Terms of Service

These Terms of Service govern access to and use of Collin County Journal, collincountyjournal.com, affiliated publishing properties, forms, newsletters, reader tools, audio, images, archives, and related services. By using the site or related services, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, do not use the site.

Use of the Website

Collin County Journal provides news, reporting, analysis, commentary, public-interest information, reader resources, and related publishing tools. You agree to use the website only for lawful purposes and in a way that does not interfere with the website, its operation, its security, or other users.

You may not attempt to gain unauthorized access, interfere with security features, transmit unlawful or harmful material, impersonate another person, misuse forms, attack the site, or use scraping, automation, bulk harvesting, or other activity that unreasonably burdens the site, its forms, its infrastructure, or its publishing systems.

Editorial Content

Content on this website is provided for informational and journalistic purposes. It may include reporting, analysis, commentary, interviews, public records, public claims, allegations, disputes, investigations, developing events, and editorial judgment. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, investment, safety, or professional advice.

Facts and circumstances may change. Published material may be corrected, clarified, updated, expanded, edited, removed, or archived as new information becomes available or as editorial needs require.

Accuracy and Corrections

CCJ aims to report fairly and accurately, but no representation or warranty is made that all content is complete, current, or error-free at all times. Correction, clarification, update, and takedown requests may be reviewed in editorial discretion.

Editorial Independence

Collin County Journal retains full editorial discretion over what to publish, update, revise, investigate, decline, or remove. Submitting information, buying advertising, requesting coverage, supporting the publication, or communicating with CCJ does not create a right to coverage, favorable coverage, article approval, editorial control, or continued publication.

User Submissions

If you submit a tip, document, message, correction, photograph, video, audio file, candidate material, advertisement inquiry, media kit request, comment, form entry, upload, or other material, you represent that you have the right to submit it and that your submission does not knowingly violate law or the rights of others.

By submitting material, you grant Collin County Journal a non-exclusive right to review, store, reproduce, analyze, edit, publish, quote, display, summarize, archive, or otherwise use the submission for journalism, editorial review, administration, legal review, moderation, operations, or related business purposes, subject to applicable law.

Submission does not guarantee confidentiality, publication, response, compensation, return of materials, or continued communication.

Source Safety and Sensitive Information

CCJ takes source safety seriously, but no website, form, email system, social platform, or online tool can promise absolute anonymity, absolute confidentiality, or immunity from legal demands. Sending information to CCJ does not create an attorney-client, fiduciary, privileged, employment, agency, or other special legal relationship.

Newsletters and Email Communications

If you subscribe, submit a form, contact CCJ, request a media kit, or otherwise provide an email address, we may send related communications, confirmations, newsletters, reader updates, follow-ups, administrative messages, or responses. You can unsubscribe from newsletter emails where available. Administrative, transactional, legal, or direct-response messages may still be sent when appropriate.

Advertising, Sponsorship, and Partnerships

Advertising, sponsorships, partnerships, and paid placements may support CCJ operations, but they do not buy editorial control, guaranteed favorable coverage, article approval, or newsroom influence. Paid placements should be labeled where appropriate.

Contributions, Payments, and Third-Party Processors

Support links, memberships, contributions, subscriptions, advertising payments, or other payment features may route through third-party processors or reader revenue tools. Contributions and payments do not buy ownership rights, editorial influence, guaranteed coverage, or guaranteed responses. Payment processing, billing disputes, refunds, receipts, and payment-method handling may also be governed by the policies of the third-party service used.

Public Records and Registry Data

CCJ or affiliated pages may display public records, government documents, public agendas, registry data, court material, public safety information, election information, or other official records. Those records are not created, controlled, or maintained by CCJ unless clearly stated. The official government source remains the authoritative record.

Users must not use public-record or registry-related information displayed on affiliated sites for harassment, intimidation, threats, doxxing, discrimination, vigilantism, unlawful targeting, or misuse.

Accounts, Community Features, and Uploads

Some features may include accounts, comments, uploads, alerts, forms, or community participation. If you use those features, you are responsible for the accuracy of information you submit, the security of your credentials, and activity connected to your account. CCJ may suspend, restrict, remove, preserve, or moderate accounts, posts, uploads, usernames, or related activity for safety, abuse prevention, legal compliance, operational integrity, or enforcement of these terms.

Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise stated, the website design, branding, logos, articles, text, graphics, images, audio, layouts, and other original content are owned by Collin County Journal or used with permission and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

You may quote limited portions of content for commentary, criticism, research, or reporting where permitted by law and with proper attribution. Republishing full articles, substantial portions, images, audio, graphics, or site materials without permission is not allowed unless permitted by law.

Third-Party Services and External Links

The website may link to third-party websites, platforms, public records, social networks, payment processors, analytics tools, newsletter tools, embedded media, maps, documents, or external resources. CCJ does not control and is not responsible for third-party content, availability, data practices, policies, or security.

Privacy

Use of the website is also subject to the CCJ Privacy Policy. Forms, analytics, cookies, embeds, third-party tools, email systems, payment processors, and hosting providers may collect or process information as described there and in applicable third-party policies.

Disclaimer of Warranties

This website and its content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied, to the fullest extent permitted by law. CCJ does not warrant that the site will be uninterrupted, secure, current, error-free, or free from harmful components.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Collin County Journal and its owners, operators, contributors, contractors, affiliates, and service providers will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, punitive, or other damages arising out of or related to your use of, inability to use, or reliance on this website, its services, or its content.

Indemnity

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Collin County Journal and its owners, operators, contributors, contractors, affiliates, and service providers from and against claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses arising out of your misuse of the website, your submissions, your violation of these terms, or your violation of any law or rights of another person or entity.

Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, except where prohibited by applicable law.

Severability

If any provision of these terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Changes to These Terms

These Terms of Service may be updated from time to time. Updated terms will be posted on this page, and continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

Contact

Questions about these terms may be directed to:

support@collincountyjournal.com
business@collincountyjournal.com