Start.coop Terms Of Service

Cooperatives for a Better World (doing business as, and referred to here as “Start.coop”) is a nonprofit providing educational services and programs to assist people and business entities in understanding the social and economic advantages of cooperatives and the means to form cooperatives.

By using this website or any services provided by Start.coop, you acknowledge that you have reviewed and agree to all the terms listed below and to updates and other rules posted on the site. Start.coop reserves the right to terminate your account if you do not follow these Terms of Service.

Who May Use This Website and the Services and User Information

To use any part of this website or any services provided by Start.coop, you must be 18 years of age or older, and legally able to agree to this Terms of Service for using this website and services, and able to abide by all applicable laws in your jurisdiction.

You may use this website and services if you:

Use it only for your own interests or those of your organization

Do not let anyone outside of your organization use your account, protect your user information so that others can not use it, and recognize that you are liable for anyone who accesses the site with your user name and information,

Do not reproduce or republish information provided to you on this website anywhere else without the express permission of Start.coop, and

Consent to having any data you provide to Start.coop, including personal data, transferred to and processed in the United States.

Additional terms for attorneys and legal professionals can be found in Additional Terms of Service for Attorneys and Legal Professionals.

If you suspect someone is using your account information, contact Start.Coop right away at: hello@start.coop

Start.coop’s Rules.

You must follow Start.coop’s rules unless you get Start.coop’s express written permission to do otherwise.

Do not upload unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, junk mail, spam, pyramid schemes, or other form of solicitation, except in areas designated for that purpose;

Do not upload material that contains software viruses or any other computer code, files, or programs designed to interrupt, destroy, or limit the functionality of any computer software, hardware, or telecommunications equipment;

Do not interfere with this website or the servers and networks connected to this site; or

Do not disobey any requirement, procedure, policy, or regulation of a network connected to this site.

Do not use Start.coop website or services if you are physically located outside the United States.

Except as allowed by other terms of this agreement, You must not use any part of this site, its content, or its underlying programs to:

Copy, change, reproduce, republish, distribute, display, or transmit for commercial, non-profit or public purposes any part of this site, its content or its software;

Rent, lease, loan, sell, sublicense, or create derivative works from this site;

Decompile, extract, or disassemble our source code;

Use software or other methods to monitor or copy our site or software;

Determine the site architecture or extract information about usage, users, or their identities; or

Use, export, or re-export any part of this website or its content in violation of U.S. export control laws.

No Illegal Activity.

Start.coop may investigate complaints and reported violations. If we suspect illegal or inappropriate activity, we may report it to law enforcement, regulators, or other parties. We may disclose user information of anyone or any entity involved in that activity, including: user profiles, e-mail addresses, usage history, posted materials, IP addresses, and traffic information.

You must not use this site in any way that U.S. law, or the laws of your state/jurisdiction, define as illegal.

Do not use this website to:

Upload content that is illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, invasive of someone’s privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically objectionable, or wrongful in some other way;

Misrepresent your affiliation with a person or agency, or impersonate a person or agency, including Start.coop or its staff;

Upload content that you do not have the right to transmit, including any content that infringes, misappropriates, or in any way violates a party’s patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, or other proprietary rights;

Harm a child, stalk or harass anyone; or

Collect or store personal data about other users unless those user(s) have authorized you to do so.

Start.coop is not your lawyer.

Start.coop, its employees, and representatives of Start.coop are not your legal counsel. This website and some of Start.coop services provide general co-op formation educational services and information, this is not legal advice. We do not warrant or guarantee that the Services and information are accurate or up-to-date. Nor do we warrant or guarantee how the general co-op formation educational services and information might apply to your specific facts and unique case. Always consult with a lawyer for legal advice and recommendations about your specific facts and unique case. In fact we even provide a free directory of lawyers. Documents created using our Services require consultation with a lawyer prior to signing or filing. When you use this site, you do so at your own risk.

Support fees paid to Start.coop do not ever include legal representation by an attorney, and any fees paid to Start.coop are not “attorneys fees”.

Start.coop cannot:

Give you legal advice, opinions, or recommendations;

Tell you if your forms, policies and documents are legally sufficient;

Represent or protect your legal interests

By using this service, you agree that:

You will not detrimentally rely on, nor have the right to claim that you were harmed by, nor have the right to claim that you were harmed by any information from this site or Services and will consult with your attorney on the specific nature and facts of your case.

Your use of this website and Services does not create any attorney-client relationship or any other fiduciary relationship between you and Start.coop, and

Incorporation Support Users Requirement

In order to improve our educational services, we ask all users of Incorporation Support to share back to Start.coop their final documents created with the help of our services. Final documents include any articles of incorporation, or certificate of incorporation that have been filed with a state, as well as any bylaws and operating agreements approved by the cooperative’s members or authorized party, and any investment agreements offered by your cooperative to potential investors (the “Documents”). You or your designated attorney may send the Documents and may redact identifying information before delivery. Documents shall be delivered electronically via email to greg@start.coop within thirty (30) days of entity formation or member approval. Failure to deliver the Documents is a violation of these Terms of Service, making you ineligible for future Start.coop services.

Start.coop’s Ownership Rights.

This website and the Services are protected by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents and other proprietary rights and laws. Start.coop owns copyrights to this website’s content, frequently asked questions, logos, layout, graphics, navigation design, the collective and compiled databases, the Services, and all other content created by Start.coop’s employees, contractors, consultants, and contributors to this website.

Using this site gives you NO rights or license of any kind to this website or Services, its software, or any other content beyond the limited use of Services for which you have contracted. You may not use Start.coop’s trademarks, service marks, or trade dress in any way, including in:

Services or products not owned by Start.coop,

A way that causes confusion or implies that Start.coop sponsors, endorses, or is connected to your own activities, products, or services, or

Hidden or embedded text in web pages or other materials.

You may not reproduce, copy, change, publish, display, distribute, share, or upload any part of this website, without the express written permission of Start.coop.

Privacy.

To use this site, you must agree to Start.coop’s privacy policy. If you wish to opt-out of our emails, you can unsubscribe at the bottom of the email received, or email hello@start.coop for more assistance.

Confidentiality.

Start.coop takes reasonable steps to keep your information confidential, and to keep confidential any documents shared with Start.coop. Unless we have your written consent, or under circumstances described in this Terms of Service, such as suspicion of illegal activity, Start.coop will not share your information, or any of your documents with parties or persons who are not already approved.

Closing Your Account.

You may:

Delete any files saved to this site, and close your account at this site.

You may also have your registration information deleted from our database by contacting hello@start.coop. You must send your request from the email address you used to create your account.

Start.coop may terminate or suspend your license to this website and Services at any time for any reason, without notice to you. Start.coop may also close this website and Services at any time for any reason, without notice to you.

Links.

Links to other websites

This website and Services may list links to other websites, and service providers. We do this for your convenience only. When you click on a link to other websites, you leave this website. Those links are not a recommendation or approval of those sites or their owners, and those websites are not under Start.coop’s control. We are not responsible for those websites, the information, services, or products they may offer, or any loss or damage you may have at those sites.

Disclaimer

When you use this website and Services, you do so at your own risk.

Start.coop is not responsible for any loss, injury, claim, liability, or damage related to:

The hardware or software you use to access this site,

Your use of this site, Services or its content for any purpose, including related to legal advice,

Any errors or omissions in the content at this site and Services or other sites you are directed to from this site, or

The unavailability of this site, Services or its content.

Start.coop makes no guarantee that any material on this site is

Suitable for any special purpose, or

Free of any claim of ownership by a third party.

START.COOP AND COOPERATIVES FOR A BETTER WORLD DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, TITLE, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

Limited Liability.

BY YOUR USE OF THIS WEBSITE, AND START.COOP SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO WAIVE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS RELATING TO THE USE OF THE WEBSITE, SERVICES, CONTENT OR ANY OTHER MATERIALS WHETHER SUCH CLAIMS ARE AGAINST START.COOP OR ANY OTHER PERSON WHO HAS SUPPLIED CONTENT TO THE WEBSITE. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES AND UNDER NO LEGAL THEORY SHALL START.COOP OR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN CREATING, PRODUCING, OR DELIVERING THE WEBSITE BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ATTORNEYS' FEES) IN ANY WAY DUE TO, RESULTING FROM, OR ARISING IN CONNECTION FROM, YOUR ACCESS TO, USE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS WEBSITE. TO THE EXTENT THE FOREGOING LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IS PROHIBITED OR FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE, THE SOLE OBLIGATION OF START.COOP OR ANY OTHER PERSON WHO HAS SUPPLIED CONTENT TO THE WEBSITE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES SHALL BE LIMITED TO $100.00 OR THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID TO START.COOP WHICHEVER AMOUNT IS GREATER.

