Terms of Service

Welcome to Chicago Nigerians ("we," "our," or "us"). These Terms govern your access to and use of the Chicago Nigerians platform (the "Platform"), a community networking space enabling users to connect, share content, network professionally, and engage with the Nigerian community in Chicago and beyond through peer-to-peer marketplace features.

By accessing or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. Disagreement with any provision means you cannot use the Platform.

1. Eligibility

Users must be at least 13 years old. By using the Platform, you represent that you meet this requirement and possess legal capacity to enter these Terms.

2. Account Registration and Security

• Provide accurate, complete, and current information when creating an account
• Maintain login credential confidentiality
• Accept responsibility for all account activities
• We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts violating these Terms or applicable laws

3. User Content

3.1 Ownership

You retain ownership of content you post, upload, or share ("User Content").

3.2 License to Us

By posting User Content, you grant Chicago Nigerians a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, transferable, and sublicensable license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, display, distribute, and create derivative works for operating, improving, and promoting the Platform.

3.3 Responsibility for Content

You are solely responsible for your User Content and represent that you have all necessary rights to share it.

4. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree not to:

• Post unlawful, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive content
• Harass, threaten, defame, or abuse others
• Post hate speech, discrimination, or incitement to violence
• Share content infringing intellectual property or privacy rights
• Upload malware, spam, or malicious code
• Use the Platform for unauthorized commercial solicitation
• Attempt unauthorized account or system access

We reserve the right to remove content or restrict access violating these rules.

5. Privacy

Your Platform use is subject to our Privacy Policy, which explains our data collection, use, and protection practices. By using the Platform, you consent to our data practices.

6. Marketplace, Ticket Sales, and Transactions

6.1 Marketplace Listings (Peer-to-Peer Sales)

• The Platform includes a Marketplace for listing, discovering, and communicating about goods and services
• Chicago Nigerians does not process payments, guarantee listings, verify items, or mediate disputes
• All Marketplace transactions occur strictly between buyer and seller
• Users are solely responsible for negotiating terms, verifying condition, arranging payment/delivery, and ensuring legal compliance
• Chicago Nigerians is not responsible or liable for any loss, fraud, misrepresentation, injury, or dispute arising from Marketplace transactions

6.2 Ticket Sales

• The Platform may facilitate event ticket sales
• Chicago Nigerians charges a non-refundable $5 absorption fee per ticket sold
• Except for this fee, Chicago Nigerians assumes no responsibility for events, quality, changes, cancellations, or refunds unless explicitly stated otherwise
• Event organizers are responsible for fulfilling ticketed events and legal compliance

6.3 User Responsibility for Transactions

By using the Marketplace or purchasing tickets, you acknowledge and agree that:

• You transact at your own risk
• Chicago Nigerians is not a Marketplace transaction party
• Any disputes must be resolved directly between involved parties

7. Intellectual Property and Copyright

7.1 Platform Intellectual Property

The Platform, including design, features, logos, trademarks, and software, is owned by or licensed to Chicago Nigerians and protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You cannot copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works without prior written consent.

7.2 User-Generated Content and Copyright Responsibility

Users may upload videos, reels, audio, music, images, and other content. Users are solely responsible for ensuring that they own or have obtained all necessary rights, licenses, permissions, and consents to use any copyrighted materials. Chicago Nigerians does not verify music licenses or copyright permissions.

7.3 Copyright Liability Disclaimer

Chicago Nigerians shall not be responsible or liable for any copyright infringement, intellectual property claims, or legal disputes arising from unauthorized use of copyrighted materials. Copyright claims and legal actions are the sole responsibility of the user who uploaded the content.

7.4 Content Removal

We reserve the right to remove or restrict access to content alleged or determined to infringe copyright or intellectual property rights. Repeated infringement may result in account suspension or termination.

8. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, if:

• You violate these Terms
• Your conduct harms the Platform or other users
• Required by law or legal process

You may terminate your account at any time through account settings.

9. Disclaimers

The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not guarantee uninterrupted, secure, or error-free operation.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Chicago Nigerians shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from Platform use.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Chicago Nigerians, its affiliates, officers, and partners from any claims, damages, or expenses arising out of your Platform use or Terms violation.

12. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to conflict of law principles.

13. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued Platform use after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

14. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, contact: