Gates Connect | Terms & Conditions

Last updated: 14.10.2025
Next review date: 14.10.2026

 

  1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Gates Connect (“the Platform”), you agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions (“Terms”), together with:

 

  • The Gates Connect Privacy Policy
  • Any posted Community Guidelines or Code of Conduct
  • Any additional rules, policies, or notices referenced herein

 

If you do not accept any part of these Terms, please do not access or use the Platform.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time (for example, to reflect changes in the law, technology, or our service). Changes become effective when posted on the Platform, and your continued use constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

 

  1. Eligibility and Registration
  • You must be at least 16 years old to register or use Gates Connect.
  • To register, you must provide accurate, current, and complete information. You agree not to impersonate any person or entity, or provide false or misleading identity or account information.
  • You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials (username, password). You must notify us (alumni@gatescambridge.org) immediately if you suspect your account has been compromised.
  • We reserve the right to refuse registration, suspend or terminate accounts, or disable access if you breach these Terms.

 

  1. Use of the Platform — Permitted & Prohibited Activities

3.1 Permitted Use

  • You may use Gates Connect for networking, mentorship, professional/community engagement, knowledge-sharing, discussion, events, and related community purposes consistent with the mission of Gates Connect.
  • You may post content, join groups, send messages, participate in events, upload files, and interact with other users, subject to these Terms and any additional rules or guidelines.

 

3.2 Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

a. Violate any applicable law, regulation or third-party right (e.g. defamation, intellectual property infringements).
b. Post or transmit content that is unlawful, defamatory, harassing, abusive, obscene, threatening, hateful, or otherwise objectionable.
c. Use the Platform to solicit or distribute spam, or for unsolicited advertising.
d. Impersonate others or misrepresent your identity, qualifications or affiliations.
e. Interfere with or disrupt the operation of the Platform (e.g. hacking, denial-of-service, misuse of bots).
f. Harvest or collect personal data of other users except as permitted by the Platform’s functions and consistent with the Privacy Policy.
g. Use the Platform in a manner that imposes excessive load, or bypasses technical controls or limits.
h. Use the Platform for any commercial or revenue-generating purpose unless explicitly permitted.
i. Share content that you do not own or have rights to.
j. Violate any content or community guidelines, or engage in conduct that brings the Gates Cambridge Trust into disrepute.

 

  1. Content, Intellectual Property & Licenses
  • You retain all rights in content that you submit to the Platform.
  • By submitting content, you grant Gates Cambridge (and the Platform) a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, distribute, modify, display, adapt, and publish that content in connection with the Platform’s operation, promotion, and improvement.
  • You also grant other users (to the extent permitted by the Platform settings) the right to view, comment on, share, and interact with your content under the terms of the Platform.
  • You represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights to submit your content, and that it does not violate any third-party rights (copyright, privacy, defamation, etc.).
  • The Platform and its contents (software, design, text, graphics, logos, interface elements) are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You agree not to reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, resell, or exploit any portion of the Platform without express permission.

 

  1. Moderation, Removal & Enforcement
  • We reserve the right to review, moderate, remove, restrict, or edit any content or accounts that violate these Terms or community guidelines.
  • We may suspend or terminate access to all or part of the Platform for users who violate these Terms, at our discretion.
  • We may restrict searchability, re-index content, or archive content.
  • In case of legal claims, court orders, or regulatory requests, we may remove or block content or provide user data consistent with law and our privacy obligations.

 

  1. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability
  • The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available”, without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.
  • We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free of malware.
  • We disclaim liability for content posted by users.
  • We will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages (including loss of profits, data, business interruption, etc.).
  • These limits do not apply where we are legally prohibited from limiting liability.

 

  1. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Gates Cambridge Trust, its Trustees, officers, employees, agents, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses (including legal fees) arising from or relating to:

  • your breach of these Terms or the Privacy Policy;
  • your content or submissions violating any law or third-party right;
  • your misuse of the Platform;
  • any claim by a third party arising from your account or content.

 

  1. Termination
  • You may deactivate or close your account at any time.
  • Upon account termination, we may delete or anonymise your personal data and content, in accordance with our privacy retention policy.
  • We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access or remove content at any time for cause without notice.
  • Termination does not waive rights or remedies we may have under these Terms or under law.

 

  1. Notifications and Communications
  • We may send you announcements, updates, or notices via email or via the Platform.
  • You agree to receive such communications electronically.
  • We may also post notices on the Platform, which are deemed effective immediately.

 

  1. Third-Party Links, Services & Integrations
  • The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, services, or embed external content (e.g. videos, maps, external APIs). We do not control those third parties and are not responsible for their practices, content, or privacy.
  • Your use of third-party services is at your own risk, subject to their terms and policies.
  • We may also integrate with third-party service providers. Use of such services is governed by this Platform’s Terms and Privacy Policy, and we require that service providers comply with confidentiality and security standards.

 

  1. Governing Law & Jurisdiction
  • These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
  • You agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales for any disputes arising under or relating to these Terms.

 

  1. Severability & Waiver
  • If any provision of these Terms is found invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that provision shall be severed or limited to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
  • No waiver of any breach of these Terms shall constitute a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

 

  1. Miscellaneous
  • Assignment: We may assign our rights or obligations under these Terms to a third party. You may not assign your rights or obligations without our written consent.
  • Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any referenced rules or guidelines, constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding your use of the Platform, superseding all prior or contemporaneous communications.
  • Notices: Any notices under these Terms may be given by posting on the Platform or by email. Such notices are effective when posted/sent.