The conduct rules for using StenoDesk, including Messages, the Marketplace, and Support.
This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") governs your use of the StenoDesk platform at stenodesk.com and related subdomains (the "Service"). It is incorporated into and forms part of our Terms of Service ("Terms") and supplements (but does not limit) the acceptable-use obligations in §6 of the Terms; in the event of a conflict, the Terms control. By using the Service, you agree to comply with this AUP. Capitalized terms not defined here have the meaning given in the Terms.
The Service is for business use by professionals who meet the eligibility requirements in the Terms. You agree to use it only for lawful purposes and in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and the professional and ethical standards that apply to court reporters, scopists, and legal-support professionals.
Without limiting §6 of the Terms, you may not use the Service to:
a. Illegal activities. Violate any federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance; facilitate or promote illegal activity; or engage in fraud or other financial crimes.
b. Harmful content. Post, transmit, or store content that is defamatory, obscene, threatening, or harassing; upload files containing or distribute malware, viruses, or other harmful code; post content that promotes violence or hatred; or upload content designed to exploit vulnerabilities in the Service or its infrastructure.
c. Intellectual-property violations. Infringe any third party's copyrights, trademarks, patents or trade secrets, or distribute unauthorized content. StenoDesk reserves the right to immediately remove any content alleged to violate third-party IP rights.
d. Privacy and confidentiality violations. Collect or store personal information about others without a lawful basis; violate the privacy or publicity rights of others; or improperly share transcripts, notes, audio, or video recordings.
e. Service abuse. Use bots or scrapers without our prior written permission; or overload our systems with automated requests beyond normal use.
f. Misrepresentation. Impersonate any person or entity; falsely claim affiliation; create fake accounts or provide false registration information; post false or misleading listings or reviews; misrepresent your professional qualifications or certifications; or fail to promptly update your profile if any professional certification or license you have listed expires, lapses, or is revoked.
g. Spam and unsolicited communications. Send spam, chain messages, or unsolicited commercial messages through Messages or any other surface.
h. Professional misconduct. Violate court-reporter ethics or codes of conduct; share confidential deposition or trial transcript content inappropriately; or fail to comply with confidentiality rules or licensing requirements that apply to your work.
i. AI misuse. Use AI-assisted features through automated or programmatic means without our prior written permission; circumvent usage limits or rate limits on AI features; or use AI outputs to generate falsified certifications, fabricated transcripts, or other misleading professional work product.
j. Account abuse. Share your login credentials with others; allow others to access the Service through your account (except subcontractors you formally invite through the Service's built-in access controls); create or operate multiple accounts to circumvent plan limits, free-trial restrictions, or enforcement actions; or transfer your account to another person without our prior written consent.
The Marketplace is subject to the terms described in §3 of the Terms. When using the Marketplace, you must:
You must not post fraudulent, misleading, or non-genuine opportunities; engage in price manipulation or collusion; post fake reviews; spam users with inquiries; use the Marketplace to harass or exploit others; or request or provide services that violate law or professional standards.
When using internal Messages, you must only contact users for legitimate professional purposes, respect users who do not wish to be contacted, and refrain from threatening, harassing, or abusive messages and from spam or unsolicited advertising.
When using Support tickets, communicate honestly and respectfully. Do not submit false reports, abuse the support channel, or include other people's confidential information beyond what is necessary to resolve your issue.
a. Client and case data. Without limiting §5 of the Terms, you are responsible for applying appropriate safeguards for sensitive transcript content, including redaction of personally identifiable information where required by applicable court rules or professional standards.
b. Accuracy. In addition to the registration-information accuracy obligations in §2 of the Terms, you are responsible for the accuracy of all information you enter into the Service, including job details, invoices, client records, and professional credentials.
c. Backups. While we maintain Service backups, you are responsible for keeping your own copies of critical business information. You may not use export, download, or data-extraction features to collect or aggregate other users' information for purposes unrelated to your legitimate use of the Service.
d. Confidentiality. You must maintain the confidentiality of any information you obtain through the Service that is subject to confidentiality obligations, including information about other users, their clients, or their work. If you are a Subcontractor (Group B), you must treat all materials shared with you through the Service as confidential and use them solely for performing the work for which they were shared.
If you become aware of a violation of this AUP, please report it through an in-app Support ticket or by emailing support@stenodesk.com. We appreciate your help in keeping the community safe and professional.
We may investigate suspected violations and take appropriate action in accordance with §6 and §11 of the Terms. Actions may include issuing warnings, removing violating content or Marketplace listings, suspending or terminating accounts, reporting violations to law enforcement or professional licensing authorities, and pursuing legal remedies. We may take these actions without prior notice where reasonable. For specific claims of copyright infringement, please follow the procedures outlined in §9 (Copyright Infringement).
StenoDesk respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects its users to do the same. In accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA"), 17 U.S.C. § 512 (or its successor), we will respond expeditiously to claims of copyright infringement committed using the Service that are reported to our Designated Copyright Agent identified below.
a. Safe Harbor. The Service operates as a hosting provider for content uploaded by users, including you. You acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for all content, transcripts, marketplace listings, files, and media you upload to the Service. StenoDesk assumes no liability for, and will be held harmless against, any copyright infringement committed by you or through your account.
b. Notification of claimed infringement. If you are a copyright owner, or authorized to act on behalf of one, and you believe that content on the Service infringes your copyright, you may submit a written notice to our Designated Copyright Agent that includes:
c. Copyright Compliance Agent. Notices of claimed infringement should be directed to: Copyright Compliance Agent, StenoDesk LLC — Email: legal@stenodesk.com
d. Removal and counter-notification. If StenoDesk receives a formal notification from a third-party alleging that your uploaded content infringes their copyright(s), StenoDesk will comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA"). StenoDesk reserves the right, in its sole discretion and without prior notice or liability to you, to immediately: (i) remove or disable public or private access to the allegedly infringing material; (ii) suspend your access to the Service; (iii) disclose your identity and contact information to the claiming party if required by a valid subpoena or legal process. If you believe your content was removed or disabled by mistake or misidentification, you may submit a counter-notification to our Copyright Compliance Agent containing the information required under 17 U.S.C. § 512(g), including your physical or electronic signature; name, physical address, and telephone number; identification of the material and its prior location; a statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good-faith belief the material was removed as a result of mistake or misidentification; and your consent to the jurisdiction of the applicable federal court.
e. Signee Indemnification for Copyright Claims. If your unauthorized upload of copyrighted material results in a third party filing a lawsuit, claim, or legal demand against StenoDesk, you agree to fully indemnify, defend, and hold harmless StenoDesk, its officers, and its employees from and against any damages, legal fees, court costs, and expenses arising out of such infringement.
f. Repeat infringers. In accordance with §11 of the Terms and §6 of this AUP, StenoDesk will, in appropriate circumstances, suspend or terminate the accounts of users who are determined to be repeat infringers, without right to a refund.
StenoDesk LLC · Email: support@stenodesk.com