TelosMedia.org Terms of Service

Effective Date: April 7, 2025

1. Introduction and Legal Agreement

Welcome to TelosMedia.org, a Christian blogging platform operated by Telos Technologies LLC (“TelosMedia”, “we”, “us”, or “our”). These Terms of Service (the “Terms”) govern your access to and use of the TelosMedia website, applications, and services (collectively, the “Service”). Please read these Terms carefully. By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms, which form a legally binding agreement between you and Telos Technologies LLC. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use or access the Service.

TelosMedia is a faith-based platform dedicated to sharing content in line with Christian mission and biblical values. In using TelosMedia, you also agree to abide by our Christian values and content standards outlined below. You acknowledge that you have also read and understood our Privacy Policy (which is incorporated by reference) and agree to its terms regarding how we collect and use your information. These Terms apply to all users of the Service, including visitors, registered members, and organizations.

2. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, posting content, or otherwise using the Service, you affirm that you accept and agree to comply with these Terms. If you are using the Service on behalf of a church, ministry, company, or other organization, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms, and in that case, “you” and “your” will refer to both you as an individual and the organization. Use of the Service constitutes acceptance of these Terms in full. If you do not agree, do not register or use TelosMedia.

You acknowledge that these Terms are supported by reasonable and valuable consideration, including your use of the Service and the benefits you receive through that use. If you later wish to close your account or withdraw from this agreement, you may do so as described in Section 10 below.

3. User Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old to use TelosMedia. By accessing or registering for the Service, you represent and warrant that you are 13 years of age or older. If you are under 13, you are not permitted to use this Service or provide any personal information on the site. If you are between 13 and 18 (or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction), we recommend that you use TelosMedia only with the involvement and consent of a parent or guardian, who also agrees to be bound by these Terms.

You further represent that you are not otherwise barred from using the Service under applicable law – for example, that you are not on any U.S. government list of prohibited or restricted parties and are not a resident of a country embargoed by the United States (see Section 15 on export controls). TelosMedia reserves the right to refuse service, close accounts, or limit access to users who do not meet these eligibility requirements.

4. User Responsibilities and Community Values

As a member of the TelosMedia community, you agree to conduct yourself in a manner that honors Christian values and biblical teachings. This means, among other things, that you should treat other users with love, respect, and integrity. You agree to use the Service for its intended purpose – sharing uplifting Christian content, insights, and Scripture – and not in any way that could harm the integrity of our faith-based community or mission.

Account Security: You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to provide truthful and accurate information when creating your account or profile. Do not impersonate others or misrepresent your identity or affiliation. You must promptly notify TelosMedia of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security. TelosMedia will not be liable for losses caused by any unauthorized use of your account, but you may be held liable for losses of TelosMedia or others due to such unauthorized use.

Alignment with Christian Mission: You agree that any content you post or activity you engage in on TelosMedia will be consistent with biblical principles. Refrain from behavior or content that contradicts the teachings of the Bible or TelosMedia’s Christian mission. This includes avoiding dishonesty, theft, malicious behavior, or anything that would violate the Content Guidelines in Section 5. TelosMedia reserves the right to determine, in its sole discretion, whether any content or conduct is in conflict with Christian values or these Terms. You agree to abide by any decision TelosMedia makes in this regard and understand that such decisions are made to preserve the integrity of the community.

Legal Compliance: You are responsible for ensuring that your use of the Service and any content you post complies with all applicable laws and regulations. This includes laws relating to copyright, trademark, privacy, defamation, and obscenity. You must not use the Service to conduct any unlawful activity or to promote illegal acts. If your content or behavior violates any law or anyone’s rights, you alone are liable for the consequences. TelosMedia may report any violations of law to the appropriate authorities.

5. Content Guidelines and Prohibited Content

TelosMedia is committed to maintaining a safe, uplifting, and Christ-centered environment. To protect our community and mission, you must adhere to the following content standards. You agree NOT to post, upload, share, or transmit any content (including text, images, videos, links, or other materials) that falls into any of the following categories:

This list of prohibited content is not exhaustive. Any content that TelosMedia deems inappropriate, harmful, or contrary to our values or these Terms may be removed at our discretion. When you publish content on TelosMedia, you are responsible for ensuring it meets these guidelines. You are solely responsible for any content you submit and for any harm or liability that results from your content. TelosMedia does not endorse any user-posted content, and such content does not reflect the views of Telos Technologies LLC.

