Brown University Terms of Service 

Terms of Use for Websites on Brown University Online Platforms 

Please read these Terms of Use (“Terms”) carefully before accessing or participating in in any chatroom, newsgroup, bulletin or message board, mailing list, list serve, forum, website, transaction or other website available at or through brown.edu or other affiliated URL addresses (each such platform is referred to herein as the “Platform”) made available by Brown University or its affiliated entities (collectively, “Brown”). By using the Platform and participating in activities hosted by the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read these Terms and agree to be bound by and comply with them. If you do not agree to be bound by these Terms, please promptly exit the Platform. Brown University reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time and will publish notice of any such modifications on-line at the Platform or elsewhere on-line. By continuing to access the Platform after notice of such modifications has been published, you signify your agreement to be bound by them. 

Rules for Online Conduct 

You agree to use the Platform in accordance with all applicable Brown policies, rules, and procedures, including but not limited to the University Code of Conduct: https://www.brown.edu/policy/code-conduct and the Brown University Social Media Content Use Terms and Conditions: https://www.brown.edu/university communications/social/terms-and-conditions. You further agree to use the Platform in accordance with all applicable international, federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Because Brown is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, you agree that your use of the Platform will comply with Brown’s Political Activity Policy: https://policy.brown.edu/policy/political-activity. You further agree that you will not e-mail or post any of the following content anywhere on the Platform:

• Content that defames or threatens others 
• Harassing statements or content that violates applicable Brown policy or federal or state law 
• Content that discusses illegal activities with the intent to commit them Content that infringes another’s intellectual property, including, but not limited to, copyrights, trademarks or trade secrets 
• Material that contains obscene (i.e. pornographic) language or images Advertising or any form of commercial solicitation 
• Content that is otherwise unlawful 
• Copyrighted material, including without limitation software, graphics, text, photographs, sound, video and musical recordings, may not be placed on the Platform without the express permission of the owner of the copyright in the material, or other legal entitlement to use the material Content that violates applicable privacy or confidentiality laws or policies, including, but not limited to, Student education records in violation of Brown’s FERPA Policy: https://registrar.brown.edu/faculty/ferpa-faculty-and-staff.

Although Brown does not routinely screen or monitor content posted by users to the Platform or distributed by users through the Platform, Brown reserves the right to remove content which violates the above rules of which it becomes aware, but is under no obligation to do so. Brown further reserves its right to collect and preserve copies of information posted by users to the Platform or distributed by users through the Platform, although it is under no obligation to do so. 

Finally, you agree that you will not access or attempt to access any other user’s account, or misrepresent or attempt to misrepresent your identity while using the Platform. 

Reporting Violations 

If You suspect a violation of these Terms has occurred, or are You are encouraged to share your concerns by submitting an anonymous and confidential report via Brown’s Anonymous Reporting Hotline: https://compliance.brown.edu/reporting-concerns. In addition to the Hotline, Brown has several other reporting options and resources: https://compliance.brown.edu/reporting-concerns/other-reporting-options managed by other Brown offices which you may consider, based on the nature of the suspected violation. 

Disclaimer 

Brown is not a publisher of all of the content contained on or distributed through the Platform, or of all content that may be available through links to and from the Platform. The Platform may include or distribute unmoderated content containing the personal opinions and other expressions of the Brown University persons on a wide range of topics, and which are the opinion of the specific author and are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of Brown. Neither such content, nor the links to other websites included in such content, are screened, approved, reviewed or endorsed by Brown, and Brown is acting solely as an internet service provider with respect to such content. 47 U.S.C. § 230(c)(1). 

Permission to Use Materials 

In consideration for your agreement to the terms and conditions contained here, Brown grants you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Platform. Individual users may use material from the Platform only for their own personal, non-commercial use. You may not otherwise copy, reproduce, retransmit, distribute, publish, commercially exploit or otherwise transfer any material. The burden of determining that use of any information, software or any other content on the Platform is permissible rests with You. 

