Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Meade County Local ("MCL", "the Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

2. Eligibility and Age Requirements

You must be at least 13 years old to create an account on MCL, in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Users under 18 should have parental consent. Guest browsing is available without an account.

Certain features of the Platform have higher age requirements. You must be at least the specified age to access these features:

• Trading Post listings (For Sale, Wanted, Trade) — 18 years old
• Live audio/video sessions — 16 years old
• Dating and personal connections — 18 years old, Verified Local badge required
• Friendship connections — 18 years old, Verified Local badge required

Age requirements are enforced based on the date of birth you provide at registration. Providing a false date of birth to circumvent age restrictions is a violation of these Terms and grounds for immediate account termination. MCL is not liable for any consequences arising from a user's misrepresentation of their age.

2a. Cross-Age Communication and Family Links

To protect minors, direct messaging, voice calls, and video calls between accounts in different age tiers (adult ↔ minor) are restricted by default. The restriction can be lifted in a single, narrow way: a verified Family Link between the two accounts.

A Family Link is initiated by the adult, accepted by the minor, and verified by MCL staff. By submitting a Family Link claim you affirm that the relationship you are claiming (parent, legal guardian, grandparent, adult sibling, or other family) is true and accurate. False claims are a material breach of these Terms, may result in account termination, and where the false claim has been used to access a minor's private communications, may be reported to law enforcement.

Either party to a Family Link may revoke it at any time, with immediate effect. MCL staff may also revoke a link if we receive credible information that the relationship was misrepresented.

2b. Safety Screening of Minor Activity

Text content (posts, comments, messages) authored by or directed at a minor account is screened by MCL's on-premises Greenwave AI service. When at least one party is a minor, the screener applies a stricter rule set. Voice and video rooms that include a minor participant may additionally be subject to periodic audio transcription and video frame sampling; an in-room indicator will display when safety sampling is active. Full details, including retention windows for safety data, are described in our Privacy Policy, Sections 10a-10e.

By using the Platform you acknowledge that automated safety screening may operate on content you author or receive, and that flagged content may be hidden, reported to moderators, and where required by law, reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or other authorities.

3. Account Responsibilities

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. You agree to provide accurate information during registration and to promptly update any changes.

4. Content Ownership

You retain ownership of content you post on MCL. By posting, you grant MCL a non-exclusive, worldwide license to display, distribute, and store your content on the Platform and via IPFS for content federation purposes. Content stored on IPFS is distributed across a decentralized network and may persist even after deletion from the Platform.

5. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Post illegal, threatening, harassing, or defamatory content
• Impersonate others or misrepresent your identity
• Upload malware, spam, or unauthorized commercial content
• Attempt to access other users' accounts or Platform systems without authorization
• Violate any applicable federal, state (Kentucky), or local law

6. Trading Post Listings and User Transactions

MCL provides "For Sale", "Wanted", and "Trade" categories as a convenience for community members. These categories are restricted to users 18 years of age or older. MCL is not a party to any transaction between users. All transactions are solely between the buyer and seller. MCL does not verify the quality, safety, legality, or accuracy of any listing. Users engaging in transactions are subject to all applicable consumer protection laws, including the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act (KRS 367.110–367.990). Sellers must not engage in unfair, false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices in connection with any listing or transaction. MCL assumes no liability for disputes, losses, or damages arising from user-to-user transactions.