6. Content Moderation, Monitoring, and Enforcement

TelosMedia takes content moderation seriously to protect our users and mission. We reserve the right (but do not assume the obligation) to monitor, screen, or review any content posted to the Service at any time. TelosMedia staff or authorized volunteers may remove, edit, or restrict access to any content that violates these Terms or that we otherwise find objectionable, with or without notice to you. This moderation may include automated filtering (e.g., spam detection tools) and manual review of user contributions.

Reporting Violations: We encourage our community to maintain our standards. If you encounter content or behavior that you believe violates these Terms or the spirit of TelosMedia’s Christian values, please report it to us. You can flag the content if a reporting feature is available, or send an email to our support team at support@telosmedia.org (or use the contact information in Section 18) with details of the issue. TelosMedia will review reports promptly and take action we deem appropriate. Please note that not all reports will result in content removal; we will exercise our judgment in line with these Terms and our mission.

Enforcement Actions: If we determine that you have violated the letter or spirit of these Terms, TelosMedia may take one or more of the following actions:

These actions may be taken at TelosMedia’s sole discretion. TelosMedia is not required to provide prior notice or obtain consent before removing content or taking enforcement action, but we may attempt to notify you after the fact if your account is affected (for instance, by sending an email to the address on file). TelosMedia’s decision on all moderation matters is final.

Appeal Process: If your content has been removed or your account has been affected due to an alleged violation, and you believe this was in error, you may appeal the decision. To appeal, contact us in writing (via the contact email in Section 18) within 10 days of receiving notice of the action. Provide any relevant information or context that you believe was overlooked. TelosMedia will review your appeal in good faith. However, be aware that not all decisions will be reversed. If we uphold our original decision, we will inform you, and that decision will be considered final. We appreciate your understanding that all actions are taken to maintain a healthy community aligned with our values.

Please remember that TelosMedia does not actively pre-screen all content. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that all inappropriate content will be caught immediately. Members of the community are instrumental in reporting issues. Nonetheless, TelosMedia shall not be held liable for any failure to remove or delay in removing content that violates these standards. Your use of the platform signifies your understanding that some exposure to content you may disagree with or find objectionable is possible, though we strive to minimize it.

7. Intellectual Property Rights

7.1. Your Content and License Grant

You retain ownership of any original content that you post or create on TelosMedia (“User Content”). TelosMedia does not claim ownership of your sermons, articles, blog posts, comments, images, or other materials you create. However, by submitting or posting User Content on our Service, you grant Telos Technologies LLC a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, and display your content in connection with operating and providing the Service and promoting TelosMedia. This license enables us, for example, to display your blog posts to other users, to resize an image you upload so it fits our site layout, or to include a snippet of your content in promotional materials or features (with attribution to you as the author).

The license you grant us is perpetual and irrevocable (meaning that even if you remove content or terminate your account, we may retain server copies and continue to use that content as needed for the Service – for example, for backup, archival, legal compliance, or if it has been shared by others who still use the Service). However, you may terminate our license to your User Content by removing or deleting your content from TelosMedia, in which case our rights will cease prospectively (with the exception of archival copies and any continued use that is reasonably necessary for legal or operational purposes, or content that has been re-shared by others on the platform). Note that content you delete might persist in backup copies for a reasonable period, but will not be visible to others.

By posting any User Content, you represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights to post that content and to grant the license above. This means, for example, that you either own the copyright in the content (e.g., you wrote the post or took the photo), or you have obtained permission from the rights holder to post it. You also represent that your content does not violate any privacy rights, publicity rights, intellectual property rights, or any other rights of any other person or entity. Do not upload content you didn’t create unless you have permission. You agree to pay all royalties, fees, and any other monies owed to any person by reason of content you post on TelosMedia.

