Terms of Service

The Unmuted Community

Effective Date: January 1, 2025
Last Updated: January 1, 2025

1. Agreement and Community Overview

1.1 Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account or participating in The Unmuted Community ("Community"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our community platform.

1.2 Community Purpose

The Unmuted Community is a digital gathering space designed to empower Black and brown communities, creators, entrepreneurs, and allies through meaningful connections, collaborative discussions, and shared experiences. We foster an inclusive environment that amplifies diverse voices and promotes positive social impact.

1.3 Community Values

Our community is built on the principles of:

Respect: Treating all members with dignity and courtesy
Authenticity: Encouraging genuine interaction and honest dialogue
Empowerment: Supporting member growth and success
Connection: Building meaningful relationships and networks
Privacy: Protecting member information and personal boundaries

2. Membership and Eligibility

2.1 Age Requirements

You must be at least 16 years old to join The Unmuted Community
Members under 18 require parental or guardian consent
Age verification may be required for certain community features or events

2.2 Account Registration

Provide accurate, complete, and current information during registration
Choose a username that reflects our community values and guidelines
Maintain one primary account per person
Keep your login credentials secure and confidential

2.3 Member Verification

Certain community features may require identity verification
Verified status is available for community leaders, professionals, and public figures
False information or impersonation may result in account termination

2.4 Community Access

Membership is free and open to qualifying individuals
We reserve the right to decline membership applications
Special access tiers may be available for specific community segments

3. Community Guidelines and Conduct

3.1 Community Standards

All members must:

Treat fellow community members with respect and dignity
Engage in constructive, thoughtful dialogue
Respect diverse perspectives and lived experiences
Contribute positively to community discussions and initiatives
Follow all applicable laws and regulations

3.2 Prohibited Conduct

Members may not:

Harassment or Discrimination: Engage in any form of harassment, bullying, or discriminatory behavior based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or other protected characteristics
Hate Speech: Post content that promotes hate, violence, or harm against individuals or groups
Spam or Self-Promotion: Excessively promote personal businesses, products, or services without contributing to community discussions
Misinformation: Deliberately spread false or misleading information
Privacy Violations: Share personal information of other members without consent
Impersonation: Pretend to be someone else or create fake accounts
Illegal Activities: Engage in or promote illegal activities

3.3 Content Guidelines

Community content must:

Be relevant to community discussions and interests
Respect intellectual property rights and fair use principles
Be appropriate for a diverse, professional community environment
Comply with platform content policies and community standards

3.4 Professional Conduct

When engaging in professional networking or business discussions:

Disclose conflicts of interest or business relationships
Respect professional boundaries and ethics
Provide honest recommendations and testimonials
Avoid exploitative or predatory behavior

4. Community Features and Usage

4.1 Forums and Discussions

Public Forums: Open to all community members for general discussion
Special Interest Groups: Focused discussions on specific topics or industries
Private Groups: Invitation-only groups with additional privacy protections
Moderated Discussions: Some forums have dedicated moderators to facilitate conversation

4.2 Member Profiles and Networking

Create a profile that accurately represents you and your interests
Connect with other members through our networking features
Share professional updates, achievements, and community contributions
Respect member privacy settings and connection preferences

4.3 Events and Meetups

Virtual Events: Online workshops, webinars, and community meetings
Local Meetups: In-person gatherings organized by community members
Professional Development: Career-focused events and educational opportunities
Social Activities: Community building and networking events

4.4 Resource Sharing

Share articles, tools, and resources relevant to community interests
Contribute to community knowledge base and best practices
Participate in collaborative projects and initiatives
Respect copyright and attribution requirements for shared content

5. Content Ownership and Intellectual Property

5.1 Your Content Rights

You retain ownership of content you create and post in the community
You grant the community a license to display and distribute your content within the platform
You may delete your content at any time, subject to technical limitations
You are responsible for ensuring you have rights to all content you share

5.2 Community Content

Content shared by other members belongs to those respective members
Do not copy, redistribute, or use others' content without permission
Respect copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property rights
Report suspected intellectual property violations to community moderators

5.3 Community Resources

Community-generated resources and collaborative content may be shared freely within the community
Participation in community projects may involve shared ownership of resulting materials
Commercial use of community resources requires explicit permission

6. Community Moderation and Enforcement

6.1 Moderation Approach

Community is moderated by trained volunteers and staff
Both automated systems and human review are used for content moderation
Moderation decisions aim to maintain community safety and standards
Appeals process available for moderation decisions

6.2 Reporting Mechanisms

Members can report inappropriate content or behavior
Anonymous reporting options available for sensitive situations
Priority response for reports involving safety or harassment
Regular updates provided to reporting members when appropriate

6.3 Enforcement Actions

Violations may result in:

Warning: Notification about guideline violations with opportunity to correct
Content Removal: Removal of specific posts or content that violate guidelines
Temporary Suspension: Temporary restriction of community access
Account Termination: Permanent removal from the community for severe or repeated violations
Legal Action: For illegal activities or serious safety threats

6.4 Appeals Process

Members may appeal moderation decisions
Appeals reviewed by community leadership team
Additional evidence and context may be considered
Final decisions communicated within 7 business days

7. Privacy and Data Protection

7.1 Privacy Policy Integration

Our Community Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms
Community-specific privacy protections apply to member interactions
Members control visibility of their profile information and activity
Private messages and personal information are protected

7.2 Data Sharing and Visibility

Member profiles and public activity are visible to other community members
Private groups and messages remain confidential within designated audiences
Members may adjust privacy settings to control information sharing
No personal information is sold to third parties

