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terms of service

1. acceptance of terms

by accessing or using dorm ("the service," "we," "us," or "our"), you agree to be bound by these terms of service. if you do not agree to these terms, you may not use the service. we reserve the right to modify these terms at any time, and your continued use of the service constitutes acceptance of any changes.

2. eligibility

to use dorm, you must:

  • be at least 18 years of age
  • be currently enrolled as a student at an accredited university or college
  • have a valid student email address (.edu or institution-specific domain)
  • have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement
  • not have been previously banned from the service

we verify student status through email domain validation only. you certify that the email address you provide is accurate and belongs to you. we do not verify institutional affiliation beyond email domain matching, and we rely on your warranty that you are a legitimate student. providing false information about your student status is grounds for immediate account termination and may result in legal action.

3. account registration

when you create an account, you agree to:

  • provide accurate, current, and complete information
  • maintain the security of your account credentials
  • accept responsibility for all activities under your account
  • notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
  • not create multiple accounts or share your account with others

4. acceptable use policy

you represent and warrant that you will:

  • comply with all applicable laws and regulations
  • use the service only for lawful purposes
  • treat all other users with respect and dignity
  • not use the service in any manner that violates third-party rights

you agree not to use the service to:

  • harass, bully, threaten, or intimidate other users
  • engage in hate speech, discrimination, or promote violence
  • share sexually explicit, obscene, or pornographic content
  • solicit personal information from other users (phone numbers, addresses, social media handles)
  • record, screenshot, or capture calls without explicit consent from all participants
  • impersonate another person or misrepresent your identity
  • spam, advertise, or promote commercial products or services
  • engage in any illegal activities or encourage others to do so
  • attempt to circumvent bans, blocks, or other restrictions
  • upload malicious content, viruses, or harmful code
  • interfere with or disrupt the service or servers
  • use automated systems, bots, or scripts to access the service

5. voice call conduct

during voice calls, you must:

  • treat all participants with respect and dignity
  • refrain from using offensive, discriminatory, or threatening language
  • not play loud music, make excessive noise, or engage in disruptive behavior
  • not discuss or engage in illegal activities
  • immediately end the call if requested by the other participant
  • not attempt to identify or locate other users outside the platform

6. profile pictures

if you choose to upload a profile picture, it must:

  • be an appropriate image suitable for all audiences
  • not contain nudity, violence, gore, or disturbing content
  • not contain hate symbols, offensive imagery, or illegal content
  • be an image you have the right to use
  • not impersonate another person

all profile pictures are screened using automated content moderation. we moderate profile pictures in good faith but make no guarantee of accuracy or completeness. we reserve the right to remove any profile picture that violates these guidelines without notice. if you believe your profile picture was removed in error, you may appeal by contacting us at dormchat@proton.me. we will review appeals within a reasonable timeframe but are not obligated to overturn removal decisions.

7. reporting and blocking

we provide tools to report inappropriate behavior and block users. you may report users for harassment, inappropriate speech, spam, or other violations. blocked users cannot be matched with you.

moderation process: we review all reports in good faith and take appropriate action, which may include warnings, temporary suspensions, or permanent bans. however, we make no guarantee that every report will result in action, and our moderation decisions are made at our sole discretion based on available information. false or malicious reporting may result in action against your account.

appeals: if you believe an action taken against you (ban, suspension, content removal) was in error, you may submit an appeal to dormchat@proton.me. we will review appeals within a reasonable timeframe, but we are not obligated to overturn previous decisions.

8. account suspension and termination

we reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time for:

  • violation of these terms of service
  • receiving multiple valid reports from other users
  • engaging in behavior that harms the community
  • providing false information during registration
  • any other reason at our sole discretion

bans may be temporary (ranging from 1 hour to 30 days) or permanent depending on the severity of the violation. you will be notified via email of any suspension or ban, including the reason and duration.

9. intellectual property

the service, including its design, features, and content, is owned by dorm and protected by intellectual property laws. you may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works based on the service without our express written permission. the dorm name, logo, and branding are our trademarks.

10. disclaimer of warranties

the service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. we do not guarantee that the service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free. we do not guarantee the quality, accuracy, or reliability of any content or interactions on the platform. we are not responsible for the conduct of any user, and you use the service at your own risk.

11. limitation of liability

to the maximum extent permitted by law under ontario law, dorm shall not be liable for:

  • any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
  • loss of profits, data, goodwill, or other intangible losses
  • harm from third-party conduct, including harassment or abuse by other users
  • service interruptions, errors, or technical issues
  • any other damages arising from your use of the service

our total aggregate liability shall not exceed the amount you paid for the service (if any), or $100 cad, whichever is greater. some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitation of liability, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

12. indemnification

you agree to indemnify and hold harmless dorm, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including legal fees) arising out of your use of the service, your violation of these terms, your violation of any rights of another user or third party, or your violation of any applicable laws or regulations.

13. dispute resolution and arbitration

informal resolution: before initiating any legal proceeding, you agree to first attempt to resolve any dispute informally through negotiation or mediation. contact us at dormchat@proton.me to initiate dispute resolution.

binding arbitration: except where prohibited by law, any and all disputes arising out of or relating to these terms, your use of the service, or any products or services sold through the service shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration administered by a mutually agreed-upon arbitrator in ontario, canada. the arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of the arbitrator. judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

class action waiver: to the maximum extent permitted by law, you agree that any arbitration or legal proceeding shall be conducted on an individual basis and not as a class action, class arbitration, or any other proceeding involving multiple parties. you waive the right to participate in any class action against dorm.

exceptions: this arbitration agreement does not apply to claims for injunctive relief or claims brought by dorm to collect fees owed by you.

14. assumption of risk

you acknowledge that:

  • voice calls involve interaction with unknown individuals
  • other users may behave inappropriately despite our moderation efforts
  • dorm is not responsible for actions or statements made by other users
  • you assume all risk of harm from interactions with other users
  • you should report inappropriate behavior immediately if it occurs

dorm provides tools to block and report users, but cannot guarantee a harassment-free experience.

15. severability

if any provision of these terms of service is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be severed from these terms and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect to the maximum extent permitted by law. the severed provision shall be replaced with a valid provision that achieves the original intent and economic effect.

16. force majeure

dorm shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these terms if such failure or delay results from causes beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: acts of god, natural disasters, war, terrorism, government action, internet service provider failures, power outages, network outages, or other events beyond our reasonable control. if a force majeure event occurs, we will use reasonable efforts to resume service but are not obligated to provide compensation for any disruption.

17. governing law and jurisdiction

these terms of service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the province of ontario, canada, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. you irrevocably agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of ontario, canada, except as provided in the arbitration section above.

for any dispute arising under these terms where arbitration does not apply, you agree to first attempt resolution through negotiation or mediation before pursuing litigation.

18. privacy and data protection

your personal information is collected, used, and protected in accordance with our privacy policy and applicable canadian privacy laws, including the personal information protection and electronic documents act (pipeda). please refer to our privacy policy for details on how we handle your data.

19. changes to terms

we may update these terms from time to time. we will notify users of material changes via email or through the service. your continued use of the service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

20. contact us

if you have questions about these terms, please contact us at dormchat@proton.me