Terms of Services

Last modified: May 18, 2011

Branch Out, Inc. ("BranchOut") welcomes you. BranchOut provides the BranchOut Services (as defined below) to you subject to the following Terms of Services ("TOS"). You can review the most current version of the TOS at any time at: http://www.branchout.com/about/terms. By accessing and using the BranchOut Services, you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of the TOS. The TOS is a legal agreement between you and BranchOut and applies to you whether you are user of the Site and BranchOut Services (defined below), a customer of BranchOut Paid Services (defined below) or a visitor just browsing the Site (collectively, "Users"). The TOS limits BranchOut's liability and obligations to you, grant us certain rights in your Content (defined below) and allows us to change, suspend or terminate your access to and use of the Site and BranchOut Services. The TOS and the other policies posted on the Site or made available via the BranchOut Services govern your access to and use of the Site and BranchOut Services, including any content, information, products or services therein.

DESCRIPTION OF BRANCHOUT SERVICES

BranchOut provides Users with an online career networking platform and Paid Services, such as premium User and customer enterprise services for employers, recruiters and other business persons through its network of properties which may be accessed through its website at www.branchout.com ("the Site"), through Facebook at http://apps.facebook.com/branchout/ and various medium or devices now known or hereafter developed (collectively, the "BranchOut Services").

REGISTRATION AND ELIGIBILITY

In order to access certain features of the Site and BranchOut Services, you will have to create a BranchOut account and become a "User." You must be 13 years of age or older to become a User. If you are between the age of 13 and 17, we encourage you to get permission from your parent or guardian to use BranchOut. When you register with BranchOut and set up your BranchOut account, you agree that all information provided to BranchOut upon registration and at all other times will be true, accurate, current and complete.

When you sign up to become a User, you may be asked to install the BranchOut application through Facebook. You are entirely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your Facebook account and password. You agree to not use the account, username, or password of another User at any time or to disclose your password to any third party. You agree to notify BranchOut immediately if you suspect any unauthorized use of your account or access to your password. You are solely responsible for any and all use of your account.

If you become a User you consent to the use of: (a) electronic means to complete these TOS and to provide you with any notices given pursuant to these TOS; and (b) electronic records to store information related to these TOS or your use of the Site and BranchOut Services.

PRIVACY POLICY

Registration Data and certain other information about you are subject to BranchOut's privacy policy ("Privacy Policy"). For more information, see the full BranchOut Privacy Policy at http://www.branchout.com/about/privacy. You understand that through your use of the BranchOut Services you consent to the collection and use (as set forth in the applicable privacy policy) of this information.

BRANCHOUT MATERIALS

General. BranchOut makes certain content available through the Site. "BranchOut Materials" mean all materials originated by BranchOut and otherwise made available through the Site and BranchOut Services, including, without limitation, the BranchOut logo, and all designs, text, data, graphics, other files, and the selection and arrangement thereof. BranchOut and its licensors own all right, title and interest, including all worldwide intellectual property rights in the Site, BranchOut Materials, and the trademarks, service marks and logos contained therein other than your Content. You may electronically copy and print to hard copy portions of the Site for the sole purpose of using materials it contains for informational and non-commercial, personal use only. You will not remove, alter or conceal any copyright, trademark, service mark or other proprietary rights notices incorporated in or accompanying the Site, BranchOut Materials, Content or related products and services and you will not reproduce, modify, adapt, prepare derivative works based on, perform, display, publish, distribute, transmit, broadcast, sell, license or otherwise exploit the Site, BranchOut Materials, Content (other than your Content).

BranchOut Trademarks. The BranchOut name and logo are trademarks of BranchOut, and may not be copied, imitated or used, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of BranchOut. In addition, all page headers, custom graphics, button icons and scripts are service marks, trademarks and/or trade dress of BranchOut, and may not be copied, imitated or used, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of BranchOut.

USER CONTENT

You understand that all information, listings, data, text, software, sound, photographs, graphics, video, messages or other materials ("Content"), whether publicly posted or privately transmitted, excluding BranchOut Materials, are the sole responsibility of the person from which such Content originated. If you are submitting Content on behalf of one or more entities or persons ("third parties") then you confirm and warrant that you are authorized to act on behalf and bind such entity(s) or person to the TOS. You understand that by using BranchOut Services, you may be exposed to Content that is offensive, indecent or objectionable.

