Last Updated: December 31, 2019
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF SERVICE (THE “AGREEMENT”) CAREFULLY, AS THEY CONTAIN AN AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, REMEDIES, AND OBLIGATIONS. THE AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE REQUIRES (WITH LIMITED EXCEPTION) THAT YOU SUBMIT CLAIMS YOU HAVE AGAINST US TO BINDING AND FINAL ARBITRATION, AND FURTHER (1) YOU WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED TO PURSUE CLAIMS AGAINST BITSIGHT (AS DEFINED BELOW) ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION OR PROCEEDING, (2) YOU WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED TO SEEK RELIEF (INCLUDING MONETARY, INJUNCTIVE, AND DECLARATORY RELIEF) ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, AND (3) YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE ANY CLAIMS YOU HAVE AGAINST US RESOLVED BY A JURY OR IN A COURT OF LAW.
1. BitSight Data.
All rating information (the “BitSight Data”) provided by BitSight Technologies, Inc. (“BitSight”) (whether via the portal or otherwise) is the proprietary and the confidential information of BitSight and is protected by United States and international intellectual property. You may only use the BitSight Data for internal purposes (unless the applicable BitSight Data is ratings data about your organization, in which case you may use it for external purposes as well, so long as such use is in compliance with applicable law). If you already have an agreement in place with BitSight relating to the BitSight Data, that other agreement shall supersede the terms and conditions hereof. If you are accessing the BitSight Data on behalf of a company, business, corporation or other entity, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind such entity to these terms.
2. Disclaimer of Warranties.
BITSIGHT HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT TO THE BITSIGHT DATA, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, TITLE, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, RELIABILITY, ERROR FREE OPERATION, NON-INTRUSION DUE TO HACKING OR OTHER SIMILAR MEANS OF UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. THE BITSIGHT DATA IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS ONLY, WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER. YOU ASSUME ALL RISK OF DAMAGE OR LOSS FROM RELYING UPON OR USING THE BITSIGHT DATA AND ANY RESULTANT DATA.
3. Limitation of Liability.
UNLESS PROHIBITED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL BITSIGHT OR ITS SUPPLIERS, PARTNERS, RESELLERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, SHAREHOLDERS OR CONTRACTORS BE LIABLE TO YOU HEREUNDER FOR CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOST REVENUES, PROFITS OR DATA OR OTHER ECONOMIC LOSS) ARISING FROM ANY CAUSE OF ACTION OR LEGAL THEORY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BREACH OF WARRANTY, BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, FAILURE OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OR ANY OTHER ECONOMIC LOSSES, EVEN IF THE PARTY OR A RELATED PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED, KNEW, OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THE MAXIMUM LIABILITY OF BITSIGHT FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE BITSIGHT DATA HEREUNDER, TAKEN AS A WHOLE, FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH DATA, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLAIMS FOR INDEMNIFICATION, BREACH OF WARRANTY, BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, FAILURE OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OR OTHERWISE, WILL IN NO CIRCUMSTANCE EXCEED $500.
4. Dispute Resolution By Binding Arbitration: PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY AS IT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS.
a. Agreement to Arbitrate
This Dispute Resolution by Binding Arbitration section is referred to in this Agreement as the “Arbitration Agreement.” You agree that any and all disputes or claims that have arisen or may arise between you and BitSight, whether arising out of or relating to this Agreement (including any alleged breach thereof), the BitSight Data, any advertising, any aspect of the relationship or transactions between us, shall be resolved exclusively through final and binding arbitration, rather than a court, in accordance with the terms of this Arbitration Agreement, except that you may assert individual claims in small claims court, if your claims qualify. Further, this Arbitration Agreement does not preclude you from bringing issues to the attention of federal, state, or local agencies, and such agencies can, if the law allows, seek relief against us on your behalf. You agree that, by entering into this Agreement, you and BitSight are each waiving the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a class action. Your rights will be determined by a neutral arbitrator, not a judge or jury. The Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this Arbitration Agreement.
b. Prohibition of Class and Representative Actions and Non-Individualized Relief
YOU AND BITSIGHT AGREE THAT EACH OF US MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION OR PROCEEDING. UNLESS BOTH YOU AND BITSIGHT AGREE OTHERWISE, THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE OR JOIN MORE THAN ONE PERSON’S OR PARTY’S CLAIMS AND MAY NOT OTHERWISE PRESIDE OVER ANY FORM OF A CONSOLIDATED, REPRESENTATIVE, OR CLASS PROCEEDING. ALSO, THE ARBITRATOR MAY AWARD RELIEF (INCLUDING MONETARY, INJUNCTIVE, AND DECLARATORY RELIEF) ONLY IN FAVOR OF THE INDIVIDUAL PARTY SEEKING RELIEF AND ONLY TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE RELIEF NECESSITATED BY THAT PARTY’S INDIVIDUAL CLAIM(S), EXCEPT THAT YOU MAY PURSUE A CLAIM FOR AND THE ARBITRATOR MAY AWARD PUBLIC INJUNCTIVE RELIEF UNDER APPLICABLE LAW TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED FOR THE ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS PROVISION.
