Terms of Service

Last Updated: January 1, 2025

Welcome to Vancouver Island News. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our website vanislandnews.ca and related services (collectively, the "Service") operated by Vancouver Island News ("we," "our," or "us").

Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using our Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of these terms, then you may not access the Service.

Use of the Service

Permitted Uses

• Reading and sharing news articles for personal, non-commercial use
• Submitting news tips and story ideas
• Subscribing to our newsletter
• Engaging with our content on social media

Prohibited Uses

You may not use our Service to:

• Republish our content without permission
• Submit false, misleading, or defamatory information
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users or our staff
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Use automated systems to scrape or download content

Content and Intellectual Property

Our Content

All content on Vancouver Island News, including articles, images, logos, and design, is owned by us or our licensors and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.

Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use our content for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may share links to our articles and quote brief excerpts with proper attribution.

User-Submitted Content

When you submit content to us (such as news tips, comments, or emails), you grant us a non-exclusive right to use, modify, and publish that content in connection with our news reporting.

News Reporting and Editorial Standards

Editorial Independence

We maintain editorial independence in our news reporting. Our content reflects our editorial judgment and may include opinions and analysis.

Accuracy and Corrections

• We strive for accuracy in all our reporting
• We will promptly correct significant errors
• We welcome corrections and feedback from our readers

Sources and Attribution

We protect the confidentiality of sources when appropriate and provide proper attribution for information and images used in our reporting.

Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy, which also governs your use of the Service, to understand our practices.

Third-Party Links and Services

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

Disclaimers and Limitations

Information Disclaimer

The information on our Service is provided for general informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no warranties about the completeness, reliability, or accuracy of information.

Service Availability

We do not guarantee that our Service will be available at all times or free from interruptions, errors, or security vulnerabilities.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Vancouver Island News shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Service.

News Tip Submissions

Submission Guidelines

• News tips should be factual and verifiable
• Include relevant details and contact information
• Respect privacy and confidentiality when appropriate
• Do not submit copyrighted material without permission

Editorial Discretion

We reserve the right to investigate, verify, and determine whether to publish stories based on submitted tips, in our sole editorial discretion.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold Vancouver Island News harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of the Service or violation of these Terms.

Modifications to Service and Terms

We reserve the right to modify or discontinue the Service at any time and to update these Terms. We will notify users of material changes by posting updated Terms on our website.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of British Columbia, Canada. Any disputes will be resolved in the courts of British Columbia.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to be in full force and effect.

Contact Information

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

• Email: legal@vanislandnews.ca
• Phone: (250) 555-NEWS (6397)
• Mail: Vancouver Island News, Legal Department, Vancouver Island, BC