Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Hamus mobile application and related services ("Services"). By creating an account or using the Services, you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Services.

We may offer these Terms in English, Amharic, and Tigrinya. If the versions conflict, the English version controls.

1. Who We Are and What Hamus Does

Hamus is a community marketplace and platform. Through the Services you can buy, sell, rent, give away, and discover goods and services; offer and request services and appointments; place and fulfill custom orders; learn through Hamus Learn (Section 9); message other users; and access certain services that Hamus itself operates, such as HABEX shipping where available (Section 10).

Our role differs by service. For user-to-user listings, services, and custom orders, Hamus is a venue only and is not a party to your transaction (Section 6). For services Hamus itself operates and identifies as such, Hamus or its affiliates may be a direct party and additional terms apply (Section 10).

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a binding contract. By using the Services you confirm you meet these requirements, that your information is accurate, and that you have not been previously removed from the Services.

3. Your Account

You are responsible for your account information and all activity under it. Keep your credentials confidential and notify us of any unauthorized use. We may refuse, suspend, or remove accounts at our discretion (Section 14).

4. Identity, Verification, and Badges

Any "verified" badge or verification feature does not guarantee a user's identity, trustworthiness, or conduct, and is not a background check. You remain responsible for your own diligence. Verification may be performed by third-party providers under their own terms.

5. Acceptable Use; Prohibited Items and Conduct

You agree not to use the Services to:

• Post or sell anything illegal, that you don't have the right to sell, or that infringes others' rights;
• List prohibited or regulated items, including weapons/firearms and ammunition, illegal drugs or paraphernalia, stolen, recalled, or counterfeit goods, hazardous materials, or anything that violates applicable law;
• Defraud or mislead anyone, manipulate prices or reviews, or post fake or duplicate listings;
• Harass, threaten, defame, or discriminate against anyone;
• In Hamus Learn, promote religion or partisan politics, or post hateful or sexually explicit content;
• Infringe intellectual-property or privacy rights, or post others' personal information without consent;
• Scrape, reverse-engineer, or access the Services by automated means, circumvent security or fees, or build a competing service from our data; or
• Distribute malware or spam, or interfere with the Services.

We may publish additional Community Guidelines, which are part of these Terms, and may remove content and take action for violations.

6. Marketplace Transactions Between Users (Venue Disclaimer)

For listings, services, rentals, and custom orders arranged between users, Hamus is not a party to the transaction. We do not own, inspect, warrant, or guarantee any item, service, or user. You transact at your own risk; pricing, payment, delivery, returns, and refunds are arranged directly between the users involved. We do not hold funds in escrow for user-to-user deals and cannot force a refund. Disputes between users are between those users.

7. Payments

Hamus does not currently process in-app payments for user-to-user transactions. Users arrange and settle payment directly between themselves, off-platform, using methods they choose. Do not assume Hamus is holding your money or guaranteeing a deal. If and when Hamus enables in-app payments or fees, they will be processed by a third-party provider under its own terms, and supplemental payment terms will be presented before use.

8. Safety; In-Person Meetings

Many transactions involve meeting strangers or exchanging goods in person. You assume all risk of such interactions. Meet in safe, public places and trust your judgment. Hamus does not screen users, verify reputations, run background checks, or vet meeting locations, and is not responsible for any interaction, injury, or loss arising from your dealings with other users.

9. Hamus Learn (Educational Content)

Hamus Learn lets approved contributors ("Teachers") publish lessons for the community. Becoming a Teacher requires applying and being approved, and we review lessons before they are published; we may decline, edit-request, unpublish, or remove content or revoke Teacher status at any time. Lessons must avoid religious proselytizing and partisan politics.

Lessons are general educational information, not professional, legal, financial, medical, or other licensed advice. Always consult a qualified licensed professional for your situation. Hamus does not endorse or guarantee any lesson's accuracy, and Teachers are not your advisors. Users may report lessons, and we act on reports at our discretion.

10. HABEX and Other Hamus-Operated Services

Certain services may be operated by Hamus or its affiliates rather than offered between users — for example, HABEX shipping between Ethiopia and the United States, where available. For any such service, supplemental terms apply and are presented before use; if they conflict with these Terms for that service, the supplemental terms control. Cross-border shipping is subject to customs, import/export, sanctions, prohibited-item, and carrier rules; you are responsible for the accuracy and legality of what you ship and for applicable duties and taxes. Availability may be limited or paused at our discretion.

11. Your Content and the License You Give Us

You keep ownership of the content you submit (listings, photos, lessons, messages, reviews, profile information — "Your Content"). To operate the Services, you grant Hamus a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to host, store, reproduce, display, adapt (e.g., resize/format), translate, and distribute Your Content within and to promote the Services. This license lasts while Your Content is on the Services and for a reasonable period afterward for backups and legal compliance. You are responsible for Your Content and confirm you have the rights to grant this license.

12. Intellectual Property; Feedback

The Services, including our software, design, brand, logos, and the Hamus, Hamus Learn, and HABEX names, are owned by Hamus or our licensors. We grant you a limited, revocable, non-transferable license to use the app for its intended purpose. If you send us feedback, we may use it without obligation to you.

13. Copyright

If you believe content on the Services infringes your copyright, send a notice with the information required by 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3) to [email protected]. We may remove infringing content and terminate repeat infringers.

14. Suspension and Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access, remove content, or limit features at any time, with or without notice, including for any violation of these Terms or to protect users or the Services. You may stop using the Services and delete your account at any time. Provisions that should survive termination will survive.

15. Disclaimers

THE SERVICES AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. We do not warrant that the Services will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, or that any listing, user, lesson, or transaction will meet your expectations.

16. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HAMUS AND ITS AFFILIATES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF US $100 OR THE AMOUNTS YOU PAID HAMUS IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so some of these may not apply to you.

17. Indemnification and Release

You agree to indemnify and hold Hamus harmless from claims, damages, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from Your Content, your use of the Services, your transactions with other users, or your violation of these Terms or the law. You also release Hamus from disputes between you and other users or third parties.

18. Dispute Resolution; Binding Arbitration; Class-Action Waiver

Informal resolution first. Before filing a claim, contact us at [email protected] and give us 30 days to try to resolve it.

Binding arbitration. Except as noted below, you and Hamus agree to resolve any dispute relating to these Terms or the Services through final and binding individual arbitration administered by JAMS under its applicable rules, rather than in court. The Federal Arbitration Act governs this Section.

Class-action waiver. You and Hamus agree to bring claims only in an individual capacity, and not as a plaintiff or class member in any class, collective, or representative proceeding.

30-day opt-out. You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by emailing [email protected] within 30 days of first accepting these Terms, stating your name and intent to opt out. If you opt out, Section 19 governs.

Exceptions. Either party may bring an individual claim in small-claims court, and either party may seek injunctive relief for intellectual-property or unauthorized-use claims.

19. Governing Law and Venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. For any dispute not subject to arbitration, you and Hamus consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in California.

20. Changes to These Terms or the Services

We may update these Terms or modify, suspend, or discontinue features at any time. If we make material changes, we will provide reasonable notice (in-app or by email) and update the date above. Continued use after changes take effect means you accept them.

21. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, contact us at:

Email: [email protected]