Terms and Conditions for Cottagestead

Effective Date of this Terms and Conditions: [12/26/25]

Date of Latest Update: [12/26/25]

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms” or “Terms and Conditions”) govern your access to and use of the Cottagestead digital magazine platform, services and features (collectively, the “Platform”). By accessing, browsing, registering your email, or using any part of the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, as well as any policies referenced herein. If you do not agree to these Terms, your sole recourse is to not use the Platform. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Aquamarine Publishing, LLC (“Company”, “Cottagestead”, “we”, “us” and other similar expressions), effective as of [12/26/25]. The Company, a North Carolina Limited Liability Company, is the owner and operator of the Platform.

I. Definitions

For purposes of these Terms and Conditions, the following definitions apply:

“User”, “you”, “your” and other similar expressions mean any individual or entity who accesses, browses, registers an email, or otherwise uses the Platform, including visitors, advertisers, content contributors, and any user.
“Content” means any information, text, images, videos, reviews, ratings, or other materials submitted, posted, uploaded, or displayed on the Platform by Users or the Company.
“Confidential Information” means any non-public information disclosed by the Company or Users in connection with the use of the Platform, including but not limited to business information and proprietary data.
“Third-Party Services” means external websites, affiliate link destinations, booking tools, payment processors, or other services linked or integrated with the Platform but not operated by the Company.

II. Acceptance of these Terms

Upon accessing, visiting, browsing or otherwise using the Platform, you shall be deemed to have accepted these Terms and Conditions. By accessing, visiting, browsing or using the Platform, you confirm that you have read and understood these Terms and Conditions in their entirety.

These Terms and Conditions shall constitute a binding and enforceable agreement between you and the Company. You acknowledge that the Company shall not be bound by any other agreements, terms or policies, except for the present Terms and Conditions.

You agree to read and review these Terms and Conditions in full prior to using the Platform. Moreover, you are encouraged to read and review these Terms and Conditions periodically to ensure you are familiar with the latest version.

You are required to comply with applicable laws, these Terms and Conditions and other policies developed by the Company, which shall be published on the Platform.

III. Platform Role and Services

Nature of Service

Cottagestead operates as a digital publisher providing editorial content and informational resources.

Third-Party Products and Services

The Platform does not provide, offer, or deliver the products, services, or experiences featured in our editorial content. We do not:

Provide, sell, or facilitate third-party products or services featured in our content

Employ, contract with, or maintain business relationships with featured businesses, service providers, or nonprofit organizations

Process transactions, bookings, donations, or purchases on behalf of third parties

Act as an agent, broker, or intermediary for any third-party entity

All business transactions, service bookings, charitable donations, and product purchases with third-party providers occur directly between users and those external entities through their own websites and platforms. Cottagestead serves solely as an informational resource and is not a party to any such third-party transactions.

Cottagestead Products

Separately, Cottagestead may offer its own digital products (such as recipe collections, guides, or educational materials) for purchase directly through our Platform. These transactions are governed by our Sales and Refund Policy, which constitutes a separate agreement between you and Cottagestead.

IV. User Eligibility and Registration

To use the Platform, you must meet the following eligibility and registration requirements:

Age and Geographic Restrictions:

The Platform is intended for individual Users aged 18 years or older located within the United States. By using the Platform or registering your email for newsletters, you represent and warrant that you meet these criteria. The Platform may display a notice regarding age restrictions; however, no technical age verification is implemented.
You agree to use the Platform in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations and orders.
You have not been barred from accessing or using the Platform under any applicable law or pursuant to an administrative decision.
You are not subject to any limitations or restrictions that would prevent, restrict or otherwise impair your right to use the Platform.
You warrant that you do not reside in and that you are not accessing the Platform from any country subject to applicable U.S. trade sanctions or embargoes. You also confirm that you have not been named on any national or denied-party list issued by the U.S. government.

V. User Standards and Conduct

Termination: The Company reserves the right to terminate access to the Platform for violations of these Terms, community standards, or applicable laws, as further described in the Termination and Account Suspension section.

All Users must adhere to the following standards and conduct requirements when listing services and interacting on the Platform:

Professionalism: Content, including comments, must contain professional, truthful information; misleading or false claims, including spam comments, are strictly prohibited.
Behavioral Standards: Users must conduct themselves professionally, treating all other Users, including Cottagestead staff, with respect and courtesy. Providers must comply with the Cottagestead User Conduct Guide & Community Standards, including safety and inclusiveness.
Content Standards: All Content must meet the Platform’s quality and appropriateness guidelines. Inappropriate, discriminatory, or unprofessional communication in relation to posted Content, such as misleading, erroneous or abusive communications with Users, is prohibited and may result in termination of User access to the Platform.
Compliance and Enforcement: The Company reserves the right to review, edit, or remove Content that violates these standards or community guidelines. Repeated or serious violations may result in permanent removal from the Platform.

