Terms and Conditions

CEC Terms and Conditions 
Effective Date: July 25th, 2025

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms” or “Agreement”) are an agreement between you and the Food Service Employers & 100 Union Members Training and Education Fund (d/b/a Culinary Education Center), a non-profit (“CEC” or “we” or “us”). As used in these Terms, the terms “you” and “your” refers to individuals and companies that use any part of the cec100.org

By using this website and other websites owned by CEC or its affiliates (the “Sites”) or any services provided by CEC through the Sites (the “Services”) (collectively, the Sites and the Services are referred to in these Terms as the “CEC Platform”), you agree to read, comply with, and be legally bound by: (a) these Terms; (b) CEC’s Privacy Policy (available at CEC Privacy Policy; and (c) any additional rules and regulations for using the CEC Platform, including, but not limited to, any separate agreement between you and CEC (the “Rules”). If you do not agree to these Terms, our Privacy Policy or the Rules, you may not use the Sites or any other Services. In the event of any conflict between these Terms, the Rules, the Privacy Policy and other information provided by CEC to you in any manner, including, but not limited to, through the CEC Platform, communications with you, general advertisements or otherwise, unless expressly stated to the contrary, these Terms shall control.

THESE TERMS REQUIRE THE USE OF ARBITRATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO RESOLVE DISPUTES, RATHER THAN COURT OR JURY TRIALS OR CLASS ACTIONS AND ALSO LIMIT THE REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO YOU IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE. CAREFULLY REVIEW THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION SECTION BEFORE YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS.

1. Acceptance of Terms. CEC is pleased to provide the information available through the CEC Platform conditioned upon your acceptance, without modification by you, of the terms, conditions, and notices comprising these Terms. These Terms may be updated and modified by us from time to time without notice to you by posting revised Terms on the Sites. Your continued use of the CEC Platform after we publish any change, whether or not we send out a notice about the change, means that you have agreed to the updated Terms. You can review the most current version of these Terms at any time by clicking the “Terms and Conditions” link from any page on the Sites.

CEC reserves the right to terminate your access to the Site in the event that you violate these Terms, or for any reason whatsoever.

2. User Accounts. To use certain parts of the CEC Platform, you may be required to create an account through the CEC Platform. If you create an account, you must provide true, accurate, current and complete information about you as may be prompted by any registration forms. If any information you provide CEC changes, you must promptly update the relevant registration information.

By opening an account, you certify to CEC that: (a) you are at least 18 years of age; (b) you are legally able to enter into contracts; and (c) you are not a person barred from receiving or using any part of the CEC Platform under federal, state, local or other laws.

You acknowledge and agree that CEC may close, suspend, investigate, monitor or limit your access to your account or any other account associated with the CEC Platform, with or without prior notice to you. You acknowledge, understand and agree that you do not have an expectation of privacy in activities related to the CEC Platform except as described in CEC’s Privacy Policy.

You are prohibited from using a false identity to create an account, creating an account for or on behalf of any other person, or otherwise misrepresenting your identity on the CEC Platform.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your passwords. CEC has the right to assume that anyone accessing the CEC Platform using a valid password associated with your account has the right to do so. You will be solely responsible for the activities of anyone who accesses the CEC Platform using a valid password associated with your account, even if the individual is not in fact authorized by you. If you have reason to believe that your password has been compromised or used without authorization, you must promptly change it using the functionality provided through the CEC Platform.

3. Acceptable Use of the CEC Platform. Your use of the CEC Platform must comply with these Terms and the applicable Rules. Without limiting anything in these Terms or the applicable Rules, your use of the CEC Platform must comply with the following (“Acceptable Use Restrictions”):

• You shall not upload to, transmit through, or display via the CEC Platform any content that:
  • is unlawful, fraudulent, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene or otherwise objectionable (as determined by CEC in its sole discretion), or infringes CEC’s or any third party’s intellectual property or other rights;
  • contains confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information of anyone that you do not have the right to disclose through the CEC Platform;
  • violates the rights of others, including, without limitation, any privacy rights or rights of publicity;
  • impersonates any person or entity or falsely states, or otherwise misrepresents, your affiliation with any person or entity, or uses any fraudulent, misleading, or inaccurate email address or other contact information;
  • violates any applicable laws or regulations;
  • makes any statement, express or implied, that you are endorsed by CEC;
  • harms minors in any way, including, but not limited to, depicting content that violates child pornography laws, child sexual exploitation laws, and laws prohibiting the depiction of minors engaged in sexual conduct;
  • contains any unsolicited promotions, political campaigning, advertising, or solicitations; or
  • in CEC’s sole judgment, is inappropriate or objectionable or which restricts or inhibits any other person from using and enjoying the CEC Platform or which may expose CEC and/or any of its officers, directors, employees, or other users to any harm or liability of any type.

• You shall not use the CEC Platform to engage in any of the following activities:

• accessing, using, or uploading content to, or attempt to access, use, or upload content to another user’s account without permission;
• violating any federal, state, local, or other laws;
• violating the Rules;
• transmitting, uploading, or downloading any software or other materials that contain any viruses, worms, trojan horses, defects, time bombs, or other items of a destructive nature;
• engaging in commercial activity, including, without limitation, commercial use of the CEC Platform, except for the purposes of engaging in the activities for which the CEC Platform was designed; or
• creating user accounts by automated means or under false, misleading, or fraudulent pretenses.

• Without limiting the foregoing, you shall not engage in, or attempt to engage in, any of the following:

• reproducing, copying, displaying, storing, performing, reposting, publishing, transmitting, distributing, selling, offering for sale, licensing, modifying, creating derivative works of, or otherwise using any portion of the Content (as defined below) offered on the CEC Platform other than for your own personal, non-commercial use;
• reformatting or framing any portion of the CEC Platform that are provided as a website;
• copying or modifying any code (including, but not limited to, HTML code) used to generate the Content or otherwise make the CEC Platform accessible;
• using any device, software, or procedure that interferes with, or attempts to interfere with, the normal operation of the CEC Platform;
• taking any action that imposes, or may impose in CEC’s sole discretion, an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on our IT infrastructure;
• modifying, adapting, translating, or reverse engineering any portion of the CEC Platform;
• disrupting or otherwise interfering with the CEC Platform or the networks or servers used by CEC;
• impersonating any person or entity or misrepresenting your connection or affiliation with a person or entity;
• collecting or storing, or attempting to collect or store, personal information about other users of the CEC Platform;
• or engaging in any activity that is illegal under federal, state, local, or other laws.

CEC reserves the right (but not the obligation) to terminate your access to the CEC Platform at any time without notice for any reason whatsoever.

You certify that you will comply with all applicable laws (e.g., federal, state, local, and other laws) when using the CEC Platform and any Content as permitted and in accordance with these Terms.

YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COST, EXPENSE, FEE, LIABILITY OF ANY KIND, AND ATTORNEY’S FEES THAT CEC INCURS IF YOU BREAK THE LAW, VIOLATE THE RULES, MISUSE THE CEC PLATFORM, OR BREACH THESE TERMS. IF YOU BREAK THE LAW, VIOLATE THE RULES, MISUSE THE CEC PLATFORM, OR BREACH THESE TERMS, IN ADDITION TO, AND CONSISTENT WITH, OTHER INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS SET FORTH IN THESE TERMS, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU WILL REIMBURSE, INDEMNIFY, AND HOLD HARMLESS CEC AND ITS PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE SUBSIDIARIES, PARENTS, AFFILIATED COMPANIES, AND THE EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, INSURERS, AND AGENTS OF ALL AFOREMENTIONED COMPANIES, FROM ANY MONEY DAMAGES, COSTS, EXPENSES, LOSSES, LIABILITIES, AND ATTORNEY’S FEES RESULTING FROM ANY CLAIM, THREAT, DEMAND, SUIT, OR INVESTIGATION BROUGHT BY ANOTHER PERSON, ENTITY, OR GOVERNMENT. Without waiving any of these rights, CEC may, at its sole discretion, defend itself against any such claim, threat, demand, suit, or investigation without your consent. All of your obligations in this Section survive and continue after any termination of these Terms or your account.

