Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Last Updated: January 1, 2026
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the Isenberg Institute of Strategic Satire website (“the Site”), including its news content, archives, and any forum or discussion features, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use (“Terms”). If you do not agree to these Terms in full, you must discontinue use of the Site immediately.
These Terms apply to all visitors, registered members, contributors, and subscribers.
2. Description of Service
The Isenberg Institute of Strategic Satire (“IISS,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is an independent publication providing analysis, commentary, and news syndication related to private military companies, mercenary networks, and the privatisation of force. The Site may include original content, syndicated third-party articles, member forums, and archived research materials.
3. Intellectual Property and Copyright
3.1 Original Content
All original articles, research papers, analysis, commentary, graphics, and other materials produced by IISS authors and contributors are protected by copyright. All rights are reserved. The authors of each piece retain attribution rights in perpetuity.
You may not reproduce, republish, redistribute, or commercially exploit any original IISS content without prior written permission. Brief quotations for the purpose of commentary, criticism, or news reporting are permitted under fair use, provided clear attribution is given to the original author and a link to the original article is included.
3.2 Syndicated Content
The Site may publish articles sourced or syndicated from third-party outlets. All such content remains the intellectual property of the original publisher and author. IISS makes no claim of ownership over syndicated material. Attribution and source links are provided with all syndicated content. If you believe syndicated content has been reproduced improperly, see Section 10 (DMCA / Copyright Complaints).
3.3 Attribution Requirement
Any permitted reproduction of content from this Site must include:
- The full name of the original author
- The title of the original article
- A hyperlink to the original URL on this Site
- The publication date
4. Member Accounts and Subscriptions
4.1 Account Responsibility
If you register for a member account, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. You agree to notify us immediately at [contact email] if you suspect unauthorised access to your account. IISS is not liable for any loss resulting from unauthorised use of your account.
4.2 Subscription Terms
Paid subscription fees are charged as described at the time of purchase. All fees are in US dollars unless otherwise stated. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled before the renewal date. Refund requests are handled at our sole discretion and considered on a case-by-case basis.
4.3 Account Termination
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, if you violate these Terms or engage in conduct we determine to be harmful to the Site, its authors, or its community.
5. Forum and User-Generated Content
5.1 Your Responsibility
You are solely responsible for any content you post, upload, or transmit through any forum, comment section, or discussion feature on the Site (“User Content”). IISS does not endorse or take responsibility for User Content.
5.2 Licence to IISS
By posting User Content, you grant IISS a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to display, reproduce, and distribute that content on the Site. You retain ownership of your User Content.
5.3 Prohibited Content
You agree not to post, share, or transmit content that:
- Is defamatory, harassing, threatening, or abusive toward any individual or group
- Infringes the intellectual property rights of any third party
- Contains personal identifying information of third parties without consent
- Constitutes spam, unsolicited commercial advertising, or phishing
- Promotes illegal activity, including recruitment into unlawful armed groups
- Is deliberately false or misleading and presented as factual reporting
- Contains malware, viruses, or harmful code
5.4 Moderation
IISS reserves the right — but assumes no obligation — to monitor, edit, or remove any User Content at any time, for any reason, without notice. Removal of content does not constitute an admission of liability on our part. Repeated violations of these Terms may result in permanent account suspension.
5.5 No Confidentiality
Do not post classified, restricted, or proprietary information in the forum. By posting, you represent that you have the right to make the content publicly available. IISS is not responsible for any consequences arising from disclosure of sensitive information by users.
6. Disclaimers
6.1 Accuracy
Content on the Site is provided for informational and analytical purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, IISS makes no representations or warranties regarding the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of any content, including syndicated articles.
6.2 No Professional Advice
Nothing on the Site constitutes legal, military, intelligence, financial, or professional advice. Readers should seek qualified professional counsel before acting on any information published here.
6.3 External Links
The Site may link to third-party websites. These links are provided for convenience only. IISS does not endorse, control, or assume responsibility for the content or practices of any linked site.
6.4 Warranty Disclaimer
THE SITE AND ITS CONTENT ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.
7. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IISS AND ITS AUTHORS, CONTRIBUTORS, EDITORS, AND STAFF SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF — OR INABILITY TO USE — THE SITE OR ITS CONTENT, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Our total aggregate liability to you for any claim shall not exceed the amount you paid, if any, to access the Site in the twelve months preceding the claim.
8. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless IISS, its authors, contributors, editors, and staff from and against any claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of:
- Your use of the Site
- Your User Content
- Your violation of these Terms
- Your violation of any third-party rights
9. Privacy
Your use of the Site is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Site, you consent to the data practices described in that policy.
10. DMCA / Copyright Complaints
If you believe that content on the Site infringes your copyright, please send a notice to [contact email] containing:
- A description of the copyrighted work you claim has been infringed
- The URL of the allegedly infringing material on this Site
- Your contact information
- A statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is not authorised
- A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorised to act on their behalf
- Your physical or electronic signature
We will respond to valid DMCA notices promptly and in accordance with applicable law.
11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [your jurisdiction], without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any dispute arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in [your jurisdiction].
12. Modifications
We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective upon posting to the Site with an updated “Last Updated” date. Continued use of the Site after any modification constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. It is your responsibility to review these Terms periodically.
These Terms of Use were last reviewed on January 1, 2026.