You, or a third party licensor, as appropriate, retain any intellectual property rights in the Content you submit. By submitting Content on or through the Services, you grant BranchOut, under those intellectual property rights, an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable license to distribute, reproduce, modify, perform and display and otherwise use the Content in BranchOut Services. By submitting Content, you authorize BranchOut to use your trademarks, service marks, trade names, proprietary logos, domain names and any other source or business identifiers in connection with the BranchOut Services (e.g., the display of your job listings). Additionally, if you are a customer, you agree that we may use your name and logo to identify you as a BranchOut customer on the Site and in BranchOut marketing, corporate and promotional materials. Your Content may have been integrated into BranchOut Services as improvements. This license is solely for the purpose of providing, promoting and improving BranchOut Services.

USER CONDUCT

You agree that you are responsible for your own conduct and Content while using BranchOut Services and for any consequences thereof. You agree to use BranchOut Services only for purposes that are legal, proper and in accordance with the TOS and any applicable policies or guidelines. By way of example, and not as a limitation, you agree that when using BranchOut Services, you will not:

  • defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten or otherwise violate the legal rights (such as rights of privacy and publicity) of others;
  • upload, post, email or transmit or otherwise make available any inappropriate, defamatory, infringing, obscene, or unlawful Content;
  • upload, post, email or transmit or otherwise make available any Content that infringes any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary right of any party, unless you are the owner of such rights or have the permission of the owner to post such Content;
  • upload, post, email or transmit or otherwise make available messages that promote pyramid schemes, chain letters or disruptive commercial messages or advertisements, or anything else prohibited by law, the TOS or any applicable policies or guidelines.
  • download any file posted by another that you know, or reasonably should know, that cannot be legally distributed in such manner;
  • impersonate another person or entity, or falsify or delete any author attributions, legal or other proper notices or proprietary designations or labels of the origin or source of software or other material;
  • restrict or inhibit any other user from using and enjoying BranchOut Services;
  • use BranchOut Services for any illegal or unauthorized purpose;
  • remove any copyright, trademark or other proprietary rights notices contained in or on BranchOut Services;
  • interfere with or disrupt BranchOut Services or servers or networks connected to BranchOut Services, or disobey any requirements, procedures, policies or regulations of networks connected to BranchOut Services;
  • use any robot, spider, site search/retrieval application, or other device to retrieve or index any portion of BranchOut Services or collect information about users for any unauthorized purpose;
  • submit Content that falsely expresses or implies that such Content is sponsored or endorsed by BranchOut;
  • create user accounts by automated means or under false or fraudulent pretenses;
  • promote or provide instructional information about illegal activities or promote physical harm or injury against any group or individual; or
  • transmit any viruses, worms, defects, Trojan horses, or any items of a destructive nature.

While BranchOut prohibits such conduct and Content in connection with BranchOut Services, you understand and agree that BranchOut may or may not pre-screen Content and shall have the right (but not the obligation) in its sole discretion to pre-screen, refuse or move any Content submitted to BranchOut Services.

International users agree to comply with their own local rules regarding online conduct and acceptable content, including laws regulating the export of data to the United States or your country of residence.

TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE SITE OR BRANCHOUT SERVICES & MODIFICATION OF THE TOS.

By User: You may terminate your BranchOut account at any time for any reason by uninstalling the application on Facebook, if applicable, or by sending us an e-mail (contact@branchout.com). After receipt of your termination notice, BranchOut will terminate your account. Any fees paid by you prior to your termination are nonrefundable, including any fees paid in advance for the term during which you terminate. Termination of your account shall not relieve you of any obligation to pay any accrued fees or charges.

By BranchOut: BranchOut reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time to modify, discontinue or terminate the Site and BranchOut Services, or modify these TOS without advance notice. All modified terms and conditions will be effective after they are posted on the Site (unless a longer notice period is required by applicable law). If any modified terms and conditions are not acceptable to you, your sole remedy is to cease using the Site and BranchOut Services, and if applicable, cancel your BranchOut account. By continuing to access or use the Site and BranchOut Services after BranchOut makes any such revision, you agree to be bound by the revised TOS.

Without limiting other remedies, BranchOut may immediately terminate or suspend your access to the Site and BranchOut Services and remove any material (including Content) from the Site or our servers, in the event that you breach these TOS. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we also reserve the right to terminate the Site, BranchOut Services or your access thereto at any time and for any reason.

After any termination by you or BranchOut: You understand and acknowledge that we will have no further obligation to provide the BranchOut Services. Upon termination, all licenses and other rights granted to you by these TOS will immediately cease. BranchOut is not liable to you or any third party for termination of the BranchOut Services or termination of your use of the BranchOut Services. UPON ANY TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION, ANY INFORMATION (INCLUDING USER SUBMISSIONS) THAT YOU HAVE SUBMITTED ON THE SITE OR THAT WHICH IS RELATED TO YOUR ACCOUNT MAY NO LONGER BE ACCESSED BY YOU. Furthermore, BranchOut will have no obligation to maintain any information stored in our database related to your account or to forward any information to you or any third party.