CEC will terminate your access to the CEC Platform if, in its sole discretion, you are determined to be a repeat infringer of these Terms or otherwise a nuisance to the CEC Platform. CEC reserves the sole and exclusive right to decide whether a comment or any other submission is inappropriate or otherwise violates these Terms, other than copyright infringement, such as, but not limited to, obscene, defamatory, or just plain obnoxious material. CEC may remove but is not obligated to remove such comments or other submissions and/or terminate your access for uploading such material in violation of these Terms at any time, without prior notice and at its sole discretion.

4. Proprietary Rights. All right title and interest in and to the CEC Platform, including, but not limited to, all of the software and code that comprise and operate the CEC Platform and all of the text, branding, photographs, images, illustrations, graphics, audio, video, audio-video clips, URLs, advertising copy, and other materials provided through the CEC Platform (collectively, the “Content”) are owned by CEC or by third parties who have licensed their content to us. The CEC Platform is protected under trademark, service mark, trade dress, copyright, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws. In addition, the entire Content of the CEC Platform is a collective work under United States and international copyright laws and treaties, and CEC owns the copyright in the selection, coordination, arrangement, and enhancement of the Content of the CEC Platform.

We hereby grant you a limited, revocable license to download and print copies of any portion of the Content of the CEC Platform to which you have properly gained access, but only for your own personal, non-commercial use, and only if you do not remove, modify, or obscure any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices from the Content you download or print. The foregoing license is subject to these Terms and does not include the right to use any data mining, robots, or other automatic or manual device, software, program, code, algorithm, or methodology to access, copy, or monitor any portion of the CEC Platform, or in any way reproduce or circumvent the navigational structure or presentation of any part of the CEC Platform, or obtain, or attempt to obtain, any materials or information through any means not purposely made available by to you through the CEC Platform. We reserve the right to take measures to prevent any such activity. This license is revocable at any time without notice and with or without cause. You may not permit others to copy, distribute, perform or display publicly, prepare derivative works based on, broadcast, exploit, or use any part of the Content on the CEC Platform as expressly provided in these Terms. Nothing in these Terms shall be construed as transferring any right, title, or interest in the CEC Platform to you or anyone else, except the limited license to use the CEC Platform on the terms expressly set forth herein.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and specifically with regard to trademarks, the CEC names and logos (including, but not limited to, those of its affiliates), all product and service names, all graphics, all button icons, and all trademarks, service marks, and logos appearing within the CEC Platform, unless otherwise noted, are trademarks (whether registered or not), service marks, and/or trade dress of CEC and/or those of its affiliates (collectively, the “CEC Marks”). All other trademarks, product names, company names, logos, service marks, and/or trade dress mentioned, displayed, cited, or otherwise indicated within the CEC Platform are the property of their respective owners. You are not authorized to display or use the CEC Marks in any manner without our prior written permission. You are not authorized to display or use trademarks, product names, company names, logos, service marks, and/or trade dress of third parties features within the CEC Platform without the prior written permission of such third parties. The use or misuse of the CEC Marks or other trademarks, product names, company names, logos, service marks, and/or trade dress or any other materials contained therein, except as permitted herein, is expressly prohibited.

5. User-Provided Data. You shall be solely responsible for the accuracy, quality, integrity, legality, reliability and appropriateness of any data, information, or material you provide, disclose or submit to CEC through your use of the CEC Platform (“User Data”). You warrant that you have the right to possess and use all User Data you upload, submit, or otherwise provide through the CEC Platform, including the right to disclose User Data to CEC and use User Data in connection with the CEC Platform. You further represent and warrant that, prior to uploading, submitting, or otherwise providing any User Data through the CEC Platform or otherwise in connection with these Terms that: (a) you have received all required consents or authorizations with respect to such User Data referencing any individual; and (b) you will use, store, and transfer all User Data in accordance with all laws applicable to you or, if applicable, your business and any state law equivalents of counterparts thereof and all regulations promulgated under any of them).

