Legal

Terms of Service

Last Updated: January 2026

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) are a legally binding agreement between you and College, Inc. (d/b/a “The Yard,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) governing your access to and use of The Yard’s websites, applications, and related products and services (collectively, the “Platform”).

By accessing or using the Platform, creating an account, connecting a social media account, subscribing to a paid plan, or participating in any campaign, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you may not use the Platform.

Please also review our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and share information.

1. Platform Overview

The Yard is a technology platform that connects three types of users for campus-focused influencer marketing:

Students — individual creators, primarily college students, who connect their social media accounts, apply to campaigns, submit deliverables, and earn compensation;
Brands — companies, agencies, or advertisers that create campaigns, manage a creator CRM, review analytics, and pay creators; and
Organizations (“Orgs”) — university clubs, student organizations, or campus groups that participate in campaigns similarly to Students.

The Platform enables Brands to discover and engage Students and Orgs for digital, in-person, or hybrid marketing campaigns, ambassador programs, content creation, events, or other promotional initiatives (collectively, “Campaigns”). Platform features include campaign creation and management, AI-powered campus intelligence and advisory tools, social media analytics, real-time messaging, creator reputation scoring, shared analytics links, and payment facilitation.

The Yard is not:

An employer, staffing agency, or talent agency
A party to any agreement between a Brand and a Student or Org
A financial advisor, investment advisor, or fiduciary

Any engagement formed through the Platform is solely between the Brand and the Student or Org. References to “Creators” in these Terms refer collectively to both Students and Orgs unless otherwise specified.

2. Eligibility

You may use the Platform only if you:

Are at least 18 years old
Have legal authority to enter into a binding contract
Are not prohibited from using the Platform under applicable law
Provide truthful information regarding your educational institution or organization affiliation, if applicable

If you are using the Platform on behalf of a Brand or Org, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

Students and Orgs who claim affiliation with a university or educational institution represent that such claims are accurate. The Yard may, but is not obligated to, verify education claims. Misrepresentation of educational affiliation is grounds for immediate account termination.

3. Accounts

Account Creation

You must provide accurate, current, and complete information and keep your account details up to date. Each user must register under the appropriate account type (Student, Brand, or Org).

Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account, including any connected social media accounts or Stripe accounts.

Profile Information

Students and Orgs may upload avatars, provide biographical information, and claim educational affiliations. Brands may upload logos, campaign media, and company details. You represent that all information and media you upload is accurate and that you have the right to use it.

Account Enforcement

We may suspend or terminate accounts that:

Contain false or misleading information
Violate these Terms
Pose legal, reputational, operational, or security risk to the Platform or its users
Misrepresent educational affiliations or organizational status

4. Students & Organizations (Creators)

Students and Orgs may:

Create a public or semi-public profile displaying their information, connected social media metrics, and Yard Score
Connect Instagram and/or TikTok accounts via OAuth to import social media data and analytics
Browse and apply to Campaigns posted by Brands
Accept or decline campaign invitations
Submit deliverables and proof of completion (including file uploads such as screenshots, photos, and links)
Receive payouts for completed Campaign work via Stripe Connect Express
Send and receive real-time messages with matched Brands

Students and Orgs acknowledge that:

They act as independent contractors and are not employees of The Yard or any Brand
They are responsible for their own taxes, expenses, and legal compliance
The Yard does not guarantee campaign selection, compensation amounts, or outcomes
A Stripe Connect Express account is required to receive payouts, and they must complete all identity verification required by Stripe
Their Yard Score is computed by The Yard based on platform activity, engagement metrics, and reliability, and is displayed to Brands
Social media data imported via OAuth will be used to generate analytics, compute engagement metrics, and populate their profile
Deliverable submissions and proof of completion may be reviewed by Brands and stored by The Yard

Orgs additionally acknowledge that a designated representative must manage the account and that all actions taken under the Org account bind the organization.

5. Brands

Brands may:

Create Brand profiles and manage team members
Create and manage Campaigns (digital, in-person, or hybrid) subject to subscription tier limits
Review Creator applications and accept or reject applicants
Track deliverables, review proof of completion, and manage campaign contracts
Use the Creator CRM to organize creators into collections, apply tags, and add notes
Access analytics dashboards including creator engagement data, campaign performance, and Yard Scores
Generate shared analytics links (token-based, with configurable expiration) to share creator data externally
Export creator and campaign data via CSV
Use the AI Campus Advisor (available on Growth and Enterprise plans) to receive AI-generated campus intelligence and campaign recommendations
Send and receive real-time messages with matched Creators
Issue payouts to Creators via Stripe

Brands are solely responsible for:

Campaign descriptions, requirements, deliverable specifications, and instructions
Compliance with advertising, labor, consumer protection, FTC disclosure, and other applicable laws
Products or materials provided to Creators
All compensation owed to Creators for completed work
The accuracy and appropriateness of any decisions made using AI-generated recommendations or analytics data
Ensuring that shared analytics links are distributed only to intended recipients

A paid Subscription Plan is required for Brands to access core Platform features. See Section 7 for subscription details.