Indemnification.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Start.coop and any third party providing content to this website or Services from any and all claims, losses, expenses, damages and costs, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees, arising as a result of your use of this website or Services.

Arbitration.

Any claims made related to this website or Services must be settled in Massachusetts by binding arbitration. The arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the then-applicable Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Each side will pay for its own costs, including attorney fees and costs.

The arbitrator’s award will be binding and conclusive, and a judgment on any award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The arbitrator may not award punitive damages.

Jurisdiction

These Terms of Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Massachusetts, without giving any effect to any principles of conflicts of law. You agree that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to these terms shall be filed only in the state or federal courts located in Massachusetts and you hereby consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of litigating any action.

Enforcing Start.coop’s Rights.

When you use this website and Services, you agree that any use that violates these Terms of Service may cause irreparable injury to Start.coop. If you do not follow these terms, you agree that Start.coop will have the right to non-monetary relief, including a court order requiring you to stop or to perform any relief a court may impose, and not have to post any bond or other security.

Severability.

If any part of these Terms of Service is found invalid or unenforceable, Start.coop and you agree that all other parts of this agreement are valid, the intended meaning of the invalidated part will be replaced with language that closely matches Start.coop’s original intent, and this agreement remains valid.

Even if a term of this agreement goes unenforced, Start.coop does not waive any part of this agreement, unless it does so in writing.

Integration.

The version of these Terms of Service currently available at this website, incorporating by reference any supplemental rules or terms posted on this website, constitutes the complete statement of the agreement between you and Start.coop. That version supersedes and merges all prior proposals, understandings, and all other agreements, oral and written, between the parties relating to the subject matter of the agreement.

Modification to Terms of Service.

Updated versions of the Terms of Service will appear on this website and are effective immediately. Your continued use of this website after any update constitutes your agreement to be bound by the updated Terms of Service. You are responsible for regularly reviewing the Terms of Service.

*IN ADDITION TO START.COOP WEBSITE TERMS OF SERVICE ABOVE, ATTORNEYS AND LEGAL PROFESSIONALS MUST READ AND ASSENT TO THE “ADDITIONAL TERMS FOR ATTORNEYS AND LEGAL PROFESSIONALS” BELOW BEFORE USING THIS SITE.

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*IN ADDITION TO START.COOP WEBSITE TERMS OF SERVICE ABOVE, ATTORNEYS AND LEGAL PROFESSIONALS MUST READ AND ASSENT TO THE “ADDITIONAL TERMS FOR ATTORNEYS AND LEGAL PROFESSIONALS” BELOW BEFORE USING THIS SITE.

Additional Terms for Attorneys and Legal Professionals

Attorney and Legal Professionals Responsibilities.

When you use this service on behalf of a client in your capacity as an attorney or legal professional, or engage with persons who found you as a provider via this service (together referred to as “clients”), you agree that you alone are responsible for:

Verifying your contact information is accurate for any potential clients

Protecting the interests of your client(s) and yourself the interests of your client(s) and yourself

Using your professional judgment to apply any information from this site to the facts and circumstances of your case,

Verifying any information you get from this website and the Services, and

Acknowledging that any legal advice you may provide will be based on independent, accurate, and complete information and research.

Ethical Rules and Standards.

When you use this website or the Services, you must follow all applicable ethical rules and standards, including for:

Conflicts of interest,

Advertising,

Client solicitation,

Unauthorized practice of law,

Privileged and confidential information, and

Misrepresentations of fact.

Start.coop is not responsible for your compliance with these rules.

No Relationship with Start.coop

When you use this website or the Services, you do not have an attorney-client relationship or other fiduciary relationship with Start.coop.

Delivery of All Final Documents.

In order to improve our educational services, we ask all users of Incorporation Support to share back to Start.coop their final documents created with the help of our services.

By accepting clients matched or connected through Start.coop’s Incorporation Support service, you understand that all such clients are asked to provide to Start.coop all Final Documents, which include any articles of incorporation, or certificate of incorporation that have been filed with a state, as well as any bylaws and operating agreements approved by the cooperative’s members or authorized party, and any investment agreements offered by your cooperative to potential investors (the “Documents”).

Your client may send the Documents or designate you to send the Documents. You or your client may redact identifying information before delivery. Documents must be delivered electronically via email to greg@start.coop within thirty (30) days of entity formation. Failure to deliver the Documents is considered a violation of these Terms of Service, making your client ineligible for all future Start.coop Services.