1. Provider
These Terms of Use apply to the use of the LYDnews website at [www.lydnews.com](http://www.lydnews.com).
The providers of the service are:
Richard Wagner and Jens Voss
acting under the name LYDnews
Managing Director: Richard Wagner
Eigelstein 127
50668 Cologne
Germany
Contact: [info@lydnews.com](mailto:info@lydnews.com)
2. Scope
These Terms of Use govern the use of the LYDnews website, the freely accessible news section and functions that require registration.
These include, in particular, user accounts, community functions, personal profiles, saved content, topic cards, dashboard functions, notifications, downloads, webinars and other functions provided as part of the platform.
LYDnews is aimed at users with a professional interest in marketing, media, AdTech, digital advertising and related topics.
3. Pilot Phase and Free Use
LYDnews will initially operate in a pilot phase. During this phase, the service will be provided free of charge and tested with a limited group of users.
The purpose of the pilot phase is to test technical functions, editorial processes, community functions, user guidance and the overall user experience.
Free use during the pilot phase does not create any entitlement to continued free use at a later date, to specific membership models or to permanently unchanged functions.
Before introducing paid services, LYDnews will provide separate information on the scope of services, prices, contract terms and contractual conditions.
4. Registration and User Account
Registration is required to use certain areas of LYDnews. This applies in particular to community functions, personal saving functions, topic cards, dashboard functions and other member functions.
Users undertake to provide accurate information when registering and to keep their login credentials confidential.
The user account is personal. Login credentials may not be shared with third parties.
Users are required to inform LYDnews immediately if they suspect that third parties have gained unauthorised access to their user account.
LYDnews may reject registrations or suspend user accounts where there are objective reasons for doing so. This applies in particular in cases of false information, misuse, security risks or violations of these Terms of Use.
During the pilot phase, there is no entitlement to registration or permanent use of the members’ area.
5. Functions of the Service
LYDnews combines freely accessible editorial content with functions requiring registration for professional exchange and personal knowledge organisation.
The open news section can generally be used without registration.
The members’ area may include the following functions in particular:
• community posts and discussions
• personal profiles
• saved content
• topic cards
• saved learnings
• dashboard functions
• notifications
• webinars
• downloads
• curated analyses
• additional functions introduced as part of the further development of the service
The specific range of functions may be changed, expanded, restricted or removed during the pilot phase.
6. Community Rules
The LYDnews community is intended for professional exchange. Contributions should be factual, respectful and relevant to the topic.
The following are prohibited in particular:
• unlawful content
• insulting, discriminatory or derogatory contributions
• knowingly false or misleading information
• advertising, spam or automatically published content
• content that infringes the rights of third parties
• publication of confidential information without authorisation
• content that infringes personality rights, copyrights, trademark rights or trade secrets
• technical attacks, attempts at manipulation or other misuse of the service
LYDnews may review, move, hide or delete contributions if they violate these rules or significantly impair professional exchange.
There is no entitlement to the publication of individual contributions.
7. User Content
Users remain responsible for their own posts, comments, profile information, uploaded content, saved content and other submissions.
They warrant that they hold the necessary rights to the content they publish or upload and that their content does not infringe the rights of third parties.
By posting a contribution, users grant LYDnews the right to store and technically reproduce that contribution within the service, display it and make it visible to other users.
This grant of rights is limited to the operation of LYDnews. Individual user contributions will not be used commercially outside LYDnews without separate consent.
Users may delete their own contributions where the relevant function allows this. Existing technical backups or records that must be retained for legal reasons remain unaffected.
8. Moderation and Reporting of Content
LYDnews may moderate content in order to enforce the community rules, address unlawful content and ensure the quality of professional exchange.
Moderation measures may include, in particular, reviewing, moving, hiding, deleting or blocking content as well as temporarily or permanently restricting user accounts.
LYDnews does not make moderation decisions arbitrarily. Decisions are based on these Terms of Use, applicable law and the purpose of the community as a space for professional exchange.
Unlawful or problematic content can be reported at:
[info@lydnews.com](mailto:info@lydnews.com)
A report should, where possible, contain the following information:
• a precise description of the content concerned
• a link or location where the content can be found
• an explanation of why the content is unlawful or violates these Terms of Use
• the name and contact details of the person submitting the report, where a response is requested
LYDnews reviews incoming reports and decides on any necessary measures.
