Terms of Service

Last updated: December 12, 2024

1. Acceptance of Terms

1.1 Agreement to Terms

  • By accessing or using The Slope platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.
  • If you do not agree to these terms, do not access or use our services.
  • We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time with notice.
  • Continued use after modifications constitutes acceptance of updated terms.
  • You must be at least 13 years old to use The Slope.

1.2 Service Description

  • The Slope is a community platform serving Colorado's Western Slope region.
  • We provide a digital hub for local businesses, events, news, outdoor recreation, marketplace, tourism information, and community engagement.
  • Services include business listings, event calendars, community forums, marketplace, emergency alerts, and advertising opportunities.
  • Service availability and features may change without notice.
  • We reserve the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, or remove content at our discretion.

2. User Accounts and Responsibilities

2.1 Account Registration

  • You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration.
  • You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.
  • You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account.
  • You may not share your account credentials with others.
  • You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.
  • You may not create multiple accounts or impersonate others.

2.2 Account Types

  • Personal accounts are for individual community members.
  • Business accounts are for business owners and authorized representatives.
  • Premium accounts provide enhanced features and require payment.
  • Admin and moderator privileges may be granted at our discretion.

3. Acceptable Use Policy

3.1 Prohibited Conduct

  • No harassment, abuse, threats, or hate speech.
  • No spam, unsolicited advertising, or commercial solicitation outside designated areas.
  • No posting of false, misleading, or fraudulent content.
  • No infringement of intellectual property rights.
  • No illegal activities or promotion of illegal activities.
  • No malware, viruses, or harmful code.
  • No unauthorized access or attempts to disrupt our services.
  • No scraping, data mining, or automated data collection without permission.
  • No posting of private or personal information without consent.
  • No adult content, graphic violence, or other inappropriate material.

3.2 Content Guidelines

  • Content must be relevant to the Western Slope community.
  • Business listings must represent legitimate operating businesses.
  • Event listings must be for real, verifiable events.
  • Marketplace items must comply with applicable laws.
  • Community posts and comments must be respectful and constructive.
  • Reviews must be honest and based on genuine experiences.
  • You may not post duplicate or repetitive content (spam).

4. Content and Intellectual Property

4.1 Your Content

  • You retain ownership of content you post on The Slope.
  • By posting content, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your content.
  • This license allows us to operate and promote our services.
  • You represent that you have all necessary rights to post your content.
  • You are responsible for your content and the consequences of posting it.
  • We may, but are not obligated to, monitor, review, or remove content.

4.2 Our Intellectual Property

  • The Slope platform, including design, features, and functionality, is owned by CM Ventures Inc.
  • Our trademarks, logos, and brand elements are protected intellectual property.
  • You may not use our intellectual property without written permission.
  • Content provided by other users is owned by those users or their licensors.

4.3 Copyright and DMCA

  • We respect intellectual property rights and expect users to do the same.
  • If you believe content infringes your copyright, contact us with a DMCA notice.
  • We will respond to valid DMCA notices in accordance with applicable law.
  • Repeat infringers may have their accounts terminated.

5. Business Listings and Claims

5.1 Business Listings

  • Business listings may be created by business owners, users, or imported from public sources.
  • Business owners can claim and verify their listings.
  • Claimed businesses have additional management capabilities.
  • Business information must be accurate and up-to-date.
  • We reserve the right to verify business information and remove inaccurate listings.

5.2 Business Claim Process

  • To claim a business, you must be an authorized representative.
  • We may require documentation to verify ownership or authorization.
  • Only one account may be associated with each business listing.
  • Fraudulent claims may result in account termination and legal action.

6. Premium Services and Billing

6.1 Premium Features

  • Certain features require payment, including enhanced business listings and advertising.
  • Premium features are subject to their own specific terms and pricing.
  • We reserve the right to modify premium features and pricing with notice.
  • Premium features may have usage limits or restrictions.

6.2 Payment Terms

  • All fees are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified.
  • Fees are charged in advance for subscription services.
  • You authorize us to charge your payment method for all fees.
  • You are responsible for all applicable taxes.
  • Payment processing is handled by third-party providers (Stripe).
  • All sales are final unless required by law or stated in our refund policy.

6.3 Advertising Services

  • Businesses can purchase advertising placements on The Slope.
  • Ad campaigns are subject to our advertising policies and approval.
  • We reserve the right to reject or remove ads at our discretion.
  • Ad performance is not guaranteed.
  • Refunds for advertising are subject to our refund policy.
  • We also display third-party advertising (Google AdSense) on our platform.