7. Auctions & Bidding

MCL provides an auction system where users may list items for competitive bidding. By participating in auctions as a seller or bidder, you agree to the following:

• Binding Bids: All bids placed on MCL auctions are binding commitments. By placing a bid, you agree to purchase the item at your bid amount if you are the winning bidder and any reserve price has been met.
• Shill Bidding Prohibited: Bidding on your own auction, or arranging for others to bid on your auction to inflate the price, is strictly prohibited and will result in a permanent ban from the platform.
• Reserve Prices: Sellers may set a hidden reserve price. The reserve amount is never disclosed to bidders. If the reserve is not met, the seller is not obligated to sell.
• Snipe Protection: Auctions include automatic time extension when bids are placed near the closing time, ensuring fair competition.
• Age Requirement: You must be 18 years of age or older to create auctions or place bids.
• No MCL Involvement: MCL is not a party to any auction transaction. All transactions are solely between the buyer and seller. MCL does not process payments, verify item quality, or guarantee delivery.
• Consumer Protection: All auctions are subject to the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act (KRS 367.110–367.990). Sellers must not engage in deceptive practices.
• Cancellation: Sellers may cancel auctions that have received no bids. Auctions with bids may only be cancelled by platform moderators in exceptional circumstances.

8. Live Sessions and Recording Consent

MCL provides live audio/video sessions (voice/video chat, debates, and town halls) powered by LiveKit. These sessions may be recorded at the host's discretion.

Recording Consent

When a session is marked as recorded, you will be presented with a recording consent notice before joining. You must affirmatively consent before participating. Your consent is logged with a timestamp, your IP address, browser user agent, and a SHA-256 hash of the exact consent text you were shown. This audit trail is retained for legal compliance.

Kentucky Recording Law (KRS 526.010)

Kentucky is a one-party consent state for recording. However, because MCL participants may join from two-party or all-party consent jurisdictions, MCL obtains explicit consent from all participants before any recording begins. By consenting, you acknowledge that your voice, video, and any content you share during the session may be recorded, stored, and distributed via MCL servers and IPFS.

Unauthorized Recording

You may not independently record, capture, or redistribute any live session content without the express permission of all participants. Unauthorized recording may violate applicable wiretapping and eavesdropping laws and is grounds for immediate account termination.

Minors in Live Sessions

Users aged 16–17 may participate in live sessions. By joining a recorded session, minor users affirm that they have obtained parental or guardian consent for their participation and recording. Users under 16 are not permitted to join live sessions.

9. Dating, Friendship & Personal Connections

MCL offers Dating and Friendship features for community members who are at least 18 years old and hold a Verified Local badge. The Dating feature facilitates romantic connections, while the Friendship feature facilitates platonic connections for activities, hobbies, and socializing. By using either feature, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

• MCL is a community platform, not a matchmaking service. MCL does not screen, verify, or guarantee the identity, background, or intentions of any user.
• MCL assumes no liability for any interactions, meetings, or relationships that arise from the Dating or Friendship features.
• You are solely responsible for your own safety when meeting other users.
• Prohibited conduct includes harassment, misrepresentation of identity, solicitation, explicit content, discrimination, and stalking.
• Mutual interest is required before direct messaging is unlocked between two users.

For complete terms, safety guidelines, and reporting procedures, please review our Dating Disclaimer, Friendship Disclaimer, and Safety Tips for Dating and Friendship.

10. Arcade and Digital Games

MCL offers an Arcade featuring digital games for community entertainment. By accessing or playing any game in the MCL Arcade, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

10.1 Rating System

MCL Arcade uses an age-based rating system to help users make informed choices about game content:

• E (Everyone) — Suitable for all ages
• T (Teen 13+) — Suitable for users aged 13 and older
• M (Mature 18+) — Suitable for users aged 18 and older

Games rated T or M require age verification based on the date of birth you provided at registration. Parents and guardians are responsible for monitoring minors' access to arcade games and ensuring age-appropriate content consumption.

10.2 Multiplayer Conduct

Harassment, bullying, cheating, or exploitation of game mechanics is prohibited in all multiplayer arcade games. Violations of multiplayer conduct standards will result in suspension of arcade privileges and may lead to further enforcement actions under these Terms.

10.3 Fictional Content

All arcade games are fictional entertainment. Characters, scenarios, and events depicted in MCL Arcade games do not represent real people or actual situations. MCL does not endorse or encourage recreating any in-game scenarios in real life.

