Terms of Service

01

Definitions

The following terms have defined meanings throughout this document:

02

Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. For material changes, we will provide at least 30 days' prior notice by email (where an account exists) or via a prominent notice on the Service before changes take effect. Minor clarifications or corrections may take effect immediately.

Your continued use of the Directory after the effective date of any change constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you disagree with any change, your only recourse is to discontinue use of the Service. We encourage all users — and especially Gurdwara representatives — to review these Terms periodically.

03

Using the Directory

3.1 Eligibility

The Directory is open to all members of the public. You must be at least 13 years old to create an account. If you are under 18, you represent that your parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to these Terms. You may not use the Service if you have previously been suspended or banned from the Directory or from SSH.

3.2 Account Registration

Browsing the Directory does not require an account. However, contributing content, claiming a Gurdwara listing, or accessing certain community features requires a registered account. You agree to provide accurate and current registration information and to maintain the security of your credentials. You are responsible for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately at legal@circleram.ai if you suspect unauthorized access.

3.3 Service Availability

The Service is provided on an "as available" basis. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature of the Directory at any time without liability. We will make reasonable efforts to notify Gurdwara account holders of significant changes that affect their listings.

3.4 Communications

By registering an account, you consent to receive transactional and service-related communications from CircleRAM and SSH. Marketing or community newsletter communications are opt-in only. You may manage your communication preferences through account settings. Transactional and legal notices cannot be opted out of while your account is active.

04

Content & Listings

4.1 Your Responsibility

You are solely responsible for all content you submit to the Directory. You represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary rights to submit such content; that your content does not infringe any third-party intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights; and that your content complies with all applicable laws. You may not submit content that is false, defamatory, misleading, harassing, discriminatory, or harmful.

4.2 License to Your Content

By submitting content to the Directory, you grant CircleRAM and SSH a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, and distribute your content for the purpose of operating and improving the Directory and the SSH platform. This license does not grant CircleRAM or SSH the right to use your content for unrelated commercial advertising without your separate consent.

4.3 Ownership

You retain ownership of your submitted content. CircleRAM and SSH own all Directory Content, including the compilation and arrangement of listing data, page structures, design and visual interfaces, ranking and recommendation systems, and all associated intellectual property.

4.4 Auto-Generated Listings

CircleRAM and SSH may create Gurdwara listings using publicly available information from legitimate sources. Such listings are marked "unclaimed" until verified by an authorized representative of the Gurdwara. We make no guarantee as to the accuracy of unclaimed listings, and listing a Gurdwara in the Directory does not imply endorsement of or affiliation with that institution.

Accuracy matters to the Sangat. Incorrect Langar timings, wrong addresses, or outdated Diwan schedules can directly affect community members who rely on this directory. We strongly encourage Gurdwara representatives to claim their listing and keep information up to date.

4.5 Content Moderation

We reserve the right to remove, edit, or refuse to post any content at our sole discretion, without prior notice. We may use automated systems and human review to enforce these Terms and applicable law, including the Communications Decency Act (47 U.S.C. § 230) and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 512).

4.6 AI and Automation

CircleRAM may use AI and machine learning technologies to categorize, surface, and improve Directory listings. Submitted content may be used to improve these systems as part of providing the Service, subject to our Privacy Policy. AI systems will not be used to make editorial judgments about Sikh doctrine, religious practice, or the legitimacy of any Gurdwara.

05

Reviews & Community Input

5.1 Community Contributions

Users may submit community information about Gurdwaras, including updated schedules, photos, event notices, and informational notes, subject to moderation. These contributions are intended to help the Sangat and must be factual and respectful. Community contributions are not the same as consumer reviews and should not be used to express personal grievances or sectarian disputes.

5.2 Experience Submissions

Where the Directory allows written community feedback or experience submissions about a Gurdwara's facilities or services (such as visitor accessibility, Langar availability, or parking information), such submissions must:

Reflect genuine, first-hand experience

Be factual, respectful, and constructive

Not contain defamatory, harassing, or sectarian content

Not be submitted in exchange for any incentive or compensation

Not be used to advance personal disputes, political agendas, or inter-institutional conflicts

5.3 Religious Sensitivity

We ask all contributors to approach the subject matter with the reverence and humility appropriate to a directory of sacred spaces. Content that disrespects Sikh religious practices, institutions, or community members will be removed. See Section 8 for our full Religious Content Policy.