You are prohibited from disclosing information that you do not have the right to disclose, including the information of any third party, or that would result in the violation of anyone’s intellectual property rights.

CEC has no obligation to store, maintain or provide you a copy of any content or information that you or others provide, except to the extent required by applicable law and as noted in our Privacy Policy. In addition, CEC may delete and remove from the CEC Platform any User Data pertaining to any individual upon the request of such individual.

CEC welcomes your feedback and suggestions about how to improve our products and services and the CEC Platform. By transmitting any ideas, suggestions or other feedback regarding CEC and/or any part of the CEC Platform (“Feedback”), you automatically grant CEC the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, redistribute, transmit, perform and display such Feedback (in whole or part) worldwide and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in such Feedback. Further, CEC is free to use any ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques, and suggestions contained in any communications you send to CEC for any purpose whatever, including, but not limited to, creating and marketing products and/or services using such information.

6. Confidentiality Cannot Be Guaranteed. Please be advised that the confidentiality of any communication or material transmitted to CEC via cec100.org or Internet electronic mail cannot be guaranteed, including personal information such as your address or social security number. To ensure private and personalized attention, you may also contact CEC by telephone at 646-632-7320 or write us at 275 7th Ave, 16th Fl., New York, NY 10001.

7. Privacy Policy. CEC has a Privacy Policy disclosing what information we collect about visitors, how we use such information, the steps we take to secure such information, how you can view and correct such information, and how you can decline to have information about you collected or used. The CEC Privacy Policy is incorporated by reference, as if set forth fully herein.

Our Privacy Policy may be updated and modified from time to time without notice to you by posting a revised Privacy Policy on our Sites. Your continued use of the CEC Platform after we publish any change, whether or not we send a notice about the change, means that you have agreed to the updated Privacy Policy.

8. Disclaimer of Warranty. WE MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE CEC PLATFORM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY SERVICES, CONTENT, OR ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE AVAILABLE OR PROMOTED THROUGH THE CEC PLATFORM. THE CEC PLATFORM, AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CEC PLATFORM ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS,” “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITHOUT REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO ANY PORTION OF THE CEC PLATFORM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY SERVICES, INFORMATION, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CEC PLATFORM. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, WE AND OUR AFFILIATES DISCLAIM ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED: (a) OF TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE; (b) ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR COURSE OF PERFORMANCE; (c) RELATING TO THE SECURITY OF THE CEC PLATFORM; (d) THAT THE CONTENT OF THE CEC PLATFORM IS ACCURATE, COMPLETE, CURRENT OR RELIABLE; AND (e) THAT THE CEC PLATFORM WILL OPERATE WITHOUT INTERRUPTION OR ERROR.

CEC DOES NOT ENDORSE, AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR, STATEMENTS, ADVICE, AND OPINIONS MADE BY ANYONE OTHER THAN AUTHORIZED CEC SPOKESPERSONS. WE DO NOT ENDORSE, AND ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR, ANY STATEMENTS, ADVICE, OR OPINIONS CONTAINED IN USER DATA, THIRD PARTY STATEMENTS, OR ANY OTHER CONTENT PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY, AND SUCH STATEMENTS, ADVICE, AND OPINIONS DO NOT IN ANY WAY REFLECT THE STATEMENTS, ADVICE, AND OPINIONS OF CEC. WE DO NOT MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF DELETION, MISDELIVERY, OR FAILURE TO STORE COMMUNICATIONS, PERSONALIZED SETTINGS, OR OTHER DATA.

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES. ACCORDINGLY, SOME OF THE ABOVE DISCLAIMERS OF WARRANTIES MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

9. Correction and Changes. While we endeavor to keep the materials on the Site up to date, CEC cannot assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in these materials. CEC further does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these materials. CEC may make changes to these materials, or to the products or services described herein, at any time without notice, and makes no commitment to update the information contained herein. 

