Terms of Service

Welcome to WhirLocal. These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of WhirLocal.io, WhirLocal.com, and the WhirLocal platform, including any content, features, tools, products, and services provided by WhirLocal Media Group, LLC (“WhirLocal,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

WhirLocal Media Group, LLC is an Oregon limited liability company operating a U.S.-based community trust platform.

By accessing or using WhirLocal, creating an account, claiming or managing a business or organization profile, submitting content, writing a review, making a recommendation, creating or managing a Trust Network or Trust List, or purchasing a paid service, you agree to these Terms.

If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use WhirLocal.

1. Who We Are & What We Offer

WhirLocal is a community-based trust platform designed to help local businesses, organizations, and community members make real-world trust and relationships more visible online.

The platform provides tools and features that may include Trust Profiles, business Trust Networks, personal Trust Lists, Trust Cards, recommendations, reviews, local content, business listings, referrals, website embeds, marketing tools, AI-assisted features, and other services designed to help people discover and connect with local businesses and organizations.

WhirLocal provides the platform and technology that facilitate these connections and expressions of trust.

The presence of a business, organization, professional, or individual on WhirLocal does not, by itself, constitute an endorsement, recommendation, certification, approval, or guarantee by WhirLocal.

Approved agencies or other authorized representatives may also use the platform to manage services on behalf of clients under these Terms and any applicable separate agreement.

2. Trust Network, Trust Lists, Recommendations & No WhirLocal Endorsement

WhirLocal provides tools that allow businesses, organizations, and community members to express, share, and discover trust, recommendations, reviews, and relationships within their local communities.

WhirLocal facilitates these connections but does not itself endorse, recommend, certify, approve, warrant, or guarantee any business, organization, professional, individual, product, or service appearing on the platform unless WhirLocal expressly states otherwise.

A business or organization having a Trust Profile, appearing in a Trust Network or Trust List, receiving recommendations, displaying Trust Cards, reviews, trust indicators, rankings, badges, or other trust-related information does not mean that WhirLocal has independently evaluated, vetted, verified, approved, or endorsed that business or organization.

Recommendations and expressions of trust displayed through WhirLocal represent the views, experiences, knowledge, relationships, or actions of the businesses, organizations, or community members who provided them. They do not represent an endorsement or recommendation by WhirLocal.

A. Business Trust Networks

Businesses and organizations may use WhirLocal to identify and publicly display other businesses or organizations they trust or recommend.

The decision to add another business or organization to a Trust Network belongs to the recommending party. WhirLocal provides the technology for creating, displaying, sharing, and distributing that recommendation but is not the source of the recommendation.

A recommendation on WhirLocal does not necessarily mean that the recommending party has purchased goods or services from the recommended business. Unless specifically identified as a customer review, recommendations should not be interpreted as representations of a particular customer transaction or experience.

Recommendations may instead be based on legitimate professional relationships, firsthand knowledge, community involvement, business relationships, personal experience, or another good-faith basis for trust.

WhirLocal does not require recommendations to be reciprocal. A business receiving a recommendation is not required to recommend the recommending business in return.

B. Neighbor and Personal Trust Lists

Individual community members may use WhirLocal to create personal Trust Lists containing businesses or organizations they trust or recommend.

These recommendations represent the views of the individual user and not WhirLocal.

A recommendation appearing on a personal Trust List does not necessarily represent a customer transaction. It may reflect personal experience, firsthand knowledge, a relationship with the business, community experience, or another legitimate basis for trust.

WhirLocal does not independently verify every experience or relationship underlying a recommendation and does not guarantee that every recommendation will be relevant or appropriate for another user.

C. Meaning of Trust Language

Terms such as “trusted by,” “recommended by,” “Who We Trust,” “Who Trusts Us,” “Trust Network,” “Trust List,” "Vouch", and similar language used on WhirLocal describe recommendations, relationships, or expressions of trust made by users of the platform.

