Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using The ForgeHQ ("ForgeHQ", "Service", "Platform"), operated by The ForgeHQ LLC, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.

2. Description of Service

The ForgeHQ is a membership-gated community operations platform. Organizations of many kinds, including HOAs and neighborhoods, sports leagues and hobby groups, IT and service-desk teams, volunteer fire/EMS and dispatch operations, local businesses, and general community groups, build their own branded space ("org") on the platform. Depending on how an organization configures its space, the Service may include:

• Custom org pages, member directories, and community boards
• Service desk / IT service management (requests, changes, problems, tasks)
• Community event calendars and coordination tools
• Incident intake, tracking, and mapping (for organizations that use these features, e.g. volunteer dispatch or neighborhood watch)
• Knowledge base, financial and career reference tools, and member profiles
• Broadcast, notification, and internal team communication tools
• Games and interactive features built around community and organization data

3. Account Registration

3.1 Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account. By registering, you represent that you meet this requirement.

3.2 Account Security

You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access

3.3 Account Information

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update such information as needed.

4. Membership Tiers

The ForgeHQ uses a tiered membership system. Higher tiers generally unlock more platform access, from basic read access, to submitting requests and content, to managing an organization's space and members. Tiers may be assigned by platform staff, granted by an organization's own admins, or unlocked automatically as noted at the time.

4.1 Free & Paid Features

Membership and core platform access are free. Some current or future features, tiers, or organization capabilities may require payment. Where a fee applies, the price, billing terms, and cancellation details will be disclosed to you before you are charged, and any such purchase will be governed by these Terms together with the terms presented at checkout.

4.2 Tier Changes

We may modify tier benefits, requirements, or pricing at any time. Members will be notified of material changes that affect features or access they already rely on.

5. Acceptable Use

You agree NOT to:

5.1 Prohibited Content

• Post false, misleading, or fabricated reports of any kind, including incident, dispatch, or safety-related content
• Share another person's private or personal information without their consent, including that of emergency responders, minors, or other members
• Post content that could compromise an active emergency response or operation
• Upload malicious code, spam, or unauthorized advertising

5.2 Prohibited Conduct

• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Service, including another organization's data
• Use the Service to harass, threaten, or harm others
• Impersonate emergency services personnel, officials, or other members
• Use automated tools to access the Service without permission

5.3 Legal Compliance

• Comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws
• Respect the intellectual property rights of others
• Not use the Service for any illegal purpose

5.4 Sensitive & Regulated Information

You are solely responsible for protecting your own personally identifiable information (PII) and for what you choose to submit to the Service. Do not post or upload:

• Student education records protected under FERPA, unless you are legally authorized to share them and have obtained any required consent
• Protected health information (PHI) or other health records subject to HIPAA, unless you are legally authorized to share them and have obtained any required consent
• Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), classified information, or other government controlled or restricted information
• Financial account numbers, government ID numbers (such as Social Security numbers), or other sensitive PII belonging to yourself or others, beyond what a feature explicitly and knowingly asks you to provide

The ForgeHQ is not a HIPAA covered entity or business associate, not a FERPA school official, and is not authorized to receive or store CUI. We do not review submitted content for regulatory compliance before it is posted. If your organization's use case involves any of the categories above (for example, a school, health provider, or government contractor), it is your organization's responsibility to determine whether the Service is appropriate for that data and to obtain your own legal or compliance review before using it that way.

6. User Content

6.1 Ownership

You retain ownership of content you submit ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you grant The ForgeHQ a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute such content in connection with the Service.

6.2 Responsibility

You are solely responsible for your User Content. We do not endorse any User Content and disclaim all liability related to User Content.

6.3 Removal

We reserve the right to remove any User Content at our discretion, without notice.

7. Disclaimers

7.1 Information Accuracy

THE FORGE PROVIDES COMMUNITY-SOURCED INFORMATION THAT MAY BE INACCURATE, INCOMPLETE, OR OUTDATED. WE MAKE NO WARRANTIES REGARDING THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY INFORMATION ON THE PLATFORM.

7.2 Not Emergency Services

7.3 Service Availability

The Service is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind, express or implied.

7.4 Platform Content & Knowledge Base Accuracy

The ForgeHQ maintains an extensive and growing body of content including knowledge base articles, educational definitions, financial tools, community resources, and platform guides. We are committed to accuracy and update content regularly, but we want to be transparent:

• This is a large volume of content maintained by a small team. We audit and update on a best-effort basis and cannot guarantee every definition, figure, or guideline reflects the most current information at all times
• Financial tools, calculators, and trackers are provided for personal organizational and informational purposes only. They do not constitute financial advice, credit counseling, tax guidance, or professional services of any kind
• Knowledge base content is general in nature. Always consult qualified professionals (financial advisors, attorneys, medical providers, etc.) before making important decisions
• If you notice content that appears outdated or inaccurate, please let us know. We take those reports seriously and address them as quickly as we can

We do our best. Your patience and feedback make the platform better for everyone.

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• The ForgeHQ, its operators, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid for the Service in the 12 months preceding the claim
• We are not liable for any harm resulting from your reliance on information provided through the Service

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless The ForgeHQ, its operators, employees, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from:

• Your use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your User Content
• Your violation of any third-party rights

10. Termination

10.1 By You

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us or using account settings.

10.2 By Us

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Grounds for termination include:

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent or illegal activity
• Conduct harmful to other users or the Service
• Extended period of inactivity

10.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination shall survive.

11. Modifications to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via:

• Email notification (for registered users)
• Prominent notice on the Platform
• Updated "Last Updated" date

Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of modified Terms.

12. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

13. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall be resolved through:

1. Good faith negotiation
2. Mediation (if negotiation fails)
3. Binding arbitration (if mediation fails)

You waive any right to participate in class action lawsuits against The ForgeHQ.

14. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, contact us at:

• Email: support@theforgehq.app

15. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in effect.

By using The ForgeHQ, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.