← Return to Archive

Restricted Document: Terms of Service

Ref: Vellum Interactive / Terms of Use

Effective Date: 2025-01-01

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using The Archivist ("the Site"), operated by Vellum Interactive, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you should discontinue use of the Site immediately.

2. Description of Service

The Archivist is a free-to-play browser-based word puzzle game. The Site also hosts educational articles through its Codex Vitae section. The service is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind.

3. Intellectual Property

All content on this Site — including but not limited to game design, puzzle content, article text, visual design, and brand identity — is the intellectual property of Vellum Interactive unless otherwise noted. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from this content without prior written permission.

Historical images used in the Codex Vitae are sourced from the public domain and are attributed to their original creators where applicable.

4. User Conduct

You agree not to:

  • Attempt to interfere with or disrupt the Site's operation
  • Use automated tools, bots, or scrapers to access the Site
  • Reverse-engineer the game mechanics or puzzle generation systems
  • Use the Site for any unlawful purpose

5. Advertising

The Site may display advertisements provided by third-party advertising networks, including Google AdSense. These advertisements help support the free operation of the Site. By using the Site, you acknowledge the presence of such advertisements. For details on how advertising partners handle data, please refer to our .

6. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Site and its content are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. Vellum Interactive makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content, including puzzle answers and educational articles.

7. Limitation of Liability

Vellum Interactive shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of or inability to use the Site.

8. Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to external websites. Vellum Interactive is not responsible for the content or practices of any third-party sites. The Archivist is an independent product and is not affiliated with The New York Times or any other puzzle provider.

9. Modifications

Vellum Interactive reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. Continued use of the Site following any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

10. Contact

For questions regarding these terms, please contact:

Vellum Interactive