Gather Terms of service

Last updated November 9, 2022

This Gather Terms of Service (the “Agreement”) is a binding contract for a license to software and services between you (“Customer” or “you”) and Gather Presence, Inc. (“Gather” or “we”), a Delaware corporation with offices in San Francisco, CA. The Agreement contains, among other things, warranty disclaimers, liability limitations and use limitations. The Platform, the website located at https://www.gather.town/ (the “Site”) and any ancillary services performed by Gather for Customer are collectively referred to as the “Services”.

Gather is a software as a service-based platform (the “Platform”) that enables customers to build customized virtual spaces and host events in those spaces or use them on a subscription basis. Gather offers the Platform with limited features for free, and we charge a fee for other uses of the Platform (the fee varies based on factors such as time and other features). We also make subscriptions of the Platform available for ongoing use. Some ideas for virtual spaces include office spaces, academic conferences, holiday parties, life theaters and any event where serendipitous interactions and hallway conversations in a creative and fun environment are valued. While Gather does not offer any direct assistance in building or customizing virtual spaces, it does provide a list of third parties that we call “ambassadors” who might be able to help – you can find them here.
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Please contact Gather at legal@gather.town with any issues or notices related to the Agreement. Gather’s privacy policy may be viewed here and its data processing agreement (“DPA”) is accessible here.

1. SERVICES, SUPPORT, AND DEFINITIONS

1.1 Services Subject to Customer’s compliance with the Agreement, Gather will provide the Services for the duration of the commercial relationship (the “Term”) between the parties. The Services include a non-exclusive license to the Platform, fully subject to the terms of this Agreement.
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1.2 Customer Support Gather will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide support in connection with the Services during standard business hours through electronic mail, online resources, or otherwise in accordance with its standard practices (“Customer Support”). Customer Support is available Monday-Friday during standard support hours of 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM PST (Pacific Standard Time, United States). Customer Support issues may be communicated via e-mail to support@gather.town or by sending a message on Gather’s Help Page at here. Gather does not offer Service Level Agreements (“SLAs”).
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1.3 Modification Of Services. Gather is continually modifying the Services to improve them. You acknowledge that Gather may modify the Services at its sole discretion at any time, and your only remedy for modifications that you don’t like is to stop using the Services.
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1.4 Important Definitions
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“Customer Content” includes any content and data provided by or on behalf of a Customer and any users to access the Services. Customer Content will not be classified as Confidential Information as defined below.
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“Confidential Information” means any information or data disclosed by either party that is marked or otherwise designated as confidential or proprietary.  However, “Confidential Information” will not include any information which (a) is in the public domain through no fault of receiving party; (b) was properly known to receiving party, without restriction, prior to disclosure by the disclosing party; (c) was properly disclosed to receiving party, without restriction, by another person with the legal authority to do so; or (d) is independently developed by the receiving party without use of or reference to the disclosing party’s Confidential Information. . Confidential Information includes the Platform but does not include any Customer Content created in connection with a Virtual Space.
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“Equipment” means all equipment and ancillary services needed to be compatible with, connect to, access or otherwise use the Service, including, without limitation, hardware, servers, software, operating systems, networks, and other services.

2. CUSTOMER ACCESS TO SERVICES, CONTENT, USE AND RESTRICTIONS

2.1 Customer Access to Services To access the Services, you must either create an account, create a virtual space within Gather (“Virtual Space”), or enter a previously created Virtual Space. The quality of your user experience in a Virtual Space may depend heavily upon your compliance with usage guidelines provided by Gather (for example, here). If Customer creates a Virtual Space, Customer assumes sole responsibility to ensure that only authorized users will be invited to its Virtual Space and permitted to access the Services, and acknowledges that Gather may refuse access to Virtual Spaces or cancel accounts in its reasonable discretion. Gather may also suspend Customer’s access to the Services: (i) for scheduled or emergency maintenance, (ii) due to unavailability of services (including network and hosting services) provided by a third party service provider, or (iii) in the event Customer is in material breach of this Agreement, including failure to pay any amounts due to Gather.
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2.2 Customer Content and Data As between the parties, Customer owns Customer Content and Customer assumes sole responsibility for all Customer’s activity in connection with the Services, such as uploading Customer Content onto the Platform. You provide us with a license to use Customer Content uploaded to the Platform only as necessary to provide the Services. Gather makes no representations or warranties as to the privacy of interactions in a Virtual Space or Customer Content created within or uploaded to a Virtual Space. The privacy of a meeting depends on the conversation controls set by the Customer. If you would like assistance in creating a private meeting space, please contact support@gather.town.  Gather processes personal data in connection with data protection laws and its DPA can be found here. You may request a countersigned version of the DPA but Gather will not negotiate its terms.
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2.3 Customer Use of Services Customer shall use the Services in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including without limitation those related to data privacy, international communications, export and the transmission of technical or personal data, consumer and child protection, obscenity or defamation. Gather is not intended for children and you may not permit a child under the age of eighteen to access the Platform or Services.