5.4 Content Disputes

If a Gurdwara representative believes a community submission is inaccurate or violates these Terms, they may flag it for review through their Institution Account. We will evaluate flagged content in accordance with our content policies. We are not obligated to remove content that does not violate these Terms or applicable law.

5.5 Non-Disparagement Policy Does Not Apply

Consistent with the Consumer Review Fairness Act (15 U.S.C. § 45b), Gurdwaras and institutions listed in the Directory may not include provisions in any visitor agreements or community contracts that prohibit or penalize an individual from sharing an honest account of their experience.

06

Gurdwara & Institution Account Terms

If you create or claim an Institution Account on behalf of a Gurdwara or Sikh community organization, the following additional terms apply.

6.1 Authority

By claiming an Institution Account, you represent and warrant that you are an authorized representative of the Gurdwara or institution (such as a Sevadar, Granthi, or committee member in a recognized administrative role) and that you have authority to bind the institution to these Terms.

6.2 Listing Accuracy

You are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of your listing at all times, including: institution name, address, and contact information; Diwan and program schedules; Langar availability and timings; accessibility features; and any additional services offered. CircleRAM is not liable for inaccuracies in listings that result from information you provide or fail to update.

6.3 Prohibited Conduct for Institutions

Listed institutions may not:

Submit, solicit, or incentivize fake or misleading community contributions about their own institution or others

Use the Directory to conduct or support commercial advertising beyond factual facility and program information

Misrepresent affiliation with, endorsement by, or certification from CircleRAM or Sikh Scholar's Hub

Use CircleRAM's or SSH's trademarks or branding without prior written permission

Post content about competing institutions that is false, misleading, or intended to harm their reputation

Restrict community members from providing honest accounts of their experience in accordance with the Consumer Review Fairness Act

6.4 Content License from Institutions

By claiming a listing, you grant CircleRAM and SSH a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to display your institution's name, location, logo (where provided), photos, schedules, and publicly shared information across the Directory and on SSH's platform for the purpose of serving the Sangat.

6.5 No Commercial Exploitation

CircleRAM and SSH will not use information from Gurdwara listings for third-party commercial advertising without the institution's consent. Institution data will not be sold to third-party marketing companies.

6.6 Removal Requests

A Gurdwara or institution may request removal of its listing from the Directory at any time by contacting us at legal@circleram.ai. We will process removal requests within a reasonable time, subject to any overriding legal obligations. Note that auto-generated listings of publicly known institutions may be re-created from public information unless a specific formal objection is on file.

Gurdwara Data Ownership: CircleRAM does not assert ownership over your institution's operational data (schedules, service listings, contact details). This data remains yours. Our license to display it is for directory purposes only and terminates upon removal of your listing.

07

Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to engage in any of the following while using the Directory:

Violate any applicable federal, state, or local law or regulation

Infringe any third-party intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights

Submit false, defamatory, misleading, or fraudulent content

Harass, threaten, intimidate, or discriminate against any User, institution, or community member

Use the Service to spread sectarian misinformation, incite intra-community conflict, or defame any Sikh institution or community figure

Engage in unauthorized scraping, crawling, or automated data collection from the Directory without written permission

Attempt to circumvent security measures, access controls, or rate limiting

Interfere with the Service's operation or impose unreasonable load on our infrastructure

Create multiple accounts to evade bans or manipulate the Directory

Collect or harvest User information without their consent, in violation of applicable privacy laws

Use the Directory for any unauthorized commercial purpose, including lead harvesting or unsolicited outreach to listed institutions

Reverse engineer or decompile any portion of the Service

08

Religious Content Policy

8.1 Scope

The Gurdwara Directory is a factual, informational resource. It is not a platform for theological debate, doctrinal judgment, or religious commentary. All content in the Directory must remain factual and descriptive. Content that amounts to religious critique, comparison of religious traditions, or commentary on the legitimacy of any Gurdwara's practices is outside the scope of this Directory and will be removed.

8.2 Sectarian Neutrality

The Directory aims to serve the entire Sikh community without sectarian bias. Listings are not restricted by Jatha, Sampradaya, or any organizational affiliation. CircleRAM and SSH do not endorse, certify, or validate any particular Sikh institution's doctrinal positions, lineage, or practices. All Gurdwaras in the Directory are listed on equal factual footing.