Limitation of Use 

You may use the Platform for legal purposes only. Furthermore, you agree that, if a third party claims that any material you have contributed to the Platform or distributed through the Platform is unlawful, you will bear the burden of establishing that the material complies with all applicable laws. Although Brown does not monitor the content of the Platform or individual communications, Brown has the right to remove material from the Platform, block access, or take other action with respect to such content in its sole discretion, although Brown is under no obligation to do so. You may not use Brown computing resources or the Platform to disseminate unsolicited advertising or promotional material of any kind. 

Links to Other Platforms 

The Platform may include or distribute hyperlinks to websites maintained or controlled by others. Brown is not responsible for and does not routinely screen, approve, review or endorse the contents of or use of any of the products or services that may be offered at these websites. 

Choice of Law/Forum Selection 

The Platform is hosted by or on behalf of Brown on computing resources located on the Brown campus or elsewhere. You agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or any content posted to the Platform or distributed through the Platform, including copies and republication thereof, whether based in contract, tort, statutory or other law, will be governed by the laws of the State of Rhode Island, excluding its conflicts of law provisions. You further consent to the personal jurisdiction of and exclusive venue in the federal and state courts located in and serving Providence, Rhode Island as the legal forum for any such dispute. 

Disclaimer of Warranty/Limitation of Liability 

THE SITE AND ANY INFORMATION, PRODUCTS OR SERVICES REFERENCED THEREIN ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR USE OF A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NONINFRINGEMENT. 

Brown does not warrant, and hereby disclaims any warranties, either express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the Platform, information obtained from or through the Platform, or link to the Platform or any other web site. Brown does not warrant that the Platform will operate in an uninterrupted or error-free manner or that the Platform is or will be free of viruses or other harmful components. Use of information obtained from or through the Platform is at your own risk. 

YOU AGREE THAT BROWN WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGES, EITHER ACTUAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS, OR TO YOUR (OR ANY THIRD PARTY’S) USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SITE, OR TO YOUR PLACEMENT OF CONTENT ON THE SITE, OR TO YOUR RELIANCE UPON INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM OR THROUGH THE SITE. IN PARTICULAR, BROWN WILL HAVE NO LIABILTY FOR ANY DIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, WHETHER FORESEEABLE OR UNFORESEEABLE, (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CLAIMS FOR DEFAMATION, ERRORS, LOSS OF DATA, OR INTERRUPTION IN AVAILABILITY OF DATA), ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS, YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SITE, OR ANY PURCHASES ON THE SITE, OR YOUR PLACEMENT OF CONTENT ON THE SITE, OR TO YOUR RELIANCE UPON INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM OR THROUGH THE SITE, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT, STATUTORY OR OTHER LAW. 

Brown makes no representation regarding your ability to transmit and receive information from or through the Platform and you agree and acknowledge that your ability to access the Platform may be impaired. Brown disclaims any and all liability resulting from or related to such events. 

Trademarks 

Use, reproduction, copying or redistribution of the logo, name or any graphics on the Platform of Brown or any of its departments, divisions or affiliates, without Brown’s written permission, is prohibited. All other trademarks or service marks appearing on the Platform are the marks of their respective owners. The Brown University name and logo are registered trademarks of Brown University. The Brown Name Use Policy: https://policy.brown.edu/policy/name-use outlines rules for the use of the Brown University institution's name and likeness for the internal campus community and external individuals and organizations. 

Indemnification 

You agree to indemnify and hold Brown harmless from any claims, losses or damages, including legal fees, resulting from your violation of these Terms, your use of the Platform or your placement of any content onto the Platform or distribution of content through the Platform, and to fully cooperate in Brown’s defense against any such claims. 

Your Account 

If you use the Platform, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and password, if any, and for restricting access to your computer, and you agree to accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account or password. Brown and its affiliates reserve the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, or remove or edit content in their sole discretion.