These Terms of Use (the “Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Merch Mates website at www.merchmates.co.uk (the “Site”). By accessing or using the Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use the Site.

1About Merch Mates

1.1Merch Mates is an independent editorial publication covering pop culture, film, television, music, gaming and related subjects. The Site is operated by George Patient, trading as Merch Mates (“we”, “us”, “our”).

1.2These Terms should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Affiliate Disclosure and Copyright and Takedown Notice.

2Acceptable use

2.1You agree to use the Site only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not infringe the rights of, restrict or inhibit anyone else’s use and enjoyment of the Site. Prohibited behaviour includes, but is not limited to:

• using the Site in any way that causes, or may cause, damage to the Site or impairment of its availability or accessibility;
• using the Site in any way that is unlawful, illegal, fraudulent or harmful;
• using the Site to copy, store, host, transmit, send, use, publish or distribute any material that consists of (or is linked to) any spyware, computer virus, Trojan horse, worm, keystroke logger, rootkit or other malicious computer software;
• conducting any systematic or automated data collection activities (including, without limitation, scraping, data mining, data extraction and data harvesting) on or in relation to the Site without express written consent;
• using the Site to transmit or send unsolicited commercial communications; or
• using data collected from the Site for any direct marketing activity.

3Editorial content and opinions

3.1All editorial content on the Site, including articles, reviews, rankings, recommendations and commentary, represents the personal views and opinions of the author or authors at the time of writing. Such content is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice.

3.2While we take reasonable care to ensure the accuracy of information published, we make no warranties or representations, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability of any content. Any reliance you place on such content is strictly at your own risk.

4Third-party content and intellectual property

4.1The Site displays and references content sourced from third parties, including but not limited to film posters, television imagery, promotional materials, cast photographs and associated metadata. Such content remains the property of its respective rights holders and is used on the Site for editorial, informational and commentary purposes under the principles of fair dealing in UK copyright law.

4.2Data sources

4.2.1Film and television data and imagery used on the Site are sourced from The Movie Database (TMDB) via its public API. Merch Mates uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed, certified or otherwise affiliated with TMDB. All such data and imagery remain subject to TMDB’s terms of use and the rights of the underlying rights holders.

4.2.2Streaming availability information is provided by JustWatch, and Disney Parks wait times are provided by Queue-Times.com. Merch Mates is not affiliated with either.

4.3Press and promotional materials

4.3.1Certain imagery on the Site is sourced from official press materials, studio newsrooms and publicly distributed promotional assets, and is used for the purposes of editorial reporting, criticism, review and commentary. Where possible, such materials are credited to their source.

4.4Rights holder notices

4.4.1If you are a rights holder and believe that content on the Site has been used in a manner that infringes your rights, please refer to our Copyright and Takedown Notice for the process to submit a notification.

5Merch Mates original content

5.1All original editorial content, written material, site design, layout, branding, logos and associated works are the property of George Patient, trading as Merch Mates, unless otherwise indicated. You may read, share links to and quote brief excerpts of such content for non-commercial personal use, provided that appropriate attribution is given and a link to the original article is included. Any other use, including reproduction, republication, distribution or commercial exploitation, requires our prior written consent.

6Advertising and sponsored content

6.1Merch Mates does not currently display third-party display advertising. Any sponsored content is clearly labelled as such.

7Affiliate links

7.1Certain articles on the Site may contain affiliate links. Articles containing affiliate links are labelled “Ad” at the beginning of the article, as set out in our Affiliate Disclosure. Affiliate relationships do not influence editorial opinions or recommendations.

8Submissions

8.1If you send us a pitch, tip or other material, you confirm that you have the right to share it with us. We will only publish submitted material with your agreement.

9External links

9.1The Site contains links to external websites operated by third parties. Such links are provided for convenience and information only. We have no control over the content, availability or practices of external sites and accept no responsibility for them. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement.

10Disclaimer

10.1The Site and its content are provided on an “as is” basis. While we take reasonable care to keep the content accurate and up to date, we do not guarantee that it is complete, accurate or current, or that the Site will be available without interruption or free from errors.

11Limitation of liability

11.1To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or exemplary damages arising out of or in connection with your use of (or inability to use) the Site, including but not limited to damages for loss of profits, goodwill, use, data or other intangible losses, whether based on contract, tort (including negligence) or any other legal theory.

11.2Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or for any other liability which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

12Indemnity

12.1You agree to indemnify us against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with your breach of these Terms or your use of the Site.

13Changes to these Terms

13.1We may amend these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last updated” date. Continued use of the Site following any amendment constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

14Governing law and jurisdiction

14.1These Terms, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter (including non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

15Contact

15.1Questions about these Terms should be sent to contact@merchmates.co.uk.