8.3 Sacred Content

Certain content is considered sacred within the Sikh tradition (including Gurbani, images of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and Khanda symbols). Users must handle references to such content with appropriate respect. CircleRAM will not use images or text of a sacred nature in advertising, promotional materials, or commercial contexts without express written permission from the relevant Gurdwara authority.

8.4 First Amendment Protections

CircleRAM and SSH respect the First Amendment rights of all users. These content policies are applied consistently and in a viewpoint-neutral manner to maintain the informational integrity of the Directory, not to suppress any religious viewpoint. Nothing in this Section limits a user's right to express genuine factual experiences or good-faith concerns about a listed institution in ways that comply with Section 5.

8.5 Religious Discrimination Prohibited

No content submitted to the Directory may target individuals or institutions on the basis of religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic. Submissions that contain hate speech or religiously motivated discrimination will be removed immediately and may result in account termination.

09

Intellectual Property

9.1 CircleRAM & SSH Property

The Directory platform, its design, systems, and all Directory Content are protected under U.S. copyright law (17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.), the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. § 1051 et seq.), and other applicable laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of the Service without prior written consent.

9.2 DMCA Copyright Policy

If you believe content in the Directory infringes your copyright, you may submit a notice under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 512) to our designated DMCA Agent at dmca@circleram.ai. Your notice must include: identification of the copyrighted work; identification and location of the infringing content; your contact information; a statement of good faith belief; a statement of accuracy under penalty of perjury; and your electronic or physical signature. We will respond to valid notices per applicable law.

9.3 Feedback

If you provide suggestions, feature requests, or other feedback about the Directory ("Feedback"), you grant CircleRAM and SSH an irrevocable, royalty-free, perpetual license to use and incorporate such Feedback into the Service without compensation or attribution.

9.4 Trademarks

"Sikh Scholar's Hub," "CircleRAM," "CircleRAM Directory," and associated logos are trademarks of their respective owners. The Khanda (☬) is a sacred Sikh symbol and is used in this interface with respect. You may not use our trademarks or the Khanda symbol in any manner that misrepresents affiliation with SSH or CircleRAM.

10

Third-Party Content & Links

The Directory may contain links to Gurdwara websites, social media pages, community resources, or other third-party content. These links are provided for the Sangat's convenience only. CircleRAM and SSH do not control, endorse, or assume responsibility for any third-party content, websites, or services. Your interactions with third parties are solely between you and them.

Map data, address verification, and geographic information may be sourced from third-party providers (such as Google Maps or OpenStreetMap). While we strive for accuracy, CircleRAM is not responsible for errors in third-party geographic data displayed in the Directory.

11

Disclaimers & Limitations of Liability

11.1 "As Is" Service

THE DIRECTORY IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR FREE OF HARMFUL COMPONENTS.

11.2 No Guarantee of Accuracy

WE DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR TIMELINESS OF ANY LISTING, SCHEDULE, COMMUNITY SUBMISSION, OR OTHER CONTENT IN THE DIRECTORY. CIRCLERAM AND SSH DO NOT ENDORSE, RECOMMEND, OR CERTIFY ANY GURDWARA OR LISTED INSTITUTION. ANY RELIANCE ON DIRECTORY INFORMATION IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. ALWAYS VERIFY TIMINGS AND SERVICES DIRECTLY WITH THE GURDWARA BEFORE VISITING.

11.3 No Spiritual or Religious Endorsement

NOTHING IN THE DIRECTORY CONSTITUTES AN ENDORSEMENT OF, CERTIFICATION OF, OR AFFILIATION WITH THE RELIGIOUS PRACTICES, DOCTRINAL POSITIONS, OR GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF ANY LISTED GURDWARA OR SIKH INSTITUTION.

11.4 Third-Party Conduct

CIRCLERAM AND SSH ARE NOT LIABLE FOR THE ACTS, OMISSIONS, CONTENT, OR CONDUCT OF ANY USER, GURDWARA, INSTITUTION, OR THIRD PARTY ON OR OFF THE SERVICE.

11.5 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY OF CIRCLERAM AND SSH FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE DIRECTORY SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00 USD), REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OR THEORY OF ACTION.

11.6 Exclusion of Consequential Damages

CIRCLERAM AND SSH SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF DATA, LOSS OF GOODWILL, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY AND EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties or exclusions of certain damages. In such jurisdictions, these limitations apply to the fullest extent permitted by law.

12

Dispute Resolution

Please read this section carefully. It affects your legal rights, including your right to sue in court and to participate in a class action.

12.1 Informal Resolution First

Before initiating any formal dispute proceeding, you agree to contact CircleRAM at legal@circleram.ai and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for a minimum of 30 days. Both parties agree to negotiate in good faith.

12.2 Binding Arbitration

Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or related to these Terms or the Directory that is not resolved informally shall be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. The arbitration may take place remotely at your election. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction.

12.3 Class Action Waiver

YOU AND CIRCLERAM AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE MORE THAN ONE PERSON'S CLAIMS.

12.4 Exceptions

Either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court within its jurisdictional limits, or seek emergency injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent infringement of intellectual property rights.

12.5 Opt-Out Right

You may opt out of binding arbitration within 30 days of first agreeing to these Terms by emailing legal@circleram.ai with subject line "Arbitration Opt-Out." If you opt out, disputes will be resolved in courts per Section 12.6.

12.6 Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles. For disputes not subject to arbitration, you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of New Castle County, Delaware.

13

Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless CircleRAM AI, Inc., Sikh Scholar's Hub, and their respective officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, and affiliates from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to:

Your access to or use of the Directory

Content you submit to the Directory

Your violation of these Terms

Your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property or privacy rights

Your institution's operations, if you are a Gurdwara or institution representative

Your violation of any applicable law or regulation

14

Termination

14.1 Termination by You

You may close your Community or Institution Account at any time via account settings. Termination does not revoke the license you granted in Section 4.2 with respect to previously submitted content, though we may choose to remove your content upon request.

14.2 Termination by CircleRAM

We may suspend or terminate any account at any time, with or without notice, for violations of these Terms, fraudulent or abusive activity, legal requirements, or risk to the Directory or its community. For Institution Accounts, we will make reasonable efforts to provide notice before termination except in cases of egregious or repeated violations.

14.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to access and use the Service ends immediately. Sections 4.2, 4.3, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 16 survive termination. Gurdwara listings may continue to exist in unclaimed form after Institution Account termination, derived from publicly available information.

15

Privacy & Data

Your use of the Directory is also governed by the Privacy Policy of Sikh Scholar's Hub and CircleRAM, incorporated here by reference. The Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, and share information about you in connection with the Directory.

15.1 Applicable Privacy Laws

We process personal data in compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state privacy laws, including:

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA), Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.100 et seq.

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), 15 U.S.C. § 6501 et seq.

The CAN-SPAM Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7701 et seq.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), 47 U.S.C. § 227

Applicable state privacy laws of Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and other states as required

15.2 Religious Data Sensitivity

Information about religious affiliation and religious community membership may constitute sensitive personal data under certain state laws and is treated with heightened protection. We do not share data about a user's Gurdwara visits, community memberships, or religious activities with third-party advertisers or data brokers.

15.3 No Sale of Personal Data

CircleRAM does not sell personal information to third parties. If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the CCPA as described in our Privacy Policy, including the right to know, delete, and opt out of data sharing.

15.4 Gurdwara Institutional Data

Publicly provided operational data submitted by Gurdwara representatives (schedules, addresses, service listings) is considered public directory information and may be displayed across the Directory and SSH platform. Private contact details and internal communications are not shared with third parties.

16

General Provisions

16.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the SSH Privacy Policy and any other policies incorporated by reference, constitute the entire agreement between you and CircleRAM / SSH with respect to the Gurdwara Directory.

16.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force and effect.

16.3 No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision does not constitute a waiver. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by an authorized representative.

16.4 Assignment

You may not assign these Terms without prior written consent. CircleRAM may assign freely in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

16.5 Force Majeure

CircleRAM and SSH are not liable for delays or failures due to circumstances beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, government actions, internet outages, or labor disputes.

16.6 Non-Discrimination

These Terms apply equally to all users regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, disability, or any other protected characteristic. The Directory is a resource for the entire Sikh community and all who support it.

16.7 Language

These Terms are written in English. Any translations (including Punjabi / Gurmukhi versions, if made available) are for community convenience only. In the event of any conflict, the English version controls.

16.8 Contact

Questions or concerns about these Terms:

General Legal: legal@circleram.ai

DMCA Notices: dmca@circleram.ai

Listing Removal Requests: directory@circleram.ai

Sikh Scholar's Hub: admin@sikhscholarshub.com