socalTECH TERMS OF USE

Last Modified on March [5], 2012

PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY; THIS IS A BINDING CONTRACT.

Welcome to the socalTECH.com website (the “Site”).  This Terms of Use (this “ToU”) describes the terms and conditions applicable to your access and use of the Site and the services made available through or in connection with the Site (collectively, the “Service”).   This ToU sets forth the terms and conditions under which SOCALTECH LLC (“socalTECH,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) provides you access to the Site and the Service. 

socalTECH may amend this ToU at any time by posting the amended Terms of Use on the Site, and you agree that you will be bound by any changes to this ToU.  For your convenience, the date of last revision is included at the top of this page.  socalTECH may make changes to the Site and/or the Service at any time.  You understand that socalTECH may discontinue or restrict your use of the Site and/or Service for any reason or no reason with or without notice. 

Your use of the Site AND/OR THE SERVICE, or BY clicking “I ACCEPT” if presented with THIS TOU in a click-through format, signifies that you agree to THIS TOU and constitutes your binding acceptance of THIS TOU, including any modifications that socalTECH makes from time to time.

1. Privacy Policy.  By clicking “I ACCEPT” or using the Site or the Service, you represent that you have read and consent to our Privacy Policy in addition to this ToU.  socalTECH may revise the Privacy Policy at any time, and the new versions will be available on the Site.  If at any point you do not agree to any portion of the Privacy Policy, you must immediately stop using the Site and/or Service.

2. Requirements.  Before you can use the Service, you must agree to this ToU and the Privacy Policy, which you will be deemed to have done by utilizing the Service.  These requirements may change as the Service evolves.  You are responsible for any Internet connection fees that you incur when accessing the Service.

3. ToU Updates.  socalTECH will revise this ToU as the Site and/or Service evolves.  The next time you use the Service after such an update, you may be prompted to agree to or decline the revised ToU.  You must agree to all revisions if you choose to continue using the Site and/or Service.  By using the Site and/or Service, you agree to the then-current version of this ToU as posted on the Site. If at any point you do not agree to any portion of the then-current version of this ToU, you must immediately stop using the Site and/or Service.

4. Termination of Service.  socalTECH reserves the right to deny service to any person at socalTECH’s sole and absolute discretion.  The Service is offered with the understanding that socalTECH may terminate any account registered to you and/or your access to the Service at any time, for any reason or no reason, including without limitation for any violation of this ToU.  socalTECH may stop offering and/or supporting the Service at any time. 

5. Accounts and Security. 

5.1.Eligibility.  You represent that you are an adult and have the legal capacity to enter a contract in the jurisdiction where you reside. 

5.2.Account.  To access certain aspects of the Service, you must have an account.  You can create an account by completing the registration process. 

5.3.Fees.  Some aspects of the Service require you to pay a fee. You agree to pay all fees and applicable taxes incurred by you or anyone using an account you registered.  socalTECH may revise the pricing for the Service at any time.  Unless otherwise noted, all currency references are in U.S. dollars. All fees and charges are payable in accordance with payment terms in effect at the time the fee or the charge becomes payable. If there is a dispute regarding payment of fees to, or Service rendered by, socalTECH, your account may be closed without warning or notice at the sole discretion of socalTECH.

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT ANY APPLICABLE FEES AND OTHER CHARGES FOR FEE-BASED SERVICES ARE NOT REFUNDABLE IN WHOLE OR IN PART. YOU ARE FULLY LIABLE FOR ALL CHARGES TO YOUR ACCOUNT, INCLUDING ANY UNAUTHORIZED CHARGES.

socalTECH may, from time to time, modify, amend, or supplement its fees and fee-billing methods, and such changes shall be effective immediately upon posting in these ToU or elsewhere on the Site.

If you want to use a different credit card or there is a change in credit card validity or expiration date, or if you believe someone has accessed a Service using your username and password without your authorization, you must follow the procedures outlined in the Help section of the Site.

