Terms and Conditions

Terms of Use

Please read these Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy (together, the “Terms of Service”) fully and carefully before applying for membership in Happy Science USA (“Happy Science,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) on https://www.happyscience-usa.org (the “Site”), or otherwise using the services, features, content or applications offered by Happy Science on the Site (the “Services”). These Terms of Use set forth the legally binding terms and conditions for your use of the Site and the Services.

By applying for and/or using the Services in any manner, including but not limited to visiting or browsing the Site, you agree to these Terms of Service and all other operating rules, policies and procedures that may be published from time to time on the Site by us, each of which is incorporated by reference and each of which may be updated from time to time without notice to you.

Chapter 1: General Provisions
Article 1 – Scope of this Agreement

These Terms of Use apply to any person approved for membership in Happy Science (“members”) and/or any person who uses the Services in any manner, including but not limited to visiting or browsing the Site (“users”).

Article 2 – Membership

To register as a member of Happy Science, you must apply for membership on the Site in accordance with the procedures specified by Happy Science, including but not limited to accepting these Terms of Use and acknowledging receipt of the Privacy Policy.

Article 3 – Equipment

You shall maintain your own computer and other equipment necessary to view the websites operated by Happy Science, and shall take security measures to prevent computer virus infection, unauthorized access, and information leaks in accordance with your own usage environment.

Article 4 – Intellectual Property Rights

The Services contain Content, including but not limited to articles, photographs, graphics, videos, audio, and software (“Content”), specifically provided by us, our partners or our users. Such Content is protected by copyrights, trademarks, or other proprietary rights and laws.

You shall not reproduce, edit, process, transmit, sell, or publish any Content, including but not limited to articles, photographs, graphics, videos, and audio, from any website operated by Happy Science.

Article 5 – Modification of Rules

We may change these Terms of Use at our discretion, for any reason, at any time, without prior notice. Continued use of the Services following notification of any changes to these Terms of Service constitutes acceptance of those changes.

Article 6 – Prohibited Matters

You shall not engage in any of the following acts when using the Service:

  1. Sending or posting harmful computer programs, such as viruses.
  2. Actions that infringe or may infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights of Happy Science or others.
  3. Any action that burdens the servers of Happy Science or others, or any action that interferes with the operation of the Service or the network system, or any action that may lead to such a burden and/or interference.
  4. Posting links for the purpose of promoting an action that falls under any of the preceding items.
  5. Actions that Happy Science deems to be in violation of laws and regulations, public order and morals, these Terms of Use, or other terms of use, or to infringe on the rights of others.
  6. Any other actions that Happy Science deems inappropriate.
Chapter 2: Membership
Article 7 – Online Application

To join Happy Science through the Internet, you may apply for membership at https://www.happyscience-usa.org/membership/. A user who has applied for membership becomes a member when Happy Science accepts the application for membership. We will notify you via e-mail when your membership has been approved.

Happy Science will provide members with notices of new services, administrative contacts for service operation, and other information. However, if a member notifies Happy Science in advance or after the fact that he or she does not wish to receive such information, Happy Science will not provide such information, except when necessary to provide the Services.

Article 8 – Non-Acceptance of Membership Application

Happy Science reserves the right to deny a user’s application for membership if the applicant for membership has been forced to withdraw from membership in the past, or in any other cases that Happy Science deems appropriate in its sole discretion.

Article 9 – Management of Registered E-mail Address

Upon registration, you must provide a usable email address that is under your control. If, after becoming a member, you lose control of your registered email address, you must change your registered email address to another usable email address under your control.

Happy Science shall not be liable for any damage or loss caused by a third party’s use of your registered e-mail address except in cases where Happy Science is grossly negligent.

Article 10 – Donations

Donations are used to fund the various activities of Happy Science as a non-profit organization. Due to the nature of the donations, we are unable to refund them.

Chapter 3: Termination of Membership
Article 11 – Termination

Happy Science may forcibly terminate your membership and refuse to allow you to use the Service if you violate these Terms of Use or any other operating rules, policies or procedures, or under any other circumstances that Happy Science deems appropriate, in its sole discretion.

Chapter 4: Miscellaneous
Article 12 – System Shutdown

Happy Science may temporarily suspend part or all of the Services for system maintenance. In such cases, Happy Science shall notify users and members in advance, except in cases of urgent maintenance work or simple maintenance work.

In addition, Happy Science may suspend part or all of the services without notice due to system or communication line failures or force majeure, such as power outages, disturbances, fires, and natural disasters.

Article 13 – Compensation for Damages

Happy Science shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damage to users, members or third parties caused by the provision of Services, interruptions in the provision of Services, or accidents during the provision of Services, regardless of the nature or method of such damage. In addition, you agree not to bring Happy Science into any lawsuit with a third party based on the Site, such as a claim for damages. In the event that you cause damage to Happy Science due to an act in violation of these Terms of Use, or due to a fraudulent or illegal act, Happy Science shall be entitled to claim reasonable compensation for damages from you.

Article 14 – Applicable Law

The laws applicable to the implementation of this Agreement shall be the laws of Japan.

Article 15 – Court of Jurisdiction

If any dispute arises between a member and the Happy Science regarding this Agreement, the Tokyo District Court shall be the agreed jurisdictional court.

Last revised: June 30, 2021