7.2. TelosMedia’s Intellectual Property

All content and materials provided by TelosMedia or Telos Technologies LLC through the Service — including the TelosMedia name, logos, and branding, the design, layout, and look-and-feel of the website/app, the compilation of content, the software and code that operates the site, and all text, graphics, images, videos, and other materials created or provided by us (collectively, “TelosMedia Content”) — are the property of Telos Technologies LLC or its licensors and are protected by applicable intellectual property and other laws. Telos Technologies LLC retains all rights, title, and interest in and to the Service and TelosMedia Content.

Our Trademarks: “TelosMedia”, the TelosMedia logo, and any other names, logos, or slogans used by TelosMedia in connection with the Service are trademarks or service marks of Telos Technologies LLC (the “TelosMedia Marks”). You are not permitted to use any of these trademarks without our prior written consent. This means you may not use the TelosMedia name or logo in a way that confuses others or implies TelosMedia’s endorsement of your site, product, or service without authorization. You may, however, truthfully state that you have a blog on TelosMedia or are a user of our platform, as long as you do not misrepresent your relationship with us.

Limits on Use of TelosMedia Content: You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Service and TelosMedia Content for your personal or internal ministry use in accordance with these Terms. You may not copy, distribute, modify, or create derivative works based on our content (including our software) unless we expressly authorize it. You also must not remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices on the Site or Service. If you wish to use any of TelosMedia’s Content or Marks in a manner not permitted by these Terms, you must obtain written permission from Telos Technologies LLC.

Feedback: If you provide TelosMedia with any suggestions, ideas, bug reports, or other feedback about the Service (“Feedback”), you agree that such Feedback is given voluntarily and TelosMedia may freely use, disclose, reproduce, modify, license, or otherwise exploit it as we see fit, without any obligation to you. Any improvements or modifications to the Service based on your Feedback are the sole property of Telos Technologies LLC.

8. Third-Party Scripture Licenses and Attributions

TelosMedia’s core purpose is to share the Word of God effectively. As such, our platform may integrate Biblical scripture text and related content from third-party providers. This section clarifies the licenses and restrictions around such content, including but not limited to the New International Version (NIV) Bible and content delivered via the Bible Brain API.

New International Version (NIV): Scripture quotations from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV) are used on TelosMedia by permission. The NIV Bible text is copyrighted and owned by Biblica, Inc. and licensed through Zondervan. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ TelosMedia includes NIV scripture content under this license for your personal reading and study.

By using the Service, you agree not to copy, download, or redistribute NIV text in bulk or for commercial purposes outside of TelosMedia’s provided functionality. You may share verses or passages using the built-in features (such as social sharing or quoting scripture in your posts with proper citation), but you may not, for example, export large portions of the NIV Bible from our platform or use it to create your own Bible product. If you desire to use NIV scripture beyond what is allowed here, you must obtain permission directly from Zondervan/Biblica or use an edition of the Bible that is in the public domain. TelosMedia will display required attribution for NIV passages, and you agree to respect all copyright notices associated with scripture content.

Bible Brain API and Other Translations: TelosMedia may utilize the Bible Brain API (a service provided by Faith Comes By Hearing and partners) and other third-party sources to supply scripture texts, audio Bible recordings, or videos in various translations and languages. All such scripture content and media are subject to the licenses of their respective copyright owners. TelosMedia does not own these scripture texts or recordings; we are granted the right to present them to you for your personal use on our platform.

Where required, TelosMedia will provide attribution to the source of the translation or content (for example, identifying the translation name and copyright owner at the bottom of a Bible passage, or crediting Faith Comes By Hearing for audio). You agree to abide by any usage guidelines or restrictions that accompany specific translations or content. This means you should not download, reproduce, or distribute Bible texts or audio obtained through TelosMedia outside of the platform, except as permitted by the content’s license or via features we provide (such as sharing a verse link). Any misuse of third-party scripture content could jeopardize TelosMedia’s licensing agreements and is a violation of these Terms.

TelosMedia will make reasonable efforts to ensure that scripture content is accurate and up-to-date as provided by our third-party sources, but we are not responsible for any errors or omissions in the text or media provided by these external services. All third-party scripture content is provided “as is” (as further described in Section 11), and TelosMedia disclaims any warranties regarding its accuracy or completeness.

By using TelosMedia, you acknowledge these third-party rights and agree not to remove or obscure any attribution notices related to scripture or devotional content. If you have questions about permitted use of a particular Bible translation or encounter content that you believe may be used improperly, please contact us.

