MyLessonStudio User Agreement

Welcome to MyLessonStudio! We know legal documents can be dense and intimidating, so we've worked hard to make this User Agreement clear, straightforward, and human. This Agreement is between you and JLN Education ("we," "us," or "our"), and it explains how we can work together to make your lesson planning experience great.

The Short Version: You get powerful lesson planning tools, we promise to treat you fairly and protect your work, and we both agree to use the platform responsibly. Pretty simple, right?

By using MyLessonStudio, you're agreeing to these terms. If something here doesn't work for you, please reach out to us at contact@mylessonstudio.ca before using the Service—we're happy to answer questions.

1. Introduction – Let's Get Started

1.1 What This Agreement Covers

This Agreement governs your access to and use of MyLessonStudio (we'll call it the "Software" from here on), available at https://mylessonstudio.ca/. Think of this as the rulebook that helps us both know what to expect.

1.2 You're Agreeing to These Terms

By accessing or using the Software, you're agreeing to be bound by these terms. If you don't agree with something here, please don't use the Service—and let us know why! We're always looking to improve.

1.3 This Is the Whole Deal

This Agreement represents our complete understanding and replaces any previous agreements or conversations about using MyLessonStudio.

2. Your License to Use MyLessonStudio

2.1 What You Can Do

We're giving you permission to use MyLessonStudio for educational and lesson planning purposes. This is a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license—which is legal-speak for "you can use it for yourself, but you can't resell it or transfer it to someone else."

2.2 Play By the Rules

You agree to use the Software in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. We're all educators here, so let's keep things professional and legal.

2.3 Keep It Personal

This license is for you. You can't assign or transfer it to another person or organization without our written permission. If you need something special, just ask—we're reasonable people!

3. Your Account – Keeping Things Secure

3.1 You'll Need an Account

To use MyLessonStudio, you'll need to create an account. It's quick and easy!

3.2 Age Requirement: 18+

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account. We're designing this for professional educators, not students.

3.3 Younger Users Welcome (With Supervision)

If you're under 18, you can still use MyLessonStudio! You'll just need supervision from a parent, guardian, or authorized educational institution.

3.4 Your Account, Your Responsibility

You're responsible for keeping your password secure and for anything that happens under your account. Choose a strong password and keep it safe!

3.5 Account Sharing? Not Cool.

4. Subscriptions and Payments – Fair and Transparent

4.1 How Subscriptions Work

MyLessonStudio is available on a subscription basis. You can see all our current plans and pricing at https://mylessonstudio.ca/pricing.

4.2 Automatic Billing

Payments are charged automatically on a monthly or annual basis (depending on which plan you choose) to your chosen payment method. No surprises—you'll always know when your renewal is coming up.

4.3 Price Changes

We might need to adjust our prices occasionally (hosting AI features isn't cheap!). If we do, we'll give you at least 30 days' notice before any changes take effect. That gives you time to decide if you want to continue or cancel.

4.4 Our Refund Policy – We Want You to Be Happy

We offer refunds because we want you to feel confident trying MyLessonStudio:

4.5 Our Subscription Tiers – Pick What Works for You

We've designed three tiers to match different needs:

4.6 Canceling Your Subscription

You're always in control:

• Subscriptions auto-renew unless you cancel before the renewal date
• Cancel anytime through your Account Settings—no phone calls or hoops to jump through
• Canceling stops future charges but doesn't refund the current period (you already paid for it, so use it!)
• You keep access until the end of your current billing period:
  • Monthly subscribers: Keep using until the end of the current month
  • Annual subscribers: Keep using until your subscription expiration date
• No hard feelings! We'd love to hear why you're leaving so we can improve

5. AI Features – Your Smart Planning Partner

5.1 How AI Helps You

MyLessonStudio uses artificial intelligence to make your lesson planning faster and better:

• We partner with Google AI Studio (Gemini API), a trusted AI infrastructure provider, to access powerful language models
• When you use AI features, your prompts and lesson content are sent to generate responses
• AI provides suggestions, not mandates—you're always the professional educator making the final decisions

Think of AI as your planning partner: It can draft ideas quickly, but you're the master teacher who knows what's best for your students.

