Terms of Service

Last Updated: February 16, 2024

Welcome to Pawp! Please read these Terms of Service (the “Terms”) and our Privacy Policy (“Privacy Policy”) carefully because they are a legal agreement between you and Pawp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pawp”, “we”, “us” or “our”) and govern your use of our pet wellness content and related services accessible via our website located at pawp.com (the “Site”) or via iOS and/or Android applications. To make these Terms easier to read, the Site and our services are collectively called the “Services.”

1. Agreement to Terms. By using our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you don’t agree to be bound by these Terms, do not use the Services.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING ARBITRATION: WHEN YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS, YOU ARE AGREEING (WITH LIMITED EXCEPTION) TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN YOU AND PAWP THROUGH BINDING, INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION RATHER THAN IN COURT. PLEASE REVIEW CAREFULLY SECTION 17 “DISPUTE RESOLUTION” BELOW FOR DETAILS REGARDING ARBITRATION (INCLUDING THE PROCEDURE TO OPT OUT OF ARBITRATION).

2. Privacy Policy. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for information on how we collect, use and disclose information from our users. You acknowledge and agree that your use of the Services is subject to our Privacy Policy.

3. Services. We provide digital health and telehealth services for pets, including by connecting you with veterinary professionals for consultation services. Such services do not include the providing of pet insurance.

4. Changes to Terms or Services. We may update the Terms at any time, in our sole discretion. If we do so, we’ll let you know either by posting the updated Terms on the Site or through other communications. It’s important that you review the Terms whenever you use the Services. If you continue to use the Services after we have posted updated Terms, you are agreeing to be bound by the updated Terms. If you don’t agree to be bound by the updated Terms, then you may not use the Services anymore. Because our Services are evolving over time, we may change or discontinue all or any part of the Services at any time and without notice, at our sole discretion.

5. Who May Use the Services?

(a) Eligibility. You may use the Services only if you are (i) 18 years or older and capable of forming a legal binding contract with Pawp, and (ii) not barred from using the Services under applicable law. We reserve the right to restrict access to members who were previously found in violation of these Terms of Service.

(b) Registration and Your Information. If you want to use certain features of the Services you’ll have to create an account (“Account”). You can do this via the Site, via iOS and/or Android applications, or through your account with certain third-party social networking services such as Meta (“Facebook”); (each, an “SNS Account”). If you choose the SNS Account option we’ll create your Account by extracting from your SNS Account certain personal information such as your name and email address and other personal information that your privacy settings on the SNS Account permit us to access. For New York members, we require a physical address (no P.O. Box).

(c) Accuracy of Account Information. It’s important that you provide us with accurate, complete and up-to-date information for your Account and you agree to update such information to keep it accurate, complete and up-to-date. If you don’t, we might have to suspend or terminate your Account. You agree that you won’t disclose your account password to anyone and you’ll notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account. You’re responsible for all activities that occur under your Account, whether or not you know about them.

6. Feedback. We welcome feedback, comments, and suggestions for improvements to the Services (“Feedback”). You can submit Feedback by emailing us at [email protected]. You grant to us a non-exclusive, transferable, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, fully-paid, royalty-free license, with the right to sublicense, under any and all intellectual property rights that you own or control to use, copy, modify, create derivative works based upon and otherwise exploit the Feedback for any purpose.

(a) Please review our member Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct document sets out the standards of behavior you can expect from the Pawp team, and in turn, the standards of behavior we can expect from our members. We ask that you lead with kindness and respect when reaching out to us, and know that our team will always strive to do the same.

7. Payment. We require payment of a fee for use of the Services (or certain portions thereof) and you agree to pay such fees.

(a) General. When you purchase a subscription to the Services (such purchase, a “Transaction”) you expressly authorize us (or our third-party payment processor) to charge you for such Transaction. We may ask you to supply additional information relevant to your Transaction, including your credit card number, the expiration date of your credit card and your email and postal addresses for billing and notification (such information, “Payment Information”). Again for New York members, we need the physical address, not a P.O. box address. You represent and warrant that you have the legal right to use all payment method(s) represented by any such Payment Information. When you initiate a Transaction, you authorize us to provide your Payment Information to third parties so we can complete your Transaction and to charge your payment method for the type of Transaction you have selected (plus any applicable taxes and other charges). You may need to provide additional information to verify your identity before completing your Transaction (such information is included within the definition of Payment Information).

