Terms & Conditions
Return/Exchange Policy
Terms of Service
Last Revised April 23, 2014
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF SERVICE AND THE RELATED PRIVACY POLICY LOCATED AT elder-statesman.com/terms-and-conditions CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE.
These “Services” (as defined below) are owned and operated by The Elder Statesman or one of its affiliates or subsidiaries (collectively referred to herein, solely for ease of reference, as “Company”, “us” or “we”). These terms of service (the “Terms of Service”, “TOS” or “Agreement”) set forth the legal terms and conditions governing your use of all the online and mobile websites, including but not limited to the website located at www.elder-statesman.com (the “Website”) and associated services provided by Company (collectively, the “Services”) (unless a different policy is provided on a particular site or service, in which case such different policy shall govern and control). Your use of the Services confirms your unconditional agreement to be bound by these Terms of Service and is subject to your continued compliance with these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to be bound by these Terms of Service, you may not access or otherwise use the Services. Before using the Services, please review the related Company Privacy Policy, located at http://www.elder-statesman.com/privacy-policy (the “Privacy Policy”), which is incorporated herein by this reference.
Eligibility
The Services are intended solely for users thirteen (13) years of age and older. You represent and warrant either that you are eighteen (18) years of age or older, or if you are under the age of eighteen (18) that you are at least thirteen (13) and are accessing the Services with the knowledge and consent of your parent or legal guardian, who will also be deemed to have agreed to this Agreement.
Registration
Certain parts or features of the Services may require registration or may otherwise ask you to provide information to participate in certain features or to access certain content. The decision to provide this information is purely voluntary and optional; however, if you elect not to provide such information, you may not be able to access certain content or participate in certain parts or features of the Services. You agree that you will not provide any false personal information to Company, or create an account for anyone other than yourself without permission. You will also not create more than one personal profile, and if you select a username for your account, we reserve the right to remove or reclaim it if we believe appropriate (such as if a trademark owner complains about a username). If you register with the Website, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password, if any, and for restricting access to your computer and/or mobile device so that others may not access the password protected portion of the Services. You accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account, email or password, if any, and agree you will not sell, transfer or assign your membership or any membership rights. Company may, in its sole discretion, and at any time, with or without notice, terminate your password and membership, for any reason or no reason at all. If we disable your account, you agree that you will not create another one without our permission.
License to the Services
Company grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited right and license to access, use and privately display the Services and the materials thereon for your personal use only, provided that you comply fully with this TOS. You shall not interfere (or permit the use of your membership by a third party to interfere) or attempt to interfere with the operation or use of Services by other members in any way through any means or device including, but not limited to, spamming, hacking, uploading computer viruses or time bombs, or any other means expressly prohibited by any provision of this TOS.
Changes to Services and/or Terms of Service
Company reserves the right, from time to time, in its sole discretion, to change, modify, update, discontinue, remove, revise, delete or otherwise change any portion of the Services or this TOS, in whole or in part, at any time without further notice. For changes to these TOS that we deem material, we will place a notice on the Websiteby revising the link on the homepage to read substantially as “Updated Terms of Service” for up to three (3) weeks or some other amount of time that we determine in our discretion. If you access or use the Services in any way after the TOS have been changed, you will be deemed to have read, understood and unconditionally consented to and agreed to such changes. The most current version of these TOS will be available on the Website and will supersede all previous versions of these TOS.
Trademarks, Copyrights & Restrictions
The Services and all of the content it contains, or may in the future contain, including but not limited to text, video, pictures, graphics, designs, information, applications, software, music, audio files, articles, directories, guides, photographs as well as the trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress, copyrights, logos, domain names, code, patents and/or any other form of intellectual property (collectively, the “Material”) that relates to the Services are owned by or licensed by Company or other third parties and are protected from any unauthorized use, copying and dissemination by copyright, trademark and other intellectual property and non-intellectual property laws and by international treaties. Except as expressly permitted in writing by Company, you shall not capture, reproduce, perform, transfer, sell, license, modify, create derivative works from or based upon, republish, reverse engineer, upload, edit, post, transmit, publicly display, frame, link, distribute or exploit, in whole or in part, any of the Material. Nothing contained in this Agreement or on the Services should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel or otherwise, any license or right to use any Material in any manner without the prior written consent of Company or such third party that may own the Material or intellectual property displayed on the Services. UNAUTHORIZED USE, COPYING, REPRODUCTION, MODIFICATION, PUBLICATION, REPUBLICATION, UPLOADING, FRAMING, DOWNLOADING, POSTING, TRANSMITTING, DISTRIBUTING, DUPLICATING OR ANY OTHER MISUSE OF ANY OF THE MATERIAL IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Any use of the Material other than as permitted by this Agreement will violate this Agreement and may infringe upon our rights or the rights of the third party that owns the affected Material. You agree to report any violation of this Agreement by others that you become aware of. You are advised that Company will aggressively enforce its rights to the fullest extent of the law. Company may add, change, discontinue, remove or suspend any of the Material at any time, without notice and without liability.
