Fair Use FAQs
Quick answers on what “unlimited” means, what isn't fair use, and how enforcement works
What is the Fair Use Policy, and why does it exist?
It's a guardrail to keep Astell's unlimited features reliable for everyone. It's aimed at preventing sustained abuse (especially automation and spam), not policing normal business usage.
What does “unlimited” include?
Unlimited applies to standard-model chat, native-data-syncing from integrations, search, and collaboration features. Fair use mainly applies when usage becomes automated, unusually high, or harmful to platform stability.
Will an occasional high-usage month affect me?
Generally, no. Astell looks for sustained abnormal patterns over time, not one-off bursts tied to legitimate work like migrations, audits, a big project, or onboarding. If you expect an unusual spike, email founders@labtwofour.com ahead of time to avoid unnecessary queuing and get guidance on selective sync and processing strategy.
What kinds of behavior are considered “not fair use”?
Non-fair-use typically looks like Astell being used as infrastructure for automation or data extraction rather than as a workspace tool. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Scripted or bot-driven bulk chat
- Attempts to bypass safeguards
- Ingesting third-party workspaces or datasets you aren't authorized to access
- Sharing seats to support far more users than licensed
- Reselling/redistributing access or outputs externally in violation of terms
How is fair use enforced?
Astell monitors for sustained outliers, emails you with specifics, works with you to resolve the issue, and only escalates if there's ongoing abuse or no resolution. The default approach is collaboration, not punishment.
What happens if I exceed fair use?
Astell monitors for sustained abnormal patterns, then reaches out with specifics about what triggered concern. The default path is collaborative: guidance toward configuration changes (selective sync, date ranges, attachment rules) or the appropriate plan tier for legitimate needs. Escalation happens only if there's clear abuse or no resolution.
Is fair use enforced differently by plan?
Yes. Expectations scale with plan tier. Enterprise customers also have access to custom allocations and dedicated resources for legitimate high-volume workloads.
How will I know if I'm approaching limits?
Astell provides real-time visibility through the dashboard and will email you before action is taken in fair-use situations. Operationally, the earliest user-visible signal is usually reduced throughput for heavy background processing (especially during peak hours) while text syncing and normal usage continue.
What should I do if I have legitimate extreme usage needs?
Email founders@labtwofour.com with your team size, expected workload, and timeline. Astell will help set up an enterprise or custom arrangement.
How do I request a fair use review or appeal a decision?
Email founders@labtwofour.com. If you're appealing, include:
- Relevant context
- Expected usage
- Why the usage is legitimate
We will review and explain the decision and next steps.