10.4 Real-World Games Safety

Some games involve visiting physical locations in Meade County. By participating in real-world gameplay, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

• Only publicly accessible locations are included in real-world games.
• Never trespass on private property while participating in any game activity.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times during real-world gameplay.
• Do not use your phone while driving.
• MCL is not liable for any injuries, accidents, or incidents that occur during real-world gameplay.
• All participants engage in real-world game activities entirely at their own risk.

10.5 Scores, Achievements, and Rewards

Game scores, achievements, and any future reward tokens earned through the MCL Arcade have no monetary value unless explicitly stated otherwise. MCL reserves the right to reset scores, modify achievement criteria, or alter reward systems at any time without prior notice.

11. Content Moderation

MCL reserves the right to remove content, suspend, or ban accounts that violate these Terms or our Community Guidelines. Our moderation procedures, enforcement ladder, and appeals process are described in our Content Moderation Policy.

12. DMCA Compliance

MCL complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If you believe your copyrighted work has been infringed, please submit a takedown notice to our designated DMCA agent. See our DMCA Policy page for details.

13. Privacy and Data Protection

Your use of MCL is also governed by our Privacy Policy and Data Retention Policy. MCL complies with the Kentucky Personal Information Security and Breach Investigation Act (KRS 365.732). In the event of a data breach involving your personal information, we will notify you and, where required, the Kentucky Attorney General, without unreasonable delay.

14. Limitation of Liability

MCL is a community-operated platform provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by Kentucky law, MCL and its operators shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to data loss, service interruptions, actions of other users, or losses arising from user-to-user transactions.

15. Platform Neutrality and Section 230

Meade County Local is a neutral platform that enables community members to share information, connect, and transact with one another. MCL is an interactive computer service provider as defined by 47 U.S.C. § 230(c)(1) of the Communications Decency Act and shall not be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by users.

14.1 No Liability for User-Generated Content

MCL does not verify, endorse, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, safety, or legality of any user-generated content, including but not limited to:

• Trading Post listings (For Sale, Wanted, Trade, Agriculture)
• Pet adoption and rehoming listings
• Hunting posts, harvest reports, tips, and season information
• Helping Hand resources (free meals, shelters, services)
• Community-submitted gas prices
• Dating and friendship profiles and interactions
• Directory listings, job listings, and business information
• Status alerts, crime reports, and safety advisories
• Heritage archive submissions and memorial entries
• Community cookbook recipes
• Any other user-submitted content on the Platform

14.2 Real-World Interactions

Users assume all risk associated with real-world meetups, transactions, and interactions that originate through the Platform. This includes, without limitation:

• Buying, selling, or trading goods through the Trading Post
• Adopting, rehoming, or fostering animals through pet adoption listings
• Meeting other users through the Dating or Friendship features
• Hunting activities based on information shared by community members
• Visiting locations or using services listed in the Helping Hand section
• Attending events or visiting businesses listed on the Platform

MCL strongly encourages users to exercise caution, meet in public places, and use good judgment in all real-world interactions. MCL is not responsible for the conduct of any user, on or off the Platform.

14.3 Good Faith Content Moderation

MCL voluntarily moderates content in good faith to maintain community standards, as permitted under 47 U.S.C. § 230(c)(2). Such moderation actions — including content removal, account restrictions, and automated screening — do not constitute editorial control and do not create publisher liability.

16. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless MCL, its operators, moderators, and volunteers from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from your use of the Platform, your content, or your violation of these Terms.

17. Governing Law and Venue

These Terms and any disputes arising from them shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky without regard to conflict of law principles. Any legal action relating to these Terms shall be filed exclusively in the Meade County Circuit Court or the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. By using the Platform, you consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue of these courts.

18. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

19. Changes to Terms

MCL may update these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. We will notify registered users of material changes via email or Platform notification.

20. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact us at [email protected].