1. Introduction

This User Agreement ("Agreement") is a binding contract between you and Peckture. By creating an account or using our Service, you agree to comply with this Agreement, our Terms of Service, and our Privacy Policy.

Peckture is a factual news-intelligence platform dedicated to presenting verifiable claims with proper attribution. This Agreement governs your participation in our community and use of our features.

2. Account Registration and Security

2.1 Account Creation

To create an account, you must:

• Be at least 13 years of age
• Provide accurate and complete registration information
• Choose a unique username that does not violate anyone's rights or impersonate others
• Create a secure password
• Verify your email address

2.2 Account Security

You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your password
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
• Logging out from your account at the end of each session

2.3 Account Termination

You may close your account at any time through your account settings. We may suspend or terminate your account if you violate this Agreement or our Terms of Service.

3. User Content and Conduct

3.1 Content You Submit

When using features like "Peck It" submissions or comments, you agree that:

• You own or have the right to submit the content
• Your content is accurate to the best of your knowledge
• Your content does not violate any laws or third-party rights
• You grant Peckture a license to use, display, and process your submissions

3.2 Prohibited Content

You agree not to submit content that:

• Is false, misleading, or intentionally deceptive
• Infringes on intellectual property rights
• Contains malware, viruses, or harmful code
• Harasses, threatens, or abuses others
• Contains hate speech or promotes discrimination
• Is obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit
• Violates privacy rights or contains personal information without consent
• Promotes illegal activities
• Is spam or commercial solicitation

3.3 Community Standards

When participating in the Peckture community:

• Be respectful and civil in discussions
• Focus on facts and evidence, not personal attacks
• Cite sources when making factual claims
• Acknowledge when information is opinion versus fact
• Respect the verification process and editorial decisions
• Do not attempt to manipulate verification statuses

4. Peck It Submission Guidelines

The "Peck It" feature allows users to submit URLs for potential coverage. When using this feature:

4.1 Acceptable Submissions

• Submit legitimate news articles, official statements, or primary sources
• Provide accurate URLs that are publicly accessible
• Submit newsworthy stories with verifiable factual claims
• Include relevant context or notes when helpful

4.2 Unacceptable Submissions

• Spam or repeated submissions
• Links to paywalled content with intent to bypass restrictions
• False or fabricated sources
• Content primarily consisting of opinion or commentary without factual claims
• Self-promotional or commercial content
• Malicious links or phishing attempts

4.3 Editorial Discretion

Peckture maintains full editorial discretion over which submissions are reviewed, researched, and published. Submitting a URL does not guarantee coverage. We prioritize stories based on:

• Public interest and newsworthiness
• Availability of verifiable factual claims
• Existence of multiple sources for corroboration
• Editorial resources and capacity

5. Comments and Community Interaction

5.1 Commenting Guidelines

When commenting on Pecktures:

• Stay on topic and relevant to the Peckture
• Provide constructive feedback or additional context
• Link to sources when adding new information
• Flag misleading or inaccurate comments using the flag feature
• Engage in good faith discussion

5.2 Moderation

Peckture reserves the right to moderate, edit, or remove comments that violate this Agreement or our community standards. We may also restrict commenting privileges for users who repeatedly violate these guidelines.

5.3 User Flagging

You can flag comments that violate our guidelines. False or malicious flagging may result in loss of flagging privileges or account suspension.

6. Understanding Peckture's Verification System

As a user, you should understand that Peckture uses a structured verification system. Claims are labeled with observable states, not subjective ratings:

• Unverified/Developing: New information not yet verified
• Single-source report: Only one secondary source
• Corroborated: Multiple independent credible sources
• Partially confirmed: Primary source confirms event but not all details
• Confirmed: Primary evidence confirms central claims
• Disputed: Credible sources contradict the claim
• Corrected: Factual value changed based on stronger evidence
• Retracted: Claim withdrawn

Verification states may change as new information becomes available. Always check the "Last Updated" timestamp.

7. Saved Topics and Alerts (Future Features)

Future versions of Peckture may include features for saving topics, setting up alerts, and receiving newsletters. When these features become available, you will be able to:

• Save topics of interest for easy access
• Receive notifications when saved topics are updated
• Subscribe to newsletters on specific categories or topics
• Customize your notification preferences

Use of these features will be subject to additional terms and your privacy preferences.

8. Intellectual Property Respect

8.1 Peckture's Content

All content on Peckture, including structured claims, editorial analysis, and platform design, is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights. You may:

• Link to Pecktures and share them on social media
• Quote limited portions with proper attribution
• Use the Service for personal, non-commercial purposes

8.2 Source Attribution

Peckture prominently credits original sources. When sharing Pecktures, please:

• Credit Peckture for our structured analysis and verification work
• Acknowledge the original sources we cite
• Do not present Peckture's analysis as your own work

9. Limitation of Reliance

While Peckture strives for accuracy, you acknowledge that:

• News situations are often developing and information may change
• Verification states indicate the current status of evidence, not absolute truth
• You should consult multiple sources for important decisions
• Peckture is not a substitute for professional advice (legal, medical, financial, etc.)
• Claims labeled as "Unverified" or "Developing" should be treated with appropriate caution

10. Account Data and Portability

You have the right to:

• Access your account data
• Request a copy of your submissions and activity
• Update or correct your profile information
• Delete your account and associated data

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected] or use the account settings page.

11. Reporting Violations

If you encounter content or behavior that violates this Agreement, please report it:

• Use the "Flag" feature for individual comments
• Contact us at [email protected] for serious violations
• Provide specific details and URLs when reporting

We investigate all reports and take appropriate action, but we may not disclose specific outcomes due to privacy concerns.

12. Disclaimers and Acknowledgments

By using Peckture, you acknowledge that:

• Peckture does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information
• Editorial decisions are at Peckture's sole discretion
• Advertising on the platform does not influence editorial content
• Your use of the Service is at your own risk
• Third-party links are provided for convenience without endorsement

13. Changes to This Agreement

We may update this Agreement from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email (if you have an account) or through a prominent notice on the Service. Continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Agreement.

14. Dispute Resolution

If you have a dispute with Peckture, please first contact us at [email protected] to attempt to resolve it informally. If informal resolution is unsuccessful, disputes will be governed by the dispute resolution provisions in our Terms of Service.

15. Contact Information

For questions about this User Agreement, please contact:

Peckture
Email: [email protected]

16. Acknowledgment

By creating an account or using Peckture, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this User Agreement, our Terms of Service, and our Privacy Policy.