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Terms of Use

Using PRSA.ORG Terms of Use (TOU) and Usage Policies as of May 2023

The Public Relations Society of America (“PRSA”, “we”, “our”) owns and operates multifaceted websites, including prsa.org and prssa.org that allow members and other interested parties to communicate with each other, view news and information, and purchase services.

By visiting and using our websites, you agree as a user to abide by the rules and conditions, or Terms of Use and Usage Policies (TOU and Usage Policies), we have established for our sites, which as a whole are presented below, where you will find everything you need to know about using our sites. We ask that you read all of the following thoroughly, as sites visitors and users are bound by the terms, guidelines and rules for the sites.

We welcome any questions you may have, which may be directed to helpdesk@prsa.org.

Section I. PRSA Websites – General Terms and Conditions

Acknowledgement and Acceptance of TOU and Usage Policies
Intellectual Property Rights
Acceptable Use of prsa.org
Restricted Access Portion of Websites
Disclaimer of Warranties and Liability
Links to Other Sites
Revisions and Changes to These Terms of Use and Usage Policies
Law and Jurisdiction

Section II. Blogs

Responsibility for Use
User Obligations
Right to Use
Postings
No Prescreening of Postings
Limitation of Liability

Section III. MyPRSA Online Discussion Forums

Fees and Payments
User Conduct
Software Licenses
Indemnifications
Termination

Section IV. PRSA Online Membership Directory

Section V. PRSA Website Widgets

Section I. PRSA Websites — General Terms and Conditions

1. Acknowledgement and Acceptance of TOU and Usage Policies

These Terms of Use and Usage Policies apply to the use of PRSA’s websites, including prsa.org and prssa.org. By using these sites, you agree to these Terms of Use and Usage Policies. The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) may change these Terms of Use and Usage Policies from time to time. By continuing to use prsa.org, you accept and agree to be bound by all changes.

Where it is necessary for you as a user to provide information about yourself, such as when registering to access restricted access portions of a site, or to post a comment on PRSA Blogs or MyPRSA Online Discussion Forums, you agree to (a) provide accurate, complete and current information as prompted by PRSA, including, without limitation, when providing information through the PRSA membership form or when creating a MyPRSA Online Discussion Forums account online, and (b) to notify PRSA of any change in or to such information, including, without limitation, your name, email address, street address, telephone number and billing information. If you fail to do so, we reserve the right to terminate your account. You must use your real name at all times when using PRSA Blogs, MyPRSA Online Discussion Forums, and when posting comments to articles.

These Terms of Use and Usage Policies in their completeness represent the entire agreement between you and us in relation to your use of our websites, although some of PRSA’s programs and activities may have terms of participation that are particular to those programs, for example, when you participate in PRSA’s Mentorship Program or serve as a volunteer on a PRSA committee.

2. Intellectual Property Rights

All copyright, trademarks and other intellectual property rights (registered and unregistered) in and on prsa.org, prssa.org or other PRSA website and all content (including any applications) located on these sites, shall remain the sole property of PRSA or its licensors. Unless otherwise agreed upon, if you submit content for publication on the PRSA websites, including comments or commentary for PRSA Blogs, MyPRSA Online Discussion Forums or comments posted to PRSA articles, you grant us a worldwide, royalty-free and nonexclusive license to reproduce, excerpt, adapt and publish the content.

Content on the PRSA websites may not be used in any commercial manner without the prior written consent of PRSA.

Unless you are the owner of the content, or have our permission, you must not reproduce, republish, duplicate, copy or otherwise exploit material on PRSA’s websites in any way except for your own personal, noncommercial use. You may also reproduce Web addresses for linking purposes.

For permission to reprint materials from PRSA’s websites, contact permissions@prsa.org.

3. Acceptable Use of PRSA websites

You agree to use PRSA’s websites only for lawful purposes, and in a way that does not infringe on the rights of, restrict or inhibit anyone else’s use of the sites.

You may not use the content PRSA websites for any marketing related purpose without our express written consent.

4. Restricted Access Portion of Websites

We have restricted access to certain areas of our websites, primarily to limit access to PRSA and PRSSA members only. We may, in the future, need to restrict access to additional parts (or all) of our websites and reserve full rights to do so. At this time, there is no additional and separate fee for access to restricted areas of PRSA websites, and unless otherwise granted, access is provided as long as your membership dues are paid current and up-to-date, and you are in compliance with the TOU and Usage Policies.

