Last updated – March 13, 2024.
OpenChord, Inc. (“OpenChord,” “we,” “us,” “our”) provides its marketplace and services (described below) to you (“you” or “User”) through its website, platform, and marketplace located at https://www.openchord.io/ (the “Platform”), subject to the following Terms of Service (as amended from time to time, the “Terms”). By signing up for an account on the Platform or otherwise using or accessing the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to these Terms. The Privacy Policy and all such additional terms, guidelines, and rules as set forth on the Platform are hereby incorporated by reference into these Terms and expressly agreed to and acknowledged by the User.
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF PLATFORM CAREFULLY, AS THEY CONTAIN AN AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, REMEDIES, AND OBLIGATIONS. THE AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE REQUIRES (WITH LIMITED EXCEPTION) THAT YOU SUBMIT CLAIMS YOU HAVE AGAINST US TO BINDING AND FINAL ARBITRATION, AND FURTHER (1) YOU WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED TO PURSUE CLAIMS AGAINST OPENCHORD ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION OR PROCEEDING, (2) YOU WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED TO SEEK RELIEF (INCLUDING MONETARY, INJUNCTIVE, AND DECLARATORY RELIEF) ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, AND (3) YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE ANY CLAIMS YOU HAVE AGAINST US RESOLVED BY A JURY OR IN A COURT OF LAW.
We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to change or modify portions of these Terms of Service at any time. If we do this, we will post the changes on this page and will indicate at the top of this page the date these terms were last revised. We will also notify you, either through the Platform user interface, in an email notification or through other reasonable means. Any such changes will become effective no earlier than fourteen (14) days after they are posted, except those changes addressing new functions of the Platform will be effective immediately. Your continued use of the Platform and after the date any such changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms of Service.
What is OpenChord?
OpenChord is a platform for video, audio creators (“Creators”) and video, audio collectors (“Collectors”) to sell, purchase, list for auction, make offers, and bid (each a “Transaction”) on videos represented on a non-fungible Ethereum-based tokens (“Videos” “Audios”).
Smart-Contract Enabled.
The Videos on OpenChord are represented on smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain that provides an immutable ledger of all transactions that occur on OpenChord (“Smart Contracts”). This means that all Videos are outside of the control of any one party, including OpenChord, and is subject to many risks and uncertainties. We neither own nor control MetaMask, Coinbase, the Ethereum network, your browser, or any other third-party site, product, or service that you might access, visit, or use for the purpose of enabling you to use the various features of the Platform. We will not be liable for the acts or omissions of any such third parties, nor will we be liable for any damage that you may suffer as a result of your transactions or any other interaction with any such third parties. The User understands that your Ethereum public address will be made publicly visible whenever you engage in a transaction on the Platform.
Noncustodial.
While OpenChord offers a marketplace for Videos, it does not buy, sell, or ever take custody or possession of any Video. The Platform facilitates User collection of Videos, but neither OpenChord nor the Platform are custodians of any Video. The User understands and acknowledges that the Smart Contracts do not give OpenChord custody, possession, or control of any Video or cryptocurrency at any time for the purpose of facilitating transactions on the Platform. You affirm that you are aware and acknowledge that OpenChord is a non-custodial service provider and has designed this Platform to be directly accessible by the Users without any involvement or actions taken by OpenChord or any third-party. As a marketplace, OpenChord cannot make any representation or guarantee that Creators will achieve any particular outcome as the result of listing their Video on OpenChord.
How do I use OpenChord?
Your Registration Obligations:
Anyone can browse OpenChord without registering for an account. You may be required to register with OpenChord in order to access and use certain features on the Platform, such as participating as a Creator or Bidder. If you choose to register for the Platform, you agree to provide and maintain true, accurate, current, and complete information about yourself as prompted by our registration form. You must be at least 13 years old to register for an account as a Creator, and at least 18 years old to place a bid on any Video. If you are between 13 and 18 years old, you must have the expressed permission of a parent or legal guardian who can accept these Terms on your behalf. You are responsible for anything that occurs when anyone is signed into your account, as well as the security of the account.