7.3 Community Safety

Information may be shared with law enforcement when required by law
Safety investigations may involve review of private communications
Members will be notified of data sharing unless prohibited by law

8. Events and External Activities

8.1 Community Events

Events organized through the platform are subject to these Terms
Additional event-specific terms may apply
Members participate in events at their own risk
Community standards apply to all event interactions

8.2 External Partnerships

Community may partner with external organizations for events and opportunities
Partnership opportunities will be clearly disclosed to members
Members may opt out of partnership communications
Partner organizations must respect community privacy standards

8.3 Member-Organized Activities

Members may organize their own meetups and activities
Community platform may be used to promote member events
Community is not responsible for member-organized activities
Community standards apply to promotion and discussion of external events

9. Commercial Activities and Fundraising

9.1 Business Networking

Professional networking and business connections are encouraged
Members may share professional opportunities and job postings
Business discussions must provide value to the broader community
No excessive self-promotion or spam

9.2 Fundraising and Crowdfunding

Community members may share relevant fundraising campaigns
Fundraising posts must be transparent about purpose and use of funds
Community does not endorse or guarantee any fundraising campaigns
Members participate in fundraising at their own discretion and risk

9.3 Commercial Restrictions

No direct sales or commercial transactions within community platform
Affiliate marketing and MLM schemes are prohibited
Professional services may be offered through appropriate channels
Community reserves right to remove commercial content that violates guidelines

10. Technical Aspects and Platform Use

10.1 Platform Availability

Community platform provided "as is" without guarantees of availability
Scheduled maintenance and updates may cause temporary interruptions
Technical issues should be reported through community support channels
Mobile and desktop access provided where technically feasible

10.2 User Responsibilities

Members responsible for their own internet connectivity and devices
Keep login credentials secure and report unauthorized access
Do not attempt to compromise platform security or access restricted areas
Report technical bugs and security vulnerabilities promptly

10.3 Data and Backups

Members responsible for backing up their own content and data
Community maintains backups for platform stability, not member convenience
Deleted content may not be recoverable after certain time periods
Data export tools available for members who wish to leave the community

11. Liability and Disclaimers

11.1 Community Disclaimers

THE COMMUNITY PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. WE DISCLAIM WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

11.2 Member Interactions

The community facilitates connections but is not responsible for member relationships
Members interact at their own risk and discretion
Community does not verify accuracy of member profiles or claims
Disputes between members should be resolved directly between parties

11.3 External Content and Links

Members may share links to external content and websites
Community is not responsible for external content or websites
Members access external links at their own risk
External content must comply with community guidelines

11.4 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OUR LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED $100 FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING FROM COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.

12. Termination and Account Management

12.1 Voluntary Termination

Members may delete their accounts at any time
Account deletion removes profile and posts from public view
Some information may be retained for legal and safety purposes
Re-joining after account deletion requires new registration

12.2 Involuntary Termination

Accounts may be terminated for violations of these Terms
Community reserves right to terminate accounts for safety reasons
Terminated members may not create new accounts without permission
Appeals process available for termination decisions

12.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

Access to community platform immediately ends
Public content may remain visible for community continuity
Private messages and personal information are protected
Member connections and relationships are preserved where appropriate

13. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

13.1 Community Dispute Resolution

Disputes between members should first be addressed directly
Community moderators available to assist with dispute mediation
Escalation process available for unresolved community conflicts
Professional mediation services may be recommended for serious disputes

13.2 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of law principles.

13.3 Legal Disputes

For legal disputes with the Community platform, informal resolution encouraged
Small claims court available for disputes under jurisdictional limits
Arbitration may be required for larger disputes
Class action waiver applies to platform-related disputes

14. Changes and Updates

14.1 Terms Updates

These Terms may be updated to reflect community growth and changes
Material changes will be communicated to members via email and platform notices
Continued participation indicates acceptance of updated Terms
Members may request clarification of changes through support channels

14.2 Community Input

Member feedback welcomed on Terms and community policies
Regular community surveys to gather input on platform direction
Community advisory board may be established for major policy decisions
Transparency reports provided on community moderation and enforcement

15. Support and Contact Information

15.1 Community Support

General Support: [email protected]
Technical Issues: https://workbench.unmutedco.com
Community Guidelines Questions: [email protected]
Moderation Appeals: [email protected]

15.2 Emergency Contact

Safety Concerns: [email protected]
Harassment Reports: [email protected]
Legal Issues: [email protected]
Privacy Questions: [email protected]

15.3 Community Leadership

Community Manager: Available through platform messaging
Advisory Board: Contact information available to members
Moderator Team: Accessible through community reporting tools

16. Acknowledgments and Community Commitment

16.1 Member Agreement

By participating in The Unmuted Community, you acknowledge:

Understanding of these Terms and commitment to follow them
Respect for community values and fellow members
Responsibility for your own community participation and interactions
Agreement to contribute positively to community growth and success

16.2 Community Commitment

The Unmuted Community commits to:

Maintaining a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment
Transparent communication about platform changes and policies
Fair and consistent enforcement of community guidelines
Continuous improvement based on member feedback and needs

The Unmuted Community exists to connect, empower, and amplify diverse voices in a safe and supportive environment. These Terms reflect our commitment to maintaining a thriving community that serves all members while upholding our shared values of respect, authenticity, and empowerment.

Terms Version: Community 2025.1
Community Guidelines: Available at community platform
Next Review: July 1, 2025

Community Motto: Connected • Empowered • Authentic • United