Terms-of-Use

Global Midwest Alliance

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Global Midwest Alliance encourages the use of this site and other Global Midwest Alliance sites (each a "Global Midwest Alliance Site" and collectively "Global Midwest Alliance Sites"), as a way to share information and knowledge in support of the mission of Global Midwest Alliance. Global Midwest Alliance and any affiliated companies (referred to herein as "Global Midwest Alliance," "we," "us," or "our") maintain these sites.

BY USING A GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE SITE, YOU SIGNIFY YOUR AGREEMENT TO ALL TERMS, CONDITIONS AND NOTICES CONTAINED OR REFERENCED IN THESE TERMS & CONDITIONS (THE "TERMS & CONDITIONS" OR "TERMS") ON OUR SITES. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS & CONDITIONS YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO USE GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE SITES. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT, AT OUR DISCRETION, TO CHANGE, MODIFY, ADD TO, OR REMOVE PORTIONS OF THESE TERMS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. PLEASE CHECK THE TERMS PERIODICALLY FOR CHANGES. YOUR CONTINUED USE OF GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE SITES FOLLOWING THE POSTING OF ANY CHANGES TO THESE TERMS CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF THOSE CHANGES.

Some Global Midwest Alliance Sites or areas of Sites may have different terms and conditions posted. Any such terms will not vary or replace these Terms & Conditions regarding the use of Global Midwest Alliance Sites, unless they expressly state otherwise. Additionally, a Global Midwest Alliance Site may contain page(s) or areas with their own Terms & Conditions, in addition to those listed here, which you should review and with which you must agree in order to use those areas.

Site content is subject to change without notice. While most sites are publicly accessible, certain services and information offered on-line may be restricted to specific users or segments of the Global Midwest Alliance population.

Copyright, Trademarks and Restrictions

Global Midwest Alliance Sites and their contents are protected pursuant to U.S. and international copyright laws. All materials published on Global Midwest Alliance Sites are the copyrighted property of Global Midwest Alliance or any affiliated company, third party licensors, or the party credited. Global Midwest Alliance claims no copyright in any government or other public domain content that may be on our sites. All trademarks, service marks and trade names, including but not limited to the Global Midwest Alliance mark, as well as other marks, owned by Global Midwest Alliance are protected by state, federal and international trademark law. All other trademarks appearing on Global Midwest Alliance Sites are the property of their respective owners.

Except where otherwise noted, permission to use Materials (such as white papers, press releases, datasheets and FAQs) from Global Midwest Alliance Sites is granted, provided that (1) none of the copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices are removed, (2) the Materials are not edited or modified in any way without prior written consent, (3) use of such Materials from the Global Midwest Alliance Site is for informational and non-commercial or personal use only and may not be used in a misleading or deceptive manner, and (4) you do not use any Materials, without express written permission, in a manner that suggests an association with any of our groups, services, conferences, conventions, programs, initiatives or other activities. Further, you agree to abide by all additional copyright notices, information or restrictions contained in any material or content on the Global Midwest Alliance Sites.

Materials specified above do not include any Global Midwest Alliance trademarks, service marks or other protected intellectual property, including the design or layout of the Global Midwest Alliance Sites or any other Global Midwest Alliance owned, operated, licensed, or controlled site, which remain owned and protected by Global Midwest Alliance.

Linking to Global Midwest Alliance Sites

Global Midwest Alliance has no objection to links made from other sites to Global Midwest Alliance Sites, provided that you comply with the following requirements:

You may not frame or alter the appearance of Global Midwest Alliance Sites.

You may not state or imply that Global Midwest Alliance endorses, sponsors or otherwise approves your site or any other sites.

You may not use any Global Midwest Alliance Trademarks or logos without prior written consent.

In view of the dynamic nature of the Internet, and the possibility of updates and changes, we request that your link enter Global Midwest Alliance Sites at their home pages.

You must abide by all of the other Global Midwest Alliance Terms and Conditions of use set forth herein.

Due to the diverse nature of our web activities, websites within the Global Midwest Alliance Internet family may have linking policies that differ from this policy. In such cases, the linking policy of the particular Global Midwest Alliance Site will be posted, and will supersede the Terms regarding linking to Global Midwest Alliance Sites of this document.

Software

If you download authorized software or applications from any Global Midwest Alliance Site, the software or applications, including any files, images incorporated in or generated by the software or applications, and data and instructions accompanying the software or applications (collectively, the "Software") are licensed to you by Global Midwest Alliance or our third party licensors for your personal, non-commercial use. We do not transfer title to the Software to you. We (or third-party licensors) retain full and complete title to the Software and all intellectual property rights therein. Except as expressly authorized by us, you agree not to redistribute, sell, de-compile, reverse engineer, disassemble or create derivative works based on the Software, in whole or in part.

At times Global Midwest Alliance Sites may request ideas or materials that include but that are not limited to concepts, know-how, techniques, suggestions and materials (collectively "Submission(s)"). Except as expressly provided in our Privacy Policy, in a separate written agreement between you and Global Midwest Alliance, or otherwise expressly stated, by submitting any Submission, whether solicited by us or not, you are automatically granting Global Midwest Alliance a royalty-free, perpetual, non-exclusive, unrestricted, worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform and display, create derivative works from and distribute such materials and/or ideas or incorporate such materials and/or ideas into any form, medium or technology now known or later developed throughout the universe, and that all so-called "moral rights" to such Submissions have been waived. This grant of rights means that such Submissions will be owned by Global Midwest Alliance, and may be used without any payment to, or further authorization by you. The foregoing grants shall include the right to exploit any proprietary rights in such communication, including but not limited to rights under copyright, trademark, service mark or patent laws under any relevant jurisdiction.

Forums, E-mail, and Public Communications

Global Midwest Alliance Sites may include forums, chat rooms, e-mail function, or other areas (collectively "Forums"), where users can post or exchange information, ideas, opinions, photographs, images, videos, creative works or any other materials (collectively "Messages") with other users of the Site or the Internet. In no event shall Global Midwest Alliance assume or have any responsibility or liability for any Messages posted on Forums or for any claims, damages or losses resulting from their use or appearance on a Global Midwest Alliance Site. Children under the age of 18 are not authorized to post messages or participate in Forums on Global Midwest Alliance Sites.

Global Midwest Alliance does not control Messages delivered to Forums, and Global Midwest Alliance has no obligation to monitor such Forums. If at any time Global Midwest Alliance chooses, in its sole discretion, to monitor the Forums, Global Midwest Alliance nonetheless assumes no responsibility for the content of the Messages, no obligation to modify or remove any inappropriate Messages, and no responsibility for the conduct of the user submitting any Messages.

The Messages do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Midwest Alliance and are not necessarily reviewed prior to posting. Global Midwest Alliance makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the content of the Messages in the Forums or the accuracy or reliability of any Messages and other materials in the Forums. Global Midwest Alliance reserves the right at all times to disclose any information (including the identity of the persons providing information or materials on its Forums) as necessary to satisfy any law, regulation, or governmental request. Further, Global Midwest Alliance reserves the right to restrict, prohibit your use, and remove or edit Messages from any Forum at any time, for any reason.

By posting Messages (including but not limited to acts of uploading files, inputting data, or engaging in any other form of communication) through Forums, you are granting Global Midwest Alliance a royalty-free, perpetual, non-exclusive, unrestricted, worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform and display, create derivative works from and distribute such materials and/or ideas or incorporate such materials and/or ideas into any form, medium, or technology now known or later developed throughout the universe, and that all so-called "moral rights" to such Messages have been waived. This grant of rights means that such Messages will be owned by Global Midwest Alliance, and may be used without any payment to, or further authorization by you. The foregoing grants shall include the right to exploit any proprietary rights in such communication, including but not limited to rights under copyright, trademark, service mark, or patent laws under any relevant jurisdiction.

Rules of Conduct

It is a condition of your use of Forums and Global Midwest Alliance Sites that you do not:

Use any Forums or Global Midwest Alliance Sites for any illegal purposes (or to solicit any illegal act) including, but not limited to, violating applicable antitrust laws and regulations.

Restrict or inhibit any other user from using and enjoying the Forums or Global Midwest Alliance Sites;

Post or transmit an unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, harassing, pornographic, profane or indecent information of any kind, including images and language or unlawful material or any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense or give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law;

Post or transmit any message with bigoted, hateful or racially offensive statements;

Post any message that solicits gambling or engage in any gambling activity;

Transmit or upload any information, software or other material that violates or infringes on the rights of others, including material that is an invasion of privacy or publicity rights or that is protected by copyright, trademark or other proprietary right, or derivative works with respect thereto, without first obtaining permission from the owner or rightful holder;

Post or distribute any software or other materials that contain a virus or other harmful component;

Advertise or sell or solicit to others;

Use the site or its services for the purposes of sending junk email, chain letters, duplicative or unsolicited messages or "spamming," or in connection with contests, surveys or pyramid schemes;

Try to gain unauthorized access to an Global Midwest Alliance Site, other users' accounts, or computers connected to the Global Midwest Alliance Site though password mining or other means; or

Interfere with another user's use and enjoyment of a Global Midwest Alliance Site or any other individual's use and enjoyment of related services

If at any time you are not happy with the Forums or object to any material within Forums, your sole remedy is to cease using them.