Any suspension, termination or cancellation will not affect your obligations to BranchOut under these TOS (including but not limited to ownership, indemnification and limitation of liability), which by their sense and context are intended to survive such suspension, termination or cancellation.

PAYMENT

Fees. If you purchase any services that we offer for a fee, including without limitation any premium User services, enterprise services, job listings or CareerConnect (as defined below), either on a one-time or subscription basis (collectively, "Paid Services"), you agree to pay all fees and charges specified when you signed up for the Services and any part thereof. All fees are exclusive of applicable taxes (e.g., sales, use, or value-added tax), unless otherwise stated, and you are solely responsible for the payment of any such taxes that may be imposed on your use of the Services. "CareerConnect" means BranchOut's Facebook application that allows Users to post jobs on their Facebook page.

Credit Card Authorization. You may be asked to provide BranchOut with a credit card number from a card issuer that we accept in order to activate and/or pay for any fees related to Paid Services. You agree that any credit card and related billing and payment information that you provide may be shared by BranchOut with companies, such as payment processors and/or credit agencies, solely for the purposes of checking credit, effecting payment to BranchOut and servicing your account. BranchOut may seek pre-authorization of your credit card account prior to a purchase to verify the credit card is valid and/or has the necessary funds or credit available to cover your purchase. These pre-authorizations will reduce your available balance by the authorization amount until it is released or reconciled with the actual charge. Please contact your card issuer if you have additional questions regarding when an authorization amount will be removed from your statement.

Payment Method. BranchOut will charge the subscription fee and any other additional fees you authorize to the charge or credit card account provided by you. By authorizing BranchOut to charge a credit card for the fees associated with your subscription, you are authorizing BranchOut to automatically continue charging that card (or any replacement card if the original card is renewed, lost, stolen, or changed for any reason by the card issuer, and the issuer informs BranchOut of the new replacement card account) for all fees or charges associated with your subscription including any renewal fees as described below. You authorize the card issuer to pay any amounts described herein and authorize BranchOut, or any other company that acts as a billing agent for BranchOut, to continue to attempt to charge all sums described herein to your credit card account until such amounts are paid in full. You agree to provide BranchOut updated information on your credit card upon BranchOut's request and any time the information earlier provided is no longer valid. If payment is not received by BranchOut from your credit card issuer or its agents, you agree to pay all amounts due upon demand by BranchOut.

Free Trial Period. BranchOut may offer you a one-time free trial period during which you can try out the Paid Services for free ("Free Trial Period"). If you are participating in a Free Trial Period, you must cancel the Paid Services by the end of the trial period to avoid incurring any charges. If you do not cancel the Paid Services before the Free Trial Period expires, your account will automatically be converted into a paid subscription at the end of the Free Trial Period, then you authorize us to charge your credit card the applicable fees as indicated at the time you signed up for the Paid Services. During the Free Trial Period, you agree that BranchOut will have the right (subject to applicable local law) to send you communications, notices and news about the Paid Services to your email address you may have provided. Local law may allow you to revoke your consent to receiving these communications at any time during the Free Trial Period. BranchOut reserves the right to modify, cancel and/or limit this Free Trial Period offer at any time.

Cancellation of Paid Services You may cancel any Paid Services that are Facebook applications ("Paid Apps"), including without limitation, a CareerConnect, at any time by deleting the application from within your Facebook settings. If you cancel your account in this manner, all Content you have submitted to us may be deleted and shall not be recovered by BranchOut. If you delete any Paid Apps such services shall be cancelled and, after you pay for any accrued by unpaid services, you will not receive any future billings. For other Paid Services, you may cancel your account by contacting customer care at contact@branchout.com and you will be provided with instructions. All fees and charges are nonrefundable and there are no refunds or credits for partially used periods or for unused services.

Automatic Renewal of Subscription. When you sign up online for the Paid Services, your monthly or annual subscription will be set to automatically renew upon its expiration, depending on the option you select. This means that unless you cancel your account or change its renewal settings prior to its expiration, your account will automatically renew for another month or year, as applicable. At the time of renewal, we will charge your credit card the then-current fees to renew the Paid Services. We may notify you by email to your email address that your account is about to renew and remind you that your credit card will be billed the indicated Paid Services fees on the renewal date.