Member Account, Password, and Security:
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and password, if any, and are fully responsible for any and all activities that occur under your password or account. You agree to (a) immediately notify OpenChord of any unauthorized use of your password or account or any other breach of security, and (b) ensure that you exit from your account at the end of each session when accessing OpenChord. OpenChord will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with this Section.
Connecting your Wallet:
In order to participate as a Creator or Bidder in the marketplace, you must connect to a browser extension called MetaMask. MetaMask is an electronic wallet which allows you to purchase, store, and engage in transactions using the native Ethereum cryptocurrency, ETH. All transactions on OpenChord are in the native Ethereum cryptocurrency, ETH.
Modifications to the Platform:
OpenChord reserves the right to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Platform (or any part thereof) with or without notice. You agree that OpenChord will not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuance of the Platform.
What are the rules for using OpenChord?
When using OpenChord, no User is allowed to:
How do I become a creator?
Video creators need an invitation or to become a Creator on OpenChord. Apply to become a creator on the OpenChord home page. OpenChord maintains complete discretion in selecting the video creators in its marketplace and makes no guarantees or promises that any artists will be approved as Creators even if OpenChord solicited the request.
What are the intellectual property rights on the Platform?
Creator Rights
The Creator owns all legal right, title, and interest in all intellectual property rights underlying the Videos minted by the Creator on the Platform, including but not limited to copyrights and trademarks. As the copyright owner, the Creator has the right to reproduce, prepare derivative Videos, distribute, and display or perform the Video.
Creators hereby acknowledges, understands, and agrees that selling a Video on OpenChord constitutes an express representation, warranty, and covenant that the Creator has not, will not, and will not cause another to sell, tokenize, or create another cryptographic token representing a digital collectible for the same Video, excepting, without limitation, the Creator’s ability to sell, tokenize, or create a cryptographic token or other digital asset representing a legal, economic, or other interest relating to any of the exclusive rights belonging to the Creator under copyright law. The Creator hereby acknowledges, understands, and agrees that launching a Video on OpenChord constitutes an express and affirmative grant to OpenChord, its affiliates and successors a non-exclusive, world-wide, assignable, sublicensable, perpetual, and royalty-free license to make copies of, display, perform, reproduce, and distribute the Video on any media whether now known or later discovered for the broad purpose of operating, promoting, sharing, developing, marketing, and advertising the Platform, or any other purpose related to OpenChord, including without limitation, the express right to: (i) display or perform the Video on the Platform, a third party platform, social media posts, blogs, editorials, advertising, market reports, virtual galleries, museums, virtual environments, editorials, or to the public; (ii) create and distribute digital or physical derivative Videos based on the Video; (iii) indexing the Video in electronic databases, indexes, catalogues; and (iv) hosting, storing, distributing, and reproducing one or more copies of the Video within a distributed file keeping system, node cluster, or other database (e.g., IPFS) or causing, directing, or soliciting others to do so. Creators expressly represent and warrant that their Videos listed on OpenChord contains only original content otherwise authorized for use by the Creator, and does not contain unlicensed or unauthorized copyrighted content, including any imagery, design, audio, video, human likeness, or other unoriginal content not created by the Creator, not authorized for use by the Creator, not in the public domain, or otherwise without a valid claim of fair use, the Creator further represents and warrants that it has permission to incorporate the unoriginal content.
Collectors Rights
Collectors receive a cryptographic token representing the Creator’s Video as a piece of property, but do not own the creative work itself. Collectors may display and share the Video, but Collectors do not have any legal ownership, right, or title to any copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights to the Video, excepting the limited license to the Videos granted by these Terms. Upon collecting a Video, Collectors receive a limited, worldwide, non-assignable, non-sublicensable, royalty-free license to display the Video legally owned and properly obtained by the Collector.
