Terms & Conditions

Preamble and Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Honestli. These Terms & Conditions ("T&Cs") govern your access to and use of the Honestli platform (the "Platform"), including all content, functionality, and services offered on or through the Platform.

The Platform is operated by Honestli Idiotiki Kefalaiouchiki Etaireia, Lamprianidou 40, Drama, Greece, PC:66132, VAT No: EL802088691 ("Honestli," "we," "us," or "our").

By accessing or using the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these T&Cs. If you do not agree to these T&Cs, you must not access or use the Platform.

1. Definitions and Scope

"Platform": The Honestli website, application, and associated services facilitating the exchange of user-generated content for journalistic or professional media use.

"Citizen User": Any individual user who uploads, submits, or contributes Content to the Platform.

"Media Professional/Journalist User": Any verified user (individual or entity) who accesses, consumes, downloads, or repurposes Content from the Platform for professional use.

"User" or "Users": Collectively, Citizen Users and Media Professional/Journalist Users.

"Content": Any data, text, files, information, media, photographs, audio, video, or other materials uploaded, submitted, or posted by a Citizen User on the Platform.

2. User Obligations and Responsibilities

2.1. Citizen User Responsibility for Content

Lawful and Original Content: The Citizen User is solely and entirely responsible for the Content they upload, post, or display on the Platform.

Warranties: By submitting Content, the Citizen User warrants and represents that:

They are the sole creator and owner of the Content or have the necessary licenses, rights, consents, and permissions to use and to authorize Honestli and all Platform Users to use the Content in the manner contemplated by the Platform and these T&Cs.
The Content does not infringe, misappropriate, or violate a third party's patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, moral rights, or other proprietary or intellectual property rights, or rights of publicity or privacy.
The Content does not violate any applicable law, regulation, or legal obligation, including, but not limited to, laws regarding defamation, incitement to hatred, child pornography, or terrorism.

2.2. Media Professional/Journalist User Responsibility for Content Usage

Professional Conduct: The Media Professional/Journalist User is solely and entirely responsible for how they handle, consume, repurpose, and repost/publish the Content accessed from the Platform.

Legal Compliance: The Media Professional/Journalist User warrants and agrees to comply with all applicable laws, journalistic standards, ethical codes, and regulations when using the Content, including, but not limited to, laws concerning libel, privacy, copyright, and defamation in their jurisdiction of publication.

Fact-Checking and Verification: Access to Content does not absolve the Media Professional/Journalist User of their professional duty to independently verify the accuracy, authenticity, and context of the Content before publication. Honestli provides the Content "as is" and makes no warranty as to its truthfulness or accuracy.

2.3. Account Security and Verification

Account Security: Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their account credentials (username and password) and for all activities that occur under their account. You agree to notify Honestli immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security. Honestli cannot and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with this security obligation.

Verification: Media Professional/Journalist Users must undergo and maintain a valid verification process as determined by Honestli. Honestli reserves the right to suspend or terminate access if verification status is compromised or cannot be confirmed.

3. Intellectual Property and Content License

3.1. Ownership

The Citizen User retains all ownership rights to the Content they upload. Honestli does not claim ownership of the Content.

3.2. Grant of License by Citizen User

By uploading Content to the Platform, the Citizen User hereby grants Honestli and, crucially, to anyone who has access to this Platform (including all other Users), a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform the Content in connection with the Platform's operation and for journalistic and professional media use, across any media format and through any media channel. This includes the right for Media Professional/Journalist Users to sublicense the Content to their own publishers, broadcasters, or media outlets for the purpose of a single, final publication derived from or incorporating the Content.

3.3. Use of Platform Content

The license granted in Section 3.2 is permission for use and reproduction. No Media Professional/Journalist User shall be required to pay an additional fee to the Citizen User for the initial use or reproduction of the Content obtained directly through the Platform, provided the use is within the scope of this license.

4. Liability and Indemnification

4.1. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE PLATFORM AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. HONESTLI EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

4.2. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL HONESTLI, ITS AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, OR EMPLOYEES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM (i) YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF OR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE THE PLATFORM; (ii) ANY CONDUCT OR CONTENT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE PLATFORM; (iii) ANY CONTENT OBTAINED FROM THE PLATFORM; AND (iv) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS, USE, OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR CONTENT, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY.

4.3. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Honestli and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees, arising out of or in any way connected with: (i) your Content or your access to or use of the Platform; (ii) your breach of any term of these T&Cs; (iii) your violation of any third-party right, including without limitation any intellectual property, publicity, confidentiality, property, or privacy right; or (iv) any violation of applicable law by you.

5. EU Digital Governance and Compliance

5.1. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Compliance

Honestli is committed to compliance with the GDPR (Regulation (EU) 2016/679). Our processing of personal data is described in detail in our separate Privacy Policy, which forms part of these T&Cs. Key principles include:

Data Minimisation: We only collect and process personal data strictly necessary for the operation of the Platform.
Consent: We rely on lawful bases for processing, including consent and legitimate interests, as appropriate.
Data Subject Rights: Users have the right to access, rectification, erasure ("right to be forgotten"), restriction of processing, data portability, and to object to processing, subject to applicable legal limitations.

5.2. Digital Services Act (DSA) Compliance

In compliance with the DSA (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065), Honestli will implement measures consistent with its classification as an online platform, including:

Content Moderation: We will maintain clear policies and procedures for flagging and addressing illegal content.
Notice and Action: We will operate an efficient "notice-and-action" mechanism to allow any individual or entity to notify us of content they consider to be illegal.
Transparency: We will provide transparency regarding our content moderation decisions, algorithms, and policies.

5.3. Digital Markets Act (DMA)

Honestli acknowledges the provisions of the DMA. Should Honestli, at any time, be designated as a "gatekeeper" pursuant to the DMA, we commit to ensuring that our core platform services comply with all obligations and prohibitions set forth by the Regulation. Until such designation, we will operate in a manner consistent with fair and contestable digital markets.

6. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These T&Cs shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Greece, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

You agree that any claim or dispute you may have against Honestli must be resolved exclusively by a court located in Athens, Greece.

7. Miscellaneous

7.1. Modifications to T&Cs

Honestli reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify or replace these T&Cs at any time. We will provide reasonable notice of any material changes.