6.4 Cancellation and Refunds

  • You may cancel premium services through your account settings.
  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.
  • No refunds for partial billing periods unless required by law.
  • Unused advertising credits may be subject to expiration.
  • We may offer pro-rated refunds at our discretion for service issues.

7. Marketplace

7.1 Marketplace Transactions

  • The Slope provides a platform for users to list and discover items for sale.
  • We are not a party to transactions between buyers and sellers.
  • We do not guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of items listed.
  • Users are responsible for their own transactions and interactions.
  • All sales are between buyers and sellers; we do not process payments for marketplace items.

7.2 Seller Obligations

  • Sellers must accurately describe items and provide honest representations.
  • Sellers must comply with all applicable laws regarding their sales.
  • Prohibited items include illegal items, counterfeit goods, and items violating our policies.
  • Sellers are responsible for fulfilling their obligations to buyers.

7.3 Buyer Obligations

  • Buyers should carefully review listings before committing to purchase.
  • Buyers are responsible for inspecting items and completing transactions.
  • We are not responsible for disputes between buyers and sellers.

8. Community and User Interactions

8.1 Community Guidelines

  • Be respectful and constructive in community interactions.
  • Disagreements should be expressed civilly.
  • Report content that violates our terms or community guidelines.
  • Do not retaliate against users who report violations.
  • We may moderate, remove, or restrict content and users as needed.

8.2 Reviews and Ratings

  • Reviews should be honest, accurate, and based on personal experience.
  • Do not post fake reviews or reviews for businesses you own or compete with.
  • Do not offer incentives for positive reviews or solicit removal of negative reviews.
  • Businesses may respond to reviews but may not harass reviewers.
  • We may remove reviews that violate our policies.

9. Data and Privacy

9.1 Privacy Policy

  • Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information.
  • By using The Slope, you consent to our data practices as described in our Privacy Policy.
  • You are responsible for the privacy of content you post publicly.
  • Business information you provide may be displayed publicly.

10. Third-Party Services

10.1 Third-Party Links and Content

  • Our platform may contain links to third-party websites and services.
  • We are not responsible for third-party content, products, or services.
  • Third-party services are subject to their own terms and policies.
  • We use third-party services including payment processors and advertising networks.

11. Disclaimers and Limitations

11.1 Service Warranty

  • THE SLOPE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND.
  • We do not guarantee uninterrupted, secure, or error-free service.
  • We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of content.
  • We do not warrant that the service will meet your requirements.
  • You use The Slope at your own risk.

11.2 Limitation of Liability

  • TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES.
  • Our total liability for any claim is limited to the amount you paid us in the 12 months before the claim.
  • We are not liable for user content, transactions between users, or third-party services.
  • Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so some may not apply to you.

11.3 Indemnification

  • You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from claims arising from your use of The Slope.
  • This includes claims related to your content, your violations of these terms, or your violations of others' rights.
  • We reserve the right to assume the exclusive defense of any claim.
  • You will cooperate with us in defending any claim.

12. Term and Termination

12.1 Term

  • These terms remain in effect while you use The Slope.
  • Certain provisions survive termination, including intellectual property rights and limitations of liability.

12.2 Termination by You

  • You may terminate your account at any time through account settings.
  • Termination does not relieve you of obligations incurred before termination.
  • Some content may remain visible after account termination.

12.3 Termination by Us

  • We may suspend or terminate your account for violations of these terms.
  • We may terminate accounts with or without cause at our discretion.
  • We will provide notice when reasonably possible.
  • Upon termination, your right to use The Slope immediately ceases.

13. Dispute Resolution

13.1 Governing Law

  • These terms are governed by the laws of Colorado, United States.
  • Disputes will be resolved in the courts of Montrose County, Colorado.
  • You consent to the personal jurisdiction of these courts.

13.2 Informal Resolution

  • Before filing a claim, you agree to contact us to attempt informal resolution.
  • Contact us at legal@theslope.co with a description of the dispute.
  • We will attempt to resolve disputes in good faith.

14. General Provisions

14.1 Entire Agreement

  • These terms, along with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement.
  • These terms supersede all prior agreements regarding The Slope.
  • If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.
  • Our failure to enforce any right does not constitute a waiver.

14.2 Changes to Terms

  • We may update these terms from time to time.
  • We will notify you of significant changes via email or platform notification.
  • The "Last updated" date reflects the most recent revision.
  • Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.
  • If you do not agree to changes, you must stop using The Slope.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at:

  • Email: legal@theslope.co
  • Address: 321 South 1st Street #388, Montrose, CO 81401
  • Company: CM Ventures Inc. (DBA The Slope)
    The Slope | Colorado Western Slope