STEPIN Virtual Goods Policy
Last Updated: 2024-04-19
1 Purpose
STEPIN (“Platform” or “App") is a social and gaming application developed by Sidewalk Entertainment Inc. ("Company", “We” or “Us”), and the Company operates the service website (stepin.ai) and related services. This Virtual Goods Policy (“Policy”) sets forth the definitions, rules and guidelines relevant to the virtual goods (including but not limited to diamonds, gold, energy, boosts, subscription services, packages, functions, services, and assets etc.) within the Platform, the user accounts in which virtual goods and particular virtual goods are stored, and the rules for using virtual goods.
For residents of the Republic of Korea, please refer to Virtual Goods Policy – Republic of Korea.
2 Effectiveness and Modifications of the Policy
This Policy shall come into effect upon its publication on the Website or in the App, or upon being sent to users via email. The Company reserves the right to amend this Policy at any time due to reasonable judgment or logical reasons. In the event of any changes to this Policy, the Company will notify all users of the revised content and effective date through the Platform or Website.
Any matters or topics that are specified in this Policy will be subject to relevant laws and regulations of the Republic of Korea, the STEPIN End User License Agreement (“EULA”), Privacy Policy, Community Guidelines, Operational Policy and other policies or guidelines established by the Company.
3 Glossary of Terms
Below are the definitions of the terms used in this Policy:
1.
“You” and “User” refers to an individual or party who has met has agreed to the Company’s policies and granted access to the Platform.
2.
“Device" indicates the mobile device, tablet, laptop, PC, TV, or other devices used to access the Platform.
3.
“App Marketplace” is an online platform which users can access to download the App and make in-app purchases on, examples include Google Play Store and Apple App Store etc.
4.
“Third-party payment platform" refers to the third-party payment service provider designated by the company.
5.
“In-app Purchase” and “In-app Payment” indicate the action of making a purchase through an App Marketplace within the App.
6.
"Play" refers to the action of using energy to launch a game of “Practice”, “Challenge” or RPD on the Platform.
7.
“Content” includes all paid and free multimedia materials including posts, items, software, images, documents, graphics, illustrations, logos, patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, photographs, audio, videos, music, interactive functions, metrics etc., which are provided by the Company, You and/or a Third Party.
8.
“Item” refers to the virtual goods and virtual tokens such as diamonds, gold, energy, boosts, effects, RPD boxes, passes, subscription services, packages, items, functions, services, and any other virtual products or services, that can be used within the Platform.
9.
"Diamond" refers to a virtual token that can be purchased via App Marketplaces or third-party payment platform. It is a virtual payment method in the form of electronic token issued by the Company for purchasing, using and exchanging items within the Platform. Additionally, users can obtain diamonds for free through events or methods permitted by the Company.
10.
"Gold" refers to a virtual token that can be purchased, used, or exchanged with diamonds within the App. It can be purchased or provided by the Company through item packages, events, or other offerings sold or provided via the App Marketplace or third-party payment platform. Additionally, gold can be obtained through other methods such as gameplays, events, activities designated by the Company within the app, and can be used for purchasing, using, or exchanging other items within the app.
11.
"Energy" indicates an item used for playing on the App. It can be purchased on the Platform or provided to users through promotions or other methods granted by the Company.
12.
"Boost" indicates the app feature of supporting or promoting dances, artists and/or content or profiles of yourself and other users.
13.
"Effect" refers to features such as backgrounds, neon, filters, stickers, and other functionalities used during content editing or creation on the Platform.
14.
"RPD box" refers to an item used in RPD mode.
15.
"Subscription service" refers to paid items or benefits that allow users to access specific items, features, or services for a certain period, such as passes, energy subscription, ad removal, etc. Subscription services are applied immediately after payment, and are automatically renewed periodically based on the form and payment method selected by the user.
16.
"Recharge" refers to the action of converting cash into items via App Marketplaces, third-party payment platform, or other payment methods designated by the Company.
17.
"Paid items" refer to items and services available for purchase through payment methods provided by the Company, such as diamonds, energy, boosts, gold, effects, RPD boxes, subscription services, packages, and more.
18.
"Recharge" refers to the action where users purchase energy in specific monetary units via payment methods designated by the Company.
19.