The Collector’s limited license to display the Video, includes, but is not limited to, the right to display the Video privately or publicly: (i) for the purpose of promoting or sharing the Collector’s purchase, ownership, or interest, (ii) for the purpose of sharing, promoting, discussing, or commenting on the Video; (iii) on third party marketplaces, exchanges, platforms, or applications in association with an offer to sell, or trade, the Video; and (iv) within decentralized virtual environments, virtual worlds, virtual galleries, virtual museums, or other navigable and perceivable virtual environments.
Collectors have the right to sell, trade, transfer, or use their Videos, but Collectors may not make “commercial use” of the Video. The Collector agrees that it may not, nor permit any third party, to do or attempt to do any of the foregoing without the Creator’s express prior written consent in each case: (i) modify, distort, mutilate, or perform any other modification to the Work which would be prejudicial to the Creator’s honor or reputation; (ii) use the Video to advertise, market, or sell any third party product or service; (iii) use the Video in connection with images, videos, or other forms of media that depict hatred, intolerance, violence, cruelty, or anything else that could reasonably be found to constitute hate speech or otherwise infringe upon the rights of others; (iv) incorporate the Video in movies, videos, video games, or any other forms of media for a commercial purpose, except to the limited extent that such use is expressly permitted by these Terms or solely for your Collector’s personal, non-commercial use; (v) sell, distribute for commercial gain, or otherwise commercialize merchandise that includes, contains, or consists of the Video; (vi) attempt to trademark, copyright, or otherwise acquire additional intellectual property rights in or to the Video; (vii) attempt to mint, tokenize, or create an additional cryptographic token representing the same Video, whether on or off of the OpenChord Platform; (viii) falsify, misrepresent, or conceal the authorship of the Video; or (ix) otherwise utilize the Video for the Collector’s or any third party’s commercial benefit. Collectors irrevocably release, acquit, and forever discharge OpenChord and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, and successors of any liability for direct or indirect copyright or trademark infringement for OpenChord use of a Video in accordance with these Terms.
Platform Content, Software and Trademarks:
You acknowledge and agree that the Platform may contain content or features (“Platform Content”) that are protected by copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary rights and laws. Except as expressly authorized by OpenChord, you agree not to modify, copy, frame, scrape, rent, lease, loan, sell, distribute, or create derivative works based on the Platform or the Platform Content, in whole or in part. In connection with your use of the Platform you will not engage in or use any data mining, robots, scraping, or similar data gathering or extraction methods. If you are blocked by OpenChord from accessing the Platform (including by blocking your IP address), you agree not to implement any measures to circumvent such blocking (e.g., by masking your IP address or using a proxy IP address). Any use of the Platform or the Platform Content other than as specifically authorized herein is strictly prohibited. The technology and software underlying the Platform or distributed in connection therewith are the property of OpenChord, our affiliates, and our partners (the “Software”). You agree not to copy, modify, create a derivative work of, reverse engineer, reverse assemble or otherwise attempt to discover any source code, sell, assign, sublicense, or otherwise transfer any right in the Software. Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved by OpenChord. The OpenChord name and logos are trademarks and service marks of OpenChord, Inc. (collectively the “OpenChord Trademarks”). Other company, product, and service names and logos used and displayed via the Platform may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners who may or may not endorse or be affiliated with or connected to OpenChord. Nothing in this Terms of Service or the Platform should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license or right to use any of OpenChord Trademarks displayed on the Platform, without our prior written permission in each instance. All goodwill generated from the use of OpenChord Trademarks will inure to our exclusive benefit.
Third Party Material:
Under no circumstances will OpenChord be liable in any way for any content or materials of any third parties (including users), including, but not limited to, for any errors or omissions in any content, or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any such content. You acknowledge that OpenChord does not pre-screen content, but that OpenChord and its designees will have the right (but not the obligation) in their sole discretion to refuse or remove any content that is available via the Platform. Without limiting the foregoing, OpenChord and its designees will have the right to remove any content that violates these Terms of Service or is deemed by Platform, in its sole discretion, to be otherwise objectionable. You agree that you must evaluate, and bear all risks associated with, the use of any content and the purchase of any Video, including any reliance on the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of such content.
