Viewer Terms of Service

Effective: July 30, 2026

These Viewer Terms of Service ("Viewer Terms") are provided by Hovercast Inc. ("Hovercast," "We," "Us," or "Our"). Hovercast operates a live event streaming platform. These Viewer Terms govern your access to and participation in events hosted on the Hovercast platform as a Viewer or Speaker.

These Viewer Terms apply to you if you are attending a Hovercast event as a member of the audience (a "Viewer") or as an invited participant who may appear onscreen (a "Speaker"). If you are an Organization, Admin, Manager, Member, or Operator managing events on the Hovercast platform, please see the Hovercast Platform Terms of Service instead.

By entering a Hovercast event, submitting a display name, sending a chat message, or otherwise participating in an event, you agree to be bound by these Viewer Terms.

Hovercast's Role vs. the Event Host's Role

This is the most important thing to understand before participating in any Hovercast event:

The organization or individual who created the event (the "Operator" or "Organization") is solely responsible for the event's content, conduct, and compliance with applicable law. If you have a concern about the content of a specific event, that concern should be directed to the event's host, not to Hovercast.

Hovercast may remove event content or restrict access to the platform if, in our reasonable judgment, these Viewer Terms or applicable law are being violated, but we have no obligation to monitor event content and are not responsible for content we do not remove.

Definitions

"Event" means a live or recorded audio-visual broadcast hosted by an Operator through the Hovercast platform.

"Event Content" means all materials and content transmitted through or associated with an Event, including audio-visual streams, chat messages, Q&A submissions, reactions, and other participant contributions.

"Operator" means the individual who sets up and runs a specific Event, controls the event room, and manages Speakers.

"Organization" means the individual or legal entity that created a Hovercast account and is responsible for hosting Events on the platform.

"Platform" means the cloud-based software, infrastructure, and services provided by Hovercast for creating and broadcasting Events.

"Services" means Hovercast's platform and all features and functionality made available to Viewers and Speakers in connection with attending Events.

"Speaker" means an invited or promoted participant who has been granted access to the Speaker room and may appear onscreen during an Event.

"Viewer" means an audience member watching and participating in the public event page of an Event.

1. Who These Terms Apply To

1.1 Viewers.

You are a Viewer if you are attending a Hovercast event as an audience member. No Hovercast account is required. You may access Events via a public URL and may optionally choose a display name to participate in chat, Q&A, and other interactive features.

1.2 Speakers.

You are a Speaker if an Operator has invited you to enter the Speaker room and potentially appear onscreen during an Event. You may also become a Speaker if you use the Raise Hand feature — if available — and an Operator accepts your request to speak. You access the Speaker room via an invitation link or raise-hand acceptance and choose a display name. No Hovercast account is required. Before going live, you will typically first enter a private Backstage (see Section 2.5). By entering the Speaker room and going onscreen during the live broadcast, you acknowledge that your audio and visual contributions may be broadcast and recorded.

1.3 What These Terms Do Not Cover.

These Viewer Terms do not apply to Organizations, Admins, Managers, Members, or Operators who manage events on the Hovercast platform. Those users are governed by the Hovercast Platform Terms of Service.

2. Access and Display Names

2.1 No Account Required.

Attending a Hovercast event as a Viewer or Speaker does not require creating a Hovercast account. You access Events through a URL provided by the Operator or Organization hosting the event.

2.2 Display Names.

You may optionally choose a display name that is visible to other Participants during the Event. You are not required to use your real name. Your display name must not: (a) impersonate any person or organization; (b) be offensive, threatening, or harassing; (c) include personal contact information; or (d) violate these Viewer Terms or applicable law. Hovercast and Operators may remove display names that violate these standards.

2.3 No Persistent Account or Profile.

Display names are session-based and are not linked to a persistent account or profile. Hovercast does not retain a record of your chosen display name after an Event ends, except to the extent it is captured in an Event recording or analytics logs.

2.4 RSVP Registration.

Some Events include an RSVP page. If an Operator has enabled RSVP for their Event, you may be asked to provide information to register your attendance before entering the Event. Standard RSVP fields include your name, email address, and ZIP code. An Operator may also include optional fields for your phone number (to receive SMS updates from the Operator's campaign or organization) and any additional custom fields the Operator has configured.

Phone number and SMS opt-in are optional and are provided for the Operator's own communications, not Hovercast's. If you provide a phone number and opt in to SMS updates, you are agreeing to receive text messages from the Operator, not from Hovercast. Standard message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out of any Operator SMS program.