Unsolicited Submissions
Company is pleased to hear from its customers and welcomes your comments regarding Company Services. Unfortunately, however, Company’s long-standing company policy does not allow it to accept or consider creative ideas, suggestions, or materials other than those it has specifically requested. While we value your feedback on our services and products, we request that you be specific in your comments on those services and products, and that you not submit any creative ideas, suggestions or materials. We hope you will understand that it is the intent of this policy to avoid the possibility of future misunderstandings when projects developed by Company’s or its affiliates' professional staff might seem to others to be similar to their own creative work. Accordingly, we ask that you do not send us any original creative materials that you expect to be compensated for or that you would like to keep private.
Promotions
From time to time, the we may offer sweepstakes, contests or other promotions that require you to send material or information about yourself. Please note that sweepstakes, contests or promotions offered via the Services may be, and often are, governed by a separate set of rules that, in addition to describing such sweepstakes, contest or promotion, may have eligibility requirements, such as certain age or geographic area restrictions, terms and conditions governing the use of material you submit, and supplemental disclosures about how your personal information may be used. It is your responsibility to read such rules to determine whether or not you want to and are eligible to participate, register and/or enter. By entering any such sweepstakes, contest or other promotion, you agree to comply with abide by such rules and the decisions of the sponsor(s) identified therein, which shall be final and binding in all respects.
External Links
The Services may contain links to third party websites or resources, which may or may not be obvious (“Third Party Websites”) as well as software, text, graphics, articles, photographs, pictures, designs, sound, video, music, information, software applications and other content originating from third parties (collectively, “Third Party Applications, Software or Content”). Our provision of links to Third Party Websites, Applications, Software or Content is not an endorsement of any information, product or service that is offered on or reached through such Third Party Website or Third Party Application, Software or Content. Such Third Party Websites and Third Party Applications, Software or Content are not monitored or checked for accuracy, appropriateness, or completeness by us, and we are not responsible for the content or performance of any Third Party Websites accessed through the Services or any Third Party Applications, Software or Content posted on, available through or installed from the Services, including the content, accuracy, offensiveness, opinions, reliability, privacy practices or other policies of or contained in the Third Party Websites or the Third Party Applications, Software or Content. If you decide to leave the Services and access the Third Party Websites or to use or install any Third Party Applications, Software or Content, you do so at your own risk and you should be aware that our terms and policies no longer govern.
YOU AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF THIRD-PARTY SITES OR THIRD PARTY APPLICATIONS, SOFTWARE OR CONTENT, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, YOUR USE OF ANY CONTENT, INFORMATION, DATA, ADVERTISING, PRODUCTS, OR OTHER MATERIALS ON OR AVAILABLE THROUGH SUCH WEBSITES AND RESOURCES, IS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE APPLICABLE TO SUCH SITES AND RESOURCES.
No Resale/Exploitation
You understand and agree that you may not reproduce, copy, resell, manipulate, or exploit any part of the Services for any commercial purpose.
Non-United States Residents
Company operates the Services in the United States. Company makes no representation that the Materials and their copyrights, trademarks, patents, and licensing arrangements, are appropriate or available for use in locations other than the United States. If you access the Services from locations outside of the U.S. you do so on your own initiative and at your own risk, and you are solely responsible for compliance with local laws, if and to the extent local laws are applicable. With respect to shipments of merchandise to consumers, wherever they may reside, title to the merchandise and risk of loss shall pass to the buyer upon delivery of the merchandise to the common carrier.
Jurisdictional Issues
The Services are controlled and operated by Company from its offices within the State of California, United States. Company makes no representation that materials in the Services are appropriate or available for use in other locations. Software from this Services is further subject to United States export controls. No software from this Services may be downloaded or otherwise exported or re-exported (i) into (or to a national or resident of) any countries that are subject to U.S. export restrictions; or (ii) to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department's list of Specially Designated Nationals or the U.S. Commerce Department's Table of Deny Orders. By downloading or using the Software, you represent and warrant that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any such country or on any such list.
Termination
You understand and agree that Company may, in its sole discretion and at any time, terminate your password and/or account, and/or prohibit you from accessing the Services, in whole or in part, for any reason or no reason at all, at any time in its sole discretion, with or without notice. You understand and agree that Company may take any one or more of these actions without prior notice to you. Should Company take any of these actions, it may, in its sole discretion, immediately deactivate and/or delete any or all information about and concerning your account. You understand and agree that Company shall not have any liability to you or any other person for any termination of your account and/or the removal of information concerning your account. Company will determine your compliance with this Agreement in its sole discretion and its decision shall be final and binding and not subject to challenge or appeal. Any violation of this Agreement may result in restrictions on your access to all or part of the Services and may be referred to law enforcement authorities. No changes to or waiver of any part of this Agreement shall be of any force or effect unless formally posted or made in writing and signed by a duly authorized officer of Company. Upon termination of your membership or access to the Services, or upon demand by Company, you must destroy all materials obtained from the Services and all related documentation and all copies and installations thereof. You are advised that Company will aggressively enforce its rights to the fullest extent of the law.
Disclaimer
The Services may be unavailable from time to time due to maintenance or malfunction of computer equipment or for various other reasons. Company assumes no responsibility for any delays, interruptions, errors, defects, omissions, or deletions, related to the communications line failure, operation or transmission, or alteration of, or theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, user communications. Company is not responsible for any technical or non-technical malfunction or other problems of any hosting services, computer systems, servers or providers, telephone networks or telephone services, computer or mobile phone equipment, software, failure of e-mail or players on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or in connection with the Services, including injury or damage to a user’s or to any other person's computer, mobile phone, or other hardware or software, related to or resulting from using or downloading materials in connection with the Web and/or in connection with the Services.
THE SERVICES, THE MATERIALS, AND THE SOFTWARE, IF APPLICABLE, ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” “WITH ALL FAULTS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OR THOSE ARISING BY STATUTE OR OTHERWISE IN LAW FROM A COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, COMPANY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. COMPANY DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF OR THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE SERVICES, THE MATERIALS OR THE SOFTWARE, WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THE SERVICES OR THE SERVER THAT MAKES IT AVAILABLE OR THE SOFTWARE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS OR THAT THE SERVICES, MATERIALS, SOFTWARE OR SERVER DO NOT VIOLATE ANY PATENT OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF ANY PERSON OR ENTITY. COMPANY DOES NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SERVICES, THE MATERIALS OR THE SOFTWARE, IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. YOU (AND NOT COMPANY) ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION. APPLICABLE LAW MAY NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT FULLY APPLY TO YOU.
Limitation of Liability
YOU AGREE THAT COMPANY AND ITS PARENTS, AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, LICENSORS AND ASSIGNS, AND EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS (COLLECTIVELY, THE “RELEASED PARTIES”) ARE NOT LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER BASED IN TORT, CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR LOST DATA ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING IN ANY WAY FROM OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICES, THE MATERIAL ANY LISTING OR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE TECHNICAL OPERATION OF THE SERVICES, EVEN IF THE COMPANY IS AWARE OR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY NEGLIGENCE, ACTS OF GOD, TELECOMMUNICATIONS FAILURE, THEFT OR DESTRUCTION OF, OR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO THE SERVICES (COLLECTIVELY, THE “RELEASED MATTERS”). NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED HEREIN, COMPANY’S LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CAUSE WHATSOEVER, AND REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF THE ACTION, WILL AT ALL TIMES BE LIMITED TO $1000. BY ACCESSING THE SERVICES, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY BE WAIVING RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO CLAIMS THAT ARE AT THIS TIME UNKNOWN OR UNSUSPECTED, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH WAIVER, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVE, THE BENEFITS OF SECTION 1542 OF THE CIVIL CODE OF CALIFORNIA, AND ANY SIMILAR LAW OF ANY STATE OR TERRITORY, WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS:
“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.”
You hereby waive any and all rights you have or may have under California Civil Code Section 1542, and/or any similar provision of law or successor statute to it, with respect to the Released Matters. In connection with this waiver and release, you acknowledge that you are aware that you may hereafter discover claims presently unknown or unsuspected, or facts in addition to or different from those which you now know or believe to be true. Nevertheless, you intend by this Agreement to release fully, finally and forever all Released Matters under this Agreement. In furtherance of such intention, the releases set forth in this Agreement shall be and shall remain in effect as full and complete releases notwithstanding the discovery or existence of any such additional or different claims or facts relevant hereto.
Company makes no representation or warranty whatsoever regarding the completeness, accuracy, currency or adequacy of any information, facts, views, opinions, statements or recommendations contained on the Services and/or the Material. Reference to any product, process, publication or service of any third party by trade name, domain name, trademark, service mark, logo, manufacturer or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by Company. Views and opinions of users of the Services do not necessarily state or reflect those of Company. Users are responsible for seeking the advice of professionals, as appropriate, regarding the information, opinions, advice or content available as part of the Services.
The Internet may be subject to breaches of security. Company is not responsible for any resulting damage to any user's computer from any such security breach, or from any virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, computer line failure or any other technical or other malfunction. You should also be aware that email submissions over the Internet may not be secure, and you should consider this before submitting any information to anyone over the internet. Company makes no representation or warranty whatsoever regarding the suitability, functionality, availability or operation of the Services.
Linking Policy
If you link to the Services, we require that you follow these guidelines. You may link only to the home page, and the link must be in plain text, unless otherwise approved in writing by an authorized representative of Company. The link to these Services must not damage, dilute or tarnish the goodwill associated with any Company names and/or intellectual property, nor may the link create the false appearance that your website and/or organization is sponsored, endorsed by, affiliated and/or associated with Company. You may not “frame” the Services or alter their intellectual property or Material in any other way. You may not link to the Services from a site that is unlawful, abusive, indecent or obscene, that promotes violence or illegal acts, that contains expressions of racism, that is libelous, defamatory, scandalous, or inflammatory or is otherwise deemed inappropriate, as determined by Company in its sole discretion. Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate a link with any website for any reason or no reason at all, including without limitation any website that Company deems to be inappropriate or inconsistent with or antithetical to the Services and/or these Terms.