9. Subscription Plans, Payments, and Billing

Certain features or uses of TelosMedia may require a paid subscription. By subscribing to a TelosMedia plan or starting a free trial, you agree to the following terms regarding pricing, payment, and billing:

Subscription Plans: TelosMedia offers various subscription plans (e.g., “Purpose”, “Mission”, etc.) which may include different levels of access, features, storage, and support. The details of available plans, including their prices and features, are described on our website (for example, on our Pricing page). We may offer both monthly and annual billing options. All fees are stated in U.S. Dollars (USD) unless otherwise indicated, and they exclude any taxes (such as sales tax or VAT) that may apply. You are responsible for paying any applicable taxes in addition to the stated subscription price.

Free Trials: We may offer new users a free trial of certain subscription features for a limited period (e.g., 14 days). Free trials are available to new subscribers only and are subject to our discretion and eligibility requirements. We reserve the right to modify or end free trial offers at any time. If you sign up for a free trial that requires entering a payment method, you will not be charged until the trial period ends. On the day after the trial ends, your subscription will automatically convert to a paid plan and your provided payment method will be charged, unless you cancel before the end of the trial period. If no payment method is required for the trial, access to paid features will simply expire at the end of the trial unless you actively choose a paid plan.

Payment and Authorization: By subscribing to a paid plan, you authorize TelosMedia (or our designated payment processor) to charge the recurring subscription fee to your provided payment method (such as a credit card) on the first day of each billing cycle (monthly or annually, depending on your plan). If you switch from a monthly to an annual plan (or vice versa) or upgrade to a higher tier, the billing adjustments will be explained at the time of change (prorated charges or credits, if applicable). All subscriptions will automatically renew at the end of each billing period unless you cancel the subscription prior to the renewal date.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your payment information is accurate, current, and has sufficient funds or credit available. If a payment fails (e.g., due to an expired card or insufficient funds), we may attempt to charge again or contact you to update your info. If we cannot process payment, TelosMedia may, at our discretion, suspend or cancel your subscription for non-payment. You remain responsible for any unpaid amounts.

Subscription Changes: We reserve the right to adjust pricing for our Service or any components thereof in any manner and at any time as we may determine in our sole discretion. If we change the subscription price or materially modify the features of your plan, we will provide you with advance notice (for example, by email or by posting an announcement on the site) at least 30 days before the changes come into effect. The new pricing or plan terms will apply to you on your next billing cycle after the notice period, unless you cancel before that time. If you do not agree to a pricing or plan change, you may cancel your subscription prior to the end of your current billing period (see “Cancellation” below). Continuing to use the Service after the change takes effect constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

No Refunds: Fees (including subscription charges) are non-refundable, except where required by law or explicitly stated otherwise. This means that if you cancel in the middle of a paid period, or if your account is terminated due to a violation of these Terms, you will not receive a full or partial refund for the remaining period. In special circumstances (for example, if a service outage or our termination of the Service without cause significantly impacts you), we may consider refunds or credits on a case-by-case basis at our sole discretion, but we are not obligated to provide them.

Cancellation: You may cancel your subscription at any time via your account settings or by contacting TelosMedia support. Cancellation will take effect at the end of your current billing period. You will retain access to the paid features until that period ends, after which your account may be downgraded to a free/basic access or disabled. We do not generally provide pro-rated refunds for mid-period cancellation. It is your responsibility to cancel in time if you do not want to be charged for the next period.

Billing Disputes: If you believe there has been an error in billing or have an issue with charges, please contact us promptly at the billing support contact (see Section 18) so we can investigate. We will work with you in good faith to resolve billing issues, but if you dispute a charge with your bank or credit card (a “chargeback”) that we believe is valid, we reserve the right to terminate your account and pursue any amounts you owe (to the extent permitted by law).

Third-Party Payment Processors: TelosMedia uses secure third-party payment processors to handle credit card and billing transactions. By providing a payment method, you agree to the applicable processor’s terms and conditions. TelosMedia itself does not store your full financial account information on our servers; storage and processing of that data is managed by the payment provider. However, TelosMedia is not responsible for errors by the payment processor. We only receive the information needed to track your subscription (e.g., last four digits of your card, payment success/failure notices, etc.).

