Legal

Terms of Service

Summons, Inc. — Effective April 6, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Summons platform ("Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, do not use the Service. These Terms apply to all users — Clients, Genies (service providers), and Agencies.

2. Description of Service

Summons is an on-demand marketing marketplace that connects Clients seeking marketing services with independent marketing professionals ("Genies") and marketing agencies ("Agencies"). Summons acts as a platform facilitating transactions; Genies and Agencies are independent contractors, not employees of Summons.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use Summons
You must provide accurate, current, and complete registration information
Genies and Agencies must pass our application and verification process before offering services
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials

4. User Roles

4.1 Clients

Clients post jobs, browse Genie profiles, and pay for marketing services through the platform. Clients agree to pay the displayed rate (which includes the platform fee) and to release payment from escrow within 48 hours of session completion or upon approval of deliverables.

4.2 Genies

Genies set their own take-home hourly rates. Summons adds a platform markup to determine the Client-facing rate. Genies agree to deliver quality work, maintain professional conduct, and complete Stripe Connect onboarding to receive payments.

4.3 Agencies

Agencies manage teams of Genies and may route jobs to their team members. Agencies must complete verification and Stripe Connect onboarding. Agency admins are responsible for the conduct of their team members.

5. Payments & Fees

5.1 Pricing

Genies set their desired take-home rate. Summons applies a platform markup to calculate the Client-facing rate. The Client is shown one transparent price; they are never charged more than the displayed rate.

5.2 Escrow

All payments are held in escrow via Stripe. Upon session completion:

Clients have 48 hours to approve the work or raise a dispute
If no action is taken within 48 hours, payment is automatically approved and released
Approved payments are transferred to the Genie's Stripe Connect account

5.3 Cancellation Fees

2+ hours before session: Free cancellation, no charge
30 minutes to 2 hours before: 50% of session cost charged
Less than 30 minutes or no-show: Full session cost charged; Genie receives full pay

5.4 Refunds & Disputes

Disputes are reviewed by the Summons admin team. Summons maintains a make-good budget funded from platform fees to resolve legitimate complaints. Refund decisions are at Summons' sole discretion and are final.

6. Non-Circumvention

You agree not to circumvent the Summons platform to avoid fees. Specifically:

Clients may not hire Genies found on Summons directly outside the platform for 12 months after their last Summons session
Genies may not solicit Clients to transact outside of Summons
Exchanging personal contact information (phone numbers, email, social media) for the purpose of off-platform transactions is prohibited
Violations may result in account suspension, termination, and a $5,000 circumvention fee

7. Conduct & Content

All users agree to:

Communicate professionally and respectfully
Provide accurate information in profiles and project descriptions
Not engage in harassment, discrimination, fraud, or illegal activity
Not upload malicious content, spam, or copyrighted material without permission
Not impersonate another person or misrepresent qualifications

Summons reserves the right to remove content and suspend accounts that violate these standards.

8. Intellectual Property

8.1 Work Product

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all deliverables created by a Genie during a paid session become the intellectual property of the Client upon payment release. Genies retain the right to showcase work in their portfolio unless the Client requests otherwise.

8.2 Platform IP

The Summons name, logo, software, and all related trademarks and content are the property of Summons, Inc. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from any part of the platform without written permission.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. Summons does not guarantee:

The quality, accuracy, or reliability of any Genie's work
That the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure
The availability of Genies for any particular skill or timeline

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

Summons' total liability for any claim arising from or related to the Service shall not exceed the amount of fees paid by you to Summons in the 12 months preceding the claim
Summons is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including lost profits, data loss, or business interruption
Summons is not liable for the actions, omissions, or quality of work of any Genie or Agency on the platform

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Summons, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney fees) arising from your use of the Service, violation of these Terms, or infringement of any third-party rights.

12. Dispute Resolution

12.1 Between Users

Disputes between Clients and Genies are first mediated by the Summons admin team through the in-app dispute process. If unresolved, disputes proceed to binding arbitration.

12.2 Between You and Summons

Any dispute arising from these Terms or the Service shall be resolved through binding arbitration administered by JAMS in Orange County, California, under its Streamlined Arbitration Rules. You waive the right to participate in class action lawsuits or class-wide arbitration.

12.3 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict of law principles.

13. Account Termination

You may close your account at any time from your profile settings
Summons may suspend or terminate your account for violations of these Terms, fraud, or inactivity
Outstanding payment obligations survive termination
Funds held in escrow at termination will be handled according to the escrow terms above

14. Modifications

Summons reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes via email or in-app notification at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

15. Miscellaneous

Severability: If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force
Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Summons
Assignment: You may not assign your rights under these Terms without our consent
Force Majeure: Neither party is liable for failures caused by events beyond reasonable control

16. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms:

Last updated: April 6, 2026