Such terms do not mean that WhirLocal itself has determined, certified, guaranteed, or independently concluded that a business, organization, professional, or individual is trustworthy.

WhirLocal facilitates and displays expressions of trust. Users remain responsible for deciding for themselves whether to trust or engage with another party.

D. Verification Is Not Endorsement

WhirLocal may verify certain information associated with an account or Trust Profile, including identity, email address, business ownership, employment, authorization to manage a profile, contact information, or other account information.

Verification is intended to protect the integrity of the platform and help establish that an account or profile is legitimately associated with the person, business, or organization it represents.

Verification does not constitute an endorsement, certification, approval, background check, guarantee of quality, or guarantee of the products or services offered by that business or organization.

A “verified” designation or similar indication should be understood only in the context specifically described by WhirLocal for that verification.

E. Trust Indicators, Counts, Badges & Rankings

WhirLocal may display counts, badges, rankings, categories, labels, designations, or other indicators based on activity occurring on the platform, including recommendations, reviews, Trust Network relationships, Trust List activity, or other relevant signals.

These indicators may be calculated using automated systems, eligibility requirements, minimum thresholds, weighting methods, anti-fraud measures, or other criteria established by WhirLocal.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, a trust indicator, count, ranking, badge, designation, “Most Trusted” label, or similar feature reflects information or activity available to WhirLocal under the methodology used at that time. It does not constitute an independent certification, professional evaluation, guarantee, or endorsement by WhirLocal.

WhirLocal may modify its methodologies, eligibility requirements, thresholds, weighting, labels, calculations, and presentation of these indicators as the platform evolves.

F. Your Responsibility

Users should exercise their own judgment and conduct any appropriate due diligence before hiring, purchasing from, referring, recommending, entering into a contract with, or otherwise engaging with any business, organization, professional, or individual discovered through WhirLocal.

Where appropriate, users should independently verify licensing, insurance, credentials, qualifications, pricing, references, availability, and other information relevant to their decision.

3. Integrity of Trust, Recommendations & Platform Activity

The usefulness of WhirLocal depends on authentic participation, genuine recommendations, and trustworthy relationships.

Users may only make recommendations or other expressions of trust that reflect their genuine opinion and are based on a legitimate basis for that trust, such as personal experience, a business or professional relationship, firsthand knowledge, community involvement, or another good-faith basis for making the recommendation.

A recommendation on WhirLocal does not necessarily mean that the recommending party has purchased goods or services from the recommended business. Unless specifically identified as a customer review, recommendations should not be interpreted as representations of a particular customer transaction or experience.

Users may not make recommendations they know to be false, misleading, fabricated, or materially deceptive.

Users may not:

- Create fake, misleading, duplicate, or fraudulent accounts.

- Impersonate another person, business, or organization.

- Use bots, automated systems, artificial identities, AI agents, coordinated accounts, or other deceptive methods to artificially create recommendations, reviews, Trust Network relationships, Trust List activity, referrals, or other engagement.

- Buy, sell, or trade recommendations where doing so would be deceptive, misleading, prohibited by law, or inconsistent with WhirLocal policies.

- Offer compensation, discounts, gifts, services, or other benefits in exchange for a recommendation or review where doing so would be deceptive, misleading, prohibited by law, or inconsistent with WhirLocal policies.

- Condition any incentive on a review or recommendation expressing a particular positive or negative sentiment.

- Coordinate reciprocal recommendations for the primary purpose of artificially manipulating trust indicators, rankings, counts, or platform visibility.

- Misrepresent a relationship with another business, organization, professional, or individual.

- Attempt to manipulate recommendation counts, review counts, trust indicators, rankings, badges, visibility, referrals, or other platform metrics.

- Use WhirLocal in a manner intended to deceive users regarding the reputation, popularity, relationships, recommendations, or trustworthiness of a business, organization, or individual.

Where a recommendation, review, endorsement, or other expression of trust involves a material relationship that requires disclosure under applicable law, including certain financial, employment, family, ownership, affiliate, or compensated relationships, the user is responsible for making that disclosure clearly and conspicuously.

