THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES MANDATORY ARBITRATION, CLASS ACTION WAIVER, AND JURY WAIVER PROVISIONS. BY USING THE ALTERING SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO THESE PROVISIONS WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN SECTION 11 OF THESE TERMS.
1. INTRODUCTION
This is a legally binding agreement between Altering Ltd (“Altering”, “we”, or “us”) and you. Altering offers a subscription-based service that allows users to access creativity-related content provided over the Internet. These terms of service (these “Terms”), effective as set forth below, will govern your access and use of our owned and operated website, currently available at wakingup.com (the “Site”), the Altering mobile application (the “App”), any other products, services, or events provided by Altering and all associated Altering features, applications, widgets, and their respective contents branded as Altering, including without limitation, any new features and applications (collectively, “Altering Services”). By using Altering Services in any manner, (i) you agree to these Terms, and (ii) you authorize the collection, use, disclosure and other handling of information as set forth in our privacy policy located at https://www.altering.io/privacy-policy. You must comply with these Terms and any other policies, rules and guidelines that Altering provides in Altering Services. If you do not agree, you may not use Altering Services. If you see something on any of Altering Services that you believe violates our Terms, please report it to hello@altering.io.
From time to time, we may, in our sole discretion, update these Terms by posting the updated version and updating the “Last Update Posted” date at the top of the page. Unless you first reject the updated Terms by discontinuing all use of Altering Services and sending a notice of termination to hello@altering.io you will be deemed to accept the changes and they will take effect at the “Update Effective Time”, which is the earlier of: (a) 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on the 30th day after Altering posts them (or a later date that we specify in the update, if any); (b) your first ever use of a new or changed feature of Altering Services that is subject to the updated Terms, or (c) your taking some other action to specifically accept the updated Terms, such as clicking to accept them. (Provisions (a) and (b) of the preceding sentence do not apply to updates to Section 11 below.) You must send the termination notice from the email address associated with your account, or if this is not possible, you must promptly cooperate with us to identify your account. Regardless of the email address you use, you must promptly cooperate with any request from us to authenticate that you are the account holder and that you are the actual sender of the termination notice. You agree to review these Terms periodically to ensure that you are familiar with the most recent version. At your request, following your termination, we will issue you a pro-rated refund for any remaining unused portion of subscription fees you have paid. You are prohibited from using Altering Services after sending a notice of termination, except as may be necessary to follow any instructions we may provide via email for authentication of your identity and request. If you violate this requirement and do use Altering Services after sending a notice of termination (and before we block your access), your termination notice will be void as if it had never taken effect, and the updated Terms will take effect (or will have taken effect) at the Update Effective Time.
Altering Services are not available to persons under the age of 16. Parents and guardians may use their account to access content for their children, but children under 16 may not create an Altering account, or interact with any Altering Services on their own. If you are between the age of 16 and the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction of residence, you may only use Altering Services if your parent or legal guardian agrees to be bound by these Terms.
You agree not to use Altering Services if we have prohibited you from using them.
2. MEMBERSHIP
Subscription
Your Altering subscription will continue and automatically renew until terminated. To use the Altering Services you must have Internet access, a device that can utilize Altering Services and, if applicable, a valid form of payment. Additional technology and resource requirements for subscriptions and certain other Altering Services are specified in Section 11. You authorize us to charge any form of payment you provide, in connection with your subscription. You must cancel your subscription before it renews in order to avoid billing of the subscription fees for the next billing cycle. Your billing will include your subscription fees and any applicable taxes and transaction fees.
Free Trial
Your Altering Services may start with a free trial period. Any free trial period is at the sole discretion of Altering and we may limit eligibility or duration to prevent misuse. We reserve the right to terminate any free trial period at any time. We may charge you a subscription fee upon expiration of your free trial period. To view the subscription price, please access your account information when you login for Altering Services.
Account
To have a subscription you will need to open a user account. You will be asked to provide us with certain information such as a valid email address or Apple ID. You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account, your email address and Apple ID. You may be assigned a one-time PIN code via email for use in each login instance. You must ensure the information you provide to us is true, accurate, current, and complete to the best of your knowledge, and you must update it when it changes. You may not sell, share, or provide access to your account to anyone else, including without limitation, charging anyone for access to your account, except that (i) you are permitted to use the App to practice in-person with members of your household and (ii) users under the age of legal majority where they live may share access with their parents and legal guardians so that they may supervise their use.
Cancellation
You can cancel your Altering subscription at any time through the settings in your account. Following a cancellation you request, you will continue to have access to Altering Services through the end of your subscription period. If you are dissatisfied with Altering Services or are experiencing financial hardship, you may also request a refund, either through the third-party app store you used to purchase the Altering App or by emailing us directly at hello@altering.io. If you are issued a refund, you may lose access to Altering Services immediately.
Communication Preferences
With your use of Altering Services, you consent to receive communications by email or text. We may send you curated content including newsletters, digests or other promotional materials that may be of interest to you. You may stop receiving our promotional emails by (i) clicking the unsubscribe links contained in emails. You can opt out of any direct promotional communications by emailing your request to opt out, along with the contact information to which your request applies, to
hello@altering.io.