VI. User Conduct and Acceptable Use

Users must comply with the following conduct and acceptable use policies when accessing or interacting with the Platform:

Acceptable and Permitted Use

You may access and use the Platform for lawful purposes consistent with these Terms. The Platform is intended for individuals interested in cottagecore lifestyle, microsteading (small scale homesteading activities), sustainable living, traditional skills, and related topics.

Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of these Terms
Violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law or regulation
Infringe upon the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or other rights of Cottagestead or any third party
Transmit any harmful code, viruses, or malicious software
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Platform, user accounts, or computer systems
Collect or harvest personal information from other users
Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity
Interfere with or disrupt the Platform or servers or networks connected to the Platform
Use automated systems (bots, scrapers) to access the Platform without express written permission

Community Conduct

When participating in community features (such as comments or forums), you agree to:
Engage respectfully with other Users and Cottagestead staff
Provide accurate information and avoid spreading misinformation
Contribute constructively
Refrain from harassment, hate speech, discriminatory language, or personal attacks
Respect the privacy of others and not share personal information without consent
Communicate with professionalism

Content Moderation

All user-submitted content, including comments, is subject to moderation. Cottagestead reserves the right to:
Review, approve, edit, or reject any user-submitted content at our sole discretion
Remove content that violates these Terms or our community standards
Suspend or terminate access to Users who violate these guidelines
Moderate comments and publish only those that meet our community standards
We are not obligated to publish, maintain, or respond to user-submitted content.

Prohibited Activities: The following behaviors are strictly prohibited:

Impersonating others
- Posting spam, unsolicited promotional messages, or marketing
- Abusive, harassing, or discriminatory communication with Users or the Company
- Data mining or unauthorized collection of user information
- Manipulating reviews or ratings, including posting false feedback or retaliating against honest reviews
- Attempting to circumvent charges from purchases in the Company’s store
- Violating any applicable international, national, local, municipal or other relevant law, order, regulation and/or policy
- Transmitting harmful components, viruses or damaging files
- Using automated means or data mining tools to download or scrape data from the Platform
- Engaging in illegal, fraudulent, malicious or discriminatory conduct
- Reproducing, sharing, copying, distributing, commercializing or otherwise transmitting Content from the Platform or any portion thereof, except in accordance with these Terms
- Accessing the Platform using any unauthorized means or technology, or any attempts to bypass the Platform’s security measures

Consequences for Violations: Violations of these conduct policies may result in permanent removal from the Platform. The Company reserves the right to investigate and enforce these policies at its sole discretion.

VII. Assumption of Risk

To the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, you knowingly and voluntarily agree to assume all risks associated with using the Platform, even if you were not aware of such risks in advance. Such risks include risks of negligence, misuse, carelessness, injury and loss, without limitation.

VIII. Content Ownership and License

Content submitted, posted, uploaded, or displayed on the Platform by Users—including but not limited to product and service descriptions, advertisements, reviews, comments, ratings, images and videos—remains the intellectual property of the individual User or Provider who created it. By submitting Content to the Platform, you grant the Company a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, distribute, publicly display, and perform such Content in connection with the operation, promotion, and improvement of the Platform and related services.

You represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights to submit such Content and that it does not infringe upon any third-party intellectual property rights. The Platform reserves the right to remove, edit, or refuse any Content that violates these Terms, community standards, or applicable law, at its sole discretion.

IX. Content Ownership and Copyright

Guest Contributors

Guest contributors who submit posts, articles, or blog content retain full ownership and copyright of their original work. By submitting content to the Platform, guest contributors grant Cottagestead a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license to:

· Use, reproduce, modify, adapt, and publish the content on the Platform

· Display, distribute, and promote the content across all media channels

· Create derivative works for promotional and editorial purposes

· Commercialize the content in connection with Platform operations

· All published guest content will include appropriate attribution to the original author.

X. Column Contributors

Column contributors (regular or recurring contributors with dedicated columns or series as agreed between the contributor and Editorial Director) transfer full copyright ownership of their contributed content to Cottagestead through a separate Contributor Agreement. Column contributors acknowledge that:

· All content created for their column becomes the exclusive property of Cottagestead.

