Terms of Use

Courtesy translation. The French version of these Terms prevails in case of disagreement or legal dispute.

1. Purpose and description of the service

RootsAI is an online platform published in France and hosted in the European Union that allows the User to (i) build a family tree, (ii) cross-reference their data with public archives (FamilySearch, WikiTree, Library of Congress, UK National Archives and other open databases), (iii) generate narrative texts via an artificial intelligence model, (iv) export their data in GEDCOM format or as a keepsake PDF book. RootsAI does not sell any DNA test and does not collect any genetic data.

These Terms of Use govern access to and use of the platform available at https://rootsai.co.

2. Acceptance

Using the service implies full acceptance of these Terms. The User must be of legal age or have their legal representative's authorization.

3. User account

Account creation is done via a magic link sent by email (no password). The User is responsible for the security of the email address used and for actions performed from their account.

4. Content ownership and license granted to RootsAI

The User retains all rights in the data and content they enter or import (tree, names, dates, places, photos, documents, comments). They grant RootsAI a non-exclusive, worldwide, free license, limited to the duration of the contract, strictly necessary for hosting, display, backup, indexing and processing of their data for the purposes of the service, as well as for generating narrative texts. This license ends when the content or account is deleted, subject to legal retention obligations.

RootsAI never uses your data to train artificial intelligence models and does not resell them to any third party, for any purpose.

5. Third-party living persons' data - User's responsibility

The User guarantees that they have the necessary authorizations to enter or import information concerning living third parties (parents, spouses, children, relatives). In accordance with the GDPR, they must have obtained the informed consent of any living person before publishing or sharing their data, and the consent of the legal representative for any minor. Any living person identified in a tree may ask RootsAI to hide or delete their data at privacy@rootsai.co: this request will be processed within 30 days, the User holding the tree being informed.

6. Deceased persons' data

In accordance with Recital 27 of the GDPR, data of deceased persons is not covered by the Regulation. Article 85 of the French Data Protection Act nevertheless allows any person to define, during their lifetime, directives regarding the fate of their data after death, and heirs to exercise certain rights within the framework of succession. RootsAI responds favorably to any justified request from heirs to delete or rectify data relating to a deceased loved one.

7. Collaborative sharing and cross-referenced trees

Should RootsAI offer or introduce tree-matching or tree-sharing features between Users, data relating to any person identified as living is automatically hidden from third parties. Only information relating to deceased persons may be suggested or shared, in compliance with articles 5 and 6 above. Each User remains the sole owner of the data they have entered, even in the event of cross-referencing.

8. Accuracy of archives and AI-generated narratives

Archives cross-referenced by RootsAI come from public third-party sources whose quality, completeness and accuracy are the responsibility of those sources. The narratives generated by the artificial intelligence model are narrative summaries anchored in this data; they may contain inaccuracies, erroneous matches or approximate historical context. RootsAI does not guarantee the absolute accuracy of these results and cannot replace professional genealogical research. Any important decision based on these narratives must be independently verified.

9. Prohibited behaviors

The User undertakes not to: (i) enter false data in order to harm a third party, (ii) use the service to harass, defame or impersonate a third party, (iii) circumvent technical protections or massively extract platform data, (iv) publish illegal, racist, defamatory content or content that infringes privacy, (v) resell or sublicense access to their account. RootsAI may suspend or terminate, without notice in the event of serious infringement, any offending account.

10. Minors

The service is reserved for persons aged 15 and over (GDPR threshold applicable in France). Minors must have prior authorization from a holder of parental authority. RootsAI may at any time request proof of this authorization and delete any account whose unauthorized minority is established.

11. Liability, force majeure, mediation

RootsAI's liability is limited to the amount actually paid by the User in the last 12 months. RootsAI cannot be held liable in the event of force majeure, interruption of third-party archives, or data loss related to non-compliant use. In accordance with articles L.612-1 et seq. of the French Consumer Code, the consumer User may have free recourse to the consumer mediator whose contact details will be provided on request to contact@rootsai.co.

12. Modification and applicable law

RootsAI reserves the right to modify these Terms. Users are informed by email in the event of substantial modification. These Terms are governed by French law. In the event of a dispute, French courts have sole jurisdiction.