Terms of Service

1. Introduction

Welcome to The Flat White Society ("we," "our," or "us"). These Terms of Service govern your use of our website theflatwhitesociety.com and the services we provide.

The Flat White Society is a coffee discovery platform that helps users find, review, and share information about coffee shops in London and beyond. By using our website, you agree to these terms and conditions.

2. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using our website, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our website. We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time, and your continued use of the website constitutes acceptance of any changes.

3. Description of Service

The Flat White Society provides:

• Coffee shop directory and discovery
• User reviews, ratings, and comments
• Coffee guides and articles
• Community features and user accounts
• Interactive maps and location services
• Analytics and insights about coffee shops

4. User Accounts and Registration

To access certain features of our website, you may need to create a user account. You are responsible for:

• Providing accurate and complete information
• Maintaining the security of your account credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend accounts that violate these terms or engage in inappropriate behavior.

5. User-Generated Content

Our platform allows users to submit reviews, comments, ratings, and other content. By submitting content, you:

• Grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide license to use, display, and distribute your content
• Represent that you own or have the right to use the content
• Agree not to submit false, misleading, or harmful information
• Understand that we may moderate or remove content that violates our policies

We are not responsible for user-generated content and reserve the right to remove content that violates these terms.

6. Acceptable Use

You agree not to use our website to:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Infringe on intellectual property rights
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• Submit spam, false information, or malicious content
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Interfere with the proper functioning of the website

7. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. We collect and process personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for users in the European Union.

We collect:

• Account information (email, name, preferences)
• User-generated content (reviews, comments, ratings)
• Usage analytics and website interaction data
• Technical information (IP address, browser type, device information)

You have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data. Contact us for any privacy-related requests.

8. Third-Party Services

Our website integrates with third-party services including:

• Google Maps for location services
• Supabase for data storage and authentication
• Analytics services for website performance

These services have their own terms and privacy policies. We are not responsible for their practices or content.

9. Advertising and Partnerships

Our website may display advertisements and promotional content. We may also form partnerships with coffee shops, brands, and other businesses. These partnerships and advertisements do not constitute endorsements, and we are not responsible for the products, services, or content provided by third parties.

We may receive compensation for advertisements and partnerships, but this does not influence our content or recommendations.

10. Intellectual Property

The Flat White Society name, logo, website design, and original content are protected by intellectual property rights. You may not use our intellectual property without our written permission.

Coffee shop names, logos, and images displayed on our website belong to their respective owners. We use this content for informational purposes under fair use principles.

11. Disclaimers and Limitations

Our website is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee:

• The accuracy or completeness of information
• Uninterrupted or error-free service
• The availability of specific features or content
• Compatibility with all devices or browsers

We are not liable for any damages arising from your use of our website, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Flat White Society from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from:

• Your use of our website
• Your violation of these terms
• Your user-generated content
• Your violation of any third-party rights

13. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to our website at any time for violations of these terms or for any other reason. You may also terminate your account at any time by contacting us.

Upon termination, your right to use the website ceases immediately, and we may delete your account and associated data.

14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms of Service are governed by the laws of the United Kingdom. Any disputes arising from these terms or your use of our website will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the United Kingdom.

For users in the European Union, these terms comply with applicable EU consumer protection laws and GDPR requirements.

15. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms of Service from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes by:

• Posting the updated terms on our website
• Updating the "Last updated" date
• Sending email notifications for major changes

Your continued use of the website after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

16. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms of Service is found to be unenforceable or invalid, the remaining provisions will continue to be in full force and effect. The unenforceable provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service, together with our Privacy Policy and any other policies referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and The Flat White Society regarding your use of our website.