5.4.Renewal.  Your subscription to the Service will renew automatically, unless we terminate it or you notify us by telephone, mail, or email (receipt of which must be confirmed by email reply from us) of your decision to terminate your subscription. For annual subscriptions, we will notify you of the pending renewal of your subscription at least 30 days prior to the date your subscription renews, except as otherwise required by law. You must cancel your subscription before it renews in order to avoid billing of subscription fees for the renewal term to your credit card.

5.5.Account Security.  Maintaining account security is very important.  You are entirely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the account password.  You agree to notify socalTECH immediately if you believe that an account password may have been compromised.

5.6.Account Sharing or Transfers.  Only one individual may access the Service at the same time using the same username or password, unless socalTECH agrees otherwise.  You may not transfer any account. 

5.7.Cancellation by You.  You have the right to cancel any account registered to you at any time.  You may cancel any account registered to you by emailing us at customerservices@socaltech.com or calling us at 888-412-6831.

5.8.Effect of Account Termination or Cancellation.  If you voluntarily terminate an account or allow that account to lapse, you may reactivate that account at any time through the account interface on the Site.  Accounts terminated by socalTECH for any type of abuse, including without limitation a violation of this ToU, may not be reactivated for any reason.

6. Restrictions and Conditions of Use.

6.1.Use of Site and Service.  socalTECH permits you to view and use a single copy of the Site solely for your personal, non-commercial use.  You agree not to license, create derivative works from, transfer, sell or re-sell any information, content, or services obtained from the Site.  socalTECH reserves the right to add or remove information, content or Services from the Site at any time at its sole discretion.

6.2.No Violation of Laws.  You agree that you will not, in connection with your use of the Site or the Service, violate any applicable law or regulation.  Without limiting the foregoing, you agree that you will not make available through the Site and/or Service any material or information that infringes any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or other right of any party (including rights of privacy or publicity).

6.3.Misuse of Site and/or Service.  You may not connect to or use the Site and/or Service in any way not expressly permitted by this ToU.  Without limiting the foregoing, you agree that you will not: (a) institute, assist, or become involved in any type of attack, including without limitation denial of service attacks, upon the Site and/or Service or otherwise attempt to disrupt the Site and/or Service or any other person’s use of the Site and/or Service; or (b) attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Site, Service, accounts registered to other users, or the computer systems or networks connected to the Site and/or Service. Furthermore, you may not use the Site or Service to develop, generate, transmit or store information that: (i) is defamatory, harmful, abusive, obscene or hateful; (ii) in any way obstructs or otherwise interferes with the normal performance of another person’s use of the Site and/or Service; (iii) performs any unsolicited commercial communication not permitted by applicable law; (iv) constitutes harassment or a violation of privacy or threatens other people or groups of people; (v) is harmful to children in any manner; (vi) violates any applicable law, regulation or ordinance; (vii) makes any false, misleading or deceptive statement or representation regarding socalTECH and/or the Service; or (viii) constitutes phishing, pharming or impersonates any other person, or steals or assumes any person’s identity (whether a real identity or online nickname or alias).

6.4.No Commercial Uses.  You agree that you will not use the Site or the Service for any commercial purpose or the benefit of any third party or charge any person, or receive any compensation for, the use of the Site or Service.

6.5.No Data Mining or Harmful Code.  You agree that you will not (a) obtain or attempt to obtain any information from the Service, including without limitation email information of other account holders; (b) intercept, examine or otherwise observe any proprietary communications protocol used by the Service, whether through the use of a network analyzer, packet sniffer or other device; or (c) use any type of bot, spider, virus, clock, timer, counter, worm, software lock, drop dead device, Trojan-horse routing, trap door, time bomb or any other codes, instructions or third-party software that is designed to provide a means of surreptitious or unauthorized access to, or distort, delete, damage or disassemble, the Site or the Service.

7. Links. 

7.1.Links from the Site.  The Site may contain links to websites operated by other parties.  socalTECH provides these links to other websites as a convenience, and use of these websites is at your own risk.  The linked websites are not under the control of socalTECH, and socalTECH is not responsible for the content available on the other websites.  Such links do not imply socalTECH’s endorsement of information or material on any other website and socalTECH disclaims all liability with regard to your access to and use of such linked websites. 

7.2.Links to the Site.  Unless otherwise set forth in a written agreement between you and socalTECH, you must adhere to socalTECH’s linking policy as follows:  (i) the appearance, position and other aspects of the link may not be such as to damage or dilute the goodwill associated with socalTECH’s and/or its licensors’ names and trademarks, (ii) the appearance, position and other attributes of the link may not create the false appearance that your organization or entity is sponsored by, affiliated with, or associated with socalTECH, (iii) when selected by a user, the link must display the Site on full-screen and not within a “frame” on the linking Site, and (iv) socalTECH reserves the right to revoke its consent to the link at any time and in its sole discretion.

8. Social Networks.  The Service includes features that operate in conjunction with certain third party social networking websites that you visit (“Social Network Features”).  While your use of the Social Network Features is governed by this ToU, your access and use of third party social networking websites and the services provided through these websites is governed by the terms of service and other agreements posted on these websites.  It is impossible for socalTECH to determine in each case whether your use of the Social Network Features would cause you to violate or breach the terms of service and/or other agreements posted on these third party websites.  You understand and acknowledge that your use of the Social Network Features may cause you to violate or breach the terms of service and other agreements posted on these third party websites which could result in the termination of your account and ability to access these third party websites and, in some cases, could give rise to liability for damages.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU ALONE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR USE OF THE SOCIAL NETWORK FEATURES AND THAT SOCALTECH WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANYONE ELSE FOR YOUR VIOLATION OR BREACH OF ANY TERMS OF SERVICE OR OTHER AGREEMENT THAT MAY RESULT FROM YOUR USE OF THE SOCIAL NETWORK FEATURES.            

9. Intellectual Property.

9.1.Trademarks.  socalTECH and the socalTECH logo are trademarks/service marks of socalTECH.  Unauthorized use of any socalTECH trademark, service mark or logo may be a violation of federal and state trademark laws.

9.2.Copyright. The Site and Service and the content made available through the Site and Service are protected by U.S. and international copyright laws.   Except for your use of the content in connection with the Service to which we have the appropriate licensing rights or as authorized in this ToU, you may not use, modify, reproduce or distribute any of the content, or the design or layout of the Site or Service, or individual sections of the content, design or layout of the Site without socalTECH’s express prior written permission. 

10. Location.  The Site and the Service are operated by socalTECH in the United States.  Those who choose to access the Site and/or the Service from locations outside the United States do so on their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with applicable local laws. 

11. Submitted Content.  socalTECH does not claim ownership of any materials you make available through the Site. At socalTECH’s sole discretion, such materials may be included in the Service in whole or in part or in a modified form. With respect to such materials you submit or make available for inclusion on the Site, you grant socalTECH a perpetual, irrevocable, non-terminable, worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid-up and non-exclusive license to use, copy, distribute, publicly perform, display, modify, create derivative works, and sublicense such materials or any part of such materials. You hereby represent, warrant and covenant that any materials you provide do not include anything (including, but not limited to, text, images, music or video) to which you do not have the full right to grant the license specified in this Section 11.

12. Site-Provided Postings.  The Site provides users with the ability to post messages on the Site. socalTECH is under no obligation to review any messages, information or content (“Postings”) posted on the Site by users and assumes no responsibility or liability relating to any Postings. Notwithstanding the above, socalTECH may from time to time monitor the Postings on the Site and may remove any Postings at its sole discretion.

13. Children.  The Site and the Service are not directed toward children under 13 years of age nor does socalTECH knowingly collect information from children under 13 or allow them to create an account or access account features.  If you are under 13, please do not submit any personally identifiable information to socalTECH.

