These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern access to and use of billionoysterproject.org and related webpages, accounts, content, and online services operated by The New York Harbor Foundation d/b/a Billion Oyster Project ("BOP," "we," "us," or "our") (collectively, the "Site"). By using the Site, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Site.
Additional terms, releases, refund policies, eligibility rules, or notices may apply to a donation, event, program, contest, purchase, account, dataset, or other service. If those additional terms conflict with these Terms, the more specific terms govern that service.
Permitted Use
You may use the Site for lawful personal, educational, charitable, and informational purposes consistent with these Terms. You may not:
- Violate a law, regulation, contract, intellectual-property right, privacy right, or other right.
- Interfere with Site operation, security, access controls, or another person's use of the Site.
- Introduce malicious code, attempt unauthorized access, scrape or overload the Site in a manner that disrupts service, or bypass a technical restriction.
- Misrepresent your identity, authority, affiliation, eligibility, or information supplied to BOP.
- Use Site content or data to train a commercial artificial-intelligence system, create a competing dataset, or imply BOP endorsement without written permission, except where an applicable open license expressly allows the use.
- Use the Site for advertising, solicitation, or another commercial purpose not approved by BOP.
Accounts
Some features may require an account. You are responsible for providing accurate information, protecting your credentials, and promptly notifying BOP if you suspect unauthorized access. You may not use another person's account without permission. BOP may suspend or terminate access when reasonably necessary to protect users, systems, or programs; enforce these Terms; or comply with law.
If an account is created or managed through a school, organization, parent, guardian, or program partner, additional authorization and participation requirements may apply.
Events, Programs, Tickets, and Donations
Availability, eligibility, capacity, dates, prices, benefits, accessibility information, cancellation terms, and refund terms may vary by event or program. Review the information presented during registration or checkout. BOP may make reasonable changes or cancel an activity because of weather, safety, capacity, operational needs, or circumstances beyond its control.
Donations are processed through a third-party payment provider. Except where required by law or expressly stated otherwise, charitable donations are final. Ticket, membership, and program charges are subject to the terms displayed at checkout and any applicable provider terms. Tax acknowledgments do not constitute personal tax advice.
Intellectual Property
The Site and its content—including text, graphics, photographs, video, audio, designs, logos, software, compilations, and other materials—are owned by BOP or used with permission and are protected by applicable law. BOP grants you a limited, revocable, nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and use the Site for the permitted purposes described above.
You may link to public Site pages in a fair and lawful manner that does not imply endorsement. Other reproduction, modification, distribution, public display, commercialization, or creation of derivative works requires permission unless allowed by law or by a license displayed with the material.
When using BOP data or research made available for reuse, credit Billion Oyster Project and follow all attribution, license, methodology, and use terms displayed with the material.
Submissions
You retain ownership of content you submit unless separate terms say otherwise. To operate the requested feature or program, you grant BOP a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, store, reproduce, adapt for technical formatting, display, and share the submission as reasonably necessary for that purpose. Do not submit content unless you have the rights and permissions needed to do so.
Public submissions may be seen, copied, or shared by others. Separate media releases, research agreements, program terms, or consent forms control when they apply.
Third-Party Services and Links
The Site may link to or use services operated by third parties, including ticketing, payments, maps, video, authentication, email, analytics, database, and social platforms. Some providers perform services on BOP's behalf or process information on BOP's instructions; others provide a separate service directly to you. BOP does not control third-party sites and is not responsible for their content, availability, security, or privacy practices. Your use of a third-party service may be governed by that provider's terms and privacy notice.
Necessary providers may be used to deliver and secure the Site or complete a login, map interaction, donation, booking, signup, or other service you request. Optional analytics and embedded-media providers are controlled by the Site's available privacy choices. Blocking a necessary provider through browser settings, an extension, or a network filter may prevent the corresponding feature from working. If that happens, reload after allowing essential Site resources or contact BOP for assistance.
Educational and Informational Content
Site content is provided for general educational and informational purposes. It is not professional, legal, medical, safety, scientific, tax, or financial advice. Field activities, waterfront access, boating, shell handling, and environmental research may involve risks and must follow the instructions, permissions, supervision, safety rules, and releases applicable to the activity.
Disclaimer
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Site is provided "as is" and "as available." BOP does not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or suitable for every purpose, or that all content will always be complete, current, or accurate. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain warranty exclusions, so some of these exclusions may not apply to you.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, BOP and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from use of or inability to use the Site. Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
Changes and Termination
We may update the Site or these Terms. The "Last updated" date identifies the most recent revision. Continued use after revised Terms take effect means you accept the revised Terms. We may suspend or discontinue all or part of the Site when reasonably necessary.
Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
Contact Us
Questions about these Terms may be sent to info@billionoysterproject.org or mailed to:
The New York Harbor Foundation
d/b/a Billion Oyster Project
Governors Island
10 South Street, Slip 7
New York, NY 10004