You agree that providing you these Terms (including all updates thereto), agreements, notices, disclosures, and other communications electronically (such as by email, through Site, or through the App) will satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.
3. CONTENT AND LICENSING
All materials on Altering Services, including the designs, graphics, text, sounds, pictures, videos, software and other files and the selection and arrangement thereof (collectively, “Materials”), are the property of Altering or its licensors and are protected by intellectual property laws. Subject to your compliance with these Terms, Altering grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, revocable, non-transferable license to use Altering Services solely for your personal, non-commercial use. You will not obtain any ownership interest in the Materials or Altering Services through these Terms or otherwise. The Posting or display of any Materials does not constitute a waiver of any rights in such Materials. All rights to Materials are reserved to their respective copyright owners. Except as expressly authorized by these Terms, you may not copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, download, perform, display, post, transmit, exploit, create derivative works or otherwise use any of the Materials in any form or by any means, without the prior written authorization of Altering or the respective copyright owner. Altering authorizes you to use only the Materials that we intentionally make available to you, and you may use them only for your own personal, non-commercial use. You must keep intact all copyright and other proprietary notices contained in the Materials. You may not modify or adapt the Materials in any way or otherwise use them (such as for any public or commercial purposes). The trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress and logos (collectively, "Marks”) contained or described on Altering Services (including, without limitation, any marks associated with any products available on Altering Services) are the sole and exclusive property of Altering and/or its licensors and may not be copied, imitated, or otherwise used, in whole or in part, without the prior written authorization of Altering and/or its licensors. In addition, all page headers, custom graphics, button icons and scripts are Marks of Altering and may not be copied, imitated or used in whole or in part, without our prior written authorization.
None of the Materials or Altering Services may be reverse-engineered, disassembled, decompiled, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, translated into any language or computer language, re-transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recordation, photo-reproduced, or otherwise), or reproduced without the express prior written permission of Altering or its licensors.
You must not hack Altering Services or perform any other activity that may damage, detrimentally interfere with, intercept or expropriate any system, personal information, or other data. You must not perform any activity to interrupt, destroy, or limit the functionality of any computer software, hardware, or telecommunications equipment. You may not use any “deep-link”, “page-scrape”, “robot”, “spider”, or other automatic device, program, algorithm, or methodology or any similar or equivalent manual process to access, acquire, copy, or monitor any portion of Altering Services, or in any way reproduce or circumvent any aspect of Altering Services (such as the navigational structure or presentation of any of Altering Services), or to obtain or attempt to obtain any materials, documents, or information through any means not purposely made available through Altering Services. We may use technical means to detect and block any such activity, but our failure to do so is not a waiver of this prohibition. These Terms do not prohibit the normal use of personal accessibility technology (such as a screen reader for individuals with visual impairment) to access Altering Services.
You may link to any of our Altering Services from your website, blog, application, platform, or services, provided that (a) the link redirects the user to the respective Altering Services when the user clicks on the link; (b) you do not insert any intermediate page, splash page, or other content between the link and Altering Services; (c) you do not use the content in a manner that suggests Altering, Altering Services, or individuals featured in Altering Services, promote or endorse your or any third party’s cause, idea(s), product(s), site(s), application(s), platform(s), or service(s); (d) you do not use Altering Services or any portion thereof for commercial purposes; and (e) you do not use Altering Services in any way that is unlawful or harmful to any individual or entity.
From time to time, you may provide us with comments, suggestions, or ideas for enhancements, improvements, changes, or additions to Altering Services or our business in general, including ideas for new features, materials, and other content (“Feedback”). By providing us Feedback, you grant to us exclusive ownership of the Feedback and of all intellectual property rights and other rights in it, and you will provide us with reasonable cooperation in documenting this grant. Altering has no obligation to do anything with Feedback, but we will have the full, worldwide, unencumbered right to use, incorporate, and otherwise fully exercise and exploit any such Feedback via all forms of media, distribution methods, and technology now known or later developed, for any purposes, commercial or otherwise, and to transfer or license our rights in the Feedback, without notice, acknowledgement or compensation to you.
4. MEMBER CONTENT
Certain Altering Services may enable you or other users to create, modify, submit, or add (collectively, “Post”) text, images, videos, links, votes, likes, communications with other users or third parties, and other files and information (“Member Content”). Member Content includes saved and unsaved drafts of any such material. Member Content is part of the “Materials” defined in Section 3 of these Terms.
Some Member Content might initially be accessible only to only certain users (such as content on spaces we designate as “private” boards), but we may later make that Member Content accessible to all users or to the general public. For this reason, please assume that all your Member Content may become public, though we have no obligation to make it public.
You, or your licensors, as applicable, retain ownership of any copyright or other intellectual property rights you may have in your Member Content, subject to the non-exclusive license granted below.
By Posting Member Content, you grant Altering a perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty free, fully paid up, transferable, sublicensable (through multiple tiers), license to use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, create derivative works from, publish, transmit, store, display and distribute, translate, communicate, and otherwise use the Member Content in connection with the operation Altering Services or other aspects of our business, including to use the Member Content for Altering’s promotional, advertising or marketing purposes, in each case via all forms of media, distribution methods, and technology now known or later developed. For example, we might include content from a Post in an advertisement about the Community or in our Support pages. This license includes the right for Altering to make Member Content available to other companies, organizations, business partners, or individuals (including those who collaborate with Altering for communication, distribution, or publication) and to make Member Content publicly available. This license also includes the right for us to allow other users of Altering Services to use Member Content in the manner permitted by the then-current Terms.
Although certain parts of Altering Services have features to delete or modify certain Member Content as it is visible to you or others, Altering has the right to preserve any version of Member Content despite the use of such features. Altering may disclose any version of Member Content as described in our Privacy Policy.
Altering may remove or refuse to publish any Member Content, in whole or part, at any time in its sole discretion. You grant Altering and its authorized agents the permission to view, monitor, edit, delete or otherwise moderate any Member Content, including any unpublished Member Content, at any time, but you agree that Altering has no obligation to do any of that. The fact any particular Member Content is accessible does not mean that we agree with it, support it, or believe it to be safe or reliable, or that it complies with our Terms, or that we have even reviewed it: it means only that we have not deleted it. Your use of Member Content and anything related to it is at your own risk.
You may Post Member Content only if: (1) you own the Member Content or you have obtained all necessary licenses and permissions to Post such Member Content and grant us the rights and licenses described in these Terms, and (2) your Posting of Member Content does not violate any third party’s rights or any legal requirement. You agree to pay all royalties, fees, and any other monies owed to any person by reason of any Member Content you Post.
5. RELEASE
To the extent permitted by applicable law, you agree not to hold Altering or its owners, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, employees, consultants, affiliates, subsidiaries (collectively with Altering, “Altering and its Affiliated Parties”) responsible or liable for the acts and omissions of users, content providers, and other third parties, including any such acts or omissions that occur at events advertised or organized through — or otherwise mentioned on — Altering Services. Each of the Affiliated Parties will have the right (and will be deemed to have accepted the right) to enforce these Terms against you as a third-party beneficiary thereof.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, you release and agree to release Altering and its Affiliated Parties from all claims, demands, and damages (including both direct and consequential) arising out of or in any way connected with such acts and omissions.
You acknowledge that some events or interactions advertised on, organized through, or otherwise mentioned on Altering Services may carry inherent dangers, such as the risk of illness, bodily injury, disability, or death. By participating in any of these events or interactions, you assume these risks.
6. COPYRIGHT COMPLAINTS - DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT
It is our policy to terminate the subscriptions and accounts of repeat infringers in appropriate circumstances. If you believe your intellectual property is being infringed by Altering Services, please submit a complaint and request for takedown of specific material to hello@altering.io. Be sure to provide us with the following information:
- an electronic or physical signature of the copyright owner or person authorized to act on behalf of an exclusive right that allegedly is infringed;
- identification of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed or, if there are multiple works, a representative list of such works;identification of the infringing material or activity (or the reference or link to such material) and information reasonably sufficient to permit us to locate the material;
- contact information for the copyright owner or the owner’s authorized agent, including email address if available;a written statement by you that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and
- a statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the above information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on behalf of the owner of a right that is allegedly infringed.
UNDER FEDERAL LAW, IF YOU KNOWINGLY MISREPRESENT THAT ONLINE MATERIAL IS INFRINGING, YOU MAY BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION FOR PERJURY AND CIVIL PENALTIES, INCLUDING MONETARY DAMAGES, COURT COSTS, AND ATTORNEYS’ FEES.
7. THIRD PARTY WEBSITES
Altering Services may contain links to third-party websites. If you use these links, you will leave Altering Services and your dealings will solely be with the third-party websites. You agree that Altering is not responsible or liable for any content, goods or services provided on or through these outside websites. You use these links at your own risk and liability. We have no responsibility for the content, legality or accuracy of any third-party information, products or services.
8. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
YOUR USE OF ALTERING SERVICES IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. ALTERING IS PROVIDING ALTERING SERVICES ALONG WITH CONTENT AND MATERIALS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. ALTERING AND ITS AFFILIATED PARTIES EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
ALTERING MAKES NO WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR: (i) MEMBER CONTENT; (ii) ANY THIRD PARTY, OR THIRD-PARTY WEBSITE, THIRD-PARTY PRODUCT, OR THIRD-PARTY SERVICE ACCESSIBLE OR MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGH ALTERING SERVICES; (iii) THE QUALITY OR CONDUCT OF ANY USER OR OTHER THIRD PARTY YOU ENCOUNTER IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF ALTERING SERVICES, INCLUDING ANY ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, ENGAGEMENT OR INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS THAT MAY BE FACILITATED THROUGH USE OF ALTERING SERVICES; OR (iv) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS, USE OR ALTERATION OF MEMBER CONTENT. FURTHER, ALTERING AND ITS AFFILIATED PARTIES MAKE NO WARRANTY THAT ALTERING SERVICES (INCLUDING ANY INFORMATION OR OTHER MATERIAL YOU OBTAIN THROUGH ALTERING SERVICES) WILL (I) MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, (II) BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, (III) BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE, (IV) BE OF SUFFICIENT QUALITY, AND (V) BE CORRECTED OF ANY ERRORS. YOU USE MATERIAL DOWNLOADED OR OTHERWISE OBTAINED THROUGH THE USE OF ALTERING SERVICES AT YOUR OWN RISK, AND YOU WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM, YOUR MOBILE DEVICE, OR LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM THE DOWNLOAD OF ANY SUCH MATERIAL. NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM ALTERING AND ITS AFFILIATED PARTIES ON OR THROUGH ALTERING SERVICES SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THESE TERMS.
TO THE EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL ALTERING OR ITS AFFILIATED PARTIES BE LIABLE (JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY) TO YOU FOR PERSONAL INJURY OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER. ALTERING SERVICES WOULD NOT BE PROVIDED WITHOUT SUCH LIMITATIONS. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SOLE AND AGGREGATE MAXIMUM LIABILITY OF ALTERING AND ITS AFFILIATED PARTIES FOR ANY REASON AND YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY CAUSE OR CLAIM WHATSOEVER, SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU FOR ALTERING SERVICES IN THE TWELVE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACTION GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, PROVIDED THAT IF A PROVISION IN THE TERMS ENTITLES YOU TO A REFUND, NOTHING IN THESE TERMS SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO VOID YOUR ENTITLEMENT TO THE FULL AMOUNT OF THAT REFUND. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IF YOU HAVE NOT PAID ALTERING ANYTHING FOR ALTERING SERVICES DURING THAT TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD, YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY DISPUTE WITH US IS TO STOP USING ALTERING SERVICES.
SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE DISCLAIMER OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES OR THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF DAMAGES. ACCORDINGLY, SOME OF THE ABOVE DISCLAIMERS AND LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN SUCH JURISDICTIONS, THE EXCLUSIONS APPLY, AND LIABILITY IS LIMITED, ONLY TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
9. SERVICE USAGE; TERMINATION OF USAGE
You agree to use Altering Services only for lawful purposes. You will not share your login credentials or access to Altering Services with anybody. You are solely responsible for your use of Altering Services and for all actions that take place using your login credentials, account, or access to Altering Services.You may not access Altering Services from any territory where it is illegal to do so.
These Terms may be terminated by Altering at any time. You also agree that Altering may terminate or suspend your access to Altering Services, without notice, for any or no reason in its sole discretion. We may do so, for example, for any conduct that Altering, in its sole discretion, believes violates any applicable law, violates Altering Terms (such as violations of posted policies), or is otherwise harmful to the interests of another user or Altering and its Affiliated Parties. You may terminate these Terms at any time by sending a notice of termination to hello@altering.io and cooperating with us to identify your account and confirm your request, provided that you first discontinue any further use of Altering Services and destroy any downloaded materials and copies of them. You must send the termination notice from the email address associated with your account, or if this is not possible, you must promptly cooperate with us to identify your account. Regardless of the email address you use, you must promptly cooperate with any request from us to authenticate that you are the accountholder and that you are the actual sender of the termination notice. You are prohibited from using Altering Services after sending a notice of termination, except as may be necessary to follow any instructions we may provide via email for authentication of your identity and request. If you violate this requirement and do use Altering Services after sending a notice of termination (and before we block your access), your termination notice will be void as if it had never taken effect.
Altering reserves the right at any time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, Altering Services (or any part thereof), with or without notice. Except as otherwise expressly stated in these Terms, you agree that Altering and its Affiliated Parties shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of Altering Services.
10. INDEMNIFICATION
You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Altering and its Affiliated Parties against all liability, causes of action, damages and costs, including any reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising from third-party claims relating to (i) your use of Altering Services, (ii) your breach of these Terms, (iii) your infringement or violation of any rights of another, or (iv) termination of your access to Altering Services.
11. APPLICABLE LAW; JURISDICTION; DISPUTE RESOLUTION
These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the United Kingdom, the United States and the State of California, without giving effect to any conflict of laws principles that may provide the application of the law of another jurisdiction.
You agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts and to accept service of process from them.
In no event can any claim or action by you related to Altering Services be instituted more than one year after the cause of action arose.
Arbitration Agreement
(A) Informal Dispute Resolution Procedure.
If there is an instance when you have a concern that needs special attention, Altering is committed to working with you to reach a reasonable resolution. However, we can only do this if we know about it. Therefore, for any concern you may have with Altering Services, you agree to first send a written description of it to hello@altering.io so we have an opportunity to address it. You agree to work with Altering in good faith to resolve the concern. We believe this should lead to resolution. However, if for some reason the concern is not resolved satisfactorily within sixty (60) days after we receive your email, and all necessary information, you agree to the further dispute resolution provisions below.
(B) Mutual Arbitration Agreement.
If the informal dispute resolution procedure does not lead to resolution, then either party may initiate binding arbitration as the sole means to resolve Disputes, (except as provided for herein) subject to the terms set forth below and the National Arbitration and Mediation (“NAM”) rules. If you are initiating arbitration, a copy of the demand shall also be emailed to hello@altering.io. Any demand initiating arbitration, whether filed by you or Altering, must include the email address you used to create an account with Altering.
Except as set forth below, you and Altering agree that by using Altering Services in any way, you unconditionally consent and agree that any claim, dispute, or controversy (whether in contract, tort, or otherwise) you may have against Altering arising out of or, relating to, or connected in any way with Altering Services or these Terms—including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of these Terms are void or voidable, whether a claim is subject to arbitration, and any dispute regarding the payment, non-payment, or the timing of any administrative or arbitrator fees (each a “Dispute”)—will be resolved exclusively by final and binding arbitration in accordance with Subsections 11(A)-(K) of these Terms (the “Arbitration Agreement”). (The portion of this Section 11 preceding Subsection 11(A) applies regardless of whether you have opted out of the Arbitration Agreement under Subsection 10(J).)
This Arbitration Agreement applies to claims that arose, were asserted, or involve facts occurring before the existence of this Arbitration Agreement or any prior agreement as well as claims that may arise after the termination of this Arbitration Agreement, in accordance with the notice and opt-out provisions set forth herein. The parties understand that an arbitrator and not a judge or jury will decide the Dispute, and that rights to discovery and appeals may be limited in arbitration. The parties further understand that the costs of arbitration could exceed the costs of litigation in some instances.You hereby acknowledge and agree that by agreeing to these Terms, which include this Arbitration Agreement, you and Altering are each waiving the right to a trial by a jury to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Notwithstanding the parties’ decision to resolve all Disputes through arbitration, each party retains the right to (i) elect to have any claims resolved in small claims court on an individual basis for disputes and actions within the scope of such court’s jurisdiction, regardless of what forum the filing party initially chose; (ii) bring an action in state or federal court to protect its intellectual property rights (“intellectual property rights” in this context means patents, copyrights, moral rights, trademarks, and trade secrets and other confidential or proprietary information, but not privacy or publicity rights) or for defamation; and (iii) seek a declaratory judgment, injunction, or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction regarding whether a party’s claims are time-barred or may be brought in small claims court. Seeking such relief shall not waive a party’s right to arbitration under this Arbitration Agreement, and any filed arbitrations related to any action filed pursuant to this paragraph shall automatically be stayed pending the outcome of such action.
(C) Class Arbitration and Collective Relief Waiver.
You and Altering acknowledge and agree that, to the maximum extent allowed by law, except as set out otherwise in Subsection (6) below, any arbitration shall be conducted in an individual capacity only and not as a class or collective action and the arbitrator may award relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief and only to the extent necessary to resolve an individual party's claim; notwithstanding this acknowledgement and agreement, you agree that any arbitration involving you may proceed on a consolidated basis, but it may do so if and only if Altering provides its consent to consolidate in writing.
With the exception of this Subsection (C) and Subsection (F) below, if any part of this Arbitration Agreement is deemed to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal, or otherwise conflicts with the rules of NAM, then the balance of this Arbitration Agreement 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, this Subsection (C) or Subsection (F) is found to be invalid, unenforceable, or illegal as applied to your claims, then the entirety of this Arbitration Agreement shall be null and void, and neither you nor Altering shall be entitled to arbitrate their dispute.
(D) Arbitration Rules.
The arbitration will be administered by NAM and conducted before a sole arbitrator in accordance with the rules of NAM, including, as applicable, NAM Comprehensive Dispute Resolution Rules and Procedures, Fees For Disputes When One of the Parties is a Consumer and the Mass Filing Supplemental Dispute Resolution Rules and Procedures in effect at the time any demand for arbitration is filed with NAM, excluding any rules or procedures governing or permitting class or representative actions. The applicable NAM rules and procedures are available at www.namadr.com or by emailing National Arbitration and Mediation’s Commercial Dept at commercial@namadr.com. If NAM is not available to arbitrate, the parties will select an alternative arbitration provider.
(E) Arbitration Location and Procedure.
For all U.S. residents, where the amount in controversy is over $25,000, the arbitration shall be held (i) at a location determined under the applicable NAM rules and procedures that is reasonably convenient for you and is no more than 100 miles from your home or place of business; or (ii) at another location you and we agree upon. For non-U.S. residents, the arbitration shall be held at a location agreed to by all the parties. Where the amount in controversy is under $25,000, the arbitration shall take place solely by submission of written materials, unless the arbitrator determines that a hearing is necessary, and any arbitrator nationwide may be appointed.
Where a hearing is necessary in such cases, the parties agree to remote participation by videoconference or teleconference.
