Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using HotpotNews, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, please do not use our website.

2. Use of Content

All content on HotpotNews is protected by copyright. You may share articles with proper attribution but may not reproduce them in full without permission.

3. User Conduct

You agree not to:

• Use our platform for any unlawful purpose
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the site
• Transmit spam or malicious content
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations

4. Disclaimer of Warranties

Our content is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We strive for accuracy but cannot guarantee that all information is current or error-free.

5. Limitation of Liability

HotpotNews shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of our website or services.

6. Reader Revenue, Contributions & Subscriptions

HotpotNews offers readers the ability to support independent tech journalism through voluntary contributions, newsletter subscriptions, and reader surveys powered securely by Google Reader Revenue Manager (Subscribe with Google) and certified payment processors.

• Voluntary contributions and subscriptions help fund in-depth investigative reporting and free developer tools.
• Contributions do not grant editorial influence, ownership rights, or commercial control over editorial decisions.
• Payment transactions are processed securely through Google Pay and authorized payment gateways with industry-standard encryption.

7. Cancellation & Refund Policy

We are committed to fair, transparent commercial practices in accordance with Google Publisher Center and Reader Revenue Manager policies:

• Recurring Contributions / Subscriptions: You may cancel recurring reader support at any time directly through your Google Account (under Subscriptions & Services) or by contacting our support team. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing cycle with no cancellation fees.
• Refund Window: If you made a voluntary contribution or subscription charge in error, you may request a full refund within 14 calendar days of the transaction by emailing billing@hotpotnews.com or contact@hotpotnews.com with your transaction ID.
• Processing Time: Approved refunds are credited to the original payment method within 5–7 business days.

8. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Material updates will be reflected on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance.

9. Contact & Legal Inquiries

For questions regarding these terms, subscriptions, or commercial policies, contact us at legal@hotpotnews.com or use our contact page.