TelosMedia is committed to fairness and will be flexible where possible to accommodate ministries or users with financial hardship (we even offer assistance or free access on a case-by-case basis for those who cannot afford it, as noted on our pricing page). However, once you are in a paid plan, the above terms ensure that Telos Technologies LLC is protected and that we can continue to sustain the platform for all users.

10. Account Suspension and Termination

Both you and TelosMedia have the right to terminate this relationship at any time, under the following terms:

10.1. Termination by You: You may stop using the Service at any time. If you wish to delete your account entirely, you can do so through any account deletion function provided in your profile settings, or by contacting us with a request to delete your account. Account deletion is permanent and will remove or anonymize personal data associated with your account as described in our Privacy Policy, but content you have posted (such as blog articles or comments) may remain on the site in some form (unless you delete that content before deleting your account, or as permitted by our platform features). If you simply stop using your account without formal cancellation, note that your subscription (if any) will continue and charges will still apply until you actively cancel (see Section 9 on Cancellation). TelosMedia is not responsible for any fees incurred due to your oversight in canceling a paid subscription.

10.2. Termination or Suspension by TelosMedia: TelosMedia reserves the right to suspend or terminate your user account (or any part of the Service) at any time, for any reason, and without liability, with or without prior notice to you. Reasons for termination may include, without limitation:

When TelosMedia terminates an account, the user will typically receive a brief explanation of the reason (unless we are legally prevented from doing so, or if we deem it necessary to immediately terminate without discussion, e.g., for safety or legal reasons). After termination, you no longer have access to the account or content in it. TelosMedia is under no obligation to maintain or return your content to you after termination, so please ensure you keep backup copies of any important materials. However, at our discretion, we might provide you a grace period to retrieve certain content after termination (for example, exporting your blog posts), unless the termination was for serious violation.

10.3. Effect of Termination: Upon termination of your account, whether by you or by us:

TelosMedia shall not be liable to you or any third party for termination of your account or denial of access to the Service, including for deletion of your content, provided such termination is in accordance with these Terms. If you believe your account was terminated in error, you may contact us to discuss the matter (as noted in the appeal process in Section 6), but be aware that decisions to terminate are typically final.

11. Disclaimers of Warranties and Limitation of Liability

11.1 “As-Is” Service; No Warranty

TelosMedia is provided “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE.” While we strive to offer a secure, reliable, and uplifting service, WE MAKE NO WARRANTY OR GUARANTEE of any kind, express or implied, about the Service. Telos Technologies LLC disclaims all warranties and conditions, whether express, implied, or statutory, including but not limited to implied warranties of title, non-infringement, accuracy, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose. We do not warrant that the Service will meet your requirements or expectations; that it will always be available, uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free; or that any content (including scripture text or user posts) is accurate, complete, or reliable.

No Guarantee of Outcomes: Any testimonials or examples on our site (for example, success stories of sharing the Gospel) are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute a guarantee that you will achieve any particular result. The use of TelosMedia is at your own discretion and risk. You are solely responsible for any damage to your computer system or loss of data that results from any material downloaded from the Service. Although we care deeply about our mission, TelosMedia does not guarantee any spiritual or personal outcome; those are in God’s hands and your own efforts outside this platform.

Third-Party Content: Any information or content accessed through the Service, including Bible verses from third-party providers, user posts, or external links, is for general informational purposes. TelosMedia is not responsible for third-party content or the accuracy thereof. We do not endorse any opinions expressed by users. Likewise, any third-party services, websites, or content you access via links on TelosMedia are not under our control, and we are not responsible for them. Following any advice or information obtained through the Service (including spiritual advice from other users) is done at your own risk; when in doubt, always test everything against Scripture and seek wise counsel.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties. If you are entitled to any warranties under law, then to the maximum extent permitted, the duration of statutorily required warranties, if any, shall be limited to the minimum period allowed by law.

