Terms of Use

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Chiswick News website (www.chiswicknews.co.uk) and related services operated by Chiswick News Ltd ("we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

2. Description of Service

Chiswick News is a local news publication serving the Chiswick community in West London. We provide:

• Local news articles and reporting
• Community event listings and calendar
• User comment and discussion features
• Newsletter and subscription services
• Business directory and advertising services
• Community engagement platforms

3. User Accounts and Registration

3.1 Account Creation

To access certain features of our service, you may be required to create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and promptly update your account information
• Maintain the security of your password and account
• Accept all responsibility for all activities under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

3.2 Account Verification

We may require verification of your account through email confirmation or other means. Unverified accounts may have limited access to certain features.

3.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or engage in harmful activity.

4. Acceptable Use

4.1 Permitted Uses

You may use our service for:

• Reading and sharing news articles
• Participating in community discussions
• Submitting news tips and story suggestions
• Subscribing to newsletters and updates
• Accessing local business and event information

4.2 Prohibited Uses

You agree NOT to use our service to:

• Post false, misleading, or defamatory content
• Harass, threaten, or intimidate other users
• Share copyrighted material without permission
• Distribute spam, malware, or malicious links
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Impersonate another person or organization
• Collect personal information from other users
• Interfere with the website's functionality or security
• Create multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions
• Post content that promotes violence, hatred, or discrimination

5. User-Generated Content

5.1 Your Content

When you submit content to our website (comments, articles, photos, etc.), you:

• Retain ownership of your original content
• Grant us a non-exclusive license to use, display, and distribute your content
• Represent that you have the right to share the content
• Acknowledge that content may be publicly visible
• Accept responsibility for the content you submit

5.2 Content Moderation

We reserve the right to:

• Review and moderate all user-submitted content
• Remove content that violates these Terms
• Edit content for clarity, length, or appropriateness
• Disable comments on articles at our discretion

5.3 Comment Policy

Comments on articles must be:

• Relevant to the article topic
• Respectful and civil in tone
• Free from personal attacks or harassment
• Compliant with UK laws regarding speech and publication
• Under 1,000 characters in length

6. Intellectual Property Rights

6.1 Our Content

All content on Chiswick News, including articles, images, logos, and website design, is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. This content is owned by Chiswick News Ltd or our licensors.

6.2 Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to:

• Access and view our content for personal use
• Share individual articles via social media (with attribution)
• Quote brief excerpts for commentary or review purposes

6.3 Restrictions

You may NOT:

• Reproduce, distribute, or republish our content without permission
• Use our content for commercial purposes
• Remove copyright notices or attribution
• Create derivative works based on our content
• Use automated tools to scrape our website

7. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection and use of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

Key points:

• We comply with UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018
• We collect only necessary information for our services
• You have rights regarding your personal data
• We use cookies to improve your experience
• We do not sell your personal information to third parties

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

We disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to:

• Warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose
• Warranties that the service will be uninterrupted or error-free
• Warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of content
• Warranties that the service will meet your specific requirements

9. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Chiswick News Ltd shall not be liable for:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages
• Loss of profits, data, or business opportunities
• Damages arising from user-generated content
• Technical failures or service interruptions
• Actions taken based on information from our website

Our total liability shall not exceed £100 or the amount you paid us in the last 12 months, whichever is less.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Chiswick News Ltd, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your use of our service
• Content you submit to our website
• Your violation of any third-party rights

11. Termination

11.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us or using account deletion features when available.

11.2 Termination by Us

We may terminate or suspend your access immediately, without prior notice, for:

• Violation of these Terms
• Harmful or illegal activity
• Extended periods of inactivity
• Technical or security reasons

11.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your right to use the service ceases immediately
• We may delete your account and associated data
• Provisions regarding liability and indemnification survive
• You remain responsible for any outstanding obligations

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of our service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

13. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of significant changes by:

• Posting updated Terms on our website
• Sending email notifications to registered users
• Displaying prominent notices on our homepage
• Updating the "Last Updated" date

Your continued use of our service after changes constitute acceptance of the new Terms.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that the Terms will otherwise remain in full force and effect.

15. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other legal notices published by us on the website, constitute the entire agreement between you and Chiswick News Ltd regarding your use of our service.

16. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Use, please contact us: