EQmentor - Terms of Use

EQmentor Terms of Service

1. Your relationship with EQmentor

1.1 Your use of EQmentor's products, software, services and web sites (referred to collectively as the "Services" in this document and excluding any services provided to you by EQmentor under a separate written agreement) is subject to the terms of a legal agreement between you and EQmentor. "EQmentor" means EQmentor Inc., whose principal place of business is at 19315 West Catawba Avenue, Suite 220, Cornelius, NC 28031, United States. This document explains how the agreement is made up, and sets out some of the terms of that agreement.

1.2 Unless otherwise agreed in writing with EQmentor, your agreement with EQmentor will always include, at a minimum, the terms and conditions set out in this document. These are referred to below as the "Universal Terms".

1.3 Your agreement with EQmentor will also include the terms of any Legal Notices applicable to the Services, in addition to the Universal Terms. All of these are referred to below as the "Additional Terms". Where Additional Terms apply to a Service, these will be accessible for you to read either within, or through your use of, that Service.

1.4 The Universal Terms, together with the Additional Terms, form a legally binding agreement between you and EQmentor in relation to your use of the Services. It is important that you take the time to read them carefully. Collectively, this legal agreement is referred to below as the "Terms".

1.5 If there is any contradiction between what the Additional Terms say and what the Universal Terms say, then the Additional Terms shall take precedence in relation to that Service.

1.6 You represent to EQmentor that you can form legally binding contracts under applicable law, and have the legal authority to enter into consulting, agency, confidentiality or other EQmentor documents on behalf of the person, entity or corporation listed on your registration form.

2. Accepting the Terms

2.1 In order to use the Services, you must first agree to the Terms. You may not use the Services if you do not accept the Terms.

2.2 You can accept the Terms by:

(A) clicking to accept or agree to the Terms, where this option is made available to you by EQmentor in the user interface for any Service; or

(B) by actually using the Services. In this case, you understand and agree that EQmentor will treat your use of the Services as acceptance of the Terms from that point onwards.

2.3 You may not use the Services and may not accept the Terms if (a) you are not of legal age to form a binding contract with EQmentor, or (b) you are a person barred from receiving the Services under the laws of the United States or other countries including the country in which you are resident or from which you use the Services.

2.4 Before you continue, you should print off or save a local copy of the Universal Terms for your records.

3. Language of the Terms

3.1 Where EQmentor has provided you with a translation of the English language version of the Terms, then you agree that the translation is provided for your convenience only and that the English language versions of the Terms will govern your relationship with EQmentor.

3.2 If there is any contradiction between what the English language version of the Terms says and what a translation says, then the English language version shall take precedence.

4. Provision of the Services by EQmentor

4.1 EQmentor is constantly innovating in order to provide the best possible experience for its users. You acknowledge and agree that the form and nature of the Services which EQmentor provides may change from time to time without prior notice to you.

4.2 You acknowledge and agree that EQmentor may stop (permanently or temporarily) providing the Services (or any features within the Services) to you or to users generally at EQmentor's sole discretion, without prior notice to you.

4.3 You acknowledge and agree that if EQmentor disables access to your account, you may be prevented from accessing the Services, your account details or any files or other content which is contained in your account.

4.4 You acknowledge and agree that while EQmentor may not currently have set a fixed upper limit on the number of transmissions you may send or receive through the Services or on the amount of storage space used for the provision of any Service, such fixed upper limits may be set by EQmentor at any time, at EQmentor's discretion.

5. Use of the Services by you

5.1 In order to access certain Services, you may be required to provide information about yourself (such as identification or contact details) as part of the registration process for the Service, or as part of your continued use of the Services. You agree that any registration information you give to EQmentor will always be accurate, correct and up to date.

5.2 You agree to use the Services only for purposes that are permitted by (a) the Terms and (b) any applicable law, regulation or generally accepted practices or guidelines in the relevant jurisdictions (including any laws regarding the export of data or software to and from the United States or other relevant countries).

