📜 Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using The Anomaly Archive website and services ("Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you disagree with any part of these terms, you may not access the Platform.

These Terms apply to all visitors, users, and others who access or use the Platform, including those who submit reports, browse data, or participate in our community features.

2. Description of Service

The Anomaly Archive is a citizen-led platform for documenting, analyzing, and investigating unexplained phenomena including but not limited to:

• Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings
• Cryptid encounters and unknown creature sightings
• Paranormal activities and supernatural experiences
• Anomalous phenomena that defy conventional explanation

Our services include report submission, data browsing, pattern analysis, podcast content, and research collaboration tools.

3. User Responsibilities and Conduct

3.1 Truthful Reporting

When submitting reports, you agree to:

• Provide truthful and accurate information to the best of your knowledge
• Submit only genuine experiences you personally witnessed or have reliable knowledge of
• Clearly distinguish between fact and speculation in your descriptions
• Not submit deliberately false, misleading, or hoax reports

3.2 Prohibited Content

You may not submit content that is:

• Illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, or offensive
• Defamatory, libelous, or invasive of another's privacy
• Fraudulent, deceptive, or constitutes a deliberate hoax
• Commercial advertising or promotional material
• Contains malware, viruses, or harmful code
• Violates intellectual property rights of others

4. Content and Intellectual Property

4.1 Your Content

You retain ownership of any content you submit to the Platform, including reports, images, videos, and audio recordings. However, by submitting content, you grant The Anomaly Archive a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:

• Display, reproduce, and distribute your content on the Platform
• Use your content for research, analysis, and educational purposes
• Include your content in aggregate data sets and statistical analyses
• Feature your content in podcast episodes or other media (with appropriate anonymization if requested)

4.2 Platform Content

The Platform's design, features, analysis tools, and proprietary content are owned by The Anomaly Archive and protected by intellectual property laws.

5. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our data collection and use practices are detailed in our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

Key points include:

• Anonymous submissions contain no personally identifiable information
• Contact information for non-anonymous reports is encrypted and access-controlled
• Location data may be generalized to protect witness privacy
• We never sell personal information to third parties

6. Content Moderation and Verification

6.1 Review Process

All submitted reports undergo review for:

• Authenticity and credibility assessment
• Compliance with content guidelines
• Quality scoring and verification
• Duplicate detection and consolidation

6.2 Publication Decisions

We reserve the right to approve, reject, or request modifications to submitted reports. Reasons for rejection may include insufficient detail, obvious hoaxes, inappropriate content, or duplicate submissions.

6.3 Content Removal

We may remove content that violates these Terms, poses safety risks, or is requested for removal by the original submitter with proper verification.

7. Disclaimers and Limitations

7.1 No Warranties

The Platform is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee:

• Accuracy, completeness, or reliability of submitted reports
• Continuous, uninterrupted, or error-free operation
• That the Platform will meet your specific requirements
• The authenticity of all submitted content

7.2 Limitation of Liability

The Anomaly Archive shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Platform, including but not limited to lost profits, data loss, or business interruption.

8. Account Termination

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend access to the Platform for users who:

• Violate these Terms of Service
• Submit repeatedly false or misleading reports
• Engage in abusive or harassing behavior
• Attempt to circumvent security measures
• Use the Platform for illegal activities

Terminated users may appeal the decision by contacting our support team with relevant information.

9. Third-Party Links and Services

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, podcasts, or services. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or terms of these external sites. Access them at your own risk.

10. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms periodically to reflect changes in our services or legal requirements. Significant changes will be announced on the Platform. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

For major changes affecting user rights, we will provide at least 30 days' notice before implementation.

11. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States. Any disputes arising from these Terms or Platform use shall be resolved through:

1. Direct Communication: Contact our support team first
2. Mediation: If direct resolution fails
3. Arbitration: As a final resort, binding arbitration under American Arbitration Association rules

12. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

• Email: legal@anomalyarchive.org
• Contact Form: Use our contact page
• Response Time: We aim to respond within 48 hours