TERMS OF USE
Last Updated: September 7, 2023

Use of the Sites signifies your agreement to these terms of use (“Terms of Use”).

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF USE CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE SITES

The following Terms of Use apply to the Black Girls Code website (https://wearebgc.org), the BGC Code Along website (https://wearebgc.org/codealong), the BGC Community Portal (http://community.wearebgc.org), and our BGC Alumni Portal (https://bgcalumnae.com) (collectively, the “Sites”) owned and operated by Black Girls Code (“Black Girls Code,” “BGC,” “us,” “we,” or “our”).

By accessing, browsing, and/or using the Sites, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use in their entirety, including any modifications, which are incorporated by reference. In addition, you agree to comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations governing your use of the Sites. If you do not agree to these Terms of Use, you are not permitted to access, browse, or use the Sites.

Please return to the Sites and review these Terms of Use from time to time, as they may be amended without notice to you. Any changes will be effective immediately upon posting. Your use of certain content and features may also be subject to additional terms, and by using such content, you agree to be bound by those additional terms.

The Sites are intended for individuals 13 years of age or older. If you are under 18, your parent or legal guardian must read and accept these Terms of Use on your behalf. If you become aware of anyone using the Sites who is under 13 without parental or legal guardian consent, please report it to operations@wearebgc.org. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 13 without such consent. We may, at our sole discretion, refuse to offer the Sites to any person or entity for any reason.

I. PROPRIETARY RIGHTS; USE OF CONTENT

The Sites are owned and operated by Black Girls Code and, in certain instances, its affiliates, licensors, and third-party service providers. Unless otherwise indicated, all content on the Sites (“Content”) is the property of BGC and its affiliates, members, licensors, and third-party service providers and is protected by U.S. and international copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws.

All trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, and other indicia of origin (“Marks”) appearing on the Sites are the property of BGC, its affiliates, licensors, and third-party service providers. You may not use any Content or Marks without prior written consent.

No Content from the Sites may be copied, reproduced, republished, translated, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way, except that you may download one copy for personal, non-commercial use, provided all copyright and proprietary notices remain intact. Modification or use of Content for any other purpose may violate copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights. Use of Content on any other website or networked environment is prohibited.

BGC may request that members, family members, legal guardians, or educators submit videos, testimonials, or other materials. Such materials may be made available on the Sites, and those submitting such materials are solely responsible for their content. BGC is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of third-party content.

II. YOUR CONDUCT

When using the Sites, you agree to:

• Not disrupt or interfere with the security, functionality, or accessibility of the Sites.
• Not use the Sites for unlawful, defamatory, harassing, abusive, obscene, vulgar, sexually explicit, or discriminatory purposes.
• Not disrupt or interfere with any other user’s enjoyment of the Sites.
• Not use framing techniques, meta tags, or “hidden text” incorporating BGC’s intellectual property without express written consent.
• Not use the Sites for commercial purposes, including unsolicited advertising or spam.
• Not scrape, index, or copy material from the Sites using automated devices or processes.
• Not disassemble, decompile, reverse engineer, or attempt to obtain the Sites’ source code.
• Not attempt unauthorized access to restricted areas of the Sites.

You agree to report any fraudulent, abusive, or suspicious activity and to cooperate with BGC in any related investigation.

III. FORUM, BLOG, EVENTS, AND POSTING POLICY

Certain areas of the Sites may allow for the submission of User Content, including photos, videos, testimonials, and written posts. By using these features, you agree that:

• You will not post unlawful, defamatory, harassing, obscene, or misleading content.
• You will not upload copyrighted material without permission.
• You will not post personal information about others without consent.
• You will not post false, misleading, or impersonated content.
• You will not upload harmful software, viruses, or spam.

By submitting User Content, you grant BGC a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute your content across media platforms. You retain ownership rights but acknowledge that BGC may remove any content at its discretion.

IV. ACCOUNTS, PASSWORDS, AND SECURITY

Certain areas of the Sites require registration. You agree to provide accurate information and maintain confidentiality of your account credentials. You are responsible for all activities under your account and must report unauthorized use immediately.

V. LINKS AND THIRD PARTIES

Links to third-party websites are provided for convenience. BGC is not responsible for the content, security, or privacy policies of third-party sites. You access them at your own risk.

VI. DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT

If you believe content on the Sites infringes your copyright, please provide the following information to operations@wearebgc.org with “DMCA Request” in the subject line:

• Your contact information and signature.
• A description of the copyrighted work and its location on the Sites.
• A statement of good faith belief that the disputed use is unauthorized.
• A statement under penalty of perjury that your claim is accurate.

VII. PRIVACY POLICY

Please review our Privacy Policy for details on how we use your personal information.

VIII. CHANGES TO SITES

BGC may add, change, or discontinue any part of the Sites at any time without notice.

IX. TERMINATION

BGC may suspend or terminate access to the Sites at its sole discretion, including for violations of these Terms of Use.

X. DISCLAIMER

The Sites and Content are provided “as is” without warranties of any kind. BGC disclaims all warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. BGC does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation of the Sites.

XI. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

BGC is not liable for damages, claims, or losses arising from:

• Use of the Sites or Content.
• Inability to use the Sites.
• Unauthorized access to data.
• System outages, service interruptions, or software errors.

BGC’s liability is limited to amounts paid by you for access to the Sites.

XII. INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to indemnify BGC from any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from your violation of these Terms of Use.

XIII. PERMISSION FOR WEB LINKING

You may link to the Sites only with prior written consent and in a manner that does not misrepresent your affiliation with BGC.

XIV. FORCE MAJEURE

BGC is not responsible for service interruptions due to circumstances beyond its control, including natural disasters, cyberattacks, or network failures.

XV. GOVERNING LAW

These Terms of Use are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland. Any disputes shall be resolved in the state or federal courts in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

XVI. CONTACT US

For questions about these Terms of Use, please contact us at:

Black Girls Code
1736 Franklin St., 10th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Email: operations@wearebgc.org