Terms of Use

Effective Date: 31/1/2025

Welcome to The Maldives Independent (“we,” “our,” or “us”). These terms of use (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of our website, maldivesindependent.com (the “Site”), and all related services, including podcasts, newsletters, mobile apps, and social media channels (“Services”). By accessing or using our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use our Services.

1. Access and Use of Services

a. Eligibility

You must be at least 16 years old to use our Services. By accessing or using the Services, you represent that you meet this age requirement.

b. User Accounts

You may need to create an account to access certain features of our Site, such as membership benefits or commenting on articles. When creating an account:

Provide accurate and complete information.

Maintain the confidentiality of your login credentials.

Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.

You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account.

2. Membership and Subscriptions

We may offer membership options that provide access to exclusive content and features. By subscribing:

You agree to pay the membership fees as outlined during the sign-up process.

Your subscription will automatically renew unless canceled prior to the renewal date.

You can manage your subscription or cancel at any time through your account settings.

3. User Content and Conduct

a. User-Generated Content

You may submit content, including comments, reviews, or media, through the Site or associated platforms. By submitting content:

You grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, display, and distribute your content.

You represent that your content does not infringe on any third-party rights or violate applicable laws.

b. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

Use the Services for any unlawful purpose.

Post content that is defamatory, obscene, or harassing.

Impersonate others or misrepresent your affiliation.

Disrupt or interfere with the operation of the Site or Services.

We reserve the right to remove content or restrict user access at our discretion.

4. Intellectual Property

a. Ownership

All content provided on the Site, including articles, videos, podcasts, graphics, and logos (“Maldives Independent Content”), is owned by or licensed to us. This content is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

b. Permitted Use

You may access and use Maldives Independent Content for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not:

Reproduce, modify, or distribute any Maldives Independent Content without our written permission.

Use our content for machine learning, AI development, or data mining.

5. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Site may include links to third-party websites or integrate with third-party platforms, such as YouTube or social media. These third-party sites are not under our control, and we are not responsible for their content or practices. Please review their terms and policies before engaging with them.

6. Disclaimer of Warranties

We provide our Services “as is” and “as available.” To the fullest extent permitted by law:

We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

We do not guarantee that the Services will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.

7. Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by law, we are not liable for:

Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of our Services.

Loss of data, revenue, or profits.

Our liability for direct damages is limited to the amount paid by you (if any) for accessing our Services in the 12 months preceding the claim.

8. Changes to the Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with the updated “Effective Date.” By continuing to use the Services after changes are posted, you agree to the revised Terms.

9. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Maldives. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Maldives.

10. Contact Us

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

Email: editorial@maldivesindependent.com