User Content Transmitted Through the Platform:
With respect to the content, Videos, or other materials you upload through the Platform or share with other users or recipients (collectively, “User Content”), you represent and warrant that you own all right, title and interest in and to such User Content, including, without limitation, all copyrights and rights of publicity contained therein. By uploading any User Content, you hereby grant and will grant OpenChord and its affiliated companies a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty free, fully paid up, transferable, sublicensable, perpetual, irrevocable license to copy, display, upload, perform, distribute, store, modify and otherwise use your User Content in connection with the operation of the Platform or the promotion, advertising or marketing thereof in any form, medium or technology now known or later developed. Any questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, feedback or other information about the Platform (“Submissions”), provided by you to OpenChord are non-confidential and OpenChord will be entitled to the unrestricted use and dissemination of these Submissions for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, without acknowledgment or compensation to you.
OpenChord may preserve content and may also disclose content if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such preservation or disclosure is reasonably necessary to: (a) comply with legal process, applicable laws or government requests; (b) enforce these Terms of Service; (c) respond to claims that any content violates the rights of third parties; or (d) protect the rights, property, or personal safety of OpenChord, its users and the public. You understand that the technical processing and transmission of the Platform, including your content, may involve (a) transmissions over various networks; and (b) changes to conform and adapt to technical requirements of connecting networks or devices.
Copyright Complaints:
OpenChord respects the intellectual property of others, and we ask our users to do the same. If you believe that your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or that your intellectual property rights have been otherwise violated, you should notify OpenChord of your infringement claim in accordance with the procedure set forth below. OpenChord will process and investigate notices of alleged infringement and will take appropriate actions under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) and other applicable intellectual property laws with respect to any alleged or actual infringement. A notification of claimed copyright infringement should be posted on LigitPro.com or emailed to our Copyright Agent at copyright@ligitpro.com (Subject line: “DMCA Takedown Request”).
To be effective, the notification must be in writing and contain the following information:
If you believe your User Content that was removed (or to which access was disabled) is not infringing, or that you have the authorization from the copyright owner, the copyright owner’s agent, or pursuant to the law, to upload and use the content in your User Content, you may send a written counter-notice containing the following information to the Copyright Agent:
Repeat Infringer Policy:
In accordance with the DMCA and other applicable law, OpenChord has adopted a policy of terminating, in appropriate circumstances and at OpenChord’ sole discretion, Users who are deemed to be repeat infringers. OpenChord may also at its sole discretion limit access to the Platform and/or terminate the memberships of any users who infringe any intellectual property rights of others, whether or not there is any repeat infringement.
User Agrees to Cooperate with OpenChord
Creators expressly agree to refund to the Collector and/or OpenChord the entire portion of Fees received from the sale of a Video that was subsequently removed from the Site pursuant to an effective DMCA request to which the Creator failed to timely submit an effective DMCA Counternotification. OpenChord will not be held liable to any User for removing allegedly infringing works from the Platform or otherwise fulfilling its legal obligations under the DMCA. Creators, Collectors, and all Users expressly agree to cooperate and timely respond to OpenChord’ investigations, requests, and inquiries related to DMCA disputes or allegations of infringement. Users agree to initiate a “burn” transaction upon OpenChord’ request for Videos that have been permanently removed from the OpenChord marketplace pursuant to a valid DMCA Take-Down Notice, or that are otherwise alleged to be infringing.
What fees does OpenChord charge?
Auction. NFTs are listed on OpenChord in a reserve auction format.
Below are some of the main characteristics of OpenChord auctions:
Fees.
The Fees for an initial sale of Videos on OpenChord is as follows:
Taxes.
Users are responsible to pay any and all sales, use, value-added and other taxes, duties, and assessments now or hereafter claimed or imposed by any governmental authority, “associated with your use of OpenChord (including, without limitation, any taxes that may become payable as the result of your ownership, transfer, purchase, sale, or creation of any videos).
