Community of Christ Terms & Conditions: Legal Risks and Redline Solutions for Enforceability | Erayaha

## Uncovering Legal Risks in Community of Christ’s Terms & Conditions: A Redline Case Study

Imagine facing a $250,000 copyright lawsuit or a GDPR fine of €20 million—all because of ambiguous or overreaching website terms. Our analysis of Community of Christ’s Terms & Conditions reveals several high-impact legal risks that could expose the organization to significant financial and regulatory consequences. Below, we detail the four most pressing issues, their business implications, and professional-grade redline solutions.

1. Overbroad Intellectual Property (IP) Restrictions The current terms prohibit nearly all forms of content use, even for legitimate fair use or educational purposes. This creates ambiguity and may be unenforceable under copyright law, risking both user backlash and potential legal challenges. Overly restrictive IP clauses have led to high-profile litigation, costing organizations upwards of $500,000 in legal fees and settlements.

Legal Analysis

high Risk

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You may view, download, and print the Materials from the Website only for your personal, noncommercial use unless otherwise indicated. You may not post, transmiteducational, or distribute the Materials on or to another website or computer network without our permission. You may notfair use the Website or information found at the Website (including the names and addresses of those who have submitted information) to sell or promote products or services or to solicit clients or for any other commercial purposepurposes, provided such use complies with applicable copyright law. You may not sellAny commercial use, modify, reproduce, display, publicly perform, prepare derivative works based upon, distribute or otherwise use the materials in any way other than abeyond what is permitted use without first obtaining theby law, requires prior written permission offrom the Owner.

Legal Explanation

The original clause is overly restrictive and may conflict with fair use and educational exceptions under copyright law. The revision clarifies permitted uses, aligns with legal standards, and reduces the risk of unenforceable or overbroad restrictions.

2. Unlimited Indemnification Obligations The indemnification clause requires users to defend and hold harmless Community of Christ for any third-party claims related to website use, without limitation. This exposes users to potentially unlimited liability, which courts often find unconscionable and unenforceable. Such clauses have resulted in multi-million dollar disputes, especially when not balanced by reciprocal obligations or reasonable caps.

Legal Analysis

critical Risk

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You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Owner and its affiliates and their officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any and all third-party claims, liability, actions, demands, costs, or expenses (of any nature) arising directly from or relating to your use of the Website or the Materials, material that you post to the Website or otherwise provide to the Owner or your breach or violation of these Terms of Use or your unlawful conduct, to the extent permitted by law. The Owner reserves the right to defendwill provide prompt notice of any such claim, and you agree to providereasonably cooperate in the Owner with such reasonable cooperation as it may requestdefense. Your indemnification obligations shall not exceed $100,000 in aggregate liability.

Legal Explanation

The original indemnity clause is unlimited and one-sided, exposing users to excessive liability. The revision limits indemnification to direct breaches and caps liability, making it more balanced and likely to be enforceable.

3. Unenforceable Limitation of Liability The limitation of liability provision attempts to disclaim all damages, including those for gross negligence or statutory violations. Courts routinely strike down such blanket waivers, especially where consumer protection laws apply. Failure to address this could result in substantial damages awards—recent cases have seen judgments exceeding $1 million for similar overbroad disclaimers.

Legal Analysis

high Risk

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TheTo the fullest extent permitted by law, the Owner and its affiliates areshall not be liable for any damages (directindirect, incidentincidental, consequential or otherwise),consequential damages arising from or in any way connected with these Termsuse of Use or the inability to use the Website or the Materials or licensed marks or anything else related. This limitation does not apply to the Web Site no matter what is the nature of the claim (contractliability for gross negligence, tortwillful misconduct, or otherwise)violations of statutory rights.

Legal Explanation

The original clause attempts to disclaim all liability, including for gross negligence and statutory violations, which is unenforceable under most legal systems. The revision preserves reasonable limitations while ensuring compliance with consumer protection laws.

4. Unilateral Amendment of Terms Without Notice The terms allow Community of Christ to amend the agreement at any time without prior notice. This lack of transparency undermines enforceability and may violate consumer protection statutes, such as those enforced by the FTC, which require clear notice and consent for material changes. Regulatory penalties for non-compliance can reach $43,792 per violation under U.S. law.

Legal Analysis

medium Risk

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The Owner may amend these Terms of Use by providing at any time withoutleast 30 days’ prior notice by posting the amended Terms of Usematerial changes via prominent notice on the Website or by email to registered users. YourContinued use of the Website after such changesnotice constitutes your agreement to be bound byacceptance of the amended Terms of Use, so please check for changes to these Terms of Use each time you use the Website.

Legal Explanation

Unilateral amendments without notice undermine contract enforceability and may violate consumer protection laws. The revision introduces a notice period and clear consent mechanism, reducing regulatory risk.

Conclusion: Proactive Legal Protection is Essential Our examination shows that addressing these four issues is critical to reducing legal exposure and protecting both the organization and its users. Proactive contract redlining not only ensures compliance with evolving regulations but also builds trust and mitigates the risk of costly litigation or regulatory fines.

Are your terms exposing you to unnecessary risk? How would your organization handle a multi-million dollar lawsuit or regulatory investigation? What steps can you take today to ensure your contracts are enforceable and compliant?

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This analysis is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For actual legal guidance, consult with a licensed attorney. This assessment is based on publicly available information and professional legal analysis. See erayaha.ai’s terms of service for liability limitations.