Terms of Use

Please read all the terms and conditions of this agreement with the Project Echo Research Team (“PERT”) carefully.  By clicking “I agree”, by using the Project Echo (“PE”), or by signing a document that refers to these terms you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this agreement, even if you have not read them.  It is important to read this entire agreement.  In particular, it contains provisions that may limit your rights, such as the section entitled Limitations.

Intellectual Property

Copyright © 2020Project Echo Research Team.  All rights reserved. The contents of the Project Echo website (the “Website”) are owned by and copyrighted by the PERT and may contain trademarks of PERT and others.  You may print, copy or save portions for your own use only - provided that all copyright and trademark provisions remain intact.

Unauthorized use of any portion beyond that contained in the previous paragraph may violate copyright, trademark and other laws.

While the PERT uses reasonable efforts to maintain the Website in an up-to-date fashion, it does not warrant the completeness, timeliness or accuracy of any information contained on the Website and may make changes thereto at any time in its sole discretion without notice.  All information contained herein is provided to users “as is”, “with all faults,” “as available” and at your sole risk.

How Project Echo works

Project Echo represents an accessible web-based forum for conducting asynchronous focus group discussions - in a chat room format. This content management system and research database is a custom-built digital platform designed to capture the online discourse and written narratives of community members. 

To use the Website, users must create a User ID.  User IDs are available to any registrant as defined by the Project Echo Research Team and detailed in the Letter of Information (Pdf. LINK). Registrants must be at least 13 years old to obtain a User ID and to participate in PE discussion forums.

Users may list services they provide or are seeking on the Website.  All information the user places on the Website (other than passwords) is public for all other PE users to see.

The PE acts as a listing service to connect people with similar perspectives concerning Parasport, disability and the hosting impacts of major Parasport Games. The PERT will review, vet, and qualify individuals using the Website, specifically in the data analysis phase. The PERT may, at its discretion, remove users from the Website if it becomes aware that the user is violating this agreement, or for inappropriate use.

Users must contact each other directly using the information users post on the Website about themselves. The PERT will prompt discussion forum participants by introducing a weekly topic question designed to stimulate discussion. The PERT will not actively participate in communication between users, but merely promote and prompt movement on a discussion thread.

The PERT engages Western University student known as “PERT Admin”, who are subject to this agreement the same as any user.  The role of PERT Admin is to promote the Website and assist users and potential users with the use of the Website.

User Responsibilities

Users are responsible for all activities they conduct while using the Website, and for all services provided by or to users.  You will not use the Website for purposes proscribed by the PE from time to time, including without limitation: illegal or inappropriate purposes; sending spam; perpetration of security breaches; hacking; privacy breaches; fraudulent activity; distribution of viruses or other harmful code; transmission, distribution or storage of any material protected by copyright, trademark, trade secret or other intellectual property right without proper authorization or rights, or material that is infringing, obscene, defamatory, fraudulent, untruthful, disrespectful, discriminatory, or abusive; any unauthorized access, alteration, theft, corruption or destruction of files, data, transmission facilities or equipment; or to interfere with any other person’s use and enjoyment of the Website.  If you are posting information on publicly accessible areas of the Website, keep in mind that anyone can see it.
The PERT does routinely monitor all material placed on the Website, but may in its discretion delete or modify any material offending this agreement that comes to its attention. The PERT is not responsible for and does not endorse anything users post on the Website.

The PERT acquires no ownership interest in anything you post on the Website.  By actively participating in the discussion forums, you consent to the PERT to use and display for the purposes of the Website, and any related uses or promotion, anything you post on publicly accessible areas of the Website at no cost to the PERT.

Infringing content

If you believe that anything posted on the Website offends your copyright or other intellectual property rights, is defamatory, or otherwise infringes your rights, you may email the PERT at the email address at the bottom hereof.  We will take actions we believe are appropriate in the circumstances.

Logon ID’s and Passwords

Use of the Website requires a logon ID and password.  It is your responsibility to protect that information, including without limitation, to use effective passwords that are not easily guessed or discoverable, and keep logon ID’s and passwords confidential.  You are responsible for any activity that occurs under your logon ID.  You will advise the PE immediately if you discover any compromise of your passwords or suspect unauthorized use of the Website using your identity.

Limitations

PERT (which for the purposes of this section includes Ontario SEO Inc and, Western University Project Echo Research Team members, and their respective officers, directors, agents, employees, and volunteers) has no responsibility of any kind for the services, actions, or inactions of users (whether they are service providers or consumers) other than as explicitly stated in this agreement.  PE is merely a discussion forum.  PERT has no responsibility of any kind for anything users may or may not do, or for any physical, monetary, or other injury that a user may incur in any way.

All promises made by the PERT are contained in this agreement.  No promises implied by law (whether described as warranties, conditions, representations, or otherwise, and whether relating to merchantability, fitness, non-infringement, or otherwise) apply.

You cannot collect any damages from the PERT for any reason (whether under legal theories of contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, operation of law or otherwise) no matter whether they are characterized as direct damages or otherwise.

The PERT is not acting as any kind of guarantor or warranty provider for any services performed by users.  The PERT relies on these limitations when entering this agreement and setting its fees.  They are a fundamental and essential part of our arrangement and apply even if this agreement has failed in its fundamental or essential purpose or been fundamentally breached.

Indemnification

Users will indemnify and hold harmless the PERT and any affiliates (including without limitation Western University and Ontario SEO Inc.) and our and their respective officers, directors, agents, employees, and volunteers, from any claims made by any third party, together with any amounts payable to the third party whether in settlement or as may otherwise be awarded, and reasonable legal costs, arising from or relating to your use of the Website, any alleged violation by you of the applicable terms, and any alleged violation by you of any applicable law or regulation.  The PERT may, at our own expense, assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by a user, but doing so will not excuse your indemnity obligations.

Governing Law

This Website is governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario excluding any conflicts of law provisions and excluding the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.  Any legal action against the PERT shall take place in the courts of Ontario.  The parties attorn to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario.

Privacy

Please see our Privacy Policy.

Sale Details

Goods and services performed by or sold between users are transacted outside of the Website without any involvement by the PERT.

Changing These Terms

The PERT may change these terms by posting a notice on the Website.  These terms were last revised on September 18th, 2019.

Contact the Project Echo Research Team

Please feel free to contact Principal Investigator Dr. Laura Misener (Canada) at 1-519-661-2111 ext. 86000 or by email at lmisene@uwo.ca; or Dr. Gayle McPherson (Scotland) at Tel: 0141 848 3233 or by email at gayle.mcpherson@uws.ac.uk