Other Legal Terms
Indemnity and Release: You agree to release, indemnify and hold OpenChord and its affiliates and their officers, employees, directors and agents (collectively, “Indemnitees”) harmless from any from any and all losses, damages, expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, rights, claims, actions of any kind and injury (including death) arising out of or relating to your use of the Platform, any User Content, your connection to the Platform, your violation of these Terms of Service or your violation of any rights of another. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you will have no obligation to indemnify or hold harmless any Indemnitee from or against any liability, losses, damages, or expenses incurred as a result of any action or inaction of such Indemnitee. If you are a California resident, you waive California Civil Code Section 1542, which says: “A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party.” If you are a resident of another jurisdiction, you waive any comparable statute or doctrine.
Disclaimer of Warranties:
Platform transactions, including but not limited to primary sales, secondary market sales, listings, offers, bids, acceptances, and other operations utilize experimental smart contract and blockchain technology, including non-fungible tokens, cryptocurrencies, consensus algorithms, and decentralized or peer-to-peer networks and systems. Users acknowledge and agree that such technologies are experimental, speculative, and inherently risky and may be subject to bugs, malfunctions, timing errors, hacking and theft, or changes to the protocol rules of the Ethereum blockchain (i.e., “forks”), which can adversely affect the smart contracts and may expose you to a risk of total loss, forfeiture of your digital currency or Video, or lost opportunities to buy or sell Videos.
YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. OPENCHORD EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
OPENCHORD MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT (I) THE PLATFORM WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, (II) THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, (III) THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF THE PLATFORM WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE, OR (IV) THE QUALITY OF ANY PRODUCTS, PLATFORMS, INFORMATION, OR OTHER MATERIAL PURCHASED OR OBTAINED BY YOU THROUGH THE PLATFORM WILL MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
Limitation of Liability:
YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT OPENCHORD WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS IN VALUE OF ANY VIDEO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF OPENCHORD HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, RESULTING FROM: (I) THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE PLATFORM; (II) THE COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS AND PLATFORMS RESULTING FROM ANY VIDEO, GOODS, DATA, INFORMATION OR PLATFORMS PURCHASED OR OBTAINED OR MESSAGES RECEIVED OR TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO THROUGH OR FROM THE PLATFORM; (III) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (IV) STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE PLATFORM; OR (V) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT WILL OPENCHORD’ TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR CAUSES OF ACTION EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID OPENCHORD IN THE LAST SIX (6) MONTHS, OR, IF GREATER, ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100). SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE DISCLAIMER OR EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES OR THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. ACCORDINGLY, SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU OR BE ENFORCEABLE WITH RESPECT TO YOU. IF YOU ARE DISSATISFIED WITH ANY PORTION OF THE PLATFORM OR WITH THESE TERMS OF PLATFORM, YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY IS TO DISCONTINUE USE OF THE PLATFORM.
IF YOU ARE A USER FROM NEW JERSEY, THE FOREGOING SECTIONS TITLED “DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES” AND “LIMITATION OF LIABILITY” ARE INTENDED TO BE ONLY AS BROAD AS IS PERMITTED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. IF ANY PORTION OF THESE SECTIONS IS HELD TO BE INVALID UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, THE INVALIDITY OF SUCH PORTION SHALL NOT AFFECT THE VALIDITY OF THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF THE APPLICABLE SECTIONS.
Here are our termination rights.
You agree that OpenChord, in its sole discretion, may suspend or terminate your account (or any part thereof) or use of the Platform and remove and discard any content within the Platform, for any reason, including, without limitation, for lack of use or if OpenChord believes that you have violated or acted inconsistently with the letter or spirit of these Terms of Service. Any suspected fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity that may be grounds for termination of your use of Platform, may be referred to appropriate law enforcement authorities. OpenChord may also in its sole discretion and at any time discontinue providing the Platform, or any part thereof, with or without notice. You agree that any termination of your access to the Platform under any provision of this Terms of Service may be affected without prior notice and acknowledge and agree that OpenChord may immediately deactivate or delete your account and all related information and files in your account and/or bar any further access to such files or the Platform. Further, you agree that OpenChord will not be liable to you or any third party for any termination of your access to the Platform.
