TOONSUTRA, INC.

 TERMS OF SERVICE

Last Updated: September, 2023

WE WILL POST ANY CHANGES TO THESE TERMS OF SERVICE IN A NOTICE OF THE CHANGE AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR WEB PAGE WITH A HYPERLINK THERETO. WE WILL  USE OUR BEST EFFORTS TO SEND YOU AN EMAIL DESCRIBING SUCH CHANGES. PLEASE REGULARLY REVIEW THESE TERMS OF SERVICE. NOTWITHSTANDING IF YOU CONTINUE TO USE OUR SERVICES, YOU ARE BOUND BY ANY CHANGES THAT WE MAKE TO THESE TERMS OF SERVICE.

These Terms of Service (“Agreement” or “Terms of Service”) are a legally binding agreement between you (the “User,” “you,” or “your”) and Toonsutra, Inc. (“Toonsutra,” “we,” “us,” “our”). You acknowledge and agree that your use of the Toonsutra platform (the “Platform”) through Toonsutra’s website at https://company.toonsutra.com/ (the “Website”) and Toonsutra’s mobile application (the “App”) will be governed by this Agreement, our Privacy Policy, and any related terms.

If you are unsure as to the terms of this Agreement, please do not proceed further and contact us at hello@toonsutra.com.

Your use of our Website, App, or Platform shall constitute your acceptance of this Agreement and to all of the terms and conditions stated under this Agreement and our Privacy Policy referenced herein.

PLEASE READ THE TERMS CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY TO ENSURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND EACH PROVISION. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE TERMS CONTAIN A BINDING AND MANDATORY ARBITRATION PROVISION AND CLASS ACTION/JURY TRIAL WAIVER PROVISION THAT REQUIRES THE USE OF ARBITRATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO RESOLVE DISPUTES, RATHER THAN JURY TRIALS OR CLASS ACTIONS AND LIMITS REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO YOU IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN DISPUTES.

BY ACCEPTING THIS AGREEMENT, EITHER BY CLICKING A BOX, USING OUR SERVICES, PUBLISHING USER POSTINGS, INDICATING YOUR ACCEPTANCE OR BY USING AND NAVIGATING THROUGH OUR PLATFORM THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND/OR APP, YOU AGREE THAT (A) YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THE AGREEMENT; (B) YOU REPRESENT THAT YOU ARE OF LEGALLY PERMISSABLE AGE; (C) YOU CAN FORM A BINDING CONTRACT; AND (D) YOU ACCEPT THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREE THAT YOU ARE LEGALLY BOUND BY ITS TERMS AS WELL AS OUR PRIVACY POLICY REFERENCED HEREIN. IF YOU ARE ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF A COMPANY OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY, YOU REPRESENT THAT YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO BIND SUCH ENTITY AND ITS AFFILIATES TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, IN WHICH CASE THE TERMS “YOU” OR “YOUR” SHALL REFER TO SUCH ENTITY AND ITS AFFILIATES. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SUCH AUTHORITY, OR IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS AGREEMENT, YOU MUST NOT ACCEPT THIS AGREEMENT AND MAY NOT USE OUR WEBSITE, APP, OR PLATFORM.

Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the same meaning ascribed to them under our Privacy Policy.

1. INTRODUCTION TO Toonsutra AND OUR WEBSITE/APP/PLATFORM

Toonsutra is a mobile app (and mobile website) that allows users to read comics on their devices.

2. PRIVACY POLICY

Our Privacy Policy describes how we handle the personal and business information you provide to us when you register for our Website, App, or Platform. You understand that through your use of our Website, App, or Platform, you consent to the collection and use (as set forth in the Privacy Policy) of this information, including the transfer of this information to the US, and/or other countries for storage, processing and use by Toonsutra and our affiliates.

3. ELIGIBILITY & ACCESS RESTRICTIONS

To be eligible to use our Website, App, or Platform, you must meet the following criteria and represent and warrant that you: (a) are of legally permissible age ; (b) are not currently restricted from accessing our Website, App, or Platform, or not otherwise prohibited from having an account, (c) are not our competitor, or are not using our Website, App, or Platform for reasons that are in competition with us; (d) will only maintain one registered account at any given time; (e) have full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and doing so will not violate any other agreement to which you are a party; (f) will not violate any of our rights, including intellectual property rights such as patent, copyright, and trademark rights; and (g) agree to provide at your cost all equipment, browser software, and internet access necessary to use our Website, App, or Platform.

If you are between 13 and 18 (or between the Minimum Age and the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction of residence, a “Minor(s)”), you may only use the Service under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian (“Representative(s)”) who agrees to be bound by the Agreement

You may use the Service on the Website and App, including the software comprising them, solely on the number and type(s) (if so limited) of devices for which we permitted you to download. You may not (i) separate any individual component of such software for use on another device or computer; (ii) transfer it for use on another device or computer or use it, or any portion of it, over a network, or (iii) sell, rent, lease, lend, distribute, or sublicense or otherwise assign any rights to such software in whole or in part. We cannot guarantee the Services will correctly or immediately reflect your preferences and actions in whole or part.

You may need to register for an account to access some or all of the Services. You are responsible for keeping your account information current, for taking reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of your username and password, and for all activities occurring under your account. You agree to promptly notify us of any unauthorized use of your username, password or other account information, or of any other actual or reasonably suspected breach of security that you become aware of involving your account or the Services. We will not be liable to you for any loss you may incur as a result of someone else using your username, password or account with or without your knowledge. You may be held liable for losses incurred by Toonsutra or others due to any unauthorized use of your username, password or account. You may not use anyone else’s account at any time without the permission of the account holder.

In order to keep the Toonsutra Website and/or Toonsutra App up-to-date and in conformance, Toonsutra may make available updates/upgrades to the Toonsutra Website and/or Toonsutra App. If you do not download such updates/upgrades, your use of the Services may not be secure, and you may not receive certain features, functionality, or notices and/or you may lose access to certain features, functionality, or notices of the Toonsutra Website and/or Toonsutra App.

4. SERVICE LICENSE

Subject to your compliance with the terms of this Agreement, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, revocable, non-transferable, non-licensable, non-sublicensable license to access and use our Website, App, or Platform to: (a) download, install, and use our App for your use in accordance with this Agreement on any mobile device owned or otherwise controlled by you strictly in accordance with this Agreement, and (b) access, stream, download, and use on your mobile device our Website, App, or Platform and content made available in or otherwise accessible through our Website, App, or Platform, strictly in accordance with this Agreement.

You will not use, copy, adapt, modify, prepare derivative works based upon our Website, App, or Platform, distribute, license, sell, transfer, publicly display, publicly perform, transmit, stream, broadcast or otherwise exploit our Website, App, or Platform, except as expressly permitted in this Agreement. When using and accessing our Website, App, or Platform, you need to make sure that your internet connection is adequate. You are solely responsible for your internet connection including and not limited to the applicable charges, rates, tariffs, and other fees that might apply.

YOU AGREE THAT WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR INJURY RESULTING FROM YOUR ACCESS OR USE OF OUR WEBSITE, APP, OR PLATFORM. WE PROVIDE NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY. THERE IS NO WARRANTY THAT WILL EXTEND BEYOND THE DESCRIPTION ON THE FACE HEREOF. ANY DAMAGE ALLEGED FOR A LOSS OR INJURY IS LIMITED TO THE FEE, IF ANY, PAID TO TOONSUTRA FOR THE ABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE OUR WEBSITE, APP, OR PLATFORM.

