Terms of Use

1. Eligibility and Account Registration

You must be at least 18 years of age and legally capable of entering into binding contracts to use the Platform. By registering, you represent that all information you provide is accurate, current, and complete. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.

Vendor accounts require professional credential submission and are subject to verification. Account activation is contingent on successful email verification and, for vendors, credential review.

2. User Roles and Platform Access

The Platform serves four distinct user roles:

• Vendors (Consultants): Professionals such as lawyers and counsellors who offer services through the Platform.
• Clients: Individuals who register to book consultations and communicate with vendors.
• Admins (Vendor Administrators): Individuals appointed by vendor organisations to manage consultant accounts.
• Super Admins (BUDO): Platform-level administrators responsible for system management.

Access and functionality differ by role. You agree to use only the features available to your assigned role and not to attempt to access functionality beyond your authorisation.

3. Subscription Plans and Payments

Access to certain Platform features requires an active subscription plan. Plans are offered on monthly or annual billing cycles. You authorise us to charge your selected payment method in advance for each billing period.

We reserve the right to change subscription pricing with reasonable advance notice. Continued use of the Platform following a price change constitutes acceptance. Refunds are handled in accordance with our refund policy available on the Platform.

Payment processing is handled by third-party payment gateways. We do not store full payment card details.

4. Consultation Services and Billing

Vendors may offer consultation services to clients through the Platform using audio, chat, and scheduling features. Time tracking is available to vendors for accurate billing. Vendors are responsible for the accuracy of time records and invoices submitted to clients.

BUDO acts as a platform provider and is not a party to consultation agreements between vendors and clients. We do not guarantee the quality, accuracy, or outcome of any consultation.

Vendor withdrawals of earned funds are processed within three business days, subject to verification and compliance checks.

5. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of applicable law.
• Impersonate any person or entity or provide false credentials.
• Transmit harmful, offensive, or unlawful content through the Platform.
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to other user accounts or Platform systems.
• Use automated tools to scrape, harvest, or otherwise extract data from the Platform.
• Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Platform.
• Share login credentials or allow third parties to access your account.

6. Confidentiality and Professional Standards

Vendors acknowledge that consultation sessions may involve sensitive and confidential client information. Vendors agree to uphold applicable professional confidentiality standards and legal confidentiality obligations relevant to their profession. BUDO's platform security features, including end-to-end encryption and HIPAA-compliant data handling, support but do not replace your professional obligations.

Where calls or sessions are recorded, recording notification features are available on the Platform. Vendors are responsible for complying with applicable laws regarding consent to recording.

7. Intellectual Property

The Platform, including its design, features, software, and content, is owned by BUDO and protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to access and use the Platform for its intended purposes.

Content you upload to the Platform, such as documents, credentials, and profile information, remains your property. By uploading content, you grant BUDO a limited licence to store, process, and display it as necessary to operate the Platform.

8. AI Features

The Platform includes AI-powered features, including consultation transcript summaries. These summaries are generated automatically and are provided for informational and reference purposes only. BUDO does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of AI-generated content. You are responsible for reviewing and verifying any AI-generated outputs before relying on them.

9. Third-Party Integrations

The Platform integrates with third-party services including Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and payment gateways. Your use of these integrations is subject to the applicable third-party terms and privacy policies. BUDO is not responsible for the performance or availability of third-party services.

10. Suspension and Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if you breach these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or if required by law. You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us. On termination, your access to the Platform will cease and your data will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable retention obligations.

11. Disclaimers

The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of harmful components. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, BUDO shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or related to your use of or inability to use the Platform, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Our aggregate liability for any claim arising from these Terms shall not exceed the amount paid by you to BUDO in the twelve months preceding the claim.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by applicable law. Any dispute arising from these Terms shall be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If not resolved within thirty days, disputes shall be submitted to binding arbitration or the courts of the applicable jurisdiction, as determined by BUDO.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will provide notice of material changes through the Platform. Continued use following notice constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

15. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact us at legal@budo.com or visit www.budo.com.