5.2 Your Content Is Private and Protected

5.3 AI Isn't Perfect – Your Expertise Matters

5.4 AI Feature Access

MyLessonStudio offers different subscription tiers (see 4.5 above). AI features, tools, and capabilities vary by tier and may change or expand over time. Feature availability is determined by your active subscription level.

Fair warning:

• We might need to modify, limit, or update AI features occasionally to improve them
• We'll give you reasonable notice when we make changes
• AI service availability can be affected by our provider's maintenance or outages (though it's pretty reliable!)

5.5 Fair Use – Keeping It Reasonable

We want everyone to have great AI experiences:

What "fair use" means:

• AI features are for individual users creating lesson plans for reasonable educational use
• We reserve the right to implement usage limits if needed to ensure fair access for everyone
• Excessive or automated usage that impacts service performance may need temporary limits

Don't worry! Normal teaching use is absolutely fine. We're talking about extreme cases like trying to generate thousands of lessons per day.

We'll communicate first: If we notice unusual usage patterns, we'll reach out to chat before imposing any limitations (except in obvious abuse cases).

6. Acceptable Use – Let's Be Professional

6.1 What MyLessonStudio Is For

This platform is designed for educational and lesson planning purposes. Use it to create amazing learning experiences for students!

6.2 What's Not Cool – Prohibited Uses

Most of this is common sense, but we need to be clear:

Don't:

• Try to hack or gain unauthorized access to the Software or our systems
• Store or transmit illegal, infringing, or libelous material
• Upload malicious code or viruses
• Intentionally disrupt or interfere with the service for others
• Do anything that could harm the Software or other users

Definitely don't use MyLessonStudio for:

• Designing anything that could cause physical harm (weapons, harmful devices, dangerous substances)
• Activities related to nuclear facilities, life support systems, or emergency response systems
• Planning anything where failure could lead to death, injury, or environmental damage
• Manipulating or misusing AI features for harmful purposes
• Generating content that violates laws, regulations, or ethical standards

Look, we're all educators here. We trust you to use professional judgment and keep things appropriate.

6.3 If Rules Are Broken

Violations of the Acceptable Use Policy may result in:

• Immediate suspension or termination of access
• Legal action if necessary
• Reporting to relevant authorities

We don't want to do any of that! Just use the platform as intended and we'll all be fine.

6.4 Content Moderation

We reserve the right to remove content that violates this Agreement:

• We'll notify you if we remove your content
• You can appeal our decisions by contacting us at contact@mylessonstudio.ca
• We're reasonable and we'll listen

7. Your Content and Data – You Own Your Work

7.1 Your Lesson Plans Belong to You

7.2 Taking Your Data With You – No Lock-In

We believe your data should be portable. You're never trapped with us:

Export anytime:

• Download your lesson plans in standard formats (PDF, DOCX)
• Find the export feature in your Account Settings
• We'll provide your data within 2 business days of request
• No questions asked. It's your data.

7.3 Data Retention and Deletion

If you leave us:

• Your data stays accessible for 30 days after account closure (in case you change your mind)
• After that, we begin the deletion process as outlined in our Privacy Policy
• For complete details on data retention timelines and what happens to different types of data, see Privacy Policy Section 6

Want immediate deletion?

• Contact contact@mylessonstudio.ca
• See Privacy Policy Section 6.9 for the complete deletion process and timelines

7.4 Templates and Sharing

• Our templates: The templates we provide remain our property (we created them!), but your modifications and the lesson plans you build are 100% yours.
• Sharing with colleagues: You can share your lesson plans with other MyLessonStudio users through our sharing features—it's great for collaboration!

7.8 If You Have Privacy Concerns

We take privacy seriously. If you believe we've violated your privacy rights under PIPEDA or provincial privacy laws:

First, talk to us:

• Contact us at contact@mylessonstudio.ca
• We want to resolve concerns quickly and fairly

You can also file a complaint:

• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada - Website: www.priv.gc.ca, Phone: 1-800-282-1376
• Your provincial privacy commissioner

We'd much rather resolve things directly, but you have these rights and we respect them.

8. Intellectual Property – Respecting Everyone's Work

8.1 We Own the Software

All intellectual property rights in MyLessonStudio—the code, design, features, and functionality—remain our property. Think of it like leasing an apartment: you get to use it, but you don't own the building.

8.2 You Own Your Content

We said it before, but it bears repeating: You retain all rights to the content you create. Your lesson plans are your intellectual property.

8.3 Feedback and Suggestions

Love giving feedback? We love hearing it!

• You can provide suggestions for improving MyLessonStudio anytime
• If we implement your suggestions, we own those improvements (we need to legally for software development)
• We won't compensate you for suggestions, but we'll definitely appreciate you!

8.4 Our Trademarks

"MyLessonStudio" is our trademark. Please:

• Don't use our trademarks without written permission
• Always use the full name "MyLessonStudio" when referring to us
• Contact contact@mylessonstudio.ca if you want to use our trademarks for something

9. Data Handling and Privacy – Transparency You Can Trust

9.1 How We Handle Your Information

Everything we do with your data is governed by our Privacy Policy at https://mylessonstudio.ca/privacy.

Quick reference guide:

• What data we collect and why → Privacy Policy Section 1
• How we use your information → Privacy Policy Section 2
• AI data handling (the important stuff!) → Privacy Policy Section 3
• Data security measures → Privacy Policy Section 5
• Your privacy rights → Privacy Policy Section 8
• Data retention periods → Privacy Policy Section 6

9.2 Third-Party Services and Data Locations

Here's the geography of your data:

Other integrations: We also work with Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Dropbox for your convenience. You'll need to comply with their terms of service too.

Want more details? Privacy Policy Sections 3.8 and 9 have the full technical story.

9.3 If There's Ever a Data Breach

We hope this never happens, but if it does, we'll be transparent and help you protect yourself. See Privacy Policy Section 14 for our complete breach notification procedures.

9.4 Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies to keep you logged in, remember your preferences, and improve the service. You're in control: Your browser settings let you manage cookies. For complete details on what cookies we use and how to control them, see Privacy Policy Section 7.

10. Educational Compliance – Built for Educators

10.1 We Follow the Rules

MyLessonStudio complies with Canadian and international educational privacy regulations:

Canadian laws:

• Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
• Consumer Privacy Protection Act (CPPA)
• Digital Charter Implementation Act

Provincial regulations:

• Ontario's MFIPPA (Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act)
• British Columbia's FIPPA (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act)
• Quebec's Law 25
• BC's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)

For US users:

• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

For public institution educators: Our privacy-by-design architecture ensures that personal information (as defined under MFIPPA/FIPPA) is not sent to AI service providers. Translation: If you work for a public school board, we've designed MyLessonStudio so you can use AI features without violating data residency requirements. See Privacy Policy Section 3.7 for the full explanation.

10.2 Your Responsibilities

While we handle the technical compliance, you need to:

• Follow your institution's policies on using educational technology
• Obtain necessary consents where required
• Maintain appropriate records
• Never include student names or identifiable information in lesson plans (MyLessonStudio is for lesson planning, not student data management)

10.3 Accessibility Matters

We're committed to making MyLessonStudio accessible to everyone:

• WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance - We meet international accessibility standards
• Documentation available at https://mylessonstudio.ca/accessibility
• Need accommodations? Contact contact@mylessonstudio.ca—we're here to help

11. Support and Communication – We're Here for You

11.1 How to Reach Us

We offer multiple support channels:

11.2 Our Response Time Commitment

We aim to respond to general support inquiries within 24-48 hours during business days. For privacy-related requests, see Privacy Policy Section 8.8 for specific timeframes. Lead Tier (Premium) subscribers get priority support—we answer you first!

11.3 Official Notifications

Important updates come via:

• Email to your registered address
• In-app notifications
• Sometimes both!

Keep your email current so you don't miss important information about your account or the service.

12. Updates and Maintenance – Continuous Improvement

12.1 We're Always Improving

MyLessonStudio gets better over time! We periodically update the Software to:

• Add new features
• Fix bugs
• Improve performance
• Comply with new regulations
• Respond to your feedback

12.2 Scheduled Maintenance

Sometimes we need to take the service down briefly for maintenance:

• We'll announce scheduled maintenance at least 48 hours in advance when possible
• Emergency maintenance might happen without notice (rare, but necessary for security)
• We always work to minimize disruption

12.3 Version Updates

Major updates:

• Announced at least 14 days in advance
• Release notes published so you know what's new
• Your feedback helps shape these updates!

Critical security updates:

• May be deployed immediately without advance notice
• Your security is too important to delay

12.4 Your Data Stays Compatible

13. Disclaimer of Warranties – The Legal Stuff

13.1 "As Is" Service

We need to be legally clear: The Software is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, express or implied.

Translation: We work incredibly hard to make MyLessonStudio reliable and helpful, but we can't guarantee perfection. Software is complex!

13.2 No Guarantee of Perfection

We don't warrant that:

• The Software will be completely uninterrupted or error-free
• All bugs will be eliminated immediately
• Everything will work perfectly 100% of the time

We do promise: We'll work hard to fix issues quickly and keep improving the service.

13.3 Specific Disclaimers

We disclaim warranties regarding:

• Fitness for a particular purpose - We've built this for lesson planning, but can't guarantee it fits every unique need
• Accuracy of AI-generated content - AI is powerful but imperfect (remember Section 5.3!)
• Compatibility with every specific system or software configuration
• Results obtained - Teaching is an art; we provide tools, but outcomes depend on many factors
• AI suggestions - Always apply your professional judgment

The bottom line: Use MyLessonStudio as a powerful tool in your teaching toolkit, but remember you're the professional educator responsible for final decisions.

14. Limitation of Liability – Being Realistic

14.1 Limits on What We're Responsible For

We're not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages resulting from your use of the Software.

If something goes wrong with the Software, we're responsible for direct damages (like if we accidentally deleted your account), but not for indirect consequences (e.g., if deleting your account caused you to miss a deadline).

This includes any issues from relying on AI-generated content—you're the professional who reviews and approves what you use.

14.2 Maximum Liability Cap

Our total liability to you will never exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months before your claim.

Why this matters: If you're on the free tier, our liability is capped at $0. If you're paying $25/month, our maximum liability is $300 (12 months). This is standard for software services and helps us stay in business to serve you!

14.3 You're Responsible Too

You agree to indemnify us (protect us legally) against claims arising from:

• Your violation of this Agreement
• Your violation of laws or regulations
• Infringement of someone else's intellectual property
• Your use or misuse of AI-generated content with students

Translation: If you do something wrong and we get sued because of it, you're responsible, not us.

14.4 Insurance

We maintain appropriate liability insurance to protect the company and, by extension, our users.

We recommend: Review your own professional liability insurance to ensure you're covered for using educational technology tools.

15. Force Majeure – When Things Beyond Our Control Happen

15.1 Acts of God and Other Uncontrollable Events

Sometimes things happen that are completely beyond our control:

• Natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, fires)
• War or civil unrest
• Internet service provider failures
• Government actions or regulations
• Pandemics (we all learned about this one!)
• Third-party AI service provider outages

If these occur: We're not liable for failures to perform caused by these events.

15.2 We'll Still Try Our Best

Even during force majeure events, we'll make reasonable efforts to:

• Communicate what's happening
• Restore service as quickly as possible
• Keep you informed about expected resolution times

We're committed to transparency even when things are outside our control.

16. Term and Termination of MyLessonStudio Accounts

16.1 When This Agreement Starts

This Agreement begins the moment you create your MyLessonStudio account and continues until either of us decides to end the relationship.

16.2 You Can Leave MyLessonStudio Anytime

You can terminate your account whenever you want:

• Just follow the account closure process in your Account Settings
• No complicated procedures or phone calls required
• We'll be sad to see you go, but we respect your choice!
• Please tell us why you're leaving so we can improve for others

16.3 When We Might Need to Terminate or Suspend Account Access

We may terminate or suspend your access immediately for:

• Violation of this Agreement (especially the Acceptable Use Policy)
• Suspected fraud or payment issues
• Account sharing or credential misuse
• Excessive usage that impacts the service for everyone
• Any reason at our sole discretion (we'll be fair, but we need this flexibility)

If we terminate for violation: No refunds will be provided. We don't want to do this, so please follow the rules!

