Goodsoil: Terms of Use

TERMS OF USE: These Terms of Use were last updated on May 14, 2006

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY: By using the Goodsoil Web site (Web Site) at www.Goodsoil.org or by otherwise accessing any content found on this Web Site, you are deemed to have entered into an agreement with Goodsoil and to have agreed to be bound by the terms set out below. If you violate any of the Terms your permission to use this Web Site automatically terminates. The Web Site is owned and operated by Goodsoil.

1. Definitions. As used in these Terms:
* "Web Site" means the goodsoil.org Web site.
* "We," "Our," "Us" and "goodsoil " refer to goodsoil.

2. Changes to these Terms: GOODSOIL MAY AMEND THESE TERMS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE BY POSTING THE AMENDED TERMS ON THE WEB SITE. USE OF THE WEB SITE FOLLOWING ANY SUCH CHANGE CONSTITUTES YOUR AGREEMENT TO FOLLOW AND BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AS CHANGED.

For this reason, you should review these Terms whenever you use the Web Site. If you do not agree to be bound by changes to the Terms, you should not use the Web Site any further after the changes in question are published. These Terms were last revised on May 14, 2006

3. Purpose of this Web Site:

3.1. The purpose of this Web site is to proclaim the Good News of God's inclusive love for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations.

3.2. Goodsoil and its organizational partners stand in the Lutheran confessional heritage. In proclaiming the love of God for all people, we are aware that many expressions of our confessional heritage seek to qualify the promise of God's love. Goodsoil actively works to make the policies and procedures of Lutheran Church bodies more faithful expressions of the Gospel. This web site is a tool for the work of on-going reformation of the church.

4. Use of Goodsoil content and intellectual property protection:

4.1. Material on the Web Site, including but not limited to text, software, code, graphics, images, data, audio and video (collectively, the "Materials"), is owned by Goodsoil or third-party licensors. Goodsoil and/or third-party licensors retain all proprietary rights to the Materials, including all intellectual property rights associated therewith (e.g., copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets and know-how). Unless otherwise indicated on the Web Site, except for downloading one copy of the Materials for your personal, noncommercial use and/or printing copies of the Materials for such use, you may not sell, modify, reproduce, display, publicly perform, prepare derivative works based upon, distribute or otherwise use the Materials in any way without first obtaining the written permission of Goodsoil. Requests for permission for uses not authorized by these Terms may be sent to:

Goodsoil
c/o Lutherans Concerned/North America
P.O. Box 4707
St. Paul, MN 55104-0707

Or e-mailed to webmaster@Goodsoil.org

4.2. You must retain all copyright, trademark and other proprietary notices contained in the original Materials on any copy you make of the Materials. You may not frame or utilize framing techniques to enclose all or any portion of the Web Site. You may not use any meta tags or any other similar hidden text utilizing Goodsoil's name or trademarks.

4.3. If you violate any of this Section 4, your permission to use the Materials and the Web Site automatically terminates.

5. User Postings:

5.1. As a user of the Web Site, you are responsible for your own communications and are responsible for the consequences of any of your postings in the public areas of the Web Site. By submitting any material for posting on the Web Site, you automatically grant (or, if you are not the owner, you warrant that the owner of such material has expressly granted) Goodsoil a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive and fully sublicensable right to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display and otherwise use and exploit such material (in whole or in part) worldwide and/or to incorporate it in other work in any form, media or technology now known or later developed.

5.2. Goodsoil does not represent or guarantee the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any material posted by users of the Web Site nor do we endorse any opinions expressed by any users. You may rely on material posted by other users only at your own risk. We are not obligated to screen or monitor materials posted on this Web site and you may not assume that posted materials are reviewed.

5.3. Goodsoil may for any reason edit, refuse to post or remove without notice any materials posted by users. However, we have no obligation to edit, refuse to post or remove any material, including material that you may find objectionable or offensive or that violates these Terms. If you become aware of any material that violates these Terms, you may email such information to us at webmaster@Goodsoil.org. However, we do not guarantee that any action will be taken as a result of your contact. We reserve the right to expel any user and to prevent further access to the Web Site for any reason, including violation of these Terms or applicable law, or for no reason at all. However, we have no obligation to expel any user or to prevent further access to the Web Site.