By submitting an RSVP form, you also acknowledge that you have read and agree to Hovercast's Privacy Policy. Hovercast may use your email address to send you product updates and announcements from Hovercast. You may unsubscribe from Hovercast communications at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email from Hovercast.

2.5 Raise Hand and Backstage.

Some Events include a Raise Hand feature that the Operator has optionally enabled. If it is available, you will see a hand icon on the event page. Clicking it sends a notification to the Operator indicating that you would like to speak. The Operator may accept or decline your request.

If the Operator accepts your request, you will enter the Backstage. The Backstage is a private staging space that is not part of the public broadcast and is not visible to the event audience. In the Backstage, the Operator may conduct a brief tech check, verify your audio and video setup, and let you know what to expect before any potential appearance on the live broadcast. Other Speakers may also be present in the Backstage.

Audio and video in the Backstage are accessible to the Operator and any other Speakers currently in the room. The Operator controls whether and when to move you from the Backstage to the live broadcast. If you are moved to the live broadcast, your audio and video will be visible and audible to the full event audience and may be recorded.

You may leave the Backstage at any time. You are not obligated to appear on the live broadcast simply because you entered the Backstage.

3. Age and Eligibility

3.1 COPPA: Children Under 13.

THE HOVERCAST PLATFORM IS NOT DIRECTED AT CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13. IF YOU ARE UNDER 13, DO NOT ACCESS OR USE THE SERVICES, SUBMIT A DISPLAY NAME, OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY EVENT IN ANY WAY. IF HOVERCAST LEARNS THAT A CHILD UNDER 13 HAS PROVIDED PERSONAL INFORMATION THROUGH THE SERVICES, WE WILL DELETE THAT INFORMATION AS QUICKLY AS PRACTICABLE.

Hovercast does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Because Events are publicly accessible and Hovercast does not verify the age of Viewers or Speakers, parents and guardians are responsible for monitoring and supervising their children's use of the internet, including Hovercast events.

3.2 Viewers Under 18.

Hovercast does not restrict Viewers under the age of 18 from attending Events and does not verify the age of Viewers. Operators and Organizations are solely responsible for ensuring that the content of their Events is appropriate for their intended audience, including any audience members who may be minors. If you are between 13 and 18, you are encouraged to review these Viewer Terms with a parent or guardian.

3.3 Geographic Scope.

The Hovercast platform is operated from the United States and is intended for use in the United States. If you access a Hovercast event from outside the United States, you do so at your own initiative and are responsible for compliance with any applicable local laws. By using the Services, you consent to your information being processed in the United States.

4. Information We Collect from You

4.1 Viewers.

When you attend a Hovercast Event as a Viewer, Hovercast may collect the following information:

Display name: if you choose to enter one (optional).

RSVP information: if the Operator has enabled an RSVP page, this includes your name, email address, ZIP code, and optionally your phone number and any custom fields configured by the Operator. See Section 2.4 for details.

Chat messages, Q&A submissions, and reactions: content you submit during the Event.

IP address and device/browser information: automatically collected when you access the Event page. This information can also be processed by Amazon IVS (Interactive Video Service), which powers the ultra-low latency video player embedded on Hovercast event pages. Amazon's privacy policy is available at aws.amazon.com/privacy.

Hovercast uses this information to provide the Services, enable event participation, support Operator moderation, and for aggregated product analytics. Hovercast does not sell your personal information to third parties.

RSVP information is accessible to the Operator who hosts the Event. Operators may export RSVP data in CSV format and may configure a registration webhook to receive RSVP data in real time. Hovercast is not responsible for how Operators use RSVP data they access or receive through these mechanisms. If you have questions about how a specific event host uses your registration data, contact that Operator directly.

4.2 Speakers.

When you participate as a Speaker, Hovercast collects the same information as for Viewers, plus your audio and visual contributions from two contexts: (1) the Backstage, where your audio and video are processed via LiveKit (livekit.io) and accessible to the Operator and other Speakers present but are not broadcast to the public audience; and (2) the live broadcast, where your audio and video are transmitted via Cloudflare Stream and may be distributed to YouTube or other streaming platforms if the Operator has enabled those integrations. By entering the Speaker room or Backstage, you consent to your A/V being captured in those contexts as described above.

4.3 Operator Access to Event Data.

Event Content, including chat messages, Q&A submissions, and participant activity, may be visible to and retained by the Operator. Operators may export event data for their own reporting and record-keeping purposes. Hovercast is not responsible for how Operators use event data they access through the platform. If you have questions about how a specific event's host uses participant data, contact that Operator directly.

4.4 Third-Party Analytics.

Hovercast uses Google Analytics and PostHog for internal product analytics. These tools may collect aggregated, de-identified usage information from your use of the Services. Hovercast does not use these tools to sell advertising or share your personal information with advertisers.

5. Event Participation and Conduct

5.1 Participation Features.

Hovercast events may include chat, Q&A, polls, reactions, raise hand, and other interactive features. Your use of these features is subject to these Viewer Terms and any rules set by the Operator hosting the Event.

5.2 Prohibited Conduct.

In connection with your participation in any Hovercast Event, you must not: (a) post content that is threatening, harassing, defamatory, obscene, or unlawful; (b) impersonate any person or entity; (c) post spam, advertisements, or solicitations; (d) interfere with the event or the platform's operation; (e) attempt to access any part of the platform you are not authorized to access; or (f) violate any applicable law.

5.3 Operator Controls.

Operators have authority to moderate Events, remove participants, disable chat, and take other steps to manage their event. Hovercast is not responsible for moderation decisions made by Operators. Hovercast may independently remove you from an Event or restrict your access to the platform if you violate these Viewer Terms.

5.4 Your Content.

Content you submit during an Event (such as chat messages or Q&A submissions) may be visible to other Participants, retained as part of the Event record, and included in any recording of the Event. By submitting content during an Event, you grant Hovercast and the Operator a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and retain that content in connection with the Event and its recording.

6. Recording Notice

6.1 Events May Be Recorded.

By entering a Hovercast Event, you acknowledge that the Event, including any chat, Q&A, and Participant contributions, may be recorded, archived, and made available after the Event ends.

6.2 Speaker Recording Consent.

If you enter the Speaker room or Backstage, you acknowledge and consent to your audio and visual contributions being captured within that context. Backstage audio and video are accessible to the Operator and other Speakers in the room but are not broadcast to the public audience. If you are moved from the Backstage to the live broadcast, your audio and visual contributions will be recorded and broadcast as part of the Event. If you do not consent to being recorded or broadcast, do not enter the Speaker room or accept a raise-hand invitation.

6.3 Operator Responsibility for Consent.

The Operator is responsible for complying with all applicable laws regarding recording and broadcasting Event participants, including obtaining any legally required consents from Speakers and providing required disclosures to Viewers. Hovercast is not responsible for an Operator's failure to provide required notice or obtain required consents. If you believe a recording was made of you without proper consent, your recourse is against the Operator, not Hovercast.

7. Fundraising and Donation Links

7.1 Hovercast Does Not Process Donations.

Hovercast is not a fundraising platform and does not process donations. Events may include links to third-party donation platforms such as ActBlue (for political organizations) or GoodChange (for charitable organizations). If you choose to donate through one of these links, your transaction is with that third-party platform, not with Hovercast. Hovercast never receives, holds, or controls donor funds.

7.2 Third-Party Donation Platforms.

Any donation you make by following a link from a Hovercast Event is subject to the terms and privacy policy of the destination platform. Hovercast is not responsible for the conduct of those platforms, the use of your donation, or any representations made about how donations will be used. Those representations are made by the Operator or Organization hosting the Event, not by Hovercast.

8. Third-Party Streaming Platforms

Hovercast events may be simultaneously broadcast to YouTube or other third-party streaming platforms. If you participate in an Event that is being streamed publicly to YouTube or another platform, your participation (including your display name and any onscreen appearance as a Speaker) may be viewed and recorded on those platforms. Those platforms' own terms of service and privacy policies apply to any data they collect about you in connection with their streaming services. Hovercast is not responsible for the availability or conduct of third-party streaming platforms.

Operators may also embed third-party web pages, videos, or other content within the event experience using the Content Tabs feature. Content Tabs use browser iframe technology; embedded content only loads if the third-party site permits iframe embedding, which most websites do not. Embedded content that does load is pulled directly from the third-party source and is subject to that source's own terms of service and privacy policies. Hovercast does not control embedded content, cannot guarantee that any particular site will function via Content Tabs, and is not responsible for any data collected by third parties through embedded content you access during an Event.

