Terms of Service

Last Updated: February 22, 2025

1. Introduction and Acceptance

Welcome to Communicate!

Welcome to Communicate! We’re excited to have you on board as you use our platform to streamline church communication. Communicate is designed to help church communicators, marketers, and social media managers plan, organize, and schedule their communications efficiently.

What is Communicate?

Communicate is a cloud-based church communication platform that enables users to manage email, social media, text messaging, and campaign planning in one centralized place. With features such as a drag-and-drop calendar, customizable templates, and multi-channel scheduling, Communicate simplifies and enhances the way churches connect with their communities.

Agreement to These Terms

By accessing or using Communicate (the “Service”), you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Communicate (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use the Service.

Continued Use as Acceptance

We may update these Terms periodically to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or policies. Your continued use of Communicate after any such updates signifies your acceptance of the revised Terms.

We encourage you to review these Terms regularly.

2. User Accounts & Security

Account Types & Roles

Communicate allows churches to create organizational accounts with different user roles to manage communication efforts effectively. The available user roles include:

• Admin – Full access to all features, settings, and user management.
• Manager – Can create and manage campaigns, communications, and users (except for Admins).
• Editor – Can create and edit communications but cannot manage users or settings.
• Viewer – Read-only access to communications and campaigns, typically used for staff or leadership.

Each church subscription includes a select number of paid user accounts based on their chosen plan. Additionally, churches receive a set number of free Viewer accounts for team members who need read-only access.

Multi-User Access (Beta Feature)

• During the beta period, all invited users have the same access level as the account owner, with no role-based restrictions. This means every invited user can modify, manage, and delete data within the account.
• Account Owner Responsibility: The individual who owns the account is fully responsible for any actions taken by invited users, including content modifications, deletions, or unauthorized sharing of data.
• Users should only invite trusted individuals, as Communicate is not liable for any misuse or data loss resulting from invited users' actions.

Account Ownership & Individual Use

Each user account is intended for individual use. Sharing login credentials between multiple individuals is strictly prohibited. However, churches may invite multiple users to their organization’s Communicate account, assigning roles as needed.

Security Measures

To ensure account security, Communicate requires users to follow modern security practices, including:

• Using strong passwords (minimum length and complexity requirements enforced).
• Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security.
• Keeping login credentials confidential and secure.

Users are responsible for maintaining the security of their accounts. If unauthorized access is suspected, users must immediately notify Communicate so that appropriate action can be taken.

Account Suspension & Termination

Communicate reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that:

• Violate these Terms, including unauthorized access, misuse, or abuse of the platform.
• Engage in fraudulent activities, security breaches, or attempts to bypass security controls.
• Fail to comply with payment terms (if applicable).

Suspended or terminated accounts may result in loss of data, and Communicate will not be liable for any resulting damages.

3. Subscription & Payment Terms

At this time, Communicate is offered free of charge to approved beta testers as part of our testing phase. There are no fees associated with beta access, and testers are not required to enter payment information to use the platform.

Future Subscription & Pricing Information

Upon the conclusion of the beta testing period, Communicate will transition to a subscription-based model. Details regarding pricing plans, billing cycles, and payment options will be announced prior to the official launch.

By continuing to use Communicate after the beta period, you acknowledge that access to certain features may require a paid subscription under the future pricing structure.

• Multi-User Access Pricing: While multi-user access is free during the beta phase, it will be subject to tiered pricing once Communicate moves to a subscription model. Users who participate in the beta do not receive automatic free access when this feature is finalized.
• If multi-user functionality is introduced as a premium feature, accounts will be required to select an appropriate subscription tier to continue using it.

All users will be notified of pricing updates and terms before any billing occurs, ensuring transparency in the transition from free beta access to a paid service.

4. Acceptable Use & Prohibited Conduct

To ensure Communicate remains a secure and effective platform for all users, we have established the following guidelines regarding acceptable use. By using Communicate, you agree to use the platform responsibly and in compliance with these Terms.

Acceptable Use

You may use Communicate to:

• Manage, schedule, and coordinate church communication efforts.
• Collaborate with your church team through authorized user roles.
• Integrate with supported third-party services (e.g., email, social media).
• Provide feedback and report issues to improve the platform.

Prohibited Conduct

You must not use Communicate to:

1. Engage in Illegal or Unauthorized Activities

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations.
• Use the platform to engage in fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading activities.

2. Infringe on Intellectual Property or Privacy Rights

• Upload or distribute content you don’t have the rights to use.
• Misuse copyrighted materials, trademarks, or sensitive data.

3. Misuse or Interfere with the Service

• Attempt to reverse-engineer, modify, hack, or disrupt Communicate or its integrations.
• Bypass or disable security features.
• Overload, disrupt, or abuse the system (e.g., spamming or attempting unauthorized access).

4. Harass or Harm Others

• Send offensive, threatening, or abusive messages through the platform.
• Impersonate another individual, organization, or representative of Communicate.

5. Share or Sell Access

• Resell, lease, or share access to Communicate without permission.
• Allow unauthorized users to access a paid account.

Consequences of Violations

Violations of these Terms may result in account suspension or termination without prior notice. Communicate reserves the right to investigate any misuse and take appropriate action, including reporting unlawful activity to the authorities if necessary.

5. Intellectual Property & Content Ownership

User-Generated Content

Communicate allows users to upload and distribute content, including text, images, messages, and other materials (collectively, “User Content”). You retain full ownership of any content you create and upload to the platform.

However, by using Communicate, you grant us a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to store, display, modify (for formatting purposes), and distribute your content solely for the purpose of operating, improving, and providing the Service.

This license does not give Communicate ownership of your content and is only used to enable the functionality of the platform.

You represent and warrant that you have the necessary rights to any content you upload and that it does not infringe on third-party copyrights, trademarks, or privacy rights.

Platform Ownership

All content, software, and services provided by Communicate—including but not limited to logos, branding, text, graphics, UI components, and proprietary features—are owned by or licensed to Communicate and are protected under applicable copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws.

You may not copy, modify, distribute, or use Communicate’s branding or software without express written permission.

Use of Anonymized Data

To improve our platform and provide insights to users, Communicate may collect anonymized, aggregated data from usage patterns. This data will never include personally identifiable information and will only be used for:

• Analytics
• Service improvements
• Marketing insights

6. Third-Party Services & Integrations

At this time, Communicate operates as a standalone platform without third-party integrations. However, in the future, we may offer integrations with external services such as social media platforms, email providers, or other communication tools to enhance functionality.

Future Integrations & User Connections

• If Communicate adds third-party integrations, users may have the option to connect their accounts to external services.
• By enabling an integration, you authorize Communicate to interact with the connected service on your behalf, in accordance with that service’s terms.
• Users will always have control over enabling or disabling integrations.

Third-Party Service Disclaimer

While we strive to maintain reliable service, Communicate is not responsible for any issues, failures, or changes in third-party services.

If an integrated service experiences downtime, policy changes, or functionality loss, we cannot guarantee uninterrupted performance of the affected features.

7. Data Privacy, Processing & Security

Since Communicate takes data privacy seriously, we maintain a separate Privacy Policy that details how we collect, store, and use your personal information. This section provides a general overview, but for full details, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

Data We Collect

When you sign up for Communicate, we collect the following information:

• Required Information: Name, email, church name, password.
• Optional Information: Phone number (if provided for bug reports).
• Usage Analytics: We track platform usage patterns to improve functionality and user experience.
• User-Generated Content: Any data you provide while using the platform, such as scheduled communications, messages, and other uploaded content.

How We Use Your Data

We collect and process data based on legitimate interests, contractual necessity, or user consent, in compliance with GDPR (EU & UK) and other applicable laws.

We process your data to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve Communicate.
• Personalize the user experience.
• Monitor system performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Respond to user inquiries, feedback, and bug reports.
• Comply with legal obligations and regulatory requirements.

Data Security & Compliance Measures

We implement industry-standard security practices to protect user data, in compliance with GDPR (EU & UK) and other applicable regulations, including:

• Encrypted storage of passwords and sensitive information.
• Two-factor authentication (2FA) for additional account security.
• Access control measures to ensure only authorized personnel can access critical data.

Data Deletion Requests

Users may request the deletion of their personal data under the Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten) as outlined in GDPR (EU & UK) by contacting us at [email protected].

Upon verification of the request, we will delete personal data in accordance with applicable laws such as GDPR and CCPA, except where retention is required for legal or operational purposes.

Marketing Communications

By creating an account with Communicate, you acknowledge that we may send you essential service-related communications, such as:

• Account updates
• Security notifications
• Feature changes

If you choose to opt in, we may also send marketing emails with news, product updates, and promotional offers. You can manage your marketing preferences or unsubscribe at any time by:

• Clicking the “unsubscribe” link in any marketing email.
• Adjusting your settings within the app.

8. Account Termination, Data Retention & Deletion

Users may choose to terminate their Communicate account at any time, and Communicate also reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts under specific circumstances. This section outlines how account termination works and what happens to user data.

Voluntary Account Deletion

• Users may delete their Communicate account by contacting [email protected] or using an account deletion option within the platform (if available).
• Upon account deletion, we will permanently delete your personal data and content within a reasonable timeframe, except where retention is required for legal or operational purposes.
• Any scheduled communications or stored content will be removed, and access to the platform will be revoked.
• Data Ownership for Multi-User Accounts: If multiple users have been invited to an account, the original account owner retains full ownership of all data.
• If an invited user leaves an account, they do not have the right to retain, copy, or export account data unless explicitly granted permission by the account owner.

Account Suspension or Termination by Communicate

We may suspend or terminate an account without prior notice if a user:

• Violates these Terms, including misuse, prohibited activities, or security breaches.
• Engages in fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activities using Communicate.
• Fails to comply with payment obligations (if applicable, in the future).
• Poses a security risk or threatens the integrity of the platform.

