Terms and Conditions

Welcome to Daily Kos

Users must read and agree to these terms before using the site. The site reserves the right to modify terms at any time with notice when possible.

1. Accounts

Account Types: Two tiers exist—free accounts with full access to reading and most publishing features, plus subscriptions offering ad-free experience and enhanced services.

Account Creation Restrictions:

  • Do not create accounts for companies, political campaigns, or organizations without authorization
  • Cannot use another user’s account without permission
  • Only one account permitted at a time (except disclosed group accounts for organizations)
  • Group accounts cannot interact with each other through uprating
  • Sockpuppeting (multiple accounts) prohibited—both accounts will be terminated
  • Do not misrepresent your identity; pseudonyms are acceptable
  • Use strong passwords with uppercase, lowercase, and numbers
  • Users are responsible for all account activity; site is not liable
  • Report breached accounts immediately

Email Communications: Signup emails used for occasional site content and activism campaign messages. Users may opt out through preferences or email unsubscribe links.

Site Modifications: Features may change or be removed anytime without legal liability. The site reserves discretionary banning rights for users whose behavior negatively impacts the community, including subscribers.

2. Copyrights and Trademarks

Trademarks: “Daily Kos” and “Kos” are registered trademarks of Kos Media. Unauthorized use requires legal action.

Staff Content: All Daily Kos staff-written content is published under open content license, allowing republication anywhere for any purpose without written permission.

Photography: Photographer-owned; assume not public domain unless attributed to Wikicommons or similar sources.

Site Brand: Mimicking the site’s look, feel, sound-alike URLs, or common misspellings will be pursued and shut down.

Community Content: Content written by community members belongs to individual authors who determine their own copyright, currently defaulting to open content/public domain license, changeable at author discretion.

Content Distribution: Posting grants permission to publish and further distribute content through affiliated outlets like Facebook and email.

Prohibited Activities:

  • Zero-tolerance for plagiarism and content theft
  • Defamation liability rests with the poster
  • Maintain civil behavior; avoid hostile conduct
  • Do not copy and paste content even with attribution
  • Do not steal pictures; obtain proper licensing or use public domain images

Licensing Notes: Default public domain licensing applies unless restricted at post bottom. Creative Commons licensing information available.

Content Moderation: Site reserves right to remove or unpublish content without prior notice if warranted, though pre-screening not performed. No responsibility for removal delays.

Content Standards: Daily Kos is not a children’s space. Users may encounter content causing offense, which is inherent to internet communication.

3. Copyright Infringement

Report stolen content or photos through the “Contact Us” page; the site takes this seriously.

4. Non-Endorsement of User Content

With hundreds of thousands of users and tens of thousands of bloggers, diverse opinions exist. Content posted does not represent site opinion.

User Content Responsibility: Non-staff blogger content accuracy and completeness are not endorsed or guaranteed. Grassroots publishing enables user responsibility without site obligation.

Monitoring: Daily Kos has no obligation to monitor for inappropriate or unlawful content and assumes no responsibility or liability for community-produced content.

5. User Responsibility for Violations

Generally, violations of Terms and Conditions are user problems, not site liability. However, the site reserves discretionary right to defend community First Amendment rights or other critical issues.

6. Service Disclaimers

The site operates “as is.” Servers may fail, features may break, reported facts may prove erroneous, and endorsed candidates may disappoint. While perfection is aspired to, occasional shortcomings occur. No refunds available.

7. Linked Sites

Responsibility for non-Kos Media-owned linked sites does not transfer through linking.

8. Legal Disclosure

Subpoenas from courts, law enforcement, or government agencies may trigger information disclosure with or without user consent depending on circumstances. The site may challenge subpoenas deemed erroneous or overly broad.

9. SMS Terms

Opt-in: Confirmation SMS sent upon signup.

Cancellation: Text “STOP” to unsubscribe; confirmation message follows.

Help: Text “HELP” for usage instructions.

Rates: Message and data rates may apply; message frequency varies.

10. Limited Liability

Daily Kos and its affiliates are not liable for incidental, indirect, consequential, special, punitive, or exemplary damages. Any claim against us shall be limited to the amount you paid.

11. California Governing Law

Terms governed by United States and California law without regard to conflict of laws principles. BY CONTINUING TO USE OUR SITE, YOU AGREE TO ABIDE BY THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.