5.3 You agree not to access (or attempt to access) any of the Services by any means other than through the interface that is provided by EQmentor, unless you have been specifically allowed to do so in a separate agreement with EQmentor. You specifically agree not to access (or attempt to access) any of the Services through any automated means (including use of scripts or web crawlers).

5.4 You agree that you will not engage in any activity that interferes with or disrupts the Services (or the servers and networks which are connected to the Services).

5.5 Unless you have been specifically permitted to do so in a separate agreement with EQmentor, you agree that you will not reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, trade or resell the Services for any purpose.

5.6 You agree that you are solely responsible for (and that EQmentor has no responsibility to you or to any third party for) any breach of your obligations under the Terms and for the consequences (including any loss or damage which EQmentor may suffer) of any such breach.

5.7 You represent and warrant that you will use the Services, which may contain bulletin board services, chat areas, news groups, forums, communities, personal web pages, calendars, and/or other message or communication facilities designed to enable you to communicate with the public at large or with a group (collectively, "Communication Services"), you agree to use the Communication Services only to post, send and receive messages and material that are proper and related to the particular Communication Service. By way of example, and not as a limitation, you agree that when using a Communication Service, you will not: (a) defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten or otherwise violate the legal rights (such as rights of privacy and publicity) of others; (b) publish, post, upload, distribute or disseminate any inappropriate, profane, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent or unlawful topic, name, material or information; (c) upload files that contain software or other material protected by intellectual property laws (or by rights of privacy of publicity) unless you own or control the rights thereto or have received all necessary consents; (d) upload files that contain viruses, corrupted files, or any other similar software or programs that may damage the operation of another's computer; (e) advertise or offer to sell or buy any goods or services for any business purpose, unless such Communication Service specifically allows such messages; (f) conduct or forward surveys, contests, pyramid schemes or chain letters (g) download any file posted by another user of a Communication Service that you know, or reasonably should know, cannot be legally distributed in such manner; (h) falsify or delete any author attributions, legal or other proper notices or proprietary designations or labels of the origin or source of software or other material contained in a file that is uploaded; (i) violate any code of conduct or other guidelines which may be applicable for any particular Communication Service; (j) harvest or otherwise collect information about others, including e-mail addresses, without their consent; or (k) violate any applicable laws or regulations. You further represent and warrant that your use of the Service will at all times comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

5.8 You shall not export, directly or indirectly, the Services, or any portion thereof, to any country for which United States' laws or regulations require an export license or other governmental approval, without first obtaining such license or approval. You shall: (i) notify EQmentor immediately of any unauthorized use of any password or account or any other known or suspected breach of security; (ii) report to EQmentor immediately and use reasonable efforts to stop immediately any copying or distribution of Content that is known or suspected by You; and (iii) not impersonate another service provider user or provide false identity information to gain access to or use the Services.

6. Your passwords and account security

6.1 You agree and understand that you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of login, usernames, passwords and any similar access means associated with any account you use to access the Services. Such access means can only be used by you and cannot be shared or used by more than one individual.

6.2 Accordingly, you agree that you will be solely responsible to EQmentor for all activities that occur under your account.

6.3 If you become aware of any unauthorized use of your password or of your account, you agree to notify EQmentor immediately at 704-896-2153.

7. Privacy and your personal information

7.1 For information about EQmentor's data protection practices, please read EQmentor's privacy policy at http://www.EQmentor.com/Privacy.aspx. This policy explains how EQmentor treats your personal information, and protects your privacy, when you use the Services.

7.2 You agree to the use of your data in accordance with EQmentor's privacy policies.

7.3 You agree threads may be monitored by EQmentor Master Mentor for quality purposes. EQmentor may conduct sporadic checks within the entire tool to ensure continuous improvement, policy adherence, and to ensure a healthy exchange is occurring. Confidentiality and anonymity is strictly maintained at all times. In such cases where a violation has occurred, EQmentor may contact the mentor and/or mentee.

8. Content in the Services

8.1 You understand that all information (such as data files, written text, computer software, music, audio files or other sounds, photographs, videos or other images) which you may have access to as part of, or through your use of, the Services are the sole responsibility of the person from which such content originated. All such information is referred to below as the "Content".

8.2 You should be aware that Content presented to you as part of the Services, including but not limited to advertisements in the Services and sponsored Content within the Services may be protected by intellectual property rights which are owned by the sponsors or advertisers who provide that Content to EQmentor (or by other persons or companies on their behalf). You may not modify, rent, lease, loan, sell, distribute or create derivative works based on this Content (either in whole or in part) unless you have been specifically told that you may do so by EQmentor or by the owners of that Content, in a separate agreement.

8.3 EQmentor reserves the right (but shall have no obligation) to pre-screen, review, flag, filter, modify, refuse or remove any or all Content from any Service. You expressly agree that EQmentor shall not be liable to you for any action EQmentor takes to remove or restrict access to such Content, nor for any action taken to restrict access to Content posted in violation of any law, regulation or rights of a third party, including, but not limited to, rights under the copyright law and prohibitions on libel, slander and invasion of privacy. EQmentor has the right to take all reasonable actions to remove or restrict access to any such Content, including restriction, suspension or termination of your access privileges and/or deletion of the objectionable Content.

8.4 You understand that by using the Services you may be exposed to Content that you may find offensive, inappropriate or objectionable and that, in this respect, you use the Services at your own risk.

8.5 You agree that you are solely responsible for (and that EQmentor has no responsibility to you or to any third party for) any Content that you create, transmit or display while using the Services and for the consequences of your actions (including any loss or damage which EQmentor may suffer) by doing so.

9. Proprietary rights

9.1 You acknowledge and agree that EQmentor (or EQmentor's licensors) own all legal right, title and interest in and to the Services, including any intellectual property rights which subsist in the Services (whether those rights happen to be registered or not, and wherever in the world those rights may exist). You further acknowledge that the Services may contain information which is designated confidential by EQmentor and that you shall not disclose such information without EQmentor's prior written consent.

9.2 Unless you have agreed otherwise in writing with EQmentor, nothing in the Terms gives you a right to use any of EQmentor's trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos, domain names, and other distinctive brand features.

9.3 If you have been given an explicit right to use any of these brand features in a separate written agreement with EQmentor, then you agree that your use of such features shall be in compliance with that agreement, any applicable provisions of the Terms, and EQmentor's brand feature use guidelines as updated from time to time. These guidelines can be viewed online at www.eqmentor.com (or such other URL as EQmentor may provide for this purpose from time to time).

9.4 Other than the limited license set forth in Section 11, EQmentor acknowledges and agrees that it obtains no right, title or interest from you (or your licensors) under these Terms in or to any Content that you submit, post, transmit or display on, or through, the Services, including any intellectual property rights which subsist in that Content (whether those rights happen to be registered or not, and wherever in the world those rights may exist). Unless you have agreed otherwise in writing with EQmentor, you agree that you are responsible for protecting and enforcing those rights and that EQmentor has no obligation to do so on your behalf.

9.5 You agree that you shall not remove, obscure, or alter any proprietary rights notices (including copyright and trade mark notices) which may be affixed to or contained within the Services.

9.6 Unless you have been expressly authorized to do so in writing by EQmentor, you agree that in using the Services, you will not use any trademark, service mark, trade name, logo of any company or organization in a way that is likely or intended to cause confusion about the owner or authorized user of such marks, names or logos.

10. License from EQmentor

10.1 EQmentor gives you a personal, worldwide, royalty-free, non-assignable and non-exclusive license to use the software provided to you by EQmentor as part of the Services as provided to you by EQmentor (referred to as the "Software" below). This license is for the sole purpose of enabling you to use and enjoy the benefit of the Services as provided by EQmentor, in the manner permitted by the Terms.

