoring and data collection. This data is linked to your account and may be used for anti-cheat detection, platform improvement, and research purposes. See our Privacy Policy for complete details on what data is collected.
5.2 Prohibited Behavior
The following behaviors are strictly prohibited:
- Using external code or resources during battles
- Copying and pasting code from external sources
- Using AI assistants (ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, etc.) during battles
- Having multiple accounts to manipulate rankings
- Collaborating with others during solo battles
- Deliberately losing battles to manipulate ELO
- Using automated tools or bots
5.3 Violations and Penalties
Violations of fair play rules may result in:
- Immediate match forfeit and automatic loss
- ELO rating penalties or reset
- Temporary suspension (3-30 days)
- Permanent account termination
- Ban from competitive features
- Loss of subscription benefits without refund
6. Third-Party Services and APIs
Our Platform integrates with multiple third-party services to provide functionality. By using the Platform, you agree to the terms of service and privacy policies of these providers:
- Firebase/Google Cloud: Authentication, database, cloud functions, and storage services
- Stripe: Payment processing for subscriptions
- SendGrid: Email delivery services
- DeepSeek AI: AI-powered code analysis and assistance
- OpenAI: Text-to-speech services for AI interviewer
- Cartesia: Text-to-speech services for AI interviewer
- Judge0 (via RapidAPI): Code execution engine
- Vercel: Hosting and analytics services
- Google AdSense: Advertising services
Your code submissions may be processed by these third-party services. We are not responsible for the actions, policies, or practices of these third-party providers.
7. Intellectual Property
7.1 Platform Content
The Platform and its original content, features, and functionality are owned by AlgoArena and are protected by international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.
7.2 User Content and Code Submissions
You retain ownership of the code you submit. However, by submitting content to the Platform, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, reproduce, modify, analyze, and display your content for the purpose of operating and improving the Platform, including:
- Running your code through Judge0 for execution and testing
- Analyzing your code with AI services (DeepSeek, OpenAI) for feedback
- Storing your code and keystroke patterns for anti-cheat and research
- Displaying your code in battle comparisons and leaderboards
- Using anonymized coding patterns for platform improvements
7.3 Problem Sources
Problems on our platform are sourced from CodeForces, LeetCode, and other public competitive programming resources. We respect the intellectual property rights of original problem authors. Problem sources are attributed where available.
8. Premium Subscriptions
8.1 Subscription Terms
Premium subscriptions provide access to additional features. Subscriptions are billed on a recurring basis (monthly or annually) until canceled.
8.2 Payment
All payments are processed securely through Stripe. You authorize us to charge your payment method for all subscription fees. All fees are non-refundable except as required by law.
8.3 Cancellation
You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings. Cancellation will take effect at the end of your current billing period.
8.4 Price Changes
We reserve the right to modify subscription pricing. Price changes will be communicated in advance and will apply to subsequent billing periods.
9. Termination
We may terminate or suspend your account and access to the Platform immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including but not limited to:
- Breach of these Terms
- Violation of fair play rules
- Fraudulent activity
- Harassment of other users
- Legal requirements
Upon termination, your right to use the Platform will immediately cease. We are not liable for any loss or damage resulting from termination.
10. Disclaimers
THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
- Warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement
- Warranties that the Platform will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
- Warranties regarding the accuracy or reliability of content
11. Limitation of Liability
IN NO EVENT SHALL ALGOARENA, ITS DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF OR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE THE PLATFORM.
12. Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless AlgoArena and its affiliates from any claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses arising from your use of the Platform or violation of these Terms.
13. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Platform shall be resolved in the courts of competent jurisdiction.
14. Changes to Terms
We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will provide notice of material changes by posting the new Terms on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.
15. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms will otherwise remain in full force and effect.
16. Contact Information
If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us:
Email: contact@algoarena.net
Website: https://algoarena.net
By creating an account and using AlgoArena, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy.