Terms of Use

Who these terms cover

"Play Dots and Boxes", "we" and "us" mean the operator of playdotsandboxes.org, Akshay Bhargava, based in India. "You" means anyone who visits the site. The terms cover every page, the game, the daily puzzle, classroom tools, printables, share links and embedded boards.

Using the site

The game is free for personal, family, classroom and club use. You don't need an account. You're welcome to play, share links to a board, print grids and take screenshots of your results.

Please don't use the site in ways that could break it or spoil it for others. In particular, you agree not to:

• copy, resell or republish the site, its code or its written content as your own;
• scrape or mirror the site in bulk, or overload it with automated requests;
• try to hack, reverse-engineer or disrupt the site or its servers;
• generate fake ad impressions or clicks, or encourage anyone else to;
• use the site for gambling, harassment or anything unlawful where you live.

Your games and entries

Team names, mascots and saved games stay in your own browser and remain yours. We don't claim any ownership over them. If you send us feedback or an idea, you allow us to use it to improve the site without owing you anything, though we're always happy to say thanks.

Embeds, share links and printables

You may embed the board on your own website, blog or class page using the embed code we provide, as long as you don't change it to hide our name or link, and you don't put it on pages that break these terms. Printable grids are free for personal and classroom use. Please don't sell them or bundle them into paid products. We may stop an embed that misuses the board.

Our content

Dots and Boxes itself is a public-domain game, first described by Édouard Lucas in 1889, and anyone may play it. The site's design, code, artwork, diagrams, sounds and written guides belong to us. Short quotes with a link back are welcome. Anything more needs our written permission.

Advertising and other websites

The site is supported by ads served by Google AdSense. We don't choose individual ads and don't endorse the products advertised. Ads and links to other websites, including our social profiles, take you to services run by others, whose own terms and policies apply. See our privacy policy for how ad cookies work.

Availability and changes

We work hard to keep the site running, but we can't promise it will always be available or error-free. We may change, pause or remove features, boards or pages at any time. Saved games live in your browser, so clearing your data or switching devices will lose them.

Disclaimer

The site is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose. Strategy advice is there to help you enjoy the game. It doesn't guarantee you'll win.

Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent the law allows, we won't be liable for any indirect, incidental or consequential loss, or for lost data, arising from your use of the site. Because the site is free, our total liability for any claim is limited to ₹1,000 (or US$15). Nothing in these terms limits liability that can't be limited by law.

Your responsibility

If you break these terms, for example by misusing an embed or copying our content, and someone makes a claim against us because of it, you agree to cover the reasonable costs that result.

Copyright complaints

If you believe something on the site infringes your copyright, email support@playdotsandboxes.org with the page address, a description of your work, proof that you own it and your contact details. We review notices under India's Information Technology Act and Copyright Act, and we also accept notices in the format of the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of India, and the courts of India have jurisdiction over any dispute. If you live in the United States, nothing in these terms takes away consumer protections you have under US federal law or the law of your state. Visitors elsewhere keep any rights their local law gives them that can't be waived by agreement. Before going to court, please email us. Most problems can be sorted out with a conversation.

Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. The effective date at the top shows the latest version, and significant changes are noted on the updates page. If you keep using the site after a change, you accept the new terms.

Contact

Questions about these terms: support@playdotsandboxes.org or the contact page.