RUM Marketplace – Terms & Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using RUM Marketplace (“the Platform”), you agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use the Platform. Continued use of the Platform after any updates or changes to these Terms constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

2. Eligibility

To create an account or use the Platform, you must:

• Be a current student, faculty member, or staff member of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM).
• Possess a valid @upr.edu email address for verification.
• Maintain only one active account, unless explicitly authorized by Platform administrators.
• Be at least 18 years old or otherwise legally able to participate in peer-to-peer exchanges.

The Platform reserves the right to revoke or deny access at any time if these eligibility criteria are not met or are violated.

3. User Responsibilities

By using the Platform, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and truthful information in your profile and listings.
• Ensure that all content you publish complies with UPRM policies and applicable laws.
• Use the Platform ethically and not engage in fraud, deception, or harmful behavior.
• Take full responsibility for your interactions and transactions with other users.
• Promptly report suspicious or harmful activity to Platform administrators.

You are prohibited from misusing the Platform’s features, messaging system, or listing tools in any way that could interfere with normal operation or other users’ experience.

4. Prohibited Items and Activities

4.1 Prohibited Items

The following items and categories are strictly prohibited from being listed on the Platform:

• Weapons, ammunition, explosives, or related components.
• Illegal drugs, controlled substances, or paraphernalia.
• Alcohol or tobacco products.
• Stolen, counterfeit, or fraudulently obtained goods.
• Academic dishonesty materials (e.g., exams, assignments, essays offered in violation of course policies).
• Hazardous materials or chemicals.
• Sexual, explicit, or adult content.
• Any item whose sale or distribution is restricted under Puerto Rico law, federal law, or UPRM regulations.

4.2 Prohibited Activities

The following activities are strictly prohibited on the Platform:

• Fraud, impersonation, or misrepresentation of identity or affiliation.
• Harassment, hate speech, discrimination, or abusive behavior.
• Sending spam, phishing attempts, or malicious links.
• Attempting to bypass email verification or security controls.
• Posting misleading, offensive, or inappropriate content.
• Using bots, scripts, or automated tools to manipulate listings, messaging, or system behavior.

Violations of these rules may result in account suspension, removal of listings, or permanent banning from the Platform.

5. Verification & Authentication

To protect the UPRM community, new users must verify ownership of their @upr.edu email address through a secure activation link or verification code.

The Platform may, at its discretion:

• Suspend or limit accounts that fail verification.
• Require re-verification if suspicious activity is detected.
• Restrict access to certain features until verification is successfully completed.

6. Listings (Products & Services)

Users may create listings for goods and services, provided that all information and content comply with these Terms & Conditions.

By posting a listing, you agree that:

• All descriptions, prices, and details are accurate and not misleading.
• You have the right to sell or offer the item or service listed.
• Images used in listings are either your own or properly licensed for such use.
• Your listing does not include offensive or copyrighted material without permission.

Administrators may review, edit, hide, or remove listings at any time if they are found to violate these Terms, UPRM policy, or applicable law. The Platform does not guarantee visibility, engagement, or successful sale of any listing.

7. Messaging System

The Platform provides an internal messaging feature to facilitate communication between buyers and sellers.

Users agree that they will not:

• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users in messages.
• Send unsolicited advertisements or spam unrelated to legitimate listings.
• Share personal or sensitive data of third parties without their consent.

Messages are not publicly visible, but may be reviewed by administrators if a report is filed or if there is a safety, security, or policy concern.

8. Transactions & Liability Disclaimer

RUM Marketplace does not process payments, handle delivery, or act as a formal intermediary between users. All agreements, payments, and exchanges are made directly between users.

The Platform and its administrators are not responsible for:

• Any losses, damages, or disputes arising from transactions between users.
• Fraudulent, misleading, or inaccurate listings posted by users.
• Failed meet-ups, lack of communication, or unfulfilled agreements.
• Items that are defective, unsafe, or not as described.
• Any personal injury, property damage, or incidents occurring during in-person exchanges.

Users participate in transactions and in-person meet-ups at their own risk and are strongly encouraged to meet only in safe, public locations on or near campus.

9. User Conduct & Enforcement

The Platform reserves the right to take appropriate action in response to violations of these Terms, including but not limited to:

• Issuing written warnings to users.
• Temporarily suspending account access.
• Permanently banning users from the Platform.
• Removing or editing listings or content.
• Referring serious incidents to UPRM authorities or relevant authorities.

Enforcement decisions are at the discretion of the Platform administrators and are considered final.

10. Privacy & Data Use

The Platform collects and stores certain personal and usage data solely for the purpose of operating and improving the service.

Data that may be collected includes, but is not limited to:

• Name, email address, and username.
• Profile information and role (e.g., buyer, seller, vendor).
• Listings, images, and associated metadata.
• Message history between users.
• Login, verification, and activity logs for security and debugging.

The Platform does not sell user data to third parties. Information may be shared only when required by:

• UPRM administration or institutional authorities.
• Law enforcement agencies under applicable laws.
• Security investigations to protect users and the Platform.

By using the Platform, you consent to this collection and limited use of your personal data. Additional details may be provided in a separate Privacy Policy.

11. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise stated, the Platform’s source code, design, logo, and overall branding are the intellectual property of the RUM Marketplace development team.

Users retain ownership of the content they upload, such as listing descriptions and images. By posting content on the Platform, you grant RUM Marketplace a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, display, and distribute that content as necessary to operate and promote the Platform.

Unauthorized copying, modification, distribution, or reverse engineering of the Platform’s code, UI design, or branding is strictly prohibited.

12. Modifications to the Service

The Platform may be updated, modified, or temporarily suspended at any time for maintenance, security improvements, or feature development. While efforts will be made to minimize disruptions, availability is not guaranteed.

Whenever feasible, users will be informed of major changes to the Platform or to these Terms.

13. Termination of Service

The Platform reserves the right to suspend, restrict, or permanently terminate your access at any time, with or without notice, if you violate these Terms or if your activity poses a risk to other users or to the Platform.

You may request account deletion by contacting the support email listed below. Upon termination or deletion, your access will be revoked and your listings and content may be removed or archived at the Platform’s discretion.

14. Contact Information

If you have questions, need assistance, or wish to report a concern or policy violation, please contact:

Email: rummarketplace@gmail.com