Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Snövind Malamutes website (www.snovind-malamutes.com), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the website.

By creating an account on our community platform, you additionally agree to these terms as they relate to registered users.

2. About the Service

Snövind Malamutes is a family-run Alaskan Malamute kennel based in Skärplinge, Sweden. Our website provides:

• Information about our kennel and Alaskan Malamutes
• Blog articles, photos, and video content
• A community platform with social features (posts, Q&A, private messaging, events, location sharing)
• Product recommendations and affiliate links
• Contact and enquiry forms

The website is operated by Richard Taimalie, Skärplinge, Sweden.

3. Account Registration

To access community features, you must create an account. By registering, you agree that:

• You are at least 13 years of age (in accordance with Swedish data protection law).
• The information you provide is accurate and complete.
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials.
• You will not share your account with others or create multiple accounts.
• You will notify us immediately of any unauthorised use of your account.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms.

4. User Conduct

When using our community platform, you agree not to:

• Post content that is illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, or hateful.
• Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely claim an affiliation.
• Post spam, unsolicited advertising, or promotional material.
• Upload viruses, malware, or other harmful code.
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to other users' accounts or our systems.
• Use the platform for any commercial purpose without our prior written consent.
• Scrape, crawl, or use automated tools to collect data from the website.
• Post content that promotes animal cruelty or irresponsible dog ownership.
• Share personal information of other users without their explicit consent.
• Engage in bullying, discrimination, or harassment of any kind.

We reserve the right to remove any content and suspend or ban any user who violates these rules, at our sole discretion.

5. User-Generated Content

5.1 Ownership

You retain ownership of the content you post on our platform (posts, comments, questions, answers, location submissions, etc.).

5.2 Licence Grant

By posting content on our platform, you grant Snövind Malamutes a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to display, distribute, and reproduce your content as part of operating the website and community platform. This licence exists for as long as your content remains on the platform and ends when you delete your content or account.

5.3 Content Responsibility

You are solely responsible for the content you post. We do not endorse or verify user-generated content. We reserve the right to remove content that violates these terms or that we deem inappropriate.

5.4 Shared YouTube Videos

When sharing YouTube videos on our community video page, you confirm that the video content does not violate YouTube's Terms of Service or any copyright. We embed videos using YouTube's standard embed functionality and do not host video content ourselves.

6. Intellectual Property

The following are the property of Snövind Malamutes and are protected by copyright and intellectual property laws:

• The Snövind Malamutes name, logo, and branding
• Website design, layout, and code
• Original blog articles, photographs, and video content
• Kennel-specific information and dog profiles

You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our proprietary content without prior written permission. Sharing links to our content is welcomed and encouraged.

7. Private Messaging

Our platform includes a private messaging system. By using this feature, you agree that:

• Messages are stored on our servers to facilitate the messaging service.
• We do not actively monitor private messages, but may review them if reported for violations.
• Message requests from unknown users require acceptance before a conversation is opened.
• You will not use the messaging system for spam, harassment, or any unlawful purpose.
• Rate limits apply to prevent abuse (maximum 5 new conversations per hour).

8. Store & Product Recommendations

Our store page features product recommendations for dog equipment and supplies. Please note:

• We are not a retailer. Product listings are recommendations and may contain affiliate links to third-party retailers.
• Prices, availability, and product details are provided for informational purposes and may not reflect current pricing at retailers.
• We are not responsible for purchases made through third-party retailers. Those transactions are governed by the retailer's own terms and conditions.
• Product recommendations are based on our personal experience and do not constitute professional veterinary advice.

9. Disclaimer & Limitation of Liability

9.1 General Disclaimer

The website and its content are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We make no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or availability of the website or its content.

9.2 Dog-Related Advice

Information on our website about dog care, training, nutrition, and health is based on personal experience and should not be considered professional veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian for health-related questions about your dog.

9.3 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Swedish law, Snövind Malamutes shall not be liable for:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the website.
• Any loss or damage resulting from user-generated content.
• Any loss or damage resulting from community locations submitted by users.
• The actions or content of third-party websites linked from our platform.
• Temporary unavailability of the website or specific features.

9.4 User-Submitted Locations

Community-submitted locations on our Explore page are contributed by users and have not been independently verified. We do not guarantee the accuracy, safety, or suitability of any location. Always exercise your own judgement when visiting locations and ensure your dog's safety.

10. Account Termination

10.1 By You

You may delete your account at any time by contacting us at [email protected]. Upon account deletion:

• Your profile data will be permanently deleted.
• Your community content (posts, questions, answers, comments) may be retained in anonymised form to preserve the integrity of discussions.
• Private messages will be removed from your end of conversations.

10.2 By Us

We may suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms of Service.
• Your account is used for spam, abuse, or any unlawful activity.
• We receive valid legal requests to do so.

We will endeavour to notify you before or at the time of termination, unless doing so would compromise safety or legal compliance.

11. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms of Service from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

For significant changes, we will provide notice by email or a prominent message on the website.

12. Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms of Service are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Sweden.

Any disputes arising from these terms or your use of the website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Swedish courts.

For EU consumers: you may also submit complaints through the EU Online Dispute Resolution platform.

13. Contact

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us: