1. Introduction
a. Purpose and scope of the global-collaboration.eu platform:
The global-collaboration.eu platform (hereinafter referred to as the "Platform") aims to provide a space for individuals, organizations, and institutions across Europe to connect, share ideas, and collaborate on projects related to various fields, including but not limited to technology, education, culture, and the environment. The Platform is designed to foster the exchange of knowledge, resources, and expertise, while promoting innovation and cooperation among its users.
By accessing, browsing, or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by the Terms of Use (hereinafter referred to as the "Terms") outlined in this document. These Terms govern your access and use of the Platform and its services, as well as any content you contribute to the Platform.
b. Definition of users and their roles:
For the purposes of these Terms, "users" are defined as any individual, organization, or institution that accesses or uses the Platform or its services, including registered members and visitors. Users may take on various roles, such as project initiators, collaborators, or advisers, based on their interests, expertise, and involvement in the Platform. Users are expected to act responsibly and respectfully in their interactions with other users and in their contributions to the Platform.
c. Acceptance of the Terms of Use:
By accessing, browsing, or using the Platform, 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 discontinue your use of the Platform immediately. The Platform reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time, and your continued use of the Platform after such modifications indicates your acceptance of the revised Terms. It is your responsibility to review these Terms periodically to ensure you remain aware of any changes.
By using the Platform, you also acknowledge that you are at least the age of majority in your jurisdiction or have obtained the consent of a parent or legal guardian to use the Platform if you are a minor. The Platform does not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of majority without the appropriate consent.
2. User-generated content
a. Guidelines for acceptable topics and discussions:
The Platform encourages the exchange of ideas and collaboration on various subjects, including technology, education, culture, and the environment. Users are expected to contribute content that is relevant, constructive, and respectful of others. When participating in discussions, users should strive to maintain a professional and courteous tone, and avoid engaging in personal attacks, offensive language, or inappropriate behavior.
b. Prohibited content and behaviors:
To maintain a positive and inclusive environment on the Platform, the following types of content and behaviors are strictly prohibited:
- Content that is defamatory, offensive, harassing, threatening, or discriminatory towards other users or any individual, group, or organization.
- Content that promotes or encourages illegal activities, violence, or self-harm.
- Sharing or distributing copyrighted materials without the proper authorization from the copyright owner.
- Sharing or distributing explicit, pornographic, or adult-themed content.
- Impersonating another user, individual, or organization, or misrepresenting your identity or affiliation with a person or entity.
- Sharing or distributing personal information about other users or individuals without their consent, including contact information, email addresses, or other sensitive information.
- Using the Platform for commercial purposes, such as advertising, promoting, or selling products or services, without prior authorization from the Platform administrators.
- Spamming or posting repetitive or irrelevant content that disrupts the normal flow of discussions and collaboration.
c. Responsibility for content posted by users:
Users are solely responsible for any content they contribute to the Platform, including text, images, videos, links, and other materials. By posting content on the Platform, users represent and warrant that they have the necessary rights, permissions, and authorizations to do so, and that their content does not infringe on the rights of any third party, including copyright, trademark, or privacy rights.
The Platform does not pre-screen or approve user-generated content and is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content posted by users. The Platform reserves the right, but is not obligated, to monitor, remove, or edit any content at its sole discretion, without notice, if it deems the content to be in violation of these Terms or if it is otherwise objectionable.
3. Intellectual property rights
a. Ownership of user-generated content:
Users retain ownership of the content they contribute to the Platform, including any intellectual property rights associated with that content. By posting content on the Platform, users do not grant or transfer any ownership rights to the Platform or any other users, except as explicitly stated in these Terms.
b. Granting of licenses to the Platform:
By submitting, posting, or displaying content on the Platform, users grant the Platform a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, display, and perform the content in connection with the operation, promotion, and improvement of the Platform and its services. This license will continue even if the user ceases to use the Platform or removes their content from the Platform.
Users also grant other users of the Platform a non-exclusive license to access, view, and interact with their content, subject to these Terms.
c. Respecting third-party rights:
Users must respect the intellectual property rights of others when contributing content to the Platform. Users are responsible for ensuring that their content does not infringe on any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights of any third party. Users must obtain the necessary permissions and authorizations before using or sharing any copyrighted materials, including images, text, audio, or video, on the Platform.
If you believe that any content on the Platform infringes on your intellectual property rights, please contact the Platform administrators with the necessary information, including a detailed description of the alleged infringement, the location of the content on the Platform, and your contact information. The Platform will investigate and take appropriate action to address the issue, which may include removing the content or disabling access to it, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
4. Limitations of liability
a. No guarantees on the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of information:
The Platform provides a space for users to share and exchange ideas, knowledge, and resources. However, the Platform cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, content, or materials contributed by users or available on the Platform. Users are responsible for evaluating the reliability and suitability of any content or information they access or use on the Platform and should exercise their judgment and discretion when relying on such information.
b. Liability for user-generated content:
Users are solely responsible for any content they contribute to the Platform and assume all risks associated with their content, including any reliance on its accuracy, completeness, or usefulness by others. The Platform, its administrators, and its affiliates are not responsible for and expressly disclaim any liability arising from or related to the use of or reliance on any content posted by users.
c. Disclaimer for third-party websites and resources:
The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or resources that are not owned or controlled by the Platform. These links are provided for users' convenience and do not imply any endorsement or approval by the Platform. The Platform is not responsible for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or resources, and users access and use these sites at their own risk. Users are encouraged to review the terms and conditions and privacy policies of any third-party websites or resources they visit.
By using the Platform, users agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Platform, its administrators, and its affiliates from and against any claims, damages, losses, or expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising from or related to their use of the Platform, their content, or their violation of these Terms or any applicable laws and regulations.
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5. Privacy policy
a. Information collection and usage:
The Platform is committed to protecting the privacy of its users. When users access and use the Platform, certain information may be collected, including personal information provided during registration, such as name, email address, and location, as well as non-personal information, such as IP address, browser type, and usage data. This information is collected to enhance the user experience, provide personalized content and recommendations, and improve the overall functionality and performance of the Platform.
By using the Platform, users consent to the collection, use, and storage of their personal information in accordance with the Platform's Privacy Policy.
b. Data protection and security measures:
The Platform employs a variety of security measures to protect the personal information of its users, including encryption, secure servers, and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and the Platform cannot guarantee the absolute security of users' personal information. Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their account password and any other login credentials.
c. Users' rights and control over their personal data:
Users have the right to access, correct, or delete their personal information held by the Platform, subject to certain limitations as required by law. Users can update their personal information by logging into their account and modifying their profile settings. If a user wishes to delete their account, they can contact the Platform administrators with their request, and the account and any associated personal information will be deleted, except for any data required to be retained for legal or regulatory purposes.
Users also have the right to object to or restrict the processing of their personal information for certain purposes, such as direct marketing or research. If users have any concerns about how their personal information is being used, they should contact the Platform administrators to discuss their options and rights.
For more information on how the Platform collects, uses, and protects users' personal information, please refer to the Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.
d. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
i. Purpose and benefits of using cookies:
The Platform may use cookies, which are small text files stored on users' devices, and other tracking technologies (such as web beacons, pixels, and local storage) to enhance user experience, analyze usage patterns, and improve the overall quality of the Platform's services. Cookies enable the Platform to recognize users' devices and remember their preferences, allowing for a more personalized experience, faster page loading times, and improved navigation. Additionally, cookies help the Platform to monitor and analyze user behavior on the Platform, which can be used to optimize the Platform's services, detect and resolve technical issues, and prevent fraud or misuse.
ii. Managing cookie preferences:
Users can manage their cookie preferences through their browser settings. Most browsers allow users to block or delete cookies, but doing so may limit the functionality or performance of the Platform. By using the Platform with cookies enabled, users consent to the Platform's use of cookies as described in this section. Users can withdraw their consent at any time by disabling cookies in their browser settings, but they should be aware that certain features of the Platform may not function properly without cookies.
iii. Third-party cookies and opt-out options:
The Platform may also use third-party cookies and tracking technologies, such as those provided by analytics or advertising partners, to gather information about users' activities on the Platform and other websites over time. This information can be used to serve targeted advertisements or content based on users' interests, or to measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. Users can opt-out of receiving targeted advertisements by visiting the websites of industry organizations that offer opt-out tools, such as the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) or the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA), or by adjusting their browser settings to block third-party cookies and tracking technologies. However, opting out of targeted advertisements may not prevent users from seeing all advertisements, and they may still receive generic, non-targeted advertisements.
6. Access and use of the website
a. Registration requirements:
In order to access certain features and services on the Platform, users may be required to create an account by providing a valid email address, a username, and a password. Users are responsible for providing accurate, current, and complete information during the registration process and for updating their account information as necessary. The Platform reserves the right to refuse registration or to terminate a user's account if it has reason to believe that the information provided is inaccurate, incomplete, or fraudulent.
b. Account security and password confidentiality:
Users are responsible for maintaining the security and confidentiality of their account login credentials, including their username and password. Users must not share their login credentials with anyone else and should immediately notify the Platform administrators if they suspect any unauthorized access or use of their account. The Platform is not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from a user's failure to safeguard their login credentials or from unauthorized access to their account.
c. Restrictions on use:
Users must use the Platform and its services in accordance with these Terms and any applicable laws and regulations. Users are prohibited from using the Platform for any unlawful, fraudulent, or harmful purposes, or in any way that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair the Platform or interfere with the use and enjoyment of the Platform by others. Users must not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Platform or its services, other users' accounts, or any systems or networks connected to the Platform, whether through hacking, password mining, or any other means.
Users must not use any automated systems, including but not limited to robots, spiders, or scrapers, to access, collect, or harvest data from the Platform without the express written permission of the Platform administrators. Users must not engage in any activity that imposes an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on the Platform's infrastructure or that could disrupt the normal functioning of the Platform.
By accessing and using the Platform, users agree to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including those related to privacy, data protection, intellectual property, and export controls. Users must not use the Platform in any way that could expose the Platform, its administrators, or its affiliates to any legal liability or that could harm the Platform's reputation or goodwill.
7. Termination and suspension of accounts
a. User-initiated termination:
Users may choose to terminate their account with the Platform at any time by contacting the Platform administrators with a request for account deletion. Upon receiving the request, the Platform will delete the user's account and any associated personal information, except for any data required to be retained for legal or regulatory purposes. Please note that any user-generated content contributed to the Platform may remain accessible and visible to other users even after account deletion unless the user specifically requests the removal of their content.
b. Platform-initiated termination or suspension:
The Platform reserves the right to terminate or suspend a user's account, without notice or liability, if it determines, at its sole discretion, that the user has violated these Terms, any applicable laws or regulations, or the rights of other users or third parties. The Platform also reserves the right to terminate or suspend a user's account if it deems such action necessary to protect the safety, security, or integrity of the Platform and its services.
In the event of account termination or suspension, the user's right to access and use the Platform and its services will be immediately revoked, and any content or information associated with their account may be removed or disabled.
c. Consequences of termination:
Termination of a user's account, whether initiated by the user or the Platform, will result in the permanent loss of access to the account and any associated content or information. Users are advised to back up any important data or content before requesting account deletion or engaging in any activities that could result in account termination.
The Platform is not liable for any loss or damage resulting from the termination or suspension of a user's account, whether initiated by the user or the Platform. Users agree to indemnify and hold the Platform, its administrators, and its affiliates harmless from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from or related to the termination or suspension of their account, including any claims related to the loss of access to their content or information.
8. Dispute resolution
a. Informal resolution:
If a dispute arises between a user and the Platform, or between users, the parties are encouraged to first attempt to resolve the matter informally through communication and negotiation. Users may contact the Platform administrators for assistance in facilitating the resolution of disputes with other users or addressing any concerns related to the Platform and its services.
b. Formal dispute resolution:
In the event that an informal resolution cannot be reached, the parties agree to submit any disputes arising from or related to the use of the Platform or these Terms to binding arbitration, in accordance with the rules and procedures of a recognized arbitration body to be mutually agreed upon by the parties. The arbitration shall be conducted in the English language and shall take place in a location to be mutually agreed upon by the parties. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
c. Governing law and jurisdiction:
These Terms and any disputes arising from or related to the use of the Platform or its services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the European Union, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. By using the Platform, users agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located within the European Union to resolve any legal matters arising from or related to these Terms or the use of the Platform.
d. Limitation on legal actions:
Users agree that any claim or cause of action arising from or related to the use of the Platform or these Terms must be filed within one (1) year after the cause of action arose, or it shall be permanently barred, regardless of any statute or law to the contrary.
e. Indemnification:
Users agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Platform, its administrators, and its affiliates from and against any claims, damages, losses, or expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising from or related to their use of the Platform, their content, or their violation of these Terms or any applicable laws and regulations.
9. Modification of the Platform and its services
a. Updates and improvements:
The Platform is committed to continuously improving its services and providing a better user experience. As such, the Platform may update, modify, or discontinue any features, functionalities, or services at any time without prior notice or liability to users. Users acknowledge and agree that the Platform has no obligation to maintain, support, or provide updates for any specific feature, functionality, or service.
b. Changes to Terms of Use:
The Platform reserves the right to update or modify these Terms at any time, at its sole discretion. Any changes to these Terms will be posted on the Platform's website, and users are responsible for regularly reviewing these Terms to stay informed of any updates or changes. Users' continued access to or use of the Platform following the posting of any changes to these Terms constitutes acceptance of those changes. If users do not agree to the updated or modified Terms, they must stop accessing and using the Platform immediately.
c. User feedback and suggestions:
The Platform values the input and feedback of its users and encourages them to share their suggestions and ideas for improving the Platform and its services. By submitting any feedback, suggestions, or ideas to the Platform, users grant the Platform a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, display, and perform the submitted material in connection with the operation, promotion, and improvement of the Platform and its services. Users also waive any moral rights or claims of attribution they may have in relation to the submitted material.
D. Communication about Platform updates:
The Platform may use the email address provided by users during registration to communicate important information about updates, modifications, or changes to the Platform and its services. Users are responsible for keeping their email address up-to-date and for regularly checking their email for such communications from the Platform.
10. Prohibited activities and content
a. General guidelines:
Users are expected to maintain a respectful and professional environment on the Platform. Users must not engage in any activities or contribute any content that violates these Terms, any applicable laws or regulations, or the rights of other users or third parties. The Platform reserves the right to remove or disable access to any content that it deems inappropriate, harmful, or in violation of these Terms, at its sole discretion.
b. Prohibited activities:
Users are strictly prohibited from engaging in any of the following activities on the Platform:
- Sharing or distributing any content that is illegal, offensive, harassing, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, violent, or hateful, or that promotes or incites discrimination, bigotry, racism, or hatred against any individual or group.
- Violating any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights of others, or using the Platform to share or distribute any copyrighted materials without the necessary permissions and authorizations.
- Impersonating any person or entity, or falsely stating or misrepresenting your affiliation with a person or entity, or using another person's account or login credentials without their permission.
- Using the Platform for any fraudulent, malicious, or harmful purposes, or in any way that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair the Platform or interfere with the use and enjoyment of the Platform by others.
- Attempting to gain unauthorized access to the Platform, other users' accounts, or any systems or networks connected to the Platform, or to probe, scan, or test the vulnerability of any system or network associated with the Platform.
- Using any automated systems, including robots, spiders, or scrapers, to access, collect, or harvest data from the Platform without the express written permission of the Platform administrators.
- Engaging in any activity that imposes an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on the Platform's infrastructure or that could disrupt the normal functioning of the Platform.
c. Reporting violations:
Users are encouraged to report any content or activities on the Platform that they believe to be in violation of these Terms, any applicable laws or regulations, or the rights of other users or third parties. Users can report violations by contacting the Platform administrators, providing a detailed description of the alleged violation, the location of the content or activity on the Platform, and their contact information. The Platform will investigate and take appropriate action to address the issue, which may include removing the content, disabling access to it, or terminating the responsible user's account, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
11. Disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability
a. Disclaimer of warranties:
The Platform and its services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis, without any express or implied warranties, including, but not limited to, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement, and those arising by statute or from a course of dealing or usage of trade. The Platform does not warrant that its services will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free from viruses or other harmful components, or that any defects will be corrected. The Platform does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content, information, or materials available through the Platform, and users access and use the Platform and its services at their own risk.
b. Limitation of liability:
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Platform, its administrators, and its affiliates shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including, but not limited to, loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from (i) users' access to or use of, or inability to access or use, the Platform or its services; (ii) any content, information, or materials obtained through the Platform; (iii) unauthorized access to or alteration of users' transmissions or data; (iv) any acts or omissions of other users or third parties; or (v) any other matter relating to the Platform or its services, whether based on warranty, contract, tort (including negligence), or any other legal theory.
In no event shall the Platform's total liability to users for all claims arising from or related to the use of the Platform or its services exceed the amount paid by the user, if any, for accessing or using the Platform during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the liability.
c. Exclusions and limitations:
Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion 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 users, and they may have additional rights under applicable laws. In such cases, the Platform's liability shall be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Users acknowledge and agree that the Platform has set its fees and entered into these Terms in reliance on the disclaimers, limitations, and exclusions of liability set forth herein, and that these provisions form an essential basis of the bargain between the parties.
12. Miscellaneous
a. Entire agreement:
These Terms, along with any additional terms and conditions or policies referenced herein or posted on the Platform's website, constitute the entire agreement between the user and the Platform with respect to the access and use of the Platform and its services, and supersede all prior or contemporaneous understandings, agreements, negotiations, representations, and warranties, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof.
b. Severability:
If any provision of these Terms is deemed invalid, void, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be deemed severable from the remaining provisions of these Terms and shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions, which shall remain in full force and effect.
c. No waiver:
No waiver of any term or condition of these Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or condition or a waiver of any other term or condition, and the Platform's failure to assert any right or provision under these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
d. Assignment:
Users may not assign or transfer their rights or obligations under these Terms, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Platform. The Platform may assign or transfer its rights and obligations under these Terms, in whole or in part, at its sole discretion, without restriction or notice. Subject to the foregoing, these Terms shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties, their successors, and permitted assigns.
e. Force majeure:
Neither party shall be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms if such failure or delay is due to causes beyond its reasonable control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, earthquakes, accidents, or strikes, provided that the affected party gives prompt written notice of such cause to the other party and uses its reasonable commercial efforts to resume performance as soon as possible.
f. Notices:
All notices, requests, and other communications under these Terms shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when received by the intended recipient, if sent by email to the email address provided by the user during registration or to the email address designated by the Platform for such communications. Users are responsible for keeping their email address up-to-date and for regularly checking their email for important communications from the Platform.