11.2 Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in no event will Telos Technologies LLC, its affiliates, or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, or partners be liable to you or any third party for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages whatsoever. This includes, without limitation, any damages for lost profits, lost revenue, loss of data, loss of goodwill, service interruption, computer damage, or system failure, or the cost of substitute services, arising out of or in connection with these Terms or from the use of or inability to use the Service, whether based on warranty, contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability, or any other legal theory, and whether or not TelosMedia has been informed of the possibility of such damage.

Additionally, TelosMedia shall not be liable for any damages arising from any content posted on the Service by you or any third party, or from the defamatory, offensive, or illegal conduct of any third party. This limitation includes any disputes between users, or between a user and a third party, and any content that violates these Terms that we did not catch or remove.

Our total liability to you for all claims arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall be limited, to the extent permitted by law, to the amount you paid to TelosMedia for the past twelve (12) months of the Service in question, or one hundred U.S. dollars (USD $100), whichever is greater. If you have not paid any fees to TelosMedia (for example, if you are on a free plan), TelosMedia’s total liability to you for any claim shall not exceed USD $100.

In jurisdictions where limitations of liability for personal injury or for incidental or consequential damages are not allowed, the above limitations may not apply to you. In such cases, TelosMedia’s liability will be limited to the smallest amount permitted by applicable law.

You acknowledge and agree that the disclaimers and limitations of liability in this Section 11 are a material basis of the bargain between you and TelosMedia and will apply regardless of the failure of essential purpose of any remedy. You agree that these limitations are reasonable given that TelosMedia is offered often at low or no cost to many users and that allocating risk in this manner is part of enabling us to serve our community.

12. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

Please read this section carefully, as it affects your rights regarding how to resolve disputes.

12.1. Governing Law

These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms or your use of the Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, USA, without giving effect to any conflict of law principles that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. TelosMedia is based in Virginia, and we wish to set a clear, consistent legal standard for our Terms.

12.2. Agreement to Arbitrate

Binding Arbitration: Except for the exceptions described below, you and Telos Technologies LLC **agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to the Service or these Terms (including the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation, or validity thereof), or the use of the Service by any user, shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration. This means that you and TelosMedia are each waiving the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a class action lawsuit. This arbitration provision is intended to be broadly interpreted. The Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. §§ 1–16) and federal arbitration law apply to this agreement.

Exceptions: Notwithstanding the above:

Arbitration Procedures: The arbitration will be administered by a neutral arbitration provider (such as the American Arbitration Association, “AAA”) under its applicable rules (for example, the AAA’s Commercial Arbitration Rules and Supplementary Procedures for Consumer-Related Disputes, as applicable). If for any reason the selected arbitration provider is not available, the parties shall mutually agree on an alternative, or a court can appoint one. The arbitration shall be conducted by a single, neutral arbitrator in English. The arbitrator will have the authority to decide issues of arbitrability and to award any relief that an individual court could award, including injunctive relief or damages.

Arbitration Location: If you are an individual using the Service for personal or ministry use, any arbitration hearing will occur at a location reasonably convenient for both parties. If the parties cannot agree, the default location shall be Commonwealth of Virginia (likely in or near Winchester, Virginia, or another location where Telos Technologies LLC is headquartered). However, either party may choose to have the arbitration conducted by telephone or written submissions if in-person hearings would impose an undue burden.

Costs: Each party shall be responsible for paying their respective filing, administrative, and arbitrator fees as set forth in the arbitration rules. However, if you are a consumer and the arbitration provider’s rules or applicable law require TelosMedia to pay a greater portion or all of such fees for this agreement to be enforceable, then TelosMedia will pay the required amount. Each party will bear its own attorneys’ fees and costs unless the arbitrator rules otherwise or applicable law provides otherwise.

Class Action Waiver: You and TelosMedia agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, collective, or representative action. The arbitrator shall not consolidate the claims of multiple parties or preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding. You hereby waive your right to participate in any class action against TelosMedia. If this class action waiver is found to be unenforceable, then the entirety of this Dispute Resolution section (except for the Governing Law provision) shall be null and void, and the dispute must be brought in court.

