Event Terms and Conditions

Last Updated on March 21, 2024

Welcome! These event terms and conditions (“Event Terms”) govern your attendance and participation in events listed on Yelp’s websites and mobile applications (“Site”) that are organized or hosted by Yelp, including events, parties, gatherings, promotions, contests, giveaways, meet-ups, or similar experiences (“Yelp Events”). As used throughout these Event Terms, the terms “we”, “us”, “our”, and “Yelp” refer to Yelp Inc., a Delaware corporation with offices at 350 Mission Street, 10th Floor, San Francisco, California, 94105. These Event Terms include and incorporate by reference Yelp’s Terms of Service and Content Guidelines.

By accessing or using the Site, you are subject to these Event Terms. If you RSVP to (e.g., by clicking “I’m In!” or “RSVP”, or by otherwise communicating to us your intent to attend a Yelp Event), attend or participate in a Yelp Event, you confirm that you agree to these Event Terms.

1. QUALIFICATIONS

You represent that you: (a) are at least 21 years old (or otherwise over the legal drinking age in your jurisdiction), (b) have the requisite power and authority to enter into these Event Terms, and (c) agree to these Event Terms as well as Yelp’s Terms of Service and Content Guidelines.

2. REVIEWS AND OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS

Because Yelp Events typically provide event guests with complimentary and/or special access to goods, services, and/or experiences, guests are prohibited from posting reviews, photos, and other content related to the Yelp Event on a participating business’s Yelp page. Instead, guests are welcome to post such content on the separate Yelp page created specifically for the Yelp Event.

3. PHOTOS

Yelp and its Yelp Event sponsors and vendors (“Event Partners”) sometimes take and/or record photos and videos (“Media”) at Yelp Events, and later use the Media for promotional purposes. If you attend a Yelp Event, you may appear in such Media and your attendance constitutes your consent to its use in this manner. Similarly, if you create your own Media at a Yelp Event and provide it to us (e.g., by posting it on the Site), you grant us a world-wide perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, assignable, sublicensable, transferable license to use that Media, and further represent that the individuals who appear in your Media have consented to such use. To the extent that an individual who appears in your Media is under the age of 18, you represent that you have obtained consent from the individual’s parent and/or legal guardian to provide the Media to Yelp and for Yelp and its Event Partners to use it as set forth in this Section 3.

4. HEALTH AND SAFETY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, RELEASE OF LIABILITY, AND INDEMNITY

(a) Health and Safety. It is your responsibility to take appropriate health and safety measures when participating in any portion of a Yelp Event. You agree that you will comply with any applicable health and safety laws and regulations in effect at the time of a Yelp Event.

(b) Assumption of Risk. We ask that you do your part to help limit the possibility that you or someone else might get injured at a Yelp Event. You agree to carefully consider the inherent risks in any activities that you choose to take part in and to take reasonable precautions before you choose to attend or participate in a Yelp Event. For example, you should ensure that you are in good physical health before engaging in any physical activity at a Yelp Event. Additionally, to the extent alcoholic beverages are available at a Yelp Event, you should always drink responsibly given the risks associated with consuming alcohol and participating in activities while your judgment is impaired. Note too that some of the other Yelp Event guests may themselves create risk to you, even despite best intentions.

You understand and acknowledge that your attendance and participation in any Yelp Event and/or Non-Yelp Event (as defined below) is voluntary, and you agree to assume responsibility for any resulting illness or injuries you may sustain at or as a result of attending or participating in a Yelp Event or Non-Yelp Event to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.

(c) Non-Yelp Events. From time to time, you may be invited to participate in events that are organized by Yelp users or other third parties (including events that may be posted and/or discussed on the Site), but that are not organized, hosted, sponsored, or endorsed by Yelp (“Non-Yelp Events”). If you chose to attend or participate in a Non-Yelp Event, you understand that Yelp is not responsible for any illness, injuries, or accidents that you might sustain at or in connection with such Non-Yelp Event. If you organize a Non-Yelp Event, you agree to: (a) promote it as such, (b) not create the impression that it is sponsored or endorsed by Yelp, and (c) not use any Yelp intellectual property (e.g., Yelp name, logos, and imagery) in connect with the Non-Yelp Event without Yelp’s express written consent.