If we provide you with a username and password for you to access restricted areas of our websites, you must ensure that both your username and password are kept confidential, and you may not share your logon password and username with others. Materials, resources and information provided under restricted-access areas of our websites are made available solely for the use of our members and other designated users and may not be provided by you to parties not authorized by PRSA.

Our system is designed to detect potential unauthorized use, and we may suspend any account where violations of these Terms of Use and Usage Policies are suspected. We also reserve the right to disable your user account at our sole discretion without explanation.

5. Disclaimer of Warranties and Liability

The Public Relations Society of America websites are provided as is and as available, without warranty of any kind. The Public Relations Society of America expressly disclaims any and all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including, but not limited to:

Any warranties as to the availability, accuracy, completeness, currentness or reliability of the content available through the service, or the service itself.
Any warranties that the service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure or error free, or that software defects will be corrected.
Warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement.

You acknowledge and agree that any material and/or data downloaded or otherwise obtained through the use of PRSA websites is done at your own discretion and risk, and that you will be solely responsible for any damages to your computer system or loss of data that result from the download of such material and/or data.

No advice or information, whether oral or written, obtained by you from the PRSA websites, shall create any warranty not expressly made herein.

PRSA, its officers, directors, owners, agents and employees, shall not be liable to you or anyone else for any loss or injury resulting from use of PRSA websites, including, without limitation, when caused in whole or in part by contingencies beyond its control. In no event will PRSA, its officers, directors, owners, agents and employees, be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken by you in reliance on such content. Moreover, PRSA, its officers, directors, owners, agents and employees, shall not be liable to you or anyone else for any consequential, special, incidental, indirect or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages, resulting from the use or the inability to use the sites. You agree that the liability of PRSA, if any, arising out of any kind of legal claim (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) in any way connected with PRSA websites shall not exceed the amount you paid PRSA for the use of the websites.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so some of the above exclusions may not apply to you.

6. Links to Other Sites

PRSA, at its sole discretion, or other end users, may provide links to other sites on the World Wide Web for your convenience in locating related information, products and services. These sites have not necessarily been reviewed by PRSA and are maintained by third parties over which PRSA exercises no control. Accordingly, PRSA expressly disclaims any responsibility for the content, the materials, the accuracy of the information and/or quality of the products or services provided by, available through or advertised on these third party websites. Moreover, these links do not imply an endorsement by PRSA with respect to any third party or any website, or the products or services provided by any third party.

7. Revisions and Changes to These Terms of Use and Usage Policies

PRSA may change these terms from time to time, and so you should check these terms regularly. Your continued use of PRSA’s websites will be deemed acceptance of the updated or amended terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you should cease using our websites immediately.

If any of these terms are determined to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by reason of the laws of New York, then to the extent and within the jurisdiction in which that term is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, it shall be severed and deleted from these terms and the remaining terms shall survive and continue to be binding and enforceable.

8. Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms of Use and Usage Policies and all use of our websites is governed by the laws of New York. By using our websites and any information contained therein, the user submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state courts of New York County, New York, to resolve disputes of any kind arising out of the user’s reliance on the information on our websites, or any interaction with the sponsors involving said sites.
A printed version of these Terms of Use and Usage Policies and of any related notice given in electronic form shall be admissible in judicial or administrative proceedings based upon or relating to these Terms of Use and Usage Policies to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as other business documents and records originally generated and maintained in printed form.
You agree that any cause of action arising out of or related to the sites must commence within one (1) year after the cause of action arose; otherwise, such cause of action is permanently barred.

Section II. Blogs

When you access and/or use PRSA Blogs, you acknowledge that you have agreed to abide and be bound by the conditions set forth in the TOU and Usage Policies. PRSA reserves the right to alter PRSA Blogs and/or the TOU and Usage Policies without notice. Your continued use of PRSA Blogs, following any change(s), will be conclusively deemed as your acceptance of any change to PRSA Blogs and/or the TOU and Usage Policies. Please familiarize yourself with these TOU and Usage Policies and review them on a periodic basis.

1. Responsibility for Use

At all times, you agree to conduct your activities on PRSA Blogs in a professional, responsible and business-like manner, and in accordance with PRSA’s TOU and Usage Policies. Violation of these TOU and Usage Policies may entitle PRSA to additional legal remedies in addition to the remedies set forth within the TOU and Usage Policies themselves.

