Site Policy Terms and Conditions

Welcome to the official website of the Illinois Professional Pet Groomers Association (referred to as IPPGA), an Illinois, registered non-profit industry trade association. The IPPGA digital properties are comprised of, but not limited to, all the paged comprising on the www.illinoisprofessinalpetgroomers.org website, all affiliate owned website names, all content created in Meta for IPPGA and the Illinois Professional Pet Groomers Association and other relevant social media partner sites.

This Terms of Use Agreement ("Agreement"), states the terms and conditions (“Terms”) pursuant to which you may use this web site ("Site") and any of the Illinois Professional Pet Groomers Association (“IPPGA”) Services and Social Media Sites as described herein and within our Privacy Policy.

Moderation Policy & Community Guidelines.

Please read this Agreement carefully. Your use of this Site and Services contains various information relating to the Illinois Professional Pet Groomers Association in the form of text, graphics, news, reports, and other materials (tangible or intangible) ("Content").  By accessing, browsing and/or using this Site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by this Agreement.  If you do not agree to these Terms and Privacy Policy, you must immediately discontinue the use of this Site and Services.

We reserve the right to change, modify, add or remove portions of the IPPGA Agreement and Privacy Policy at our discretion with or without providing notice to users at any time by posting the amended terms on our Site.   

Intended Content

The information provided on or through IPPGA site and social media is for educational and informational purposes only. The information should not be construed as a recommendation by IPPGA for any course of action regarding veterinary medical, financial, legal or accounting matters. It is not meant as a substitute for professional advice from a qualified veterinary medical, legal, accounting, or financial professional.

Ownership and restrictions on use of materials

Unless otherwise noted, all materials, including images, illustrations, designs, icons, photographs, video clips, and written and other materials contained on the IPPGA site and digital sites, (collectively, the “Contents”), are protected by copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, and/or other intellectual property owned, licensed, or controlled by IPPGA.

You shall at no time assert any claims of ownership over any content by reason of your use of or any right to use this Site and shall not grant or create or suffer to exist any lien or other security interest arising therefrom.  You agree to comply with all copyright and trademark laws and you shall not encumber any interest in, or assert any rights to, the Content.  You may not modify, transmit, participate in the sale, or transfer of, or create derivative works based on any Content, in whole or in part. 

Use of Content and Intellectual Rights

The IPPGA site contains a combination of content that IPPGA, its partners and members create. All materials published through IPPGA, including but not limited to text, images, video, graphics and multimedia files ("Content"), are protected by all applicable intellectual property laws, including without limitation copyright and trademark laws, and owned by IPPGA or the party credited as the provider of the Content. All rights in the Content are expressly reserved by the applicable copyright and trademark owner.

For permission to use content from this website, blogs or newsletter authored and distributed by IPPGA, you must request written permission and provide full attribution. Permission should be requested by contacting the board at IPPGABoard@gmail.com. Attribution for website content should be given as follows: "Reprinted with permission from the National Council of Nonprofits." Acknowledgement for any content must include the original content creator’s title and "This content reprinted with permission from the Illinois Professional Pet Grooming Association.”

You may print copies of the Content, provided that these copies are made only for personal, non-commercial use and that you maintain any notices contained in the Content, or maintained by the Contributor, such as all copyright notices, trademark legends, or other proprietary rights notices. You shall not store electronically any significant portion of any Content. The IPPGA authorizes you to view and use the Content on this Site solely for your personal, noncommercial use. The use of the Content on any other site, including by linking or framing, or in any networked computer environment for any purpose is prohibited without the IPPGA’s prior written approval. 

IPPGA Logo, “Marks” and Hyperlinks

All IPPGA logo and or business trademarks, service marks, and membership marks ("IPPGA Marks") appearing on or through the IPPGA site are the property of IPPGA. You may not sublicense, transfer, or otherwise make any “Marks” or IPPGA Logos available to any third party for commercial purposes or financial gain or use any “Marks” or IPPGA Logos in any other media or in any other location. To assure proper usage, only current paying members may request, in writing, a limited use for the collective membership IPPGA Mark or hyper-linking to the mark within specific usage restrictions by contacting the board at IPPGAboard@gmail.com.

