Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, browsing, or using the Ethical Crystals website, platform, and services (collectively, the "Service"), you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms") and our Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use the Service. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Ethical Crystals, Inc. ("Company," "we," "us," or "our").

2. Description of Service

The Ethical Crystals provides:

• Ethical certification services for crystal and gemstone businesses
• Trust scoring and badge systems for certified businesses
• A directory of certified ethical sellers
• A reporting system for unethical business practices
• Educational resources about ethical sourcing
• API access for integration with third-party platforms

Our services are designed to promote transparency, ethical practices, and sustainability in the crystal and gemstone industry.

3. User Accounts and Registration

3.1 Account Creation

To access certain features of the Service, you must create an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update such information as necessary.

3.2 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You must immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account.

3.3 Account Types

We offer different account types including:

• Consumer Accounts: For individuals seeking certified ethical sellers
• Business Accounts: For companies seeking certification
• Enterprise Accounts: For large organizations with multiple locations

4. Certification Services

4.1 Certification Process

Our certification process evaluates businesses based on six core principles: Fair Labor Practices, Environmental Stewardship, Transparency & Traceability, Community Engagement, Energy & Sustainability, and Small-Scale Support.

4.2 Documentation Requirements

Businesses seeking certification must provide accurate and complete documentation as specified in our certification guidelines. Submission of false or misleading information may result in immediate disqualification and potential legal action.

4.3 Certification Validity

Certifications are valid for one year from the date of issuance and must be renewed annually. We reserve the right to revoke certifications at any time if standards are not maintained.

4.4 Trust Scores and Badges

Trust scores and badges are proprietary assessments based on our evaluation criteria. These scores may change based on updated information, re-evaluations, or changes to our scoring methodology.

5. Payment and Billing

5.1 Subscription Plans

We offer various subscription plans with different features and pricing. By subscribing to a paid plan, you agree to pay all applicable fees as described on our pricing page.

5.2 Payment Processing

Payments are processed through secure third-party payment processors. We do not store credit card information on our servers.

5.3 Refunds and Cancellations

Subscription fees are non-refundable except as required by law. You may cancel your subscription at any time, and cancellation will take effect at the end of your current billing period.

5.4 Price Changes

We reserve the right to change our pricing with 30 days' notice to existing subscribers.

6. User Conduct and Responsibilities

You agree not to use the Service to:

• Violate any laws, regulations, or third-party rights
• Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers
• Use automated systems to access the Service without permission
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Service
• Use the Service for any commercial purpose without our written consent

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 Our Property

The Service and its original content, features, and functionality are owned by Ethical Crystals, Inc. and are protected by international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.

7.2 User Content

You retain ownership of content you submit to the Service but grant us a worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute such content for the purpose of providing and improving the Service.

7.3 Trademarks

"Ethical Crystals" and our logo are trademarks of our company. You may not use our trademarks without our prior written consent.

8. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and disclosure of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

By using the Service, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in our Privacy Policy.

9. Disclaimers and Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not warrant that:

• The Service will be uninterrupted or error-free
• All information on the Service is accurate or current
• Certified businesses will maintain ethical practices
• The Service will meet your specific requirements

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL Ethical Crystals, INC., ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES.

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID TO US IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

11. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Ethical Crystals, Inc. and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or debt arising from:

• Your use of and access to the Service
• Your violation of any term of these Terms
• Your violation of any third-party right
• Any content you submit to the Service

12. Termination

12.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us or through your account settings.

12.2 Termination by Us

We may terminate or suspend your account immediately, without prior notice, for conduct that we believe violates these Terms or is harmful to other users, us, or third parties.

12.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to access and use the Service will cease immediately. All provisions that by their nature should survive termination shall survive.

13. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in San Francisco County, California.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of any changes by posting the new Terms on this page and updating the "Last updated" date.

Your continued use of the Service after any changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

15. Contact Information

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