The arbitrator or arbitration body shall be empowered to grant whatever relief would be available in a court under law or in equity. The arbitrator has the right to impose sanctions in accordance with the NAM rules and procedures for any frivolous claims or submissions the arbitrator determines have not been filed in good faith, as well as for a party’s failure to comply with the Informal Dispute Resolution Procedure contemplated by this Arbitration Agreement.
Subject to the applicable NAM rules and procedures, the parties agree that the arbitrator will have the discretion to allow the filing of dispositive motions if they are likely to efficiently resolve or narrow issues in dispute.
Unless otherwise prohibited by law, all arbitration proceedings will be confidential and closed to the public and any parties other than you and Altering (and each of the parties’ authorized representatives and agents), and all records relating thereto will be permanently sealed, except as necessary to obtain court confirmation of the arbitration award (provided that the party seeking confirmation shall seek to file such records under seal to the extent permitted by law).
(F) Batch Arbitration.
To increase the efficiency of administration and resolution of arbitrations, in the event 100 or more similar arbitration demands (those asserting the same or substantially similar facts or claims, and seeking the same or substantially similar relief) presented by or with the assistance or coordination of the same law firm(s) or organization(s) are submitted to NAM (“Mass Filing”), the parties agree to administer the Mass Filing in sequential batches of approximately 100 demands per batch (as adjusted to accommodate any arbitrator strikes as described below). To the extent there are fewer than 100 arbitration demands left over after the batching described above, a final batch will consist of the remaining demands). The parties further agree: (i) to designate one arbitrator for each batch; (ii) to accept applicable fees, including any related fee reduction determined by NAM in its discretion; (iii) that 10% of the anticipated total number of batches for the Mass Filing may proceed simultaneously as set forth in this batching provision and Arbitration Agreement, but that no other demands for arbitration that are part of the Mass Filing may be filed, processed, or adjudicated until the prior set of batches are filed, processed, and adjudicated (for example: if 2000 demands were presented as part of a Mass Filing, there would be 20 anticipated batches, 10% of which – i.e., 2 batches – may proceed simultaneously); (iv) that fees associated with a demand for arbitration included in a Mass Filing, including fees owed by Altering and the claimants, shall only be due after your demand for arbitration is included in a set of batch proceedings and that batch is properly designated for filing, processing, and adjudication; (v) that the staged process of batched proceedings, with each batch including 100 demands, shall continue until each demand (including your demand) is adjudicated or otherwise resolved, and (vi) to make good faith efforts to resolve each batch of claims properly designated for filing, processing, and adjudication within 180 days, failing which any of the claimants whose demands have not yet begun arbitration or Altering may cease arbitration and file in a court of competent jurisdiction.
Arbitrator selection for each batch shall be conducted to the greatest extent possible in accordance with the applicable NAM rules and procedures for such selection, and the arbitrator will determine the location where the proceedings will be conducted. Each claimant may strike the arbitrator selected by their counsel and Altering for the batch and where such strike is exercised, the objecting claimant’s demand will be included in any simultaneously proceeding batch, or the next following batch.
You agree to cooperate in good faith with Altering and the arbitration provider to implement such a “batch approach” or other similar approach to provide for an efficient resolution of claims, including the payment of combined reduced fees, set by NAM in its discretion, for each batch of claims. The parties further agree to cooperate with each other and the arbitration provider or arbitrator to establish any other processes or procedures that the arbitration provider or arbitrator believe will provide for an efficient resolution of claims. Any disagreement between the parties as to whether this provision applies or as to the process or procedure for batching shall be resolved by a procedural arbitrator appointed by NAM. This “Batch Arbitration” provision shall in no way be interpreted as increasing the number of claims necessary to trigger the applicability of NAM’s Mass Filing Supplemental Dispute Resolution Rules and Procedures or authorizing class arbitration of any kind.
Unless Altering otherwise consents in writing, Altering does not agree or consent to class arbitration, private attorney general arbitration, or arbitration involving joint or consolidated claims under any circumstances, except as set forth in this Subsection (F). If your demand for arbitration is included in the Mass Filing, your claims will remain tolled until your demand for arbitration is decided, withdrawn, or is settled.
The parties agree that this batching provision is integral to the Arbitration Agreement insofar as it applies to a Mass Filing. If the batching provision in this Subsection (F) is found to be invalid, unenforceable, or illegal, then the entirety of this Arbitration Agreement shall be null and void, and neither you nor Altering shall be entitled to arbitrate any claim that is a part of the Mass Filing.
(G) Mediation Following First Batch in a Mass Filing.
The results of the first completely adjudicated batch of demands will be given to a NAM mediator selected from a group of 5 mediators proposed by NAM, with Altering and the remaining claimants’ counsel being able to strike one mediator each and then rank the remaining mediators and the highest collectively ranked mediator being selected. The selected mediator will try to facilitate a resolution of the remaining demands in the Mass Filing. After the results are provided to the mediator, Altering the remaining claimants and their counsel, and the mediator will have 90 days (the “Mediation Period”) to agree on a resolution or substantive methodology for resolving the outstanding demands. If the parties are unable to resolve the outstanding demands during the Mediation Period, and cannot agree on a methodology for resolving them through further arbitrations, either Altering or any remaining claimant may opt out of the arbitration process and have the demand(s) proceed in a court of competent jurisdiction. Notice of the opt-out will be provided in writing within 60 days of the close of the Mediation Period. If neither Altering nor the remaining claimants opt out and they cannot agree to a methodology for resolving the remaining demands through further arbitration, the arbitrations will continue with the batching process. Absent notice of an opt-out, the arbitrations will proceed in the order determined by the sequential numbers assigned to demands in the Mass Filing.
(H) Arbitrator’s Decision.
The arbitrator’s decision shall be controlled by the terms and conditions of these Terms. The arbitrator will render an award within the time frame specified in the applicable NAM rules and procedures. The arbitrator’s decision will include the essential findings and conclusions upon which the arbitrator based the award. Judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The arbitrator will have the authority to award monetary damages on an individual basis and to grant, on an individual basis, any non-monetary remedy or relief available to an individual to the extent available under applicable law, the arbitral forum’s rules, and this Arbitration Agreement. The parties agree that the damages and/or other relief must be consistent with the terms of Section 8 (“Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability”) as to the types and the amounts of damages or other relief for which a party may be held liable. No individual arbitration award or decision will have any preclusive effect as to issues or claims in any dispute with anyone who is not a named party to the arbitration. Attorneys’ fees will be available to the prevailing party in the arbitration if authorized under applicable substantive law governing the claims in the arbitration.(I) Fees. If you are able to demonstrate that the costs of arbitration will be prohibitive as compared to the costs of litigation, Altering will pay any filing and hearing fees in excess of the current United States District Court filing fee for the Central District of California that the arbitrator deems necessary to prevent the arbitration from being cost-prohibitive regardless of the outcome of the arbitration, unless the arbitrator determines that your claim(s) were frivolous or asserted in bad faith, in which case arbitration fees (including attorneys’ fees) may be imposed upon you consistent with the Arbitrator’s Rules and the standard for sanctions set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11. You are responsible for your own attorneys’ fees unless the arbitration rules and/or applicable law provide otherwise, including as set forth in this Arbitration Agreement.
The parties agree that NAM has discretion to reduce the amount or modify the timing of any administrative or arbitration fees due under NAM’s Rules where it deems appropriate (including as specified in Subsection (F)) provided that such modification does not increase the costs to you, and you further agree that you waive any objection to such fee modification. The parties also agree that a good-faith challenge by either party to the fees imposed by NAM does not constitute a default, waiver, or breach of this Arbitration Agreement while such challenge remains pending before NAM, the arbitrator, and/or a court of competent jurisdiction, and that any and all due dates for those fees shall be tolled during the pendency of such challenge.
(J) 30-Day Right to Opt Out.
You have the right to opt out and not be bound by the Arbitration Agreement by sending written notice of your decision to opt out to hello@altering.io with the subject line, “ARBITRATION OPT-OUT”. You must send this notice from the email address associated with your account (if you have one), or if this is not possible, you must promptly cooperate with us to identify your account if you have one. Regardless of the email address you use, you must promptly cooperate with any request from us to authenticate that you are the accountholder (if you hold an account) and that you are the actual sender of the notice. Your notice must include your name and address, the email address you currently use to access your Altering account (if you have one), and a clear statement that you want to opt out of this Arbitration Agreement. The notice must be sent within thirty (30) days of first becoming subject to this Arbitration Agreement. You become subject to this Arbitration Agreement at the same time you become subject to the rest of these Terms. Otherwise, you shall be bound to arbitrate disputes in accordance with this Arbitration Agreement. If you opt out of the Arbitration Agreement, you may exercise your right to a trial by jury or judge, as permitted by applicable law, but any prior existing agreement to arbitrate disputes under a prior version of the Arbitration Agreement will not apply to claims not yet filed. If you opt out of the Arbitration Agreement, Altering also will not be bound by it.
(K) Changes.
Altering will provide thirty (30) days’ notice of any material changes to this Section 11 by posting the update on altering.io and sending an email to the address it has on file for your Altering Services account, if any. Any such changes will go into effect at 11 a.m. Eastern Time 30 days after Altering provides this notice and apply to all claims not yet filed regardless of when such claims may have accrued. If Altering changes this Section 11 after the date you first accepted this Section 11 (or accepted any subsequent changes to this Section 11), you agree that your failure to terminate the Terms as described in Section 1 by the time it takes effect will be deemed acceptance of those changes.