The following organizations may link to our Web site without prior written approval:

  • Government agencies;

  • Search engines;

  • News organizations;

  • pet industry associations;

  • Current paid members

Approved organizations must notify at BoardIPPGA@gmail.com. Please include contact name, organization name, phone number and website. Approved organizations may hyperlink to our Web site as follows:

  • By use of our corporate name; or

  • By use of any other description of our Web site or material being linked to that makes sense within the context and format of content on the linking party’s site.

Approved organizations may link to our home page, to publications or to other Web site information so long as the link: (a) is not in any way misleading; (b) does not falsely imply sponsorship, endorsement or approval of the linking party and it products or services; and (c) fits within the context of the linking party’s site. 

We reserve the right to disable links from third-party sites to the IPPGA services and sites.

Linked websites

IPPGA may contain links to other Internet websites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by IPPGA of the website or any association with its operator. IPPGA expressly disclaims any responsibility or liability for the content of any other website. You should direct any concerns regarding any external link to the website administrator or webmaster of such other website.

Registration and Account Security

You agree and understand that you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of passwords associated with any account you use to access IPPGA Membership Services. You further agree that you will be solely responsible to IPPGA for all activities that occur under your account. If you become aware of any unauthorized use of your password or your account, you agree to notify IPPGA immediately.

As part of the registration process to use certain portions of the website, including but not limited to "members-only" areas of the IPPGA website, you may select a username and/or password. You may change your password at any time in accordance with the procedure on the website.

You agree that you are exclusively responsible for maintaining the security of your password. You agree to provide IPPGA with accurate, complete and updated registration information. Failure to do so shall constitute a breach of this Agreement, which may result in immediate termination of your access to the IPPGA website and social media accounts.

User Comments, Feedback, Submissions, And Postings

The IPPGA site and services may include “User-provided Content” areas for communication including forums, social media communities, newsletters, emails and/or other message or communication media (collectively, "Communication Services") designed to communicate with members and for members to communicate with each other, the public at large or individuals. In using the Communication Services, you agree to the terms of the IPPGA’s community guidelines and social media moderation policy.

IPPGA may allow you to communicate, submit, upload, transmit, or otherwise make available text, images, audio, video, product feedback, reviews, suggestions, and other content through the site and social media which may also be referred to as “User-Provided Content" when posted on IPPGA sites and which collectively are “Submission(s) including in the form of comments, feedback, submissions, or other information.

Unless otherwise provided by another agreement entered into with IPPGA transmitting Submissions on or through the site grants IPPGA and its designees a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, assignable, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, incorporate, edit, publish, broadcast, post, copy, perform, store, modify, display, distribute, prepare derivative works based on, and transmit such Submissions, and you waive any and all moral rights and publicity rights in such Submissions. IPPGA will not be required to treat any Submission as confidential or proprietary and will not be liable for any ideas for its business (including without limitation, product, or promotion ideas) and will not incur any liability as a result of any similarities that may appear in future IPPGA business.

IPPGA will be entitled to use the Submission for any and all purposes, including, commercial, promotional, marketing or other purpose whatsoever, without compensation to you or any other person sending the Submission. You acknowledge that you own whatever material you submit and use of your Submission IPPGA will not infringe or violate the rights of any third party, including copyrights, other property rights, and rights of privacy. Additionally, you agree that IPPGA has no obligation to use any idea or material contained in the Submission(s) and you have no right to compel such use.

Communication Services and Moderation Guidelines

The IPPGA site and services may include “User-provided Content” areas for communication including forums, social media communities, newsletters, emails and/or other message or communication media (collectively, "Communication Services") designed to communicate with members and for members to communicate with each other, the public at large or individuals. In using the Communication Services, you agree to the terms of the IPPGA’s community guidelines and social media moderation policy.

·         You agree to use the Communication Services and “User-Provided Content” only to post, send, and receive messages and material that are appropriate and related to IPPGA content. When using a Communication Services, you will not:

    • Advertise, endorse, or offer to sell or buy any goods or services for any commercial or business purpose;

    • Conduct or forward surveys, contests, pyramid schemes or chain letters;

    • Publish, post, upload, distribute or disseminate any inappropriate, offensive, threatening, vulgar, sexually explicit, abusive, profane, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, or unlawful topic, name, material or information;

    • Upload Content or files that contain software or other material protected by intellectual property laws (or by rights of privacy of publicity) unless you own or control the rights thereto or have received all necessary consents and authorizations;

    • Upload files that contain viruses, corrupted files or any other similar software or programs that may damage the operation of another's computer;

    • Harvest or otherwise collect information about others without their consent, including without limitation e-mail addresses and other information about IPPGA members from any online member directory;

    • Engage in or promote any anticompetitive conduct or inappropriate conversations or conduct that could have anticompetitive effects or could constitute a restraint on trade;

    • Violate any applicable laws or regulations.

  • IPPGA has no obligation to monitor the Communication Services. IPPGA reserves the right but not the obligation to refuse, move, or remove, at any time for any reason and in IPPGA's sole discretion, Content posted or uploaded by you to any IPPGA website or social media account. By way of example and not of limitation, IPPGA may remove content that, in IPPGA's sole discretion, does not comply with the Terms or any of the items listed herein above.

  • Individual sections of any IPPGA site may have additional rules and regulations specific to the subject matter being covered in that section. You agree to abide by the rules and regulations of individual sections on the IPPGA.

  • All Content provided by you or any other party other than IPPGA must identify the party who provided that Content. Anonymous posting or uploading of any Content is strictly prohibited.

  • If you upload Content to any of the IPPGA sites, you agree to the following:

    • You agree to indemnify and hold harmless IPPGA, its officers, directors, employees, and agents, from any and all liability, damages or expenses whatsoever due, directly or indirectly, to any cause of action arising out of the Content posted by you;

    • You warrant and represent that you either own or otherwise control all of the rights to that material, including without limitation, all the rights necessary for you to provide, post, upload, input, or submit the material, or that your use of the material is a fair use as defined by applicable law;

    • You grant IPPGA, its partners, and third-party licensees a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, sub-licensable, royalty-free license to use, store, display, publish, transmit, transfer, distribute, reproduce, and aggregate your material with other content, create derivative works of and publicly perform that content for any purpose on and through each of the services provided by any IPPGA website. This license shall apply to the distribution and the storage of your Content in any form, medium, or technology now known or later developed;

    • You acknowledge that no compensation will be paid with respect to the use of your Content, as provided herein.

  • IPPGA disclaims responsibility and liability for the Content and opinions expressed by others on any IPPGA website including, but not limited to, Content or opinions regarding any products or service mentioned on any IPPGA website. Views expressed using the Communication Services are not necessarily those of the IPPGA.

Copyright Complaints

Pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 512), IPPGA has implemented procedures for receiving written notification of claimed copyright infringement for content, including content posted by users in interactive portions of any IPPGA site (“Submissions” or “User-Provided Content”) governed by these Terms and Conditions.

If you believe that your intellectual property rights have been violated by IPPGA or by a third party who has uploaded Content on one of our sites, please provide the following information to Board of Directors, IPPGABoard@gmail.com:

  • A description of the copyrighted work or other intellectual property that you claim has been infringed;

  • A description of where the material that you claim is infringing is located on an IPPGA website;

  • An address, a telephone number, and an e-mail address where IPPGA can contact you and, if different, an e-mail address where the alleged infringing party, if not IPPGA, can contact you;

  • A statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is not authorized by the copyright or other intellectual property rights owner, by its agent, or by law;

  • A statement by you under penalty of perjury that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright or intellectual property owner or are authorized to act on the owner's behalf;

  • Your electronic or physical signature.

You acknowledge that failure to meet the elements above will not be a valid notice and IPPGA may not consider your request.

IPPGA may request additional information before removing any infringing or allegedly infringing material. IPPGA may provide the alleged infringing party with your e-mail address so that that person can respond to your allegations.

