Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Velvet Grounds regarding your access to and use of our website and services. By accessing our website or engaging with our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these terms.

If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you must immediately cease all use of our website and services. These terms supplement our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which should be read together with this document.

1. Acceptance and Binding Nature

By using our services, you represent and warrant that:

You are at least 18 years of age or have reached the age of majority in your jurisdiction
You have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts
You are not prohibited by law from accessing or using our services
All information you provide to us is accurate, current, and complete
You will maintain the accuracy of such information throughout your use of our services

Your continued use of our services constitutes ongoing acceptance of these terms and any modifications we may make from time to time.

2. User Obligations and Conduct

2.1 Legal Responsibilities

As a user of our services, you agree to:

Comply with all applicable local, state, national, and international laws and regulations
Respect the intellectual property rights of Velvet Grounds and third parties
Use our services only for their intended purposes
Refrain from any activity that could damage, disable, or impair our services
Not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of our services or systems
Report any suspected security breaches or violations to us promptly

2.2 Prohibited Activities

You expressly agree not to:

Use our services for any fraudulent, illegal, or unauthorized purpose
Transmit any viruses, worms, malware, or other malicious code
Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of our services
Attempt to decipher, decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer any software
Harvest or collect email addresses or other contact information from our website
Use any robot, spider, scraper, or other automated means to access our services
Impersonate or falsely represent affiliation with any person or entity
Engage in any form of harassment, abuse, or harm toward other users

2.3 Content Guidelines

When submitting content to our services (including reviews, comments, or feedback), you must ensure that your content:

Does not infringe upon any third-party intellectual property rights
Does not contain defamatory, obscene, or offensive material
Does not promote discrimination, violence, or illegal activities
Does not violate any person's right to privacy or publicity
Is truthful and not misleading
Complies with all applicable laws and regulations

2.4 Age Restrictions

Our services are intended for adults aged 18 and over. Individuals under 18 may not use our services without the supervision and consent of a parent or legal guardian. We reserve the right to request proof of age at any time.

3. Indemnification Obligations

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Velvet Grounds, its parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, partners, and licensors from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees and legal costs) arising from:

Your use or misuse of our services
Your violation of these Terms and Conditions
Your violation of any rights of another person or entity
Your violation of any applicable laws or regulations
Any content you submit or transmit through our services
Any fraudulent, negligent, or willful misconduct on your part

This indemnification obligation survives the termination of your use of our services and continues in perpetuity.

4. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

4.1 Disclaimer of Warranties

OUR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. VELVET GROUNDS MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

The accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any content or information
The availability, timeliness, or security of our services
The quality or suitability of any products or services obtained through our platform
The absence of viruses or other harmful components
That defects will be corrected or that our services will meet your requirements

We disclaim all warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

4.2 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, VELVET GROUNDS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY:

Indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
Costs of procurement of substitute goods or services
Damages arising from unauthorized access to or use of our servers or data
Damages resulting from errors, mistakes, or inaccuracies in content
Personal injury or property damage resulting from your use of our services

Our aggregate liability for all claims shall not exceed the amount you paid to us in the twelve months preceding the claim, or one hundred dollars ($100 USD), whichever is greater.

4.3 Exclusion of Consequential Damages

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages. In such jurisdictions, our liability shall be limited to the greatest extent permitted by law. You acknowledge that these limitations are reasonable given the nature of our services and the fees charged.

4.4 Force Majeure

Velvet Grounds shall not be liable for any failure to perform due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, accidents, pandemics, strikes, or shortages of transportation facilities, fuel, energy, labor, or materials.

5. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and disclosure of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms and Conditions by reference. By using our services, you consent to:

The collection and processing of your personal data as described in our Privacy Policy
The use of cookies and similar technologies as outlined in our Cookie Policy
The transfer of your data to service providers and partners as necessary
Receiving communications from us regarding your account and our services

You have certain rights regarding your personal data. Please review our Privacy Policy for detailed information about data protection and your rights.

6. Third-Party Interactions

Our services may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services that are not owned or controlled by Velvet Grounds. We assume no responsibility for:

The content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party services
Any damages or losses resulting from your interactions with third parties
The availability or functionality of third-party services
Any transactions you enter into with third-party vendors or partners

You acknowledge and agree that Velvet Grounds shall not be responsible or liable for any content, products, or services available through third-party resources. We strongly advise you to review the terms and policies of any third-party services you access.

7. Termination and Suspension

7.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your relationship with Velvet Grounds at any time by ceasing to use our services and, if applicable, closing your account. Upon termination, you remain liable for all obligations incurred prior to termination.

7.2 Termination by Velvet Grounds

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to our services immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including but not limited to:

Breach of these Terms and Conditions
Fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
Extended periods of inactivity
At our sole discretion for business or operational reasons

7.3 Effects of Termination

Upon termination, all licenses and rights granted to you under these terms shall immediately cease. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination shall continue, including indemnification obligations, liability limitations, and dispute resolution provisions.

8. Legal Information and Dispute Resolution

8.1 Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which Velvet Grounds is established, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law. You agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of the courts located in this jurisdiction for any disputes arising from these terms.

8.2 Dispute Resolution

In the event of any dispute, claim, or controversy arising from these terms:

You agree to first contact us to attempt to resolve the dispute informally
If informal resolution is unsuccessful within 30 days, either party may initiate formal dispute resolution
Disputes may be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with applicable arbitration rules
You waive any right to bring claims in a representative or class action capacity

8.3 Jurisdiction and Venue

Any legal action or proceeding arising under these terms shall be brought exclusively in courts of competent jurisdiction. You hereby consent to personal jurisdiction and venue in such courts and waive any objection based on inconvenient forum.

8.4 Severability

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected or impaired. The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

8.5 Entire Agreement

These Terms and Conditions, together with our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and Terms of Service, constitute the entire agreement between you and Velvet Grounds regarding your use of our services and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

9. Miscellaneous Provisions

Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these terms or your rights hereunder without our prior written consent. We may assign these terms without restriction.

Waiver

No waiver of any term or condition shall be deemed a continuing waiver of such term or any other term. Our failure to assert any right or provision shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

Headings

Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of these terms.

Amendments

We reserve the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. Material changes will be communicated through our website or via email. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

Survival

Provisions concerning indemnification, limitation of liability, disclaimer of warranties, and dispute resolution shall survive termination of these terms.