Terms of Service

1.1 These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Honeycomb platform, including our websites, applications, services, and any content, features, or functionality provided through them (collectively, the "Platform").

1.2 The Platform is operated by [Company Name], a company registered in [Country], with its registered office at [Address] ("Honeycomb", "we", "us", or "our").

1.3 By creating an account, accessing, or using the Platform in any way, you agree to be bound by these Terms and all policies referenced in them (including our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Cookie Settings, and GDPR Statement) as updated from time to time.

1.4 If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Platform.

2.1 These Terms apply to all users of the Platform, including, without limitation:

• "Studios" or "Creators" – individuals or entities that upload, manage, or control audiovisual works or related content (collectively, "Films") on the Platform.
• "Collaborators" – cast, crew, talent, and other professionals using the Platform for discovery, networking, collaboration, or work opportunities.
• "Backers" or "Supporters" – users who support projects financially (e.g. through crowdfunding, pre-sales, or other funding mechanisms facilitated by the Platform).
• "Buyers" and "Sellers" – users who list, buy, or sell products or services via the Platform's marketplace or commerce features.
• "Viewers" or "Audience" – users who watch Films or access other content via the Platform's streaming and distribution features.

2.2 Additional role-specific terms or agreements may apply (for example, for distributors, agents, brands, or institutional partners); if there is a conflict between these Terms and a signed agreement, the signed agreement will generally prevail to the extent of the conflict.

3.1 You must be at least 18 years old, or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction, to create an account and use the Platform's core features involving contracts, payments, or monetisation.

3.2 If you are under the age of majority but permitted to use the Platform under applicable law, you may only do so under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian who agrees to be bound by these Terms on your behalf.

3.3 If you are using the Platform on behalf of a company, studio, production entity, or other organisation, you represent and warrant that you have authority to bind that entity, and that entity accepts these Terms.

3.4 You must provide accurate, current, and complete information when creating your account and keep it updated. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activities under your account.

3.5 You must promptly notify us if you become aware of any unauthorised use of your account or any other breach of security.

4.1 Honeycomb is a film-first ecosystem designed to support independent filmmakers and related professionals from idea through to audience, including:

• project development and collaboration tools;
• team-building and casting features;
• funding and backing mechanisms;
• production support tools and studio management features;
• video-on-demand and streaming services for Films;
• monetisation tools (including pay-per-view, subscriptions, tips, marketplace commerce, and digital goods);
• distribution support and partnerships; and
• community, discovery, and analytics features.

4.2 Honeycomb provides tools and infrastructure; we are not a party to, and do not guarantee performance of, any contracts or relationships formed directly between users (e.g. between a Studio and a Collaborator, or between a Seller and a Buyer), unless explicitly stated otherwise in a separate written agreement.

4.3 Honeycomb does not guarantee that any Film will be completed, funded, profitable, accepted by distributors, or achieve any particular audience or commercial outcome.

5.1 We may modify these Terms from time to time, for example to reflect changes in law, regulatory requirements, or our services.

5.2 When we make material changes, we will provide notice by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of these Terms and/or by other appropriate means (e.g. in-product notifications or email).

5.3 Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any updated Terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

5.4 We may change, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Platform at any time, including features, content, and availability, with or without notice, and without liability to you, provided such changes are consistent with your non-waivable consumer rights where applicable.

6.1 Certain features (e.g. marketplace selling, crowdfunding, distribution deals, or institutional partnerships) may require you to accept additional terms or sign separate agreements.

6.2 In the event of any conflict between these Terms and additional or role-specific terms, those additional terms will prevail with respect to your use of the relevant feature or relationship.

7.1 All rights, title, and interest in and to the Platform, including its software, interfaces, design, trademarks, logos, and original content created by or for Honeycomb (excluding User Content as defined below), are owned by Honeycomb or its licensors and are protected by intellectual property and other laws.

7.2 Except as expressly permitted by these Terms or applicable law, you must not:

• copy, modify, distribute, sell, lease, or sublicense our Platform or any part of it;
• reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract source code;
• remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices; or
• use our trademarks, branding, or logos without our prior written consent.

