Terms of Service

Section 01

Introduction and Agreement to Terms

Welcome to Hatch Social ("Hatch", "we", "our", or "us"), a membership-based digital platform designed to support interest-driven creators, brands, and communities. Hatch provides users with tools to launch and manage subscription-based communities ("Nests"), post content publicly or privately, engage with interest-aligned groups, and generate income based on roles, access tiers, and curated interests.

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Hatch. By accessing or using the Hatch platform (the "Service"), you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms, along with our:

• Privacy Policy
• User-Generated Content (UGC) Moderation Policy
• Copyright and DMCA Takedown Policy
• Platform-to-Business (P2B) Terms (for EU/UK compliance)
• Complaints and Appeals Process
• Acceptable Use Policy

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use Hatch. You are responsible for reviewing and understanding these Terms before engaging with the platform in any capacity.

We may update these Terms periodically. Continued use of Hatch after any update constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. We encourage you to review this page regularly.

Section 02

Account Registration and Role Definitions

To access Hatch, you must register an account and select a membership tier. You must be at least 16 years of age to use Hatch. In jurisdictions where the minimum age for digital services is higher (including 18 in some regions), that higher age applies. You may not use Hatch if you are under the applicable minimum age in your jurisdiction or if you have been previously removed or banned by us.

Hatch supports multiple roles and profile types, which reflect the diverse ways users engage with content and community.

Each account may contain multiple profiles to reflect your different roles or interests (e.g., creator, business, moderator). You are responsible for maintaining your login credentials and ensuring that your account activity complies with these Terms.

Accounts that violate our policies, impersonate others, or misrepresent their role may be suspended or terminated.

Section 03

Acceptable Use Policy

Hatch is committed to creating a secure, respectful, and lawful environment. By using the platform, you agree not to engage in behavior that violates our Acceptable Use Policy.

You may not use Hatch to:

• Post, upload, or transmit illegal, exploitative, or hateful content
• Promote violence, discrimination, or harassment against individuals or groups
• Share or distribute non-consensual imagery or personally identifiable information
• Impersonate Hatch, its team, or other users
• Use bots, scrapers, or automated tools to collect data or interact with the platform
• Circumvent role-based access, payment systems, or creator monetization
• Host or facilitate transactions involving prohibited goods or services
• Interfere with platform infrastructure, networks, or moderation tools
• Operate multiple accounts for fraudulent purposes

We reserve the right to immediately suspend or terminate accounts found in violation of this policy and to report illegal activity to appropriate authorities.

Section 04

User Content and Licensing

As a user, you may upload, post, livestream, sell, or otherwise distribute user-generated content ("UGC") through the platform. You retain full ownership of your content. Hatch does not claim ownership of any original work submitted by users.

However, by uploading or sharing content through Hatch, you grant us a limited, royalty-free, worldwide license to:

• Display and distribute your content within the Hatch platform and Nests
• Host and transmit content as necessary for platform functionality
• Use anonymized or aggregate representations of public content to improve services

You are solely responsible for the content you submit, including ensuring that it does not infringe upon copyright, violate laws, or breach privacy rights.

Section 05

Fees, Payments, and Taxes

Hatch operates on a paid membership and revenue-share model. Fees are required for access to creator tools, launching paid Nests, or participating in monetization.

Additional fees may apply for payment processing, Nest upgrades, advanced tools, or add-ons. All fees are clearly stated at checkout.

Taxes and Withholding:

• You are responsible for paying any VAT, GST, or income taxes required in your jurisdiction
• Hatch may withhold taxes or file required reports if mandated by law
• Stripe Connect or other payment processors may require identity verification before payouts

Section 06

Refunds, Cancellations, and Disputes

All purchases on Hatch are governed by a no-refund policy unless required by applicable consumer protection laws.

Cancellations: You may cancel your membership, Nest subscription, or service at any time from your account dashboard. Upon cancellation, your access to paid features will continue until the end of the billing period. No partial refunds are issued for unused time.

Disputes: If you believe a charge was made in error, you must notify us within 14 days by submitting a billing support ticket. Chargebacks or payment reversals initiated without contacting Hatch may result in account suspension or denial of future monetization privileges.

Refunds are only considered under the following circumstances:

• Duplicate charges
• Unauthorized payments proven not to originate from your account
• Statutory cooling-off periods applicable in your jurisdiction (e.g., EU 14-day rule)

Section 07

Subscription Services and Paid Nests

Creators and brands on Hatch may launch subscription-based Nests that offer exclusive content, livestreams, product access, and community engagement.

In-App Purchases: Where you purchase a membership, Nest subscription, or any other paid feature through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, that transaction is governed by Apple's or Google's applicable terms and their refund policies apply. Hatch's standard refund policy applies to purchases made directly through the Hatch website or app outside of Apple/Google billing systems.

Subscriber Responsibilities: When subscribing to a Nest, you agree to pay the recurring fee displayed at checkout, manage your own subscription settings, and abide by the community guidelines and Nest rules set by the creator.

Creator Obligations: Nest owners are responsible for delivering the promised content or access for the subscription tier, moderating their Nest and enforcing rules fairly, and honoring any promotional or bonus offerings. Creators who fail to maintain their subscriptions in good faith may have their monetization privileges revoked.

