Terms of Service

Welcome to Downstage.

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of Downstage, including the website located at downstagesocial.com and any related products, features, applications, and services (collectively, the “Service”).

The Service is operated by Downstage Social (“Downstage Social,” “Downstage,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

Downstage is a social platform for theater fans to discover shows, share reviews, create lists, post theater-related content, and connect with other members of the theater community.

By creating an account or accessing or using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you should not use the Service.

1. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old to use Downstage.

If you are under the age of majority where you live, you represent that you have permission from your parent or legal guardian to use the Service where such permission is required.

You may not use the Service if you are prohibited from doing so under applicable law.

2. Your Account

Certain features of Downstage require you to create an account.

When creating and maintaining an account, you agree to provide accurate information and keep your account information reasonably current.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your account credentials and for activity occurring through your account.

You may not:

• Impersonate another person or organization
• Create an account using information you do not have permission to use
• Sell, transfer, or otherwise provide your account to another person without our permission
• Use another person's account without authorization
• Use Downstage to engage in fraudulent, deceptive, or unlawful activity

If you believe someone has gained unauthorized access to your account, please contact Downstage Social.

We reserve the right to suspend, restrict, or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or create a risk to Downstage, our users, or others.

3. Using Downstage

Subject to these Terms, Downstage Social grants you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable right to access and use the Service for its intended purposes.

You agree to use Downstage responsibly and in compliance with applicable law.

You may use Downstage to participate in features such as:

• Discovering shows and productions
• Rating and reviewing shows
• Creating and sharing lists
• Following or interacting with other users
• Maintaining a theater profile or history
• Sharing theater-related photographs or content
• Participating in other community features we make available

Features may change as Downstage develops.

4. User Content

Downstage allows users to create, submit, upload, publish, or share content (“User Content”).

User Content may include:

• Reviews
• Ratings
• Lists
• Comments
• Profile information
• Photographs
• Images of Playbills or programs
• Theater-related images
• Captions
• Other materials you choose to submit

You Own Your Content

You retain ownership of User Content that you create and own.

Downstage Social does not claim ownership of your User Content simply because you post it on Downstage.

License You Give Downstage

When you submit User Content to Downstage, you grant Downstage Social a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, store, reproduce, display, publish, format, adapt, and distribute that User Content as reasonably necessary to operate, provide, promote, secure, and improve the Service.

This license allows us, for example, to display your review on a show page, display an uploaded image in your profile or activity feed, resize an image for different devices, or make your public content visible to other users.

This license does not transfer ownership of your User Content to Downstage Social.

The license generally ends when your User Content is deleted from the Service, except where continued retention or use is reasonably necessary for technical, backup, security, legal, or operational purposes or where content has been shared or incorporated into interactions involving other users.

5. Your Responsibility for User Content

You are responsible for the User Content you submit to Downstage.

By uploading or posting User Content, you represent that:

• You created the content; or
• You own the necessary rights to the content; or
• You otherwise have permission or a lawful basis to post and share the content through Downstage.

You agree not to upload content that violates another person's copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other rights.

The fact that Downstage allows a particular type of content to be uploaded does not mean Downstage Social represents that you have the legal right to upload it.

This is particularly relevant to photographs, production photography, artwork, posters, logos, Playbills, programs, and other materials associated with theatrical productions.

You are responsible for determining whether you have the right to share content you upload.

6. Playbills, Programs, and Theater-Related Images

Downstage may allow users to share photographs of Playbills, theater programs, tickets, theater displays, venues, or other materials associated with a production.

Downstage Social does not claim ownership of third-party trademarks, artwork, photography, Playbill designs, production materials, or other intellectual property depicted in User Content.

Theater names, show names, production artwork, Playbill designs, logos, trademarks, photographs, and related materials may belong to their respective owners.

Users are responsible for ensuring that their use and submission of such materials complies with applicable law and these Terms.

Downstage Social may remove or restrict access to theater-related images or other content in response to a valid rights-holder request or when we otherwise reasonably believe removal is appropriate.

7. Reviews, Ratings, and Opinions

Reviews and ratings posted on Downstage reflect the opinions of individual users.

Downstage Social does not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy of user reviews, ratings, comments, or opinions.