14. Disclaimer of WarrantIES.

THE SITE AND SERVICE ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS FOR YOUR USE, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND THOSE ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE.  SOCALTECH MAKES NO WARRANTY AS TO THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OR RELIABILITY OF ANY CONTENT AVAILABLE THROUGH, OR THE PERFORMANCE OF, THE SITE OR THE SERVICE.  YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING ANY INFORMATION BEFORE RELYING ON IT.  USE OF THE SITE AND/OR THE SERVICE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.  SOCALTECH DOES NOT WARRANT THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS OR USE THE SITE AND/OR SERVICE AT THE TIMES OR LOCATIONS OF YOUR CHOOSING; THAT THE SITE OR THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE; THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED; OR THAT THE SITE OR THE SERVICE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. 

Because some states or jurisdictions do not allow the disclaimer of implied warranties, the foregoing disclaimer may not apply to you.

15. Limitation of Liability; SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SOCALTECH, ITS AFFILIATES, LICENSORS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS (COLLECTIVELY, THE “RELATED PARTIES”) DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, AND FURTHER DISCLAIMS ALL LOSSES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH ACCESS TO OR USE OF THE SITE AND/OR SERVICE, EVEN IF SOCALTECH AND/OR RELATED PARTIES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, IN NO CASE SHALL THE LIABILITY OF SOCALTECH OR ANY OF THE RELATED PARTIES EXCEED THE AMOUNT THAT YOU PAID TO US OR OUR DESIGNEES DURING THE SIX (6) MONTHS PRIOR TO THE TIME THE CAUSE OF ACTION GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY AROSE. 

Because some states or jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or the limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, in such states or jurisdictions, the liability of socalTECH and its affiliates shall be limited to the fullest extent permitted by law.

16. Indemnification.  You agree to indemnify, defend and hold socalTECH and the Related Parties harmless from any and all claims, demands, damages or other losses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, resulting from or arising out of your use of the Site and/or the Service or any breach by you of this ToU or any other policies that socalTECH may issue for the Site and/or Service from time to time.

17. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This ToU is governed by, and will be construed under, the laws of the United States of America and the law of the State of California, without regard to conflict of law principles. The application of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods is expressly excluded.  Except as provided in Section 18 below (and claims proceeding in any small claims court), all disputes arising out of or related to your use of the Site and/or the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the County of Ventura, California and you agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction and venue of such courts. If either you or socalTECH commences a lawsuit for a dispute arising under this ToU or relating to the Site and/or the Service, all of the issues in such action, whether of fact or law, shall be submitted to general judicial reference pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure sections 638 and 641 through 645.1 or any successor statutes thereto.

18. Binding Arbitration.

18.1. Arbitration Procedures.  You and socalTECH agree that, except as provided in Section 18.4 below, all disputes, controversies and claims related to this ToU (each a “Claim”), shall be finally and exclusively resolved by binding arbitration, which may be initiated by either party by sending a written notice requesting arbitration to the other party. Any election to arbitrate by one party shall be final and binding on the other. The arbitration will be conducted under the Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures of JAMS that are in effect at the time the arbitration is initiated (the “JAMS Rules”) and under the terms set forth in this ToU. In the event of a conflict between the terms set forth in this Section 18 and the JAMS Rules, the terms in this Section 18 will control and prevail. 

Except as otherwise set forth in Section 18.4, you may seek any remedies available to you under federal, state or local laws in an arbitration action. As part of the arbitration, both you and we will have the opportunity for discovery of non-privileged information that is relevant to the Claim.  The arbitrator will provide a written statement of the arbitrator’s decision regarding the Claim, the award given and the arbitrator’s findings and conclusions on which the arbitrator’s decision is based.  The determination of whether a Claim is subject to arbitration shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act and determined by a court rather than an arbitrator.  Except as otherwise provided in this ToU, (i) you and socalTECH may litigate in court to compel arbitration, stay proceedings pending arbitration, or confirm, modify, vacate or enter judgment on the award entered by the arbitrator; and (ii) the arbitrator’s decision shall be final, binding on all parties and enforceable in any court that has jurisdiction, provided that any award may be challenged if the arbitrator fails to follow applicable law. 