2.4 Customer Use Restrictions Customer agrees that it shall not (and shall not knowingly permit any third party to), directly or indirectly: (i) reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or otherwise attempt to discover the source code, object code, or underlying structure, ideas, or algorithms of the Services (except to the extent applicable laws specifically prohibit such restriction); (ii) modify, translate, or create derivative works based on the Services; (iii) copy, rent, lease, distribute, pledge, assign, or otherwise transfer or encumber rights to the Services; (iv) use the Services for the benefit of an unauthorized third party; (v) remove or otherwise alter any proprietary notices or labels from the Services, or any portion thereof; or (vi) use the Services to build an application, product or service that is competitive with any Gather product or service.
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Customer agrees that it shall not (and shall not knowingly permit any third party to) take any action (including uploading, downloading, posting, submitting or otherwise distributing or facilitating distribution of any material through the Services) that: (i) infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, right of publicity or other right of any other person or entity; (ii) is unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, deceptive, fraudulent, invasive of another’s privacy, tortious, obscene, offensive, or profane; (iii) constitutes unauthorized or unsolicited advertising, junk or bulk e-mail (iv) contains software viruses or any other computer codes, files, or programs that are designed or intended to disrupt, damage, limit or interfere with the proper function of any software, hardware, or telecommunications equipment or to damage or obtain unauthorized access to any system, data, password or other information of Gather or any third party; or (v) impersonates any person or entity, including any employee or representative of Gather.
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Customer agrees that it shall not: (i) interfere or attempt to interfere with the proper working of the Services or any activities conducted in connection with the Services; or (ii) bypass any measures Gather may use to prevent or restrict access to the Services (or other accounts, computer systems or networks connected to the Services).
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If Customer creates a Virtual Space, Customer is responsible for ensuring that any user that interacts within that Virtual Space is fully informed about any Customer data privacy practices (not limited to obligations related to third party scripts for analytics or tracking or other tracking measures implemented by Customer). Moreover, Customer agrees that, where required by applicable privacy laws and regulations, Customer will ensure that it obtains all necessary consents, and provides all necessary notices, for the collection or processing of personal data under any applicable data privacy laws.

3. SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

3.1 Security Practices Throughout the term of the Agreement and at all times while Customer Confidential Information is in the possession or under the control of Gather, Gather shall establish and maintain commercially reasonable administrative, technical and physical policies, procedures and safeguards for the protection of Customer Confidential Information.  Gather’s data security program shall be designed specifically to (1) ensure the security, integrity, availability and confidentiality of Customers Confidential Information, (2) protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of Customer’s Confidential Information, and (3) protect against the destruction, loss, unauthorized access to or alteration of Customer’s Confidential Information.
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3.2 Customer Security Responsibilities Customer is responsible for (i) obtaining and maintaining any Equipment, (ii) maintaining the confidentiality and security of their Equipment, account information and credentials (“Security Credentials”), and (iii) all activities that occur using their Security Credentials unless due to the negligence or willful misconduct of Gather or its personnel. Customer may not disclose its Security Credentials to any third party except as expressly authorized in writing by Gather. Customer agrees to promptly notify Gather of any unauthorized use of its Security Credentials, account or any other breach of security. Gather reserves the right to access a Customer account in order to respond to requests for technical support. Gather shall comply with the security obligations of Section 3.1 while performing technical support obligations.