5. ACCESS AND SERVICE RESTRICTIONS

You agree that our Platform, including but not limited to the Website, App, graphics, trademarks, and editorial content, contains proprietary content, information, and material, which are owned by Toonsutra and/or our licensors, including our customers, brands and agencies, and are protected by applicable intellectual property and other laws, including but not limited to copyright. You agree that you will not use such proprietary content, information or materials other than for your permitted use of our Platform or in any manner that is inconsistent with the terms contained in this Agreement.

You agree not to modify, rent, lease, loan, sell, distribute, or create derivative works based on our Website, App, or Platform, in any manner, and you will not exploit our Website, App, or Platform in any unauthorized way whatsoever, including but not limited to, using our Website, App, or Platform to transmit any computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses or other malware, or by trespassing or burdening network capacity. You further agree not to use our Website, App, or Platform in any manner to harass, abuse, stalk, threaten, defame or otherwise infringe or violate the rights of any other party, and that we are not in any way responsible for any such use by you, nor for any harassing, threatening, defamatory, offensive, infringing or illegal messages or transmissions that you may receive as a result of using our Website, App, or Platform.

6. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

You acknowledge and agree that our Website, App, and Platform are provided for your use. Except to the extent necessary to access and use our Website, App, or Platform, nothing in this Agreement grants any title or ownership interest in or to any copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets or other proprietary rights in or relating to our Website, App, or Platform, whether expressly, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise. Toonsutra and its licensors and service providers reserve and will retain their entire right, title, and interest in and to our Website, App, and Platform, including all copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights therein or relating thereto, except as expressly granted to you in this Agreement.

7. ACCESS RIGHTS

You can access and use our Website at https://company.toonsutra.com/ . If you want to access and use our App, please go to your Google Play Store or Apple App Store to download the App. When downloading and using our App and Platform, you are required to provide us with registration information including personal information. You agree that we have the right to disable your access and use rights, at any time if, in our opinion, you have violated any provision of this Agreement and/or our Privacy Policy.  You agree to cooperate with us if the security of our Website, App, or Platform is compromised by you or another person through the use of our Website, App or Platform.  We will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with this Section.

We collect personal and business information (as set forth in our Privacy Policy), which we need, from you when you register to use our Website, App, or Platform. This information is necessary for us to provide our Website, App, or Platform to you and is stored on our servers to enable us to continue to provide our Website, App, or Platform to you. Upon your written request, we will provide you with a list of all of the Personal Information that we store on you within sixty (60) days of receiving your request. Also, upon your prior written request, we will delete any such information within sixty (60) days  of receiving your request. Notwithstanding, please note that, if you ask us to delete all such information, we will not be able to continue to provide our Website, App, or Platform to you. Please send your requests to us at hello@toonsutra.com.

8. REQUIRED CONDUCT AND PROHIBITED CONDUCT

As a condition to access our Website, App, or Platform, you agree to this Agreement and to strictly observe the following:

a. Required Conduct

  1. Comply with all applicable laws, including, without limitation, tax laws, export control laws and regulatory requirements;
  2. Provide accurate information to Toonsutra and update from time to time as may be necessary;
  3. Review our Privacy Policy; and
  4. Review and comply with notices sent by Toonsutra, if any, concerning our Website, App, or Platform.