· Cottagestead retains all rights, title, and interest in the content, including copyright

· The terms of copyright transfer are detailed in the separate Contributor Agreement signed prior to publication

· Attribution will be provided as specified in the Contributor Agreement

XI. Copyright Infringement Policy

Cottagestead maintains a copyright policy and DMCA-compliant takedown procedure for alleged copyright infringement claims, consistent with applicable law. If you believe content on our Platform infringes your copyright, please contact us at [hello@Cottagestead] with detailed information about the alleged infringement.

XII. Intellectual Property

We own or have secured the appropriate permission to use the Content published on the Platform. Our intellectual property, trademarks and logos may not be reproduced or shared without our explicit prior written consent. All intellectual property directly relating to the Platform remains our sole property and we are the exclusive owners of such intellectual property throughout the world, without limitations of time or space.

Any Content that has been licensed to us remains the property of its respective owners. Please note that the reproduction, transmission, sharing and distribution of all or part of any Content on the Platform is expressly prohibited, except as provided under these Terms and Conditions.

You are permitted to copy and print portions of the Platform solely for your own personal informational and reference purposes. We do not authorize the reproduction, modification, or transmission of the intellectual property on the Platform to any third party without our prior specific written consent. To request consent, write [email protected].

Trademarks: Trademarks, logos and intellectual property relating to the Company and the Platform are proprietary to us. Our trademarks and logos are protected by trademark laws. Accordingly, our trademarks and logos may not be reproduced or shared without our prior written consent. You may not use our trademarks and logos for any purpose except as permitted by these Terms.
Third-Party Trademarks: The Platform may include links to Third-Party Services. To properly identify the Third-Party Services, images of the third party’s trademarks and intellectual property may be published on the Platform. We may publish the logos of the Third-Party Service, while not having any affiliation to such third party, to allow you to identify the services associated with such mark. In accordance with applicable trademark laws, the publication of the logos of Third-Party Services constitutes nominative fair use.

XIII. Disputes between Users and a Third-Party Services

In case of a dispute between a User and Third Party, we encourage you to attempt to resolve the dispute amicably. The Company is under no obligation to attempt to help you reach a mutually acceptable settlement through any means or form of communication.

As a result, you agree to fully release and discharge us from all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, obligations, rights, remedies and causes of action of every nature, that you have, may have or had against us arising out of the dispute. You further agree not to institute legal action in such a dispute except with our prior written consent or as permitted by law. You agree to be bound and subject to our recommendations, and that any decisions we render with respect to the resolution of such dispute will be binding and enforceable.

XIV. Disclaimers for Affiliate Marketing

XV. General Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

The Platform is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. The Company expressly disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. The Platform does not provide health, mental health or medical advice; all information and Content are for informational purposes only. Users are advised to consult a licensed physician for any health concerns, especially with regard to posts related to lifestyle and wellness categories.

Cottagestead does not endorse, guarantee, or assume responsibility for the quality, safety, legality, or accuracy of products and services offered by Third Parties such as advertisers, affiliate brands and guest authors on the Platform. All purchases or service arrangements are exclusively between Users and Providers, and the Company is not a party to any such transactions. The Platform is not liable for any damages, losses, injuries, or claims arising from Provider services, user interactions, or reliance on Platform Content.

The Company is not responsible for any errors, omissions, interruptions, delays, or technical issues affecting Platform availability, nor for the Content, security, or practices of Third-Party Services linked from the Platform.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, injuries, losses, property damages, claims, fees, costs or damages of any nature, however caused and under any theory of liability in connection with the Platform and/or use of the Platform. Further, the Company disclaims liability for any claims, losses or damages arising out of any misuse or negligence of any User on the Platform.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Company’s total liability to any User for any claim arising out of or relating to the Platform shall not exceed the total and exact amount paid, if any, by such User in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

Acknowledging the Company’s role, you agree that the Company shall not be liable for any erroneous, faulty, incomplete, damaging, incorrect or otherwise misleading Content. Further, the Company shall not be responsible for any opinions, comments or advice provided by any column or guest author, advertiser, brand or any third party. The Company is unable to guarantee that all Content provided by column or guest authors, advertisers, brands or third parties is true and accurate. As an intermediary, the Company cannot control the quality or the effectiveness of the advice, opinions and recommendations provided in any form Content. Any views expressed by any Contributor shall be and remain those of the Contributor, and shall not bind the Company.

Force majeure events—including but not limited to natural disasters, acts of government, war, or technical failures—may result in temporary or permanent interruption of Platform, for which the Company shall not be liable. Additionally, if the Company is delayed or prevented from the performance of any term, covenant or act required hereunder by reason of a Force majeure event, then the performance of such obligation, covenant or act shall be excused while the Force majeure event persists.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain warranties or liabilities; in such cases, the above limitations shall apply to the fullest extent permitted by law.