Contests and Sweepstakes, Auctions, and Other Activities

Global Midwest Alliance Sites may contain certain activities including, without limitation, e-mail services, registration, contests, sweepstakes and auctions (collectively "Contests"). Each Contest has its own rules, which you must read and agree to before you may enter.

Third Party Content and Links to Other Sites

At certain places on Global Midwest Alliance Sites, users may be able to link to other Internet addresses. These other sites are not under the control of Global Midwest Alliance, and you acknowledge that Global Midwest Alliance is not responsible for the accuracy, copyright compliance, legality, decency, or any other aspect of such sites. The inclusion of such a link does not imply endorsement of the site by Global Midwest Alliance or any association with its operators. Use of any information on Global Midwest Alliance Sites or obtained from linked addresses is voluntary and reliance on it should only be undertaken after an independent review. A link or reference herein to any specific commercial product, process or service by trademark name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation or favoring by Global Midwest Alliance.

User Access

User access and use of Global Midwest Alliance Sites, or portions thereof may be restricted through the use of a login and password registration mechanism or similar process (collectively "User Account"). You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your User Account, and are fully responsible for all activities that occur under your User Account. You agree to (a) immediately notify Global Midwest Alliance of any unauthorized use of your User Account or any other breach of security, and (b) ensure that you exit from restricted areas at the end of each session. We will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with this provision.

We may change, suspend or discontinue any aspect of our online services at any time, including the availability of any feature, database or content available at a Global Midwest Alliance Site. Global Midwest Alliance also may impose limits on certain features and services or restrict your access to parts or all of a Global Midwest Alliance Site(s) without notice or liability.

Privacy and Security

We respect the privacy of visitors to Global Midwest Alliance Sites. For more information about how we use and protect the personal information you may provide through our websites, please click here to review the website's Privacy Policy. Note that Global Midwest Alliance reserves the right to change its Privacy Policy at any time without notice.

Please note Global Midwest Alliance Sites may contain links to other Internet websites. Whenever you travel to another website you should review its privacy policy. Global Midwest Alliance is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of third-party sites.

Notice and Procedure for Making Claims of Copyright Infringement

We may give notice to our users by means of a general notice on any Global Midwest Alliance Site, electronic mail to a user's e-mail address in our records, or by written communication sent by first-class mail to a user's address in our records.

Global Midwest Alliance respects the rights of copyright holders and we ask our users to do the same. If you believe that your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement on a Global Midwest Alliance Site, or your intellectual property rights have been otherwise violated, please provide Global Midwest Alliance's Copyright Agent with the information required by the Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 512.

Notification must be submitted to the following Designated Agent via e-mail:

Webmaster

Global Midwest Alliance, LLC

1 North Wacker Drive, Suite 1700

Chicago, IL 60606

E-mail: [email protected]

This contact information is for notices of copyright infringement only.

To be effective, the notification must be a written communication that includes the following:

A physical or electronic signature of person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed;

Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at that site;

Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled, and information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to locate the material;

Information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to contact the complaining party, such as an address, telephone number, and, if available, an electronic mail address at which the complaining party may be contacted;

A statement that the complaining party has a good-faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and

A statement that the information in the notification is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

Through this provision Global Midwest Alliance seeks to preserve any and all exemptions from liability that may be available under the copyright law, but does not necessarily stipulate that it is a service provider as defined in 17 U.S.C. § 512 or elsewhere in the law.

No Legal Advice

Nothing contained on Global Midwest Alliance Sites is intended as, nor shall be construed as, legal advice, guidance or interpretation. No attorney-client relationship is established between Global Midwest Alliance and you by your using Global Midwest Alliance Sites. The information provided on Global Midwest Alliance Sites is for general informational purposes only, and questions about any law, statute, or regulation should be directed to an attorney with expertise in the relevant area.

DISCLAIMER

GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE SITES AND ALL MATERIALS, INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE SITES (THE "CONTENT") ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" FOR YOUR USE. GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE SITES INCLUDING CONTENT ARE PROVIDED WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NONINFRINGEMENT. GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE, ITS MEMBERS, ANY AFFILIATED COMPANIES, ITS LICENSORS AND ITS EMPLOYEES DO NOT WARRANT THAT GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE SITES AND CONTENT ARE ACCURATE, COMPLETE, RELIABLE, CORRECT OR FREE FROM ERROR OR OMISSIONS; THAT GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE SITES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME OR LOCATION; THAT ANY DEFECTS OR ERRORS WILL BE CORRECTED; OR THAT GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE SITES AND CONTENT ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. FURTHERMORE, GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE, AND ON BEHALF OF ITS MEMBERS, ANY AFFILIATED COMPANIES, ITS LICENSORS, AND ITS EMPLOYEES HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES OF TITLE AND/OR NON-INFRINGEMENT RELATED TO GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE SITES. YOUR USE OF GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE SITES IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE, ITS MEMBERS, ANY AFFILIATED COMPANIES, ITS LICENSORS AND ITS EMPLOYEES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RELATED TO YOUR VIOLATION OF THESE TERMS OR THAT RESULT FROM THE USE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE SITES. THIS LIMITATION APPLIES WHETHER THE ALLEGED LIABILITY IS BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR ANY OTHER BASIS, EVEN IF GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. BECAUSE SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, GLOBAL MIDWEST ALLIANCE'S LIABILITY IN SUCH JURISDICTIONS SHALL BE LIMITED BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless and upon request defend, Global Midwest Alliance, its members, any affiliated companies, its licensors and its employees from all liabilities, claims, and expenses, including attorney's fees, that arise from your use or misuse of Global Midwest Alliance Sites and/or breach of these Terms. Global Midwest Alliance reserves the right, at it own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, in which event you will cooperate with the Global Midwest Alliance in asserting any available defenses.

JURISDICTION

Global Midwest Alliance Sites are maintained by or on behalf of Global Midwest Alliance, located in the City of Chicago, Illinois in the United States of America. We make no representation that these materials are appropriate or available for use in any particular location. If you use a Global Midwest Alliance Site, you are responsible for compliance with applicable laws. By downloading or using content or features of a Global Midwest Alliance Site, you assume the responsibility for doing so in compliance with the law that applies in jurisdiction(s) where you are located.

INTERNATIONAL USE

Global Midwest Alliance makes no representation that materials on Global Midwest Alliance Sites are appropriate or available for use in locations outside the United States, and accessing them from territories where their contents are illegal is prohibited. Those who choose to access Global Midwest Alliance Sites from other locations do so on their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws.

EXPORT CONTROLS

Software available through Global Midwest Alliance Sites is subject to U.S. export controls. No software available from a Global Midwest Alliance Site may be downloaded or otherwise exported or re-exported (i) into (or to a national or resident of) any country to which the U.S. now or in the future embargoes goods; or (ii) to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department's list of Specially Designated Nationals, the U.S. Commerce Department's Table of Denial Orders, or anyone subject to any other U.S. export restrictions. By downloading or using any software available on a Global Midwest Alliance Site or from a link to a Global Midwest Alliance Site, you agree to the foregoing and you warrant that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any such country on any such list, or otherwise in violation of U.S. export restrictions.

CHOICE OF LAW AND FORUM

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, United States of America. Actions brought under this Agreement shall be brought in the District of Columbia, provided that federal jurisdictional requirements are satisfied. Users of a Global Midwest Alliance Site agree and submit to the jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of litigating any claim or action related to this Agreement.

SEVERABILITY AND INTEGRATION

Unless otherwise specified herein or expressly stated on a relevant Global Midwest Alliance Site, these terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Global Midwest Alliance with respect to Global Midwest Alliance Sites and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals (whether oral, written, or electronic) between you and Global Midwest Alliance with respect to Global Midwest Alliance Sites. If any part of these Terms & Conditions or terms specific to a Global Midwest Alliance Site is held invalid or unenforceable, then the remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect.

The section titles in the Terms are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect.

TERMINATION

Global Midwest Alliance reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate your access to all Global Midwest Alliance Sites, a specific Global Midwest Alliance Site or an area of a Global Midwest Alliance Site immediately and without notice. If you have any problems with these Terms & Conditions or with a Global Midwest Alliance Site, your sole and exclusive remedy is to cease using the website(s).

SURVIVAL

In the event that your access terminates as provided herein or you cease using a Global Midwest Alliance Site(s), these Terms & Conditions shall survive.

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have any questions regarding these Terms & Conditions, or if you have any other questions regarding Global Midwest Alliance Sites, please send an e-mail to:

Webmaster

Global Midwest Alliance, LLC

1 North Wacker Drive, Suite 1700

Chicago, IL 60606

E-mail: [email protected]

LAST UPDATED

These Terms & Conditions were last updated on January 1, 2012.