Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

Welcome to Juan J. Jovel's portfolio website ("Site"). By accessing or using this Site at juanjovel.com, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Site.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting. Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

2. Use of the Site

2.1 Permitted Use

You may use this Site for lawful purposes only, including:

• Viewing portfolio work and case studies
• Learning about strategic communications services
• Contacting Juan J. Jovel for professional inquiries
• Reading blog articles and insights
• Subscribing to newsletters

2.2 Prohibited Use

You agree NOT to:

• Use the Site for any unlawful purpose or in violation of these Terms
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Site
• Interfere with or disrupt the Site's functionality or servers
• Use automated tools (bots, scrapers, etc.) to access the Site without permission
• Copy, reproduce, or distribute content from the Site without permission
• Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or other malicious code
• Impersonate Juan J. Jovel or misrepresent your affiliation
• Harass, abuse, or harm others through the Site
• Collect personal information about other users
• Submit false, misleading, or spam information through contact forms

3. Intellectual Property Rights

3.1 Ownership

All content on this Site, including but not limited to:

• Text, articles, and written content
• Portfolio work samples and case studies
• Images, graphics, logos, and designs
• Code, software, and website structure
• Trademarks, service marks, and brand elements

...is owned by Juan J. Jovel or licensed to us and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

3.2 Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to view and use the Site for personal, non-commercial purposes only. You may not:

• Modify, copy, distribute, or create derivative works from Site content
• Use content for commercial purposes without written permission
• Remove copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices

3.3 Third-Party Content

Some portfolio work displayed on this Site was created for clients or employers. Such work is shown for demonstration purposes only and remains the property of the respective owners. External links and referenced materials are the property of their respective owners.

4. User-Generated Content

4.1 Contact Form Submissions

When you submit information through our contact form, you:

• Represent that the information is accurate and truthful
• Grant us permission to use your message to respond to your inquiry
• Agree not to submit spam, offensive, or malicious content

4.2 Newsletter Subscriptions

By subscribing to our newsletter, you:

• Consent to receiving periodic communications from us
• Can unsubscribe at any time via the link in our emails
• Acknowledge that we may use your email for newsletter purposes only

5. Third-Party Links and Services

This Site may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., LinkedIn, social media, featured articles). These links are provided for your convenience only. We:

• Do not control or endorse third-party sites
• Are not responsible for their content, privacy policies, or practices
• Recommend reviewing their terms and privacy policies before use

Third-Party Services We Use:

• FormSubmit.co: Contact form processing
• Google Analytics: Site analytics (with your cookie consent)
• Hostinger: Web hosting

6. Disclaimers and Warranties

6.1 "AS IS" Basis

This Site is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to:

• Implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose
• Non-infringement of third-party rights
• Uninterrupted, error-free, or secure access
• Accuracy, completeness, or reliability of content

6.2 No Professional Advice

Content on this Site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Do not rely on Site content as a substitute for professional communications consulting or legal/financial advice.

6.3 Portfolio Work Disclaimer

Portfolio work shown on this Site represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Client outcomes may vary based on individual circumstances.

7. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Juan J. Jovel and its affiliates, employees, and service providers shall NOT be liable for:

• Direct Damages: Any loss or damage arising from your use of the Site
• Indirect Damages: Lost profits, data loss, business interruption, or consequential damages
• Third-Party Actions: Damages caused by third-party sites, services, or content
• Unauthorized Access: Unauthorized access to or alteration of your transmissions or data
• Site Errors: Errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in Site content

Maximum Liability: In no event shall our total liability exceed $100 or the amount you paid to access the Site (which is $0 for free access), whichever is greater.

8. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Juan J. Jovel, its affiliates, employees, contractors, and service providers from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including attorney's fees) arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your use or misuse of the Site
• Your violation of any third-party rights (e.g., intellectual property, privacy)
• Your submission of false, misleading, or unlawful information

9. Privacy and Data Protection

Your use of this Site is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. By using the Site, you consent to our privacy practices as described in the Privacy Policy.

Key Points:

• We collect personal information when you submit contact forms or subscribe to newsletters
• We use cookies and analytics to improve the Site (with your consent)
• We comply with GDPR and other applicable data protection laws
• You have rights to access, correct, or delete your data (see Privacy Policy)

10. Termination

We reserve the right to:

• Suspend or terminate your access to the Site at any time, without notice, for any reason
• Remove or disable any content that violates these Terms
• Investigate and take legal action against violations

Upon termination, your right to use the Site will immediately cease. Provisions regarding intellectual property, disclaimers, liability, and indemnification will survive termination.

11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, United States, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Site shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Frederick County, Maryland. You consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of these courts.

For EU Residents: If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you may also have rights under local consumer protection laws.

12. Dispute Resolution

12.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating legal action, you agree to contact us at contact@juanjovel.com to attempt to resolve the dispute informally.

12.2 Arbitration (Optional)

If informal resolution fails, either party may elect binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Arbitration will take place in Frederick, Maryland, or remotely via video conference.

12.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree to bring claims only in your individual capacity and not as part of a class action or representative proceeding.

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

14. Entire Agreement

These Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Juan J. Jovel regarding your use of the Site and supersede all prior agreements, representations, or understandings.

15. No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision or our right to enforce it in the future.

16. Assignment

We may assign or transfer these Terms or any rights or obligations under them without your consent. You may not assign these Terms without our prior written consent.

17. Force Majeure

We are not liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, acts of war, government actions, pandemics, labor disputes, or internet/server failures.

18. Accessibility

We strive to make this Site accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. If you encounter accessibility issues, please contact us at contact@juanjovel.com, and we will work to address them.

19. Contact Information

If you have questions or concerns about these Terms of Service, please contact: