Terms of Service

Effective 2026-05-07  ·  Last updated 2026-05-07

Plain language, no traps. By using Couch you agree to the rules below. If you don't agree, please don't use the app.

1. The agreement

These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a contract between you and Couch ("we," "us"), the operator of the website at couchtonight.app and the related iOS, Android, and progressive-web-app surfaces (collectively, the "Service"). They apply every time you use the Service. They incorporate our Privacy Policy by reference.

2. Eligibility

You must be the legal age of majority in your region to create your own account. If you're under that age, a parent or legal guardian can create the account and supervise your use. The Service is intended for general audiences and is not directed at children under 13.

You agree to provide accurate information when you sign up and to keep your sign-in credentials private.

3. Your account and your family

Couch is built around shared spaces called families. When you join a family, the other members can see your votes, RSVPs, mood tags, watchparty reactions, queue items, and pick'em picks. Anyone with the family's join code can become a member, so share the code only with people you trust.

You're responsible for what you do in your account, including content you share with your family (photos in post-watchparty albums, messages in watchparties, display name, etc.).

4. Acceptable use

Don't use Couch to:

• Harass, threaten, defame, or impersonate anyone.
• Post content that's unlawful, sexually explicit involving minors, or that infringes someone else's rights.
• Scrape the Service, abuse the API, or run automated tools against our servers.
• Reverse-engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract source code from the apps (except as expressly permitted by applicable open-source licenses).
• Probe, scan, or test the Service's vulnerability without our written consent (responsible disclosure to security@couchtonight.app is welcome).
• Bypass rate limits, geographic restrictions, or any access controls.
• Use the Service in connection with any unsolicited messaging, scams, or fraud.

We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these rules. We may also remove or hide content without notice if it violates these Terms or applicable law.

5. Content

Movie and TV metadata

Titles, descriptions, posters, runtimes, and where-to-watch availability come from The Movie Database (TMDB). Couch is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. We're not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or legality of TMDB content.

Streaming services

Couch helps you decide what to watch and shows where titles are available, but we don't stream video, host video, or have any affiliation with the streaming services we link to (Netflix, Hulu, Max, Disney+, etc.). Whether you can actually watch a title depends on your subscriptions and the service's availability in your region.

Your content

You keep all rights in the content you upload — photos in post-watchparty albums, messages in watchparties, your display name. You grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, store, transmit, and display that content solely for the purpose of operating the Service for you and your family. We don't claim ownership and we don't use your content for advertising, training, or anything outside Couch.

6. Intellectual property

The Couch name, wordmark, the leather-cushion "C" mark, the in-app design, and the source code are owned by us. We grant you a personal, non-transferable, revocable license to use the Service for its intended purpose. Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership.

Couch is a trademark of its operator. All other trademarks (movie titles, streaming services, etc.) belong to their respective owners.

7. DMCA / copyright takedowns

If you believe content on Couch infringes your copyright, please send a notice with all of the following to dmca@couchtonight.app:

1. Your physical or electronic signature.
2. Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed.
3. Identification of the material on Couch that is alleged to infringe (URL or screenshot).
4. Your contact info (address, phone number, email).
5. A statement made under penalty of perjury that you have a good-faith belief that the use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
6. A statement that the information in the notice is accurate and that you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.

We respond promptly to valid notices. Repeat infringers will have their accounts terminated.

8. Third-party services

Couch uses Firebase (Google Cloud), TMDB, Trakt (opt-in), Sentry, and platform push notification services to operate. Your use of these services through Couch is also subject to their own terms (linked in the Privacy Policy). We're not responsible for the practices of third-party services beyond what's described in our Privacy Policy.

9. Pricing and changes

Couch is free to use. We don't show ads and we don't sell data. We may add optional paid features in the future; if we do, the pricing will be clear and you'll be asked to opt in. Free features that exist today will not become paywalled retroactively.

We may add, remove, or change features at any time. We'll try to give notice for changes that affect how you use the Service.

10. Geographic limitations

Couch's catalog uses TMDB's "where to watch" availability data, which is most accurate in the United States. The Service is available globally but the where-to-watch information may be incomplete or wrong outside the US.

11. Termination

You can stop using Couch at any time. To delete your account, open Account → Delete account. We honor that immediately and erase your personal data within 30 days.

We may suspend or terminate your access if you violate these Terms or if we're required to by law. We may also discontinue the Service entirely with reasonable notice.

12. Disclaimers

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, accuracy of metadata, or availability of any title or streaming service.

Couch is a coordination tool. We don't guarantee that you'll find something to watch, that everyone will agree, that the watchparty will start on time, or that anyone will actually show up.

13. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Couch and its operator are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of data, profits, goodwill, or revenues, arising out of or relating to your use of the Service. Our total cumulative liability for any claim arising out of these Terms or the Service will not exceed one hundred US dollars ($100).

Some jurisdictions don't allow these limits; in those places, the limits apply only to the extent permitted.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claim, loss, liability, demand, or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of (a) your use of the Service, (b) your violation of these Terms, or (c) your violation of any third party's rights.

15. Apple App Store additional terms

If you obtained the iOS app from the Apple App Store, these additional terms apply:

• These Terms are between you and Couch only — Apple is not a party.
• Apple is not responsible for the iOS app or its contents.
• The license granted to you for the iOS app is limited to use on Apple-branded devices that you own or control, as permitted by the Apple Media Services Terms.
• Apple is not responsible for providing maintenance or support for the iOS app.
• If the iOS app fails to conform to any applicable warranty, you may notify Apple, who will refund the purchase price (if any). To the maximum extent permitted by law, Apple has no other warranty obligation. Any other warranty claims are our responsibility.
• Apple is not responsible for addressing any product-liability, intellectual-property, or third-party claims relating to the iOS app — those are between you and Couch.
• You represent that you are not located in a country subject to a US Government embargo and that you are not on any US Government list of prohibited or restricted parties.
• Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms with respect to the iOS app and may enforce them directly.

16. Google Play additional terms

If you obtained the Android app from Google Play, your use is also subject to the Google Play Terms of Service. Where these Terms conflict with Google Play's terms with respect to the Android app, Google Play's terms control on points specifically addressed by Google Play.

17. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, USA, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service will be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in New York County, New York, and you consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts. Nothing in this section limits your right to bring a small-claims action or to seek injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction.

18. Changes to these Terms

If we change these Terms materially, we'll update the "Last updated" date and surface a notice in the app the next time you open it. Continuing to use the Service after a change means you accept the updated Terms. The current version is always at couchtonight.app/terms.

19. Contact

Questions about these Terms: support@couchtonight.app.