c. Pre-Arbitration Dispute Resolution
BitSight is always interested in resolving disputes amicably and efficiently, and most customer concerns can be resolved quickly and to the customer’s satisfaction by emailing customer support at [email protected]. If such efforts prove unsuccessful, a party who intends to seek arbitration must first send to the other, by certified mail, a written Notice of Dispute (“Notice”). The Notice to BitSight should be sent to 111 Huntington Avenue, Suite 2010, Boston, MA 02199 Attn: Legal Department (“Notice Address”). The Notice must (i) describe the nature and basis of the claim or dispute and (ii) set forth the specific relief sought. If BitSight and you do not resolve the claim within sixty (60) calendar days after the Notice is received, you or BitSight may commence an arbitration proceeding. During the arbitration, the amount of any settlement offer made by BitSight or you shall not be disclosed to the arbitrator until after the arbitrator determines the amount, if any, to which you or BitSight is entitled.
d. Arbitration Procedures
Arbitration will be conducted by a neutral arbitrator in accordance with the American Arbitration Association’s (“AAA”) rules and procedures, including the AAA’s Consumer Arbitration Rules (collectively, the “AAA Rules”), as modified by this Arbitration Agreement. For information on the AAA, please visit its website, http://www.adr.org. Information about the AAA Rules and fees for consumer disputes can be found at the AAA’s consumer arbitration page, http://www.adr.org/consumer_arbitration. If there is any inconsistency between any term of the AAA Rules and any term of this Arbitration Agreement, the applicable terms of this Arbitration Agreement will control unless the arbitrator determines that the application of the inconsistent Arbitration Agreement terms would not result in a fundamentally fair arbitration. The arbitrator must also follow the provisions of this Agreement as a court would. All issues are for the arbitrator to decide, including, but not limited to, issues relating to the scope, enforceability, and arbitrability of this Arbitration Agreement. Although arbitration proceedings are usually simpler and more streamlined than trials and other judicial proceedings, the arbitrator can award the same damages and relief on an individual basis that a court can award to an individual under the Agreement and applicable law. Decisions by the arbitrator are enforceable in court and may be overturned by a court only for very limited reasons.
Unless BitSight and you agree otherwise, any arbitration hearings will take place in a reasonably convenient location for both parties with due consideration of their ability to travel and other pertinent circumstances. If the parties are unable to agree on a location, the determination shall be made by AAA. If your claim is for $10,000 or less, BitSight agrees that you may choose whether the arbitration will be conducted solely on the basis of documents submitted to the arbitrator, through a telephonic hearing, or by an in-person hearing as established by the AAA Rules. If your claim exceeds $10,000, the right to a hearing will be determined by the AAA Rules. Regardless of the manner in which the arbitration is conducted, the arbitrator shall issue a reasoned written decision sufficient to explain the essential findings and conclusions on which the award is based.
e. Costs of Arbitration
Payment of all filing, administration, and arbitrator fees (collectively, the “Arbitration Fees”) will be governed by the AAA Rules, unless otherwise provided in this Arbitration Agreement. If the value of the relief sought is $75,000 or less, at your request, BitSight will pay all Arbitration Fees. If the value of relief sought is more than $75,000 and you are able to demonstrate to the arbitrator that you are economically unable to pay your portion of the Arbitration Fees or if the arbitrator otherwise determines for any reason that you should not be required to pay your portion of the Arbitration Fees, BitSight will pay your portion of such fees. In addition, if you demonstrate to the arbitrator that the costs of arbitration will be prohibitive as compared to the costs of litigation, BitSight will pay as much of the Arbitration Fees as the arbitrator deems necessary to prevent the arbitration from being cost-prohibitive. Any payment of attorneys’ fees will be governed by the AAA Rules.
f. Confidentiality
All aspects of the arbitration proceeding, and any ruling, decision, or award by the arbitrator, will be strictly confidential for the benefit of all parties.
g. Severability
If a court or the arbitrator decides that any term or provision of this Arbitration Agreement (other than the subsection (b) titled “Prohibition of Class and Representative Actions and Non-Individualized Relief” above) is invalid or unenforceable, the parties agree to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Arbitration Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified. If a court or the arbitrator decides that any of the provisions of subsection (b) above titled “Prohibition of Class and Representative Actions and Non-Individualized Relief” are invalid or unenforceable, then the entirety of this Arbitration Agreement shall be null and void, unless such provisions are deemed to be invalid or unenforceable solely with respect to claims for public injunctive relief. The remainder of the Agreement will continue to apply.
h. Future Changes to Arbitration Agreement
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, BitSight agrees that if it makes any future change to this Arbitration Agreement (other than a change to the Notice Address) while you are a user of the BitSight Data, you may reject any such change by sending BitSight written notice within thirty (30) calendar days of the change to the Notice Address provided above. By rejecting any future change, you are agreeing that you will arbitrate any dispute between us in accordance with the language of this Arbitration Agreement as of the date you first accepted this Agreement (or accepted any subsequent changes to this Agreement).
5. Applicable Law.
This Agreement and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract, tort or statute) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the execution or performance of this Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement or as an inducement to enter into this Agreement), will be governed by, construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (excluding its conflicts of laws principles). Any disputes arising from or relating to this Agreement will be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts sitting in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.