Acceptable Use Policy

1. Purpose

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") sets out how the Lilly Bean Collective platform (the "Service") may be used. It exists to keep the Service safe and trustworthy for the people using it and for the animals whose welfare depends on it. It forms part of our Terms of Service.

2. Scope

This policy applies to everyone who uses the Service, including:

• People looking to adopt
• Animal shelters and rescue organizations
• Foster caregivers
• Transporters and volunteers using coordination tools
• Anyone else who accesses the platform

Where this policy sets a higher standard for organizations than for individuals, that is deliberate: organizations hold animals and applicant information in trust.

3. Prohibited Activities

3.1 Unlawful activity

You may not use the Service to:

• Violate any applicable law
• Facilitate illegal animal trade or trafficking
• Circumvent animal welfare regulations
• Engage in fraudulent or deceptive practices

3.2 Harmful content

You may not post content that:

• Promotes or depicts animal abuse, cruelty, or neglect
• Contains hate speech, discrimination, or harassment
• Is sexually explicit
• Promotes violence or self-harm
• Shows graphic images of animal suffering without a genuine educational purpose

3.3 Misrepresentation

You may not:

• Falsely claim to be a licensed shelter or rescue organization
• Misrepresent an animal's health, breed, age, or temperament
• Use another person's identity or credentials
• Create multiple accounts to get around a restriction

3.4 Commercial exploitation

You may not:

• Operate a commercial breeding operation through the Service
• Sell animals for profit while presenting as a rescue
• Use the platform for puppy mill or similar operations
• Engage in bulk animal sales

3.5 Protected species

You may not list:

• Endangered or threatened species
• Wildlife protected by law
• Exotic animals that require a permit, unless you hold the required documentation
• Animals prohibited by local ordinance

3.6 System abuse

You may not:

• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or another user's account
• Access the Service with automated systems without our written permission
• Interfere with or place undue load on the Service or its infrastructure
• Transmit malware or malicious code
• Scrape or harvest user data

Organizations that want to build a directory or a tool against our public API are welcome to do so within the published rate limits and with the written permission described above.

3.7 Spam and solicitation

You may not:

• Send unsolicited commercial messages to users
• Post repetitive or irrelevant content
• Use the Service to build mailing lists
• Engage in pyramid schemes or multi-level marketing

4. Pet Listing Requirements

4.1 Required information

Every listing must include:

• Photographs of the actual animal
• Current age and breed information
• Health status and vaccination history known to you
• Behavioral assessment where one has been done
• Clear adoption requirements and fees

4.2 Listings that are not permitted

• Animals not currently in your care or custody
• Animals listed before they are available for adoption
• Duplicate listings for the same animal
• Stock photographs in place of photographs of the actual animal

4.3 Keeping listings current

You must update a listing when an animal is adopted, correct inaccurate information promptly, and remove listings for animals no longer available.

5. Communication Standards

5.1 Respectful interaction

Communication between users must be respectful, free from harassment or intimidation, honest, and related to a genuine adoption inquiry.

5.2 Respecting privacy

You may not share another user's personal information without their consent, contact users outside the platform for purposes unrelated to adoption, or continue contacting someone who has asked you to stop.

5.3 Reporting a concern

If you receive abusive or fraudulent communication, report it to legal@lillybeancollective.io rather than responding in kind.

6. Adoption Process Standards

6.1 Screening

Organizations listing animals should conduct appropriate adopter screening, verify identity and residence, check references where appropriate, and satisfy themselves that the adopter can provide proper care.

6.2 Practices that are not permitted

Adoption providers may not:

• Discriminate on the basis of a protected characteristic
• Charge undisclosed or excessive fees
• Impose unreasonable adoption conditions
• Fail to disclose known health or behavioral issues

6.3 After adoption

Providers should give basic care instructions, share medical records with the adopter, remain available for post-adoption questions, and follow their own stated policy on returns or rehoming.

7. Data and Privacy

You may not collect personal information from other users without their consent, use user data for marketing without permission, share user information with third parties, or attempt to re-identify individuals from aggregated or anonymized data.

Organizations handling adoption applications act as independent parties in respect of the applicant's information and are expected to comply with the privacy law that applies to them. Our own handling is described in our Privacy Policy.

8. Intellectual Property

You may not infringe the copyrights, trademarks, or other rights of others, copy substantial portions of the Service, use our trademarks without permission, or reverse engineer the Service except where that right cannot lawfully be excluded.

9. Enforcement

9.1 Monitoring and review

We may review content and activity on the Service, investigate reported violations and suspicious behavior, and cooperate with law enforcement where the law requires it. We do not undertake to monitor all content, and reporting a concern is how most violations reach us.

9.2 What we may do about a violation

Depending on the severity and the history, we may warn you, remove content, suspend your account temporarily, terminate it permanently, report unlawful activity to the authorities, or pursue legal action. Where it is reasonable to do so, we will tell you what we did and why.

9.3 Reporting a violation

Report a violation to legal@lillybeancollective.io, including as much specific detail and supporting evidence as you can, such as links, screenshots, or listing names.

10. Appeals

If we have taken action against your account and you believe it was mistaken, you may appeal by emailing legal@lillybeancollective.io within 30 days. Include your account email and any evidence you want us to consider. We will review the decision and tell you the outcome in writing. Enforcement decisions are ours to make, and an appeal may uphold, reduce, or reverse the original action.

11. Updates to This Policy

We may update this AUP as the Service or the law changes. When we do, we will update the effective date at the top of this page, and for a material change we will give notice on the Service or by email. Continued use of the Service after a change means you accept the updated policy.

12. Relationship to Terms of Service

This AUP is incorporated into our Terms of Service and is subject to them. If this policy and the Terms conflict, the Terms of Service control.

13. Contact

For questions about this policy, or to report a violation or appeal an enforcement action:

• Reports and appeals: legal@lillybeancollective.io
• Privacy and data requests: privacy@lillybeancollective.io
• General support: support@lbc.io