16.4 What Happens When Your Account is Terminated

Your access stops immediately - You can't log in anymore

But you can take your data:

• You have 30 days to export all your lesson plans and content
• After that, we start the deletion process

Data deletion timeline:

• Personal information deleted within 90 days of account closure
• Some information may be retained longer if legally required
• Backup systems might hold data briefly for disaster recovery

Refunds on termination:

• Annual plans: Prorated refund if we terminate (not your fault)
• Monthly plans: No partial month refunds
• You terminate: See our refund policy in Section 4.4

16.5 What Survives Termination

Even after this Agreement ends, certain sections continue:

• Intellectual property rights
• Limitation of liability
• Indemnification
• Any other provisions that logically should survive

17. Changes to This Agreement – We'll Keep You Posted

17.1 We Can Modify These Terms

We reserve the right to update this Agreement from time to time. The internet and education technology evolve, and our terms need to evolve too.

17.2 How We'll Notify You

For material changes:

• Email notification to your registered address
• In-app notification when you log in
• At least 30 days' notice before changes take effect

What counts as "material"?

• Pricing changes
• Refund policy modifications
• Data handling practice changes
• AI feature availability changes
• Termination rights modifications
• Liability limitation changes

We decide what's "material" (we need that flexibility), but we err on the side of over-communicating.

For minor changes:

• Clarifications, formatting updates, contact information changes
• We might make these without advance notice
• Always check the "Last Updated" date at the top

17.3 Your Options

After we notify you of changes:

• Option 1: Continue using MyLessonStudio - This means you accept the new terms. We hope you'll stay with us!
• Option 2: Discontinue using MyLessonStudio - If you disagree with changes, you can close your account. Don't forget to export your data first!

17.4 Version History

Previous versions of this Agreement are archived and available upon request. Email contact@mylessonstudio.ca if you need to see older versions.

18. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution – Let's Work It Out

18.1 Which Laws Apply

This Agreement is governed by the laws of Ontario, Canada. We're a Canadian company serving Canadian educators (and international friends!).

18.2 Resolving Disputes – Three Steps

We really hope we never need this section, but if we disagree about something:

1. Step 1: Talk to Each Other
   • Initial good faith negotiation between us
   • Most issues can be resolved with honest conversation
   • Contact contact@mylessonstudio.ca
2. Step 2: Mediation
   • If talking doesn't work, we'll try mediation
   • We'll find a mutually agreed mediator
   • This is cheaper and faster than courts!
3. Step 3: Arbitration
   • If mediation fails, we go to binding arbitration
   • Follows the rules of the ADR Institute of Canada
   • The arbitrator's decision is final

18.3 No Class Actions

You waive the right to participate in class action lawsuits against us. All disputes must be resolved individually.

Why? Class actions are expensive and slow. Individual resolution is faster and fairer for everyone.

19. Severability of this Agreement

19.1 Salvaging What Works

If any part of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable by a court, the rest continues in full effect.

19.2 Minimum Necessary Changes

If something in this Agreement is unenforceable, we'll modify it minimally to make it enforceable while preserving the original intent.

Translation: If one section doesn't hold up, the rest of the Agreement still stands.

20. Assignment of this Agreement to Another Company

20.1 We Can Transfer

We may assign this Agreement to another company if:

• MyLessonStudio is acquired
• We undergo corporate reorganization
• We merge with another company

Your protection: The new owner must honor the commitments we've made to you.

20.2 You Can't Transfer

You can't assign your rights or obligations under this Agreement without our written consent.

Why? Your account and license are personal to you.

21. Relationship of Parties – We're Partners in Education

21.1 What We're Not

This Agreement does not create any of the following with our users:

• An agency relationship
• A partnership
• A joint venture
• An employment relationship

21.2 Independent Parties

We're two independent parties working together:

• You use our Software for lesson planning
• We provide the tools and support
• Neither of us can bind the other to contracts or obligations