12. CLASS ACTION WAIVER
You may only resolve your disputes with Altering on an individual basis, and may not bring a claim as a plaintiff or a class member in a class, collective, consolidated, or representative action. Except as described in Section 11(C) and (F), class actions, class arbitrations, collective actions, private attorney general actions, and consolidation with other arbitrations are not allowed. By agreeing to these Terms, you agree that you are required to resolve any claim that you may have against Altering on an individual basis in arbitration as set forth in this Arbitration Agreement, and not as a class, collective, coordinated, consolidated, mass, and/or representative action. You and Altering are each waiving the right to a trial by jury. This Arbitration Agreement will preclude you from bringing any class, collective, coordinated, consolidated, mass, and/or representative action against Altering, and also preclude you from participating in or recovering relief in any current or future class, collective, coordinated, consolidated, mass, and/or representative action brought against Altering by someone else.
13. TECHNOLOGY AND RESOURCES
The use of the App requires use of a mobile device. Use our App, our Site, and other Altering Services made available online or that are capable of connecting to the Internet (collectively, “Online Services”) may require an Internet connection (such as wireless mobile data service), which you must obtain at your cost from your wireless carrier or other Internet service provider. You are responsible for obtaining and paying for such additional services and obtaining a suitable device, including without limitation all related usage charges. You may be required to send and receive, at your cost, electronic communications related to the Online Services, including without limitation administrative messages, service announcements, diagnostic data reports, and App updates, from Altering, your mobile carrier or third-party service provider. If you do not have an unlimited data plan with the provider you use for an Internet connection, you may incur additional charges. The Online Services may cause your device to send and receive data at your cost for those and other reasons over the Internet whether or not you have taken a specific action in Altering Services. These and other aspects of Altering Services may involve activity that uses your device’s battery or other resources with or without involvement from or notice to you (including in the background while you have closed and are not actively interacting with Altering Services), which may shorten the life of your battery or other resources and cause you to incur unexpected energy costs. Altering will have no liability for any of that.
You are solely responsible for obtaining any additional subscription, connectivity, or energy services or equipment necessary to access and use the Online Services, including but not limited to payment of all third-party fees associated therewith, including fees for information sent to or through the Online Services.
We do not warrant that the Online Services will be compatible with your network provider or device. You acknowledge and agree that we may release updates to the Online Services and that you may be required to install any such update (and/or, in some cases, an update or replacement to your browser or device) in order for the Online Service to continue functioning properly. You may not export any Altering Services except in compliance with all applicable laws.
iOS App
The following applies if you obtain the App from Apple, Inc.’s (“Apple”) App Store. You acknowledge and agree that these Terms are solely between you and Altering, not Apple, and that Apple has no responsibility for the App or the contents thereof. Your use of the App must comply with the App Store Terms of Service or other terms applicable to the use of the App. You acknowledge that Apple has no obligation whatsoever to furnish any maintenance and support services with respect to the App. In the event of any failure of the App to conform to any applicable warranty, you may notify Apple and Apple will be responsible for any refund of the purchase price for the App, if any, to you. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Apple will have no other warranty obligation whatsoever with respect to the App. You acknowledge that Apple is not responsible for addressing any claims by you or by any third party relating to the App or your possession and/or use of the App, including but not limited to, (i) product liability claims, (ii) any claim that the App fails to conform to any applicable legal or regulatory requirement, and (iii) claims arising under consumer protection or similar legislation. All such claims between you and us are governed solely by these Terms and any law applicable to Altering as the provider of the App, taking into consideration the choice-of-law provisions in these Terms.
You acknowledge that, as between Altering and Apple, in the event of a claim that the App and your possession and use thereof infringes a third party’s intellectual property rights, Altering, not Apple, will be solely responsible for any investigation, defense, settlement, and discharge of any such intellectual property infringement claim to the extent required by these Terms.
You represent and warrant that (a) you are not located in a country that is subject to a U.S. government embargo, or that has been designated by the U.S. government as a “terrorist supporting’’ country; and (b) you are not listed on any U.S. government list of prohibited or restricted parties.You and Altering acknowledge and agree that Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and that, upon your acceptance of these Terms, Apple will have the right (and will be deemed to have accepted the right) to enforce these Terms against you as a third-party beneficiary thereof.
14. MISCELLANEOUS
Severability
If any provision of these Terms is deemed unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable by an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction, the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions shall not be affected.
Entire Agreement
These Terms, the Privacy Policy and any other policies or guidelines referenced within these Terms constitute the entire and only agreement between Altering and you with respect to Altering Services. These Terms supersede any prior or contemporaneous agreements, representations, warranties and understandings, written or oral, regarding these Terms or Altering Services.
No Waiver
The failure of Altering and its Affiliated Parties to insist upon strict adherence to any term of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such term and shall not be considered a waiver or limit that party’s right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of these terms of service.
Assignment
These Terms, and any rights, licenses or obligations you receive hereunder, cannot be transferred or assigned by you, and you will not attempt to do so. Any attempted transfer or assignment in violation hereof shall be null and void. Altering may its sole discretion assign these Terms and any rights, licenses or obligations it receives hereunder without restriction.
15. CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have any comments, questions, or concerns regarding these Terms or Altering Services, please contact us at hello@altering.io. We would like to promptly address any issue.
Altering Ltd, 106 London Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, England, RH19 1EP
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