Digital properties terms of use
Last updated: Jan. 4, 2026
Welcome to La Conner Community News!
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING OUR DIGITAL PROPERTIES. These Terms & Conditions (“Terms,” “Terms of Use,” or “Agreement”) govern your access to and use of La Conner Community News’s websites, newsletters, mobile experiences, and related digital services. They affect your legal rights and obligations, including limitations of liability and an agreement to resolve certain disputes through arbitration, as described below.
If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use our digital properties.
1. About These Terms
These Terms describe the rules for using the current and future online and mobile websites, platforms, services, applications, and networks owned or operated by La Conner Community News (collectively, the “Site” or “Services”), including www.laconnercommunitynews.org and any related subdomains, newsletter platforms, membership/subscription pages, and social or community features we operate.
By using the Services (including viewing content, subscribing, commenting, or otherwise interacting), you agree to be bound by these Terms and any additional terms incorporated by reference, including our privacy policy and any feature-specific rules presented within the Services.
(A) Eligibility
The Services are intended for adults and for individuals who can form legally binding contracts in their jurisdiction. If you are under the age of majority where you live, you may use the Services only with the consent and supervision of a parent or legal guardian, and only to the extent permitted by law.
(B) Changes to Terms
We may modify these Terms at any time. Changes are effective when posted to the Services. Your continued use after posting means you accept the revised Terms.
(C) Changes to Services
We may update, modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Services at any time, including features, content, availability, and supported devices.
(D) Registration and Accounts
Some features may require you to create an account (“Your Account”). You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information and to keep it updated. You are responsible for safeguarding your login credentials and for all activity under Your Account.
(E) System Requirements
You are responsible for obtaining and maintaining the devices, software, and internet connection required to access the Services, along with any associated charges.
2. User Content and Conduct; Community Guidelines
This section applies to user submissions and user behavior on interactive features.
(A) Interactive Areas
The Services may include comment sections, community discussions, tip submission forms, letters to the editor, contests, or other interactive features (“Interactive Areas”). Content you submit — including comments, text, photos, video, audio, files, or other materials — is “User Content.”
You are solely responsible for your User Content and your use of Interactive Areas. You use them at your own risk.
(B) Community Guidelines
By participating, you agree not to upload, post, or transmit User Content that:
- Violates or infringes the rights of others (including defamation, harassment, stalking, threats, or invasion of privacy).
- You know (or reasonably should know) is false, misleading, or fraudulent.
- Contains hate speech, discrimination, or targeted harassment based on protected characteristics.
- Contains obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit material.
- Encourages or provides instructions for illegal, dangerous, or violent conduct.
- Includes graphic violence posted for exploitative or gratuitous purposes.
- Infringes copyright, trademark, trade secret, right of publicity, or other proprietary rights without permission.
- Contains unsolicited advertising, spam, chain letters, pyramid schemes, or other solicitations.
- Impersonates any person or entity or misrepresents affiliation with La Conner Community News.
- Collects or “doxxes” personal information about others, or posts private information without consent.
- Contains malware, viruses, or other harmful code.
- Uses automated systems (including bots or AI tools) to post at a volume a person could not reasonably produce, or to manipulate engagement metrics.
We may remove or edit User Content and may suspend or terminate accounts for violations or for any reason in our discretion.
(C) No Endorsement of User Content
User Content reflects the views of the user who posted it. La Conner Community News does not endorse User Content and is not responsible for it.
(D) Monitoring
We may (but are not required to) monitor, screen, edit, or remove User Content. We may disclose information as required by law or to protect rights, safety, and the integrity of the Services, consistent with our privacy policy.
(E) License to User Content
By submitting User Content, you grant La Conner Community News a worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, publish, display, distribute, modify, adapt, translate, create derivative works from, and otherwise exploit that User Content in any media now known or later developed, for the purposes of operating, promoting, and improving the Services and our journalism.
You represent and warrant that you have the rights and permissions necessary to grant this license and that your User Content does not violate these Terms or any law.
(F) Moral Rights
To the extent permitted by law, you waive and agree not to assert any moral rights you may have in User Content against La Conner Community News or our licensees.
3. Intellectual Property; Permitted Use
The Services and their content — including articles, photography, illustrations, logos, graphics, audio/video, and design — are owned by or licensed to La Conner Community News and are protected by intellectual property laws.
You may access and use content for personal, non-commercial purposes only, unless we expressly authorize otherwise in writing.
You may not, without prior written permission from La Conner Community News:
- Reproduce, republish, distribute, sell, license, or commercially exploit our content
- Scrape, crawl, or harvest content at scale (including via automated tools)
- Create derivative works from our content
- Remove copyright or trademark notices
Reprints, syndication, and permissions: info@laconnercommunitynews.org
4. Third-Party Content and Links
The Services may include links to third-party websites, services, advertisements, or embedded content. These are provided for convenience. La Conner Community News does not control third parties and is not responsible for their content, policies, or practices. Your interactions with third parties are solely between you and the third party.