6. Campaigns & Agreements

Campaign Types

Brands may create digital Campaigns (requiring online content deliverables), in-person Campaigns (requiring physical attendance at events or locations), or hybrid Campaigns (combining both). Campaign type, requirements, compensation, and deadlines are defined by the Brand at the time of creation.

Campaign Workflow

The typical campaign lifecycle on the Platform is as follows:

A Brand creates and publishes a Campaign
Students and/or Orgs apply to the Campaign
The Brand reviews applications and accepts or rejects applicants
Upon acceptance, a contract is created on the Platform outlining deliverables, deadlines, and compensation
The Creator completes deliverables and submits proof of completion
The Brand reviews submissions and approves or requests revisions
Upon approval, payment is issued through the Platform

Platform Role

Any agreement formed through the Platform is directly between the Brand and the Creator.

The Yard:

Provides the tools and infrastructure to facilitate campaign management
Does not control Creator performance or Brand conduct
Does not guarantee results, deliverable quality, or campaign outcomes
Is not responsible for disputes, missed deadlines, or non-performance

Any templates, contracts, tools, or guidance provided by The Yard are for convenience only and do not constitute legal advice or create contractual obligations on the part of The Yard.

7. Payments, Subscriptions & Fees

Brand Subscription Plans

Brands must subscribe to a paid plan to access core Platform features. The following Subscription Plans are available:

Starter — $99 per month. Includes up to 5 active Campaigns, core campaign management tools, creator discovery, messaging, and analytics.
Growth — $299 per month. Includes up to 25 active Campaigns, all Starter features, plus the AI Campus Advisor, advanced analytics, shared analytics links, and CSV data export.
Enterprise — $999 per month. Includes unlimited active Campaigns, all Growth features, plus priority support and advanced CRM capabilities.

By purchasing a Subscription Plan, you agree that:

Subscription fees are charged in advance on a monthly recurring basis via Stripe
Subscriptions automatically renew each billing cycle unless canceled
Subscription fees are non-refundable, except where required by applicable law
Downgrading to a lower tier may result in loss of access to features and data associated with the higher tier

You may cancel your Subscription Plan at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period, and you will retain access until that date.

We reserve the right to change pricing, features, or plan structure with at least thirty (30) days’ prior notice. Continued use after a pricing change constitutes acceptance.

Creator Payouts

Creators receive compensation for completed Campaign work via Stripe Connect Express. To receive payouts, Creators must set up and maintain a valid Stripe Connect Express account, including completing all identity verification and banking information required by Stripe.

Regarding payouts:

The Yard facilitates payout transfers but does not hold funds in escrow
Payout timing depends on Stripe processing and the Brand’s approval of deliverables
The Yard is not responsible for Stripe fees, bank processing delays, or failed transfers due to incorrect account information
Creators are solely responsible for reporting and paying all applicable taxes on compensation received

Platform Fees

The Yard may charge service fees or transaction fees on payments facilitated through the Platform. Any applicable fees will be disclosed before a transaction is initiated.

The Yard does not act as a fiduciary, payroll processor, or payment guarantor. We are not responsible for payment disputes between Brands and Creators.

8. Social Media Accounts

OAuth Connection

Creators may connect their Instagram and/or TikTok accounts to the Platform via OAuth authentication. By connecting a social media account, you authorize The Yard to access your public profile information, follower counts, engagement metrics, post data, and audience demographics as permitted by the respective platform’s API.

Data Access & Usage

When you connect a social media account, The Yard may access and store:

Profile information (username, display name, bio, profile picture)
Follower and following counts
Post content, captions, media URLs, and timestamps
Engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares, views, reach, impressions)
Audience demographic data where available

This data is used to populate your Creator profile, compute your Yard Score, generate analytics visible to Brands, and improve Platform features.

Token Storage

The Yard stores OAuth access tokens and refresh tokens securely to maintain your social media connection. Tokens are encrypted at rest and used only to retrieve data as described in these Terms.