(b) Free Trial. Your subscription may begin with a free trial for the 24/7 telehealth service. The length of your free trial will be set out during online checkout. We reserve the right, in our absolute discretion, to determine your eligibility for a free trial, including creating multiple free trial accounts, and to withdraw or to modify your free trial at any time without prior notice and without liability. As a free trial user, you acknowledge and agree that your use and access to the Services is subject to these Terms of Service. You agree to provide your Payment Information during online checkout before beginning your free trial. We will not process your Payment Information for payment of your fee during your free trial. On the last day of your free trial, we will automatically convert your free trial into a paid Subscription and process your Payment Information for the monthly or annual Subscription Fee in accordance with Section 7. From that date on, the automatic renewal provisions set forth in Section 7(b), 7(c) and 7(d) will also apply. By providing your Payment Information in conjunction with registration for a free trial, you agree to these charges and billing practices. If you do not wish to be charged, you must cancel before the end of your free trial. Upon cancellation of your free trial, your access to the Services will terminate immediately.

(c) Activation. Upon becoming a paid member you have the choice of electing the telehealth service only, or you can also elect to subscribe to financial protection provided by the Emergency Fund add-on as more fully described below. The telehealth service will be billed at an annual charge at the current in-force rates. You can elect to add the Emergency Fund add-on upon becoming a paid member or at a later date. The Emergency Fund add-on will be billed as an additional charge to be paid monthly at the current in-force rates. This payment and all other such payments are non-refundable.

(d) Subscription. You will be charged the monthly or annual subscription fee, plus any applicable taxes and other charges (“Subscription Fee”) on the date you purchase the Subscription and every recurring period thereafter. BY PURCHASING A SUBSCRIPTION, YOU AUTHORIZE US TO INITIATE RECURRING NON-REFUNDABLE PAYMENTS AS SET FORTH BELOW. For your monthly Subscriptions, we (or our third-party payment processor) will automatically charge you each month on the day of the month of the commencement of your Subscriptions, using the Payment Information you have provided until you cancel your Subscriptions. For your yearly Subscription, we (or our third-party payment processor) will automatically charge you on the anniversary date of the commencement of the Subscription and every year thereafter, using the Payment Information you have provided until you cancel your Subscription. In the event your Subscriptions begin on a day not contained in a later month or year, your payment method will be charged on such other day as we deem appropriate. By agreeing to these Terms and electing to purchase any Subscription, you acknowledge that your Subscriptions have recurring payment features and you accept responsibility for all recurring payment obligations prior to the cancellation of your Subscriptions.

(e) Canceling your Subscription. You can cancel a Subscription by visiting your “Account” on the Services. You will be responsible for all Subscription Fees incurred for the then-current Subscription period. Alternatively, you can also cancel a Subscription by sending an email to [email protected]. IN NO EVENT WILL YOU RECEIVE A REFUND OF ANY PORTION OF THE SUBSCRIPTION FEE PAID FOR THE THEN CURRENT SUBSCRIPTION PERIOD AT THE TIME OF CANCELLATION. If you cancel, your right to use the Services will continue until the end of your then current Subscription period and will then terminate without further charges with the exception of being eligible to receive the $3,000 Emergency Fund. By canceling your Subscription, you agree to waive your right to receive any funds in the event of an emergency.

8. Emergency Fund. If your Subscription includes access to Pawp's $3,000 Emergency Fund (the "Emergency Fund"), you will be subject to our Pawp Emergency Fund Rules & Regulations (which are incorporated by reference herein and which supplement these Terms).

By subscribing to the Emergency Fund, you acknowledge and agree that:

(a) There is a 14-day mandatory waiting period upon signing up for the Emergency Fund add-on before the Emergency Fund becomes available to use. Any emergency that occurs within that 14-day waiting period cannot be covered. If you cancel and reactivate the Emergency Fund add-on, there will be another mandatory 14-day waiting period after reactivating. Please note, you do have immediate access to our team of veterinary professionals via chat and video during the waiting period. This period cannot be modified or adjusted in any way.

(b) The Emergency Fund is only available to you if all account payments (monthly and annually) are made continuously and without interruption. If the payment method we have on file for you fails, you will lose access to the Emergency Fund. If you cancel your Emergency Fund add-on, you will lose access to the fund at the end of your payment term. You can update your payment method here.

