Version July 2026
These Terms and Conditions apply to the use of the virtual sparring partner (hereinafter referred to as the "Service"), which is offered via the website homo-universus.org and the email address sparring@homo-universus.org.
Provider: Büro Dr. Matthias Strolz, Anton-Krieger-Gasse 0, 1230 Vienna, Austria, VAT ID ATU48718302, GISA 25533927 (hereinafter referred to as "we").
These Terms and Conditions apply exclusively. Any deviating terms and conditions of the user shall not become part of the contract unless we expressly agree to them.
The service facilitates a written dialogue: you describe a question or situation, and you receive a personal response via email that is based on the models and insights from the book Homo Universus. With your first response, you will also receive a PDF summary sheet. You can continue the conversation by replying to the same email thread.
The service is bilingual: German-language inquiries are answered in Austrian German, and English-language inquiries in English. You can try it out for the first time using the form on the landing page.
The service can, in particular: encourage you to try things out (by suggesting small, safe experiments), explain the content and models from the book, and help you process and reflect on your experiences.
AI Disclosure (Art. 50 EU AI Act). The answers are generated by an AI system (language model). You are not communicating with a human.
You expressly acknowledge the following:
A contract for the use of the service is concluded upon submission of the form or the first email to the service and – in the case of paid use – upon completion of the payment process via Stripe. For the free trial response, consent to email contact is required.
The following offers are available (prices include any applicable VAT):
Payment is processed via the payment service provider Stripe. A "response" within the meaning of these Terms and Conditions is a substantive reply from the service to an inquiry. Regarding the validity of the quotas:
Note on the purpose of the one-time package: The small fee is primarily intended to limit spam and abuse, as each response incurs actual costs.
The subscription runs on a monthly basis and automatically renews for another month unless cancelled. You can cancel your subscription at any time effective at the end of the current billing period – simply by sending an informal message to sparring@homo-universus.org or via the Stripe customer portal. Amounts already paid for the current period will not be refunded on a pro-rata basis, unless otherwise required by law.
If you are a consumer, you are generally entitled to a 14-day right of withdrawal from the conclusion of the contract without giving any reason, in accordance with the Austrian Distance and Off-Premises Selling Act (FAGG). To withdraw, a clear statement sent to sparring@homo-universus.org is sufficient. You may use the template below, but you are not required to do so.
Immediate start of service – we grant you the full right of withdrawal. The service generally begins immediately (you receive responses right away). However, we do not require you to waive your right of withdrawal: your 14-day right of withdrawal remains intact, even if you have already received responses. If you withdraw within this period, we will refund the amount paid. We may deduct a reasonable, pro-rata compensation for responses already used (Section 16 FAGG); however, given the small amounts involved, we generally waive this.
To: Büro Dr. Matthias Strolz, sparring@homo-universus.org
I/we hereby revoke the contract concluded by me/us for the use of the virtual sparring partner.
Ordered on / received on: ______________________
Name of consumer(s): ______________________
Address: ______________________
Date, signature (only if notified on paper): ______________________
You agree not to misuse the service. In particular, you shall refrain from:
In the event of violations, we may leave individual requests unanswered, withhold content, and—in cases of serious or repeated misuse—block access.
To ensure quality and prevent misuse, responses are automatically screened for security. Suspicious activity (e.g., suspected misuse or content directed at specific individuals) is reviewed internally by a designated person before any action is taken.
Confidentiality. Content from your sparring sessions is treated confidentially, not published, and not shared with uninvolved third parties. Internal review is conducted exclusively for security, abuse prevention, and service quality purposes. Details regarding data processing can be found in our Privacy Policy.
We strive for reliable operation but do not guarantee specific availability. Maintenance, malfunctions, outages at service providers, or force majeure may temporarily restrict the service. Responses are generally provided promptly, but without a guaranteed response time.
We are liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence as well as for damages resulting from injury to life, body, or health. In cases of slight negligence, we are only liable for the breach of essential contractual obligations and limited to the foreseeable damage typical for the contract.
We assume no liability for decisions you make based on the responses; the responses are suggestions and hypotheses (see point 3). Mandatory statutory liability provisions, particularly those in favor of consumers, remain unaffected.
The contents of the book Homo Universus as well as the texts, concepts, and materials of the service are protected by copyright. You may use the received responses and the PDF fact sheet for your personal, non-commercial purposes. Any reproduction, distribution, or public communication beyond this requires our consent.
Our Privacy Policy describes how we process personal data. You have the right to request the deletion of your data at any time (send a message to sparring@homo-universus.org).
We may amend these Terms and Conditions with future effect, for example, due to changes in the legal situation or services provided. We will inform active subscribers of significant changes in text form in a timely manner. If you do not object within a reasonable period or continue to use the service, the changes are deemed accepted; in the case of subscriptions, you have the right to terminate the contract if changes are made.
Applicable Law: Austrian law applies, excluding conflict of law rules and the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. If you are a consumer with your habitual residence in the EU, you additionally enjoy the protection of the mandatory provisions of your country of residence.
Jurisdiction: For business customers, the competent court in Vienna shall have jurisdiction, to the extent permitted by law. For consumers, statutory places of jurisdiction apply.
Consumer Dispute Resolution: We are neither obligated nor willing to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.
Severability Clause: Should any provision of these Terms and Conditions be invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected.