Company is not responsible for the content or performance of any portion of the Internet including other websites to which this Services may be linked or from which these Services may be accessed.
Indemnification
BY USING THE SERVICES YOU AGREE TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND AND HOLD THE RELEASED PARTIES HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY THIRD PARTY CLAIMS, ALLEGED CLAIMS, DEMANDS, CAUSES OF ACTION, JUDGMENTS, DAMAGES, LOSSES, LIABILITIES, AND ALL COSTS AND EXPENSES OF DEFENSE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO: YOUR BREACH OF YOUR REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, COVENANTS OR AGREEMENTS HEREUNDER; YOUR VIOLATION OF THESE TERMS OF SERVICE OR ANY LAW; YOUR USE OF THESE SERVICES AND/OR THE MATERIAL IN VIOLATION OF THESE TERMS OF SERVICE; INFORMATION OR MATERIAL POSTED OR TRANSMITTED THROUGH YOUR COMPUTER, MOBILE DEVICE OR MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT, EVEN IF NOT SUBMITTED BY YOU, THAT INFRINGES ANY COPYRIGHT, TRADEMARK, TRADE SECRET, TRADE DRESS, PATENT, PUBLICITY, PRIVACY OR OTHER RIGHT OF ANY PERSON OR DEFAMES ANY PERSON; ANY MISREPRESENTATION MADE BY YOU; AND/OR COMPANY’S USE OF YOUR INFORMATION. YOU WILL COOPERATE AS FULLY AND AS REASONABLY REQUIRED IN COMPANY’S DEFENSE OF ANY CLAIM. COMPANY RESERVES THE RIGHT, AT ITS OWN EXPENSE, TO ASSUME THE EXCLUSIVE DEFENSE AND CONTROL OF ANY MATTER OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO INDEMNIFICATION BY YOU, AND YOU SHALL NOT IN ANY EVENT SETTLE ANY SUCH MATTER WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF COMPANY.
Governing Law
This TOS shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California applicable to contracts entered into and fully performed in California (without regard to its conflicts of law principles that would cause the application of any other jurisdiction's laws) With respect to any disputes or claims not subject to arbitration, you agree not to commence or prosecute any action in connection therewith other than in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, California, and you hereby consent to, and waive all defenses of lack of personal jurisdiction and forum non conveniens with respect to venue and jurisdiction in the state and federal courts of Los Angeles, California.
Arbitration
By using the Services in any way, you unconditionally consent and agree that: (1) any claim, dispute, or controversy (whether in contract, tort, or otherwise) you may have against the officers, directors and employees of Company and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates (all such individuals and entities collectively referred to herein as the “Company Entities”) arising out of, relating to, or connected in any way with the website or the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, will be resolved exclusively by final and binding arbitration administered by JAMS and conducted before a sole arbitrator in accordance with the rules of JAMS; (2) this arbitration agreement is made pursuant to a transaction involving interstate commerce, and shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), 9 U.S.C. §§ 1-16; (3) the arbitration shall be held in Los Angeles, California; (4) the arbitrator’s decision shall be controlled by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any of the other agreements referenced herein that the applicable user may have entered into in connection with the website; (5) the arbitrator shall apply California law consistent with the FAA and applicable statutes of limitations, and shall honor claims of privilege recognized at law; (6) there shall be no authority for any claims to be arbitrated on a class or representative basis, arbitration can decide only your and/or the applicable Company Entity’s individual claims; the arbitrator may not consolidate or join the claims of other persons or parties who may be similarly situated; (7) the arbitrator shall not have the power to award punitive damages against you or any Company Entity; (8) in the event that the administrative fees and deposits that must be paid to initiate arbitration against any Company Entity exceed $125 USD, and your are unable (or not required under the rules of JAMS) to pay any fees and deposits that exceed this amount, Company agrees to pay them and/or forward them on your behalf, subject to ultimate allocation by the arbitrator. In addition, if you are able to demonstrate that the costs of arbitration will be prohibitive as compared to the costs of litigation, Company will pay as much of your filing and hearing fees in connection with the arbitration as the arbitrator deems necessary to prevent the arbitration from being cost-prohibitive; and (9) with the exception of subpart (6) above, if any part of this arbitration provision is deemed to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal, or otherwise conflicts with the rules of JAMS, then the balance of this arbitration provision shall remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with its terms as if the invalid, unenforceable, illegal or conflicting provision were not contained herein. If, however, subpart (6) is found to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal, then the entirety of this Arbitration Provision shall be null and void, and neither you nor Company shall be entitled to arbitrate their dispute. For more information on JAMS and/or the rules of JAMS, visit their website at www.jamsadr.com
Miscellaneous
This TOS constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous written or oral agreements between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This TOS may not be amended, nor any obligation waived, without Company’s written authorization. Any failure to enforce any provision of this TOS shall not constitute a waiver thereof or of any other provision thereof.
If any provision of these terms shall be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from these terms and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.
For any questions, suggestions, or concerns related to these Terms of Service, please send us a message using the information provided on the “Contact Us” page.