"Free items" refer to items provided at no monetary cost without direct payment. This includes items obtained through promotions, events, prizes, ad viewing, quest completions, and other activities conducted by the Company, as well as items obtained for free through other methods permitted by the Company. Withdrawal or refund requests for free items or items purchased with free items are not possible.
20.
Minor-age User” indicates a user who is under the age of 18 (or the legal age in the relevant jurisdiction – refer to EULA Section 7.1, Clause 5).
4 Purchase of Paid Items
1.
The usage agreement for "Paid items" is established when You agree to this Policy and the transaction conditions of recharge, purchase, and/or usage of items, and Your recharge, purchase, and/or usage of "Paid items" through methods determined by the Company.
2.
Paid items on this Platform can be purchased through in-app purchases or third-party payment platform designated by the Company.
3.
Paid items can be purchased through App Marketplaces and third-party payment platform, and the purchase history can be confirmed through the related payment service provider. However, due to differences in the policies of each payment method, the payment amount limit may vary. Additionally, the purchase price of paid items is charged according to the regulations of the mobile carrier and/or the payment platform operator associated with the App Marketplace or third-party payment platform, and the payment method is also determined by the policy of relevant payment service operator.
4.
You must accurately and promptly settle the transaction payments in compliance with the regulations, policies, and procedures of the respective App Marketplace, and be aware that payment limits may be applied based on the applicable payment method.
5.
When making an in-app purchase, the payment will be executed with the payment method registered in the device’s App Marketplace account, regardless of which user account is logged into the App.
6.
You must ensure that no third parties can improperly access and use Your payment method by setting up and maintaining your password for your device, app marketplace, and/or third-party payment platform Moreover, the Company takes additional measures to prevent unauthorized access and use of the payment methods by implementing authentication procedures, modules, libraries and other measures in accordance with the “Mobile Content Payment Guidelines for App Markets” established by the Korea Communications Commission.
7.
The Company shall not be held liable for any third-party purchases processed via app marketplaces or third-party payment platform resulting from the user's failure to employ password protection features on their device or related payment account, or in cases where password exposure occurs due to the user's own negligence. However, in instances where the cause of such purchases is attributed to the Company's negligence or intentional actions, we shall take responsibility as outlined in our policies and guidelines.
8.
You are responsible for paying all fees and taxes incurred on your account or any accounts registered to you. Additionally, following the policy of the selected payment method and country of residence, you may be subject to sales tax. Sale tax rates may change at any time and you are to comply with and settle the rates accordingly.
9.
Items can be purchased at a price, period and unit determined by the Company’s internal regulations, and the Company reserves the exclusive right to control, regulate, modify, or remove the item prices, the quantity and period available for purchase, the available usage period, and the total quantity limit which can be held in an account etc., at any time.
10.
Subscription services will automatically renew, and you will continue to be periodically charged for the service. Unless you decide to cancel the subscription before the next automatic renewal, you will be billed again via the selected payment method. By providing your payment details for the purchase of subscription service, you are deemed to have agreed to the terms related to automatic renewal.
11.
If the automatic payment for a subscription service fails through the selected payment method, the subscription service will be discontinued.
12.
The price, features, items, benefits, and duration of subscription services may be changed at any time based on factors such as region, past purchases, account activity, and subscription period, and we will notify you in advance of any price or other changes. By continuing to use the service after the changes take effect, you are deemed to have agreed to the revised price and content. The current price of the subscription service can be confirmed through the selected payment method.
13.
Users are fully responsible for inputting and managing the personal information used for purchases of virtual goods, except in cases where such responsibility is separately designated in relevant laws, the Company's terms and conditions, or other applicable regulations.
14.
Minor-age users must receive the consent of their legal guardians when making in-app purchases.
5 Authorization of Payment for Paid Items
1.
The Company reserves the right to reject a payment request or cancel a previously authorized payment in the circumstances in the below. Furthermore, the establishment of the service contract may be restricted according to the policies of the payment method You selected.
(i) When the payment of purchase is not made, or the identity of the payer cannot be verified;
(ii) When the payment method is utilized in a way that breaches legal requirements;
(iii) When compulsory information required for and/or related to the payment process incorrectly filled out or missing;
(iv) If a user processes a payment that is not registered in the user’s name or without the consent of the payment account’s owner;
(v) If multiple payments originate from the same IP address, a series of consecutive payments from similar usernames or accounts, or instances of confirmed fraudulent activity, payments or recharges from the identified high-risk IP address are deemed fraudulent.
(vi) Other situations in which the payment cannot be authorized or restricted due to the user’s fault or responsibility.
2.
In the circumstances below, the Company may restrict approval for payment requests, and may withhold approval until the reason for the restriction is resolved.
(i) If it is determined that the App service cannot be provided completely or smoothly owing to the lack or insufficiency of the Platform’s equipment and capabilities.
(ii) In case of a failure or disruption of the Platform’s services.
6 Use and Deduction of Paid Items
1.
Items can be purchased, used, or consumed within this App according to the methods and conditions determined by the Company, provided that You agree to this Policy and the Terms & Conditions of the Platform.
2.
Payment for paid items shall be made in accordance with the fees established by this Platform, and users may review their transaction history through the linked App Marketplace and third-party payment platform.
3.
The Company reserves the right to set the duration and conditions of use for items and will notify users by publishing such information through usage guides or the App’s payment interfaces. Below are details regarding the usage period of paid items:
A. The usage period of paid items is three years from the date of purchase, after which any remaining items will automatically expire. Paid items are considered used upon collection or unpacking. However, subscription services are activated and considered used immediately after purchase.
B. Items with specified usage periods can only be used during the specified period.
C. Items marked as "permanent" or those with no specified usage period are available for usage throughout the operation of the platform, starting from the commencement of use.
4.
Subscription services are automatically renewed through the used App Marketplaces and third-party payment platform, and you have the right to change or cancel the subscription at any time. If you cancel a subscription, you may continue to use the subscription’s benefit and/or item until the end of your then-current subscription term, and the cancellation will take effect from the next renewal date.
5.
If you wish to change or cancel the automatic renewal and/or payment of the subscription service, you must proceed with the procedures in accordance with the used payment method. The same applies if you have deleted your membership account on this Platform or uninstalled the App from your device.
6.
When paid items are purchased, the items that were first added to the account will be used first. In addition, Paid items are consumed before Free items in all circumstances.
7.
When withdrawal of purchase is requested for paid items, refunds will be processed in the reverse order of purchase.
8.
No interest income is generated from the remaining balance of paid items.
9.
If items are damaged, deleted or become defective due to a serious flaw of the Platform, users have the right to receive compensation through restoration or recharge of the relevant items.
10.
The Company reserves the right to modify the functionality of existing items or disable them through updates, changes, or item policies of this App. In such cases, items with remaining usage period become unavailable and inaccessible, and the Company will provide compensation the form of other items which corresponds to the disabled or removed items.
7 Refund Policy
1.
YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT ALL PURCHASES OF VIRTUAL GOODS MADE THROUGH THE PLATFORM ARE FINAL AND NON-REFUNDABLE UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
2.
NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES OF ANY UNUSED VIRTUAL GOODS ARE PERMITTED ONCE THE PURCHASE HAS BEEN MADE.
3.
You also consent that the Company has no obligation to provide a refund for any reason.
4.
If your account usage is restricted or removed due to policy violations or other reasons, the automatic renewal of subscription services will not be interrupted. To cancel the automatic removal, you must proceed with the termination via the selected payment method.
5.
The cancellation procedures of subscription services may vary depending on the payment method used. If the payment was made through Google Play, you can apply for cancellation through Google Play or by contacting our customer support center at stepin.cs@sidewalkplay.com. If payment was made through the App Store, you can apply for cancellation through the App Store.
6.
If your account is suspended or terminated due to your voluntary withdrawal of membership or your breach of these Terms, you may lose any virtual goods that you may own, and you will not be entitled to any compensation or refund for the loss.
7.
The Company reserves the right to exercise its discretion in issuing refunds, credits, or discounts as it deems appropriate. However, in the event that a refund, credit, or discount is issued, the Company is not required to provide the same or similar refund in the future.
8 Overpayment
1.
In the event of an overpayment, it is the Company’s standard practice to refund the overpayment amount through the same payment method that the user used to make the purchase. However, if the Company is unable to make the refund using the same payment method due to circumstances, such as the policies of relevant companies or other unavoidable circumstances, the Company will notify the user and proceed with the refund using another method. If the overpayment was caused by the user's fault without the Company's intent or negligence, the user shall bear any additional costs incurred by the refund within reasonable parameters.
