Terms of Service

Effective Date: April 15, 2026

By accessing and using theethicallocal.com (the "Site"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, please do not use the Site. The Ethical Local ("we," "us," "our") reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time, and such modifications shall be effective immediately upon posting to the Site.

1. Description of Service

The Ethical Local is a guide to values-driven businesses, ethical alternatives, and local spots across the United States that deserve your dollar. We provide reviews, recommendations, and curated guides for conscious consumers. All content is intended for informational purposes.

2. Intellectual Property Rights

All content on the Site, including but not limited to reviews, guides, graphics, logos, and design elements, are the exclusive property of The Ethical Local or its content providers and are protected by applicable copyright and intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or otherwise use any content without our prior written consent, except for personal, non-commercial use with proper attribution.

3. Reviews and Recommendations

The reviews and business listings on this Site represent our editorial assessment. Inclusion of a business does not constitute a warranty or guarantee of the quality of that business's products or services. Our recommendations are opinion-based and should not be the sole basis for any purchasing decision.

We are not responsible for the products, services, practices, or conduct of any third-party businesses featured on the Site. Consumers should conduct their own due diligence before engaging with any business.

4. User Conduct

You agree not to use the Site to:

• Post, transmit, or distribute any unlawful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable material
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Engage in any form of automated data collection or scraping without express written permission
• Circumvent or disable any security or technical features of the Site
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations

5. AI-Generated and AI-Assisted Content

The Ethical Local utilizes artificial intelligence ("AI") technologies, including large language models and automated systems, as tools in content production, research, editorial processes, and site operations. By using this Site, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

5.1 Nature of AI-Assisted Content. Content published on this Site may be generated, drafted, edited, summarized, or otherwise assisted by AI systems. This includes, but is not limited to, business reviews, curated guides, recommendations, social media content, and editorial commentary. AI-assisted content is reviewed by human editors before publication; however, the degree of human review may vary by content type.

5.2 No Guarantee of Accuracy. While we employ editorial oversight and verification procedures, AI-generated content may contain errors, inaccuracies, outdated information, or unintended biases inherent in the underlying AI models. We do not warrant that any AI-assisted content is complete, accurate, reliable, or free from error. Readers should independently verify any information — including business hours, product availability, pricing, and ethical claims — before relying on it for purchasing or other decisions.

5.3 Editorial Responsibility. All published content reflects The Ethical Local's editorial standards and judgment, regardless of the production methods employed. The use of AI tools does not diminish our commitment to integrity and accuracy, but readers should be aware that AI-assisted workflows are an integral part of our operations.

5.4 Disclosure. The Ethical Local is transparent about its use of AI in content production. We may, but are not obligated to, label individual pieces of content as AI-assisted. The absence of an explicit AI label on any content does not represent that AI tools were not used in its creation or production.

5.5 Limitation of Liability for AI Content. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE ETHICAL LOCAL SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, LOSSES, OR HARM ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO AI-GENERATED OR AI-ASSISTED CONTENT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, INACCURACIES, OR ANY RELIANCE PLACED ON SUCH CONTENT. THIS LIMITATION APPLIES WHETHER THE CLAIM IS BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY.

5.6 Intellectual Property. AI-generated content published on this Site is owned by The Ethical Local to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The use of AI tools in content creation does not grant any third party, including AI service providers, any ownership interest in the published content.

5.7 Compliance. The Ethical Local's use of AI in content production is intended to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") guidelines on transparency and disclosure. We continuously review our practices to ensure compliance with evolving AI regulations at the federal, state, and international levels.

6. Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, businesses, and services. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, practices, or availability of such third-party sites.

7. Disclaimers

THE SITE AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE ETHICAL LOCAL MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. WHILE WE STRIVE FOR ACCURACY IN ALL CONTENT, WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT CONTENT IS ERROR-FREE OR COMPLETE.

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE ETHICAL LOCAL SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS OR REVENUE, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SITE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless The Ethical Local, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and licensees from any claims, damages, losses, and liabilities arising out of your violation of these Terms or your use of the Site.

10. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, United States.

11. Contact

For questions regarding these Terms, please contact us at:

The Ethical Local Email: [email protected]