Terms of Use
Thank you for visiting Van Andel Institute’s (VAI or the “Institute”) website. Please read the Terms of Use (the “Terms”) and our Privacy Policy before using the website. By using the VAI website, you agree to the Terms. If you do not agree with any of the Terms, please do not use the website.
The Institute reserves the right to terminate or alter the Terms at any time without notice. Please review the Terms regularly for changes. Your use of the VAI website following the posting of any changes to the Terms constitutes acceptance of those changes.
Site Content
Unless otherwise expressly noted, you should assume everything you see, hear or otherwise receive from or on the website is copyright, trademark, trade dress or other intellectual property owned or licensed by the Institute. The Content includes, without limitation, images, illustrations, designs, icons, photographs, trademarks, logos, text, sounds, music, the VAI website as a whole and any other materials on the website.
The information on the VAI website is provided as a courtesy by the Institute. The views and opinions of individual authors do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Institute. References to specific products, processes or services do not constitute or imply recommendation or endorsement by the Institute.
This website contains only general information, is designed for educational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Users of this website should not rely on information provided on this website for their own health needs. If you have a health-related problem, or any specific medical questions, please consult with your health care provider. Use of this website does not create a patient relationship with the Institute or its staff.
The Institute may change, suspend or discontinue any aspect of the website at any time, without prior notice, including the availability of any website feature, services or Content. The Institute may restrict your access to certain features, services or Content at any time, without prior notice.
Use of Site
You may use or download Content for research or educational purposes, or for your personal, noncommercial purposes, provided you keep unchanged all copyright and other notices with them. No other use of Content is permitted.
You agree that you will make only lawful use of the VAI website, and will only use the website in compliance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations. You agree that you will make no use of the VAI website that violates anyone else’s rights, including copyright, trademark, trade secret, right of privacy, right of publicity or other rights.
You agree that you will not upload, post, transmit, distribute or otherwise publish on or to the VAI website any materials that contain a software virus or other harmful component. You agree that you will not publish any materials that contain advertising or commercial material of any kind. You agree that you will not publish any materials that are false, threatening, libelous, defamatory, pornographic, obscene or otherwise unlawful. You are solely responsible for the content of any material you publish. The Institute is not responsible or liable for the conduct of any person using the website.
Use by Institute Employees
If you are an employee, agent, contractor, or are otherwise employed by the Institute, these Terms supplement the Institute’s current internal policies. In the event of a conflict between the Terms and the Institute’s policies, the Institute’s policies will control.
Resources accessible through the Intranet portion of the VAI website are not public. Use of these resources is restricted to authorized Institute personnel and authorized affiliates. All use of these resources may be monitored and/or recorded by Institute system administration staff.
By using these resources, you expressly consent to any monitoring and recording of your activities while in such restricted areas. In the event monitoring reveals any indications of criminal activity, system administration staff will have the right, but not the obligation, to provide any such information to law enforcement personnel.
Links to Other Websites
The VAI website may contain links to third party sites. Any outside links are provided only as a convenience. Your use of outside links is at your sole risk. Any links from the VAI website do not constitute the Institute’s endorsement of any third party, its website, or its goods and services.
The Institute is not responsible for any outside websites, services or other materials linked to or from the VAI website, and disclaims all liability for any injury you may experience by using such materials. If you have any concerns regarding any outside website linked to or from the VAI website, please direct them to the owner or operator of the outside website.
You may not create hyperlinks to the VAI website that portray the Institute in a false or misleading light. You may not use any “framing” or similar techniques to enclose any portion of the VAI website.
User Comments and Submissions
If you are dissatisfied with the VAI website, any of its Content, or any of the Terms, your sole and exclusive legal remedy is to stop using the website.
