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Terms of Service

TERMS OF SERVICE

Last updated: August 6, 2025

Welcome to cdispatch.com, operated by The Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company, Inc. (“The Commercial Dispatch,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your use of our websites, mobile applications, newsletters, and any related services (collectively, the “Services”). By using our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

1. Intellectual Property and Content Ownership

All original content on our Services, including but not limited to articles, photographs, graphics, logos, audio, and video (“Content”), is owned by The Commercial Dispatch or licensed from third parties. This includes copyrighted material created by our editorial staff and freelance contributors. Content from wire services such as the Associated Press and Mississippi Today is republished under license and remains the intellectual property of its original source.

You may not reproduce, republish, distribute, create derivative works from, or otherwise exploit any content without express written permission from us or the applicable rights holder. All rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.

2. Use of Content by Automated Systems and AI Models

We welcome responsible indexing by search engines and legitimate AI developers under these conditions:

• Attribution Required: All use of our original content by automated systems, including large language models (LLMs), must include clear attribution to The Commercial Dispatch and, where applicable, a link back to the original article URL.
• Third-Party Content Excluded: You may not use content from third-party syndication partners (e.g., AP, Mississippi Today) in any way unless you comply with their individual terms.
• No Mass Scraping: Automated systems must not extract substantial portions of our site or cause performance degradation.
• Reservation of Rights: We reserve the right to deny access, revoke permissions, and pursue legal action in response to misuse, including any unauthorized or uncredited use by LLMs.

3. Limited License for Personal Use

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive license to access and use our Services for personal, non-commercial use only. You may download or print individual articles for personal reference, provided all copyright and proprietary notices are retained.

4. User Accounts and Subscriptions

Certain portions of our Services require registration or paid subscriptions. You agree to provide accurate information and maintain the confidentiality of your login credentials. Subscription access is for individual use and may not be shared.

We reserve the right to change subscription offerings, meter limits, or paywall configurations at any time.

5. Newsletters and Communications

By signing up for newsletters, you consent to receive emails from us. You may opt out at any time via the unsubscribe link. We reserve the right to offer push notifications, SMS alerts, or other forms of communication in the future.

6. Submitted Materials and User Contributions

We welcome comments, letters, and submissions (“Submitted Materials”) but require that users comply with the following:

• No obscene, defamatory, or harassing content.
• No copyrighted or proprietary content without permission.
• No spam, advertising, or irrelevant links.
• No impersonation or misrepresentation.

By submitting content, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, publish, and distribute your content across all media. You waive any moral rights to the Submitted Materials.

Moderation is post-hoc and at our discretion. We may remove, edit, or restrict content for any reason, especially if it violates these Terms.

7. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• Use automated tools (e.g., bots, scrapers) to access or extract content unless explicitly permitted.
• Circumvent access controls, metering, or paywalls.
• Upload or transmit malware or harmful code.
• Violate copyright, trademark, or privacy rights.
• Interfere with site functionality or user experience.

8. Linking and Attribution

You may link to our homepage or articles with proper attribution, provided it does not frame, alter, or misrepresent our content. Inline linking to images or multimedia is prohibited. We reserve the right to revoke linking permissions at any time.

9. Refunds

Advertising purchases are non-refundable. In the case of errors attributable to us, we may offer a make-good insertion. Subscription refunds are considered on a case-by-case basis and may be prorated.

10. Third-Party Services and Linked Sites

Our Services may contain links to third-party sites. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of those sites. Your interaction with third-party services is governed by their terms and conditions.

11. Cookie Policy

We use cookies to personalize content, analyze traffic, and support site functionality. Some third-party services may also use cookies. By using our Services, you consent to our use of cookies. You may adjust your browser settings to disable cookies.

12. DMCA Notice and Takedown

If you believe that your copyrighted work has been used in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, you may notify us:

The Commercial Dispatch
Attn: Publisher
P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703
Email: [email protected]

Include:

• Your signature
• Description of the copyrighted work
• URL or description of infringing material
• Your contact information
• A statement of good-faith belief
• A statement under penalty of perjury that you are authorized to act

13. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

The Services are provided “as is” without warranties of any kind. We are not liable for damages resulting from your use or inability to use the Services, including interruptions, errors, or third-party misuse of your content.

14. Termination

We may terminate or suspend access to the Services for any user who violates these Terms, infringes intellectual property, or engages in abuse, fraud, or disruption of our systems.

15. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of Mississippi. Any disputes shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Lowndes County, Mississippi.

16. Changes to These Terms

We may revise these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

17. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact:
The Commercial Dispatch
P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703
Email: [email protected]

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