Terms of Use

1 Who We Are

The Platform is operated by ShieldBase ("ShieldBase," "we," "us," or "our"), a company incorporated in Ontario, Canada. References to "you" or "Member" mean any individual or entity who applies for or holds a Platform account.

2 Eligibility

The Platform is available exclusively to independent contractors, tradespeople, and construction professionals operating lawful businesses in Canada. By applying, you represent that:

• You are at least 18 years of age;
• You are operating a lawful trade or contracting business in Canada;
• All information provided in your application is accurate and complete; and
• You are not applying on behalf of a property owner, developer, or client.

Membership is granted at our sole discretion. We may reject any application without providing a reason.

3 Accounts and Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. You may not share, transfer, or sell access to your account. You must notify us immediately at info@shieldbase.ca of any suspected unauthorized access to your account. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to protect your credentials.

4 Subscriptions and Billing

The Platform offers subscription-based access at rates displayed on our Pricing page. In accordance with the Ontario Consumer Protection Act, 2002:

• All fees are displayed in Canadian dollars (CAD) and include applicable taxes;
• Subscriptions are billed on a recurring basis (monthly or annually) as selected at purchase;
• You may cancel your Subscription at any time; access continues through the end of your paid billing period;
• Refunds for partial billing periods are not issued except as required by applicable Ontario law;
• We will provide at least 30 days' written notice to your registered email address before any price increase takes effect; and
• We reserve the right to suspend access for non-payment.

5 User-Generated Content

Members may submit project-based reports ("Posts") about construction and trade projects they have personally worked on. By submitting a Post, you:

• Confirm the information is based on your own direct, first-hand experience;
• Grant ShieldBase a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual licence to display, distribute, and use the Post within the Platform;
• Warrant that the Post does not violate these Terms, our Anti-Abuse Policy, or any applicable law; and
• Acknowledge that Posts are reviewed before publication and may be rejected, modified, or removed at our sole discretion, without notice or refund.

ShieldBase does not endorse, verify, or take responsibility for the accuracy of any Post.

6 Prohibited Content

You may not submit any Post or communication through the Platform that:

• Contains personal identifying information about any individual (names, addresses, phone numbers, photos, or documents);
• Makes allegations of criminal or fraudulent conduct, including terms such as "fraud," "scam," "thief," or "criminal";
• Is intended for competitive sabotage, retaliation, or to damage a business relationship unfairly;
• Constitutes defamation under the Ontario Defamation Act, RSO 1990, c D.6;
• Is false, misleading, or exaggerated;
• Infringes any third party's copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights under the Copyright Act, RSC 1985, c C-42; or
• Violates any applicable federal or provincial law.

All Posts must also comply with our Anti-Abuse Policy, which forms part of these Terms.

7 No Legal or Financial Advice

Content on this Platform — including Posts, risk assessments, neighbourhood ratings, and Ontario legal tips — is provided for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this Platform constitutes legal advice, financial advice, or a professional recommendation of any kind.

ShieldBase is not a law firm. No lawyer-client relationship is created through your use of the Platform. You should seek independent legal counsel before acting on any information found here, particularly regarding matters under the Ontario Construction Act, 2020 or other legislation.

8 Third-Party Subjects

Posts may describe experiences with property owners, developers, or clients ("Third-Party Subjects"). ShieldBase does not verify the accuracy of Posts and does not contact Third-Party Subjects prior to publication.

Third-Party Subjects who believe a Post contains false or inaccurate information about them may submit a written dispute to info@shieldbase.ca. We may temporarily suspend the Post pending review and may require the submitting Member to provide supporting documentation.

9 Intellectual Property and Copyright

The Platform, including its design, software, risk data, map data, and all ShieldBase-created content, is owned by ShieldBase and is protected under the Copyright Act, RSC 1985, c C-42. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from Platform content without express written permission.

Copyright Notice (Notice-and-Notice Regime): If you believe content on the Platform infringes your copyright under the Copyright Act, please send a written notice to info@shieldbase.ca that includes:

• Your name and contact information;
• A description of the copyrighted work you claim is infringed;
• The specific URL of the allegedly infringing content;
• A statement that you have a good faith belief the use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and
• Your electronic or physical signature.

We will review all notices in accordance with our obligations under the Copyright Act.

10 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Ontario law, ShieldBase and its officers, directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for:

• Any inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading content submitted by Members;
• Any loss of profits, revenue, contracts, or business opportunities arising from reliance on Platform content;
• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages of any kind; or
• Service interruptions, data loss, or security breaches beyond our reasonable control.

Our total aggregate liability to you shall not exceed the total fees you paid to ShieldBase in the three (3) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

11 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless ShieldBase and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or relating to: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) any Post you submit; or (d) any dispute initiated by a Third-Party Subject arising from your Post.

12 Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Platform at any time, with or without notice, for violation of these Terms, our Anti-Abuse Policy, non-payment, or for any other reason at our sole discretion. Upon termination, your right to access the Platform ceases immediately. No refund will be issued for any remaining prepaid subscription period, except where required by Ontario law. Provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination will survive, including Sections 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 13.

13 Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Ontario. You irrevocably waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such proceedings in Ontario.

14 Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms at any time. For material changes, we will notify you by email to your registered address at least 14 days before the changes take effect. The "Effective Date" at the top of this page will be updated accordingly. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not accept updated Terms, you must stop using the Platform and cancel your Subscription before the effective date.