© 2021 The Elder Statesman. All rights reserved.
Terms of Service
Last Revised April 23, 2014
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF SERVICE AND THE RELATED PRIVACY POLICY LOCATED AT elder-statesman.com/terms-and-conditions CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE.
These “Services” (as defined below) are owned and operated by The Elder Statesman or one of its affiliates or subsidiaries (collectively referred to herein, solely for ease of reference, as “Company”, “us” or “we”). These terms of service (the “Terms of Service”, “TOS” or “Agreement”) set forth the legal terms and conditions governing your use of all the online and mobile websites, including but not limited to the website located at www.elder-statesman.com (the “Website”) and associated services provided by Company (collectively, the “Services”) (unless a different policy is provided on a particular site or service, in which case such different policy shall govern and control). Your use of the Services confirms your unconditional agreement to be bound by these Terms of Service and is subject to your continued compliance with these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to be bound by these Terms of Service, you may not access or otherwise use the Services. Before using the Services, please review the related Company Privacy Policy, located at http://www.elder-statesman.com/privacy-policy (the “Privacy Policy”), which is incorporated herein by this reference.
Eligibility
The Services are intended solely for users thirteen (13) years of age and older. You represent and warrant either that you are eighteen (18) years of age or older, or if you are under the age of eighteen (18) that you are at least thirteen (13) and are accessing the Services with the knowledge and consent of your parent or legal guardian, who will also be deemed to have agreed to this Agreement.
Registration
Certain parts or features of the Services may require registration or may otherwise ask you to provide information to participate in certain features or to access certain content. The decision to provide this information is purely voluntary and optional; however, if you elect not to provide such information, you may not be able to access certain content or participate in certain parts or features of the Services. You agree that you will not provide any false personal information to Company, or create an account for anyone other than yourself without permission. You will also not create more than one personal profile, and if you select a username for your account, we reserve the right to remove or reclaim it if we believe appropriate (such as if a trademark owner complains about a username). If you register with the Website, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password, if any, and for restricting access to your computer and/or mobile device so that others may not access the password protected portion of the Services. You accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account, email or password, if any, and agree you will not sell, transfer or assign your membership or any membership rights. Company may, in its sole discretion, and at any time, with or without notice, terminate your password and membership, for any reason or no reason at all. If we disable your account, you agree that you will not create another one without our permission.
License to the Services
Company grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited right and license to access, use and privately display the Services and the materials thereon for your personal use only, provided that you comply fully with this TOS. You shall not interfere (or permit the use of your membership by a third party to interfere) or attempt to interfere with the operation or use of Services by other members in any way through any means or device including, but not limited to, spamming, hacking, uploading computer viruses or time bombs, or any other means expressly prohibited by any provision of this TOS.
Changes to Services and/or Terms of Service
Company reserves the right, from time to time, in its sole discretion, to change, modify, update, discontinue, remove, revise, delete or otherwise change any portion of the Services or this TOS, in whole or in part, at any time without further notice. For changes to these TOS that we deem material, we will place a notice on the Websiteby revising the link on the homepage to read substantially as “Updated Terms of Service” for up to three (3) weeks or some other amount of time that we determine in our discretion. If you access or use the Services in any way after the TOS have been changed, you will be deemed to have read, understood and unconditionally consented to and agreed to such changes. The most current version of these TOS will be available on the Website and will supersede all previous versions of these TOS.
Trademarks, Copyrights & Restrictions
The Services and all of the content it contains, or may in the future contain, including but not limited to text, video, pictures, graphics, designs, information, applications, software, music, audio files, articles, directories, guides, photographs as well as the trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress, copyrights, logos, domain names, code, patents and/or any other form of intellectual property (collectively, the “Material”) that relates to the Services are owned by or licensed by Company or other third parties and are protected from any unauthorized use, copying and dissemination by copyright, trademark and other intellectual property and non-intellectual property laws and by international treaties. Except as expressly permitted in writing by Company, you shall not capture, reproduce, perform, transfer, sell, license, modify, create derivative works from or based upon, republish, reverse engineer, upload, edit, post, transmit, publicly display, frame, link, distribute or exploit, in whole or in part, any of the Material. Nothing contained in this Agreement or on the Services should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel or otherwise, any license or right to use any Material in any manner without the prior written consent of Company or such third party that may own the Material or intellectual property displayed on the Services. UNAUTHORIZED USE, COPYING, REPRODUCTION, MODIFICATION, PUBLICATION, REPUBLICATION, UPLOADING, FRAMING, DOWNLOADING, POSTING, TRANSMITTING, DISTRIBUTING, DUPLICATING OR ANY OTHER MISUSE OF ANY OF THE MATERIAL IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Any use of the Material other than as permitted by this Agreement will violate this Agreement and may infringe upon our rights or the rights of the third party that owns the affected Material. You agree to report any violation of this Agreement by others that you become aware of. You are advised that Company will aggressively enforce its rights to the fullest extent of the law. Company may add, change, discontinue, remove or suspend any of the Material at any time, without notice and without liability.
