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Membership TermsTerms and Conditions

TERMS

These Signs I/O Membership Terms and Conditions (these “Terms and Conditions”) specify the terms of use and other terms and conditions for each service provided for the Members (the “Service”) on the Signs I/O website (the “Website”) which is operated by General Incorporated Association Shikaku (“us”).

These Terms and Conditions will apply to any and all agreements between all users, who register with the Service as a member (“you” or “Member”), and us. If you are a minor, you will use the Service with the consent of your parent or guardian.

Chapter 1 General Provisions and Service
Article 1. Consent to these Terms and Conditions and Prevailing Provisions

  1. You agree to accept all the provisions of these Terms and Conditions and the Signs I/O’s Site Policies (the “Site Policies”) on the Website before using the Service.
  2. In the event of any discrepancy between the guidelines and other rules provided by us at the time of provision of the Service and these Terms and Conditions, the provisions of these Terms and Conditions will prevail.
  3. Any and all terms used with respect to the Service including “sign language,” “instructor,” “natural approach” and “language” will be interpreted based on the definitions developed by us. Any term other than those defined by us will be interpreted in accordance with these Terms and Conditions, the Site Policies or the laws of Japan.

Article 2. Details of Service and Acknowledgement

  1. We will provide you with services related to sign language and learning of sign language through the Service. The primary services are as follows:
  1. provision of video seminars for learning sign language;
  2. provision of educational materials for learning sign language;
  3. provision of proficiency tests and other tests related to sign language; and
  4. provision of events, seminars and other activities related to sign language.
  1. We reserve the right to set service charges and other terms and conditions when providing the services listed in the preceding paragraph. For clarity, the Service provided with charge is called the “Paid Service,“ and the Members who use such Paid Service are called the “Paid Members.”
  2. We reserve the right to set restrictions and other controls on the services available to the Members who use the Service free of charge, and such Members agree to such restrictions and other controls in advance.
  3. We reserve the right to add new services to the Service or change or delete the Service without notifying you in advance.
  4. You understand in advance that the know-how provided through the Service may have different effectiveness, feasibility and other benefits from person to person. For clarity, we make no warranty or other assurance regarding whether or not your sign language ability, skills and other qualities definitely improve even if we provide you with the know-how of learning sign language and other know-how.
  5. You acknowledge in advance that any problem or other issue may occur due to the Internet connection, connection speed, performance of a personal computer used for the Service or other factors when accessing the Website or videos, taking a proficiency test or otherwise using the Service. We make no warranty or other assurance even if you cannot use the Service as expected due to any cause not attributable to us.

Article 3. of Ownership of Copyrights, Intellectual Property Rights and Other Rights, and Rights Allowed to You

  1. Any and all rights including utility model rights in or to the know-how related to sign language and method of learning sign language provided for you through the Service (the “Know-how”), copyrights in or to the materials and other resources as well as other intellectual property rights will belong to us, or our instructors or business partners.
  2. You are allowed to use the Know-how as well as the intellectual property rights and other rights specified in the preceding paragraph to the extent that you use the intellectual property rights and other rights for learning sign language by yourself, improving your sign language skills and personal use.
  3. We will retain any and all rights other than those you are allowed to use under these Terms and Conditions. You agree not to infringe intellectual property rights of ours, or our instructors or business partners.
  4. You agree not to do any of the following acts against any and all data, text, materials, videos, images or other content related to the Know-how provided through the Service even for the purposes specified in Article 3.2:
  1. reprinting or uploading all or part of such content on websites, blogs, Facebook pages or other online sources (including citation);
  2. creating new know-how and selling or distributing such know-how to a third party;
  3. creating digital copies;
  4. printing or otherwise copying text, materials or other content far beyond personal use or distributing such reprinted or copied content to a third party; or
  5. any and all other acts that infringe the intellectual property rights or other rights owned by us, or our instructors or business partners.
  1. We reserve the right to take actions permitted under the Patent Act, Utility Model Act, Trademark Act, Copyright Act or other laws or regulations of Japan (i.e., warning, legal proceedings, claim for damages, injunction and claim for measures including measures to restore honor) and actions specified in Article 12 against any Member who breaches the provisions of this Article.
  2. Any Member who breaches this Article will be obligated to compensate for any and all damage caused as a result of such breach and to indemnify and hold us harmless from and against such damage in all respects.