There may be certain pages on the VAI website whereby you can voluntarily agree to submit information, including personal information, such as information that could be used to identify or contact you. If you choose to voluntarily submit information, including personal information, to the Institute through the website, you understand and agree that such information will be transmitted over the Internet. While the Institute has taken reasonable steps to protect any information that you may submit from unauthorized interception and use, the risk of unauthorized interception and use of electronically transmitted information cannot be entirely eliminated. Therefore, there is always a risk of unauthorized interception and use of any information that you submit to the Institute through the website.
IF YOU ACCESS AND USE THE VAI WEBSITE, THE INSTITUTE WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY UNAUTHORIZED INTERCEPTION AND USE OF YOUR INFORMATION, AND YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE INSTITUTE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE.
Any comments, ideas, suggestions or other information you transmit to the VAI website are not confidential or proprietary. The Institute will be free to use any comment, idea, suggestion or other
information you transmit to us through the website on an unrestricted basis. This may include personal information about you and your use of the website. Please review the Institute’s Privacy Policy for more information.
Copyrights and Trademarks
Unless otherwise expressly noted, you should assume everything you see, hear, or otherwise receive on or through the VAI website is copyright owned or licensed by the Institute. The Content includes, without limitation, images, illustrations, designs, icons, photographs, trademarks, logos, text, sounds, music, the Site as a whole and any other materials at the Site.
If you would like to request reprints, copy or distribute materials contained on the website, other than for noncommercial, personal use, please contact Communications and Marketing through website’s contact form.
Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability
YOUR USE OF THE VAI WEBSITE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY LAW, THE INSTITUTE MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS, TIMELINESS OR USEFULNESS OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED OR REFERENCED ON THE WEBSITE. ALL MATERIALS, INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THE WEBSITE ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “WITH ALL FAULTS.” THE INSTITUTE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS, AS WELL AS IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, QUIET ENJOYMENT, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT OF ANY CONTENT OFFERED ON OR THROUGH THE VAI WEBSITE. THE INSTITUTE DOES NOT WARRANT (1) THAT THE CONTENT IS ACCURATE, RELIABLE OR CORRECT; (2) THAT THE WEBSITE WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME OR LOCATION; (3) THAT ANY DEFECTS OR ERRORS WILL BE CORRECTED; OR (4) THAT THE CONTENT IS FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.
THE INSTITUTE WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES RELATED TO YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THIS VAI WEBSITE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, COMPENSATORY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS OR LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, EVEN IF THE INSTITUTE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Some jurisdictions may not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so some of the above exclusions may not apply to you.
Indemnification
You agree to assume full responsibility for any use of any information offered on or through the VAI website. You understand and agree that the Institute will not be responsible or liable for any claim, loss or damage arising from the use of any information provided you to.
You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Institute and its officers, directors, owners, agents, employees, affiliates, licensees and licensors from and against any and all claims, damages, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising from or related to your use of the VAI website in violation of any of the Terms.
In the event that state or local law does not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, the Institute’s liability shall be limited to the extent permitted by law.
Termination
Your failure to comply with the Terms automatically revokes your authorization to use the VAI website and terminates any and all rights granted to you under the Terms. Your obligations to the Institute will continue upon termination of your rights under the Terms, including restrictions regarding the Content, disclaimers, indemnification obligations and liability limitations under the Terms. Upon termination of your rights, you must promptly destroy all Content downloaded or obtained from this website, as well as all copies of any Content.
Applicable Law
These Terms will be construed according to the laws of the State of Michigan, without regard to provisions governing conflicts of laws. Any dispute arising under or relating to the Terms, the Content, the use of the VAI website, or any services obtained using this website, will be resolved exclusively by the state and federal courts located in the State of Michigan. Your use of the VAI website constitutes your consent to the jurisdiction and venue of such courts with respect to any such dispute.
Miscellaneous
If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision of the Terms, or any portion thereof, to be unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permissible so as to effect the intent of the Terms, and the remainder of the Terms will remain in full force and effect. The Terms are the entire agreement between you and the Institute relating to the VAI website. Any other agreements between you and the Institute (whether oral, written, or electronic) regarding the subject matter of the Terms are superseded and have no force or effect. All rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.