When posting reviews or other commentary, you agree not to:

• Knowingly publish materially false factual claims about another person
• Impersonate someone else
• Manipulate ratings or reviews through fake accounts or coordinated activity
• Accept compensation in exchange for deceptive or undisclosed reviews
• Harass or threaten performers, creators, theater employees, other users, or others
• Publish private personal information about another person without authorization

Strong opinions and criticism of shows are welcome. Personal harassment, threats, and abuse are not.

8. Prohibited Content and Conduct

You may not use Downstage to create, upload, distribute, promote, or facilitate content or activity that:

• Is unlawful
• Is fraudulent or intentionally deceptive
• Threatens or encourages violence
• Harasses, stalks, or targets another person
• Contains another person's sensitive personal information without authorization
• Exploits or endangers minors
• Contains child sexual abuse material or other illegal sexual content
• Promotes or facilitates illegal activity
• Infringes intellectual property rights
• Contains malware, malicious code, or harmful software
• Attempts to interfere with the operation or security of Downstage
• Attempts to gain unauthorized access to accounts, systems, or data
• Uses automated systems to scrape, collect, or extract information from Downstage without authorization
• Sends spam or engages in deceptive commercial activity
• Manipulates Downstage's ratings, reviews, engagement, or community systems
• Impersonates another person, performer, production, theater, organization, or Downstage Social
• Otherwise materially interferes with other users' ability to enjoy the Service

We may take action against content or conduct that violates these Terms.

9. Content Moderation

Downstage Social reserves the right, but is not obligated, to review, moderate, restrict, disable, or remove User Content.

We may take action when we reasonably believe content:

• Violates these Terms
• Violates applicable law
• Infringes another person's rights
• Creates safety or security concerns
• Is spam or abusive
• Is inappropriate for the Downstage community
• Could expose Downstage Social or its users to significant legal or operational risk

We may also restrict, suspend, or terminate accounts associated with serious or repeated violations.

Downstage Social is not obligated to publish or continue hosting any particular User Content.

Moderation decisions may be made using reports from users, automated systems, manual review, or a combination of methods.

10. Reporting Content

If you believe content on Downstage violates these Terms, infringes your rights, or otherwise should be reviewed, you may report it using reporting functionality provided through the Service or by contacting Downstage Social.

Please provide enough information for us to identify and evaluate the content.

Submitting a report does not guarantee that content will be removed.

11. Copyright

Downstage Social respects intellectual property rights.

If you believe content available through Downstage infringes a copyright that you own or are authorized to enforce, please contact us with information sufficient to identify:

• The copyrighted work you believe has been infringed
• The content on Downstage you believe is infringing
• Where the content appears on Downstage
• Your contact information
• A statement explaining your good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized
• A statement that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner

We may request additional information when necessary to evaluate a copyright complaint.

We reserve the right to remove allegedly infringing content and to restrict or terminate accounts of users who repeatedly infringe intellectual property rights.

Nothing in these Terms determines whether a particular use of copyrighted material qualifies as fair use or is otherwise permitted by law.

12. Downstage Content and Intellectual Property

Except for User Content and third-party materials, Downstage Social owns or licenses the Service and the materials associated with it, including, as applicable:

• Downstage branding
• Downstage logos
• Website design
• Interface elements
• Original graphics
• Software
• Code
• Features
• Original written content
• Databases and compilations
• Other materials created by or for Downstage Social

These Terms do not transfer ownership of Downstage Social's intellectual property to you.

You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, sell, license, reverse engineer, or commercially exploit protected portions of the Service except as permitted by applicable law or with our written permission.

13. Third-Party Intellectual Property

Downstage is an independent platform for theater fans.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, Downstage Social is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or officially associated with any theater, theatrical production, producer, performer, ticketing company, publisher, Playbill, Broadway organization, or other third party referenced through the Service.

Names, trademarks, logos, artwork, photographs, and other intellectual property belonging to third parties remain the property of their respective owners.

References to shows, theaters, productions, performers, and other entities are provided for identification, discovery, discussion, and community purposes.

14. Show and Production Information

Downstage may provide information about theatrical shows, productions, venues, performers, dates, descriptions, or related subjects.

We attempt to provide a useful experience but do not guarantee that all information available through Downstage is complete, current, or accurate.