Where LYDnews removes or blocks content or restricts user accounts, affected users may request a review of the decision at:
[info@lydnews.com](mailto:info@lydnews.com)
Note: As LYDnews offers community functions involving user-generated content, these reporting and moderation processes should be reviewed again from a legal perspective. Among other requirements, the Digital Services Act requires providers of hosting services to provide transparent information on moderation rules in their terms and conditions and to establish procedures for reporting unlawful content. (Digital Services Act)
9. Topic Cards, Dashboard and Saved Learnings
Where LYDnews provides functions for saving content, learnings, notes or topic cards, these are intended for personal use within the service.
LYDnews makes reasonable efforts to ensure the reliable operation of these functions. During the pilot phase, however, there is no entitlement to permanent availability, an unchanged presentation or permanent storage of individual content.
Users should also back up important content themselves.
10. Editorial Content and Partner Content
Editorial content published by LYDnews is produced independently.
Partner content, advertising and other commercial content are identified as such and kept separate from the editorial section.
Content on LYDnews is provided for information, professional context and professional orientation. It does not constitute legal advice, tax advice, investment advice or any other form of individual advice.
11. Feedback During the Pilot Phase
During the pilot phase, users may provide feedback on functions, content and the user experience.
LYDnews may evaluate and use this feedback to improve and further develop the service.
Personal data will only be processed in accordance with the Privacy Policy.
12. Availability and Further Development
LYDnews makes reasonable efforts to ensure stable operation of the service.
However, continuous availability cannot be guaranteed. Maintenance, technical disruptions, security measures or further development may result in temporary restrictions.
During the pilot phase, functions may be tested, changed, expanded, restricted or removed. This applies in particular to community functions, profiles, topic cards, saved learnings, dashboard functions, notifications, webinars, downloads and other member functions.
13. Copyright
The editorial content, texts, graphics, images, logos and other works published on LYDnews are protected by copyright unless expressly stated otherwise.
Any use beyond the limits permitted by law requires the prior consent of the respective rights holder.
Individual contributions may continue to be shared using sharing functions provided by LYDnews or by linking to publicly accessible pages.
14. Technical Use and Protection Against Misuse
Users may use LYDnews only within the scope of the functions provided.
The following are prohibited in particular:
• technical attacks on the service
• circumvention of security mechanisms
• automated extraction of content without consent
• large-scale or abusive use of functions
• disruption of the operation or technical infrastructure
• use of another person’s login credentials
• manipulation of community functions or user interactions
LYDnews may implement technical protection measures to prevent misuse and ensure the security of the service.
15. Suspension and Termination of Use
LYDnews may temporarily or permanently suspend user accounts if users violate these Terms of Use or misuse the service.
In the event of serious violations, an account may be suspended without prior notice. This applies in particular to unlawful content, attacks on the technical infrastructure, repeated spam or significant disruption of community operations.
Users may request deletion of their user account at any time, provided that no statutory retention obligations or legitimate interests prevent this.
After a user account has been deleted, published contributions may be anonymised or deleted where technically possible and legally required.
16. Liability
LYDnews has unlimited liability in cases of intent and gross negligence and for damages arising from injury to life, body or health.
In cases of slight negligence, LYDnews is liable only for breaches of material obligations. Material obligations are obligations whose fulfilment is essential to the proper use of the service and on whose compliance users may normally rely.
In such cases, liability is limited to foreseeable damages typical for this type of service.
Statutory claims remain unaffected.
Users are themselves responsible for content they publish in the community. LYDnews does not adopt such content as its own unless it is expressly identified as content provided by LYDnews.
17. Data Protection
Information on the processing of personal data is provided in the LYDnews Privacy Policy.
The Privacy Policy is available at:
https://lydnews.com/en/datenschutz
When users register and use community functions, LYDnews processes personal data. This may include, in particular, email addresses, login data, profile information, contributions, usage data and saved content.
The General Data Protection Regulation requires transparent information to be provided when personal data is collected, including information on the controller, purposes of processing, legal bases and data subject rights. This information belongs in the Privacy Policy, not in the Terms of Use. (General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR))
18. Changes to These Terms of Use
LYDnews may amend these Terms of Use where this is necessary due to technical, legal or organisational developments.
Users will be informed of material changes in an appropriate manner.
Where consent is required, LYDnews will obtain it separately.
19. Applicable Law
The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies.
For consumers, this choice of law applies only insofar as it does not deprive them of the protection afforded by mandatory statutory provisions of the country in which they have their habitual residence.
20. Final Provisions
Should individual provisions of these Terms of Use be or become invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected.
The statutory provisions shall apply in place of the invalid provision.