Terms of Service — Blackplate Biz

1. Who we are

Blackplate Biz ("we", "us", "the platform") operates the Black Plate Directory at blackplatebiz.com — a directory of Black owned businesses across the United States, carrying Victor Green's 1936 Green Book vision forward.

2. Accounts

You must be 18 or older to create an account. You are responsible for keeping your credentials secure and for all activity on your account. We may suspend or close accounts that violate these terms or that we reasonably believe are being used to harass, defraud, or misrepresent.

3. Listing eligibility

To be listed, a business must be at least 51% Black owned and operated. By submitting a listing you represent that this is true and that all information you provide is accurate. We may require documentation and may remove listings that fail verification.

4. Content you submit

You retain ownership of everything you submit — listings, photos, reviews, messages. By submitting it, you grant us a worldwide, royalty-free license to host, display, and promote it on the platform. You are responsible for having the rights to what you upload.

5. Reviews

Reviews must reflect genuine, first-hand experiences. Paid reviews, self-reviews, competitor sabotage, and hateful content are not allowed and will be removed.

6. Paid tiers

Some features (Premium Featured, Featured Spotlight) are offered on a paid subscription basis. Pricing, billing terms, and cancellation policy are shown at checkout. Subscriptions renew automatically until canceled. Refund policy: prorated refunds within 14 days of first purchase; monthly renewals are non-refundable but can be canceled anytime.

7. Prohibited use

You may not scrape the directory, resell our data, impersonate a business, submit false ownership claims, or use the platform to harass any community member.

8. No warranty

The platform is provided "as is". We do not guarantee availability, that listings are accurate, or that any business will perform to your expectations. We are a directory, not a party to transactions between users and businesses.

9. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent allowed by law, our total liability to you for any claim related to the platform is limited to the amount you paid us in the twelve months preceding the claim, or $100, whichever is greater.

10. Changes

We may update these terms. Material changes will be announced on the platform. Continued use after changes means you accept the new terms.

11. Contact

Questions about these terms? Reach us at /contact.