We do not get involved with user disputes.
You agree that you are solely responsible for your interactions with any other Users in connection with the Platform and OpenChord will have no liability or responsibility with respect thereto. OpenChord reserves the right, but has no obligation, to become involved in any way with disputes between you and any other user of the Platform.
General Legal Terms
These Terms of Service constitute the entire agreement between you and OpenChord and govern your use of the Platform, superseding any prior agreements between you and OpenChord with respect to the Platform. You also may be subject to additional terms and conditions that may apply when you use affiliate or third-party services, third party content or third-party software. These Terms of Service will be governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to its conflict of law provisions. With respect to any disputes or claims not subject to arbitration, as set forth above, you and OpenChord agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within San Francisco County, California. The failure of OpenChord to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms of Service will not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of these Terms of Service is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties’ intentions as reflected in the provision, and the other provisions of these Terms of Service remain in full force and effect. You agree that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to use of the Platform or these Terms of Service must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose or be forever barred. A printed version of this agreement and of any notice given in electronic form will be admissible in judicial or administrative proceedings based upon or relating to this agreement to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as other business documents and records originally generated and maintained in printed form. You may not assign this Terms of Service without the prior written consent of OpenChord, but OpenChord may assign or transfer this Terms of Service, in whole or in part, without restriction. The section titles in these Terms of Service are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect. Notices to you may be made via either email or regular mail. The Platform may also provide notices to you of changes to these Terms of Service or other matters by displaying notices or links to notices generally on the Platform.
Notice for California Users
Under California Civil Code Section 1789.3, users of the Platform from California are entitled to the following specific consumer rights notice: The Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Platforms of the California Department of Consumer Affairs may be contacted in writing at 1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N 112, Sacramento, CA 95834, or by telephone at (916) 445-1254 or (800) 952-5210. You may contact us at OpenChord, Inc., 1000 Brickell Ave, Suite 715, Miami, FL, 33131 or at 1(305) 961-7600.
Dispute Resolution by Binding Arbitration:
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY AS IT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS.
YOU AND OPENCHORD AGREE THAT EACH OF US MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION OR PROCEEDING. UNLESS BOTH YOU AND OPENCHORD AGREE OTHERWISE, THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE OR JOIN MORE THAN ONE PERSON’S OR PARTY’S CLAIMS AND MAY NOT OTHERWISE PRESIDE OVER ANY FORM OF A CONSOLIDATED, REPRESENTATIVE, OR CLASS PROCEEDING. ALSO, THE ARBITRATOR MAY AWARD RELIEF (INCLUDING MONETARY, INJUNCTIVE, AND DECLARATORY RELIEF) ONLY IN FAVOR OF THE INDIVIDUAL PARTY SEEKING RELIEF AND ONLY TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE RELIEF NECESSITATED BY THAT PARTY’S INDIVIDUAL CLAIM(S), EXCEPT THAT YOU MAY PURSUE A CLAIM FOR AND THE ARBITRATOR MAY AWARD PUBLIC INJUNCTIVE RELIEF UNDER APPLICABLE LAW TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED FOR THE ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS PROVISION.
OpenChord is always interested in resolving disputes amicably and efficiently, and most customer concerns can be resolved quickly and to the customer’s satisfaction by emailing customer support at support@ligitpro.com If such efforts prove unsuccessful, a party who intends to seek arbitration must first send to the other, by certified mail, a written Notice of Dispute (“Notice”). The Notice to OpenChord should be sent to 1000 Brickell Ave., Suite 715, Miami, FL, 33131 (“Notice Address”). The Notice must (i) describe the nature and basis of the claim or dispute and (ii) set forth the specific relief sought. If OpenChord and you do not resolve the claim within sixty (60) calendar days after the Notice is received, you or OpenChord may commence an arbitration proceeding. During the arbitration, the amount of any settlement offer made by OpenChord, or you shall not be disclosed to the arbitrator until after the arbitrator determines the amount, if any, to which you or OpenChord is entitled.