WhirLocal may require additional disclosures, labels, or relationship indicators where we determine they are necessary to preserve transparency or the integrity of the platform.

WhirLocal may use automated systems, technical safeguards, manual review, account verification, rate limits, fraud detection, risk signals, or other measures to identify and prevent manipulation or abuse.

WhirLocal does not guarantee that all fraudulent, deceptive, automated, coordinated, or manipulative activity will be detected or prevented.

WhirLocal reserves the right to remove recommendations, reviews, accounts, relationships, referrals, trust indicators, or other activity that we reasonably believe violates these Terms or undermines the integrity of the platform.

We may also suspend, restrict, or terminate accounts involved in suspected manipulation, fraud, impersonation, coordinated abuse, or other activity that threatens the integrity of WhirLocal.

4. Governing Law

These Terms and your use of WhirLocal are governed by the laws of the State of Oregon, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

If applicable federal law or the law of your state of residence provides rights or protections that cannot lawfully be waived, restricted, or limited by these Terms, nothing in these Terms is intended to waive, restrict, or limit those rights or protections.

Except as otherwise provided in the Dispute Resolution & Arbitration section below or as required by applicable law, any judicial proceeding arising from or relating to these Terms or WhirLocal shall be brought in the state or federal courts having jurisdiction over Polk County, Oregon, and you and WhirLocal consent to the jurisdiction of those courts.

5. User-Generated Content

A. Responsibility for Content

WhirLocal allows users to submit, create, or publish content and activity, including:

- Reviews.

- Recommendations and expressions of trust.

- Trust Network and Trust List relationships.

- Business information and profile content.

- Photos, videos, and other media.

- TrustPosts and other business content.

- Comments, testimonials, responses, and other contributions.

Users are responsible for the content they submit.

WhirLocal does not create, endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, reliability, legality, or appropriateness of user-generated content merely because it appears on the platform.

Content posted on WhirLocal does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of WhirLocal.

User-generated content is provided by the user who submitted it. Except where WhirLocal expressly creates or adopts content as its own, WhirLocal acts as a platform for displaying and facilitating user-generated content and does not adopt such content as its own statement, representation, recommendation, or endorsement.

B. Rights & License to Use Content

You retain ownership of original content you submit to WhirLocal.

By submitting content, you grant WhirLocal a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, transferable, and sublicensable license to host, store, reproduce, display, distribute, adapt, format, publish, and otherwise use that content as reasonably necessary to operate, provide, promote, distribute, improve, and develop WhirLocal and its related services.

This license includes displaying submitted content through Trust Profiles, Trust Cards, Trust Networks, Trust Lists, website embeds, social graphics, emails, marketing materials, and other features designed to display or distribute activity originating on WhirLocal.

You represent that you have the rights necessary to submit the content and grant this license.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to restrict a consumer's lawful right to provide an honest review, assessment, or opinion about WhirLocal or any other business, product, service, or experience, or to require a consumer to transfer ownership of intellectual property rights in a review where such a requirement is prohibited by applicable law.

C. Content Moderation & Removal

WhirLocal reserves the right, but is not obligated, to moderate, restrict, remove, edit, label, or refuse content that we reasonably believe:

- Is false, fraudulent, defamatory, deceptive, or misleading.

- Violates these Terms or our policies.

- Promotes or facilitates illegal activity.

- Infringes intellectual property or other legal rights.

- Contains confidential, private, or unlawfully disclosed information.

- Constitutes harassment, abuse, threats, spam, or manipulation.

- Is unrelated to the subject matter for which it was submitted.

- Threatens the integrity, security, safety, or usefulness of the platform.

- Violates applicable law or regulation.

Users may report inappropriate content by contacting help@whirlocal.io or through available reporting tools.

WhirLocal does not guarantee that all objectionable, inaccurate, fraudulent, or unlawful content will be identified or removed.