30-Day Right to Opt Out: If you do not wish to be bound by the arbitration and class-waiver provisions in this Section 12, you must notify us in writing within 30 days of first accepting these Terms (unless a longer period is required by applicable law). Your written notification must be mailed to Telos Technologies LLC at our contact address (see Section 18) or emailed to our legal contact email, and must include: (a) your name, (b) your account username or email used to register (if applicable), and (c) a clear statement that you wish to opt out of arbitration. Opting out of this arbitration agreement will not affect any other provisions of these Terms. If you opt out, or in the event the arbitration agreement is found not to apply to you or a particular claim, you agree that any dispute arising out of these Terms or the Service shall instead be resolved by the state or federal courts located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and you consent to venue and personal jurisdiction in those courts.

Severability: If any part of this Section 12 (Dispute Resolution) is found to be unenforceable or unlawful for a given dispute, the remaining provisions shall still apply to that dispute to the fullest extent permitted by law. However, if the class action waiver is found unlawful or unenforceable, and that finding cannot be appealed or corrected, then this entire Section 12 shall not apply, and the dispute will be decided by a court (with venue in Virginia) as provided elsewhere in this Section.

It is our sincere hope that any disagreements can be resolved amicably and in a spirit of Christian unity. Users are encouraged to reach out to us first to discuss any issues before resorting to formal legal dispute processes. However, this section ensures that if formal resolution is needed, both you and TelosMedia have a clear, fair, and efficient process in place.

13. Copyright Infringement and DMCA Policy

TelosMedia respects intellectual property rights and expects our users to do the same. If you believe that any content on our Service infringes your copyright, or if your content was removed due to a mistaken copyright infringement notice, this section explains how to notify us under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) or other applicable law and how we handle such complaints.

13.1. Notice of Copyright Infringement (DMCA Takedown Requests): If you are a copyright owner (or an agent authorized to act on behalf of one) and believe that any user-generated content on TelosMedia infringes your copyright, you may submit a takedown notice to our designated Copyright Agent. Your notice must be in writing and include all of the following information (per 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3)):

Once your DMCA notice is prepared with the above information, submit it using the chat option found on this page

(Please note: For fastest response, we recommend sending your notice via email. If you send by mail, also send an email alerting us to check mail.)

Upon receipt of a proper DMCA notice, TelosMedia will expeditiously investigate the claim. If we determine (in our sole judgment, or as legally required) that the content is likely infringing, we will remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing content. We will also make a good-faith attempt to notify the user who posted the content (if their contact info is available) so they have an opportunity to respond with a counter-notification if they believe there has been a mistake.

13.2. Counter-Notification (If Your Content Was Removed): If you are a user and you believe content you posted was mistakenly removed or disabled due to a false copyright infringement claim (for example, under the DMCA), you may send us a counter-notice to dispute the claim. Your counter-notification must be in writing and include:

Send the counter-notice to our Copyright Agent using chat option on this page. If we receive a valid counter-notification, we will forward it to the original complaining party. If that party does not notify us within 10 business days that they have filed a court action seeking an order to keep the content down, we are allowed by law to restore the content (at our discretion).

13.3. Repeat Infringers: In accordance with the DMCA and other applicable laws, TelosMedia has a policy of terminating, in appropriate circumstances, users who are deemed to be repeat infringers. If a user repeatedly posts content that infringes copyrights (or violates others’ intellectual property rights) despite warnings or removals, we may suspend or terminate that user’s account under Section 10. We also reserve the right to limit or terminate accounts that are the subject of multiple DMCA notifications, even if some content is later found non-infringing – we will assess such situations case by case.

Please note that knowingly submitting a false or misleading DMCA notice or counter-notice can lead to legal liability. Misuse of the DMCA process (such as false claims of infringement) can result in legal consequences for the complaining party, including liability for damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f). TelosMedia reserves the right to seek damages from anyone who submits a fraudulent notice or counter-notice.

TelosMedia will handle all copyright complaints with care and respect. We appreciate your cooperation in protecting intellectual property rights while also ensuring that legitimate content remains available. For any questions regarding our DMCA policy, you may contact our Copyright Agent.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Telos Technologies LLC (including our affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, and representatives) from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs) that arise out of or relate to any of the following:

TelosMedia reserves the right, at our own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you. In that case, you agree to cooperate with our defense of such claim as reasonably requested. You may not settle any claim covered by this indemnification provision without TelosMedia’s prior written approval, unless the settlement releases TelosMedia of all liability and does not require any payment or admission of wrongdoing by TelosMedia.

