Terms of Use

Terms & Conditions for Use of Site 

In using this website you are deemed to have read and agreed to the following terms and conditions: 

1. DEFINITIONS 

This Terms & Conditions agreement ("Agreement") is between the Society for Corporate Governance and its affiliated entities, officers, employees and authorized agents (collectively, the "Society," "we" or "ours") and you, the person accessing this website, and your agents ("you" or "yours") for the use of this website (the "Site").  

2. OWNERSHIP OF SITE AND RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF CONTENT 

The Site is owned by the Society. You acknowledge that this Site may contain information, communications, software, photos, text, video, graphics, sounds, images and other material and services (collectively "Content"), which is generally provided by the Society or by licensors of the Society. You agree and acknowledge that, notwithstanding that the Society permits access to the Content, the Content or its use or the use of this Site is protected by copyrights, trademarks, and other proprietary rights (including intellectual property rights), that these rights are valid and protected in all media now existing or later developed, and that except as specifically provided in this Agreement, your use of the Content shall be governed and constrained by applicable copyright, trademark and other intellectual property laws. Modification or use of the Site and/or the Content for any commercial purpose is a violation of copyright and other proprietary rights owned by the Society and third parties. In addition to the Society's and its licensors' rights in individual elements of the Content, the Society owns the copyright in the selection, coordination, arrangement and enhancement of the Content. You may not modify, publish, transmit, participate in the transfer or sale of, reproduce, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display, incorporate into another website, or in any other way exploit the Site and/or any of the Content, in whole or in part, without the prior express written permission of the Society. 

3. ACCESS TO ADVANCED SERVICES AND TERMINATION OF ACCESS 

In order to access certain Content and to make use of the advanced personalization features of the Site, you may be required to register with a user name and a password of your choice.  If you register, you may be asked for your name, e-mail address, company name, work address, phone number, and other identifying information ("Personal Information”).  The Personal Information is linked directly to your registered user name and password chosen by the user and can only be retrieved by supplying the correct email address and password that is linked to that account. You are entirely responsible for maintaining the security and confidentiality of your account and password. Furthermore, you are entirely responsible for any and all activities and conduct, whether by you or anyone else, that are conducted through your account. You agree to notify the Society immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security. The Society will not be liable for any loss or damages of any kind that may arise as a result of you or someone else using your password or account, either with or without your knowledge. 

You acknowledge and agree that the Society may terminate your access privileges and remove and discard any Content without notice to you for any reason, including without limitation, if (i) the Society believes that you have violated any provision of this Agreement, and/or (ii) you have otherwise acted or failed to act in any manner that the Society deems objectionable. You agree that any termination of your access to the Site shall not result in any liability or other obligation of the Society to you or any third party in connection with such termination. 

4. PRIVACY POLICY 

We will take the steps set out in our Privacy Policy to endeavor to secure any personal data you provide to us. We will use your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and by continuing to use our Site you agree to such use. The Privacy Policy forms part of these Terms & Conditions. Our Privacy Policy may be viewed at societycorpgov.org. 

5. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES 

The use of this Site is solely at your own risk. The Site is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. The Society expressly disclaims all warranties of any kind with respect to the site, whether express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title and non-infringement. the Society makes no warranty that the site and/or any content therein will meet your requirements, or will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, current, accurate, complete or error-free or that the results that may be obtained by use of the site and/or any content therein will be accurate or reliable. You understand and acknowledge that your sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any defect in or dissatisfaction with the site is to cease using the site. 

6. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY 

You expressly understand and agree that the Society shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, including without limitation, damages for loss of profits, goodwill, use, data loss or other losses (even if the Society has been advised of the possibility of such damages) resulting from: (i) the use or inability to use the site, (ii) the cost of procurement of any substitute products and/or services resulting from any products, data, information or services obtained or which you were unable to obtain or transactions effected or failed to be effected, (iii) any link provided in connection with the site, or (iv) any matter otherwise related to your use of the site. 

7. YOUR CONDUCT ON THE SITE 

In the event that the Society permits you to access, upload, post, e-mail or otherwise transmit content, data, information or other materials (collectively, "User Content") for display on the Site or otherwise, you will be solely responsible for all such User Content that you upload, post, email or otherwise transmit using the Site. Likewise, you are responsible for complying with all third party rights with respect to all such User Content that appears on the Site and not to download, email or otherwise transmit such User Content in violation of such third party's rights. In connection with any User Content you may submit (including in any e-mail message or any chat board posting), you agree not to transmit, distribute, post, communicate or store information or other material on, to, or through the Site that: (i) is copyrighted, unless you are the copyright owner, (ii) infringes on any other intellectual property rights of others or on the privacy or publicity rights of others, (iii) reveals a trade secret, unless you own it, (iv) contains falsehoods or misrepresentations that could damage the Society or any third party, (v) is illegal or otherwise objectionable, (vi) is obscene, libelous, defamatory, threatening, harassing, abusive, hateful, sexually-explicit, embarrassing to any other person or entity as determined by the Society, or otherwise violates any applicable local, state, national or international law (collectively, "Prohibited Conduct"). Prohibited Conduct expressly includes any transmission to people or other entities on mailing lists that you do not have full rights to use. You agree and acknowledge that the Society is not responsible or liable to you or any other party or user of the Site for any Prohibited Conduct by you or any other party or user of the Site. 

Recognizing that those who perform an in-house corporate governance role need a venue to exchange candid opinions and seek advice on relevant – and sometimes sensitive – topics, the Society created an “In-House” Huddle reserved exclusively for our in-house members. Preserving the atmosphere of candor and trust is critically important to providing the Society’s in-house members with the confidence and comfort necessary to provide direct and useful feedback to each other without undue concern. Access to the posts on this board is restricted to in-house members only and should not be shared with anyone outside of the In-House Huddle membership (even those within the same organization). This includes forwarding emails, taking screen shots, printing or any other means of distribution.

