BinderCo Contributor Terms of Use and Editorial Policy

# BinderCo Contributor Terms of Use and Editorial Policy **Version:** 2026-10-10-v1 **Effective:** October 10, 2026 These terms govern independent submissions to BinderCo, Binder, Binder University, Binder Intelligence (including Human Resources, Insurance, Law, Governance and Controlled), and Binder Humanities. They supplement applicable BinderCo platform terms. They do not replace a separate revenue-sharing or publication agreement. ## 1. Eligibility and verified identity Contributors must ordinarily hold a qualifying current Binder Sole, Pro or Enterprise membership, a Binder University account, or either paid Binder Intelligence tier. An ordinary sign-in, free article view or free trial does not qualify. An account establishes an accountable submission identity, but membership does not establish that professional credentials are verified or that publication is approved. BinderCo may make a written, one-article exception for a documented pre-existing inquiry. Such an exception does not confer a free account, continuing submission privileges or revenue-sharing eligibility. Each contributor must supply their real identity privately, identify their public byline and disclose any firm affiliation and authority to publish in that capacity. ## 2. Original material, copyright, quotation and fair dealing The contributor represents that they own or have sufficient authority to license their original writing and any included text, photographs, illustrations, charts, screenshots, audio, video or other materials. For third-party material they must identify the creator, source, relevant licence or permission, and required attribution. A source hyperlink or public online availability alone is not a licence. Canadian fair dealing is context-specific and not a blanket permission to republish copyrighted material. The non-commercial user-generated-content exception cannot be assumed to cover BinderCo's commercial publication. A contributor must not submit leaked, privileged, confidential, unlawfully obtained or improperly disclosed personal information. ## 3. Professional, factual and source obligations The contributor must identify reliable primary sources for material factual, legal, regulatory, historical and technical assertions; verify quotations and citations; distinguish law from opinion or prediction; and disclose relevant contrary authorities, dates and jurisdictions. Professional titles, credentials and practising status must be accurate and verifiable. Professional contributors must comply with applicable advertising, conflicts, confidentiality, privilege and regulatory rules. Sponsored connections, incentives, affiliations and other material interests must be disclosed. Knowingly fabricated quotes, cases, sources, claims or authorship are prohibited. ## 4. Original authorship preserved through editorial review BinderCo may investigate accuracy, rights, plagiarism, jurisdictional relevance, conflicts, commercial promotion, privacy and reader safety. The original manuscript and each author-approved revision must remain preserved. Reviewers record independent findings and sources in an editorial record, separate from the manuscript. BinderCo must not silently rewrite a contributor's substantive language, analysis or conclusions. When correction is needed, the author receives the findings and may submit a replacement version for a fresh review. Layout and accessibility formatting that does not alter meaning are permitted. An approved manuscript may be declined, held, withdrawn or corrected upon new evidence; accepting a pitch does not guarantee publication. BinderCo may publish a clearly separated editor's correction notice without impersonating the author. ## 5. Publication licence and attribution Copyright in the contributor's original work stays with the rights holder. Publication requires a separate confirmed, non-exclusive licence to BinderCo to reproduce, display, distribute, archive, index, format and promote the approved manuscript and faithful excerpts through its websites, newsletters, official social channels and distribution services. Approved commercial distribution and revenue sharing are governed by separate agreed terms. BinderCo may use technical service providers for these limited purposes but may not sell or independently sublicense the underlying copyright without specific permission. Material translations, rewrites and changes of meaning require the author's prior approval. Public attribution may include an approved byline, portrait, professional biography, firm affiliation and one approved professional website link. ## 6. Independent editorial content, not undisclosed advertising A professional article may naturally showcase an author's expertise, but it must not covertly solicit clients, serve as paid placement, impersonate independent reporting, include purchased SEO backlinks, affiliate inducements, misleading comparative claims or undisclosed endorsements. Editorial relevance determines link placement and BinderCo may remove or refuse promotional links separately from the manuscript. The firm must not imply endorsement, partnership, specialist certification or guaranteed referrals by virtue of publication. BinderCo does not guarantee search ranking, audience size, leads, clients or business outcomes. ## 7. Responsible use and disclosure of artificial intelligence BinderCo does not forbid professional contributors from using AI to research, develop, structure or draft their material. We recognize that AI can be a useful professional tool when deployed responsibly. Contributors must indicate whether AI meaningfully assisted in generating the submitted content and briefly describe that assistance when it did. Routine spelling, grammar or formatting tools do not, without more, require disclosure. The author must independently examine AI-assisted statements, quotations, citations and claimed sources and remains responsible for the published writing, professional opinions and material bearing their public name. AI-generated authorities or quotations must never be represented as verified unless independently checked. An AI disclosure is not, on its own, grounds for rejection. ## 8. Revenue sharing is optional and separate Author credit or publication does not automatically generate compensation. Only independently approved human contributors with a current qualifying account, a separate executed Contributor Share agreement, correct attribution and verified payout arrangements can qualify. Actual receipts, eligible sources, net calculation, refunds, holds, payment thresholds and the governing percentage are determined by the separately accepted Contributor Share policy. Neither a grandfathered publication nor editorial acceptance creates payment rights, and BinderCo does not guarantee revenue. ## 9. Complaints and takedown procedure Any affected person, rights holder, practitioner or regulator can report copyright, privacy, defamation, professional, advertising or factual concerns through BinderCo's published contact channel. BinderCo may immediately restrict a disputed article, preserve records, examine source material, obtain the author's response and resolve the complaint through corrections, notices, removal or restoration. BinderCo may act urgently before soliciting a response if continued display creates a credible legal or public-interest risk. Removing an article is not an admission of liability. The author must cooperate reasonably in investigations and provide source or permission evidence on request. ## 10. Representations, allocation of responsibility and indemnity The contributor warrants, to the best of their knowledge after reasonable checks, that the submitted material and the permissions represented are accurate, that the contribution is authorized and that the work does not knowingly infringe others' rights or breach confidence, privacy or professional obligations. Subject to applicable law, contributors indemnify BinderCo against reasonable third-party losses and defence costs caused by a material breach of those warranties or deliberate misconduct, to the extent attributable to them. This obligation excludes harm caused by BinderCo's unauthorized changes, negligence or independent conduct. BinderCo retains responsibility for its own verification, editorial and publication decisions, and nothing excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded. ## 11. Enforcement and legal rights BinderCo may reject content, pause review, restrict access, withdraw publication, suspend contributor privileges or terminate an agreement for material violations. The parties should try to resolve ordinary concerns through a fair notice and response process where practicable. BinderCo may retain a private audit record to satisfy lawful compliance and investigate disputes. Nothing in these Terms waives statutory copyright defences, moral rights, mandatory consumer protections, regulatory duties or other rights that cannot be waived by law. Separate publication and revenue agreements prevail for the specific subject they expressly govern. **Editorial contact:** hello@binderco.ca **Review references:** Copyright Act (Canada), sections 29–29.2 and 29.21; applicable provincial law society rules governing legal marketing and professional conduct.