b. Prohibited Conduct

  1. Duplicate, license, sublicense, publish, broadcast, transmit, distribute, perform, display, sell, rebrand, otherwise transfer or commercially exploit our Website, App, or Platform (excluding any user content);
  2. Reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, decipher, capture screenshots, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code for any underlying intellectual property used to provide our Website, App, or Platform, or any part thereof;
  3. Utilize information, content or any data you view on and/or obtain from our Website, App, or Platform to provide any service that is competitive with us;
  4. Imply or state, directly or indirectly, that you are affiliated with or endorsed by Toonsutra unless you have entered into a written agreement with us;
  5. Adapt, modify, or create derivative works based on our Website, App, or Platform or technology underlying our Website, App, or Platform, or other users’ content, in whole or in part;
  6. Rent, lease, loan, trade, sell/re-sell access to our Website, App, or Platform or any information therein, or the equivalent, in whole or part;
  7. Access, reload, or “refresh” or make any other request to transactional servers that are beyond generally accepted usage of web-based applications;
  8. Use manual or automated software, devices, scripts robots, other means or processes to “scrape”, “crawl” or “spider” any web pages contained in the Website;
  9. Use automated methods to add contacts or send messages;
  10. Engage in “framing”, “mirroring”, or otherwise simulating the appearance or function of our Website;
  11. Attempt to or actually access our Website, App, or Platform by any means other than through the interface provided by Toonsutra;
  12. Attempt to or actually override any security component included in or underlying our Website, App, or Platform;
  13. Engage in any action that interferes with the proper working of or places an unreasonable load on our infrastructure, including but not limited to unsolicited communications, attempts to gain unauthorized access, or transmission or activation of computer viruses;
  14. Remove any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights notices contained in or on our Website, App, or Platform, including those of both Toonsutra or any of our licensors;
  15. Use any information obtained from our Website, App, or Platform to harass, abuse, or harm another user; or
  16. Engage in any action or promote any content that is harmful, offensive, illegal, unlawful, discriminatory, dangerous, profane, or abusive.

9. TOONSUTRA COMMUNICATIONS

You understand and agree that you may receive information and push notifications from Toonsutra via email or our App. You hereby consent to receive communications via email or our App. You acknowledge that you may incur additional charges or fees from your wireless provider for these communications, including text message charges and data usage fees, and you acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for any such charges and fees and not Toonsutra.

a. Email Contact.  We may send promotional messages about us and our products and services related to our Website, App, and Platform to your email.  When you send us a query email at hello@toonsutra.com, you are providing us with consent to send emails to you for replying to your queries at your provided email address. By providing your email address, you agree with these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy.

b. Push Notification.  You can opt out of receiving push notifications through your device settings. Please note that opting out of receiving push notifications may impact your use of our Website, App, and Platform.

10. PAYMENT

Users can use their payment method or our virtual in-app currency (“Coins”) for accessing and reading digital comics on our Website, App, and Platform.

  • Coins will be provided to you by the means specified by Toonsutra such as purchases, special offers, and the like. Details regarding the payment methods, units, and all other conditions regarding Coins will be decided by Toonsutra and displayed accordingly on the Services.
  • Coins cannot be exchanged or be used for any other purpose other than to access certain content offered by the Services. Toonsutra reserves the right to change the purchase price for the Coins at any time, and the number of Coins required for accessing the content may be changed by Toonsutra from time to time and displayed accordingly on the Service. The terms applicable to your access and/or redemption of Coins are the terms in effect on the date of your access and/use of the content as displayed accordingly on the Service.
  • Although we are not obligated to do so, if we suspect a transaction is being initiated without authorization, fraudulently, suspiciously or is otherwise unusual based on prior transaction activity we may refuse the Coin purchase.
  •  You agree that all Coin sales by Toonsutra to you are final and will not be refunded for any reason unless required by applicable laws or unless we elect, in our sole discretion, to rescind your purchase of Coins.
  • Toonsutra may from time to time offer promotional Coins that you do not pay for, including any Coins we offer you in connection with your download and/or purchase of the Toonsutra App or other products, your use of the Services, or any other promotional activity (“Free Coins”). Free Coins may expire after a certain period of time, which Toonsutra shall designate from time to time. When you use Coins to redeem content, any Free Coins you have in your account will be applied first, followed by your purchased Coins.
  • You are not allowed to transfer Coins outside of the Services (e.g. selling, gifting, or trading them), nor sublicense, trade, sell, or attempt to sell Coins for real money, or exchange Coins for value of any kind outside of the Services. Any such transfer is prohibited and void.
  • Upon one (1) month prior notice to you, we may, for business or technical purposes discontinue the usage of Coins from our Services. In such event, all unused Coins will expire on the specified discontinuance date.

