By joining Dear Friend Letters (“Dear Friend,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), you agree to the following Terms & Conditions. Please read carefully.

Participation in the Exchange

Dear Friend Letters is a voluntary, community-based handwritten correspondence exchange. By enrolling, you agree to participate in good faith, with respect for fellow members and the integrity of the project.

We reserve the right to refuse, suspend, or terminate participation at any time, for any reason, at our sole discretion.

License to Use Submitted Letters

By submitting a letter to Dear Friend Letters (whether mailed physically or submitted digitally), you grant Dear Friend Letters a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license to:

• Scan, reproduce, archive, and distribute your letter as part of the exchange
  
• Use excerpts of your writing for promotional, editorial, marketing, educational, or archival purposes
  
• Share your writing (in whole or in part) in print, digital, social media, press features, or future Dear Friend publications
  

We will never intentionally publish sensitive personal details (addresses, phone numbers, etc.). However, you understand that excerpts of your writing may be shared publicly unless you explicitly request otherwise in writing at the time of submission.

You retain ownership of your intellectual property. This license simply allows Dear Friend to operate and grow the project.

Anonymous Participation

Letters are distributed anonymously unless a participant voluntarily includes identifying information within their letter. Dear Friend Letters is not responsible for personal information voluntarily disclosed by participants in their writing.

Content Standards

Dear Friend Letters is intended to foster thoughtful, seasonal, human connection. By participating, you agree that your letters will not contain:

• Hate speech, harassment, threats, or discriminatory language
  
• Sexually explicit material
  
• Graphic violence
  
• Defamation or knowingly false statements about individuals
  
• Illegal content or encouragement of illegal activity
  
• Content that infringes on copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights
  
• Personal attacks or targeted hostility toward other participants
  

We reserve the sole right to determine whether submitted content violates these standards.

Complaints & Removal

If we receive complaints regarding the content of your letter, or if we determine that your submission violates our content standards, Dear Friend Letters reserves the right to:

• Withhold your letter from distribution
  
• Remove you from the current exchange
  
• Terminate your participation without refund
  
• Refuse future participation
  

Participation in Dear Friend Letters is a privilege, not a right. We aim to maintain a safe, intentional environment for all members.

No Guarantee of Delivery

While we take care in handling correspondence, Dear Friend Letters is not responsible for:

• Lost or delayed mail
  
• Postal service errors
  
• Damage during transit
  

We cannot guarantee receipt of any specific letter.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Dear Friend Letters and its founders shall not be liable for:

• Emotional distress arising from content received
  
• Disputes between participants
  
• Indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages
  
• Loss of personal property submitted through the mail
  

Participation is voluntary and at your own discretion.

Refund Policy

Membership fees are non-refundable unless otherwise stated. Removal due to violation of these Terms does not entitle a participant to a refund.

Modification of Terms

Dear Friend Letters reserves the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. Continued participation constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.