(c) In nearly all instances, you are required to contact a Pawp veterinary professional by video immediately if you believe your pet is experiencing an emergency. The pet needs to be visible within the video. You can talk to a team member here. A live face-to-face video call is the preferred method to determine if it is a possible emergency or not. In very rare and extreme circumstances, you may seek in-person emergency care before speaking with a Pawp vet professional. Ultimately, it is within Pawp’s full discretion to determine whether your possible emergency warrants waiving the face-to-face video call requirement. Utilizing the video chat assists in assessing the situation and provides you, the member, a greater degree of knowledge of what is occurring with your pet.

(d) The Emergency Fund only pays for the initial emergency care. Once a pet is discharged from one (1) veterinary hospital, all additional veterinary services provided are considered follow up care and are not eligible for reimbursement. Administrative fees, maintenance and/or set up fees are not eligible for reimbursement. Please note: You may be asked to upload all invoices from treating clinics for Pawp to get a more complete picture of the pet's in-person emergency care.

(e) After a Pawp veterinary professional identifies a possible emergency situation via video, members have up to twenty-four (24) hours to take your pet to any licensed veterinary clinic located within the forty-eight contiguous United States, Hawaii, Alaska and the District of Columbia. If you fail to seek care within this 8-hour period, your fund application will not be approved.

(f) Upon approval of an emergency application with reimbursement authorized, you have fourteen (14) calendar days to collect the funds from the date of issue. Failure to collect the funds will result in forfeiture of reimbursement. Once forfeited, a reimbursement cannot be reissued unless otherwise required by applicable laws. You can request us to review extenuating circumstances and make adjustments if warranted. Pawp, at our sole discretion, retains the right to determine the criteria that warrants the reissue of a previously forfeited reimbursement.

(g) You may be required to provide proof of ownership of your pet in the form of a pet license or registration.

(h) Your Emergency Fund is non-transferable to other parties and their pets.

(i) The Emergency Fund is restricted to one (1) reimbursement per policy year of any amount up to $3,000. If the approved reimbursement payout is less than $3,000, the remaining amount will not roll over.

(j) The Emergency Fund only covers cats and dogs, no other animals.

(k) You will not qualify for the Emergency Fund if a Pawp veterinary professional has previously recommended an in-person visit and you failed to comply. Waiting to take a pet in for medical care can result in an unnecessary emergency for a pet and Pawp does not support medical negligence. No other form of medical negligence will be accepted, including discharging your pet from a hospital against medical advice.

(l) You can take your pet to any licensed veterinary clinic located within the forty-eight contiguous United States, Hawaii, Alaska and the District of Columbia.

(m) The Emergency Fund may be used to cover additional costs associated with euthanasia, such as cremation, up to a maximum of $250 (subject to the overall maximum of $3,000). It does not cover the cost of any form of memorabilia.

(n) The Emergency Fund cannot be used for emergencies arising from or in any way related to pet breeding or pregnancy issues, including but not limited to nursing, neonates, and weaning.

(o) We require completed profiles for every pet in a household with their name, age, weight, breed, and a clear photo in order to qualify for the Emergency Fund. If this information is missing, you will not be able to qualify for the Emergency Fund.

(p) We pay for any immediate, unexpected, life-threatening emergency veterinary service required for one (1) pet listed in your household. This reimbursement is limited to one (1) invoice for continuous care of up to $3,000 provided by the licensed veterinarian during the treatment of the emergency.

(q) To apply for reimbursement, please complete our Emergency Fund Application, which can be found under the Protect tab in the Pawp app, within fourteen (14) calendar days of your pet’s discharge from emergency care. As a part of that application, you will need copies of the final invoice and complete medical records, along with the treating clinic information. Incorrect or missing information will cause delays in processing your application. We will reach out to you to update any incorrect or missing information and will provide you with a seven (7) calendar day period to update such information required. If we do not receive an update to the incorrect or missing information within the provided period, we will consider the submission final and we may reject it due to incorrect or missing information.

(r) You can cancel your Pawp membership at any time. You will lose access to the Emergency Fund at the end of your payment term. If you use the Emergency Fund and cancel during the payment cycle following the emergency, you will need to wait at least one hundred twenty (120) calendar days (or until your one-year signup anniversary date, whichever comes first) before you can qualify for the Emergency Fund again. We reserve the right to cancel a membership if: you fail to provide the monthly or annual membership fee; the membership was obtained through fraud, misrepresentation, or concealment; you have been found by a licensed veterinary professional to have grossly mistreated and/or abused the pet. Members who threaten or verbally abuse Pawp’s professional staff will be considered for immediate termination of their membership. Code of Conduct violations may result in termination of your membership and account.

9. Content Ownership, Responsibility and Removal.

(a) Definitions. For purposes of these Terms: (i) “Content” means text, graphics, images, music, software, audio, video, works of authorship of any kind, and information or other materials that are posted, generated, provided, transmitted or otherwise made available through the Services; and (ii) “User Content” means any Content that you provide to us through the Services (for example, information about your pet).

(b) Our Content Ownership. Pawp does not claim any ownership rights in any User Content, and nothing in these Terms will be deemed to restrict any rights that you may have to use and exploit your User Content. Subject to the foregoing, Pawp and its licensors exclusively own all right, title and interest in and to the Services and Content, including all associated intellectual property rights. You acknowledge that the Services and Content are protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws of the United States and foreign countries. You agree not to remove, alter or obscure any copyright, trademark, service mark or other proprietary rights notices incorporated in or accompanying the Services or Content.

(c) Rights in User Content Granted by You. By submitting any User Content through the Services you hereby grant to Pawp a non-exclusive, irrevocable, perpetual, transferable, worldwide, royalty-free license, with the right to sublicense, to use, copy, modify, distribute, publicly display and publicly perform your User Content in connection with operating and providing the Services.

(d) Your Responsibility for User Content. You are solely responsible for all your User Content. You represent and warrant that you own all your User Content or you have all rights that are necessary to grant us the license rights in your User Content under these Terms. You also represent and warrant that neither your User Content, nor your use and provision of your User Content to be made available through the Services, nor any use of your User Content by Pawp on or through the Services will infringe, misappropriate or violate a third party’s intellectual property rights, or rights of publicity or privacy, or result in the violation of any applicable law or regulation.

(e) Removal of User Content. You can remove your User Content by specifically deleting it. However, in certain instances, some of your User Content may not be completely removed and copies of your User Content may continue to exist on the Services. We are not responsible or liable for the removal or deletion of (or the failure to remove or delete) any of your User Content.

(f) Rights in Content Granted by Pawp. Subject to your compliance with these Terms, Pawp grants to you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license, with no right to sublicense, to access and view the Content solely in connection with your permitted use of the Services and solely for your personal and non-commercial purposes.

10. General Prohibitions and Pawp’s Enforcement Rights. You agree not to do any of the following:

(a) Post, upload, publish, submit or transmit any User Content that: (i) infringes, misappropriates or violates a third party’s patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, moral rights or other intellectual property rights, or rights of publicity or privacy; (ii) violates, or encourages any conduct that would violate, any applicable law or regulation or would give rise to civil liability; (iii) is fraudulent, false, misleading or deceptive; (iv) is defamatory, obscene, pornographic, vulgar or offensive; (v) promotes discrimination, bigotry, racism, hatred, harassment or harm against any individual or group; (vi) is violent or threatening or promotes violence or actions that are threatening to any person or entity; or (vii) promotes illegal or harmful activities or substances;

(b) Use, display, mirror or frame the Services or any individual element within the Services, Pawp’s name, any Pawp trademark, logo or other proprietary information, or the layout and design of any page or form contained on a page, without Pawp’s express written consent;

(c) Access, tamper with, or use non-public areas of the Services, Pawp’s computer systems, or the technical delivery systems of Pawp’s providers;

(d) Attempt to probe, scan, or test the vulnerability of any Pawp system or network or breach any security or authentication measures;

(e) Avoid, bypass, remove, deactivate, impair, descramble, or otherwise circumvent any technological measure implemented by Pawp or any of Pawp’s providers or any other third party (including another user) to protect the Services or Content;

(f) Attempt to access or search the Services or Content or download Content from the Services through the use of any engine, software, tool, agent, device or mechanism (including spiders, robots, crawlers, data mining tools or the like) other than the software and/or search agents provided by Pawp or other generally available third-party web browsers;

(g) Send any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, email, junk mail, spam, chain letters or other form of solicitation;

(h) Use any meta tags or other hidden text or metadata utilizing a Pawp trademark, logo URL or product name without Pawp’s express written consent; (i) Use the Services, or any portion thereof, for any commercial purpose or for the benefit of any third party or in any manner not permitted by these Terms;

(i) Forge any TCP/IP packet header or any part of the header information in any email or newsgroup posting, or in any way use the Services to send altered, deceptive or false source-identifying information;

(j) Attempt to decipher, decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer any of the software used to provide the Services;

(k) Interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, the access of any user, host or network, including, without limitation, sending a virus, overloading, flooding, spamming, or mail-bombing the Services;

(l) Collect or store any personally identifiable information from the Services from other users of the Services without their express permission;

(m) Impersonate or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity;

(n) Violate any applicable law or regulation; or

(o) Encourage or enable any other individual to do any of the foregoing.