10.2 You may not (and you may not permit anyone else to) copy, modify, create a derivative work of, reverse engineer, decompile or otherwise attempt to extract the source code of the software or any part thereof, create internet "links" to the service or "frame" or "mirror" any content on any other server or wireless or internet-based device, unless this is expressly permitted or required by law, or unless you have been specifically told that you may do so by EQmentor, in writing.

10.3 Unless EQmentor has given you specific written permission to do so, you may not assign (or grant a sub-license of) your rights to use the Software, grant a security interest in or over your rights to use the Software, or otherwise transfer any part of your rights to use the Software.

11. Content license from you

11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give EQmentor a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. This license is for the sole purpose of enabling EQmentor to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services.

11.2 You agree that this license includes a right for EQmentor to make such Content available to other companies, organizations or individuals with whom EQmentor has relationships for the provision of services, and to use such Content in connection with the provision of those services.

11.3 You understand that EQmentor, in performing the required technical steps to provide the Services to our users, may (a) transmit or distribute your Content over various public networks and in various media; and (b) make such changes to your Content as are necessary to conform and adapt that Content to the technical requirements of connecting networks, devices, services or media. You agree that this license shall permit EQmentor to take these actions.

11.4 You confirm and warrant to EQmentor that you have all the rights, power and authority necessary to grant the above license.

12. Software updates

12.1 The Software which you use may be updated from time to time by EQmentor. These updates are designed to improve, enhance and further develop the Services and may take the form of bug fixes, enhanced functions, new software modules and completely new versions. You agree to accept such updates as part of your use of the Services.

13. Ending your relationship with EQmentor

13.1 The Terms will continue to apply until terminated by either you or EQmentor as set out below.

13.2 If you want to terminate your legal agreement with EQmentor, you may do so by (a) notifying EQmentor at any time and (b) closing your accounts for all of the Services which you use, where EQmentor has made this option available to you. Your notice should be sent, in writing, to EQmentor's address which is set out at the beginning of these Terms.

13.3 EQmentor may at any time, terminate its legal agreement with you if:

(A) you have breached any provision of the Terms (or have acted in manner which clearly shows that you do not intend to, or are unable to comply with the provisions of the Terms); or

(B) EQmentor is required to do so by law (for example, where the provision of the Services to you is, or becomes, unlawful); or

(C) the partner or company through which EQmentor offered the Services to you has terminated its relationship with EQmentor or ceased to offer the Services to you; or

(D) EQmentor is transitioning to no longer providing the Services to users in the country in which you are resident or from which you use the service.

13.4 Nothing in this Section shall affect EQmentor's rights regarding provision of Services under Section 4 of the Terms.

13.5 When these Terms come to an end, all of the legal rights, obligations and liabilities that you and EQmentor have benefited from, been subject to (or which have accrued over time whilst the Terms have been in force) or which are expressed to continue indefinitely, shall be unaffected by this cessation, and the provisions of paragraph 20.7 shall continue to apply to such rights, obligations and liabilities indefinitely.

14. EXCLUSION OF WARRANTIES

14.1 NOTHING IN THESE TERMS, INCLUDING SECTIONS 14 AND 15, SHALL EXCLUDE OR LIMIT EQMENTOR'S WARRANTY OR LIABILITY FOR LOSSES WHICH MAY NOT BE LAWFULLY EXCLUDED OR LIMITED BY APPLICABLE LAW. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OR THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF CONTRACT OR BREACH OF IMPLIED TERMS, OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. ACCORDINGLY, ONLY THE LIMITATIONS WHICH ARE LAWFUL IN YOUR JURISDICTION WILL APPLY TO YOU, AND OUR LIABILITY WILL BE LIMITED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

14.2 YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK AND THAT THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE."

14.3 IN PARTICULAR, EQMENTOR, ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES, AND ITS LICENSORS DO NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT TO YOU THAT:

(A) YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS,

(B) YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE OR FREE FROM ERROR,

(D) THAT DEFECTS IN THE OPERATION OR FUNCTIONALITY OF ANY SOFTWARE PROVIDED TO YOU AS PART OF THE SERVICES WILL BE CORRECTED.