3.3 Confidentiality Each party (a “Receiving Party”) may receive Confidential Information from the other party (a “Disclosing Party”) in connection with this Agreement. Neither party will disclose Confidential Information to any third party, other than to its employees or contractors with a need to know such information for a party to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement, without the express written consent of the other party, nor will a party make use of any Confidential Information other than in the performance of rights or obligations under this Agreement. Each party will use at least the same degree of care to avoid disclosure of Confidential Information as it uses with respect to its own Confidential Information.

4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

As between the parties, Gather retains all intellectual property rights relating to the Services and the Platform and any suggestions, enhancement requests, feedback, recommendations or other information provided by Customer or any third party relating to the Services or the Platform.

5. FEES AND TERMINATION

5.1 Fees If Customer purchases any premium features, Customer will pay any applicable fees set forth on Gather’s pricing page, including any sales or value added taxes, if applicable. If Customer pays any fees through a third-party payment processor, it also agrees to any terms set forth by that payment processor. Undisputed unpaid invoices are subject to a finance charge of 1% per month on any outstanding balance.
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5.2 Termination Gather may terminate or suspend Customer’s access to Services if any invoice is not paid within 30 days. Customer may terminate this Agreement by canceling the Services in writing to support@gather.town and such termination will take effect at the end of the then-current billing cycle. Either party may terminate this Agreement upon fifteen (15) day notice if the other party materially breaches any warranties under this Agreement. Regardless of how the Agreement is terminated, Customer agrees to pay any outstanding balances that are due and payable (including any minimum commitments established by a Gather Order Form) and under no circumstances will Gather issue a refund for prepaid Services. In any case, all sections of this Services Agreement which by their nature should survive termination will survive termination.
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5.3 Return of Customer Content Upon termination, Gather reserves the right (but incurs no obligation) to delete any Customer Content contained with a Virtual Space, or any Virtual Space itself.

6. WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMER

6.1 Each party represents and warrants to the other that: (a) it has full power and authority to grant rights or undertake obligations related to this Agreement, (b) it has no outstanding obligations that conflict with this Agreement, and (c) this Agreement, when signed by its duly authorized representative, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation on that party that is enforceable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
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6.2 Gather represents and warrants to Customer that the Services do not infringe or misappropriate any U.S. patents, copyrights, trade secrets or any other proprietary right of any third party.
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6.3 Gather represents and warrants that it will not knowingly include, in any Gather Platform released to the public and provided to Customer hereunder, any computer code or other computer instructions, devices or techniques, including without limitation those known as disabling devices, trojans, or time bombs, that intentionally disrupt, disable, harm, infect, defraud, damage, or otherwise impede in any manner, the operation of a network, computer program or computer system or any component thereof, including its security or user data. If Gather fails to materially comply with the warranty in this Section 6.3, Customer may promptly notify Gather in writing of any such noncompliance and Gather will, within thirty (30) days of receipt of such written notification, either correct the noncompliance or provide Customer with a plan for correcting noncompliance. If the noncompliance is not corrected or if a reasonably acceptable plan for correcting them is not established during such period, Customer’s sole and exclusive remedy for such noncompliance is termination of this Agreement or discontinuing use of the Services.

6.4 Customer represents and warrants that it will not violate any third party data privacy rights in a Virtual Space.

6.5 EXCEPT FOR ANY WARRANTIES EXPLICITLY GRANTED IN THIS SECTION 6, GATHER DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICES INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. GATHER DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE OR MEET CUSTOMER’S REQUIREMENTS; NOR DOES IT MAKE ANY WARRANTY AS TO THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM USE OF THE SERVICES.  GATHER PROVIDES THE SERVICES “AS IS” AND ON AN “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS.