Although we’re not obligated to monitor access to or use of the Services or to review or edit any Content, we have the right to do so for the purpose of operating the Services, to ensure compliance with these Terms and to comply with applicable law or other legal requirements. We reserve the right, but are not obligated, to remove or disable access to any Content (including without limitation User Content), at any time and without notice, including, but not limited to, if we, at our sole discretion, consider any Content to be objectionable or in violation of these Terms. We have the right to investigate violations of these Terms or conduct that affects the Services. We may also consult and cooperate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute users who violate the law.

11. Links to Third Party Websites or Resources. The Services may make available to you content provided by third parties, including links to third-party websites or resources (collectively, “Third Party Content”). We do not control, endorse or adopt any Third-Party Content and will have no responsibility for Third Party Content including, without limitation, material that may be misleading, incomplete, erroneous, offensive, indecent or otherwise objectionable. You acknowledge that we provide the Third Party Content to you only as a convenience and are not responsible for the content, products or services on or available from those websites or resources or links displayed on such websites. You further acknowledge sole responsibility for and assume all risk arising from, your use of any third-party websites or resources and all your interactions with such third-party websites or resources.

12. Termination. We may terminate your access to and use of the Services, at our sole discretion, at any time and without notice to you. You may cancel your Account at any time through the Services interface or by sending an email to us at [email protected]. Upon any termination, discontinuation or cancellation of the Services or your Account, the following Sections will survive: 7, 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 9(d), 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18.

13. Warranty Disclaimers.

(a) THE SERVICES AND CONTENT ARE PROVIDED “AS IS,” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, WE EXPLICITLY DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, QUIET ENJOYMENT AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING OUT OF COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE. We make no warranty that the Services will meet your requirements or be available on an uninterrupted, secure, or error-free basis. We make no warranty regarding the quality, accuracy, timeliness, truthfulness, completeness or reliability of any Content. The Content may contain information relating to various medical conditions that may affect your pet; this information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

(b) Any advice provided by a veterinary professional is for your decision support purposes only (i.e., to assist you in making your veterinary medical decision). The Services are not a substitute for an in-person evaluation of your pet by a veterinary doctor. Communications with veterinary professionals through the Services are inherently limited and do not include safeguards and procedures typical of in-person evaluations and visits. No client-professional relationship shall be formed between you and us as a result of you using the Services. Communications with any professionals through the Services are not confidential and shall not be the subject of any associated privileges. The laws, regulations, other governing authorities, standards, practices and procedures that apply to your particular question or situation may differ depending on your location and information typically discovered through in-person evaluation. Veterinary professionals available through the Services may be licensed, certified, educated, employed by or have experience in only particular jurisdictions or within particular fields.

(c) IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR PET IS EXPERIENCING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, SEEK APPROPRIATE EMERGENCY VETERINARY MEDICAL CARE IMMEDIATELY. You acknowledge sole responsibility for and assume all risk arising from your use of the Services.

14. Indemnity. You will indemnify and hold harmless Pawp and its officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any claims, disputes, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, and costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable legal and accounting fees arising out of or in any way connected with (i) your access to or use of the Services, (ii) your User Content, or (iii) your violation of these Terms.

15. Limitation of Liability.

(a) NEITHER PAWP NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN CREATING, PRODUCING, OR DELIVERING THE SERVICES WILL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES FOR LOST PROFITS, LOST REVENUES, LOST SAVINGS, LOST BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, LOSS OF DATA OR GOODWILL, SERVICE INTERRUPTION, COMPUTER DAMAGE OR SYSTEM FAILURE OR THE COST OF SUBSTITUTE SERVICES OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THESE TERMS OR FROM THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICES OR CONTENT, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), PRODUCT LIABILITY OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND WHETHER OR NOT PAWP OR ANY OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE, EVEN IF A LIMITED REMEDY SET FORTH HEREIN IS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

(b) IN NO EVENT WILL PAWP’S TOTAL LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THESE TERMS OR FROM THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICES EXCEED THE AMOUNTS YOU HAVE PAID TO PAWP FOR USE OF THE SERVICES OR ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100), IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD ANY PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS TO PAWP, AS APPLICABLE.

(c) THE EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF DAMAGES SET FORTH ABOVE ARE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF THE BASIS OF THE BARGAIN BETWEEN PAWP AND YOU.