This indemnification obligation will survive any termination of your account or of the Service. In plain terms: if your actions or content cause TelosMedia to be sued or incur costs, you agree to cover those costs. We operate this platform in good faith to serve a community, and we expect users to behave legally and ethically; if someone’s misuse causes harm, that individual (and not TelosMedia) should bear the responsibility.

15. Export Controls and Sanctions Compliance

TelosMedia operates from the United States and is subject to U.S. export laws and regulations. By accessing or using the Service, you agree to comply with all applicable export and re-export control laws and sanctions (including U.S. Export Administration Regulations, economic sanctions administered by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control “OFAC”, and any similar laws in your jurisdiction).

You represent and warrant that: (a) you are not located in or a resident of any country or region that is subject to a U.S. government embargo or designated as a state sponsor of terrorism (including, for example, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, or the Crimea region, among others as updated by law); and (b) you are not on any U.S. government list of prohibited or restricted parties (such as the Specially Designated Nationals list or the Denied Persons List).

You also agree that you will not export, re-export, or transfer any software, technology, or other components of the Service to any such country or person in violation of U.S. or international export laws. This includes, for example, not providing access to TelosMedia to entities or individuals that are barred from receiving U.S.-origin services.

If you access TelosMedia from outside the United States, you do so on your own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws. You shall be solely responsible for complying with all applicable laws, treaties, and regulations in connection with your use of the Service. Telos Technologies LLC makes no representation that the Service is appropriate or available for use in all locations.

This export compliance clause is a material part of these Terms. If you breach this section, we may immediately terminate your account (as it could have serious legal consequences for us). For any questions regarding whether a particular use or user may be subject to export restrictions, please consult legal counsel or reach out to us for general guidance.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

As stated in Section 12.1, these Terms shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, U.S.A., except to the extent superseded by federal law (such as the Federal Arbitration Act for the arbitration clause). This governing law applies no matter where you are located, provided that if you are using the Service as a consumer in a jurisdiction that requires the application of that jurisdiction’s consumer protection or privacy laws despite this choice of Virginia law, then those laws may supersede Virginia law to the extent required.

Subject to the Dispute Resolution process in Section 12, any legal action or proceeding arising out of or related to these Terms or the Service that is not resolved by arbitration shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located within the Commonwealth of Virginia. You and TelosMedia each consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts and waive any objection on grounds of inconvenient forum ("forum non conveniens") or any similar doctrine. If you are a U.S. federal government user, our Service is provided as a “Commercial Item” as defined in 48 C.F.R. §2.101.

Please note that the application of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods is expressly excluded. These Terms are written in English, and to the extent any translated version conflicts with the English version, the English version controls.

17. Changes to These Terms

TelosMedia may, from time to time, modify or update these Terms of Service. As our platform grows and laws evolve, we may need to make changes to ensure we remain compliant and continue to protect our mission and users. When we make changes, we will update the “Effective Date” at the top of these Terms to reflect the date of the latest revision. We will also take appropriate measures to inform you of the update:

No amendment or modification of these Terms will be binding unless made in accordance with this Section 17 or expressly agreed to in writing by Telos Technologies LLC. For example, communications from support or staff (outside of an official Terms update) cannot waive or modify these Terms.

We want to ensure transparency and fairness in how we update our policies, and we encourage you to contact us if you have questions about any change. Your trust is important to us, and we will not take significant changes lightly.

18. Contact Information

Telos Technologies LLC is the company responsible for TelosMedia.org. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about these Terms or the Service, or if you need to reach us for any reason (including to provide notices, make requests, or send legal communications), please contact us using the chat option on this page.

We value open communication with our community. If you have feedback on these Terms or the way TelosMedia operates, we are open to hearing from you. However, please understand that any suggestions to these Terms (or waivers of these Terms) must be formally agreed by us to be effective (as noted in Section 17).

Thank you for reading these Terms of Service. By using TelosMedia, you are contributing to a community aimed at glorifying God and edifying others online. We deeply appreciate your cooperation in following these guidelines to keep TelosMedia a safe, lawful, and faith-focused platform. May your experience here be enriching and may the content you share bring light to others. God bless!