Section 08

Revenue, Payouts, and Platform Fees

When a fan subscribes to a Creator's Nest, a contractual relationship is established between the fan (subscriber), the creator (Nest owner), and Hatch (platform intermediary).

Revenue is calculated net of processing fees and taxes. Hatch disburses payouts to creators via Stripe Connect or other authorized providers on a monthly basis, by the 15th of the month following the month in which revenue was earned.

All users agree not to circumvent the payment system by taking payments off-platform.

Section 09

Data Protection and Privacy

Hatch is committed to protecting your data and complying with international privacy standards including GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable laws.

Key Practices:

• We collect only the data necessary to operate and improve the platform
• We do not sell your data to third parties
• We use encryption and secure processing practices
• You may request access, correction, or deletion of your data at any time

Your data may be processed in countries outside your residence. We ensure that such transfers are lawful, using standard contractual clauses or other appropriate safeguards. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.

Section 10

Content Moderation and Community Standards

Hatch empowers creators and Nest owners to manage their communities through self-governance, moderation roles, and interest-based rules. However, all content across the platform must comply with Hatch's global community standards.

Moderation actions may be appealed through the Complaints and Appeals Process.

Section 11

Copyright and IP Infringement (DMCA)

Hatch respects intellectual property rights and complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and global copyright standards.

To report copyright infringement, submit a written notice including:

• Your full legal name and contact information
• A description of the copyrighted work allegedly infringed
• A direct link (URL) to the infringing content
• A statement of good-faith belief the use is unauthorized
• A sworn statement under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate
• Your physical or digital signature

Counter-Notices: If you believe your content was removed in error, you may submit a counter-notification with identification of the material, a good-faith statement, your contact details, and your signature.

Section 12

Account Suspension, Termination, and Appeals

Hatch may suspend or terminate accounts at its sole discretion, especially for violations of these Terms or any of our platform policies.

Reasons for Suspension or Termination:

• Violating the Acceptable Use Policy
• Repeated DMCA takedown notices or copyright violations
• Fraudulent payment behavior or chargebacks
• Abusive behavior toward other users or Hatch staff
• Attempts to circumvent monetization systems
• Legal or regulatory requests requiring account limitation

If you believe an action was taken in error, you may file an appeal through our Complaints and Appeals Process. Users found evading bans through alternate accounts may be permanently banned without appeal.

Section 13

Platform Availability and Technical Issues

Hatch is provided "as is" and "as available." While we strive to maintain uninterrupted service, we do not guarantee availability or performance at all times. We may experience downtime due to maintenance, upgrades, outages, force majeure events, or malicious attacks.

We are not liable for any losses incurred due to temporary unavailability, latency, or technical issues. We reserve the right to modify, add, or remove features at any time without prior notice.

Section 14

Third-Party Services and Links

Hatch may contain links to or integrate with third-party websites, products, and services including Stripe Connect and other payment processors, embedded content, and external links shared by creators or Nests.

We do not endorse or assume responsibility for third-party services or content. Use of third-party services is governed by their own terms and privacy policies. You interact with third-party tools at your own risk.

Section 15

Limitation of Liability and Warranty Disclaimer

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Hatch disclaims all warranties, express or implied, related to the Service. We do not guarantee that the platform will be free of errors or security vulnerabilities, that all content will meet user expectations, or that creator earnings will meet projections.

Hatch is not liable for lost revenue, profits, or data; damages from suspension or account removal; issues caused by third-party integrations; or unauthorized access to your account or content.

Our total liability is limited to the amount you paid Hatch in the 3 months preceding the claim. Some jurisdictions do not allow these limitations — if that applies to you, our liability is limited to the minimum extent required by law.

Section 16

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Hatch, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, partners, licensors, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses arising out of or relating to your use or misuse of the platform, your violation of these Terms, your violation of any rights of another person or entity, content you upload or transmit via Hatch, or your failure to comply with applicable laws or tax obligations.

Section 17

Complaints Policy

If you have a complaint about a decision made by Hatch — including moderation, payment issues, or account status — you may file a formal complaint using our internal resolution process.

Internal Complaints Process:

• Submit a written complaint to [email protected]
• Include your full name, account email, nature of the complaint, and any supporting documentation
• Hatch will acknowledge receipt within 5 business days and aim to resolve within 14 business days

Escalation (EU/UK only): If you are a business user located in the EU or UK, and your complaint relates to platform access, monetization, or ranking, you may refer unresolved disputes to a certified out-of-court dispute settlement body per Platform-to-Business (P2B) Regulation.

Section 18

Platform-to-Business (P2B) Statement — EU/UK

Hatch complies with EU and UK regulations related to transparency, ranking, complaint handling, and fair commercial terms between platforms and business users.

If you are a business user located in the EU or UK:

• You will receive clear terms defining ranking algorithms, fee structures, and complaint channels
• You are entitled to at least 15 days' advance notice of material changes to these Terms
• You have access to a clear and accessible internal complaints process
• You may request platform performance metrics or ranking explanations where feasible
• You may participate in certified third-party dispute resolution if internal escalation fails

Section 19

Governing Law and Final Provisions

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. You agree to submit to the jurisdiction of courts located in Colorado, USA, unless otherwise required by law.

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Hatch with respect to the Service. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining Terms will remain in full force.