Last Updated: January 15, 2026

Terms of Service

Illuminate: Refers to the Chrome browser extension and related services, including local OCR processing (Tesseract.js) and optional cloud-based processing via third-party APIs.
Service: The collective offering provided by Illuminate, including the Chrome extension, associated backend services, and any updates or modifications thereto.
User: Any individual who downloads, installs, accesses, or uses the Illuminate Service.
Pro Subscription: A paid monthly subscription ($5/month) that provides access to cloud OCR and translation features with 200 credits per billing period.
API: Application Programming Interface, including the Qwen-VL cloud service used for OCR and translation.

By downloading, installing, or using Illuminate (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Service.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, installing, or using the Illuminate Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Service.

2. Description of Service

Illuminate is a Chrome extension that provides optical character recognition (OCR) and translation services. The Service includes both local processing (using WebAssembly/Tesseract.js, performed entirely in your browser) and optional cloud-based processing via Qwen-VL API.

3. Privacy & Data Handling

Your privacy is important to us. Here's how we handle your data:

Local Processing: All OCR operations using Tesseract.js are performed locally in your browser. No images are transmitted to our servers. This processing occurs entirely on your device.
Cloud Processing: When using Qwen-VL for cloud OCR and translation, images are transmitted to Alibaba Cloud. We do not store, retain, or access the content of images submitted for cloud processing.
API Keys: API keys for third-party services are stored securely on our backend servers and are never exposed to users.
Subscription Data: We process minimal subscription data through Polar.sh for payment processing and license verification.
Usage Data: For Pro subscribers, we track API request credits for rate limiting purposes (200 credits per billing period). This data is stored in our database and retained for the duration of your subscription plus 12 months for billing verification.

3.1 GDPR Compliance (EU Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), we process your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

Lawful Basis: Processing for local OCR is necessary for the performance of our contract with you. Cloud API data is processed based on your explicit consent when you opt into cloud processing.
Your Rights: You have the right to access your data, rectify inaccurate data, request erasure ("right to be forgotten"), restrict processing, data portability, and object to processing.
Data Retention: Local OCR data is never stored. Cloud API data is processed in real-time and not retained. Subscription data is retained for 12 months after subscription termination for legal compliance.
Exercising Your Rights: To exercise any of these rights, contact us at support@lenstranslator.com.

3.2 CCPA Compliance (California Residents)

If you are a California resident, we process your personal data in accordance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Categories of Personal Information: We collect minimal data including email (for subscription verification), license key information, and usage metrics. We do not sell your personal information.
Your Rights: You have the right to know what personal information we collect, request deletion, opt-out of sale (not applicable), and non-discrimination for exercising your rights.
Exercising Your Rights: To submit a request, contact us at support@lenstranslator.com.

Privacy First: We do not collect, store, or sell your personal data or the content you translate. All local processing occurs on your device. Cloud API data is processed in real-time by third parties and is not retained by us.

4. Acceptable Use

You agree to use the Illuminate Service only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree NOT to:

Use the Service to translate content that violates any laws or regulations, including copyright, trademark, or intellectual property rights
Attempt to circumvent usage limits, rate restrictions, or subscription requirements through technical means or account manipulation
Reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or modify the extension code, except as expressly permitted by applicable law
Distribute, sublicense, or share your Pro subscription license key with others
Use automated systems, bots, or scripts to access the Service in excess of normal human usage patterns
Use the Service in any way that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair our servers, networks, or infrastructure
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any systems, networks, or data through the Service
Use the Service to process images containing highly sensitive personal information without appropriate consent

5. Subscriptions & Payment

Illuminate offers both free and paid (Pro) tiers:

Free Tier: Unlimited local OCR processing using Tesseract.js. No registration required.
Pro Subscription: $5/month for cloud OCR and translation using Qwen-VL. Includes 200 request credits per billing period. Subscriptions are processed through Polar.sh.

5.1 Cancellation

Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time through your Polar.sh account dashboard. Upon cancellation:

Your Pro access continues until the end of your current billing period.
At the end of the billing period, your account automatically reverts to the Free Tier.
No further charges will be processed after cancellation.

5.2 Refunds

All subscriptions are final. Due to the digital nature of the Service and immediate access to features, we do not offer refunds except where required by applicable law. If you believe you were charged in error, please contact support@lenstranslator.com within 30 days of the charge for review.

6. Third-Party Services

Our Service integrates with third-party services:

Qwen-VL: For cloud OCR and translation processing. Images submitted for cloud processing are transmitted to Alibaba Cloud (Qwen) per their terms and privacy policy.
Polar.sh: For payment processing and subscription management. Payment data is processed by Polar.sh per their terms.

Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms of service and privacy policies.

7. Disclaimers

THE ILLUMINATE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

Warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement
Warranties that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free of viruses or harmful components
Warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or quality of translations
Warranties regarding compatibility with all websites, applications, or browser versions

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ILLUMINATE AND ITS DEVELOPERS, AFFILIATES, AND SUPPLIERS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, BUSINESS, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

IN NO EVENT SHALL OUR TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY EXCEED THE AMOUNTS PAID BY YOU FOR THE SERVICE IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR $100.00, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

THIS LIMITATION DOES NOT APPLY TO DAMAGES ARISING FROM OUR GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, OR TO PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH WHERE APPLICABLE LAW REQUIRES.

9. Intellectual Property

The Illuminate Service, including but not limited to the Chrome extension, software code, user interface design, logos, trademarks, documentation, and all associated intellectual property, are owned exclusively by Illuminate and its licensors. All rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the Service for your personal, non-commercial use, subject to these Terms. This license does not permit you to:

Copy, modify, or distribute the Service or its components
Create derivative works based on the Service
Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Service, except as permitted by applicable law
Remove, alter, or obscure any proprietary notices
Use the Service for commercial purposes without written authorization

10. Termination

Termination by You: You may stop using the Service at any time. To cancel your Pro subscription, manage your subscription through your Polar.sh account or contact support@lenstranslator.com.

Termination by Us: We may terminate or suspend your access to the Service immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason including but not limited to:

Breach of these Terms of Service
Fraudulent or illegal activity related to your account or subscription
Abuse, harassment, or threatening behavior toward us, our team, or other users
Unauthorized distribution of your license key or Pro subscription access
Use of the Service that harms, disrupts, or interferes with our infrastructure or other users

Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately. Sections that by their nature should survive termination (including Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability, Intellectual Property, and Governing Law) shall survive.

11. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Illuminate, its developers, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or debt, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

Your use of or access to the Service
Your violation of these Terms of Service
Your violation of any third-party right, including any copyright, privacy, or intellectual property right
Any claim that your use of the Service caused damage to a third party

This indemnification obligation survives termination of these Terms and your use of the Service.

12. Force Majeure

Illuminate shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, government actions, labor disputes, internet service failures, third-party API outages or deprecations, or acts of third-party service providers. We will use reasonable efforts to notify you of such circumstances.

13. Copyright & DMCA

Respect for intellectual property is fundamental to our values. If you believe that content accessible through the Service infringes your copyright, please contact us at support@lenstranslator.com with:

A description of the copyrighted work you claim is infringed
A description of where the infringing material is located
Your contact information (email, address, phone)
A statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is not authorized
A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and that you are the copyright owner

14. Age Restrictions

The Service is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 13 (or 16 in the EEA). By using the Service, you represent and warrant that you are at least 13 years old (or 16 in the EEA) and have the legal capacity to form a binding contract.

15. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms of Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Dispute Resolution: Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall be resolved as follows:

First, through good-faith negotiations between the parties for 30 days.
If unresolved, any dispute shall be resolved exclusively through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules.
Alternatively, you may bring claims in small claims court if your claim qualifies.
Class Action Waiver: YOU AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEEDINGS WILL BE CONDUCTED ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT IN A CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION.

This section does not prevent either party from seeking injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction.

16. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. We will notify users of material changes by:

Posting the updated Terms on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date
Providing notice through the Service (such as a notification in the extension)

Your continued use of the Service after any such changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms. If you do not agree to the new terms, you must stop using the Service.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable while preserving its original intent, or if modification is not possible, it shall be severed from these Terms. All other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service, together with our Privacy Policy and any terms presented during subscription registration, constitute the entire agreement between you and Illuminate regarding the Service, superseding all prior or contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations, or warranties, whether oral or written.

19. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at:

Email: support@lenstranslator.com
Website: https://lenstranslator.com