7.3 All trademarks, service marks, logos, and trade names used on the Platform remain the property of their respective owners.

8.1 "User Content" means any content you upload, post, stream, submit, or otherwise make available through the Platform, including Films, trailers, stills, scripts, synopses, artwork, sound recordings, metadata, project descriptions, behind-the-scenes materials, messages, comments, reviews, and marketplace listings.

8.2 As between you and Honeycomb, you retain all ownership rights in and to your User Content, including all intellectual property rights, subject to the licences you grant under these Terms and any separate agreements you enter into.

8.3 You are solely responsible for your User Content and for the consequences of uploading, publishing, distributing, or otherwise making it available on or through the Platform.

8.4 You represent and warrant that you:

• own or control the necessary rights in your User Content to grant the licences described in these Terms;
• have obtained all necessary consents, permissions, and releases (including from performers, authors, composers, crew, and rights holders) for use and exploitation of your User Content on and through the Platform; and
• your User Content and its use on the Platform will not infringe or violate any third-party rights, including copyright, moral rights, privacy, publicity, or contractual rights.

9.1 By uploading or otherwise providing User Content to the Platform, you grant Honeycomb a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free (except for revenue sharing as described in Section 12), transferable, and sublicensable licence to:

• host, store, cache, reproduce, adapt, transcode, encode, and technically modify your User Content for the purpose of operating the Platform;
• stream, transmit, display, and perform your User Content to users of the Platform in accordance with your chosen settings (e.g. public, paywalled, geo-restricted);
• distribute your User Content within the Platform ecosystem (including through apps, embeds, or partner integrations);
• use, reproduce, and display stills, artwork, titles, metadata, and excerpts from your User Content for purposes of promotion, discovery, editorial, and marketing of the Platform and your Films;
• sublicense these rights to our affiliates, service providers, and distribution or promotional partners solely as reasonably necessary to provide and promote the Platform and your Films.

9.2 This licence is granted for the duration that your User Content is made available on the Platform, plus a reasonable period thereafter to allow for technical removal, backups, and fulfilment of any existing commitments (e.g. paid rentals, pre-sold access, or ongoing campaigns).

9.3 This licence does not transfer ownership of your intellectual property and is limited to uses in connection with the Platform and Honeycomb's (and its successors' and affiliates') business, including to promote and redistribute part or all of the Platform and your Films.

10.1 By making your User Content available to other users via the Platform (e.g. Films for viewing, materials for collaboration, or marketplace listings), you grant those users a limited, non-exclusive licence to access and use such content solely through the Platform, and only as enabled by the Platform's features and your chosen settings (e.g. viewing a Film through streaming, accessing a project listing for collaboration).

10.2 This licence does not allow other users to exploit your User Content outside the Platform (e.g. by downloading and redistributing your Film elsewhere) unless you explicitly enable such features and/or enter into a separate agreement with them.

11.1 Subject to your compliance with these Terms and any applicable fees, Honeycomb grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to access and use the Platform for your personal, non-commercial use (or internal business use where expressly permitted) and to view content made available to you on the Platform.

11.2 Except for this limited licence, no rights, title, or interest in any content or part of the Platform are transferred to you, and you must not use any content on the Platform for public performance, commercial exploitation, or resale unless expressly allowed by Honeycomb and the relevant rights holders.

12.1 Honeycomb may provide various monetisation options for Studios and other eligible users, including pay-per-view, subscription revenue share, tips, crowdfunding, pre-sales, marketplace sales, digital goods, and other forms of commercial exploitation.

12.2 Platform Fee. Honeycomb is entitled to a 10% (ten percent) platform fee on all gross proceeds processed through the Platform in respect of your User Content, products, or services, including but not limited to:

• film rentals, purchases, subscriptions, or access passes;
• crowdfunding contributions, donations, or pledges;
• sales of physical merchandise, digital goods, or services via the marketplace; and
• any other revenue-generating features offered by the Platform.