Article 4. Terms of Use of Website and Service, and Prohibitions

  1. You will be solely responsible for your use of the Website and the Service.
  2. You are allowed to use the Service only for the purposes specified in Article 3.2. You agree not to do any of the following acts when using the Service:
  1. video recording or audio recording the videos or other content provided through the Service, or distributing such recorded content by using Ustream, Podcast or other streaming services;
  2. allowing a third party to access the videos or other content provided through the Service or to be present during a proficiency test or other assessment;
  3. using a login ID, password or other account information in an unauthorized way for logging into the Service;
  4. an act that breaches or is likely to breach Article 2.1 of the Site Policies;
  5. an act that violates or is likely to violate the laws and regulations, or act that is or is likely to be contrary to the public policy;
  6. allowing a third party to use the Service (including assignment of an account after registration), or act of using the Service for a third party;
  7. providing false information when sending information; or
  8. any other act that interferes with the operation of the Service or causes any damage to us.
  1. You agree to assume any and all legal responsibilities and liabilities for any damage caused to us or a third party as a result of any act that breaches the preceding paragraph or other breach of these Terms and Conditions and to indemnify and hold us harmless from and against such damage in all respects even after you lose the membership.
  2. You must use the Service by using a personal computer, tablet, smartphone, operating system, browser, communication device or other equipment which satisfies the technical requirements recommended by us (the “Technical Requirements”). For clarity, you must prepare a device and other equipment, which satisfies the Technical Requirements, at your own risk and cost.
  3. You agree to assume the obligation to compensate for any and all damage caused to us, our instructors, any other Member or a third party as a result of use of the Service with any device or other equipment that does not satisfy the Technical Requirements and to indemnify and hold us harmless from and against such damage in all respects.
  4. You must enable cookies and JavaScript to use the Service.
  5. In no event will we be responsible or liable for any damage incurred by you as a result of your failure to perform the obligation specified in the preceding paragraph, including loss of information on you registered with the Service (the “Registered Information”), access history information, information entered by you or other information.

Article 5. Secondary Use of Comments and Other Text

  1. We reserve the right to provide comments and other text posted by you for other websites, and magazine, newspaper and other publishers, or publish or otherwise distribute such text at an academic conference, symposium or other venue for the purpose of sales promotion of the Website and other services operated by us, assisting our business and other operations and improving the recognition of sign language.
  2. We are allowed to perpetually use your comments and other text free of charge to the extent that we use such text for the purposes specified in the preceding paragraph. In this case, you agree not to exercise the moral rights of authors against the use of such comments and other text. For clarity, if you do not consent to the secondary use of your comments and other text, you need to indicate to that effect by means specified by us.
  3. In the event of secondary use of your comments and other text, we reserve the right to correct or proofread such comments and other text at our own discretion, and you agree to such correction and proofreading in advance.

Chapter 2 Paid Service
Article 6. Application for Paid Service and Payment of Service Charges

  1. If you wish to use the Paid Service, you must apply for the desired plan option by means specified by us.
  2. If you apply for the Paid Service, you must pay us a service charge specified for each plan within the period specified by us.
  3. Service charges must be paid by means specified by us. For clarity, if you receive any instruction or other guidance from us regarding the payment of service charges, you will follow such instruction and guidance.
  4. If we are unable to confirm the payment of service charges within the period specified in Article 6.2, or if you fail to follow the instruction or other guidance under Article 6.3, we will cancel the application in question.
  5. In no event will we prorate service charges.
  6. In no event will we refund or otherwise return service charges already paid by the Paid Members regardless of the reasons.
  7. We reserve the right to revise service charges for the Service at our own discretion if such revision is deemed necessary by us. For clarity, even in this case, we will set a reasonable period of time to notify you of such revision and revise the service charges after the lapse of such period.

Article 7. Term of Agreement for Use of Paid Service and Renewal

  1. The term of an agreement for use of the Paid Service and method of renewal will be specified for each plan, to which you apply.
  2. If you select the automatic renewal plan, an agreement for use of the Paid Service will be automatically renewed under the same terms and conditions unless otherwise notified by the Paid Members or us. In this case, service charges will also be settled automatically on the date of renewal.
  3. If you select the fixed-term agreement plan, an agreement for use of the Paid Service will terminate on the date of expiration of the term specified in an agreement for such plan. The Paid Members, who wish to renew the agreement for use of the Paid Service, will follow the renewal procedures by means specified by us.
  4. The term under this Article will commence on the day on which we confirm the payment of service charges. In the event of renewal, such term will commence on the day following the date of expiration of the initial or any extended term.
  5. In no event will the term under this Article be interrupted.

Article 8. Early Termination of Agreement for Use of Paid Service

  1. The Paid Members, who wish to terminate an agreement for use of the Paid Service for convenience before the expiration of the term of such agreement, will follow the early termination procedures by using the form specified by us.
  2. If you follow the early termination procedures under the preceding paragraph, an agreement for use of the Paid Service will terminate on the date of expiration of the term.
  3. If you follow the withdrawal procedures under Article 11 during the term of an agreement for use of the Paid Service or become subject to forfeiture of membership pursuant to Article 12, such agreement for use of the Paid Service will be terminated for cause at the time when you follow such procedures or become subject to such forfeiture.

Chapter 3 Members
Article 9. Member Registration

  1. Any user who wishes to register with the Service (the “Applicant”) will follow the procedures to apply for the registration by using the form specified by us. For clarity, when you follow such procedures, you will designate an email address owned by you as a login ID.
  2. In applying for registration, the Applicant must provide true information. For clarity, we reserve the right to request the Applicant to provide accompanying documents including identification documents.
  3. The Applicant can officially start using the Service as a Member at the time when we provide you with notification of approval for application for registration. For clarity, such notification of approval will be provided by means specified in Article 14.
  4. We reserve the right to refuse the application for registration and cancel the registration even after the registration is approved if:
  1. the Applicant is found to be any person affiliated with a crime organization, organized crime group or any other anti-social force;
  2. the Applicant was subject to any disposition by us in the past;
  3. any false information, error or omission is found in the registered information;
  4. the Applicant fails to follow our instructions at the time of application for registration; or
  5. otherwise we are of the opinion that the Applicant is not eligible for registration.

Article 10. Management of Account and Other Information

  1. When you designate a password to be used for logging into the Service, you must designate a character string that cannot be easily guessed by a third party.
  2. You must strictly manage your login ID and password (collectively, the “Account”) for logging into the Service.
  3. Whenever the Account entered by you to use the Service matches the Account registered pursuant to Article 10.1, we will consider that the Service is used by you.
  4. You will be obligated to compensate for any and all damage caused by your insufficient management of the Account, or negligence or mistake during the use of the Service.
  5. If you forget your login ID or password of the Account, discover that the Account is used by a third party or otherwise the need arises to change all or part of the Account due to other reasons, you will follow the procedures to reset the Account by means specified by us.
  6. You will be obligated to maintain any information on you that is registered with the Service (the “Registered Information”) accurate and up to date. If you need to change the Registered Information for any reason, you must follow the procedures to change the Registered Information by means specified by us as soon as possible.

Article 11. Term of Membership and Withdrawal

  1. The Service will remain available to you indefinitely unless otherwise notified by you or us.
  2. If you wish to withdraw from the Service, you will follow the withdrawal procedures by means specified by us.
  3. If you follow the withdrawal procedures, we can delete all or part of your Registered Information and any other information related to you at the time of completion of such procedures.
  4. In no event will we be responsible or liable for any damage incurred by you or a third party that is caused by the deletion of the Registered Information or other information under the preceding paragraph or any act that is performed in connection with the withdrawal procedures.
  5. You will lose any and all rights to use the Service as a Member (including any and all rights to use the Paid Service) at the time of completion of the withdrawal procedures.
  6. If you owe us any obligation at the time of completion of the withdrawal procedures, you will pay us such obligation as soon as possible.
  7. When we or a third party incurs any damage as a result of your acts even if you follow the withdrawal procedures, you agree to assume any and all legal responsibilities and liabilities for such damage and to indemnify and hold us harmless from and against such damage in all respects even after you lose the membership.
  8. You agree not to do any act that breaches Article 3.4 against the Know-how even after your withdrawal from the Service.

Article 12. Disciplinary Actions

  1. We reserve the right to take disciplinary actions such as temporary suspension of the Account, blocking of access or forfeiture of membership without prior notice if:
  1. it is found that you have used the Know-how or the Service for any purpose other than those specified in Article 3.2;
  2. you breach Article 4.2;
  3. you breach these Terms and Conditions, or the guidelines and other rules;
  4. you fail to follow instructions or other guidance given by us regarding the material terms and conditions for the use of the Service;
  5. you fail to pay service charges for the Service within the period specified by us; or
  6. otherwise we are of the opinion that you are disqualified from being a Member.
  1. The provisions of Articles 11.3 to 11.8 will apply mutatis mutandis to the treatment of the Members who are subject to forfeiture of membership.

Chapter 4 Miscellaneous Provisions
Article 13. Procedures for Handling Registered Information

  1. We will use the Registered Information only for the purpose of operation and provision of the Service.
  2. We will not disclose or provide the Registered Information to any third party, however, this provision will not apply if:
  1. you agree to the disclosure or provision of such information;
  2. we disclose or provide such information by using any method that makes you unidentifiable;
  3. such disclosure or provision is approved under the laws and regulations;
  4. we are required to disclose or provide such information in accordance with the laws and regulations;
  5. we appoint a third party to perform all or part of the Service for providing the Service; or
  6. we assign the operation of the Service to a third party.
  1. We will manage and use the Registered Information, which is the personal information defined in the Act on the Protection of Personal Information of Japan, in accordance with the Privacy Policy on the Website, however, in no event do we warrant that the personal information will be prevented from any leakage, loss, falsification or other issue.
  2. We reserve the right to send you any information including information on the Service provided by us or our affiliates by using your personal, preference and other information collected by us, and you agree to such use in advance.

Article 14. Notification

  1. Unless otherwise specified, we will provide notification for you by sending you an email, posting it on the Website or using any other method deemed appropriate by us.
  2. When we send you any important information on the Service, we reserve the right to send you an email, email newsletter or other notification or message even if your system is set to reject any email notification and other message from us.
  3. Any notification made by email will be deemed to have been given at the time when such notification is sent to your email address registered as the Account.
  4. If you have taken measures to block spam emails or other measures against cyberthreats on any designated personal computer, mobile phone or other device, you must change the settings including email settings on such device to receive emails from us. We will not be responsible or liable for any damage incurred by you as a result of failure to change such settings.
  5. Any notification made by posting on the Website will be deemed to have been given at the time when such notification is posted on the Website.
  6. Whenever notification is provided for you by any of the above methods, we will consider that you have accepted the notification on the date of such notification unless you raise any objection.
  7. Even if notification from us does not reach you due to your willful misconduct or negligence such as any deficiency or error in your contact email address, or failure to change such email address, we will consider that you have accepted the notification without raising any objection.

Article 15. Damages

  1. If you cause any damage to us or a third party due to your willful misconduct or negligence in connection with the use of the Service, you will be obligated to compensate for any and all such damage and to indemnify and hold us harmless from and against such damage in all respects.
  2. If you incur any damage when using the Service, we will compensate for damage to the extent of such direct damage as ordinarily and actually occurs due to any reason attributable to us. Even in this case, the maximum amount of damages received by you from us will not exceed an amount equal to the monthly service charge for the month, in which such damage occurs (or an amount calculated by dividing such service charge by the number of months of the term of agreement for the Service if the service charge for two (2) or more months is paid in advance).

Article 16. Interruption and Termination of Service

  1. We reserve the right to interrupt all or part of the Service if any cause beyond our control such as the causes under Article 7 of the Site Policies, hacking attack or communications failure occurs, maintenance or other services are performed for the system or server for providing the Service, or such interruption is deemed necessary by us. For clarity, notwithstanding the provision of Article 16.2, we reserve the right to terminate the Service without notifying you if we are of the opinion that the ongoing provision of the Service is difficult due to the continuance of such cause.
  2. We reserve the right to terminate all or part of the Service by notifying you at least one (1) month prior to such termination. Such notification will be provided by means specified in Article 14.
  3. We will not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage directly or indirectly caused to you or a third party as a result of interruption or termination of the Service.

Article 17. Jurisdiction and Governing Law

  1. These Terms and Conditions, and the guidelines and other rules will be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of Japan in all respect without reference to any conflict of law rules.
  2. You agree in advance that the Tokyo District Court of Japan will be the court of first instance having jurisdiction over any dispute or other issue arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions, or the guidelines and other rules.

Article 18. Revision of Terms and Conditions

  1. We reserve the right to revise these Terms and Conditions without notifying you in advance.
  2. We can revise and complete the revision of these Terms and Conditions by posting the revised Terms and Conditions on the Website.
  3. You agree to review these Terms and Conditions each time you use the Service. You also agree that we can consider that you have reviewed and accepted the revision of these Terms and Conditions when you use the Service after the revision of these Terms and Conditions.

【Revision: April 1, 2021】
【Establishment: June 25, 2019】