9. Intellectual Property

9.1 Hovercast's Rights.

Hovercast and its licensors retain all rights to the platform, technology, and Services. Nothing in these Viewer Terms grants you any rights to Hovercast's intellectual property.

9.2 Event Content Ownership.

Event Content is owned by the Operator and/or Organization hosting the Event, or their licensors. Without the Operator's permission, you may not record, screenshot, download, reproduce, or distribute Event Content.

9.3 Your Submissions.

You retain ownership of content you submit during Events (such as chat messages). By submitting content, you grant Hovercast and the Operator a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, display, and retain that content in connection with the Event and its recordings.

10. Disclaimers

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. HOVERCAST DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

HOVERCAST DOES NOT ENDORSE, VERIFY, OR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENT, ACCURACY, LEGALITY, OR CONDUCT OF ANY EVENT OR ANY OPERATOR OR ORGANIZATION HOSTING AN EVENT ON THE PLATFORM. YOUR ATTENDANCE AT AND PARTICIPATION IN ANY EVENT IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

HOVERCAST DOES NOT VERIFY THE IDENTITY, CREDENTIALS, OR CLAIMS OF ANY OPERATOR OR SPEAKER. ANY STATEMENTS MADE DURING AN EVENT ARE THOSE OF THE SPEAKER OR OPERATOR, NOT HOVERCAST.

11. Limitation of Liability

11.1 Excluded Damages.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HOVERCAST WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICES OR ANY EVENT, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, OR EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, REGARDLESS OF LEGAL THEORY AND WHETHER OR NOT HOVERCAST HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

11.2 Monetary Cap.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HOVERCAST'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE VIEWER TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES WILL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (US$100).

11.3 Operator Liability.

Claims arising from the content or conduct of a specific Event are claims against the Operator or Organization hosting that Event, not against Hovercast. Hovercast's liability, if any, is limited to its role as platform provider.

12. Dispute Resolution; Binding Individual Arbitration

(a) Informal Resolution First. Before initiating arbitration, you and Hovercast must attempt to resolve any dispute informally for 45 days. Send a written notice of your dispute to [email protected] describing the nature of the claim and the relief you are seeking. Hovercast will send notices to you at the email address or contact information you have provided, or via the Services.

(b) Binding Individual Arbitration. If a dispute is not resolved informally, it will be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by National Arbitration and Mediation ("NAM"), https://namadr.com, pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act and NAM's Comprehensive Dispute Resolution Rules and Procedures. If NAM is unavailable, arbitration will be administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), https://www.adr.org. Arbitration will be conducted by a single arbitrator in the English language, with hearings conducted by video or telephone.

(c) No Class Actions. ALL CLAIMS MUST BE BROUGHT ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS ONLY AND NOT AS A CLASS, COLLECTIVE, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE MORE THAN ONE PERSON'S CLAIMS AND MAY NOT PRESIDE OVER ANY CLASS PROCEEDING.

(d) One-Year Limitation. Any claim must be brought within one year of when it arose, or it is permanently barred.

(e) Governing Law. The laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles, govern these Viewer Terms. The Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this Section 12. Disputes not subject to arbitration will be brought in state or federal court in New York, New York.

(f) Opt-Out. You may opt out of arbitration within 30 days of first accepting these Viewer Terms by emailing [email protected] with your name, contact information, and a clear statement that you are opting out of arbitration.

(g) Severability. If any part of this Section 12 is found unenforceable, the remainder continues in effect.

13. General

13.1 Changes to These Terms.

Hovercast may update these Viewer Terms from time to time. If We make material changes, We will indicate the updated effective date at the top of the document. Your continued participation in Hovercast events after updated terms take effect constitutes your acceptance.

13.2 Entire Agreement.

These Viewer Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Hovercast regarding your attendance at and participation in Hovercast events as a Viewer or Speaker, and supersede any prior agreements on that subject.

13.3 Severability.

If any provision of these Viewer Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force.

13.4 Waiver.

Hovercast's failure to enforce any provision of these Viewer Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision.

13.5 Notices.

You may contact Hovercast at [email protected] or by mail at Hovercast Inc., 3838 N Ravenswood Ave, Suite 218, Chicago, IL 60613, United States.

13.6 Platform Terms.

If you are using the Hovercast platform as an Organization, Admin, Manager, Member, or Operator, the Hovercast Platform Terms of Service govern your use, not these Viewer Terms.

See also: Platform Terms of Service · Privacy Policy · Community Guidelines