IPPGA expects all users of IPPGA to comply with applicable copyright laws. However, if IPPGA is notified of a claimed copyright infringement, or otherwise becomes aware of facts and circumstances from which infringement is apparent, it will respond appropriately, which may include removing or disabling access to the material that is claimed to be infringing. IPPGA will follow the procedures outlined in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) with regard to appropriate notifications of the user and the complaining party, acceptance of counter notifications, and, where indicated, "putback" of the alleged infringing material.

If you believe your copyright-protected material is being used on any IPPGA website without permission, please notify the IPPGABoard@gmail.com

Disclaimer of Warranty

The content provided on this website is provided as a service to members of the public, to professionals in the pet industry and to Members of the Illinois Professional Pet Grooming Association. Information presented on this website is provided for informational purposes only.  No information presented on this website constitutes legal advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship between the Illinois Professional Pet Grooming Association and any other party. 

You acknowledge and agree that this site and the content therein are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis.  None of the Illinois Professional Pet Grooming Association, any of its members, affiliates or their respective officers, directors, employees, or agents (collectively the " Illinois Professional Pet Grooming Association parties") guarantees the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any of the content. 

None of the Illinois Professional Pet Grooming Association parties warrants that this site will be uninterrupted or error free or that this site, its server or any files available for downloading through this site are free of computer viruses or other harmful elements.  You expressly agree that the entire risk as to the quality and performance of this site and the accuracy or completeness of the content is assumed solely by you. 

None of the Illinois Professional Pet Grooming Association parties makes any, and hereby specifically disclaims any, representations, endorsements, guarantees, or warranties, express or implied, regarding this site or any content, including without limitation, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement of third-party rights.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all of the Illinois Professional Pet Grooming Association parties disclaim any warranties with respect to any results that may be obtained from the use of this site.

Limitation of Liability

Under no circumstances will any of the Illinois Professional Pet Grooming Association parties be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on information obtained through the content on the web site.  It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information or any content available through the web site.

In no event shall any of the Illinois Professional Pet Grooming Association parties be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of or relating to the content, service, or this agreement, whether based on warranty, contract, tort, or any other legal theory.

Because some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for negligence, consequential or incidental damages, in such jurisdictions the Illinois Professional Pet Grooming Association parties' liability is limited to the greatest extent permitted by law.

Your sole and exclusive remedy for dissatisfaction with this site is to stop using this site

Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, and Third-party Vendors

Your dealings with advertisers, corporate sponsors and third-party vendors found on or through the website, including your participation in promotions, the purchase of goods, the purchase of services, and any terms, conditions, warranties, or representations associated with such activities, are solely between you and the third party. IPPGA does not make any representations or warranties with respect to any goods or services that may be obtained from such third parties, and you agree that IPPGA will have no liability for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of any activities you undertake in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods, services, information or other materials available, or through such third parties, on the website.

You acknowledge that you are responsible for obtaining accurate information from all advertisers, corporate sponsors and such third-party websites including their current terms and conditions, including privacy, shipping and cookie policies, over which IPPGA has no control and which will govern your rights and obligations with respect to the use of those websites.

Email Communication

IPPGA reserves the right, but not the obligation, to send email to any and all users of our Services for the purpose of informing them of changes or additions to the Services. Your registration on the website constitutes your consent to receive such email unless it is subject to any right you may have to opt-out of receiving said messages and you have opted out as provided for in IPPGA's Privacy Policy.

Jurisdictional Issues

To the maximum extent permitted by law, this Agreement, its Terms, and use of IPPGA are governed by and will be interpreted under the laws of the State of Illinois, United States of America, without reference to conflicts of laws and without regard to the location of execution or performance of this Agreement. You hereby agree that any and all disputes which may arise and any litigation that may arise from such disputes will be litigated before a court located in the State of Illinois, County of Cook, U.S.A., to the exclusion of the courts of any other country, state or county.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about our Terms of Use, you can email us at IPPGABoard@gmail.com

Disclosure of Information

The IPPGA reserves the right to disclose information to third parties as described by the information sharing practices in our Privacy Policy. The IPPGA may change, suspend or discontinue any aspect of IPPGA Services at any time without notice or liability, including the availability of any feature, blog, database or other content.