12.3 Unless otherwise stated in a separate written agreement, we will deduct the Platform Fee, plus any applicable payment processing fees, taxes, chargebacks, and refunds, before remitting net amounts to you.

12.4 Payment timelines, payout thresholds, currencies, chargeback handling, and tax invoicing may be set out in your account dashboard, help centre, or separate monetisation guidelines; those documents are incorporated by reference into these Terms.

12.5 You are responsible for all taxes, duties, and other governmental charges arising from your use of the Platform, your revenues, and your transactions with other users, except for taxes based on Honeycomb's own income.

12.6 Honeycomb is not a bank, payment institution, or investment firm; we may use third-party payment providers and do not provide financial, tax, or investment advice.

13.1 Where Honeycomb offers crowdfunding or similar funding tools, we act as a platform to connect Studios with Backers; we are not a guarantor of project completion, delivery of rewards, or fulfilment of any obligations promised by Studios.

13.2 Backers acknowledge that contributing to a project involves risk, including the risk that a project may be delayed, modified, or not completed.

13.3 Studios agree to act in good faith towards Backers, provide honest and accurate information about their projects, and use funds in line with the purposes represented to Backers.

14.1 Where Honeycomb offers marketplace features (for physical or digital goods or services), we may act as a facilitator between Buyers and Sellers but are generally not the seller of record, unless explicitly indicated.

14.2 Sellers are responsible for the accuracy of listings, pricing, shipping, delivery, returns, and compliance with consumer protection laws applicable to them.

14.3 Buyers are responsible for reviewing listings, understanding any terms presented by Sellers, and resolving disputes directly with Sellers where possible; Honeycomb may offer limited dispute assistance at its discretion but does not guarantee resolution.

14.4 Honeycomb disclaims liability for the quality, safety, legality, or fitness for purpose of goods and services listed by users, except where required under non-waivable consumer regulations.

15.1 You must not use the Platform to:

• violate any applicable law or regulation;
• infringe any intellectual property or other proprietary right;
• upload or distribute content that is unlawful, defamatory, obscene, hateful, harassing, or otherwise harmful;
• upload content that is extremist, incites violence, or promotes terrorism or serious criminal activity;
• exploit minors or depict non-consensual or exploitative sexual content;
• upload malware, spam, or engage in phishing or other fraudulent schemes;
• circumvent technical measures, geo-blocks, or access controls;
• interfere with or disrupt the Platform, its systems, or other users' enjoyment; or
• engage in any activity that may damage Honeycomb's reputation or expose us or our partners to legal liability.

15.2 Honeycomb reserves the right, but not the obligation, to remove or restrict access to any User Content and suspend or terminate accounts where we reasonably believe these Terms have been violated, subject to any applicable notice and appeal rights under EU/UK online platform regulations.

16.1 Honeycomb respects intellectual property rights and expects users to do the same.

16.2 If you believe that content on the Platform infringes your copyright or other IP rights, you may submit a notice through our designated procedure, providing the legally required information (including identification of the work, the allegedly infringing material, your contact details, and a statement of good-faith belief).

16.3 We may remove or disable access to allegedly infringing content and may, in appropriate cases, terminate or restrict accounts of repeat infringers, consistent with applicable law.

16.4 If your content is removed following a notice, you may have the opportunity to submit a counter-notice where applicable.

16.5 Our copyright/DMCA-style contact details and procedure are set out in our IP Policy, which forms part of these Terms.

17.1 The Platform may integrate with or link to third-party services (such as payment processors, analytics providers, social media, casting platforms, or distribution channels).

17.2 Your use of third-party services is subject to their own terms and privacy policies, and Honeycomb is not responsible for those services.

17.3 Honeycomb is not responsible for, and does not endorse, any third-party content, websites, or resources linked from the Platform.

18.1 Our collection, use, and processing of personal data are governed by our Privacy Policy and GDPR Statement, which explain your rights and how we comply with applicable data protection laws, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable.

18.2 By using the Platform, you acknowledge that we will process your personal data in accordance with those documents and your chosen settings.