You may not collect or store personal data of other users of the Site without the prior, written permission of such user(s). You may not directly or indirectly, intentionally disrupt or interfere with the Site in any manner that may adversely affect the Society or any user of the Site. You may not upload, post, email or otherwise transmit any material that contains software viruses or any other code, files or programs designed or known to disable, interrupt, or limit the functionality of any computer hardware, computer software, or telecommunications equipment or facilities. 

8. YOUR WARRANTIES 

By your use of the Site, you represent and warrant that you have all the rights necessary to receive, use, transmit and disclose all data that you use in any way with the Site. You further represent and warrant that you and your agents’ use of the Site and of any data input into or generated by the Site shall comply with all applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. You agree and acknowledge that you are solely responsible for any liabilities, fines, penalties or forfeitures occasioned by any such violations or lack of rights. 

9. DISCLAIMER OF CONTENT 

You understand and acknowledge that the Society assumes no responsibility to screen or review Content and/or User Content that is originated by parties other than the Society, and that the Society shall have the right, but not the obligation, in its sole discretion to review, refuse, monitor, edit or remove any Content and/or User Content that is available on the Site. The Society expressly disclaims all responsibility or liability to you or any other person or entity for the performance or non-performance of such Content and/or User Content review. You acknowledge and agree that you assume all risk associated with the use of any and all Content and/or User Content. 

10. YOUR SUBMISSIONS 

If you contact the Society with information including, without limitation, feedback data (e.g., questions, comments, suggestions or the like) regarding the Site, the Content or any item on the Site (collectively, "User Feedback"), the User Feedback shall be deemed to be non-confidential and the Society shall have no obligation of any kind with respect to the User Feedback. In addition, you agree and acknowledge that the Society shall be free to reproduce, use, disclose, display, exhibit, transmit, perform, create derivative works and distribute the User Feedback to others without limitation, and to authorize others to do the same. Further, the Society shall be free to use any ideas, concepts, know-how or techniques contained in the User Feedback for any purpose whatsoever, including, without limitation, developing, manufacturing and marketing products and other items incorporating the User Feedback. The Society shall not be liable or owe any compensation for the use or disclosure of the User Feedback. 

11. LINKS 

The Site may provide links to third party websites, or third parties may provide links to other websites. You acknowledge and agree that such links are provided for your convenience and do not reflect any endorsement by the Society with respect to the provider of such linked site or the quality, reliability or any other characteristic or feature of such linked site and the Society is not responsible in any manner (including without limitation with respect to any loss or injury you may suffer) for any matter associated with the linked site, including without limitation, the content provided on or through any such linked site or your reliance thereon. The Society makes no representations or warranties with respect to any linked site. Your use of any linked site is solely at your own risk. In addition, you should be aware that your use of any linked site is subject to the terms and conditions applicable to that site, including the privacy policies (or lack thereof) of such site. 

12. JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES 

Unless otherwise specified, the materials, information, products and services available on the Site are solely available in or applicable to the United States, its territories, possessions and protectorates. The Society makes no representation that materials or information in this Site, or the products and services available on the Site, are appropriate or available for use outside the United States. Those who choose to access the Site from outside the United States do so on their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws, if and to the extent local laws are applicable. 

13. INDEMNITY 

You agree to defend, indemnify and hold the Society, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents, harmless from and against any third party claim, action or demand ("Claim") and all liabilities and settlements related thereto, including without limitation, reasonable legal and accounting fees, resulting from, or alleged to result from, your use of the Site and/or its Content and/or User Content. The Society shall provide notice to you promptly of such Claim and shall reasonably cooperate with you, at your expense, in your defense of any such Claim. 

14. TRADE NAME INFORMATION 

Society for Corporate Governance and our logo are trade names and features of the Society. The Society uses these trade names to distinguish its goods and services from those of others. The Site may contain references to other entities' trademarks and service marks. Such references are for identification purposes only and are used with permission of their respective owners. The Society's features may not be used for any commercial use without the prior express written consent of the Society. You may not use the Society features in any way that would cause confusion, disparagement, unfair competition or in a manner that would appear to create some association with the Society or the Society's products or services. 

15. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICY 

The Society reserves the right to terminate this Agreement in appropriate circumstances if you infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third party. To file a notice of infringement with the Society, the requirements specified in Title II of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 must be fulfilled. The text of this statute can be found at the U.S. Copyright Office website. Please email us if you have concerns regarding infringement. 

16. MISCELLANEOUS 

You understand and agree that the Society may from time to time establish and revise practices and limitations concerning the Site and your use of the Site. You agree that the Society shall have no liability for the deletion or failure to store any messages and other communications or other Content or User Content maintained on the Site or transmitted using the Site. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Society and governs your use of the Site. You also may be subject to additional terms and conditions that may apply when you use third party content or Site available through the Site. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid by any court having competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. You and the Society and any of its affiliates, employees, contractors, officers, or directors agree that this Agreement and the relationship between you and the Society will be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without respect to its conflict of laws provisions and that venue with respect to any dispute between you and the Society will rest exclusively in the state and federal courts located in the State of New York. The failure of the Society to exercise or enforce any right or provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right or condition. You agree that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to the Site or this Agreement must be filed within one year after such claim or cause of action arose. The Society may provide notice to you by email or regular mail. 

The Site may also provide notice of changes to this Agreement from time to time by displaying notices to you on pages of the Site. 

The section titles of this Agreement are merely for convenience and will not have any effect on the substantive meaning of this Agreement. 

This Agreement was last updated on January 9, 2018.