6. Business and Organization Profiles

WhirLocal may maintain profiles for businesses and organizations regardless of whether those profiles have been claimed by the business or organization.

Information used to create or maintain profiles may come from business owners, authorized representatives, users, publicly available information, third-party data providers, or other lawful sources.

An unclaimed profile does not indicate participation in, approval of, or endorsement by the business represented.

Claiming a Trust Profile allows an authorized representative to manage eligible information and features associated with that profile.

Businesses and organizations must provide accurate information and may not falsely claim, impersonate, or obtain control of a profile they are not authorized to manage.

WhirLocal may require verification before granting or maintaining management access to a Trust Profile.

WhirLocal may correct, supplement, restrict, or remove profile information when reasonably necessary to maintain accurate or lawful platform information.

7. Listings & Acceptable Use

Listings and profiles on WhirLocal are generally intended for legitimate businesses, nonprofits, organizations, and professionals serving local communities.

Businesses must accurately represent their identity, location, contact information, products, services, and other material information.

Users may not create keyword-based, duplicate, fictitious, or misleading listings primarily intended to manipulate search engines, platform visibility, rankings, or users.

WhirLocal reserves the right to determine eligibility for inclusion on the platform and may restrict or remove businesses, organizations, content, profiles, or accounts that violate our policies or that we determine are inappropriate for the platform.

WhirLocal does not accept listings or advertisements for certain categories, which may include:

- Illegal products or services.

- Illegal or controlled drugs and related products.

- Online pharmacies where prohibited or restricted.

- Gambling and casinos.

- Dating services.

- Adult entertainment.

- Cannabis retailers and dispensaries.

- Tobacco and vaping stores.

- Abortion providers.

- Payday loans, paycheck advances, and bail bonds.

- Psychics, mediums, and certain energy-healing services.

- Weapons, ammunition, and explosives.

- Unsafe or unlawfully marketed supplements.

- Other products, services, or industries WhirLocal determines are inconsistent with our platform, policies, community standards, business model, or applicable law.

WhirLocal may modify eligibility standards as the platform evolves.

8. Reviews

Users submitting reviews agree to follow the WhirLocal Review Guidelines.

Reviews should reflect genuine experiences and may not be fabricated, manipulated, purchased, coerced, or submitted through fake or misleading accounts.

Users may express honest opinions, including negative opinions, about their experiences. WhirLocal does not require reviews to be positive.

Businesses and organizations cannot directly modify or delete reviews submitted by other users or directly alter their aggregate review score.

Businesses may flag reviews they believe violate our guidelines. Flagging a review does not guarantee removal.

WhirLocal does not remove, suppress, penalize, or restrict a review solely because it is negative or unfavorable.

Reviews may be removed, restricted, labeled, or otherwise moderated when they violate these Terms, the WhirLocal Review Guidelines, applicable law, or our platform integrity standards.

WhirLocal may use automated or manual methods to identify suspicious or potentially fraudulent reviews but does not guarantee that all fraudulent, inaccurate, deceptive, or misleading reviews will be identified or removed.

WhirLocal may investigate and remove reviews that we reasonably believe are fraudulent, deceptive, manipulated, unlawful, or otherwise violate our policies.

Nothing in these Terms or the WhirLocal Review Guidelines is intended to prohibit or restrict a user's right to provide an honest review, assessment, or opinion about a business, product, service, or experience as protected by applicable law.

9. WhirLocal Original Content & Editorial Disclaimer

WhirLocal and participating agencies may produce and publish original content, including local guides, business spotlights, community highlights, articles, Essential Reads, and other editorial or informational content.

A. No Guarantee of Accuracy

Although we strive for accuracy, WhirLocal Content may contain errors, omissions, or outdated information.

We do not guarantee that all information is complete, accurate, or current. Users should independently verify information when it is important to their decision.

B. Editorial Content Is Not Automatically an Endorsement

A business, organization, event, professional, product, or service appearing in WhirLocal-produced content is not necessarily endorsed or recommended by WhirLocal.

Where WhirLocal intends to make an explicit editorial recommendation, we may identify it as such.

C. Sponsored Content, Advertising & Material Relationships

Businesses, professionals, agencies, advertisers, affiliates, or partners featured on WhirLocal may have paid or other commercial relationships with WhirLocal Media Group, LLC, or with an agency or other authorized representative using WhirLocal on behalf of a client under a separate agreement.

These relationships may include advertising, marketing services, sponsored content, enhanced profiles, paid subscriptions, lead-generation services, agency services, affiliate relationships, sponsorships, or sponsored inclusion opportunities.

Paid relationships may influence whether, where, or how a business appears in sponsored, advertising, or promotional portions of WhirLocal.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, payment or sponsorship does not constitute independent verification, certification, endorsement, or a guarantee by WhirLocal regarding the business, professional, product, service, pricing, credentials, results, or quality.

WhirLocal will make disclosures where required by applicable advertising, endorsement, or consumer-protection law.

10. Paid Plans, Subscriptions & Services

WhirLocal may offer free accounts as well as paid subscription plans, upgrades, add-ons, professional services, advertising, websites, marketing services, and other products.

Features, limits, pricing, billing periods, and availability may vary by plan and may change over time.

Where a service is sold as a recurring subscription, it will automatically renew for successive billing periods unless canceled in accordance with the cancellation terms presented at purchase.

Before purchasing a recurring subscription, users will be provided with applicable pricing, billing frequency, renewal terms, cancellation terms, and other material terms required by applicable law.

By purchasing a recurring subscription, you authorize WhirLocal or its payment processor to charge the applicable payment method according to the billing terms presented at purchase until the subscription is canceled.

WhirLocal will obtain any affirmative consent to recurring charges required by applicable law and will provide required acknowledgments, renewal notices, cancellation mechanisms, or other disclosures applicable to the transaction.

Unless otherwise required by law or expressly stated at purchase, fees already paid are non-refundable.

There is no guarantee or warranty that WhirLocal's platform, marketing tools, recommendations, content, visibility features, advertising, referrals, or other services will generate any particular amount of traffic, leads, customers, revenue, search rankings, recommendations, reviews, referrals, or other business results.

A. Upgrades

When upgrading a subscription, applicable charges may be prorated or otherwise calculated according to the billing terms presented at the time of purchase.

B. Downgrades & Cancellations

Users may downgrade or cancel eligible subscriptions according to the options available through their account, through another cancellation mechanism provided by WhirLocal, or by contacting WhirLocal where applicable.

WhirLocal will provide cancellation methods and notices as required by applicable law.

Unless otherwise required by law or stated at purchase, payments already made are non-refundable, including payments for unused portions of a billing period.

Following cancellation or downgrade, paid features may remain available until the end of the applicable billing period.

Certain content or data created while an account was paid may remain on WhirLocal after cancellation, including reviews, recommendations, Trust Network relationships, Trust Profile information, and other lawful public platform activity.

Cancellation of a paid subscription does not necessarily delete a user's account, Trust Profile, reviews, recommendations, or other public platform information.

C. Separate Services

Certain products or services, including websites, CRM services, advertising management, agency services, implementation services, or other professional services, may be governed by additional agreements, scopes of work, order forms, or service-specific terms.

If those terms conflict with these Terms regarding that particular service, the service-specific agreement will control.

11. Referrals & Introductions

WhirLocal may provide features allowing users to request, send, receive, track, or facilitate referrals or introductions between users, businesses, organizations, and community members.

WhirLocal provides the technology facilitating these interactions but is not a party to any resulting transaction, agreement, contract, service relationship, or dispute unless expressly stated otherwise.

WhirLocal does not guarantee that a referral or introduction will result in contact, a transaction, a qualified lead, revenue, or any other result.

Users are responsible for evaluating referrals and introductions and determining whether to enter into any business or personal relationship resulting from them.

