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Terms of Use for Narrative Path

TL;DR (Quick Summary)

• You own all the content you create.
• You can export, publish, or sell your stories without restrictions.
• No credit or attribution to Narrative Path is required.
• You may modify and bundle the player (NarrativePlayerJS) with your exported story.
• You may not sell or use the player in other tools or distribute it separately.

Overview

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your use of the Narrative Path macOS application ("the App"). By using the App, you agree to these Terms.

Narrative Path is a desktop authoring tool for interactive fiction and branching narratives. The app is designed to give creators full control and ownership of their work. It operates offline by default, with no user tracking or telemetry.

User Content and Ownership

• You retain full ownership of all text, stories, and content created using the App.
• Narrative Path does not collect, store, or claim any rights over your content.
• You are responsible for ensuring your work complies with applicable laws.

By default, the app uses your system account name as the story author. This can be changed on a per-story basis or set to a default pen name of your choice in Preferences.

File Format and Portability

• Narrative Path saves files in a custom .narrator format optimized for local editing.
• You can export to open and portable formats:
  • JSON – structured format for external tools or backup
  • Twine (Harlowe) – compatible with the Twine 2 web format
  • Single-file HTML – playable stories embedded in one file

Export Runtime: NarrativePlayerJS

When exporting to HTML, Narrative Path includes a runtime player called NarrativePlayerJS.

Allowed Use:

• Modify or extend the player for your own projects or story exports
• Include the player as part of a published or commercial project
• Distribute the player together with your .narrator-based or exported story

Restricted Use:

• You may not repackage, sell, or distribute NarrativePlayerJS separately
• You may not use NarrativePlayerJS as part of another authoring tool or SDK
• You may not claim authorship of the original NarrativePlayerJS codebase

NarrativePlayerJS is intended as a bundled runtime, not a standalone product.

Third-Party Integrations

Narrative Path may offer optional features that use third-party APIs (e.g., ElevenLabs for voice synthesis).

• These integrations require users to provide their own credentials (e.g., API keys)
• All requests are made locally from your device
• No data or credentials are sent to the developer
• Use of third-party APIs is governed by their respective terms and privacy policies

Narrative Path does not initiate internet access unless these features are enabled.

Commercial Use

You may freely use Narrative Path to create content for personal or commercial use. This includes publishing, distributing, and selling your stories, games, or other media.

Narrative Path imposes no restrictions on the monetization or licensing of your original work.

Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability

Narrative Path is provided “as is.” While every effort is made to ensure stability and reliability, the app may contain bugs or limitations.

• No warranty is provided for performance, compatibility, or fitness for purpose
• We recommend backing up your work regularly
• The developer is not liable for data loss or any indirect or consequential damages arising from the use of the app

Updates

These Terms may change in the future. Continued use of the App constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the developer’s jurisdiction, unless otherwise required by local law.

Contact

For questions or support:
João Sampaio
Email: joao.sampaio@mac.com

Trademarks

Twine and Harlowe are trademarks of their respective owners.
ElevenLabs is a trademark of Eleven Labs, Inc.
Narrative Path is not affiliated with or endorsed by the creators of Twine, Harlowe, or ElevenLabs.
All trademarks, logos, and brand names mentioned are the property of their respective owners and are used only for compatibility and integration reference purposes.