Changes in Price. BranchOut may at any time, upon notice required by applicable law, change the price of the Paid Services or any part thereof, or institute new charges or fees. Price changes and institution of new charges implemented during your subscription term will apply to subsequent subscription terms and to all new subscribers after the effective date of the change. If you do not agree to any such price changes, then you must cancel your account and stop using the Paid Services. Your continued use of the Paid Services after the effective date of any such change shall constitute your acceptance of such change.

INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold BranchOut, its officers, directors, employees and agents, harmless from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorney's fees and costs, arising out of or in any way connected with (i) your access to or use of the Site, BranchOut Services, BranchOut Materials and Content; (ii) your violation of the TOS; or (iii) your violation of any third party right, including without limitation any intellectual property right, publicity, confidentiality, property or privacy right.

YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT:

YOUR USE OF THE BRANCHOUT SERVICE, SITE, MATERIALS AND USER CONTENT IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. THE BRANCHOUT SERVICE, SITE, BRANCHOUT MATERIALS AND USER CONTENT AND ALL MATERIALS, INFORMATION, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES INCLUDED THEREIN, ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. BRANCHOUT EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, RELATING TO THE BRANCHOUT SERVICE, SITE, BRANCHOUT MATERIALS AND USER CONTENT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

BRANCHOUT MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT (i) THE SITE OR BRANCHOUT SERVICES WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, (ii) THE SITE AND BRANCHOUT SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, (iii) THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF THE SITE OR BRANCHOUT SERVICES WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE, (iv) THE QUALITY OF ANY PRODUCTS, SERVICES, INFORMATION, OR OTHER MATERIAL PURCHASED OR OBTAINED BY YOU THROUGH THE SITE AND BRANCHOUT SERVICES WILL MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS, AND (V) ANY ERRORS IN ANY SOFTWARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE OR BRANCHOUT SERVICES WILL BE CORRECTED.

ANY DOWNLOADING OR USE OF ANY CONTENT OR MATERIAL VIA THE BRANCHOUT SERVICES IS DONE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK AND YOU WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM OR LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM THE DOWNLOAD OF ANY SUCH CONTENT OR MATERIAL.

NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM BRANCHOUT OR THROUGH OR FROM THE SITE OR BRANCHOUT SERVICES SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THE TOS.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT BRANCHOUT SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF THE SITE, SERVICES, CONTENT AND USER SUBMISSIONS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF BRANCHOUT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE BRANCHOUT SERVICE; (ii) THE COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS AND SERVICES RESULTING FROM ANY GOODS, DATA, INFORMATION OR SERVICES PURCHASED OR OBTAINED OR MESSAGES RECEIVED OR TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO THROUGH OR FROM THE SERVICE; (iii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iv) STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE SERVICE; OR (v) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE SERVICE. IN NO EVENT WILL BRANCHOUT'S CUMULATIVE LIABILITY TO YOU EXCEED FIVE TIMES THE MOST RECENT MONTHLY FEE THAT YOU PAID FOR A PAID SERVICE, IF ANY, OR US $100, WHICHEVER AMOUNT IS GREATER.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The TOS constitutes the entire agreement between you and BranchOut and governs your use of the Services, superseding any prior agreements between you and BranchOut. You also may be subject to additional terms and conditions that may apply when you use affiliate or other BranchOut Services, third-party Content or third-party software. You will not assign the TOS or assign any rights or delegate any obligations hereunder, in whole or in part, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, without the prior written consent of BranchOut. Any purported assignment or delegation by you without the appropriate prior written consent of BranchOut will be null and void. BranchOut may assign the TOS or any rights hereunder without your consent. The TOS and the relationship between you and BranchOut shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to its conflict of law provisions. You and BranchOut agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located within the county of San Francisco, California. The failure of BranchOut to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the TOS shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of the TOS is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties' intentions as reflected in the provision, and the other provisions of the TOS remain in full force and effect. You agree that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to use of the Services or the TOS must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose or be forever barred. The section titles in the TOS are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect.

VIOLATIONS AND COMMENTS

Please report any violations of the TOS or make any comments by emailing us at contact@branchout.com. You agree, however, that: (i) by submitting unsolicited ideas to BranchOut or any of its employees or representatives, you automatically forfeit your right to any intellectual property rights in these ideas; and (ii) unsolicited ideas submitted to BranchOut or any of its employees or representatives automatically become the property of BranchOut. You hereby assign and agree to assign all rights, title and interest you have in such comments and ideas to BranchOut together with all intellectual property rights therein.

CONTACTING BRANCHOUT

If you have any questions about the TOS, please contact us at contact us.