10. Copyright Compliance. If you are a copyright owner or an agent thereof and believe that any user submission or other content on the CEC Platform infringes upon your copyrights, you may submit a notification pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) by providing CEC with the following information in writing (see 17 U.S.C. 512(c)(3) for further detail):

• A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed;
• Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at that site;
• Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled and information reasonably sufficient to permit CEC to locate the material;
• Information reasonably sufficient to permit CEC to contact you, such as an address, telephone number, and, if available, an electronic mail address;
• A statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and
• A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that you are authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

DMCA claims may be sent to the following address:

Subject line: “DMCA Takedown Request”

Culinary Education Center 

275 7th Ave, 16th Fl.
New York, NY 10001

11. Dispute Resolution.

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY. IT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS.

YOU AGREE THAT BY USING THE CEC PLATFORM YOU ARE WAIVING THE RIGHT TO A COURT OR JURY TRIAL OR TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION. YOU AGREE THAT YOU MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST CEC ONLY IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, REPRESENTATIVE, OR COLLECTIVE PROCEEDING. ANY ARBITRATION WILL TAKE PLACE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS; CLASS ARBITRATIONS AND CLASS ACTIONS ARE NOT PERMITTED.

YOU AGREE THAT ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AND DISPUTES ARISING FROM OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THESE TERMS, YOUR USE OF THE SITES OR SERVICES, OR YOUR DEALINGS WITH CEC SHALL BE FINALLY SETTLED AND RESOLVED THROUGH BINDING INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION AS DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION. THIS AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE IS INTENDED TO BE INTERPRETED BROADLY PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT. THE ARBITRATION WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION RULES AND THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROCEDURES FOR CONSUMER RELATED DISPUTES OF THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION (“AAA”), AS MODIFIED BY THIS SECTION. THE ARBITRATION WILL BE CONDUCTED USING ONE ARBITRATOR WITH SUBSTANTIAL EXPERIENCE IN RESOLVING COMMERCIAL CONTRACT DISPUTES, WHO SHALL BE SELECTED FROM THE APPROPRIATE LIST OF ARBITRATORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ARBITRATION RULES AND PROCEDURES OF ANY ARBITRATION ORGANIZATION OR ARBITRATOR THAT YOU AND CEC AGREE UPON IN WRITING OR THAT IS APPOINTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 OF THE FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT. FOR ANY CLAIM WHERE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE AWARD SOUGHT IS $10,000 OR LESS YOU MUST ABIDE BY THE FOLLOWING RULES: (a) THE ARBITRATION SHALL BE CONDUCTED SOLELY BASED ON TELEPHONE OR ONLINE APPEARANCES AND/OR WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS; AND (b) THE ARBITRATION SHALL NOT INVOLVE ANY PERSONAL APPEARANCE BY THE PARTIES OR WITNESSES UNLESS OTHERWISE MUTUALLY AGREED BY THE PARTIES. IF THE CLAIM EXCEEDS $10,000, THE RIGHT TO A HEARING WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE AAA RULES, AND THE HEARING (IF ANY) MUST TAKE PLACE IN NEW YORK, NY. THE ARBITRATOR’S RULING IS BINDING AND MAY BE ENTERED AS A JUDGMENT IN ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION, OR APPLICATION MAY BE MADE TO SUCH COURT FOR JUDICIAL ACCEPTANCE OF ANY AWARD AND AN ORDER OF ENFORCEMENT, AS THE CASE MAY BE. IN ANY ARBITRATION PROCEEDING BETWEEN YOU AND CEC IN CONNECTION WITH THESE TERMS, YOUR USE OF THE CEC PLATFORM, OR YOUR DEALINGS WITH CEC, THE PREVAILING PARTY WILL BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER ITS REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS IN SUCH ARBITRATION FROM THE OTHER PARTY.

