Terms of Use

TERMS OF USE

1. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

Flat World Knowledge, Inc. (“Flat World Knowledge,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) welcomes you. We’re excited that you have decided to access and use flatworldknowledge.com, flatworldstudents.com, our other websites (collectively, the “Websites”), our educational services (the “Educational Services”), and/or our content repository of textbooks (the “Repository”). The Websites, the Educational Services, and the Repository are collectively known as the “Services.”

Flat World Knowledge provides the Services to you subject to the following Terms of Use, which may be updated by us from time to time without notice to you. By accessing and using the Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by the terms and conditions of these Terms of Use and the terms and conditions of Flat World Knowledge’s Privacy Policy, which is hereby incorporated by reference (collectively, this “Agreement.”). If you do not agree to any of these terms, then please do not access or use the Services.

2. COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

Flat World Knowledge’s community, like any community, functions best when its people follow a few simple rules. By accessing and/or using the Services, you hereby agree to comply with these community rules and that:

  • You will not use the Services for any unlawful purpose;
  • You will not upload, post, e-mail, transmit, or otherwise make available any content that:
    • infringes any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights of any person or entity; or
    • is threatening, tortious, defamatory, libelous, indecent, obscene, pornographic, invasive of another’s privacy, or promotes violence; or
    • discloses any personal information about another person, including that person’s name, e-mail address, postal address, phone number, credit card information, or any similar information; and
  • You will not interfere with or attempt to interrupt the proper operation of the Services through the use of any virus, device, information collection or transmission mechanism, software or routine, or access or attempt to gain access to any data, files, or passwords related to the Services through hacking, password mining, or any other means.

We reserve the right, in our sole and absolute discretion, to deny you access to the Services, or any portion of the Services, without notice.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

Flat World Knowledge provides its books online to you at no cost and offers you convenient, low-cost choices for print-on-demand softcovers, audio books and chapters, self-print options, and more, as described in this Agreement.

        Visitors. No login is required for Visitors. Visitors can (a) view all publicly-accessible content; (b) view tutorials; and (c) contact Flat World Knowledge.

        Registered Students. Login is required for all Registered Students. In addition to all the things that Visitors can do, Registered Users can (a) access assigned textbooks and view them online at no cost; (b) purchase textbooks, audio books, study aids, and other materials; (c) sign up for newsletters, alerts, and other notifications; (d) view webinars; and (e) request technical and customer support.

        Registered Educators. Login is required for all Registered Educators. In addition to all the things that Visitors can do, Registered Educators can also (a) select and assign books for their students; (b) customize books as desired; (c) access instructor supplements; (d) be eligible to receive review/desk copies of certain materials; (e) sign up for newsletters, alerts, and other notifications; (f) view webinars; and (g) request technical and customer support.

Flat World Knowledge is under no obligation to accept any individual as a Registered Student or a Registered Educator, and may accept or reject any registration in its sole and complete discretion.

4. SIGN-IN NAME; PASSWORD; UNIQUE IDENTIFIERS

During the registration process for Registered Students and Registered Educators, we will ask you to create an account, which includes a unique username (“Username”), password (“Password”), and perhaps certain additional information that will assist in authenticating your identity when you log-in in the future (“Unique Identifiers”). When creating your account, you must provide true, accurate, current, and complete information. Each Username and corresponding Password can be used by only one registered user. You are solely responsible for the confidentiality and use of your Username, Password, and Unique Identifiers, as well as for any use, misuse, or communications entered through the Services using one or more of them. You will promptly inform Flat World Knowledge of any need to deactivate a Password or Username, or change any Unique Identifier. Flat World Knowledge reserves the right to delete or change your Password, Username, or Unique Identifier at any time and for any reason. Flat World Knowledge will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by any unauthorized use of your account.

5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The Services contain materials, such as books, audio books, software, characters, text, graphics, images, sound recordings, audiovisual works, and other materials provided by or on behalf of Flat World Knowledge (collectively referred to as the “Flat World Knowledge Content”). The Flat World Knowledge Content may be owned by us, our authors, or by third parties. The Flat World Knowledge Content is protected under both United States and foreign laws. Each individual work in the Repository is made available to you subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the specific license associated with that individual work. You have no rights in or to the Flat World Knowledge Content, and you may only copy, modify, distribute, and otherwise use the Flat World Knowledge Content, including the works in the Repository, in accordance with these licenses, as set forth in this Agreement, or as may otherwise be permitted under applicable law. No other use is permitted without prior written consent from us. You may not sell, transfer, assign, license, or sublicense the Flat World Knowledge Content or reproduce, display, publicly perform, make a derivative version of, distribute, or otherwise use the Flat World Knowledge Content in any way for any commercial purpose. Unauthorized use of the Flat World Knowledge Content may violate copyright, trademark, and other laws.

You must retain all copyright and other proprietary notices contained in the original Flat World Knowledge Content on any copy you make of the Flat World Knowledge Content. The use or posting of the Flat World Knowledge Content on any other website or in a networked computer environment for any purpose is expressly prohibited.

If you violate any part of this Agreement, your permission to access and/or use the Flat World Knowledge Content and the Services automatically terminates and you must immediately destroy any copies you have made of the Flat World Knowledge Content.

