> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://earthlinc.gitbook.io/protocol/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://earthlinc.gitbook.io/protocol/legal-and-policies/payment-and-refund-policy.md).

# Payment & Refund Policy

*Version 1.1 · Effective July 4, 2026 · `earthlinc.earth`*

This Policy explains what you pay on the Earth LinC Service, who you pay it to, and when payments can be refunded. It is part of the Terms of Service. The commercial Service is operated by **Kong Group LLC** ("**Kong Group**," "**we**," "**us**") as merchant of record for all commercial payments. Charitable Drops are received by **YuCROWN Corporation**, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ("**YuCROWN**"). Capitalized terms follow the Terms of Service and the Earth LinC Protocol Specification.

> **The one structural fact to understand: every payment has exactly one destination — never split.**
>
> * **A mint carrying a YuCROWN mission** is a **Drop**: the **full amount** goes to **YuCROWN**, as a charitable contribution. It is governed by the [**Donation Terms & Charitable Disclosures**](/protocol/legal-and-policies/donation-terms-and-charitable-disclosures.md), not by this Policy's refund rules.
> * **Everything else** — composing (subscriptions and credits), **plain mints**, and **every Cast** — is ordinary commerce, paid to **Kong Group**, and governed by this Policy.
>
> Your choice at the mint routes the payment. Your acknowledgment always states which kind of payment you made, and to whom.

***

## 1. What you pay for

* **Composing** — NaviCanvas composition beyond the free allowance is paid: by **subscription** (a monthly plan that includes composition credits) or by **credits** (units consumed as you compose). Current plans, prices, allowances, and credit rates are shown at the point of purchase and on the pricing page; they are part of this Policy by reference. *Commercial — Kong Group.*
* **Minting a station** — the station's on-chain birth. At the mint you choose:
  * **carrying a YuCROWN mission** → the payment is a **Drop**, the full amount to YuCROWN *(charitable — Donation Terms govern)*; or
  * **plain** → an ordinary commercial purchase. *Commercial — Kong Group.*
* **Casting** — each **Cast** mints a NaviStar from your minted station to a person you choose. Every Cast is an ordinary commercial purchase. *Commercial — Kong Group.*
* **Network fees** — where on-chain actions are sponsored by the Service, no gas is charged to you; where you transact from self-custody, network fees are yours (Terms of Service §4).

All prices are shown in **USD** unless stated otherwise, and exclude any applicable taxes, which are added at checkout where required.

## 2. Who you pay — one destination

Each payment goes, whole, to one entity:

| You pay for                       | Kind                | Goes to                   |
| --------------------------------- | ------------------- | ------------------------- |
| Compose subscription / credits    | commercial          | **Kong Group**            |
| Mint — plain                      | commercial          | **Kong Group**            |
| Mint — carrying a YuCROWN mission | **charitable Drop** | **YuCROWN** (full amount) |
| Every Cast                        | commercial          | **Kong Group**            |

No payment is ever divided between the two entities, and nothing ever flows from YuCROWN to Kong Group. Payments are handled by third-party payment processors — each entity's payments through its own account; we do not store your full card details (Privacy Policy §1).

## 3. Subscriptions

* Subscriptions **renew automatically** at the end of each billing period until you cancel.
* You can cancel at any time in your account settings. Cancellation takes effect at the **end of the current billing period**; you keep your plan's benefits until then. We do not provide prorated refunds for partial periods except where the law requires.
* If a renewal payment fails, we may retry it and notify you; if it continues to fail, your plan reverts to the free tier. Your account, Stations, Realm, and everything on-chain are unaffected.
* **Price changes** apply only from your next billing period, with at least **30 days' advance notice** — you can cancel before the new price takes effect.

## 4. Credits

* Credits are consumed as you compose. Separately purchased credits **do not expire**.
* Credits have **no cash value**, are not redeemable for money, and are not transferable between accounts.
* Unused credits included in a subscription period **do not roll over** — they reset at each renewal.

## 5. Refunds — commercial payments (Kong Group)

* **Unused credits purchased à la carte:** refundable within **14** days of purchase if entirely unused.
* **Consumed composition:** compose fees pay for AI computation that is expended when you compose. Once a composition has run, that portion is **non-refundable**, whether or not you choose to Broadcast, mint, or Cast the result.
* **Subscriptions:** refundable within **14** days of first purchase if no plan benefits have been used; renewals are non-refundable except where required by law.
* **Plain mints and Casts:** these are on-chain acts. **Before** the on-chain transaction is executed, a failed or cancelled order is simply not charged (or fully refunded). **Once minted or Cast, the act is permanent and cannot be reversed** — the payment for a completed on-chain act is non-refundable, except where the Service was at fault (below).
* **Faulty service:** if a paid act fails because of a fault in the Service (you paid; nothing was composed, minted, or Cast), we restore the credits or refund that charge — write to **<support@kongrealm.io>** within **30** days.
* **Statutory rights:** if the consumer-protection law of your country gives you broader withdrawal or refund rights (for example, the EU 14-day right of withdrawal, with its digital-content exception once performance has begun with your consent), those rights prevail over this Policy.

## 6. Drops — charitable payments (YuCROWN)

A **Drop** — the payment of a mint carrying a YuCROWN mission — is a charitable contribution to YuCROWN, in full. It is governed exclusively by the [**Donation Terms & Charitable Disclosures**](/protocol/legal-and-policies/donation-terms-and-charitable-disclosures.md), including the narrow conditions under which a contribution can be returned. This Policy cannot refund a Drop, and Kong Group never holds or handles charitable funds.

## 7. Chargebacks

If you believe a charge is wrong, contact **<support@kongrealm.io>** first — most issues are resolved faster than a dispute. Filing a chargeback on a correctly delivered service may lead us to suspend paid features while the dispute is open. Nothing in this section limits your rights with your card issuer.

## 8. Taxes

Commercial payments (composing, plain mints, Casts) may be subject to sales tax, VAT, or GST depending on where you are; where Kong Group is required to collect it, it is shown at checkout. Drops are charitable contributions and are addressed — including deductibility — in the Donation Terms & Charitable Disclosures. **Nothing in this Policy is tax advice.**

## 9. Changes

We may update prices, plans, and this Policy. Changes to recurring prices take effect from your next billing period, with at least 30 days' notice. Material changes to this Policy are announced as described in the Terms of Service.

## 10. Contact

Billing questions: **<support@kongrealm.io>**.

***

*Part of the Earth LinC legal set: Terms of Service · Privacy Policy · Donation Terms & Charitable Disclosures · Digital Asset Terms · Acceptable Use & Content Policy · IP & DMCA Policy.*


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