16. Governing Law and Forum Choice. These Terms and any action related thereto will be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, federal arbitration law, and the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in Section 17, “Dispute Resolution”, the exclusive jurisdiction for all Disputes (defined below) that you and Pawp are not required to arbitrate will be the state and federal courts located in the Northern District of New York (Albany Division), and you and Pawp each waive any objection to jurisdiction and venue in such courts.

17. Dispute Resolution.

(a) Mandatory Arbitration of Disputes. We each agree that any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity thereof or the use of the Services or Content (collectively, “Disputes”) will be resolved solely by binding, individual arbitration and not in a class, representative or consolidated action or proceeding. You and Pawp agree that the U.S. Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of these Terms, and that you and Pawp are each waiving the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a class action. This arbitration provision shall survive termination of these Terms.

(b) Exceptions. As limited exceptions to Section 17(a) above: (i) we both may seek to resolve a Dispute in small claims court if it qualifies; and (ii) we each retain the right to seek injunctive or other equitable relief from a court to prevent (or enjoin) the infringement or misappropriation of our intellectual property rights.

(c) Conducting Arbitration and Arbitration Rules. The arbitration will be conducted by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules (the “AAA Rules”) then in effect, except as modified by these Terms. The AAA Rules are available at www.adr.org or by calling 1-800-778-7879. A party who wishes to start arbitration must submit a written Demand for Arbitration to AAA and give notice to the other party as specified in the AAA Rules. The AAA provides a form Demand for Arbitration at www.adr.org. Any arbitration hearings will take place in the county (or parish) where you live, unless we both agree to a different location. The parties agree that the arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to decide all issues relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability and scope of this arbitration agreement.

(d) Arbitration Costs. Payment of all filing, administration and arbitrator fees will be governed by the AAA Rules, and we won’t seek to recover the administration and arbitrator fees we are responsible for paying, unless the arbitrator finds your Dispute frivolous. If we prevail in arbitration we’ll pay all of our attorneys’ fees and costs and won’t seek to recover them from you. If you prevail in arbitration you will be entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses to the extent provided under applicable law.

(e) Injunctive and Declaratory Relief. Except as provided in Section 17(b) above, the arbitrator shall determine all issues of liability on the merits of any claim asserted by either party and may award declaratory or injunctive relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by that party’s individual claim. To the extent that you or we prevail on a claim and seek public injunctive relief (that is, injunctive relief that has the primary purpose and effect of prohibiting unlawful acts that threaten future injury to the public), the entitlement to and extent of such relief must be litigated in a civil court of competent jurisdiction and not in arbitration. The parties agree that litigation of any issues of public injunctive relief shall be stayed pending the outcome of the merits of any individual claims in arbitration.

(f) Class Action Waiver. YOU AND PAWP AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. Further, if the parties’ Dispute is resolved through arbitration, the arbitrator may not consolidate another person’s claims with your claims, and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding. If this specific provision is found to be unenforceable, then the entirety of this Dispute Resolution section shall be null and void.

(g) Severability. With the exception of any of the provisions in Section 17(f) of these Terms ("Class Action Waiver"), if an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction decides that any part of these Terms is invalid or unenforceable, the other parts of these Terms will still apply.

18. General Terms.

(a) Entire Agreement. These Terms constitute the entire and exclusive understanding and agreement between Pawp and you regarding the Services, and these Terms supersede and replace any and all prior oral or written understandings or agreements between Pawp and you regarding the Services. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable by an arbitrator or a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permissible and the other provisions of these Terms will remain in full force and effect. You may not assign or transfer these Terms, by operation of law or otherwise, without Pawp’s prior written consent. Any attempt by you to assign or transfer these Terms, without such consent, will be null. Pawp may freely assign or transfer these Terms without restriction. Subject to the foregoing, these Terms will bind and inure to the benefit of the parties, their successors and permitted assigns.

(b) Notices. Any notices or other communications provided by Pawp under these Terms, including those regarding modifications to these Terms, will be given: (i) via email; or (ii) by posting to the Services. For notices made by e-mail, the date of receipt will be deemed the date on which such notice is transmitted.

(c) Waiver of Rights. Pawp’s failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of such right or provision. The waiver of any such right or provision will be effective only if in writing and signed by a duly authorized representative of Pawp. Except as expressly set forth in these Terms, the exercise by either party of any of its remedies under these Terms will be without prejudice to its other remedies under these Terms or otherwise.

19. Contact Information. If you have any questions about these Terms or the Services, please contact Pawp at [email protected].