Before 'lawyering-up,' contact us. If we can't resolve the issue, you agree to arbitration instead of going to court. We also both agree not to bring a class action lawsuit against each other.
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY – IT MAY SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING YOUR RIGHT TO FILE A LAWSUIT IN COURT.
16.1 Dispute Resolution
Before bringing a legal claim, you must contact our Support Team at support@glitch.com and describe the nature and basis of the claim or dispute and the specific relief you seek. Most disputes can be resolved this way. The parties shall use their best efforts through this Support Team process to settle any dispute, claim, question, or disagreement and engage in good faith negotiations which shall be a condition to either party initiating a lawsuit or arbitration.
16.2 Arbitration
However, if the issue is not resolved within a period of 30 days from the date you contact the Support Team describing the dispute, then either party may pursue resolution of the dispute in binding arbitration, subject to the terms set forth below. Either party may pursue your dispute in a court only under the circumstances described below.
Specifically, except as described in Section 16.3 below, all claims arising out of or relating to these Terms (including their formation, performance and breach), the parties' relationship with each other, and/or your use of the Services that does not involve patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, or moral rights shall be resolved via binding, non-appearance-based arbitration initiated through the American Arbitration Association ('AAA') in accordance with the provisions of its Consumer Arbitration Rules, excluding any rules or procedures governing or permitting class actions. Except as explicitly stated otherwise herein, the arbitrator, and not any federal, state or local court or agency, shall have exclusive authority to resolve all disputes arising out of or relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability or formation of these Terms, including, but not limited to any claim that all or any part of these Terms are void or voidable, or whether a claim is subject to arbitration.
The Consumer Arbitration Rules governing the arbitration are available online at www.adr.org or by calling the AAA at (800) 778-7879. In any such arbitration, the parties and AAA must comply with the following rules: (i) the arbitration shall be conducted by telephone, online, and/or be solely based on written submissions, and the specific manner shall be chose by the party initiating the arbitration; (ii) the arbitration shall not involve any personal appearance by the parties or witnesses unless otherwise mutually agreed to by the parties; (iii) the arbitrator shall be empowered to grant whatever relief would be available in a court under law or in equity, including the award of injunctive or declaratory relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by that party's individual claim; and (iv) any judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator shall be written and binding on the parties and may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.
If you are a resident of the United States, arbitration will take place in New York, New York or the federal judicial district that includes your billing address. In the event you select the latter, we may transfer the arbitration to New York so long as we agree to pay any additional fees or costs which the arbitrator determines you incur as a result of the transfer. For non-United States residents, arbitration shall be initiated in the New York County, New York, United States of America, and you and Glitch, Inc. agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of any federal or state court in New York County, New York, in order to compel arbitration, to stay proceedings pending arbitration, or to confirm, modify, vacate or enter judgment on the award entered by the arbitrator.
At any time during the pendency of the arbitration, if the respondent in the arbitration offers the claimant the amount requested in the applicable Demand for Arbitration, the respondent agrees to (a) accept that offer as full and complete settlement of the claims in the Demand for Arbitration and (b) voluntarily dismiss all claims in the applicable Demand for Arbitration with prejudice.
16.3 Exceptions
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement, we both agree that nothing in this agreement will be deemed to waive, preclude, or otherwise limit the right of either of us to: (1) bring an individual action in small claims court of competent jurisdiction, (2) seek injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, or (3) bring an individual action in a court of law to address an intellectual property infringement claim. Also, any party can ask a court to halt an action while an arbitration proceeding is underway.
Additionally Section 16.2 above shall not apply to any claim that all or part of the Class Action Waiver in Section 16.4 below is unenforceable, unconscionable, void, or voidable shall be determined only by a court of competent jurisdiction and not by an arbitrator. Except as explicitly stated otherwise herein, all other disputes regarding interpretation, applicability, enforceability, or formation of this Mutual Arbitration Provision shall be determined exclusively by an arbitrator.
16.4 Class Action Waiver
EXCEPT AS EXPLICITLY PROVIDED HEREIN, YOU AND GLITCH, INC. AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.
Except as explicitly provided herein, any claims brought by you or us must be brought in that party's individual capacity, and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.
THIS MEANS THAT YOU AND GLITCH AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A LEAD OR REPRESENTATIVE CLASS PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. HOWEVER, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT SEPARATE INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATIONS MAY BE CONSOLIDATED, UPON REQUEST BY GLITCH, IF THE ARBITRATOR DETERMINES THAT INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATIONS RELATE TO OR ARISE OUT OF THE SAME OR SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME TRANSACTION(S) OR OCCURRENCE(S). CONSOLIDATION MEANS THAT ANY AND ALL SEPARATELY INITIATED ARBITRATIONS THAT RELATE TO OR ARISE OUT OF THE SAME OR SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME TRANSACTION(S) OR OCCURRENCE(S) ARE ALL HEARD BY A SINGLE ARBITRATOR IN A SINGLE ARBITRATION, AND THAT THE ARBITRATOR'S FINDINGS OF LAW OR FACT SHALL APPLY TO ALL EXISTING AND FUTURE INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATIONS THAT RELATE TO OR ARISE OUT OF THE SAME OR SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME TRANSACTION(S). IF WE REQUEST CONSOLIDATION OF MULTIPLE ARBITRATIONS, THEN ALL PARTIES TO THE CONSOLIDATED CASE(S) WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE WAIVED THEIR RIGHT TO DESIGNATE AN ARBITRATOR AS WELL AS ANY CONTRACTUAL PROVISION WITH RESPECT TO THE SITE OF THE ARBITRATION. THE ARBITRATOR SHALL CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING FACTORS IF GLITCH REQUESTS A CONSOLIDATION OF ARBITRATIONS:
- The arbitrations have a common question of law or fact;
- The issues in the multiple arbitrations are largely identical;
- There are common claims, disputes, and relationships between or among the parties in the different arbitrations;
- One or more parties is named in multiple pending arbitrations;
- The arbitrations relate to the same aspect of the Services or the same User Content;
- Consolidation will save time and resources;
- One party will be seriously prejudiced by having multiple arbitrations heard separately.
Where individual arbitrations are consolidated in accordance with the provisions above, you agree that Glitch may make reasonable arrangements with AAA for the payment of filing and/or arbitration fees, and that those arrangements may differ from the standard AAA payment schedule—provided that you are not obligated to pay any fees beyond those required by AAA, and the arbitration can be fairly conducted in accordance with applicable AAA rules and this Dispute Resolution, Arbitration and Class Action Waiver provision.
By agreeing to these arbitration provisions, you are waiving your right to trial by jury or to participate in a class action; we are also waiving these rights.
Any claim that all or part of this Class Action Waiver section is unenforceable, unconscionable, void, or voidable, shall be determined only by a court of competent jurisdiction and not by an arbitrator. All other disputes regarding the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, or formation of this Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, and Class Action Waiver shall be determined exclusively by an arbitrator.
16.5 30-Day Right to Opt-Out
You have the right to opt-out and not be bound by the agreement to arbitrate or class action waiver set forth above. To opt-out, you must send us a notice in writing within thirty (30) days of the date that you first became subject to this arbitration provision, otherwise you shall be bound by the arbitration and class action waiver provisions above. The opt-out notice must include your name, address, phone number, the Account to which the opt-out applies, and a clear statement that you want to opt out of the agreement to arbitrate and class action waiver. This procedure is the only way you can opt out of the arbitration and class action waiver provisions. You must use this address to opt out:
Glitch, Inc.
Attn: Opt-out
Suite 1904
New York, NY 10004
866-364-2733
If you opt-out of these provisions, Glitch, Inc. also will not be bound by them.
16.6 Fees
If you commence arbitration in accordance with these Terms, you may be required to pay a fee to initiate the arbitration. If the arbitrator finds the arbitration to be non-frivolous, we will pay all other fees invoiced by AAA, including filing fees and arbitrator and hearing expenses. You are responsible for your own attorneys' fees unless the arbitration rules and/or applicable law provide otherwise.
If the arbitrator finds that either the substance of your claim or the relief sought in the arbitration demand is frivolous or brought for an improper purpose (as measured by the standards set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b)), then the payment of all fees will be governed by the AAA Rules. In that case, you agree to reimburse us for all monies previously disbursed by it that are otherwise your obligation to pay under the AAA Rules. Regardless of the manner in which the arbitration is conducted, the arbitrator must issue a reasoned written decision sufficient to explain the essential findings and conclusions on which the decision and award, if any, are based.
The arbitrator may make rulings and resolve disputes as to the payment and reimbursement of fees or expenses at any time during the proceeding and upon request from either party made within fourteen (14) days of the arbitrator's ruling on the merits.
16.7 Modification
Except for inconsequential changes that do not affect any rights or obligations herein, Glitch, Inc. will provide thirty (30) days' notice of any changes to this section by posting on the Services, sending you a message, or otherwise notifying you when you are logged into your Account. Amendments will become effective thirty (30) days after they are posted on the Services or sent to you. Changes to this section will otherwise apply prospectively only to claims arising after the thirtieth (30th) day. If a court or arbitrator decides that this subsection on 'Modifications' is not enforceable or valid, then this subsection shall be severed from the section entitled 'Arbitration; Waiver of Class Actions,' and the court or arbitrator shall apply the most recent version of the 'Arbitration; Waiver of Class Actions' validly enforceable on you. You may otherwise reject the change by sending us written notice within thirty (30) days of the change to Glitch, Inc.'s address for opt-out notices, in which case this arbitration provision, as in effect immediately prior to the amendments you reject, will survive. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, any changes to this section shall not apply to any claim that was filed in a legal proceeding against us prior to the effective date of the change. Moreover, if we seek to terminate the arbitration procedures from this Agreement, such termination shall not be effective until thirty (30) days after the version of this Agreement not containing the arbitration procedures is posted to our Services or otherwise sent to you, and shall not be effective as to any claim that was filed in a legal proceeding against us prior to the effective date of removal.
16.8 Survival
In accordance with Sections 14 and 15, this Section will survive the termination of your relationship with us.