In the event that we modify our fee in the future, we will communicate such modification to you as per the procedure detailed under Section 18 or as otherwise specified in another agreement between Toonsutra and you.

11. INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold Toonsutra and our officers, employees, managers, directors, customers, and agents (the “Indemnitees”) harmless from and against any and all costs, liabilities, losses and expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any claim, suit, action, demand or proceeding brought by any third party against Toonsutra and our Indemnitees arising from any of the following: (i) a breach of this Agreement; (ii) the negligence, fraud, or willful misconduct of you or your employees, agents, or contractors; (iii) incorrect information provided by you in your account or elsewhere; or (iv) a failure by you or your employees, agents, contractors or invitees to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

12. DISCLAIMERS

Your access to and use of our Website, App, and Platform or any content are at your own risk. You understand and agree that our Website, App, and Platform are provided to you on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis. Without limiting the foregoing, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. We make no warranty or representation and disclaim all responsibility and liability for: (i) the completeness, accuracy, availability, timeliness, security or reliability of our Website, App, or Platform or any content; (ii) any harm to your computer system, loss of data, or other harm that results from your access to or use of our Website, App, or Platform or any content; (iii) the deletion of, or the failure to store or to transmit, any content and other communications maintained by our Website, App, or Platform; and (iv) whether our Website, App, or Platform will meet your requirements or be available on an uninterrupted, secure, or error-free basis. No advice or information, whether oral or written, obtained from us or through our Website, App, or Platform, will create any warranty or representation not expressly made herein.

Toonsutra DOES NOT REVIEW, VERIFY, REVISE, ENDORSE, OR OTHERWISE APPROVE ANY CONTENT CREATED OR POSTED BY OUR USERS, AND COMMUNICATED TO OTHER USERS OR THIRD PARTIES VIA OUR WEBSITE, APP, OR PLATFORM, BUT Toonsutra WILL REMOVE CONTENT THAT VIOLATES ANY LAWS OR THIS AGREEMENT. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL Toonsutra BE LIABLE IN ANY WAY FOR ANY CONTENT CREATED OR POSTED BY OUR USERS FOR, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN ANY CONTENT, OR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND INCURRED AS A RESULT OF SUCH CONTENT. THE CONTENT IS SOLELY CREATED BY OUR USERS, AND Toonsutra SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL ROLE WHATSOEVER WITH RESPECT TO THE CREATION OR POSTING OF SUCH CONTENT. 

Please note that these comics are provided in digital format, and no physical copies will be sent to you. Our aim is to deliver a seamless reading experience, allowing you to enjoy our comics instantly on your preferred digital devices. However, on special occasions and subject to availability, we may offer the option to receive special edition physical copies of comics based on your purchases.

13. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

You acknowledge and agree that, in no event will Toonsutra be liable to you or any third party for any indirect, punitive, exemplary, incidental, special, or consequential damages whether in contract, tort (including negligence), or otherwise arising out of this Agreement, or the use of, or the inability to use, our Website, App, or Platform, including, without limitation, any information made available through our Website, App, or Platform pursuant to this Agreement. In the event the foregoing limitation of liability is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, then the maximum liability for all claims of every kind will not exceed one times (1x) the aggregate of payments received under this Agreement. The foregoing limitation of liability will cover, without limitation, any technical malfunction, computer error or loss of data, and any other injury arising from the use of our Website, App, or Platform.  Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages. To the extent that Toonsutra may not disclaim any implied warranty or limit its liabilities, the scope and duration of such warranty and the extent of Toonsutra’s liability will be the minimum permitted under applicable law.

14. TERMINATION

You may terminate this binding legal Agreement with Toonsutra by providing thirty (30) days prior written notice, with a possible termination charge. 

