Terms
Portico lets you play media you're authorized to use, on servers you control or have been invited to. These terms are the rules for using it.
Last updated: August 24, 2026
About these terms
These terms apply to the Portico website, Portico-hosted account and connection services, and Portico software and applications. By creating a Portico Account or using a hosted Portico service, you agree to these terms. Software distributed under an open-source or other licence is also subject to the licence included with it.
Your server and media
A Portico Server is operated by its owner, not by Portico. Server owners decide what media is available, who may connect, and what permissions each person has. Owners are responsible for their server's administration, security, backups and media, and for complying with the laws and agreements that apply to them. People invited to a server are responsible for using that access appropriately.
Portico doesn't provide media, licences, or permission to copy, share, stream or otherwise use third-party content. You may use Portico only with media and services you're authorized to access.
What Portico Services do
Portico Services are a limited set of hosted services for Portico Accounts, sign-in, server claiming, invitations and memberships, device setup, direct-connection coordination, and related security and reliability functions.
Portico Services don't host, relay, cache, transform, inspect or monitor your media. They don't receive ordinary library browsing, playback or server API traffic. They don't collect library contents, media filenames, filesystem paths, playback history, watchlists, ratings, queues, local searches or streaming details. Once a connection is set up, your device communicates directly with the independently operated Portico Server.
Your account
Give accurate account information, protect your credentials and recovery methods, and keep your devices reasonably secure. You're responsible for activity authorized through your account unless you promptly report suspected compromise. Portico may require extra verification or revoke sessions when reasonably necessary to protect an account or the service.
Acceptable use
Don't use Portico to:
- infringe intellectual-property rights
- bypass access controls
- gain unauthorized access
- distribute malware
- harass or exploit others
- attack systems
- interfere with Portico services
- automate abusive traffic
- violate applicable law
Don't misrepresent your identity, or your authority to operate a server or grant access to it.
Portico isn't intended to be a public catalogue, a commercial redistribution service or a source of media. Sharing privately doesn't by itself give permission to use content.
Reports and good-faith review
Send copyright and other abuse concerns to [email protected]. Our Abuse page explains what to include and how we review a report.
Portico reviews sufficiently specific reports in good faith. Depending on the circumstances, we may:
- ask for more information
- notify the relevant account or server operator
- preserve records where lawfully required
- limit the Portico-hosted account, discovery, invitation, membership or routing services involved
We may suspend or end hosted access for repeated or egregious violations. Where practical and appropriate, we give notice and a chance to correct or dispute a report.
Portico doesn't possess media stored on independently operated servers, so it ordinarily can't inspect or remove those files. A report may be more effective if sent to the server operator or network provider that actually hosts or transmits the material.
Software and updates
Portico software, documentation, downloads and hosted features will change over time. Updates may add, change or remove functionality, including functionality needed for security, compatibility or reliable operation. Review release notes and keep backups before changing a production server. Don't defeat security mechanisms or use unsupported modifications to interfere with Portico or other systems.
Availability
We work to make Portico dependable, but no software or online service is uninterrupted or error-free. Hosted services may be unavailable during maintenance, security response, provider failures, or events outside our reasonable control. Where the product supports it, local server use and previously established direct connections may keep working independently.
Limiting or ending access
You may stop using Portico and close your Portico Account with the available account tools or by contacting us.
Portico may limit or end access to hosted services when reasonably necessary to address:
- a material breach of these terms
- a credible security or legal risk
- non-payment for a paid service
- harm to Portico, its providers or other people
We'll give notice when it's practical and safe to do so.
Third-party services
Portico may depend on operating systems, app stores, certificate authorities, email delivery, networks and other third-party services. Their own terms and privacy practices apply to their services. Portico isn't responsible for independently operated servers, or for third-party products, content, availability or conduct.
Privacy
Our Privacy Policy describes the limited information Portico processes and the media information Portico Services don't receive. By using Portico-hosted services, you acknowledge that processing as described there.
Service assurances
Portico is provided on an “as available” basis. To the extent permitted by law, we don't promise that every device, network, media format, third-party service or independently operated server will always work with Portico. Nothing in these terms limits consumer or other rights that can't lawfully be limited.
Responsibility for loss
To the extent permitted by law, Portico isn't responsible for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive losses, or for lost media, data, revenue, opportunity or goodwill arising from use of the service.
For a paid service, Portico's total liability relating to that service won't exceed the amount you paid Portico for it during the twelve months before the event giving rise to the claim.
These limits don't apply where the law doesn't allow them.
Changes
We may update these terms as Portico develops. When we do, the date above will change. If a change materially affects use of a hosted service, we'll give reasonable notice before it takes effect, when practicable. We'll do that through the service, the website or your account contact information. If you keep using the affected service after that date, the updated terms apply.
Contact
Send questions about these terms to [email protected]. Send copyright and abuse reports to [email protected].