(d) Release of Liability. You (for yourself, your heirs, personal representatives, or assigns, and anyone else who might make a claim on your behalf) hereby release, waive, discharge, and covenant not to sue Yelp and its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, partners, shareholders, members, agents, employees, Event Partners, vendors, sponsors, volunteers, and representatives from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including but not limited to court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) which may arise out of, result from, or relate in any way to your attendance at or participation in any Yelp Event or Non-Yelp Event, except, of course, for any gross negligence or willful misconduct on our part.

(e) Indemnity. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Yelp and its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, partners, shareholders, members, agents, employees, Event Partners, vendors, sponsors, volunteers, and representatives against any and all third-party claims, demands, causes of action, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including but not limited to court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) which may arise out of, result from, or relate in any way to your negligence or reckless or willful misconduct in connection with your attendance or participation at any Yelp Event or Non-Yelp Event.

5. EVENT ATTENDANCE

While we hope not to, Yelp may prohibit your attendance at any Yelp Event at any time if you fail to abide by these Event Terms, or for any or no reason, without notice or liability of any kind.

6. ARBITRATION, DISPUTES, AND CHOICE OF LAW

(a) Arbitration. EXCEPT AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (B) BELOW, ANY CLAIM, CAUSE OF ACTION, REQUEST FOR RELIEF, OR DISPUTE THAT MIGHT ARISE BETWEEN YOU AND YELP MUST BE RESOLVED BY ARBITRATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. EACH PARTY AGREES THAT IT MAY BRING OR PARTICIPATE IN CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER PARTY ONLY IN ITS RESPECTIVE INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. UNLESS BOTH YOU AND YELP AGREE OTHERWISE, THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE OR JOIN THE CLAIMS OF OTHER PERSONS OR PARTIES WHO MAY BE SIMILARLY SITUATED, AND MAY NOT OTHERWISE PRESIDE OVER ANY FORM OF A REPRESENTATIVE OR CLASS PROCEEDING. YOU AND YELP EXPRESSLY WAIVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY A JURY.

(b) Exceptions. Notwithstanding the other provisions of these Event Terms, the following claims are not subject to arbitration and may be brought in court: (a) claims brought by you or Yelp that could be brought in small claims court, if permitted by the rules of that court and provided that the court has jurisdiction over the claim(s), and (b) claims related to intellectual property (like copyrights and trademarks), and (c) claims arising from any act in furtherance of a person’s right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution.

(c) Arbitration Rules and Forum. Arbitration shall be administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in accordance with its Consumer Arbitration Rules then in effect. For more information, visit www.adr.org. Arbitration may be conducted in person, through the submission of documents, by phone, or online. The arbitrator may award damages to you individually as a court could, including declaratory or injunctive relief, but only to the extent required to satisfy your individual claim. The arbitrator will not have the power to commit errors of law, and the award may be vacated or corrected through judicial review by a court of competent jurisdiction under the California Arbitration Act for any such error. Unless the arbitrator finds the arbitration was frivolous or brought for an improper purpose, Yelp will pay all filing, AAA, and arbitrator’s fees and expenses. We waive any right to seek an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses in connection with any non-frivolous arbitration between you and us.

Any issues relating to the scope and enforceability of the arbitration provision will be resolved by the arbitrator. If any claim cannot be arbitrated in accordance with this provision, then only that claim may be brought in court and all other claims remain subject to arbitration.

(d) Choice of Law. California law will govern these Event Terms (to the extent not preempted or inconsistent with federal law) without regard to conflict of law provisions.

7. TRANSLATIONS

While we may translate these Event Terms into other languages for your convenience, any inconsistencies among the different versions will be resolved in favor of the English version.

8. GENERAL TERMS

You agree that you will not represent yourself as an employee, independent contractor, representative, or agent of Yelp (unless, of course, you are actually employed by Yelp). If you are a Yelp employee or agent, any inconsistencies between these Event Terms and other agreements you may have entered into with Yelp and/or employment policies you may be subject to will be resolved in favor of your employment agreements, contracts and/or policies. Further, any inconsistencies between these Event Terms and Yelp’s Terms of Service or Content Guidelines will be resolved in favor of the Event Terms. We reserve the right to change or cancel any Yelp Event at any time, for any reason, and without liability or prejudice. Any failure on Yelp’s part to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the Event Terms does not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of the Event Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that the Event Terms shall otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable.