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Terms of Service

Last updated October 12, 2026 · Velvet Ninth Studios LLC

These Terms of Service ("Terms") are an agreement between you and Velvet Ninth Studios LLC, a Maryland limited liability company ("ThrillShort", "we", "us"). They cover the ThrillShort website at thrillshort.com, the ThrillShort Mini Drama inside TikTok (the "TikTok Mini"), and any ThrillShort app we release (together, the "Service"). By using the Service you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you don't agree, please don't use the Service.

Section 15 explains that disputes are resolved by individual arbitration instead of in court, and that you waive class actions. You can opt out of arbitration within 30 days, as described there.

1. Who can use ThrillShort

You must be at least 13 years old, or older if the law where you live requires it. If you are under 18 (or the age of majority where you live), you may use the Service only with the permission of a parent or legal guardian, who agrees to these Terms for you and is responsible for any purchases. The Service is not directed to children under 13.

Some series include romance, peril, mild violence and strong emotional themes. Parents should review a series before letting a teen watch it.

2. The Service

ThrillShort offers original short-form drama series. Some episodes are free; others require an unlock or a VIP Pass. The website currently offers the first episodes of selected series for free and has no accounts or payments.

We may add, change or remove series, episodes, features and prices, and we may change which episodes are free. We try to keep the Service available but don't guarantee that it, or any particular series, will always be available or work without interruption.

3. Signing in through TikTok

In the TikTok Mini, we recognize you through TikTok's sign-in. TikTok gives us an identifier that is unique to our app; we never see your TikTok password. Your unlocks and VIP Pass are tied to that TikTok account, so they won't carry over to a different TikTok account. You are responsible for activity on your account and for keeping your TikTok login secure.

4. Purchases in the TikTok Mini

4.1 TikTok Beans

Episode unlocks are paid with TikTok Beans, TikTok's virtual currency. You buy Beans from TikTok, not from us, under TikTok's terms and policies, which also govern Bean pricing, balances and Bean refunds. We don't sell Beans or control their price.

4.2 Episode unlocks

The price of an unlock or episode pack is shown before you confirm it. When you unlock episodes, you get a limited, personal, non-transferable license to stream them through the Service for as long as we offer that series and the Service. Unlocks have no cash value and can't be transferred, resold or exchanged. If we stop offering a series you paid to unlock before you could reasonably watch it, contact us and we will work with you on a fair remedy, such as access to other content or help with a refund through the platform.

4.3 VIP Pass subscriptions

A VIP Pass gives you access to every episode of every series for the length of the plan you choose (for example, weekly, monthly, six-month or yearly). The price, billing period and renewal terms are shown before you subscribe.

Your VIP Pass renews automatically at the end of each billing period, and the platform you subscribed through (TikTok, Apple or Google) charges your payment method the renewal price shown when you subscribed, until you cancel. You can cancel anytime in the subscription settings of that platform, for example your TikTok purchase settings, your Apple ID subscription settings, or Google Play subscriptions. To avoid being charged for the next period, cancel at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Cancelling stops future renewals; you keep access until the end of the period you already paid for. If you can't find where to cancel, email us and we'll walk you through it.

If we change the price of a VIP Pass, we will tell you before the change applies to your subscription, and the new price will apply only from your next renewal. You can cancel before then. If we ever offer a free trial or introductory price, its length and the price you'll pay afterward will be shown with the offer, and it will convert to a paid subscription unless you cancel before it ends.

4.4 Payment and taxes

Payments are processed by TikTok and, depending on how you pay, by Apple or Google. We don't receive your card or bank details. Prices may include or exclude taxes depending on the platform and where you live.

4.5 Refunds and problems with a purchase

Because purchases are processed by the platform you paid through, refund requests generally go through that platform's refund process (TikTok, Apple or Google), and we can't issue those refunds ourselves. If you paid and didn't get access, or a paid episode won't play, contact us with your ThrillShort User ID (shown on the Profile tab) and the purchase date. We will restore access, and where the platform allows, help with a refund. Nothing in these Terms limits any refund or other rights you have under consumer protection law.

5. Your license and the rules

Subject to these Terms, we give you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to stream content through the Service for your own non-commercial entertainment. You agree not to:

  • copy, download, record, capture, rebroadcast or re-upload our episodes or clips, except through sharing features we or TikTok provide;
  • share, sell or rent access to paid episodes or to your account;
  • get around the paywall, access controls, or any technical protection on our content;
  • use bots, scrapers or other automated means to access the Service or collect its content;
  • use our content, titles or characters to train or improve any artificial intelligence or machine learning model;
  • reverse engineer, interfere with, or overload the Service, or try to access it in a way we didn't intend;
  • use the Service to break the law or to infringe anyone's rights.

6. AI-generated content

ThrillShort series are original works developed by our team and produced with generative AI tools for images, video, voices and sound. A person reviews every episode before release, and we label our episodes as AI-generated as TikTok and other platforms require. All characters, places and events are fictional, and any resemblance to real people is coincidental. If you believe an episode resembles you or uses your work, please tell us as described in our Copyright & DMCA page, and we will review it promptly.

7. Our content and trademarks

The Service and all of its content, including the series, episodes, characters, artwork, text and software, are owned by Velvet Ninth Studios LLC or its licensors and are protected by copyright, trademark and other laws. ThrillShort and the ThrillShort logo are trademarks of Velvet Ninth Studios LLC. These Terms don't give you any rights in them beyond the license in section 5. If you send us ideas or feedback, we may use them without any obligation to you.

8. TikTok, app stores and other third parties

The TikTok Mini runs inside TikTok, and your use of TikTok is governed by TikTok's own terms and policies. Apple, Google and other platforms likewise have their own terms. We are not responsible for third-party services, and links to other websites don't mean we endorse them.

9. Privacy

Our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy explain what information we collect and how we use it.

10. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will post the new version here and update the date at the top. If a change is material, we will give reasonable notice before it takes effect, for example on the website or in the TikTok Mini. Continuing to use the Service after a change takes effect means you accept the new Terms. Changes won't apply to a dispute you notified us about before the change.

11. Suspension and termination

You can stop using the Service at any time; to stop VIP Pass renewals, cancel as described in section 4.3. We may suspend or end your access if you seriously or repeatedly break these Terms, if required by law, or to protect the Service or other people. Sections 5 through 8 and 12 through 18 continue to apply after your access ends.

12. Disclaimers

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE", WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. Some jurisdictions don't allow these exclusions, so some of them may not apply to you.

13. Limitation of liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, VELVET NINTH STUDIOS LLC AND ITS MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, DATA OR GOODWILL, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM RELATING TO THE SERVICE IS LIMITED TO THE GREATER OF THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR THE SERVICE IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM AROSE OR US$50. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that can't be limited by law.

14. Indemnity

To the extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify Velvet Ninth Studios LLC against third-party claims, and the reasonable costs of defending them, that arise from your breach of these Terms or your misuse of the Service.

15. Resolving disputes: arbitration and class action waiver

Talk to us first. Before starting arbitration or a lawsuit, you agree to email us at support@thrillshort.com with your name, your ThrillShort User ID if you have one, a description of the dispute and what you want. We will do the same before bringing a claim against you. Both sides will try in good faith to resolve the dispute within 60 days.

Arbitration. If the dispute isn't resolved, you and we agree that it will be decided by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, instead of in court. The Federal Arbitration Act governs this section. The arbitration may be held by video or phone, or in the county where you live, and fees will be allocated as the AAA Consumer Rules provide. The arbitrator may award the same individual relief a court could.

Exceptions. Either side may bring an individual claim in small claims court if it qualifies, and either side may ask a court to stop infringement or misuse of intellectual property.

No class actions. You and we may bring claims only individually, not as a plaintiff or class member in any class, collective or representative proceeding, and the arbitrator may not combine claims of different people. If this class action waiver is found unenforceable for a particular claim, that claim will be decided in court, not in arbitration. YOU AND WE WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL for any claim decided in court.

Opting out. You can opt out of this arbitration agreement by emailing us within 30 days after you first accept these Terms, with the subject "Arbitration opt-out" and your name and ThrillShort User ID if you have one. Opting out doesn't affect any other part of these Terms.

16. Governing law and venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules, except that section 15 is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act. Any claim not subject to arbitration will be brought only in the state or federal courts located in Maryland, and you and we consent to their jurisdiction. If you are a consumer, this doesn't take away protections you have under the mandatory laws of the place where you live.

17. Additional terms for Apple devices

If you download a ThrillShort app from Apple's App Store, these points also apply:

  • These Terms are between you and Velvet Ninth Studios LLC, not Apple, and Velvet Ninth Studios LLC, not Apple, is responsible for the app and its content.
  • Apple has no obligation to provide maintenance or support for the app.
  • If the app fails to conform to any applicable warranty, you may notify Apple, and Apple may refund the purchase price of the app (if any); to the maximum extent permitted by law, Apple has no other warranty obligation for the app.
  • Apple is not responsible for handling any claims relating to the app, including product liability claims, claims that the app fails to meet legal or regulatory requirements, and consumer protection or privacy claims.
  • Apple is not responsible for investigating, defending, settling or discharging any third-party claim that the app infringes intellectual property rights.
  • You confirm you are not located in a country subject to a U.S. Government embargo or designated as a "terrorist supporting" country, and you are not on any U.S. Government list of prohibited or restricted parties.
  • Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and may enforce them against you.

18. General

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, are the entire agreement between you and us about the Service. If any part is found unenforceable, the rest stays in effect. Our not enforcing a provision isn't a waiver. You may not transfer your rights under these Terms; we may transfer ours in connection with a merger, acquisition or sale of assets. We aren't responsible for delays or failures caused by events beyond our reasonable control. You agree that we may communicate with you electronically, and that electronic communications satisfy any requirement that they be in writing.

19. Notice for California users

Under California Civil Code section 1789.3, California users are entitled to the following notice: the Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs may be contacted in writing at 1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N 112, Sacramento, CA 95834, or by telephone at (800) 952-5210.

20. Contact us

Velvet Ninth Studios LLC
10 Carob Ct, Essex, MD 21221
Email: support@thrillshort.com