14.4 ANY MATERIAL DOWNLOADED OR OTHERWISE OBTAINED THROUGH THE USE OF THE SERVICES IS DONE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK AND THAT YOU WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM OR OTHER DEVICE OR LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM THE DOWNLOAD OF ANY SUCH MATERIAL.

14.5 NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM EQMENTOR OR THROUGH OR FROM THE SERVICES SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THE TERMS.

14.6 THE SERVICES MAY BE SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS, DELAYS, AND OTHER PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE USE OF THE INTERNET AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS. EQmentor IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DELAYS, DELIVERY FAILURES, OR OTHER DAMAGE RESULTING FROM SUCH PROBLEMS.

14.7 EQMENTOR FURTHER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

15. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

15.1 SUBJECT TO OVERALL PROVISION IN PARAGRAPH 14.1 ABOVE, YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT EQMENTOR, ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES, AND ITS LICENSORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR:

(A) ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES WHICH MAY BE INCURRED BY YOU, HOWEVER CAUSED AND UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY. THIS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, ANY LOSS OF PROFIT (WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY), ANY LOSS OF GOODWILL OR BUSINESS REPUTATION, ANY LOSS OF DATA SUFFERED, COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSS;

(B) ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE WHICH MAY BE INCURRED BY YOU, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OR DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF:

(I) ANY RELIANCE PLACED BY YOU ON THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY OR EXISTENCE OF ANY ADVICE OR INFORMATION OBTAINED THROUGH THE SERVICES;

(II) ANY CHANGES WHICH EQMENTOR MAY MAKE TO THE SERVICES, OR FOR ANY PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY CESSATION IN THE PROVISION OF THE SERVICES (OR ANY FEATURES WITHIN THE SERVICES);

(III) THE DELETION OF, CORRUPTION OF, OR FAILURE TO STORE, ANY CONTENT AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS DATA MAINTAINED OR TRANSMITTED BY OR THROUGH YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES;

(III) YOUR FAILURE TO PROVIDE EQMENTOR WITH ACCURATE ACCOUNT INFORMATION;

(IV) YOUR FAILURE TO KEEP YOUR PASSWORD OR ACCOUNT DETAILS SECURE AND CONFIDENTIAL;

15.2 THE LIMITATIONS ON EQMENTOR'S LIABILITY TO YOU IN PARAGRAPH 15.1 ABOVE SHALL APPLY WHETHER OR NOT EQMENTOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY SUCH LOSSES ARISING.

15.3 You hereby agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless EQmentor and its employees, licensors, independent contractors, providers, subsidiaries and affiliates from and against any and all liability and costs incurred by the EQmentor in connection with any claim arising out of any breach by you of the Terms, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney fees and costs. You shall cooperate as fully as reasonably required in the defense of any claim. EQmentor reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you and you shall not in any event settle any matter without the written consent of EQmentor.

16. Copyright and trade mark policies

16.1 It is EQmentor's policy to respond to notices of alleged trademark and copyright infringement that comply with applicable international intellectual property law (including, in the United States, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act) and to terminating the accounts of repeat infringers in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

16.2 EQmentor respects the intellectual property of others, and asks you to do the same. If you believe in good faith that there is a copyright infringement, please provide our Copyright Agent at the address set forth above with the following information: (a) an electronic or physical signature of the person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright interest; (b) description of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed; (c) description of where the material that you claim is infringing is located; (d) your address, telephone number, and e-mail address; (e) a statement by you that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and (f) a statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the above information in your Notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner's behalf. For more information about the law of copyright and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), see http://www.loc.gov/copyright/.

17. Advertisements

17.1 Some of the Services are supported by advertising revenue and may display advertisements and promotions. These advertisements may be targeted to the content of information stored on the Services, queries made through the Services or other information.

17.2 The manner, mode and extent of advertising by EQmentor on the Services are subject to change without specific notice to you.

17.3 In consideration for EQmentor granting you access to and use of the Services, you agree that EQmentor may place such advertising on the Services.

18. Other content

18.1 The Services may include hyperlinks to other web sites or content or resources. EQmentor may have no control over any web sites or resources which are provided by companies or persons other than EQmentor.

18.2 You acknowledge and agree that EQmentor is not responsible for the availability of any such external sites or resources, and does not endorse any advertising, products or other materials on or available from such web sites or resources.

18.3 You acknowledge and agree that EQmentor is not liable for any loss or damage which may be incurred by you as a result of the availability of those external sites or resources, or as a result of any reliance placed by you on the completeness, accuracy or existence of any advertising, products or other materials on, or available from, such web sites or resources.

19. Changes to the Terms

19.1 EQmentor may make changes to the Universal Terms or Additional Terms from time to time. When these changes are made, EQmentor will make a new copy of the Universal Terms available at http://www.EQmentor.com/TermsofUse.aspx and any new Additional Terms will be made available to you from within, or through, the affected Services.

19.2 You understand and agree that if you use the Services after the date on which the Universal Terms or Additional Terms have changed, EQmentor will treat your use as acceptance of the updated Universal Terms or Additional Terms.

20. General legal terms

20.1 Sometimes when you use the Services, you may (as a result of, or through your use of the Services) use a service or download a piece of software, or purchase goods, which are provided by another person or company. Your use of these other services, software or goods may be subject to separate terms between you and the company or person concerned. If so, the Terms do not affect your legal relationship with these other companies or individuals.

20.2 The Terms constitute the whole legal agreement between you and EQmentor and govern your use of the Services (but excluding any services which EQmentor may provide to you under a separate written agreement), and completely replace any prior agreements between you and EQmentor in relation to the Services.

20.3 You agree that EQmentor may provide you with notices, including those regarding changes to the Terms, by email, regular mail, or postings on the Services.

20.4 You agree that if EQmentor does not exercise or enforce any legal right or remedy which is contained in the Terms (or which EQmentor has the benefit of under any applicable law), this will not be taken to be a formal waiver of EQmentor's rights and that those rights or remedies will still be available to EQmentor.

20.5 If any court of law, having the jurisdiction to decide on this matter, rules that any provision of these Terms is invalid, then that provision will be removed from the Terms without affecting the rest of the Terms. The remaining provisions of the Terms will continue to be valid and enforceable.

20.6 You acknowledge and agree that each member of the group of companies of which EQmentor is the parent shall be third party beneficiaries to the Terms and that such other companies shall be entitled to directly enforce, and rely upon, any provision of the Terms which confers a benefit on (or rights in favor of) them. Other than this, no other person or company shall be third party beneficiaries to the Terms.

20.7 The Terms, and your relationship with EQmentor under the Terms, shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. You and EQmentor agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located within the county of Mecklenburg, North Carolina to resolve any legal matter arising from the Terms. Notwithstanding this, you agree that EQmentor shall still be allowed to apply for injunctive remedies (or an equivalent type of urgent legal relief) in any jurisdiction.

20.8 The relationship of the Parties established by this Agreement is solely that of independent contractors. Nothing herein shall be deemed to establish a partnership, joint venture, association, or employment relationship between the parties. Neither Party shall be considered an agent of the other Party or any third-party provider of goods or services with regard to the performance of their respective contractual or other legal obligations.

20.9 EQmentor shall be excused from performance hereunder to the extent that such performance is prevented, delayed, or obstructed by causes beyond its reasonable control, including (without limitation) acts of any federal, state, or local governmental authority; fires, floods, or other natural disasters; strikes or labor unrest; terrorism or acts of war; degradation of telecommunications service; severe weather conditions; or for any other matters that are beyond EQmentor's control, whether or not otherwise foreseeable.September 12, 2007