2.
The Platform’s payment procedures are set up in compliance with the policies of App Marketplace and Third-party Payment Platform operators. In case an overpayment occurs during the payment process, the user shall request for a refund through the Company, the corresponding App Marketplace or Third-party Payment Platform. However, if the refund can be handled by the Company under the related payment service provider’s policy, we may do so.
3.
Any Telecom charges, such as data, internet or call charges etc., incurred by downloading or accessing the Platform may not be eligible for a refund.
4.
Refunds will be executed in compliance with the Company’s policies and policies of the corresponding App Marketplace operator corresponding to the device used to access the Platform.
5.
In order to facilitate the refund process for an overpayment, the Company reserves the right to contact the user via the information provided by the user and may request additional information necessary for the refund.
9 Protection of Personal Information
The Company strives to protect the personal information of all users in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. The protection and use of your personal information is subject to the relevant laws and the Company's Privacy Policy.
10 For Residents of Japan
This section only applies if you are a resident of Japan.
10.1 Display Based on the Payment Services Act
Issuer of prepaid payment instrument | Sidewalk Entertainment Inc. |
Amount payable, etc. | There is no maximum limit. |
Validity Period and Expiry | Please refer to STEPIN Terms & Conditions. |
Contact Information | 1004 R&D Tower, 396 World Cup buk-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea stepin.cs@sidewalkplay.com |
Location of use | ‘STEPIN’ app distributed and owned by Sidewalk Entertainment Inc. |
Usage notes | Only those who have agreed to STEPIN Terms & Conditions can purchase Energy. Except required by applicable law, Energies are non-refundable. Please check the Virtual Goods Policy for additional details. |
Method to check the unused balance | Unused balance can be checked after logging into the STEPIN app. |
Issuance Guarantee Deposit for Prepaid Payment Methods | In compliance with the Payment Services Act, the Company protects the assets entrusted by users by depositing an amount equal to or greater than half (not necessarily the full balance) of the unused funds on specific reference dates, which occur annually at the end of March and the end of September.
This practice applies to all prepaid payment methods issued by our company. Should our company encounter insolvency or similar situations, users who possess prepaid payment methods from our company hold the right to receive preferential settlement. This right pertains to claims associated with those prepaid payment methods and is facilitated through the issuance guarantee deposit mentioned above.
As per the Payment Services Act, the Company is not presently engaged in the preservation of security deposits for issuance. This is due to the fact that the unused balance on the base date, which includes the unused balance at the two annual reference dates (the end of March and the end of September), does not surpass the base amount set forth by Cabinet Order. The specified base amount is 10 million yen, as outlined in Article 6 of the Order for Enforcement of the Payment Services Act. |
Policy Regarding Prepaid Payment Instruments | For losses (including losses incurred by persons other than users) resulting from the unauthorized use of prepaid payment instruments issued by the Company and transactions carried out by individuals without proper authorization and against the user's intent, the Company will not be liable unless required by applicable law, or unless the loss is caused by the Company's intentional or gross negligence.
For inquiries regarding unauthorized use, please contact us using the contact information provided above. |
Terms of Use | Please check here for the terms of use. |
10.2 Notations Based on The Act on Specified Commercial Transactions
Distributor Name | Sidewalk Entertainment Inc. |
Location | 1004 R&D Tower, 396 World Cup buk-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea |
Contact Information | |
Name of Representative | Kibong Kook |
Selling Price | Please refer to the product purchase screen in STEPIN. |
Costs in Additional to the Selling Price | Users are responsible for internet connection charges, communication charges, and any other fees associated with downloading, accessing, using, and viewing the app, as well as any taxes incurred in any purchases. |
Payment method | STEPIN’s virtual goods must be purchased using one of the in-app payment methods offered by the respective App Marketplaces listed below:
• Apple Pay (credit card registered in the user's Apple account and other payment methods specified by Apple Inc.)
• Google (credit card registered in the user's Google account and other payment methods recognized by Google Inc.) |
Product Delivery Time | Unless otherwise specified by the Company, the purchased product is provided and can be used immediately upon payment completion. |
Refunds and Cancellations of Purchase | No refunds or exchanges for any unused virtual goods are permitted once a purchase is made. All purchases of virtual goods made through the app are final and non-refundable unless otherwise required by applicable law. |
Updated Policy
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