The rules for using iRate.
These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a binding agreement between you and Dallas AI Metrics, LLC ("iRate," "we," "us," or "our"), the operator of the iRate service at irate.biz and its related pages and applications (collectively, the "Service"). Please read them carefully. By accessing or using the Service, or by creating an account, you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.
By accessing or using the Service — including browsing politicians, casting a rating, or creating an account — you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated here by reference. If you use the Service on behalf of an organization, you represent that you are authorized to accept these Terms on its behalf.
You must be at least 13 years old to use the Service and at least 18 years old, or the age of majority where you live, to create an account or enter into these Terms on your own behalf; users between 13 and the age of majority may use the Service only with the involvement of a parent or legal guardian. By using the Service, you represent that you meet these requirements and that you are not barred from using it under applicable law.
iRate is a free platform for civic engagement and entertainment that lets people express how they feel about U.S. politicians using a one-tap emoji verdict, and see an aggregated community score (the "iRating"). Ratings and comments reflect the personal, subjective opinions of the users who post them. They are not statements of fact, professional advice, or the opinions of iRate, and they should not be relied upon as such.
"User Content" means anything you submit to the Service, including ratings, comments, your handle, and your avatar. You retain ownership of your User Content. Because iRate is a public forum, any User Content you post becomes publicly visible and may be seen, collected, copied, or reused by third parties outside our control.
By posting User Content, you grant Dallas AI Metrics, LLC a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, and sublicensable license to host, store, use, reproduce, display, publish, distribute, adapt, and reference your User Content in connection with operating, promoting, and improving the Service. This license continues for content that has been shared publicly or incorporated into aggregate ratings even after you remove it or close your account. You represent that you have the rights necessary to grant this license and that your User Content does not violate these Terms or any law or third-party right.
You agree not to post User Content or use the Service in any way that:
We welcome public feedback, but we reserve the right — though we have no obligation — to review, moderate, hide, edit, or delete any User Content, and to suspend or terminate accounts, at our discretion and without notice, including content that contains spam, profanity, hate speech, personally identifiable information, or that otherwise violates these Terms. Ratings from suspended or removed accounts may be excluded from community iRatings. We are not responsible for User Content posted by others and do not endorse it.
iRate is an independent platform. We are not affiliated with, authorized by, endorsed by, or sponsored by any politician, candidate, campaign, political party, government agency, or official, and no such affiliation or endorsement should be inferred.
Information about politicians — including names, offices, biographical details, and photographs — is compiled from public sources such as official government records and Wikipedia, and is provided for general informational and civic-engagement purposes on an "as is" basis. It may contain errors, omissions, or out-of-date or mismatched details (for example, a photograph of a person who shares a politician's name). The Service is not voting, legal, financial, or professional advice. If you believe information about a politician is inaccurate, please contact us at irateusa@gmail.com.
The Service, including its name, logo, design, text, graphics, software, and the compilation and presentation of its content, is owned by Dallas AI Metrics, LLC or its licensors and is protected by intellectual property laws. Except for your own User Content and except as expressly permitted, you may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or create derivative works from any part of the Service without our prior written permission.
If you believe content on the Service infringes your copyright, please send a notice to irateusa@gmail.com that includes: identification of the copyrighted work; the location of the allegedly infringing material on the Service; your contact information; a statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is not authorized; and a statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and that you are the rights holder or authorized to act on their behalf. We may remove allegedly infringing content and terminate repeat infringers.
The Service may rely on or link to third-party services, content, and websites (for example, third-party sign-in providers and public data sources). We do not control and are not responsible for third-party services or content, and your use of them is governed by their own terms and policies.
THE SERVICE AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, ACCURACY, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT ANY INFORMATION (INCLUDING INFORMATION ABOUT POLITICIANS) IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. ANY RELIANCE ON THE SERVICE OR ITS CONTENT IS AT YOUR OWN RISK.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DALLAS AI METRICS, LLC AND ITS OWNERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO YOUR USE OF (OR INABILITY TO USE) THE SERVICE OR ANY USER CONTENT. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATING TO THE SERVICE WILL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (US$100). SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW CERTAIN LIMITATIONS, SO SOME OF THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Dallas AI Metrics, LLC and its owners, officers, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your User Content, your use of the Service, or your violation of these Terms or any law or third-party right.
You may stop using the Service at any time and may request deletion of your account by contacting irateusa@gmail.com. We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time, with or without notice, if we believe you have violated these Terms or to protect the Service or its users. Sections that by their nature should survive termination — including content licenses for previously public content, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, and the governing-law provisions — will survive.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. You agree that the exclusive venue for any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service will be the state and federal courts located in Dallas County, Texas, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts. Before filing a claim, you agree to first contact us at irateusa@gmail.com and attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute informally.
We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date above and, where appropriate, provide additional notice. Your continued use of the Service after an update means you accept the revised Terms.
These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, are the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Service. If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect. Our failure to enforce any right or provision is not a waiver of it. You may not assign these Terms without our consent; we may assign them in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets. Nothing in these Terms creates any partnership, agency, or employment relationship between you and us.
Questions about these Terms? Contact us at:
Dallas AI Metrics, LLC — operator of iRate
Dallas, Texas, United States
Email: irateusa@gmail.com