Terms of Use

Last updated: April 2025

Welcome to Scorched Metal. These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of scorchedmetal.com and related services (collectively, the "Site") operated by Scorched Metal Media LLC ("Scorched Metal," "we," or "us"). By accessing or using the Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Site.

1. Acceptance of Terms

Your use of the Site constitutes acceptance of these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you are using the Site on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization.

2. Eligibility

The Site is intended for users who are at least 18 years old. If you are not of legal age in your jurisdiction, you may not use the Site.

3. Not Medical or Legal Advice

Content on the Site is for general informational purposes only. Nothing on the Site constitutes medical, psychological, or legal advice. Always seek qualified professionals for diagnosis, treatment, or legal counsel. If you are in crisis, contact local emergency services or a certified helpline.

4. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise noted, Scorched Metal and its licensors own all rights in the Site content, including text, graphics, logos, layouts, and software. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of the Site without prior written permission, except for temporary copies in your browser cache for personal, non-commercial viewing.

5. User Conduct

You agree not to misuse the Site, including by attempting to gain unauthorized access, introducing malware, scraping in a manner that degrades service, harassing our staff or contributors, or using automated systems in violation of our robots.txt. We may suspend or terminate access for violations.

6. Submissions

If you submit stories, tips, or other materials through forms or email, you grant us a non-exclusive license to review, edit, anonymize, and publish such materials as permitted by separate agreements or consent. You represent that you have rights to submit the materials and that they do not violate third-party rights.

7. Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, including helplines and advocacy organizations. We do not control and are not responsible for third-party content, policies, or practices. Your use of third-party sites is at your own risk.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Site is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of harmful components.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Scorched Metal and its directors, employees, and affiliates will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, data, goodwill, or other intangible losses, arising from your use of the Site. Our aggregate liability for any claim arising out of the Site will not exceed the greater of one hundred U.S. dollars or the amount you paid us, if any, in the twelve months preceding the claim.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Scorched Metal from claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from your use of the Site, your submissions, or your violation of these Terms.

11. Governing Law and Venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. You consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in King County, Washington, except where prohibited by law.

12. Changes

We may modify these Terms at any time. We will update the "Last updated" date. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. If you disagree with changes, stop using the Site.

13. Contact

For questions about these Terms, email hello@scorchedmetal.com.