Unsolicited Submissions
Company is pleased to hear from its customers and welcomes your comments regarding Company Services. Unfortunately, however, Company’s long-standing company policy does not allow it to accept or consider creative ideas, suggestions, or materials other than those it has specifically requested. While we value your feedback on our services and products, we request that you be specific in your comments on those services and products, and that you not submit any creative ideas, suggestions or materials. We hope you will understand that it is the intent of this policy to avoid the possibility of future misunderstandings when projects developed by Company’s or its affiliates' professional staff might seem to others to be similar to their own creative work. Accordingly, we ask that you do not send us any original creative materials that you expect to be compensated for or that you would like to keep private.
Promotions
From time to time, the we may offer sweepstakes, contests or other promotions that require you to send material or information about yourself. Please note that sweepstakes, contests or promotions offered via the Services may be, and often are, governed by a separate set of rules that, in addition to describing such sweepstakes, contest or promotion, may have eligibility requirements, such as certain age or geographic area restrictions, terms and conditions governing the use of material you submit, and supplemental disclosures about how your personal information may be used. It is your responsibility to read such rules to determine whether or not you want to and are eligible to participate, register and/or enter. By entering any such sweepstakes, contest or other promotion, you agree to comply with abide by such rules and the decisions of the sponsor(s) identified therein, which shall be final and binding in all respects.
External Links
The Services may contain links to third party websites or resources, which may or may not be obvious (“Third Party Websites”) as well as software, text, graphics, articles, photographs, pictures, designs, sound, video, music, information, software applications and other content originating from third parties (collectively, “Third Party Applications, Software or Content”). Our provision of links to Third Party Websites, Applications, Software or Content is not an endorsement of any information, product or service that is offered on or reached through such Third Party Website or Third Party Application, Software or Content. Such Third Party Websites and Third Party Applications, Software or Content are not monitored or checked for accuracy, appropriateness, or completeness by us, and we are not responsible for the content or performance of any Third Party Websites accessed through the Services or any Third Party Applications, Software or Content posted on, available through or installed from the Services, including the content, accuracy, offensiveness, opinions, reliability, privacy practices or other policies of or contained in the Third Party Websites or the Third Party Applications, Software or Content. If you decide to leave the Services and access the Third Party Websites or to use or install any Third Party Applications, Software or Content, you do so at your own risk and you should be aware that our terms and policies no longer govern.
YOU AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF THIRD-PARTY SITES OR THIRD PARTY APPLICATIONS, SOFTWARE OR CONTENT, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, YOUR USE OF ANY CONTENT, INFORMATION, DATA, ADVERTISING, PRODUCTS, OR OTHER MATERIALS ON OR AVAILABLE THROUGH SUCH WEBSITES AND RESOURCES, IS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE APPLICABLE TO SUCH SITES AND RESOURCES.
No Resale/Exploitation
You understand and agree that you may not reproduce, copy, resell, manipulate, or exploit any part of the Services for any commercial purpose.
Non-United States Residents
Company operates the Services in the United States. Company makes no representation that the Materials and their copyrights, trademarks, patents, and licensing arrangements, are appropriate or available for use in locations other than the United States. If you access the Services from locations outside of the U.S. you do so on your own initiative and at your own risk, and you are solely responsible for compliance with local laws, if and to the extent local laws are applicable. With respect to shipments of merchandise to consumers, wherever they may reside, title to the merchandise and risk of loss shall pass to the buyer upon delivery of the merchandise to the common carrier.
Jurisdictional Issues
The Services are controlled and operated by Company from its offices within the State of California, United States. Company makes no representation that materials in the Services are appropriate or available for use in other locations. Software from this Services is further subject to United States export controls. No software from this Services may be downloaded or otherwise exported or re-exported (i) into (or to a national or resident of) any countries that are subject to U.S. export restrictions; or (ii) to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department's list of Specially Designated Nationals or the U.S. Commerce Department's Table of Deny Orders. By downloading or using the Software, you represent and warrant that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any such country or on any such list.
Termination
You understand and agree that Company may, in its sole discretion and at any time, terminate your password and/or account, and/or prohibit you from accessing the Services, in whole or in part, for any reason or no reason at all, at any time in its sole discretion, with or without notice. You understand and agree that Company may take any one or more of these actions without prior notice to you. Should Company take any of these actions, it may, in its sole discretion, immediately deactivate and/or delete any or all information about and concerning your account. You understand and agree that Company shall not have any liability to you or any other person for any termination of your account and/or the removal of information concerning your account. Company will determine your compliance with this Agreement in its sole discretion and its decision shall be final and binding and not subject to challenge or appeal. Any violation of this Agreement may result in restrictions on your access to all or part of the Services and may be referred to law enforcement authorities. No changes to or waiver of any part of this Agreement shall be of any force or effect unless formally posted or made in writing and signed by a duly authorized officer of Company. Upon termination of your membership or access to the Services, or upon demand by Company, you must destroy all materials obtained from the Services and all related documentation and all copies and installations thereof. You are advised that Company will aggressively enforce its rights to the fullest extent of the law.
Disclaimer
The Services may be unavailable from time to time due to maintenance or malfunction of computer equipment or for various other reasons. Company assumes no responsibility for any delays, interruptions, errors, defects, omissions, or deletions, related to the communications line failure, operation or transmission, or alteration of, or theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, user communications. Company is not responsible for any technical or non-technical malfunction or other problems of any hosting services, computer systems, servers or providers, telephone networks or telephone services, computer or mobile phone equipment, software, failure of e-mail or players on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or in connection with the Services, including injury or damage to a user’s or to any other person's computer, mobile phone, or other hardware or software, related to or resulting from using or downloading materials in connection with the Web and/or in connection with the Services.
THE SERVICES, THE MATERIALS, AND THE SOFTWARE, IF APPLICABLE, ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” “WITH ALL FAULTS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OR THOSE ARISING BY STATUTE OR OTHERWISE IN LAW FROM A COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, COMPANY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. COMPANY DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF OR THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE SERVICES, THE MATERIALS OR THE SOFTWARE, WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THE SERVICES OR THE SERVER THAT MAKES IT AVAILABLE OR THE SOFTWARE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS OR THAT THE SERVICES, MATERIALS, SOFTWARE OR SERVER DO NOT VIOLATE ANY PATENT OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF ANY PERSON OR ENTITY. COMPANY DOES NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SERVICES, THE MATERIALS OR THE SOFTWARE, IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. YOU (AND NOT COMPANY) ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION. APPLICABLE LAW MAY NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT FULLY APPLY TO YOU.
Limitation of Liability
YOU AGREE THAT COMPANY AND ITS PARENTS, AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, LICENSORS AND ASSIGNS, AND EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS (COLLECTIVELY, THE “RELEASED PARTIES”) ARE NOT LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER BASED IN TORT, CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR LOST DATA ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING IN ANY WAY FROM OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICES, THE MATERIAL ANY LISTING OR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE TECHNICAL OPERATION OF THE SERVICES, EVEN IF THE COMPANY IS AWARE OR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY NEGLIGENCE, ACTS OF GOD, TELECOMMUNICATIONS FAILURE, THEFT OR DESTRUCTION OF, OR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO THE SERVICES (COLLECTIVELY, THE “RELEASED MATTERS”). NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED HEREIN, COMPANY’S LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CAUSE WHATSOEVER, AND REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF THE ACTION, WILL AT ALL TIMES BE LIMITED TO $1000. BY ACCESSING THE SERVICES, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY BE WAIVING RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO CLAIMS THAT ARE AT THIS TIME UNKNOWN OR UNSUSPECTED, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH WAIVER, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVE, THE BENEFITS OF SECTION 1542 OF THE CIVIL CODE OF CALIFORNIA, AND ANY SIMILAR LAW OF ANY STATE OR TERRITORY, WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS:
“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.”
You hereby waive any and all rights you have or may have under California Civil Code Section 1542, and/or any similar provision of law or successor statute to it, with respect to the Released Matters. In connection with this waiver and release, you acknowledge that you are aware that you may hereafter discover claims presently unknown or unsuspected, or facts in addition to or different from those which you now know or believe to be true. Nevertheless, you intend by this Agreement to release fully, finally and forever all Released Matters under this Agreement. In furtherance of such intention, the releases set forth in this Agreement shall be and shall remain in effect as full and complete releases notwithstanding the discovery or existence of any such additional or different claims or facts relevant hereto.
Company makes no representation or warranty whatsoever regarding the completeness, accuracy, currency or adequacy of any information, facts, views, opinions, statements or recommendations contained on the Services and/or the Material. Reference to any product, process, publication or service of any third party by trade name, domain name, trademark, service mark, logo, manufacturer or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by Company. Views and opinions of users of the Services do not necessarily state or reflect those of Company. Users are responsible for seeking the advice of professionals, as appropriate, regarding the information, opinions, advice or content available as part of the Services.
The Internet may be subject to breaches of security. Company is not responsible for any resulting damage to any user's computer from any such security breach, or from any virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, computer line failure or any other technical or other malfunction. You should also be aware that email submissions over the Internet may not be secure, and you should consider this before submitting any information to anyone over the internet. Company makes no representation or warranty whatsoever regarding the suitability, functionality, availability or operation of the Services.
Linking Policy
If you link to the Services, we require that you follow these guidelines. You may link only to the home page, and the link must be in plain text, unless otherwise approved in writing by an authorized representative of Company. The link to these Services must not damage, dilute or tarnish the goodwill associated with any Company names and/or intellectual property, nor may the link create the false appearance that your website and/or organization is sponsored, endorsed by, affiliated and/or associated with Company. You may not “frame” the Services or alter their intellectual property or Material in any other way. You may not link to the Services from a site that is unlawful, abusive, indecent or obscene, that promotes violence or illegal acts, that contains expressions of racism, that is libelous, defamatory, scandalous, or inflammatory or is otherwise deemed inappropriate, as determined by Company in its sole discretion. Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate a link with any website for any reason or no reason at all, including without limitation any website that Company deems to be inappropriate or inconsistent with or antithetical to the Services and/or these Terms.
Company is not responsible for the content or performance of any portion of the Internet including other websites to which this Services may be linked or from which these Services may be accessed.
Indemnification
BY USING THE SERVICES YOU AGREE TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND AND HOLD THE RELEASED PARTIES HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY THIRD PARTY CLAIMS, ALLEGED CLAIMS, DEMANDS, CAUSES OF ACTION, JUDGMENTS, DAMAGES, LOSSES, LIABILITIES, AND ALL COSTS AND EXPENSES OF DEFENSE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO: YOUR BREACH OF YOUR REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, COVENANTS OR AGREEMENTS HEREUNDER; YOUR VIOLATION OF THESE TERMS OF SERVICE OR ANY LAW; YOUR USE OF THESE SERVICES AND/OR THE MATERIAL IN VIOLATION OF THESE TERMS OF SERVICE; INFORMATION OR MATERIAL POSTED OR TRANSMITTED THROUGH YOUR COMPUTER, MOBILE DEVICE OR MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT, EVEN IF NOT SUBMITTED BY YOU, THAT INFRINGES ANY COPYRIGHT, TRADEMARK, TRADE SECRET, TRADE DRESS, PATENT, PUBLICITY, PRIVACY OR OTHER RIGHT OF ANY PERSON OR DEFAMES ANY PERSON; ANY MISREPRESENTATION MADE BY YOU; AND/OR COMPANY’S USE OF YOUR INFORMATION. YOU WILL COOPERATE AS FULLY AND AS REASONABLY REQUIRED IN COMPANY’S DEFENSE OF ANY CLAIM. COMPANY RESERVES THE RIGHT, AT ITS OWN EXPENSE, TO ASSUME THE EXCLUSIVE DEFENSE AND CONTROL OF ANY MATTER OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO INDEMNIFICATION BY YOU, AND YOU SHALL NOT IN ANY EVENT SETTLE ANY SUCH MATTER WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF COMPANY.
Governing Law
This TOS shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California applicable to contracts entered into and fully performed in California (without regard to its conflicts of law principles that would cause the application of any other jurisdiction's laws) With respect to any disputes or claims not subject to arbitration, you agree not to commence or prosecute any action in connection therewith other than in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, California, and you hereby consent to, and waive all defenses of lack of personal jurisdiction and forum non conveniens with respect to venue and jurisdiction in the state and federal courts of Los Angeles, California.
Arbitration
By using the Services in any way, you unconditionally consent and agree that: (1) any claim, dispute, or controversy (whether in contract, tort, or otherwise) you may have against the officers, directors and employees of Company and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates (all such individuals and entities collectively referred to herein as the “Company Entities”) arising out of, relating to, or connected in any way with the website or the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, will be resolved exclusively by final and binding arbitration administered by JAMS and conducted before a sole arbitrator in accordance with the rules of JAMS; (2) this arbitration agreement is made pursuant to a transaction involving interstate commerce, and shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), 9 U.S.C. §§ 1-16; (3) the arbitration shall be held in Los Angeles, California; (4) the arbitrator’s decision shall be controlled by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any of the other agreements referenced herein that the applicable user may have entered into in connection with the website; (5) the arbitrator shall apply California law consistent with the FAA and applicable statutes of limitations, and shall honor claims of privilege recognized at law; (6) there shall be no authority for any claims to be arbitrated on a class or representative basis, arbitration can decide only your and/or the applicable Company Entity’s individual claims; the arbitrator may not consolidate or join the claims of other persons or parties who may be similarly situated; (7) the arbitrator shall not have the power to award punitive damages against you or any Company Entity; (8) in the event that the administrative fees and deposits that must be paid to initiate arbitration against any Company Entity exceed $125 USD, and your are unable (or not required under the rules of JAMS) to pay any fees and deposits that exceed this amount, Company agrees to pay them and/or forward them on your behalf, subject to ultimate allocation by the arbitrator. In addition, if you are able to demonstrate that the costs of arbitration will be prohibitive as compared to the costs of litigation, Company will pay as much of your filing and hearing fees in connection with the arbitration as the arbitrator deems necessary to prevent the arbitration from being cost-prohibitive; and (9) with the exception of subpart (6) above, if any part of this arbitration provision is deemed to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal, or otherwise conflicts with the rules of JAMS, then the balance of this arbitration provision shall remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with its terms as if the invalid, unenforceable, illegal or conflicting provision were not contained herein. If, however, subpart (6) is found to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal, then the entirety of this Arbitration Provision shall be null and void, and neither you nor Company shall be entitled to arbitrate their dispute. For more information on JAMS and/or the rules of JAMS, visit their website at www.jamsadr.com
Miscellaneous
This TOS constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous written or oral agreements between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This TOS may not be amended, nor any obligation waived, without Company’s written authorization. Any failure to enforce any provision of this TOS shall not constitute a waiver thereof or of any other provision thereof.
If any provision of these terms shall be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from these terms and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.
For any questions, suggestions, or concerns related to these Terms of Service, please send us a message using the information provided on the “Contact Us” page.
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