12. Website Embeds & Sharing Tools

WhirLocal may provide Trust Cards, Trust Networks, reviews, badges, widgets, links, QR codes, graphics, or other tools that allow WhirLocal content or activity to be displayed or shared outside the platform.

WhirLocal grants users a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use authorized embed codes and sharing tools for their intended purposes.

Users may not alter these tools in a manner that materially misrepresents their source, meaning, recommendation, trust relationship, review information, data, or affiliation with WhirLocal.

Users may not use WhirLocal embeds or sharing tools to falsely suggest certification, sponsorship, endorsement, or approval by WhirLocal.

WhirLocal may modify, discontinue, restrict, or disable embed or sharing functionality at any time.

13. Disclaimer of Warranties

WhirLocal and its services are provided “as is” and “as available” to the fullest extent permitted by law.

WhirLocal makes no express or implied warranties regarding the platform or its content, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, accuracy, reliability, availability, or results.

Without limiting the foregoing:

WhirLocal does not guarantee the accuracy of information appearing on the platform.

WhirLocal does not guarantee that recommendations, reviews, Trust Networks, Trust Lists, trust indicators, rankings, badges, or other user-generated information are accurate or appropriate for your individual circumstances.

WhirLocal does not endorse user-generated recommendations or content merely by displaying them.

WhirLocal does not guarantee that every user, business, organization, review, recommendation, or relationship is authentic, accurate, or free from manipulation.

WhirLocal does not guarantee that any business, organization, professional, or user will meet your expectations.

WhirLocal does not guarantee uninterrupted, secure, or error-free access to the platform.

Your use of WhirLocal and reliance on information obtained through the platform are at your own risk.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain warranty exclusions, so some of these exclusions may not apply to you.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, WhirLocal Media Group, LLC, its affiliates, officers, members, employees, contractors, agents, and licensors shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, or exemplary damages arising from or relating to your use of WhirLocal.

This includes, without limitation:

- Loss of profits, business, revenue, data, goodwill, or reputation.

- Business interruptions or inability to access the platform.

- Errors, omissions, inaccuracies, recommendations, reviews, or other content appearing on WhirLocal.

- Decisions made in reliance on Trust Profiles, Trust Networks, Trust Lists, recommendations, reviews, trust indicators, rankings, badges, referrals, editorial content, or other information.

- The conduct, products, services, acts, or omissions of businesses, organizations, professionals, community members, or other third parties.

- Interactions, transactions, contracts, referrals, introductions, or disputes between users or third parties.

- Unauthorized access to or alteration of user content or information, except to the extent liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, WhirLocal's total cumulative liability arising from or relating to the platform, these Terms, or any applicable service under any legal theory shall not exceed the greater of $100 USD or the amount you paid directly to WhirLocal for the applicable service during the 12 months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

The limitations in this section apply only to the extent permitted by applicable law. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

15. Age Requirements

WhirLocal is not intended for children under 13.

You must be at least 13 years old to create an individual WhirLocal account.

If you are under the age of majority in your state of residence, you may use WhirLocal only with the involvement and permission of a parent or legal guardian where required by applicable law.

WhirLocal does not knowingly solicit personal information from children under 13.

16. Privacy & Data Collection

Your use of WhirLocal is also subject to our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect personal information.

By using WhirLocal, you acknowledge our Privacy Policy.

Certain features, including account verification, fraud prevention, recommendations, referrals, platform security, and trust-integrity measures, may involve the collection and processing of information as further described in the Privacy Policy.

Privacy rights may vary depending on where you live. WhirLocal will provide rights and disclosures required by applicable federal and state privacy laws.

17. Intellectual Property & Platform Ownership

WhirLocal, its software, platform design, branding, trademarks, logos, proprietary systems, original editorial content, and other intellectual property are owned by or licensed to WhirLocal Media Group, LLC.

Users retain ownership of original content they submit, subject to the licenses granted in these Terms.

WhirLocal may compile and maintain factual business profile information, directory data, aggregated platform information, trust relationships, reviews, recommendations, platform activity, and other lawful platform records as part of operating WhirLocal.

A business's cancellation, account closure, or decision not to participate does not necessarily require WhirLocal to remove factual profile information, reviews, recommendations, Trust Network relationships, or other lawful platform records, subject to applicable law.

Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership of a business's or user's trademarks, copyrighted materials, or other intellectual property to WhirLocal.

The WhirLocal name, logos, Trust Network branding, Trust Card branding, and other WhirLocal marks may not be used in a manner that falsely suggests affiliation, sponsorship, certification, or endorsement.

18. AI-Assisted Content & Features

WhirLocal may use artificial intelligence technologies to generate, summarize, enhance, organize, recommend, moderate, analyze, or assist with content and platform functionality.

AI-assisted content may include business descriptions, articles, summaries, content suggestions, FAQs, TrustPosts, categorization, or other materials.

AI-generated or AI-assisted content may contain inaccuracies, omissions, outdated information, or unintended biases.

WhirLocal does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated or AI-assisted content.

AI-generated or AI-assisted content does not constitute an endorsement by WhirLocal of any business, organization, product, service, or individual.

Users should independently verify important information before relying upon AI-generated or AI-assisted content.

Users may not use automated systems, AI agents, or artificial identities to engage in deceptive, fraudulent, manipulative, or unauthorized activity on WhirLocal.

19. Third-Party Services & External Links

WhirLocal may contain links to third-party websites, products, advertisements, applications, platforms, or services not owned or controlled by WhirLocal.

WhirLocal does not control and is not responsible for the availability, security, privacy practices, content, products, services, representations, or conduct of third parties.

A link from WhirLocal does not, by itself, constitute an endorsement of the linked business, organization, product, or service.

Users interact with third parties at their own discretion and risk.

20. Affiliate Program

WhirLocal may operate an affiliate or referral partner program allowing approved individuals or organizations to earn compensation for referring customers.

Participation is governed by a separate Affiliate Agreement and program terms.

Affiliates must comply with applicable advertising, endorsement, disclosure, and consumer-protection laws, including required disclosures of material relationships.

Affiliates may not misrepresent their relationship with WhirLocal or make claims about WhirLocal that WhirLocal has not authorized.

Participation in an affiliate program does not authorize an affiliate to speak on behalf of WhirLocal.

21. Agency Accounts

WhirLocal may allow approved agencies, marketing firms, consultants, publishers, freelancers, or other authorized representatives to manage services on behalf of clients.

Agencies and representatives must:

- Have appropriate authorization to act for their clients.

- Represent clients honestly and accurately.

- Manage client data responsibly.

- Comply with applicable advertising, endorsement, privacy, intellectual property, and consumer-protection laws.

- Make required disclosures regarding sponsored content, paid relationships, endorsements, recommendations, or other material connections.

- Avoid misrepresentation, unauthorized access, manipulation, or deceptive practices.

Agencies are responsible for activity conducted through accounts or profiles they manage and may be held accountable for violations of these Terms or applicable agreements.

22. DMCA & Copyright Complaints

WhirLocal respects intellectual property rights and responds to valid copyright complaints in accordance with applicable law, including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act where applicable.

If you believe copyrighted material has been posted on WhirLocal without authorization, you may submit a request according to our DMCA Policy.

Submitting a knowingly false or misleading copyright complaint may result in legal consequences.

23. Suspension & Termination

WhirLocal may restrict, suspend, or terminate access to accounts, profiles, or features if we reasonably believe a user has:

- Violated these Terms or another WhirLocal policy.

- Engaged in fraud, manipulation, impersonation, spam, or deceptive activity.

- Created or operated fake, artificial, automated, or coordinated accounts.

- Attempted to manipulate reviews, recommendations, trust relationships, rankings, badges, counts, referrals, or other platform metrics.

- Threatened the security, integrity, safety, or operation of WhirLocal.

- Used the platform for unlawful activity.

- Created material risk or potential harm to WhirLocal, its users, or third parties.

WhirLocal may also remove, restrict, or label content or platform activity associated with violations.

Where appropriate, we may provide an opportunity to appeal or correct an issue, but we are not obligated to restore accounts, profiles, recommendations, relationships, or content when we reasonably determine continued access would threaten the integrity, security, or safety of the platform.

Termination of an account does not necessarily require removal of reviews, recommendations, factual business information, or other lawful platform records contributed by or relating to that account, subject to applicable law.

24. Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless WhirLocal Media Group, LLC and its officers, members, employees, affiliates, contractors, agents, and licensors from claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and reasonable legal fees arising from or relating to:

- Content you submit.

- Reviews, recommendations, or representations you make.

- Trust relationships you create or represent.

- Your business, products, or services.

- Your violation of these Terms.

- Your violation of applicable law.

- Your infringement or violation of another person's rights.

- Fraudulent, deceptive, manipulative, or unauthorized activity conducted through your account.

WhirLocal reserves the right to assume control of the defense of a claim subject to indemnification, and you agree to reasonably cooperate in that defense.

This section does not require a user to indemnify WhirLocal for conduct for which indemnification cannot lawfully be required.

25. Dispute Resolution & Arbitration

This section affects your legal rights. Please read it carefully.

These Terms and your use of WhirLocal are governed by the laws of the State of Oregon, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, subject to any rights or protections under applicable law that cannot lawfully be waived.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, disputes arising from or relating to these Terms or WhirLocal shall be resolved through binding individual arbitration, except as otherwise provided below.

You and WhirLocal agree that covered disputes will be resolved individually and not through a class, consolidated, collective, or representative action, except where such waiver is prohibited by applicable law.

To the extent permitted by law, you and WhirLocal waive the right to a jury trial for disputes subject to arbitration.

Nothing in this section prevents either party from bringing an eligible individual claim in small claims court or seeking temporary, preliminary, or injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction when reasonably necessary to protect intellectual property, confidential information, platform security, or prevent fraud, abuse, or unauthorized access.

Nothing in this section is intended to deprive a user of rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be waived under applicable federal or state law.

If any portion of this arbitration provision or class-action waiver is found unenforceable, that portion shall be treated in accordance with applicable law without invalidating the remaining provisions to the extent legally permitted.

26. Force Majeure

WhirLocal shall not be responsible for delays, failures, interruptions, or service disruptions caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, fires, severe weather, cyberattacks, internet or telecommunications failures, hosting or infrastructure outages, failures of third-party providers, government actions, labor disruptions, war, civil unrest, epidemics, pandemics, or other events beyond our reasonable control.

27. Changes to WhirLocal or These Terms

WhirLocal is an evolving platform, and we may add, modify, restrict, replace, or discontinue features, products, plans, methodologies, or services.

We may also update these Terms from time to time.

When we make material changes, we may provide notice through the platform, by email, or by another reasonable method, as appropriate or required by applicable law.

The “Last Updated” date at the top of these Terms identifies when these Terms were most recently revised.

Your continued use of WhirLocal after updated Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms to the extent permitted by applicable law.

If applicable law requires additional notice or consent for a particular change, we will provide that notice or seek that consent as required.

28. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

29. No Waiver

WhirLocal's failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision or our right to enforce it later.

30. Assignment

You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without WhirLocal's prior written consent.

WhirLocal may assign or transfer its rights and obligations under these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, reorganization, financing, or other business transaction, or as otherwise permitted by law.

31. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, Review Guidelines, and any other policies, agreements, order forms, or service-specific terms expressly incorporated by reference, constitute the agreement between you and WhirLocal regarding your use of the applicable services.

If a separate written agreement between you and WhirLocal conflicts with these Terms regarding a specific paid service, the separate written agreement will control for that service.

32. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact:

WhirLocal Media Group, LLC
400 Glen Creek Rd NW, Unit 5382
Salem, OR 97304
help@whirlocal.io
877-796-5484