If your account is suspended or terminated for violating these Terms, you may forfeit access to any saved content or future eligibility to use Communicate.

Data Retention & Deletion Policy

• Once an account is deleted, all associated personal data and stored content will be permanently erased, except where data must be retained for compliance, dispute resolution, or legal obligations under GDPR (EU & UK) and other applicable laws.
• Users in the EEA and UK may request a data processing report before deletion, detailing how their personal data has been used.
• Anonymized usage data may be retained for analytics and platform improvements.

Reactivating or Pausing an Account

At this time, Communicate does not offer account pausing. If a user wishes to return after deletion, they must create a new account and set up their church’s content from scratch.

9. Changes to the Service

Communicate is a continuously evolving platform, and we may introduce new features, make improvements, or discontinue certain aspects of the service as needed.

By using Communicate, you acknowledge that the platform may change over time and that we are not obligated to maintain any specific feature indefinitely.

• Multi-User Access (Beta Feature): This feature is currently in beta testing and may be altered, restricted, or removed at any time without prior notice. Future updates may introduce role-based permissions, additional security settings, or subscription-based pricing.
• Participation in the beta version of this feature does not guarantee continued free access in the final release.

Service Modifications & Feature Deprecation

• Communicate may add, modify, or remove features at any time to enhance performance, comply with legal requirements, or respond to technological advancements.
• We will make reasonable efforts to notify users in advance when major feature changes occur, but we are not required to provide continued support for any specific feature.
• If a feature is deprecated, Communicate is not liable for any disruptions or losses that may result from its removal.

Temporary Service Interruptions

• We strive for maximum uptime, but occasional downtime may occur due to maintenance, security updates, or unforeseen issues.
• Communicate is not responsible for any damages or data loss resulting from temporary service interruptions or system outages.
• Users will be notified in advance of planned maintenance whenever possible.

Discontinuation of Service

• While we have no plans to discontinue Communicate, we reserve the right to shut down the service at our discretion.
• If Communicate is permanently discontinued, users will be given reasonable notice and, where applicable, the ability to export their data before shutdown.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties & Limitations of Liability

No Warranties

Communicate is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis, without any warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. We do not guarantee that:

• The platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure at all times.
• Any content or data stored within Communicate will be permanently retained or protected from loss.
• The platform will always include specific features, as services may change over time.

Users acknowledge that use of the platform is at their own risk, and Communicate does not provide any warranty regarding the reliability, accuracy, or suitability of the service for any particular purpose.

Limitations of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Communicate and its owners, employees, and affiliates shall not be liable for:

• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages (such as loss of revenue, business disruptions, or reputational harm).
• Loss of data, messages, or communications resulting from outages, bugs, security breaches, or other failures.
• User Actions & Data Loss: Communicate is not responsible for any loss of data, unauthorized modifications, or data theft resulting from actions taken by an invited user within an account. The account owner assumes full responsibility for managing access and ensuring that only trusted individuals are invited.
• Service interruptions, errors, or delays due to maintenance, cyberattacks, or third-party failures.
• Any unauthorized access to user accounts, unless caused by a direct security failure on our part.

If you are using Communicate during its free beta period, you acknowledge that our liability is fully disclaimed and no financial compensation will be provided for any damages or losses.

For paid users (once subscriptions are introduced), our liability is capped at the total amount you have paid to Communicate in the past 12 months.

11. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Arbitration Agreement

By using Communicate, you agree that any disputes, claims, or controversies arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of the platform shall be exclusively resolved through binding arbitration instead of in court.

Arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA):

• Arbitration will take place in Texas unless both parties agree to a remote proceeding.
• Each party will bear its own legal costs, unless the arbitrator decides otherwise.
• The arbitrator’s decision will be final and binding, with limited rights to appeal.

Exceptions to Arbitration

Either party may bring an individual action in small claims court for disputes within the court’s financial limits.

Additionally, Communicate reserves the right to seek injunctive relief (e.g., stopping misuse of the platform) in court.

Waiver of Class Actions

By agreeing to arbitration, you waive any right to participate in a class-action lawsuit against Communicate. Disputes must be handled individually.

12. Changes to These Terms & Compliance Updates

We may update or modify these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or business practices. When we make significant changes, we will notify users through one or more of the following methods:

• Posting an updated version of the Terms on our website.
• Sending an email notification to registered users.
• Displaying an in-app notice.

By continuing to use Communicate after these updates take effect, you agree to the revised Terms. If you do not agree with the updated Terms, you must discontinue use of the platform and request account termination.

If any updates impact data processing, GDPR compliance, or user rights, we will provide clear notice and, where required, seek explicit user consent before implementing the changes.

13. Contact Information & Data Requests

If you have any questions about these Terms, need support, or wish to submit a legal inquiry, including GDPR-related requests, you can contact us at:

📧 Email: [email protected]

We aim to respond to inquiries in a timely manner, but response times may vary depending on the nature of the request.