Terms of use - Southern Maryland Vanguard

Last Updated: April 15, 2026

Effective Date: April 15, 2026

Welcome to Southern Maryland Vanguard (“we,” “our,” or “us”). These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of our website located at www.southernmarylandvanguard.com (the “Website”), including any content, functionality, and services offered on or through the Website.

Please read these Terms carefully before using our Website. By accessing or using our Website, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use the Website.

1. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

By accessing and using this Website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and all applicable laws and regulations. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use this Website.

These Terms apply to all visitors, users, contributors, and others who access or use the Website.

2. ELIGIBILITY TO USE THE WEBSITE

2.1 Age Requirement

You must be at least thirteen (13) years of age to use this Website. By using this Website, you represent and warrant that you are at least 13 years old. If you are under the age of 18, you represent that your parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to these Terms on your behalf.

2.2 Legal Capacity

You must have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement. If you are using the Website on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

3. WEBSITE DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE

3.1 Mission Statement

Southern Maryland Vanguard is a digital news platform dedicated to serving the Black communities of Charles County, St. Mary’s County, and Calvert County in Southern Maryland. Our mission is to provide:

Accurate, timely, and relevant news coverage
Community-focused journalism that amplifies local voices
Investigative reporting on issues affecting our communities
Educational content that empowers readers
A platform for civil discourse and community engagement

3.2 Content Scope

Our Website features:

News articles and reports
Opinion pieces and editorials
Community event listings
Multimedia content (videos, photos, podcasts)
Newsletters and email subscriptions
Interactive features (comments, polls, forums)

4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

4.1 Ownership

All content on this Website, including but not limited to:

Text, articles, headlines, and stories
Photographs, graphics, images, videos, and audio
Logos, trademarks, and service marks (including “Southern Maryland Vanguard” and the shield logo)
Software, code, and website design
Layout, compilation, and arrangement of content

is the exclusive property of Southern Maryland Vanguard or our content providers and is protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

4.2 Copyright Notice

4.3 Restrictions on Use

You may NOT:

❌ Reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, or exploit any portion of the Website without express written permission
❌ Modify, adapt, translate, or create derivative works from our content
❌ Remove, obscure, or alter any copyright, trademark, or proprietary notices
❌ Use automated systems (bots, scrapers, spiders) to access or collect data
❌ Frame or embed our content on other websites without permission
❌ Use our content for commercial purposes without authorization
❌ Reverse engineer or attempt to extract source code from the Website

4.4 Permitted Uses

You MAY:

✅ View and read content for personal, non-commercial informational purposes
✅ Share links to our articles via social media or email
✅ Print or download single copies of articles for personal use
✅ Quote brief excerpts (up to 100 words) with proper attribution and link back
✅ Share our content on social media platforms using official sharing buttons

4.5 Fair Use

Nothing in these Terms limits your rights under the “fair use” provisions of applicable copyright law for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

5. USER-GENERATED CONTENT AND COMMENTS

5.1 Comment Policy

We value community engagement and encourage thoughtful discussion through comments on our articles. By posting comments or other user-generated content (“UGC”), you grant us the following:

License Grant:

You hereby grant Southern Maryland Vanguard a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, display, distribute, and create derivative works from your UGC in connection with operating and promoting the Website.

Representation and Warranty:

You represent and warrant that:

You own or control all rights to your UGC
Your UGC is accurate, truthful, and not misleading
Your UGC does not violate any third-party rights
Your UGC complies with these Terms and applicable laws
You have obtained consent from any individuals identifiable in your UGC

5.2 Community Guidelines – Prohibited Content

We maintain a safe, respectful, and inclusive community environment. The following content is strictly prohibited:

🚫 Hate Speech: Content that promotes violence, discrimination, or hatred against individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics

🚫 Harassment and Bullying: Personal attacks, threats, intimidation, or repeated unwanted contact targeting individuals

🚫 Defamation: False statements that harm the reputation of individuals or organizations

🚫 Spam and Self-Promotion: Repetitive, irrelevant, or commercial content designed to drive traffic elsewhere

🚫 Misinformation: Deliberate spreading of false information presented as fact

🚫 Inappropriate Content: Obscene, pornographic, violent, or otherwise offensive material

🚫 Personal Information: Posting private personal information about others (“doxxing”)

