About these terms
These terms describe the conditions for using catbird.blue and the services Catbird runs to support Catbird for iPhone and iPad. “Catbird,” “we” and “us” mean Josh LaCalamito, the operator of those services.
Please read these terms before using Catbird’s services. If you do not agree to these conditions, do not use them. The Privacy Policy explains how Catbird handles information. Authorizing access to your account at its provider is a separate step from reading these terms or making choices about optional features.
Apple’s Standard Licensed Application End User License Agreement applies to the App Store app when no custom license is supplied. Its scope also includes covered content and services accessed through the app. These website and service terms supplement that license; they do not replace it or change the licenses applying to open-source components.
Catbird and your account provider
Catbird is an independent client for Bluesky and the AT Protocol network. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Bluesky Social, PBC.
Your account is hosted by your account provider, also called a Personal Data Server or PDS. Bluesky’s chat service handles ordinary Bluesky direct messages. Your provider and the other services you use have their own terms and privacy policies. For accounts hosted by Bluesky, refer to Bluesky’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines.
Use only accounts you control or are authorized to use. You must meet your account provider’s eligibility and minimum-age requirements and any requirements that apply where you live. Protect your device and account credentials. If you suspect unauthorized use of Catbird’s services, contact us using the details below.
Catbird uses Nest, its server, to handle OAuth sign-in and relay most authenticated account requests. Your password goes to your account provider in the normal browser sign-in flow. Nest holds upstream OAuth session credentials and can read the requests and responses it relays, including ordinary Bluesky direct messages. Some requests go directly from the app to other services. The Privacy Policy describes this processing, notifications and diagnostics. Ordinary Bluesky direct messages are not end-to-end encrypted. This version of Catbird does not include MLS encrypted chat or Circles.
Your content and requested actions
You retain the rights you have in your content. You are responsible for having permission to post or transmit it and for choosing its audience.
You authorize Catbird to transmit, process, display and cache your content and associated information as needed to perform the actions you request and operate the features described in the Privacy Policy. This does not transfer ownership of your content to Catbird.
Public posts and other public network activity may be copied by people and independent services across the AT Protocol network. Catbird cannot remove every public copy or control what another service does with it.
Acceptable use
Objectionable content and abusive behavior are prohibited on Catbird’s services. Do not use Catbird to create, send or promote:
- illegal content or content that sexualizes, exploits or endangers minors;
- harassment, stalking, threats, bullying or encouragement of self-harm or violence;
- hateful attacks against people based on their identity;
- sexual or graphic content contrary to your provider’s rules or labeling requirements;
- spam, scams, deceptive impersonation or other fraudulent activity;
- infringement of another person’s rights or disclosure of their private information without permission.
Do not steal credentials, distribute malware, bypass access controls, misuse another person’s account, abuse reporting tools, evade valid service restrictions, or attack or overload Catbird’s infrastructure. Do not use Catbird’s servers for abusive automation or bulk collection that bypasses their limits. You must also follow your account provider’s rules.
Reporting, blocking and service restrictions
Use the report, block and mute options in the app’s content and account menus. In-app reports go to the selected upstream moderation service, such as Bluesky’s moderation service or a labeler you choose.
For abuse involving Catbird’s own services, email [email protected]. Include enough information to identify the issue. Do not publish private messages, credentials or sensitive evidence in a public issue or mention.
Catbird may limit or suspend access to its own services to address abuse, security risks, legal requirements or threats to service operation. If you believe a Catbird restriction was mistaken, contact us to request review. Your account provider controls its own account and content decisions; contact that provider about its restrictions. Catbird cannot overturn every upstream decision or remove every copy of network content.
Availability and other services
Catbird’s supporting services include Nest, notifications, GIF-search forwarding and a page used to play permitted YouTube embeds. Availability also depends on your account provider, Bluesky’s services, Apple, hosting providers and the other services you choose.
These services may be interrupted, delayed, rate-limited, changed or discontinued. Notifications may arrive late or not at all. If Nest is unavailable, most authenticated account actions in Catbird may be unavailable. Your account and network content remain hosted by the relevant account and network providers.
Catbird does not guarantee uninterrupted availability, error-free behavior or preservation of every cached item. Keep appropriate copies of information important to you. Catbird is not an emergency service.
Generated suggestions
Where available, Ask Catbird, generated alt text and other supported Apple Intelligence features can produce inaccurate, incomplete or inappropriate results. Review their output before relying on it or posting it. Confirm the actions the app proposes before they are performed. You remain responsible for what you choose to post, send or change. The Privacy Policy describes the supported features and their information handling.
Optional support tips
Where available in the app, optional one-time tips support Catbird’s development. A tip does not unlock app features or start recurring payments. Only the products and prices shown in the purchase screen are being offered.
Apple processes in-app purchases, and the purchase screen displays the current localized price. Products may be unavailable in a particular storefront or while the App Store cannot be reached. For a refund request, follow Apple’s refund process. Refund eligibility depends on Apple’s rules and applicable consumer protections. For a problem with Catbird’s purchase screen, contact us.
Stopping use and account deletion
You can stop using Catbird at any time. Signing out or deleting the app does not delete your account at its provider, your public posts or all information held by Catbird.
To delete your provider account, follow that provider’s supported process. For questions or requests about information held by Catbird, email [email protected]. The Privacy Policy describes Catbird’s information handling. Catbird cannot remove every public copy held by independent services.
Software licenses
Catbird’s app source is available in its public repository. The licenses included with each repository or component govern your rights to copy, modify and redistribute that source. These service terms do not change those permissions. Each component has its own applicable license.
Responsibility and mandatory rights
To the extent permitted by applicable law, Catbird’s website and supporting services are provided as available without additional guarantees beyond those expressly stated here. Content and services supplied by other providers are subject to their own terms and responsibilities.
Nothing in these terms excludes mandatory consumer protections or limits responsibility that cannot lawfully be limited. These terms do not add an arbitration requirement, an exclusive dispute forum or a fixed damages cap. If you have a dispute about Catbird’s services, contact us so we can try to resolve it; your available legal rights remain unaffected.
Changes and contact
When these terms change, the revised version will be published with an updated effective date. Any additional notice or consent required for a change will be handled under the applicable requirements. Review updated terms before continuing to use Catbird’s services. If you do not agree to the changed conditions, stop using the services.
Operator: Josh LaCalamito, United States. For support, privacy requests, abuse reports or questions about these terms, email [email protected]. General announcements are available from @catbird.blue. Use email for private account-related requests rather than a public mention or issue.