7. INDEMNIFICATION

7.1 Gather agrees, at its own expense, to indemnify, defend and hold Customer harmless against any suit, claim, or proceeding brought against Customer alleging that the use of Services in accordance with this Agreement infringes any third party intellectual property right set forth in Section 6.2, provided that Customer (i) promptly notifies Gather in writing of any such suit, claim or proceeding, (ii) allows Gather, at Gather’s own expense, to direct the defense of such suit, claim or proceeding, (iii) gives Gather all information and assistance necessary to defend such suit, claim or proceeding, and (iv) does not enter into any settlement of any such suit, claim or proceeding without Gather’s written consent. The foregoing obligations do not apply with respect to the Services or components thereof (i) not supplied by Gather, (ii) made in whole or in part in accordance to Customer specifications, (iii) combined with other products, processes or materials where the alleged infringement would not have occurred without such combination. This section states Gather’s entire liability and Customer’s exclusive remedy for infringement or misappropriation of intellectual property of a third party.
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7.2 Customer agrees, at its own expense, to indemnify, defend and hold Gather harmless against any suit, claim or proceeding brought against Gather in connection with any third-party demand, claim, action, suit or proceeding that arises from an alleged violation of Customer obligations in Section 2.4 or any warranty in Section 6.4.

7.3 Each party's indemnification obligations are conditioned upon the indemnified party: (i) promptly notifying the indemnifying party of any claim in writing; and (ii) cooperating with the indemnifying party in the defense of any claim.  The indemnified party shall have the right to participate in the defense of any third-party claim with counsel selected by it subject to the indemnifying party's right to control the defense thereof. The fees and disbursements of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the indemnifying party shall not enter into settlement of any third-party claim without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY, NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR TERMS AND CONDITIONS RELATED THERETO UNDER ANY CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER LEGAL OR EQUITABLE THEORY: (A) FOR ERROR OR INTERRUPTION OF USE OR FOR LOSS OR INACCURACY OR CORRUPTION OF DATA OR COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS, SERVICES OR TECHNOLOGY OR LOSS OF BUSINESS OR PROFITS; (B) FOR ANY INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF THE OTHER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE; (C) FOR ANY MATTER BEYOND A PARTY’S REASONABLE CONTROL; OR (D) EXCEPT FOR SECTIONS 2.4 AND BREACH OF WARRANTIES IN SECTION 6, FOR ANY AMOUNTS THAT, TOGETHER WITH AMOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH ALL OTHER CLAIMS, EXCEED THE FEES ACTUALLY PAID BY CUSTOMER TO GATHER FOR THE APPLICABLE SERVICES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR RELATING TO ANY SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT IN THE 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACT THAT GAVE RISE TO THE LIABILITY, EVEN IF THE PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING TYPES OF LOSSES OR DAMAGES. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT AN INTERRUPTION IN SERVICE(S) DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THE REASONABLE CONTROL OF GATHER, SUCH AS A FAILURE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS OR NETWORK SYSTEMS NOT CONTROLLED BY GATHER, SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED A SERVICE OUTAGE OR SERVICE DEFICIENCY FOR PURPOSES OF ANY REMEDY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT. THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY DOES NOT APPLY IN CASE OF GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR IN CASE OF INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTIES’ RIGHTS AND THE INDEMNIFICATION FORESEEN IN ARTICLE 7.1.

9. MISCELLANEOUS

If any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that this Agreement will otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable. This Agreement is not assignable, transferable or sublicensable by either party except with the other’s prior written consent, except that either party may transfer and assign any of its rights under this Agreement without consent in connection with a reorganization, merger, consolidation, acquisition, or other restructuring involving all or substantially all of its voting securities or assets  Both parties agree that this Agreement is the complete and exclusive statement of the mutual understanding of the parties and supersedes and cancels all previous written and oral agreements, communications and other understandings relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, and that all waivers and modifications must be in a writing signed by both parties, except as otherwise provided herein. No agency, partnership, joint venture, or employment is created as a result of this Agreement and Customer does not have any authority of any kind to bind Gather in any respect whatsoever. In any action or proceeding to enforce rights under this Agreement, the substantially prevailing party will be entitled to recover costs and attorneys’ fees. All notices under this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when received, if personally delivered; when receipt is electronically confirmed, if transmitted by facsimile or e-mail; the day after it is sent, if sent for next day delivery by recognized overnight delivery service; and upon receipt, if sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. The parties agree that any material breach of Section 2 or 3 may cause irreparable injury and that injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction will be appropriate to prevent an initial or continuing breach of Section 2 or 3 in addition to any other relief to which the owner of such Confidential Information may be entitled. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflict of law provisions. The federal and state courts sitting in San Francisco, California, U.S.A. will have proper and exclusive jurisdiction and venue with respect to any disputes arising from or related to the subject matter of this Agreement.