🚫 Impersonation: Pretending to be another person, organization, or entity

🚫 Illegal Activity: Content that promotes or facilitates illegal acts

🚫 Copyright Infringement: Posting content you don’t have rights to

5.3 Moderation Rights

We reserve the right to:

Review, edit, or remove any UGC at our sole discretion
Disable commenting privileges for users who violate these guidelines
Report illegal activity to law enforcement authorities
Ban users who repeatedly violate our community standards

We are not obligated to:

Monitor or pre-screen all UGC before publication
Remove content immediately upon request (unless legally required)
Explain specific moderation decisions

5.4 Reporting Violations

If you encounter content that violates these guidelines, please report it by:

Clicking the “Report” button next to the comment/content
Emailing us at moderation@southernmarylandvanguard.com

6. NEWSLETTER AND EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS

6.1 Subscription

By subscribing to our newsletter(s), you consent to receive periodic emails containing:

Latest news and updates
Featured articles and exclusive content
Community event announcements
Promotional materials from our partners (with opt-out option)

6.2 Consent

You provide explicit consent to receive marketing emails when you:

Enter your email address in our subscription form
Check the box agreeing to receive communications
Do not unsubscribe after receiving initial communications

6.3 Unsubscribe

You may opt out of marketing emails at any time by:

Clicking the “Unsubscribe” link in any email
Updating your preferences in your account settings
Contacting us directly

Note: Transactional emails (account updates, security alerts) cannot be unsubscribed from.

7. USER ACCOUNTS AND REGISTRATION

7.1 Account Creation

Certain features of the Website may require you to create an account. When creating an account, you must:

Provide accurate, current, and complete information
Choose a strong password and keep it confidential
Update your information promptly if it changes
Maintain one account per person

7.2 Account Security

You are responsible for:

All activities that occur under your account
Maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials
Immediately notifying us of any unauthorized use of your account
Ensuring you log out from shared devices

7.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to:

Suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms
Delete account content upon termination
Block IP addresses associated with abusive behavior
Refuse service to anyone for any reason (at our discretion)

8. THIRD-PARTY LINKS AND CONTENT

8.1 External Links

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites, resources, or advertisers. We:

Do not endorse or assume responsibility for external content
Are not liable for the accuracy, legality, or practices of linked sites
Provide links for convenience only

You access third-party sites at your own risk.

8.2 Advertisements

The Website may display advertisements from third-party advertisers. We:

Are not responsible for ad content, products, or services
May receive compensation for displaying ads
Encourage you to review advertiser privacy policies before engaging

8.3 Social Media Integration

Features allowing you to share content via social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, etc.) are subject to those platforms’ respective terms of service and privacy policies.

9. DISCLAIMERS AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY

9.1 No Professional Advice

Content on this Website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute:

Professional advice (legal, medical, financial, etc.)
An attorney-client, doctor-patient, or similar relationship
A substitute for consultation with qualified professionals

Always seek appropriate professional advice for your specific situation.

9.2 Accuracy of Information

While we strive for accuracy and thoroughness in our journalism:

We make no warranties or representations about the completeness, reliability, or accuracy of content
Information may contain errors or become outdated
We are not obligated to update content after publication
Opinions expressed by columnists and commentators are their own

9.3 “As-Is” Disclaimer

THE WEBSITE AND ALL CONTENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
NON-INFRINGEMENT
ACCURACY
UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OPERATION

9.4 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

Southern Maryland Vanguard shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
Our total liability for any claims arising from these Terms or Website use shall not exceed $100 USD
We are not liable for:
- Loss of data, profits, or business opportunities
- Personal injury or property damage
- Unauthorized access to your data
- Malware, viruses, or other harmful code
- Service interruptions or failures

Some jurisdictions do not allow exclusion of certain warranties or limitations of liability, so the above limitations may not fully apply to you.

10. INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Southern Maryland Vanguard, its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, and suppliers from and against:

Any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses
Arising from your:
- Use of or access to the Website
- Violation of these Terms
- Violation of any third-party rights
- User-generated content you post

This obligation survives termination of these Terms.

11. PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference, to understand:

What personal information we collect
How we use and share your data
Your choices regarding your information
How we protect your data
Your rights under GDPR/CCPA (if applicable)

By using this Website, you consent to the data practices described in our Privacy Policy.

12. DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT (DMCA)

12.1 Copyright Infringement Claims

If you believe that any content on our Website infringes your copyright, please send a DMCA takedown notice to:

Designated Copyright Agent:
Southern Maryland Vanguard
Attn: Legal Department / DMCA Notices
P.O. Box 1234
Waldorf, MD 20601
Email: copyright@southernmarylandvanguard.com

12.2 DMCA Notice Requirements

Your notice must include:

Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed
Identification of the infringing material (with sufficient detail for us to locate it)
Your contact information (address, phone number, email)
A statement that you have a good faith belief that the use is not authorized
A statement under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized agent
Your physical or electronic signature

12.3 Counter-Notification

If you believe content was removed or disabled due to mistake or misidentification, you may file a counter-notification following DMCA procedures.

13. MODIFICATIONS TO TERMS AND WEBSITE

13.1 Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify or replace these Terms at any time. Material changes will be indicated by revising the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.

Continued use of the Website after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

13.2 Changes to Website

We may:

Update, modify, discontinue, or remove any feature or content
Temporarily or permanently suspend the Website for maintenance or other reasons
Change pricing (for paid services) with reasonable notice

We are not liable for any modification, suspension, or discontinuance of the Website.

14. TERMINATION

14.1 By You

You may stop using the Website at any time by:

Ceasing to visit the Website
Closing your account (if applicable)
Unsubscribing from communications

14.2 By Us

We may terminate or suspend your access immediately, without prior notice, for:

Violation of these Terms
Conduct we determine to be harmful to other users, us, or third parties
Legal requirements or government requests
Extended periods of account inactivity
Business or operational reasons

Termination provisions survive indefinitely.

15. GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

15.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

15.2 Jurisdiction

Any disputes arising from these Terms or Website use shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Charles County, Maryland. You consent to personal jurisdiction in these courts and waive objections to venue.

15.3 Arbitration (Optional)

For certain disputes, we may require binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under their Consumer Arbitration Rules. Details would be specified in separate arbitration agreements.

15.4 Class Action Waiver

You agree to resolve disputes individually and waive any right to participate in a class action, class arbitration, or representative proceeding.

16. SEVERABILITY

If any provision of these Terms is held to be unenforceable or invalid, such provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, or if modification is not possible, severed from these Terms. The remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

17. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Southern Maryland Vanguard regarding your use of the Website and supersede all prior agreements, representations, and understandings.

18. CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions, concerns, or notifications regarding these Terms:

Southern Maryland Vanguard
Legal & Compliance Department

📧 General Inquiries:
legal@southernmarylandvanguard.com

📧 DMCA Copyright Notices:
copyright@southernmarylandvanguard.com

📧 User Content Moderation:
moderation@southernmarylandvanguard.com

📞 Phone: (301) 555-VANG (8264)

📍 Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1234
Waldorf, MD 20601
United States

Please allow 3-5 business days for responses to formal inquiries.

19. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR SPECIFIC JURISDICTIONS

19.1 European Union (EU) Users

If you are accessing the Website from the European Union, you benefit from GDPR protections as detailed in our Privacy Policy, including:

Right to access your personal data
Right to rectification
Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”)
Right to restrict processing
Right to data portability
Right to object to processing

19.2 California Residents

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as described in our Privacy Policy, including:

Right to know what personal information is collected
Right to delete personal information
Right to opt-out of sale of personal information
Non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

19.3 Other Jurisdictions

Users in other countries should be aware that:

Data may be transferred to and processed in the United States
Local laws may provide additional protections
You are responsible for compliance with your local laws

20. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR NEWS ORGANIZATIONS

20.1 Journalistic Protections

As a news organization, we assert protections under:

First Amendment (freedom of speech and press)
Maryland Shield Law (protection of confidential sources)
Reporter’s Privilege (where applicable)

20.2 Source Protection

We will not disclose confidential sources unless:

Required by court order after exhausting all appeals
The source consents to disclosure
There is imminent threat of harm or death

20.3 Corrections Policy

When we publish factual errors:

We will issue prompt corrections with transparency
Corrections will be clearly marked on the original article
Significant corrections will be noted prominently
We welcome reader feedback on accuracy

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

BY USING THIS WEBSITE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS OF USE.

This document was last reviewed and updated on April 15, 2026.

Southern Maryland Vanguard reserves all rights not expressly granted in these Terms.

Thank you for being part of the Southern Maryland Vanguard community!

Empowering Our Community Through Truthful Journalism ✊🏾

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