BY AGREEING TO THIS ARBITRATION PROVISION, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU AND SOCALTECH WAIVE THE RIGHT TO SUE IN COURT AND HAVE A JURY TRIAL. 

18.2. Location.  The arbitration will take place in your hometown area if you so notify socalTECH in your notice of arbitration or within ten (10) days following receipt of socalTECH’s arbitration notice.  In the absence of a notice to conduct the arbitration in your hometown area, the arbitration will be conducted in the County of Ventura, California, unless the parties agree to video, phone and/or internet connection appearances.

18.3. Limitations. You and socalTECH agree that any arbitration shall be limited to the Claim between socalTECH and you individually. YOU AND SOCALTECH AGREE THAT (A) THERE IS NO RIGHT OR AUTHORITY FOR ANY DISPUTE TO BE ARBITRATED ON A CLASS-ACTION BASIS OR TO UTILIZE CLASS ACTION PROCEDURES; (B) THERE IS NO RIGHT OR AUTHORITY FOR ANY DISPUTE TO BE BROUGHT IN A PURPORTED REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY OR AS A PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL; AND (C) NO ARBITRATION SHALL BE JOINED WITH ANY OTHER ARBITRATION.

18.4. Exceptions to Arbitration. You and socalTECH agree that the following Claims are not subject to the above provisions concerning negotiations and binding arbitration: (i) any Claim seeking to enforce or protect, or concerning the validity of, any of your or socalTECH’s intellectual property rights; (ii) any Claim related to, or arising from, allegations of theft, piracy, invasion of privacy or unauthorized use; and (iii) any claim for equitable relief.  In addition to the foregoing, either party may assert an individual action in small claims court for Claims that are within the scope of such court’s jurisdiction in lieu of arbitration.

19. General. 

19.1. ToU Revisions.  This ToU may only be revised in a writing signed by socalTECH, or published by socalTECH on the Site.

19.2. No Partnership.  You agree that no joint venture, partnership, employment, or agency relationship exists between you and socalTECH as a result of this ToU or your use of the Service.

19.3. Assignment.  socalTECH may assign this ToU, in whole or in part, to any person or entity at any time with or without your consent. You may not assign the ToU without socalTECH’s prior written consent, and any unauthorized assignment by you shall be null and void.

19.4. Severability.  If any part of this ToU is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, then that portion shall be severed, and the remainder of the ToU shall be given full force and effect. 

19.5. Attorneys’ Fees.  In the event any litigation or arbitration is brought by either party in connection with this ToU, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party all the reasonable costs, attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred by such prevailing party in the litigation.

19.6. No Waiver.  Our failure to enforce any provision of this ToU shall in no way be construed to be a present or future waiver of such provision, nor in any way affect the right of any party to enforce each and every such provision thereafter.  The express waiver by us of any provision, condition or requirement of this ToU shall not constitute a waiver of any future obligation to comply with such provision, condition or requirement.

19.7. Notices.  All notices given by you or required under this ToU shall be in writing and addressed to: SOCALTECH LLC, 501 S. Reino Road, Suite #137, Newbury Park, CA 91320

19.8. Equitable Remedies.  You hereby agree that socalTECH would be irreparably damaged if the terms of this ToU were not specifically enforced, and therefore you agree that we shall be entitled, without bond, other security, or proof of damages, to appropriate equitable remedies with respect to breaches of this ToU, in addition to such other remedies as we may otherwise have available to us under applicable laws.

19.9. Entire Agreement.  This ToU, including the documents expressly incorporated by reference, constitutes the entire agreement between you and us with respect to the Site and/or Service and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications, whether electronic, oral or written, between you and us with respect to the Site and/or Service.