2. User Obligations

By installing, accessing or using PRSA Blogs, you represent that you are at least eighteen (18) years of age and will, at all times, provide true, accurate, current and complete information when submitting information or materials on PRSA Blogs. If you provide any false, inaccurate, untrue or incomplete information, PRSA reserves the right to terminate your access and use of PRSA Blogs and/or to remove any of your postings (as defined below) to PRSA Blogs. In addition, you agree to abide by all applicable local, state, national, and international laws and regulations with respect to your use of PRSA Blogs. You also acknowledge and agree that use of the Internet and PRSA Blogs is solely at your own risk. Accordingly, you should understand that the confidentiality of any communication or material transmitted to/from PRSA Blogs over the Internet or other global communication network cannot be guaranteed. Accordingly, PRSA is not responsible for the security of any information transmitted via the Internet, the accuracy of the information contained on PRSA Blogs or for the consequences of any reliance on such information. You must make your own determination as to these issues.

3. Right to Use

PRSA Blogs is provided by PRSA as a resource for you and to further the purposes of PRSA. Access to and use of PRSA Blogs is therefore limited to discussing matters related to or arising out of the public relations, communications and marketing industries/professions. You may print and download materials and information from this site solely in connection with your employment responsibilities and/or for personal use, provided that all hard copies contain all copyright and other applicable notices contained in such materials and information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may not modify, distribute, publish, remove or alter any proprietary notices or labels, transfer, exploit or otherwise use materials and information from this site in any manner not expressly permitted herein.

4. Postings

PRSA Blogs provides the opportunity to share knowledge and post other helpful or meaningful information. By submitting content or information of any type (postings) to PRSA Blogs, or by otherwise using PRSA Blogs to transmit or display a posting, you automatically grant PRSA a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive right and license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, transmit, perform and display such content or information (in whole or in part) worldwide, and/or to incorporate into other works in any form, media or technology now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in such content or information. You also acknowledge that such submissions are nonconfidential for all purposes. Moreover, you agree that you will not post or transmit any of the following materials on PRSA Blogs:

Anything that interferes with or disrupts PRSA Blogs or the operation thereof.
Statements or materials that defame, harass, abuse, stalk, threaten or in any way infringe on the rights of others.
Unauthorized copyrighted materials or any other materials that infringe on the intellectual property rights, trade secrets or privacy of another.
Statements or materials that violate other contractual or fiduciary rights, duties or agreements.
Statements or materials that encourage criminal conduct or that would give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any law or regulation in any jurisdiction.
Statements or materials that contains vulgar, obscene, profane or otherwise objectionable language or images that typically would not be considered socially or professionally responsible or appropriate in person.
Statements or materials that impersonate any other person or entity, whether actual or fictitious, including employees and representatives of PRSA.
Statements made anonymously or under a pseudonym.
Anything that violates the public or private rights of any other person.
Statements or materials that are off-topic, irrelevant or inappropriate for the purposes of PRSA Blog.
Statements or materials that constitute junk mail, spam or unauthorized advertising or promotional materials.
Files that contain malicious code, viruses, corrupted files or any other similar software or programs that may damage the operation of another’s computer, network or this site.

As PRSA Blogs is generally public, the user experience is enhanced if you use netiquette, are succinct and stay on topic, and respect others and their opinions. PRSA encourages open and sincere communication, but urges all users to remember that PRSA Blogs is intended to be a resource for all.

5. No Pre Screening of Postings

PRSA is not responsible for screening, policing, editing or monitoring your or another user’s postings and encourages all of its users to use reasonable discretion and caution in evaluating or reviewing any posting. Moreover, and except as provided below with respect to PRSA’s right and ability to delete or remove a posting (or any part thereof), PRSA does not endorse, oppose, or edit any opinion or information provided by you or another user, and does not make any representation with respect to, nor does it endorse the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other material displayed, uploaded or distributed by you or any other user. Nevertheless, PRSA reserves the right to delete or take other action with respect to postings (or parts thereof) that PRSA believes in good faith violate these Terms of Use and Usage Policies and/or are potentially unlawful, or are contrary to the stated purpose of PRSA Blogs. If you violate these Terms of Use and Usage Policies, PRSA may, in its sole discretion, delete the unacceptable content from your posting, remove or delete the posting in its entirety, issue you a warning and/or terminate your use of PRSA Blogs. Moreover, it is a policy of PRSA to take appropriate actions under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and other applicable intellectual property laws. If you become aware of postings that violate these rules regarding acceptable behavior or content, you may contact PRSA as identified below.