Arbitration will be conducted by a neutral arbitrator in accordance with the American Arbitration Association’s (“AAA”) rules and procedures, including the AAA’s Consumer Arbitration Rules (collectively, the “AAA Rules”), as modified by this Arbitration Agreement. For information on the AAA, please visit its website, http://www.adr.org. Information about the AAA Rules and fees for consumer disputes can be found at the AAA’s consumer arbitration page, http://www.adr.org/ as may be updated from time to time. If there is any inconsistency between any term of the AAA Rules and any term of this Arbitration Agreement, the applicable terms of this Arbitration Agreement will control unless the arbitrator determines that the application of the inconsistent Arbitration Agreement terms would not result in a fundamentally fair arbitration. The arbitrator must also follow the provisions of these Terms of Service as a court would. All issues are for the arbitrator to decide, including, but not limited to, issues relating to the scope, enforceability, and arbitrability of this Arbitration Agreement. Although arbitration proceedings are usually simpler and more streamlined than trials and other judicial proceedings, the arbitrator can award the same damages and relief on an individual basis that a court can award to an individual under the Terms of Service and applicable law. Decisions by the arbitrator are enforceable in court and may be overturned by a court only for very limited reasons. Unless OpenChord and you agree otherwise, any arbitration hearings will take place in a reasonably convenient location for both parties with due consideration of their ability to travel and other pertinent circumstances. If the parties are unable to agree on a location, the determination shall be made by AAA. If your claim is for $10,000 or less, OpenChord agrees that you may choose whether the arbitration will be conducted solely on the basis of documents submitted to the arbitrator, through a telephonic hearing, or by an in-person hearing as established by the AAA Rules. If your claim exceeds $10,000, the right to a hearing will be determined by the AAA Rules. Regardless of the manner in which the arbitration is conducted, the arbitrator shall issue a reasoned written decision sufficient to explain the essential findings and conclusions on which the award is based.
Payment of all filing, administration, and arbitrator fees (collectively, the “Arbitration Fees”) will be governed by the AAA Rules, unless otherwise provided in this Arbitration Agreement. If the value of the relief sought is $75,000 or less, at your request, OpenChord will pay all Arbitration Fees. If the value of relief sought is more than $75,000 and you are able to demonstrate to the arbitrator that you are economically unable to pay your portion of the Arbitration Fees or if the arbitrator otherwise determines for any reason that you should not be required to pay your portion of the Arbitration Fees, OpenChord will pay your portion of such fees. In addition, if you demonstrate to the arbitrator that the costs of arbitration will be prohibitive as compared to the costs of litigation, OpenChord will pay as much of the Arbitration Fees as the arbitrator deems necessary to prevent the arbitration from being cost-prohibitive. Any payment of attorneys’ fees will be governed by the AAA Rules.
All aspects of the arbitration proceeding, and any ruling, decision, or award by the arbitrator, will be strictly confidential for the benefit of all parties.
If a court or the arbitrator decides that any term or provision of this Arbitration Agreement (other than the subsection (b) titled “Prohibition of Class and Representative Actions and Non-Individualized Relief” above) is invalid or unenforceable, the parties agree to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Arbitration Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified. If a court or the arbitrator decides that any of the provisions of subsection (b) above titled “Prohibition of Class and Representative Actions and Non-Individualized Relief” are invalid or unenforceable, then the entirety of this Arbitration Agreement shall be null and void, unless such provisions are deemed to be invalid or unenforceable solely with respect to claims for public injunctive relief. The remainder of the Terms of Service will continue to apply.
Notwithstanding any provision in this Terms of Service to the contrary, OpenChord agrees that if it makes any future change to this Arbitration Agreement (other than a change to the Notice Address) while you are a user of the Platforms, you may reject any such change by sending OpenChord written notice within thirty (30) calendar days of the change to the Notice Address provided above. By rejecting any future change, you are agreeing that you will arbitrate any dispute between us in accordance with the language of this Arbitration Agreement as of the date you first accepted these Terms of Service (or accepted any subsequent changes to these Terms of Service).
//end