Right to Disconnect

You may disconnect any social media account at any time through your account settings. Upon disconnection, The Yard will cease pulling new data from that account. Previously imported data may be retained in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Disconnecting a social media account may affect your Yard Score and profile completeness.

Third-Party Terms

Your connected social media accounts remain subject to the terms of service and privacy policies of Instagram (Meta) and TikTok (ByteDance). The Yard is not responsible for changes to third-party APIs, rate limits, or access restrictions imposed by those platforms.

9. AI Features & Campus Advisor

AI Campus Advisor

The Platform offers an AI-powered Campus Advisor feature (available on Growth and Enterprise Subscription Plans) that provides campus intelligence, campaign strategy recommendations, creator suggestions, and market insights. The AI Campus Advisor is powered by third-party large language models (including OpenAI GPT-4o) and draws from The Yard’s campus intelligence database.

AI Disclaimers

You acknowledge and agree that:

AI-generated recommendations, insights, and content are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional, legal, financial, or marketing advice
AI outputs may be inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, or biased, and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for any decision
The Yard does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any AI-generated content
You are solely responsible for evaluating and acting on AI-generated recommendations
Campaign data and creator information may be processed by third-party AI providers in order to generate recommendations
AI features may change, be updated, or be discontinued at any time without prior notice

Campus Intelligence Database

The AI Campus Advisor utilizes a campus intelligence database compiled by The Yard containing information about universities, student demographics, campus culture, and marketing trends. This data is proprietary to The Yard and may not be extracted, scraped, or reproduced.

10. Analytics, Yard Score & Data

Yard Score

The Yard computes a proprietary reputation and engagement metric for Creators called the “Yard Score.” The Yard Score is based on factors including but not limited to social media engagement rates, campaign completion history, platform reliability, responsiveness, and content quality. The Yard Score is displayed on Creator profiles and is visible to Brands. The methodology for computing the Yard Score is proprietary and may be modified at any time without notice.

Shared Analytics Links

Brands may generate token-based shared analytics links that allow third parties to view selected Creator analytics data without logging in to the Platform. Shared links are time-limited and expire according to the duration set by the Brand. Brands are responsible for controlling the distribution of shared links and ensuring they are shared only with intended recipients. The Yard is not liable for unauthorized access resulting from Brand distribution of shared links.

CSV Data Export

Brands on eligible Subscription Plans may export creator data and campaign data in CSV format. Exported data is subject to these Terms and may not be used to circumvent the Platform, build competing databases, or contact Creators outside the Platform in violation of the Anti-Circumvention clause (Section 11).

Analytics Data Ownership

Raw social media data belongs to the respective Creator and the originating social media platform. Aggregated analytics, derived metrics (including Yard Score), and platform-generated insights are the property of The Yard. Brands receive a limited license to use analytics data provided through the Platform solely for their internal marketing purposes.

11. Anti-Circumvention

You agree not to use the Platform to identify, contact, or engage another user outside the Platform for the purpose of avoiding fees owed to The Yard.

If a Brand and Creator connect through the Platform, they must use the Platform for substantially similar engagements for twelve (12) months from the date of initial connection, unless otherwise approved by The Yard in writing.

Violation may result in:

Account termination
Fees, liquidated damages, or service restrictions
Legal enforcement

12. Content & Intellectual Property

Creator Content

Creators retain ownership of content they create (“Creator Content”), including campaign deliverables, social media posts, and proof-of-completion submissions.

Creators grant The Yard a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use Creator Content for:

Operating, displaying, and improving the Platform
Marketing and promotional purposes
Analytics, Yard Score computation, and internal research
Training internal tools or algorithms (in aggregated or anonymized form where feasible)

Social Media Data

Data imported from connected Instagram and TikTok accounts is used under the license granted when you connect your account. This includes the right to display your social media metrics, posts, and engagement data on your Platform profile and in Brand-facing analytics dashboards.

Campaign Deliverables

The intellectual property rights to campaign deliverables are governed by the agreement between the Brand and the Creator. The Yard does not claim ownership of deliverables but retains the right to store, display, and reference them within the Platform for campaign management purposes.

Creator Reuse Rights

Creators may reuse their content created through Campaigns in personal portfolios, resumes, websites, or social channels unless explicitly restricted by a Brand in writing.

Brand Content

Brands retain ownership of all trademarks, logos, products, campaign briefs, and materials they provide or upload to the Platform.

AI-Generated Content

Content generated by the AI Campus Advisor or other AI features is provided without warranty of originality. The Yard does not claim ownership of AI-generated outputs, but retains the right to use AI interaction data to improve Platform features. You are responsible for reviewing AI-generated content before use and ensuring it does not infringe third-party rights.

Platform Content

All Platform software, design, branding, campus intelligence data, Yard Score methodology, and functionality are owned by The Yard or its licensors and may not be copied, modified, scraped, or reverse-engineered.

13. File Uploads & Media

The Platform allows users to upload files including but not limited to:

Profile avatars and logos
Campaign media (images, videos, briefs, and attachments)
Proof of completion (screenshots, photos, links, and documents)

By uploading files, you represent that:

You own the content or have the right to upload it
The content does not violate any law, regulation, or third-party right
The content does not contain malware, viruses, or harmful code

The Yard may impose file size limits and supported format restrictions. We reserve the right to remove any uploaded content that violates these Terms.

14. Messaging & Notifications

The Platform provides real-time messaging between Brands and Creators who are matched through Campaigns. Messages sent through the Platform are stored and may be reviewed by The Yard for safety, policy enforcement, and dispute resolution purposes.

The Platform also sends notifications via email, in-app alerts, or other channels regarding campaign updates, application status changes, payment events, messages, and system announcements. By using the Platform, you consent to receiving these communications. You may adjust notification preferences in your account settings, but certain transactional and security-related notifications cannot be disabled.

You agree not to use the messaging system to harass, spam, solicit users for off-platform transactions, or transmit prohibited content.

15. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

Violate any law or regulation
Harass, exploit, or discriminate against others
Submit false, misleading, or infringing content
Scrape, crawl, or automate access to the Platform, including AI features, analytics data, or the campus intelligence database
Impersonate another person or entity
Use the Platform for unauthorized solicitation
Attempt to extract, reverse-engineer, or reconstruct the Yard Score algorithm or campus intelligence data
Share account credentials, Stripe account access, or OAuth tokens with unauthorized parties
Use exported data or shared analytics links to build a competing service or contact Creators outside the Platform
Submit fraudulent deliverables or proof of completion
Manipulate social media metrics to inflate Yard Score or analytics

We may remove content or restrict access at our discretion.

16. Confidentiality

You may receive non-public information about other users, campaigns, compensation terms, analytics data, or AI-generated insights through the Platform. You agree to keep such information confidential and use it only for its intended purpose within the Platform.

Shared analytics links do not waive confidentiality obligations. The data accessible through shared links remains subject to these Terms and may only be used by the intended recipient for the purpose specified by the sharing Brand.

17. Termination

You may stop using the Platform at any time.

We may suspend or terminate access:

With or without notice
For policy enforcement, risk mitigation, or operational reasons

Upon termination:

Your access ends immediately
Active subscriptions will not be refunded for the remaining billing period unless required by law
Connected social media accounts will be disconnected
Stripe Connect accounts remain active under Stripe’s own terms but will no longer receive payouts through The Yard
Sections relating to IP, indemnification, disclaimers, limitation of liability, anti-circumvention, and confidentiality survive termination

The Yard may retain data following termination in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable legal obligations.

18. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.”

We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

We do not guarantee:

Campaign selection, success, or creator performance
Payment timing, completion, or Stripe processing
Platform availability, uptime, or error-free operation
The accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated recommendations, campus intelligence data, or Yard Scores
The accuracy of social media data imported via third-party APIs
The security of shared analytics links after distribution by users

AI features, including the Campus Advisor, are provided for informational purposes only. AI-generated content may contain errors, hallucinations, or outdated information. The Yard expressly disclaims any liability arising from reliance on AI-generated recommendations.

19. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

The Yard will not be liable for:

Lost profits or revenue
Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
Disputes between users
Losses arising from AI-generated recommendations or campus intelligence data
Losses arising from third-party social media API changes, outages, or data inaccuracies
Unauthorized access to shared analytics links
Stripe processing errors, delays, or account issues

Our total liability shall not exceed the amount paid to The Yard by you in the six (6) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

20. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Yard and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of:

Your use of the Platform, including AI features, analytics tools, and shared links
Your content, uploaded media, or conduct on the Platform
Your agreements with other users
Your violation of these Terms or applicable law
Your connection or use of third-party social media accounts through the Platform
Decisions made based on AI-generated recommendations or analytics data

21. Governing Law & Venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles.

Any dispute shall be brought exclusively in state or federal courts located in Delaware.

22. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email or in-app notification at least thirty (30) days before taking effect. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

23. Contact

Questions or legal notices may be sent to: alicejacob@college.harvard.edu

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