XVI. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Company, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, and licensors from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to: (i) your use of the Platform; (ii) your violation of these Terms or any applicable law; (iii) your breach of any representation or warranty herein; (iv) any Content you submit, post, or transmit through the Platform; or (v) your interactions or transactions with other Users or Providers. This obligation survives termination of your use of the Platform.

XVII. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms and any dispute arising from or relating to your use of the Platform shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

In the event of any dispute, claim, or controversy between you and the Company, the following procedures apply:

Internal Resolution: You and the Company shall first attempt to resolve disputes through the Company’s internal conflict resolution process, as outlined in the Cottagestead Conflict Resolution Guide, including investigation, documentation, and escalation steps.
Mediation: If the dispute cannot be resolved internally, either party may request mediation with a neutral third party in Henderson County, North Carolina.
Arbitration: If the dispute is not resolved [within 15 calendar days] following mediation, the dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration conducted in Henderson County, North Carolina, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association or another mutually agreed-upon forum. Judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Class Action Waiver: You agree that any claims will be brought solely in your individual capacity, and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.

Nothing in this section shall prevent either party from seeking injunctive or equitable relief in a court of law for matters relating to intellectual property or unauthorized use of the Platform.

XVIII. Termination and Account Suspension

The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend, restrict, or terminate your Account and access to the Platform at any time, with or without notice, for reasons including but not limited to:

Violation of these Terms, community standards, or applicable law
Fraudulent, abusive, or unsafe conduct
Misrepresentation of credentials or qualifications
Threats to human safety
Repeated complaints or unreasonable demands
Non-payment (digital purchases, advertising)

The process for enforcement may include warnings, temporary suspension or permanent removal, as detailed in the Cottagestead User Conduct Guide & Community Standards and Conflict Resolution Guide. Immediate suspension may occur for severe violations.

Upon termination, you will permanently lose access to the Platform, including the newsletter and comments. The Company may retain certain data for compliance, legal, or operational purposes, in accordance with its data retention policy. Termination does not relieve you of any payment obligations or indemnification responsibilities under these Terms.

You may end your newsletter subscription at any time by opting out. You understand that your information and saved data may be deleted.

XIX. Privacy and Data Use

Your use of the Platform is subject to the Cottagestead Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference. The Platform collects personal information (such as name, email, profile details), usage data (IP address, device/browser info, cookies, analytics), and Content you submit. Data is stored securely on third-party servers (Bluehost/WordPress) and processed for Account management, communication, analytics, and Platform improvement.

You have rights under applicable privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), and other state laws, to access, correct, or request deletion of your personal data. Requests may be submitted via hello@Cottagestead or through your account dashboard. Data retention periods and deletion procedures are specified in the Privacy Policy; data may be retained for compliance or legal purposes as required.

The Platform does not sell or share personal data except as necessary for hosting, payment processing, or legal compliance. By using the Platform, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in the Privacy Policy and in accordance with applicable law.

XX. Modifications to Terms

The Company reserves the right to modify, update, or revise these Terms and Conditions at any time, in its sole discretion. Notice of material changes will be provided by posting the updated Terms on the Platform and, where required, by email notification to registered Users and Providers. For significant changes, the Platform will provide at least thirty (30) days’ advance notice prior to the effective date of the modifications. Your continued use of the Platform after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. It is your responsibility to review the Terms periodically for updates.

XXI. Third-Party Services

The Platform may include links to Third-Party Services or tools for booking, payment, or additional information. The Company is not responsible for the Content, functionality, or security of any Third-Party Services. Users and Providers are solely responsible for their interactions and transactions conducted outside the Platform. Your use of the Third-Party Services shall be subject to the third party’s policies and specific terms, and not these Terms. You agree to use the Third-Party Services at your sole risk.

XXII. Miscellaneous Provisions

Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
Force Majeure: The Company shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance resulting from causes beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, war, government action, or technical failures.
Assignment: The Company may assign or transfer its rights and obligations under these Terms to any affiliate or successor entity without notice. You may not assign your rights or obligations without prior written consent.
Waiver: The failure of the Company to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other rights.
Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with any referenced policies, constitute the entire agreement between you and the Company regarding your use of the Platform and supersede all prior agreements or understandings.
Headings: Section headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

By continuing to use the Platform, you acknowledge and agree to these Miscellaneous Provisions.

By accessing or using the Platform, you acknowledge and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions as of [12/26/25]. If you do not agree, you must discontinue use of the Platform.

XXIII. Contact Us

For questions regarding these Terms, contact hello@Cottagestead.