Terms of Service

Welcome to ScorchChess!

This page explains our terms of use. When you use ScorchChess, you’re agreeing to all the rules on this page. Some of them need to be expressed in specific legal language but we’ve done our best to offer you clear and simple explanations of what everything means.

By using this website (the “Site”) and services (together with the Site, the “Services”) offered by ScorchChess (together with our subsidiaries, affiliates, representatives, and directors – collectively “ScorchChess”, “we”, or “us”) you’re agreeing to these legally binding rules (the “Terms”). You’re also agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, and agreeing to follow any other rules on the Site, like our Fair Play rules (included below).

We may change these terms from time to time. If we do, we’ll let you know about any significant or material changes, by notifying you on the Site. New versions of the terms will never apply retroactively – we’ll tell you the exact date they go into effect. If you continue using ScorchChess after a change, that means you accept the new terms.

Introduction

ScorchResults is a digitisation of the process of organising a chess tournament. Users of the site are encouraged to use our services and content to contribute to the smooth running of the chess tournament and to further the pursuit of chess as a whole. We actively want to foster our community’s development, enjoyment, and study of chess. We also want to hear what you think would add to your development and enjoyment, so feel free to contact us with suggestions at any time.

Creating an Account

You’re responsible for your account and all the activity on it.

You can browse ScorchChess and use some of our Services without registering an account. But to use all of ScorchChess’ functions, you’ll need to register. This is done by choosing a username, setting a password, and securing it with a valid email address. If you don’t submit accurate information, you might not be able to access your account.

When you do that, the information you give us has to be accurate and complete. Don’t impersonate anyone else or choose names that are offensive or that violate anyone’s rights. If you don’t follow these rules, we reserve the right to close your account without warning. ScorchChess also reserves the right to revoke access to any username, if they are considered abusive via language or should be received for use by particular verified organisations (such as "4ncl" for the 4 Nations Chess League). ScorchChess also reserves the right to close any account too for abusive behaviour, which includes but is not limited to the creation of spam, profanity within customisable sections (such as bios and descriptions), or abuse of the photo-linking feature. Not many features are at this moment available which could lead to account closure.

When these terms discuss “Users” or a “User”, we’ll be referring to both registered and unregistered users, unless it relates to features, information or data an unregistered User does not or cannot have access to.

User Rights

Both registered and unregistered users have rights to protect their property, privacy, and identity unless they have consented or agree to making their identity public. Most information on this topic can be found in our Privacy Policy.

ScorchChess believes that users should have their public information, identity, and data protected as strongly as possible. We use European Union data protection law as our baseline, and in many respects go further than what the law requires. We’ve also chosen to extend these rights to all users, not just those under a European Union jurisdiction.

By agreeing to these Terms, registered Users can have access to all of ScorchChess’ features. The scope of features available is dependent on the context of the user account. If a user is playing in a tournament organised by by a Licensed user, the scope of features available is modified to suit.

Our Privacy Policy states which data ScorchChess will take from a User’s device and why it does. This data will only ever be in line with our legal obligations, being necessary and proportionate. A User can query what data ScorchChess has on them by making a Subject Access Request to the ScorchChess developers.

In all circumstances, we may retain certain information as required by law or necessary for our legitimate operating purposes. All of the provisions within this agreement survive the termination of an account.

Fair Play and Community Guidelines

Users, both registered and unregistered agree to behave with good conduct whilst using ScorchChess’ Services. This will always be determined at ScorchChess’ discretion. Users who don’t behave with good conduct may have their account banned or closed without warning, and their content removed from the site. In all circumstances we reserve the right to ban or close an account for any reason without warning, and without having to provide evidence that Fair Play and Community Guidelines have been breached.

See the following for some examples of what you shouldn’t do.

1. Spam.

2. Abuse of customisable fields, such as Description or Bio fields. Abusive behaviour includes scribing links to malicious external websites or writing content wchih seeks to offend.

3. Impersonation. Don’t pretend to be someone who you’re not. You’re welcome to use a pseudonym. Usernames will be revoked to the highest organisation existing authority in accordance with the aforementioned policy.

4. Trying to break into accounts of other users, even if it’s as simple as just guessing a password, DDoS and volumetric attacks. This activity is illegal under the Computer Misuse Act, so the relevant authorities would also be notified. You are welcome to support ScorchChess by finding and reporting security issues to us.

5. Abuse our infrastructure. Don’t take any action that imposes an unreasonable load on our infrastructure or on our third-party providers. We reserve the right to determine what is reasonable.

Our rights

To operate, we need to be able to maintain control over what happens on our website. To summarise, we reserve the right to make decisions to protect the health and integrity of our systems. We’ll only use these powers when we absolutely must.

We can make changes to the ScorchChess Site and Services without letting you know in advance, or being liable for any loss, damage, or harm that arises as a result.

We have the ultimate say in who can use our Site and Services. We can cancel accounts, or decline to let Users use our Services.

We are not responsible for any loss, damage, or harm that may arise from any occasional downtime.

We reserve the right to contact the relevant authorities if a User is breaking the law, and share relevant data with the authorities, if harm or damage occurs either against our Users or against the operation of our infrastructure.

We reserve the right to withhold financial awards or prizes from Users we suspect of cheating or breaching other Fair Play and Community Guidelines, without needing to justify when, where, or how that User did so.

This list is non-exhaustive, and we reserve the right to add, edit, or remove entries from it at any time.

Privacy

Our privacy policy describes how we handle the information you provide to us when you use our services. You understand that through your use of the services you consent to the collection and use, as set out in the privacy policy, of this information. ScorchChess currently follows European Data Protection, and applies these rights to users of all nationalities, not just European users.

Copyright

ScorchChess respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects Users of the Services to do the same. ScorchChess reserves the right to remove content alleged to be infringing without prior notice at our sole discretion and without liability to you. We will respond to notices of alleged copyright infringement, that comply with applicable law and are properly provided to us, as described in our copyright policy.

If you believe your content has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement please alert us by contacting us.

You retain your rights to any content you submit, post or create through the services including chess games. By submitting, posting or displaying content on or through our services, you grant us a global, non-exclusive, royalty-free license, with the right to sublicense, to use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, display and distribute such content in any and all media or distribution channels. Such additional uses may be made without compensation paid to you with respect to the content you make available through the services. This does not remove your rights from other 3rd party sites, such as Twitch or YouTube.

Stuff we’re not responsible for

ScorchChess processes and links to a large quantity of third-party content. The majority of this comes from chess-playing websites, however this also includes customisable content from tournament organisers and users. ScorchChess cannot be held responsible for any content sourced from 3rd-party websites.

ScorchChess makes no warranty or representation and disclaims all responsibility and liability for the completeness, availability, timeliness, accuracy and security of the content and services.

We disclaim all responsibility for any harm or loss of any data to your computer system, the deletion of or failure to store or transmit communications or content maintained by the services or whether the services will meet your requirements or be available on an uninterrupted, secure or error-free basis. ScorchChess cannot be held responsible for any loss, financial or otherwise, from third party sources, including misrepresentations, negligence or fraud.

No advice, information or written correspondence whether oral or written procured from ScorchChess entities or through ScorchChess services will create any warranty or representation not expressly made herein.

Jurisdiction and the process to follow if you’re really upset with us

You agree to accept the law and jurisdiction of England and Wales by using our services.

If you have any dispute with us, relating to these Terms or by using our Services, try to contact us so we can informally resolve the dispute. If we’re unable to do so, we agree to go through arbitration at a place of our choosing. You’ll need to give us written notice, otherwise we won’t be able to help you.

In the event any provision of these terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, then that provision will be limited to the minimum enforcement possible, and the remaining terms held with full effect.

These terms are an agreement between you and ScorchChess.

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