1. Agreement and scope
These terms govern your use of theatticlab.net and any data recovery, media digitization, evaluation, delivery, shipping coordination, or related service provided by The Attic Lab ("The Attic Lab," "we," "us," or "our"). By using the website, you agree to the website portions of these terms. A service engagement begins only when you approve a written quote or other written scope of work that refers to these terms.
A quote, invoice, or written case agreement may contain case-specific terms. If a case-specific term conflicts with these terms, the case-specific term controls for that case. If you do not agree, do not authorize the work.
2. Inquiries, evaluation, and authorization
Submitting the intake form, emailing, calling, or sending photographs does not require you to purchase a service. We may ask questions or evaluate submitted property before quoting. Unless we agree otherwise in writing, there is no fee for the initial evaluation.
We will describe the proposed work and price before billable work begins. Your written approval authorizes us to perform the described procedures and to access the submitted device or media as reasonably necessary. Material work outside the approved scope requires additional approval. We may decline or stop work when a case is outside our capabilities, presents an unexpected safety or legal concern, or is likely to cause disproportionate damage without a reasonable chance of success.
3. Your authority and responsibilities
By submitting property or authorizing work, you represent that:
- you are at least 18 and legally able to enter into this agreement;
- you own the device or media, or have the owner's informed permission to submit it and authorize access to its contents;
- the requested work and your intended use of the results are lawful and do not violate another person's privacy, confidentiality, contract, copyright, or other rights;
- information you provide about the case is accurate to the best of your knowledge; and
- you will disclose known hazards, including fire, liquid, biological contamination, damaged lithium batteries, or other unsafe conditions.
You are responsible for maintaining any existing backup that is still available. Do not send the only copy of unrelated files or property unless that is unavoidable and you understand the risks described below.
4. Data recovery risks and results
Failed, damaged, encrypted, overwritten, or deteriorated storage can be unstable. Normal evaluation and recovery procedures may reveal existing damage, and a device may worsen or stop functioning during an attempt even when reasonable care is used. Recovery can be partial, filenames or folder structures may be lost, files may be corrupt, and some data may be impossible to verify without opening it.
We do not guarantee that any particular device can be repaired, that any particular file can be recovered, or that recovered files will be complete, current, usable, or free of malware. A recovery service is not a repair service unless repair is expressly included in the quote. A device that is readable long enough to recover data may still be unsafe for continued use.
5. Media digitization and rights
Analog tapes and other aging media can contain mold, broken components, weak signals, prior recording defects, or deterioration that becomes apparent only during playback. Digitization quality is limited by the source recording and condition of the media. We do not guarantee uninterrupted footage, perfect color or audio, or improvement beyond what the source permits.
You retain whatever rights you hold in submitted recordings and resulting files. You give us a limited permission to copy and process them solely to perform the authorized service. You are responsible for having any copyright, privacy, publicity, or other permission required for the requested copying. We may refuse commercial releases, unlawful material, or other content when ownership or authority is reasonably in doubt.
6. Pricing, “no data, no charge,” and payment
Prices shown on the website are typical ranges, not a quote for a specific case. Your written quote will state the service fee and any separately approved shipping, replacement media, parts, or other pass-through costs.
Our “no data, no charge” promise, as stated across the website, is: “The evaluation is free. I'll show you what's recoverable before you pay anything. If what you're looking for isn't there, you owe nothing.” For data recovery, that means there is no evaluation fee and no recovery labor charge when we cannot recover usable data responsive to the agreed objective. We pay for return shipping of your device unless you request rush return shipping, which is quoted in advance. Any other cost you expressly approved in advance may still apply. If a case produces partial results, we will describe them and obtain your decision before treating the job as a paid recovery. Digitization charges apply to the tapes or media successfully processed, as described in the quote.
Payment is due as stated in the quote or invoice. Unless we agree otherwise, delivery of full-resolution results and return shipment may be conditioned on payment. You are responsible for promptly inspecting delivered files and telling us about any delivery or playback problem so we have a reasonable opportunity to investigate it while working copies may still be available.
7. Shipping, drop-off, and customer property
Contact us before shipping or dropping off property. You are responsible for secure packaging, accurate labeling, and the cost and risk of inbound shipment. Use a trackable service and insure valuable hardware when appropriate; carrier coverage generally does not cover the value of lost data.
We will use reasonable care while property is in our possession and will package return shipments appropriately. Outside carriers are independent services, and their terms and liability limits apply while they possess a shipment. Return method, cost, tracking, and any requested insurance will be handled as stated in the quote or case correspondence.
Please respond to requests about payment, delivery, or return of property. If property remains unclaimed, we will provide written notice and handle it only as permitted by applicable law. We do not acquire ownership of your files or recordings merely because property is unclaimed.
8. Confidentiality and privacy
We handle customer information and submitted content as described in our Privacy Policy. We may review filenames, folder structures, file previews, or portions of recordings when reasonably necessary to evaluate a case, perform the work, verify results, or respond to your request. We do not use customer content for advertising or unrelated purposes.
9. Illegal, unsafe, or abusive use
You may not use the website or services to violate law; invade another person's privacy; infringe intellectual-property rights; transmit malware; obtain unauthorized access to a system or account; or threaten, harass, or harm another person. We may refuse service, preserve relevant records, or make a report when reasonably required by law or necessary to protect safety or legal rights.
10. Website information and third-party links
Website articles, troubleshooting steps, pricing examples, timelines, and other general information are provided for education and may not fit your device or situation. They are not a diagnosis, guarantee, or substitute for a case-specific evaluation. Following any do-it-yourself step is at your own risk. Stop using a failing device when continued use may overwrite or further damage data.
Links to outside services are provided for convenience. We do not control their content, availability, terms, or privacy practices.
11. Disclaimer of warranties
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the website and services are provided “as is” and “as available.” Except for promises expressly included in an approved quote or these terms, we disclaim implied warranties, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain warranty disclaimers, so parts of this section may not apply to you.
12. Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Attic Lab will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, or consequential damages, or for lost profits, business interruption, or the value of data that was already lost, damaged, inaccessible, or unavailable when submitted. Our total liability arising from a particular service will not exceed the amount you paid for that service.
These limits do not apply to liability that cannot lawfully be limited or excluded. They also do not excuse us from using the level of care expressly promised in an approved quote.
13. Governing law and disputes
Pennsylvania law governs these terms, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Before filing a claim, each party agrees to make a good-faith effort to resolve the issue directly. Unless applicable law requires otherwise, any court proceeding must be brought in a state or federal court with jurisdiction in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
14. General terms
If one provision is unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect. A failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver. You may not transfer your service agreement without our written consent. We may update the website terms from time to time; the effective date above identifies the current version. Changes to service terms will not retroactively alter an already approved quote unless both parties agree in writing.
15. Contact
Questions about these terms can be sent to josh@theatticlab.net or discussed by calling (412) 228-0236.