Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using RateMyDesigner.com (the "Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, do not use the Platform. We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time, and your continued use constitutes acceptance of any changes.

2. Platform Description and Independence

RateMyDesigner.com is an independent, company-agnostic platform that allows users to submit and read reviews of individual designers across all disciplines. The Platform is not affiliated with any design agency, employer, staffing platform, or contracting firm. Ratings reflect individual professional experiences, not the views of any employer, organization, or the Platform itself. The inclusion of a designer on this Platform does not imply endorsement or affiliation.

3. Section 230 Protection — Platform Immunity

RateMyDesigner.com operates as an interactive computer service under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (47 U.S.C. § 230). This federal law provides:

• We are a platform for user-generated content and do not author, edit, endorse, or adopt the reviews posted by users.
• We are not the publisher or speaker of any user-submitted review or rating.
• We are not liable for any content posted by users, including reviews, ratings, or comments.
• Our moderation of content (including removal of reviews that violate guidelines) does not transform us into the publisher of remaining content.
• No state law may impose liability on us for user-generated content that we did not create.

4. Review Certification and Reviewer Liability

Before submitting a review, users must affirmatively certify that the review is based on genuine, first-hand professional experience. By checking this certification:

• You affirm you personally engaged this designer in a professional capacity.
• You acknowledge that submitting a false, fabricated, or knowingly defamatory review may expose you — not the Platform — to civil liability for defamation, tortious interference, or related claims.
• You understand that in the event of a court-ordered subpoena or valid legal process, the Platform may be required to disclose your account information to identify the author of a review.
• You grant the Platform a license to display, store, and moderate your review content.

Reviews are expressions of opinion based on personal experience, not statements of provable fact. You must present your review as your subjective experience and avoid asserting factual claims you cannot substantiate.

5. Review Quality Thresholds and Moderation

To protect both reviewers and reviewed designers, we enforce the following minimum standards:

• Minimum length: Reviews must contain at least 20 words of substantive written content.
• First-hand only: Reviews must be based on direct professional interaction, not hearsay or third-party accounts.
• No personal attacks: Reviews must relate to professional conduct and work quality, not personal characteristics.
• No conflicts of interest: You may not review yourself, a direct competitor, a family member, or a close personal acquaintance without explicit disclosure.
• One review per engagement: You may not submit multiple reviews for the same project or engagement.
• No coordinated campaigns: Organized efforts to flood a designer with reviews are prohibited and may result in all associated reviews being removed and accounts being suspended.

All reviews are subject to admin approval before publication. We reserve the right to remove, edit metadata on, or decline to publish any review at our sole discretion.

6. Review Guidelines

• Honesty: Only post reviews based on genuine, first-hand professional interactions.
• Accuracy: Represent facts truthfully and clearly distinguish between facts and opinions.
• No Defamation: Do not post knowingly false statements of fact intended to harm a designer's reputation.
• No Harassment: Do not use reviews to bully, threaten, or harass individuals.
• Professional Focus: Reviews must relate to professional design work only.

7. Dispute Resolution Process

Designers who believe a review is fraudulent, defamatory, or violates our guidelines may submit a formal dispute:

• Disputes must include a clear explanation and, where possible, supporting evidence.
• Our moderation team will review disputes within 10 business days.
• Possible outcomes: review remains with or without a designer response; review is removed; reviewer is warned or suspended.
• Our decision on disputes is final. We are not obligated to remove any review that constitutes protected opinion.

8. Designer Profiles

• Anyone may submit a designer profile for inclusion, subject to admin approval.
• Designers may claim their profile by verifying their identity through the Platform.
• Designers cannot remove their profile solely because they have received negative reviews.
• Profiles may be removed at our discretion if they contain materially false information.
• Inclusion of a company or employer name on a profile reflects publicly known professional affiliations and is not a statement by the Platform about that company.

9. User Accounts

• You must be at least 18 years of age to create an account.
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials.
• You must provide accurate and complete information during registration.
• You may not create multiple accounts or impersonate another person.
• We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

10. Intellectual Property

The Platform's design, code, branding, and original content are owned by RateMyDesigner.com. User-submitted content remains the intellectual property of its author, but by posting you grant us a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license to display, reproduce, and distribute that content on the Platform.

11. Prohibited Conduct

• Using automated systems (bots, scrapers) to access the Platform without permission.
• Attempting to manipulate ratings through fake accounts or coordinated review campaigns.
• Offering payment or incentives in exchange for positive or negative reviews.
• Submitting false designer profiles with intent to harm an individual's reputation.
• Interfering with the Platform's operation, security, or infrastructure.
• Using the Platform for any unlawful purpose.

12. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, RATEMYDESIGNER.COM, ITS OWNERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF REVENUE, REPUTATION, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, OR PROFESSIONAL STANDING RESULTING FROM REVIEWS POSTED ON THE PLATFORM. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL NOT EXCEED $100.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless RateMyDesigner.com, its owners, officers, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including attorney's fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Platform, (b) your violation of these Terms, (c) content you submit, or (d) your violation of any third-party rights. This indemnification survives termination of your account.

14. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any legal disputes shall first be submitted to binding arbitration under the American Arbitration Association's Commercial Arbitration Rules before proceeding to litigation. Class action lawsuits against the Platform are expressly waived to the extent permitted by law.

15. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force.

16. Contact

For questions about these Terms or to submit a legal notice, contact us at: legal@ratemydesigner.com