6. Limitation of Liability

In no event shall PRSA be liable for any indirect, punitive, incidental, special or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the use of PRSA Blogs, or with the delay or inability to use PRSA Blogs, or for any information, services, programs, products and materials available through or identified on PRSA Blogs, whether based in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise, even if you have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Section III. MyPRSA Online Discussion Forums

PRSA websites contain online discussion forums, currently in the form of MyPRSA Online Discussion Forums (MyPRSA Forums) which are presently offered as electronic message boards for the exchange of information and for discussion among the participants. Through MyPRSA Forums, participants gain access to the expertise, opinions and/or experience of other public relations professionals and communicators, with quick exchanges of information and contacts, as well as more in-depth discussions of topics.

As consideration for the access to and use of MyPRSA Forums and its message boards, you acknowledge and agree to comply with PRSA’s Terms of Use and Usage Policies. Please read them carefully as they set forth a legal agreement that becomes binding once you access, use, install or upload the MyPRSA Forums and/or any of its message boards:

Summary of Terms of Use and Usage Policies: In connection with your access and use of MyPRSA Forums’ message boards, you agree:

That you are above the legal age to enter into a legally enforceable contract.
Not to use MyPRSA Forums for illegal purposes or for the transmission of material that is unlawful, harassing, libelous, invasive of another’s privacy, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar, obscene, tortuous, improper or otherwise objectionable, or that infringes on or may infringe on the intellectual property or other rights of another.
Not to use MyPRSA Forums for the transmission of junk mail, spam, chain letters or unsolicited mass distribution of email.
Not to use the listserv for promotion of commercial products and services, or for solicitation of any kind.
That PRSA, in its sole discretion, may remove posts by you or terminate your access if it believes that you may have in any way violated the Terms of Use and Usage Policies.
That use of the MyPRSA Forums is for users authorized by PRSA, and you will not share your access information with parties not authorized by PRSA.

Please report any suspected violations or violations of the Terms of Use and Usage Policies to helpdesk@prsa.org.

1. Fees and Payments

At this time, there is no additional and separate fee for MyPRSA Forums. Unless otherwise granted, access is provided as long as your membership dues are paid current and up-to-date, and you are in compliance with PRSA’s Terms of Use and Usage Policies.

2. User Conduct

MyPRSA Forums includes information, views, opinions and recommendations of individuals and organizations of interest to the public relations community. Users’ activity in MyPRSA Forums must comply with the PRSA Code of Ethics, which may be found at www.prsa.org/AboutPRSA/Ethics/CodeEnglish/.

Users grant PRSA the no-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual right and license to use, display, reproduce, distribute, create derivative works of, and transmit the content and materials provided by users for use on MyPRSA Forums. PRSA assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, currency, completeness or usefulness of information in any material on MyPRSA Forums and it does not endorse any opinions or recommendations posted by subscribers. You should exercise discretion and skepticism before relying on information in messages, because it may be incorrect or misleading.

PRSA reserves the right to monitor or remove any information transmitted or received through MyPRSA Forums, or to terminate your access and use of MyPRSA Forums at any time, without notice, in our sole discretion. In order to assist PRSA with ensuring proper use of MyPRSA Forums, PRSA encourages users to bring suspected violations or violations of the Terms of Use and Usage Policies to PRSA’s attention. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you acknowledge that PRSA does not have any responsibility to police MyPRSA Forums. For purposes of illustration, the following actions, among others, may result in removal of messages and/or termination of your access.

Using MyPRSA Forums for illegal purposes or for the transmission of material that is unlawful, harassing, libelous, invasive of another’s privacy, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar, obscene, tortuous or otherwise objectionable.
Posting or transmitting third-party copyrighted information without the permission of the copyright owner or in any way infringing on the intellectual property rights, contractual or fiduciary rights of others.
Providing false information on your membership form or in your MyPRSA Forums profile, or impersonating someone else.
Using MyPRSA Forums for the transmission of junk mail, spam, chain letters or unsolicited mass distribution of email, or the transmission of harmful code, viruses or corrupted files.
Posting improper, commercial or off-topic messages.
Violating the letter or spirit of the Terms of Use and Usage Policies.

You agree that you are responsible for all statements made, and acts or omissions that occur, with your access. PRSA reserves the right to access and disclose any information, including user names of accounts and other information, to comply with applicable laws and lawful government requests, to operate its systems properly or to protect itself or its MyPRSA Forums.

3. Software Licenses

You have no rights to the proprietary software and related documentation, or any enhancements or modifications thereto, provided to you to access MyPRSA Forums or send messages to the discussion list. You may not sublicense, assign or transfer any licenses granted by PRSA, and any attempt at such sublicense, assignment or transfer is void. You may not copy, distribute, modify, reverse engineer or create derivative works from Access Software. You acknowledge and agree that PRSA and/or its licensors own all right, title, and interest in and to the software and related documentation, and any enhancements or modifications thereto, and that PRSA reserves all rights not expressly granted herein.

4. Indemnifications

You agree to indemnify and hold the Public Relations Society of America, its officers, directors, owners, agents and employees, harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of your use of the service, the violation of these Terms of Use and Usage Policies by you, or the infringement by you or other user of the service using your computer, of any intellectual property or other right of any person or entity. We reserve the right, at our own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you.

5. Termination

You agree that we may, in our sole discretion, terminate or suspend your access to all or part of MyPRSA Forums for any reason, including, without limitation, breach of the Terms of Use and Usage Policies or any subsequent modifications or attempted assignment of your account by you. Any suspected fraudulent, abusive or illegal activity may be grounds for termination of your account and may be referred to appropriate law enforcement authorities. The Public Relations Society of America shall not be liable to you or any third party for the termination of service or any claims related to the termination of MyPRSA Forums.

Should you object to any terms and conditions of these Terms of Use and Usage Policies or any subsequent changes to the terms and conditions, or become dissatisfied with MyPRSA Forums in any way, your only recourse is to immediately:

Discontinue use of the MyPRSA Forums.
Terminate MyPRSA Forums access.
Notify PRSA of termination by sending an email to helpdesk@prsa.org. Continued use of MyPRSA Forums is an acceptance of the Terms of Use and Usage Policies and all or any subsequent changes.

Section IV. PRSA Online Membership Directory

PRSA maintains an online membership directory exclusively for the personal, noncommercial use of PRSA members for their own information and informal communications. This means that PRSA members may use this contact information for networking and other purposes related to their own career development and advancement. The information may not be used for mass mailings, for purposes of solicitation, for the conduct of research, or for other such purposes that are not directly associated with a members’ career development.

Section V. PRSA Website Widgets

PRSA may make website Widgets available to display or solicit content on websites. By accessing and using any Widget (including copying any Widget html code), you agree to be bound by the following:

Widgets may only be displayed on websites owned and operated by PRSA or related entities, such as Chapters, Districts, affiliates and partners, and not in any other manner or in any other medium.
Widgets may not be modified. Without limitation, you may not change any code provided by PRSA, obscure or disable any element of any Widget, tag links to PRSA from the Widget with a “nofollow” attribute or otherwise prevent or discourage search engines from following or scoring link.
Widgets must be placed on a page that is context-appropriate to the content of the Widget.
Widgets may not be placed on any site that contains any content that is in any way unlawful, harmful, obscene, harassing, or racially, ethnically, or otherwise objectionable. Additionally, the Widget may not be placed on any site that, in the opinion of PRSA, disparages PRSA or its volunteers or members, infringes any PRSA intellectual property or other rights, or violates any applicable law.
PRSA grants you a non-transferable, non-exclusive, revocable right to download/display the Widget solely in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and solely in connection with the Widget, to use our logos, trademarks, trade names and other intellectual property contained in the Widget. This Agreement does not grant you any right in any code, content, logos or trademarks beyond the limited permission to display the Widget granted herein.
PRSA reserves the right at any time to terminate or modify your permission to display its Widgets. The Widgets are subject to change from time to time in our sole discretion. We may cease to return content from the Widget at any time at our sole discretion.
PRSA may periodically review how the Widget is being used to confirm compliance with this Agreement.
The Widget and any information, software, and related services are provided “as is” with no warranty, and PRSA expressly disclaims any warranties that may be expressed or implied by law regarding any Widget, including warranties of accuracy or non-infringement. Use of Widgets is at your own risk.
PRSA reserves the right to change this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time without notice, and you are responsible for regularly reviewing this Agreement. Your continued use of any Widget after the effective date of such changes will constitute acceptance of, and agreement to, any such changes.
Finally, PRSA does not generally provide support for compatibility of your website or of your visitors’ Web browsers with its Widgets. Some of our Widgets may use IFRAMEs, JavaScript, cookies or other technologies that may not be supported by every browser or by every Web service provider or content management platform, or that may be turned off by default or by users or system administrators.

We welcome any questions you may have, which may be directed to the help desk.