Terms of Use and Copyright

Introduction

1. Copyright, Copying, and Trademark The entire PPM Web site is copyrighted, 2005, by Planned Parenthood® of Maryland ("PPM"). Certain articles or materials within the Web site are also separately copyrighted by PPM or others as indicated. All rights reserved. If you find these materials useful, you may download, print out, or send a copy to others so long as each copy indicates the appropriate copyright notice and is used only for personal use. It is expressly prohibited, however, to reprint or electronically reproduce any text, document, graphic, or audio or visual material for bulk or commercial use. For special copyright permissions, or to purchase PPM publications and pamphlets, please write to: Planned Parenthood of Maryland 330 N. Howard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. Planned Parenthood® and its logo of nested "Ps" are registered service marks of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. The Breast Exam page on the PPM Web site is excerpted from the Planned Parenthood® pamphlet, The Gynecological Visit and Exam -- Your Key to Good Health. © 2004 Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. All rights reserved.
   
   
2. Information Obtained Through the PPM Web Site Does Not Constitute Medical, Legal, or Other Professional Advice The information contained in this PPM Web site or transmitted to you electronically in response to a message from you is not intended nor implied to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always visit or speak to a qualified health service provider in person prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. This PPM Web site does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical advice as part of this service. In addition, nothing contained in this PPM Web site is intended to be or constitutes legal advice, and users should always seek the advice of an appropriate attorney or other professional regarding individual questions or concerns of a legal or professional nature.
   
   
3. Disclaimer of Warranty and Liability PPM assumes no liability for any diagnosis, treatment, decision made, or action taken in reliance upon information contained in the PPM Web site or any other internet sites linked to it in any way. PPM does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of the PPM Web site or the internet. Furthermore, PPM does not make any express or implied warranties, representations, or endorsements whatsoever in connection with the PPM Web site, other Web sites accessed by "hyperlink," or the Internet generally (including without limitation, warranties of title or non-infringement, or the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose). You understand that, except for information, products, or services clearly identified as being supplied by PPM, PPM does not review, operate, or control any material, information, products or services on the Internet, including electronic transmissions from Users or materials connected to the PPM Web site through "hyperlinks," in any way. Unless stated otherwise, the people shown in the photographs on plannedparenthoodmd.org are models. These photos were chosen solely for aesthetic reasons. The models in these pictures have no connection to Planned Parenthood® or any of the topics discussed on the Web site. In no event shall PPM be liable for any injury, loss, claim, damage, or any incidental or consequential damages arising either directly or indirectly out of or in any way connected with the PPM Web site, or any failure or delay in updating or including any materials on the PPM Web site, or any use of or inability to use any materials on the PPM Web site, even if PPM has been advised of the possibility of such damages. (Some states do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties or the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental and consequential damages, so the above exclusions may not apply to you.)
   
   
4. Waiver of Responsibility for Defective or Contaminated Materials Although PPM makes every effort to ensure the correctness of data, PPM disclaims responsibility for any errors or omissions, such as unintended technical inaccuracies or typographical errors, in the materials. You also understand that PPM cannot and does not guarantee or warrant that files available for downloading through the service will be free of "infection" or "viruses," "worms," "Trojan horses," or other code that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. Users are responsible for implementing sufficient procedures and checkpoints to satisfy their particular requirements for accuracy of data input and output, and for maintaining a means external to the PPM Web site for the reconstruction of any lost data. Use of the PPM Web site and the Internet generally is at the User's own risk.
   
   
5. Legal Actions These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Maryland, U.S.A, and you agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of the courts of the state of Maryland. In the event that any portion of these terms and conditions is deemed by a court to be invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. You agree that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to this Web site, or the use of this Web site must be filed within one year after such claim or cause of action arose and must be filed in a court in Maryland.
   
   
6. User Rules In order to maintain an informative and valuable service that meets the needs of the viewers and avoids harm to others, it is necessary to establish and for you to follow these User Rules:
   
   1. The user may download, print, or transmit information from the PPM Web site for personal, private use. However, the user must make sure that proper copyright notice is affixed to each copy transmitted or printed and in no case may the materials be reproduced in bulk or for commercial use without express, written permission from:
      
      Planned Parenthood of Maryland
      330 N. Howard Street
      Baltimore, MD 21201
      
   2. Users may not post or transmit any message that is libelous or defamatory, or violates any other person's copyrights, privacy rights, trademarks, trade secrets, or rights in other confidential information. The User indemnifies PPM for any and all damages suffered by third parties as a result of the User's violation of this term.
   3. Users may not post or transmit any message, data, image, or program with the intent to threaten the safety of others and/or with the effect of causing a reasonable person to perceive a threat to his or her safety.
   4. It is not the intent to discourage Users from taking controversial positions or expressing vigorously what may be unpopular views; however, PPM reserves the right to take such action as it deems appropriate in cases where the PPM Web site is inappropriately used to disseminate statements or materials that are reasonably construed as abusive, destructive, harmful, or threatening to the safety of others.
   5. Users may not interfere with other Users' use of the PPM Web site, including, without limitation, disrupting the normal flow or use of the service.
   6. Users may not post or transmit any file which contains "viruses," "worms," "Trojan horse" or any other contaminating or destructive features.
   7. It is our general policy to protect the privacy of the persons transmitting any messages to PPM. However, PPM reserves the right to reproduce and distribute part or all of a message without any compensation to the User so long as any identifying information is deleted.
      
7. Digital Millennium Copyright Act [512(c)(2) of Title 17 of the United States Code]
   
   If you believe that any material on the PPM Web site infringes your copyright, please contact PPM with the following written information specified below. Please note that this procedure is only to notify PPM that your copyrighted material has potentially been infringed.
   
   1. The location on the Web site of the potentially infringing item;
   2. A description of the copyrighted work that You claim has been infringed upon;
   3. Your address, e-mail address and telephone number;
   4. A sworn statement by You that You believe in good faith that the item is infringing and that You are either the copyright owner or authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.