Productions, casts, schedules, venues, ticket availability, and other information may change without notice.

You should verify important information directly with the applicable theater, production, ticket provider, or other official source.

15. Third-Party Links and Services

Downstage may contain links to third-party websites or services, including theater websites, ticketing platforms, publications, social networks, and other external services.

Downstage Social does not control these third parties and is not responsible for their content, availability, security, products, services, or practices.

Your use of a third-party service is governed by that third party's terms and policies.

16. Advertising and Sponsored Content

Downstage may display advertisements, sponsorships, promoted content, affiliate links, or other commercial material.

Advertising or sponsored content may be provided by Downstage Social or third parties.

Where appropriate, we may identify paid or sponsored content.

The appearance of an advertisement on Downstage does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the advertiser, product, or service by Downstage Social.

Our collection and use of information in connection with advertising is addressed in our Privacy Policy.

17. Feedback

We welcome feedback, ideas, suggestions, and feature requests about Downstage.

If you voluntarily provide feedback to us, you grant Downstage Social permission to use that feedback without restriction or compensation to you.

This means, for example, that we may use a feature suggestion you send us to improve or develop Downstage.

18. Changes to the Service

Downstage is an evolving platform.

We may add, modify, suspend, or discontinue features or portions of the Service.

We do not guarantee that any particular feature will always remain available.

We may also establish limits on certain features or restrict access to portions of the Service where reasonably necessary.

19. Account Suspension and Termination

You may stop using Downstage at any time.

You may also request deletion of your account as provided through Edit profile or by contacting us.

Downstage Social may suspend, restrict, or terminate your access to the Service when we reasonably believe:

• You have violated these Terms
• Your account presents a security risk
• Your activity may harm Downstage, another user, or another person
• Suspension or termination is necessary to comply with law
• Your account is being used fraudulently or abusively

Where appropriate, we may provide notice before or after taking action.

Sections of these Terms that by their nature should continue after termination will survive termination, including provisions relating to intellectual property, disclaimers, limitations of liability, and disputes.

20. Privacy

Your use of Downstage is also subject to the Downstage Social Privacy Policy.

The Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information associated with the Service.

By using Downstage, you acknowledge that you have reviewed the Privacy Policy.

21. Disclaimer of Warranties

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Downstage is provided “as is” and “as available.”

Downstage Social does not guarantee that the Service will always be available, uninterrupted, secure, accurate, or error-free.

We do not guarantee the accuracy or reliability of User Content, reviews, ratings, show information, third-party information, or other materials available through the Service.

Your use of Downstage is at your own risk.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain warranty disclaimers, so portions of this section may not apply to you.

22. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Downstage Social and its owners, officers, employees, contractors, affiliates, and service providers will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from or relating to your use of or inability to use Downstage.

This includes, where permitted by law, damages resulting from:

• Loss of data
• Loss of profits or revenue
• Loss of goodwill
• Unauthorized access
• User Content
• Third-party conduct
• Service interruptions
• Reliance on information available through Downstage

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

23. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Downstage Social and its owners, officers, employees, contractors, and affiliates from claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and reasonable expenses arising from or relating to:

• Your User Content
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of applicable law
• Your infringement or violation of another person's rights
• Your misuse of the Service

This provision applies only to the extent permitted by applicable law.

24. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Michigan, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

Any dispute arising from these Terms or the Service will be handled in accordance with applicable law and any dispute-resolution provisions that may be established in these Terms.

25. Changes to These Terms

Downstage Social may update these Terms from time to time as the Service develops or our legal, operational, or business requirements change.

When we update these Terms, we will revise the Last Updated date at the top of this page.

If we make material changes, we may provide additional notice through Downstage, by email, or through another reasonable method.

Your continued use of Downstage after updated Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of those updated Terms to the extent permitted by applicable law.

If you do not agree to updated Terms, you should stop using the Service.

26. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any additional policies or terms expressly incorporated into them, constitute the agreement between you and Downstage Social regarding your use of the Service.

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.

Our failure to enforce a provision of these Terms does not waive our right to enforce it later.

27. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms or need to contact us regarding the Service, please contact:

Downstage Social
Website: downstagesocial.com
Email: [email protected]

For copyright-related requests, please include “Copyright Request” in the subject line.