18.3 Studios, Sellers, and other professional users may themselves act as data controllers or processors in relation to personal data they obtain through the Platform (e.g. for casting, collaborations, or fulfilment); in such cases, they are independently responsible for complying with applicable data protection laws.

19.1 We use cookies and similar technologies to operate, secure, and improve the Platform, analyse usage, and support features such as authentication, preferences, and content recommendations.

19.2 Details of how we use cookies, and how you can manage your preferences, are set out in our Cookie Policy and Cookie Settings interface, which are incorporated into these Terms.

19.3 Where required by law, we will obtain your consent before placing non-essential cookies or similar technologies on your device or accessing information stored on your device.

20.1 The Platform and all content, features, and services are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

20.2 Without limiting the foregoing, we do not warrant that:

• the Platform will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free;
• any defects will be corrected;
• the Platform or servers are free of viruses or other harmful components;
• any content (including analytics, recommendations, or funding opportunities) is accurate, complete, or suitable for your purposes.

20.3 Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes any warranties or consumer rights that cannot be excluded under applicable law, particularly for users in the EU/UK.

21.1 To the fullest extent permitted by law, Honeycomb and its directors, officers, employees, partners, and licensors will not be liable for:

• any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages;
• any loss of profits, revenue, business, goodwill, data, or other intangible losses;
• any damages arising out of or related to your use or inability to use the Platform, including delays, interruptions, or failures of performance.

21.2 To the extent liability cannot be excluded, our aggregate liability to you for all claims arising out of or relating to the Platform or these Terms will be limited to the greater of:

• the total amounts you have paid to us (excluding amounts paid to third-party Sellers or Studios) in the 12 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim; or
• [fixed amount, e.g. EUR 100].

21.3 These limitations apply whether the claim is based on contract, tort (including negligence), statutory duty, or otherwise, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

21.4 Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages; in such cases, the above limitations will apply only to the extent permitted by law.

22.1 You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Honeycomb and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in any way connected with: your breach of these Terms; your User Content, including any allegation that it infringes or violates any third-party rights; your use or misuse of the Platform; or your violation of any law or the rights of any third party.

23.1 Honeycomb may suspend or terminate your access to all or part of the Platform, or remove any User Content, with or without notice, if we reasonably believe that you have breached these Terms, violated applicable law, or otherwise created risk or possible legal exposure for us, our users, or third parties, subject to applicable legal requirements for notice and appeal.

23.2 You may terminate your account at any time by following the instructions in your account settings.

23.3 Upon termination, the licences you have granted to Honeycomb and other users will continue only to the extent reasonably necessary to complete existing transactions or obligations (e.g. honouring paid access, fulfilling marketplace orders) and for backups, legal, and record-keeping purposes.

23.4 Sections that by their nature should survive termination (including, without limitation, Sections 7–9, 12, 16, 18, 20–22, 24–26) will continue to apply.

24.1 These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter or formation shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [Governing Law Jurisdiction, e.g. England and Wales / Romania / another EU Member State], without regard to conflict-of-laws principles.

24.2 The courts of [Chosen Forum, e.g. London / Bucharest / another city] shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any such dispute or claim, except where applicable law gives you the right to bring claims in another jurisdiction as a consumer.

24.3 If you are an EU consumer, you may also be entitled to use the EU's online dispute resolution platform for consumer disputes.

25.1 Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with any additional policies or terms referenced or incorporated herein (including our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, GDPR Statement, and any role-specific terms), constitute the entire agreement between you and Honeycomb regarding the Platform.

25.2 Severability. If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect, and the invalid or unenforceable provision shall be deemed modified so as to be valid and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

25.3 No Waiver. Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other provision.

25.4 Assignment. You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent; we may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, corporate reorganisation, or sale of assets.

25.5 Relationship. Nothing in these Terms creates any agency, partnership, joint venture, employment, or franchise relationship between you and Honeycomb.

25.6 Language. If these Terms are translated into other languages, the English version will prevail in case of any inconsistency.

26.1 If you have questions about these Terms or the Platform, you can contact us at:

• Email: support@honey-comb.co.uk
• Postal address: [registered office address]
• Website contact form: [URL]