The trademarks, service marks, and logos of Flat World Knowledge (the “Flat World Knowledge Trademarks”) used and displayed in the Services are registered and unregistered trademarks or service marks of Flat World Knowledge. Other company, product, and service names located in the Services may be trademarks or service marks owned by others (the “Third-Party Trademarks”, and, collectively with Flat World Knowledge Trademarks, the “Trademarks”). Nothing in the Services should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license or right to use the Trademarks, without our prior written permission specific for each such use. Use of the Trademarks as part of a link to or from any site is prohibited unless establishment of such a link is approved in advance by us in writing. All goodwill generated from the use of Flat World Knowledge Trademarks inures to Flat World Knowledge’s benefit.

Elements of the Services are protected by trade dress, trademark, unfair competition, and other state and federal laws and may not be copied or imitated in whole or in part, by any means, including but not limited to the use of framing or mirrors.

6. NO WARRANTIES/LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

WE MAKE NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE SERVICES. WE SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO LIABILITY FOR ANY DELAYS OR INTERRUPTIONS OF THE SERVICES FROM WHATEVER CAUSE. YOU AGREE THAT YOU USE THE SERVICES AT YOUR OWN RISK.

WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES WILL OPERATE ERROR-FREE OR THAT THE SERVICES OR THEIR SERVERS ARE FREE OF COMPUTER VIRUSES OR SIMILAR CONTAMINATION OR DESTRUCTIVE FEATURES. IF YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES RESULTS IN THE NEED FOR SERVICING OR REPLACING EQUIPMENT OR DATA, WE SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE COSTS.

THE SERVICES AND THE CONTENT ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE WARRANTY OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTIES’ RIGHTS, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, AND FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

IN NO EVENT SHALL WE BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, INCIDENTAL AND CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS, OR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM LOST DATA OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) RESULTING FROM THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICES, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN SUCH STATES, OUR LIABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

7. EXTERNAL SITES

The Services may contain links to third-party websites (collectively, the “External Sites”). These links are provided solely as a convenience to you and not as an endorsement by us of the content on such External Sites. The content of such External Sites is developed and provided by others. You should contact the site administrator or webmaster for those External Sites if you have any concerns regarding such links or any content located on such External Sites. We are not responsible for the content of any linked External Sites and do not make any representations regarding the content or accuracy of materials on such External Sites. You should take precautions when downloading files from all websites to protect your computer from viruses and other destructive programs. If you decide to access linked External Sites, you do so at your own risk.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Flat World Knowledge, and our affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, licensees, and assigns from and against any and all claims, actions, or demands, including, without limitation, reasonable legal and expert fees and costs, arising or resulting from your breach of this Agreement, your submission of any content to the Websites, and your access to, use, or misuse of the Services. We shall provide notice to you of any such claim, suit, or proceeding and shall assist you, at your expense, in defending any such claim, suit, or proceeding. We reserve the right to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter that is subject to indemnification under this section. In such case, you agree to cooperate with any reasonable requests assisting our defense of such matter.

9. DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT

Flat World Knowledge respects the intellectual property rights of others and attempts to comply with all relevant laws. We will review all claims of copyright infringement received and remove any content, including user content, deemed to have been posted or distributed in violation of any such laws.

Our designated agent under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (the “Act”) for the receipt of any Notification of Claimed Infringement which may be given under that Act is as follows:

Flat World Knowledge, Inc.
Attention: Legal Department
1 Bridge Street
Suite 105
Irvington, NY 10533

If you believe that your work has been copied on the Services in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please provide our agent with notice in accordance with the requirements of the Act, including (i) a description of the copyrighted work that has been infringed and the specific location on the Services where such work is located; (ii) a description of the location of the original or an authorized copy of the copyrighted work; (iii) your address, telephone number and e-mail address; (iv) a statement by you that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent or the law; (v) a statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner’s behalf; and (vi) an electronic or physical signature of the owner of the copyright or the person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright interest.

10. COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS

The Services, including the Websites, are based in the United States. We make no claims concerning whether the content of the Services may be downloaded, viewed, or be appropriate for use outside of the United States. If you access the Services or the content from outside of the United States, you do so at your own risk. Whether inside or outside of the United States, you are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with the laws of your specific jurisdiction.

11. TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT

We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to restrict, suspend, or terminate this Agreement and your access to all or any part of the Services, at any time and for any reason without prior notice or liability. We reserve the right to change, suspend, or discontinue all or any part of the Services at any time without prior notice or liability.

12. MISCELLANEOUS

This Agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws of the State of New York, without respect to its conflict of laws provisions. You expressly agree to submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the State of New York. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid by any court having competent jurisdiction or terminated in accordance with the Termination provision above, the invalidity or termination of such provision shall not affect the validity of the following provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect: “Intellectual Property,” “No Warranties/Limitation of Liability,” “Indemnification,” “Termination of the Agreement,” and “Miscellaneous.”

Our failure to act on or enforce any provision of the Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of that provision or any other provision in this Agreement. No waiver shall be effective against us unless made in writing, and no such waiver shall be construed as a waiver in any other or subsequent instance. This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement between you and us with respect to the subject matter, and supersedes all previous or contemporaneous agreements, whether written or oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter. The section headings are provided merely for convenience and shall not be given any legal import. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of our successors, assigns, licensees, and sublicensees.

Previous Terms of Use