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account or cease providing you with access to all or part of our Website, App, or Platform at any time for any or no reason, including, but not limited to, if we reasonably believe: (i) you have violated this Agreement or our Privacy Policy, (ii) you create risk or possible legal exposure for Toonsutra; or (iii) our provision of our Website, App, or Platform to you is no longer commercially viable. We will make reasonable efforts to notify you of such termination by the email address associated with your account or the next time you attempt to access your account, depending on the circumstances. In all such cases, this Agreement shall terminate, including, without limitation, your license to use our Website, App, or Platform.

All sections, which by their nature and context are intended to survive the termination of this Agreement, will survive.

15. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT/DMCA NOTICE

If you believe that any content on our Website, App, or Platform violates your copyright, and you wish to have the allegedly infringing material removed, the following information in the form of a written notification (pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (“DMCA Takedown Notice”)) must be provided to our designated Copyright Agent.

a. Your physical or electronic signature;
b. Identification of the copyrighted work(s) that you claim to have been infringed;
c. Identification of the material on our Website, App, or Platform that you claim is infringing and that you request us to remove;
d. Sufficient information to permit us to locate such material;
e. Your address, telephone number, and email address;
f. A statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the objectionable material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or under the law; and
g. A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that you are either the owner of the copyright that has allegedly been infringed or that you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.

Toonsutra’s Copyright Agent to receive DMCA Takedown Notices is Vishal Anand, privacy@toonsutra.com, at Toonsutra, Attn: DMCA Notice, 355 Bryant Street, Suite # 403, San Francisco CA 94107. You acknowledge that for us to be authorized to take down any content, your DMCA Takedown Notice must comply with all the requirements of this Section. Please note that, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any misrepresentation of material fact (falsities) in a written notification automatically subjects the complaining party to liability for any damages, costs and attorney’s fees incurred by Toonsutra in connection with the written notification and allegation of copyright infringement. 

16. ASSIGNMENT

This Agreement is only for your benefit. You shall have no right to assign this Agreement or any benefits or obligation hereunder to any other party or legal entity. Any attempted assignment shall be void.

17. ANTI-BRIBERY AND EXPORT COMPLIANCE

You agree not to promote, approach, use, distribute, transfer, provide, sub-license, share with, or otherwise offer our Website, App, or Platform in violation of any laws or this Agreement, including, without limitation, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act and similar anti-corruption statutes in all jurisdictions. Without limiting the foregoing, you will not knowingly directly or indirectly export, re-export, transfer, make available or release (collectively, “Export”) our Website, App, or Platform to any destination, person, entity or end-use prohibited or restricted under the US law without prior US government authorization to the extent required by the applicable export control regulations, including without limitation, to any parties listed on any of the denied parties lists or specially designated nationals lists maintained under the Export Administration Regulations or the Security, and the Foreign Asset Control Regulations (31 CFR 500 et seq.) administered by the US Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control without appropriate US government authorization to the extent required by the applicable regulations.

18. MODIFICATIONS

We will post any changes to these Terms of Service in a notice of the change at the bottom of our web page with a hyperlink thereto. We will also send you an email describing such changes. Please regularly review these terms of service. Notwithstanding if you continue to use our services, you are bound by any changes that we make to these Terms of Service.

19. RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES

The parties hereto are independent contractors, and nothing contained herein shall be interpreted as creating any relationship other than that of independent contracting parties. The parties shall not be construed as being partners, joint ventures, shareholders, employer/employee, or agent/servant. The User has no power or authority to bind Toonsutra to any obligation, agreement, debt or liability. The User shall not hold itself out as an agent or representative of Toonsutra.

20. GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by the law of the State of Delaware, without respect to its conflicts of laws principles.  Each of the parties to this Agreement consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in Santa Clara County, California for any actions not subject to Dispute Resolution and Arbitration provisions as set forth in Section 21.

21. DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ARBITRATION

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING SECTION CAREFULLY BECAUSE IT REQUIRES YOU TO ARBITRATE CERTAIN DISPUTES AND CLAIMS WITH Toonsutra AND LIMITS THE MANNER IN WHICH YOU CAN SEEK RELIEF FROM US.

a. Binding Arbitration

Except for any disputes, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, demands or proceedings (collectively, “Disputes”) in which either party seeks to bring an individual action in small claims court or seeks injunctive or other equitable relief for the alleged unlawful use of intellectual property, including, without limitation, copyrights, trademarks, trade names, logos, trade secrets or patents, you and Toonsutra agree (a) to waive your and Toonsutra’s respective rights to have any and all Disputes arising from or related to this Agreement, use of our Website, App, or Platform, resolved in a court, and (b) to waive your and Toonsutra’s respective rights to a jury trial. Instead, you and Toonsutra agree to arbitrate Disputes through binding arbitration (which is the referral of a Dispute to one or more persons charged with reviewing the Dispute and making a final and binding determination to resolve it instead of having the Dispute decided by a judge or a jury in court).

b. No Class Arbitrations, Class Actions or Representative Actions

You and Toonsutra agree that any Dispute arising out of or related to these Terms of Service or use or access of our Website, App, or Platform is personal to you and Toonsutra and that such Dispute will be resolved solely through individual arbitration and will not be brought as a class arbitration, class action or any other type of representative proceeding. You and Toonsutra agree that there will be no class arbitration or arbitration in which an individual attempts to resolve a Dispute as a representative of another individual or group of individuals. Further, you and Toonsutra agree that a Dispute cannot be brought as a class or other type of representative action, whether within or outside of arbitration, or on behalf of any other individual or group of individuals.

c. Federal Arbitration Act

You and Toonsutra agree that these Terms of Service affect interstate commerce and that the enforceability of this Section shall be both substantively and procedurally governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq. (the “FAA”), to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

d. Notice; Informal Dispute Resolution

You and Toonsutra agree that each party will notify the other party in writing of any arbitral or small claims Dispute within thirty (30) days of the date it arises, so that the parties can attempt in good faith to resolve the Dispute informally. Notice to Toonsutra shall be sent by certified mail or courier to Toonsutra, Attn: [CONTACT PERSON], [PHYSICAL ADDRESS]. Your notice must include (a) your name, postal address, telephone number, the email address you use or used for your Toonsutra account and, if different, an email address at which you can be contacted, (b) a description in reasonable detail of the nature or basis of the Dispute, and (c) the specific relief that you are seeking. Our notice to you will be sent electronically in accordance with this Agreement and will include (x) our name, postal address, telephone number and an email address at which we can be contacted with respect to the Dispute, (y) a description in reasonable detail of the nature or basis of the Dispute, and (z) the specific relief that we are seeking. If you and Toonsutra cannot agree how to resolve the Dispute within thirty (30) days after the date notice is received by the applicable party, then either you or Toonsutra may, as appropriate and in accordance with this Section, commence an arbitration proceeding.

e. Process

EXCEPT FOR DISPUTES IN WHICH EITHER PARTY SEEKS TO BRING AN INDIVIDUAL ACTION IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT OR SEEKS INJUNCTIVE OR OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF FOR THE ALLEGED UNLAWFUL USE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, COPYRIGHTS, TRADEMARKS, TRADE NAMES, LOGOS, TRADE SECRETS OR PATENTS, YOU AND Toonsutra AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTE MUST BE COMMENCED OR FILED BY YOU OR Toonsutra WITHIN (1) YEAR OF THE DATE THE DISPUTE AROSE, OTHERWISE THE UNDERLYING CLAIM IS PERMANENTLY BARRED (WHICH MEANS THAT YOU AND Toonsutra WILL NO LONGER HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASSERT SUCH CLAIM REGARDING THE DISPUTE). You and Toonsutra agree that  (a) any arbitration will occur in Santa Clara County, California, (b) arbitration will be conducted confidentially by a single arbitrator in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules and the Supplementary Procedures for Consumer Related Disputes (the “AAA Rules”) then in effect, except as modified by this “Dispute Resolution” section, and (c) that the state or federal courts of the State of California, have exclusive jurisdiction over any appeals and the enforcement of an arbitration award. You may also litigate a Dispute in the small claims court located in the county of your billing address if the Dispute meets the requirements to be heard in small claims court.

f. Authority of Arbitrator

As limited by the FAA, these Terms of Service and the applicable AAA Rules, the arbitrator will have (a) the exclusive authority and jurisdiction to make all procedural and substantive decisions regarding a Dispute, including the determination of whether a Dispute is arbitral, and (b) the authority to grant any remedy that would otherwise be available in court; provided, however, that the arbitrator does not have the authority to conduct a class arbitration or a representative action, which is prohibited by these Terms of Service. The arbitrator may only conduct an individual arbitration and may not consolidate more than one individual’s claims, preside over any type of class or representative proceeding, or preside over any proceeding involving more than one individual. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or the applicable AAA Rules, discovery in the arbitration shall be limited to one set of interrogatories, one set of requests for admissions, and one set of requests for production of documents.

The arbitrator’s award of damages must be consistent with the terms of the “Limitation of Liability” section above as to the types and amounts of damages for which a party may be held liable. The arbitrator may award declaratory or injunctive relief only in favor of the claimant and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by the claimant’s individual claim. You agree that the party that prevails in arbitration will be entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses, to the extent provided under applicable law.

g. Rules of AAA

The AAA Rules are available at https://www.adr.org/Rules or by calling the AAA at 1-800-778-7879. By agreeing to be bound by these Terms of Service, you either (a) acknowledge and agree that you have read and understand the rules of AAA, or (b) waive your opportunity to read the rules of AAA and any claim that the rules of AAA are unfair or should not apply for any reason.

h. Severability

If any term, clause or provision of this Section is held invalid or unenforceable, it will be so held to the minimum extent required by law, and all other terms, clauses and provisions of this Section will remain valid and enforceable. Further, the waivers set forth herein are severable from the other provisions of this Agreement and will remain valid and enforceable, except as prohibited by applicable law. 

i. Opt-Out Right

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OPT OUT OF BINDING ARBITRATION WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF THE DATE YOU FIRST ACCEPTED THE TERMS OF THIS SECTION BY WRITING TO: Toonsutra, RE: OPT-OUT, HELLO@TOONSUTRA.COM. IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE, THE OPT OUT NOTICE MUST INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME AND CLEARLY INDICATE YOUR INTENT TO OPT OUT OF BINDING ARBITRATION. BY OPTING OUT OF BINDING ARBITRATION, YOU ARE AGREEING TO RESOLVE DISPUTES IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 20.  

22. MISCELLANEOUS

This Agreement along with our Privacy Policy constitutes the entire agreement between you and Toonsutra and supersedes any prior agreements between you and Toonsutra with respect to the subject matter herein. Our failure to exercise or enforce any right or provision of this Agreement will not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of this Agreement is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, we both nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to our intentions as reflected in this provision, and the other provisions of this Agreement to remain in full force and effect. You agree that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to use of our Website, App, or Platform or this Agreement must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose or be forever barred. A party’s failure to act with respect to a breach by the other party does not constitute a waiver of the party’s right to act with respect to subsequent or similar breaches. All the sections intended to survive the termination of this Agreement shall survive. The section titles in this Agreement are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect. Except as explicitly stated otherwise, any notices to Toonsutra shall be given by certified mail, postage prepaid and return receipt requested to Toonsutra at 355 Bryant Street, Suite # 403, San Francisco CA 94107. Any notices to you shall be provided to you through our Website, App, or Platform or given to you via the email address or physical address you provide to Toonsutra during the registration process.

TOONSUTRA ™ & © 2023 Toonsutra Inc. All Rights Reserved.