5.4. Any Goodsoil-affiliated organization may submit an advertisement, subject to the terms and conditions of the Goodsoil Web site,. Commercial advertising by for-profit organizations as well as advertising personal business products or services is prohibited. No solicitation is allowed. Goodsoil does not check or verify information submitted; inclusion does not imply endorsement. by Goodsoil.

6. Use Policies: You may not do any of the following while using the Web Site:

upload any message, information, data, text, software, graphic files or other materials ("Content") that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, that may be invasive of another's privacy, hateful, racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable;
interfere with or disrupt networks connected to the Web Site or violate the regulations, policies or procedures of such networks;
attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Web Site, computer systems or networks connected to the Web Site, through password mining or any other means;
interfere with another user's use and enjoyment of the Web Site;
upload Content that contains a virus, corrupted file, or other harmful component;
impersonate any person or entity, including, but not limited to, Goodsoil personnel, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent any affiliation with any person or entity, or upload any Content under a fictitious name;
upload any Content that you do not have a right to upload under law or under contractual or fiduciary relationships (including but not limited to nondisclosure agreements);
upload any information or grant permissions to view information to any person in a manner that exceeds your contractual or other legal authority;
upload any unsolicited advertising, promotional materials, junk mail, spam, chain letters, pyramid schemes, contests, surveys, or any other form of solicitation (commercial or non-commercial);
intentionally or unintentionally violate or encourage or assist another to violate any law or regulation in connection with your use or another's use of the Web Site; or
upload any Content that violates or infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or any right, of whatever nature, of anyone.

7. Linking to the Web Site: You may provide a link on your site to the Web Site subject to the following requirements:

You may not frame or alter the appearance or visual presentation of the Web Site.
You may not state or imply that we endorse, sponsor or otherwise approve your site or any other sites, unless it is true and accurate. Links to the Web Site may not be used in a way that implies or suggests that we approve or endorse you, your Web site or your goods and services, unless it is true and accurate.
Links may be text-based using the words: Goodsoil, or "Goodsoil.org" or graphics based using Goodsoil Emblem (the "Licensed Marks"), subject to the terms and conditions for use of Goodsoil Emblem.
Unless you are an Goodsoil organizational partner, you may only link to the home page of the Web Site, unless you receive written permission from Goodsoil. Requests for permission to link to other parts of the Web Site may be sent to: bennett@Goodsoil.org.
We will have no responsibility or liability for any content appearing on your Web site. You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Goodsoil and its affiliates and their officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any and all third-party claims, liability, actions, demands, costs or expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable legal and accounting fees) arising from or relating to your Web site. We reserve the right to defend any such claim, and you agree to provide us with such reasonable cooperation as we may request.
You are prohibited from using Goodsoil marks or logos or any names, marks or other materials in a manner that is likely to cause confusion with, dilute or damage the reputation or image of the Goodsoil.
We reserve the right at any time and in our sole discretion to request that you remove all links or any particular link to the Web Site from your site.

Subject to these Terms and your compliance with the above requirements, Goodsoil agrees to grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free license to use Goodsoil logos solely for the purpose of establishing any link that is permitted hereunder. Except for the limited license to use Goodsoil logos set forth in this paragraph, you may not use any of the Goodsoil trademarks or service marks or logos for any other reason without the express written permission of the Goodsoil. Goodsoil may, at any time, in its sole discretion, without cause, terminate the license granted herein to use Goodsoil logos and your right to link to any pages on the Web Site. Upon our request, you agree to immediately remove all links to the Web Site and to cease using Goodsoil logos. Without limiting the foregoing, if you violate any of this Section 7, your license to use Goodsoil logos and your right to link to any pages on the Web Site automatically terminates. Thereafter, any future links to the Web Site will require the express written permission of Goodsoil.

8. Links to Third-Party Sites: The Web Site contains links to third-party Web sites. These links are provided solely for your convenience. They are not an endorsement by us of the contents of such third-party Web sites. We are not responsible for the content or practices of linked third-party sites. We do not make any representations or warranties about the content or accuracy of materials on such third-party Web sites or the practices of such sites. If you decide to access linked third-party Web sites, you do so at your own risk. You are encouraged to review the terms of use, privacy policy, and other policies of any linked site, as the policies of the linked site may differ from those of this Web Site.

9. Submissions: We welcome comments regarding our service. However, any comments, feedback, notes, messages, ideas, suggestions or other communications (collectively, "Comments") submitted to us will be our exclusive property. Submission of any such Comments constitutes an assignment to Goodsoil of all worldwide right, title and interest in all copyrights and other intellectual property rights in the Comments, and you represent and warrant that you have the right to make such an assignment and that such Comments do not violate or infringe any rights of anyone. Goodsoil will be entitled to use, reproduce, disclose, publish and distribute any Comments for any purpose whatsoever, without restriction and without compensating you in any way. For this reason, we ask that you do not send us any Comments that you do not desire to assign to Goodsoil, including any confidential information or any original creative materials such as stories, product ideas, computer code or original artwork.

10. Claims of Copyright Infringement: If you believe that your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please contact webmaster@Goodsoil.org.

11. Indemnification: You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Goodsoil and its affiliates and their officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any and all third-party claims, liability, actions, demands, costs or expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable legal and accounting fees) arising from or relating to your use of the Web Site or the Materials, material that you post to the Web Site or otherwise provide to Goodsoil, or your breach or violation of these Terms. Goodsoil reserves the right to defend any such claim, and you agree to provide Goodsoil with such reasonable cooperation as it may request.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties:

12.1. THE WEB SITE, THE MATERIALS AND THE LICENSED MARKS ARE PROVIDED ON AN AS-IS, AS-AVAILABLE BASIS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, GOODSOIL, ITS AFFILIATES AND ITS SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

12.2. You understand and agree that: (a) we are not responsible for the timeliness, misdelivery, deletion or failure to store any information uploaded (or attempted to be uploaded) by you or any other user; (b) we make no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information and services provided or obtained through the Web Site or the results of your use of the Web Site; (c) it is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of all information obtained or provided through the Web Site; (d) we may, in our sole discretion, modify, add or discontinue any aspect, content or feature of the Web Site; and (e) the information on the Web Site may contain typographical errors or inaccuracies and may not be complete or current and, therefore, we reserve the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update information at any time without prior notice.

12.3. You understand and agree that use of the Web Site and the Materials is at your sole risk, that any materials downloaded or otherwise obtained through the use of the Web Site is at your own discretion and risk and that you will be solely responsible for any damage to your computer system or loss of data that results from the download of such materials. We make no warranty or representation as to the security of any information you transmit to us.

13. Limitation of Liability: IN NO EVENT SHALL GOODSOIL, ITS AFFILIATES OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, OR ANY DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, USE, DATA, GOODWILL OR OTHER INTANGIBLES) ARISING FROM OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THESE TERMS, THE USE OF (OR THE INABILITY TO USE) THE WEB SITE OR THE MATERIALS, THE LICENSED MARKS, OR ANY INFORMATION, GOODS OR SERVICES OBTAINED ON OR FROM THE WEB SITE, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, NEGLIGENCE), OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND WHETHER OR NOT GOODSOIL IS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

14. Privacy Notice: Be sure to check our Privacy Policy to understand our practices. The Privacy Policy is subject to these Terms and is incorporated by reference herein.

15. Miscellaneous:

15.1. The Web Site is based in the United States. Access to the Materials may not be legal by certain persons or in certain countries. If you access the Web Site from outside the United States, you do so at your own risk and are responsible for compliance with the laws of your jurisdiction.

15.2. These Terms will be governed by the internal laws of the State of California, without regard to its choice of law provisions. You agree that any action arising out of or relating to these Terms may be brought only in a court of competent jurisdiction in San Francisco County, California, and you hereby consent to the jurisdiction, venue and convenience of such courts.

15.3. Headings in these Terms are for convenience only and shall not be used to interpret or construe its provisions.

15.4. If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, void or unenforceable by any court having competent jurisdiction, the remainder of these Terms shall remain in full force and effect.

15.5. Any waiver of any provision of these Terms will be effective only if it is in writing signed by Goodsoil. No waiver of any term of these Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term.

15.6. Notices to Goodsoil, other than as provided herein, can be sent to:

Goodsoil
c/o Lutherans Concerned/North America
P.O. Box 4707
St. Paul, MN 55104-0707

Keep updated about Goodsoil and Churchwide Assembly 2009.

Donate!

Please consider a financial contribution to support Goodsoil.org. Donations can be made online and are tax deductible.

Spread the Word!

If you have friends who might be interested in Goodsoil.org, please invite them to visit the site. Use this invitation to email others.