5. Advertising and Promotions
We may display ads or promotions. Any dealings you have with advertisers — including purchases or sharing personal information — are between you and the advertiser. La Conner Community News is not responsible for losses or disputes related to third-party advertisers.
6. Subscriptions, Memberships, and Payments
If the Services offer paid subscriptions, memberships, donations, newsletters, or other paid features (“Paid Services”), the following terms apply.
(A) Billing and Renewal
Paid Services may be billed on a recurring basis (e.g., monthly or annually). Unless clearly stated otherwise at checkout, Paid Services automatically renew until you cancel.
(B) Payment Processing
Payments may be processed by a third-party processor (“Payment Processor”). Your use of Paid Services may also be subject to the Payment Processor’s terms and privacy policy.
(C) Price Changes
We may change pricing for Paid Services. If required by law, we will provide notice. Continued use after the effective date means you accept the new price.
(D) Cancellations
You can cancel Paid Services according to instructions provided in your account settings or checkout confirmation.
(E) Refunds
Unless required by applicable law, fees are non-refundable and we do not provide prorated refunds for partial billing periods.
(F) Customer Support
For billing or account help, contact: info@laconnercommunitynews.org
7. Disclaimer of Warranties
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
We do not guarantee the Services will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, or that content will be accurate, complete, or current.
Journalism may contain errors; we welcome corrections: newstips@laconnercommunitynews.org
8. Limitation of Liability
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, LA CONNER COMMUNITY NEWS AND ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF (OR INABILITY TO USE) THE SERVICES.
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SERVICES WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM OR (B) $100.
Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations; in those jurisdictions, liability is limited to the fullest extent permitted by law.
9. Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless La Conner Community News and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, contractors, and agents from and against claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use of the Services, (b) your User Content, or (c) your violation of these Terms or applicable law.
10. Termination
We may suspend or terminate your access to the Services at any time, with or without notice, for any reason, including violations of these Terms. Sections that by their nature should survive (including intellectual property, disclaimers, limitation of liability, arbitration, and indemnification) will survive termination.
11. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, except where federal law applies.
If a dispute is found not subject to arbitration (see below), exclusive venue will be in the state or federal courts located in Skagit County, Washington, and you consent to personal jurisdiction there.
12. Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Agreement
(A) Informal Resolution First
Before filing a claim, you agree to contact us and attempt to resolve the dispute informally.
Send a notice of dispute to: La Conner Community News: Disputes P.O. Box 1020 La Conner, WA 98257
Include: your name, contact info, a description of the dispute, and the relief you seek.
(B) Arbitration
If we cannot resolve the dispute within 60 days after receiving your notice, you and La Conner Community News agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, disputes arising out of or related to these Terms or the Services will be resolved by binding arbitration on an individual basis, rather than in court.
- No class actions: You and we agree not to bring or participate in a class, collective, consolidated, or representative action.
- Location: Arbitration will take place in Skagit County, Washington.
- Small claims: Either party may bring an eligible claim in small claims court as an individual action.
(C) Time Limit for Claims
To the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim must be brought within one (1) year of the event giving rise to it, unless a longer period is required by applicable law.
13. Class Action and Jury Trial Waiver
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YOU AND LA CONNER COMMUNITY NEWS EACH WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND AGREE THAT CLAIMS MAY BE BROUGHT ONLY IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.
14. DMCA Copyright Policy and Agent
If you believe content on the Services infringes your copyright, please send a DMCA notice including: (1) your signature, (2) identification of the copyrighted work, (3) identification of the infringing material and where it appears, (4) your contact information, (5) a good-faith statement, and (6) a statement under penalty of perjury that your notice is accurate and you are authorized to act.
Send DMCA notices to: La Conner Community News
Email: info@laconnercommunitynews.org
Mail: P.O. Box 1020 La Conner, WA 98257
15. Contact Information
Questions about these Terms or the Services:
info@laconnercommunitynews.org
News tips: newstips@laconnercommunitynews.org
Corrections: info@laconnercommunitynews.org
Permissions/Reprints: info@laconnercommunitynews.org
16. Miscellaneous
- Entire Agreement: These Terms (plus referenced policies) are the entire agreement between you and La Conner Community News regarding the Services.
- Severability: If any provision is unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.
- No Waiver: Failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver.
- Assignment: You may not assign these Terms without our consent; we may assign them as part of a reorganization or transfer of the Services.
- Force Majeure: We are not liable for delays or failures due to events beyond our reasonable control.