THERE IS NO JUDGE OR JURY IN ARBITRATION. ARBITRATION PROCEDURES ARE SIMPLER AND MORE LIMITED THAN RULES APPLICABLE IN COURT AND REVIEW BY A COURT IS LIMITED. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE A COURT OR JURY TRIAL OR PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION OR CLASS ARBITRATION. YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT BY AGREEING TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE THROUGH INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION, YOU ARE WAIVING THE RIGHT TO A COURT OR JURY TRIAL. ANY DISPUTE SHALL BE ARBITRATED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, AND NOT AS A CLASS ACTION, REPRESENTATIVE ACTION, CLASS ARBITRATION OR ANY SIMILAR PROCEEDING. THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE THE CLAIMS OF MULTIPLE PARTIES.

ANY CAUSE OF ACTION OR CLAIM YOU MAY HAVE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THESE TERMS, YOUR USE OF THE CEC PLATFORM, OR YOUR DEALINGS WITH CEC MUST BE COMMENCED IN ARBITRATION WITHIN TWO (2) YEARS AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION ACCRUES. AFTER THAT TWO (2) YEAR PERIOD, SUCH CAUSE OF ACTION OR CLAIM IS PERMANENTLY BARRED. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW TIME LIMITATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE SET FORTH IN SUCH STATE’S STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS LAWS. IN SUCH CASES, THE APPLICABLE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE LAWS OF SUCH STATE SHALL APPLY.

YOU AGREE THAT ALL CHALLENGES TO THE VALIDITY AND APPLICABILITY OF THE ARBITRATION PROVISION (i.e., WHETHER A PARTICULAR CLAIM OR DISPUTE IS SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION) SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE ARBITRATOR. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION IN THESE TERMS TO THE CONTRARY, IF THE CLASS-ACTION WAIVER ABOVE IS DEEMED INVALID OR UNENFORCEABLE YOU AGREE THAT YOU SHALL NOT SEEK TO, AND WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO, ARBITRATE CLASS OR COLLECTIVE CLAIMS. IF THE ARBITRATION PROVISION IN THIS SECTION IS FOUND UNENFORCEABLE OR TO NOT APPLY FOR A GIVEN DISPUTE, THEN THE PROCEEDINGS MUST BE BROUGHT EXCLUSIVELY IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED WITHIN NEW YORK, NY, AS APPROPRIATE, AND YOU AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF EACH OF THESE COURTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF LITIGATING SUCH CLAIMS OR DISPUTES, AND YOU STILL WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL, WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO INITIATE OR PROCEED IN A CLASS OR COLLECTIVE ACTION, AND REMAIN BOUND BY ANY AND ALL LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND DAMAGES INCLUDED IN THESE TERMS. THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT WILL SURVIVE TERMINATION OF YOUR USE OF THE CEC PLATFORM AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CEC. THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT INVOLVES INTERSTATE COMMERCE, AND, THEREFORE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT, 9 U.S.C. 1–16 (“FAA”), AND NOT BY STATE LAW. INFORMATION ON AAA AND HOW TO START ARBITRATION CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.ADR.ORG.

IF YOU WISH TO OPT OUT OF THE AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE, WITHIN 45 DAYS OF WHEN YOU FIRST USE THE CEC PLATFORM, OR SUBMIT THROUGH THE CEC PLATFORM A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, YOU MUST SEND US A LETTER STATING, “REQUEST TO OPT-OUT OF AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE” AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:

Culinary Education Center 

275 7th Ave, 16th Fl.
New York, NY 10001

In the event you opt out of the arbitration provision, you agree to litigate exclusively in the state and federal courts located within New York, NY, as appropriate, and you hereby consent and submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purposes of litigating any such action.

12. Limitation of Liability.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AND WITHOUT LIMITING ANYTHING ELSE IN THESE TERMS OR THE RULES, OUR ENTIRE LIABILITY, AND YOUR EXCLUSIVE REMEDY, WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OF THE CEC PLATFORM SHALL BE THE AMOUNT OF $100.

IN NO EVENT WILL WE BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE CEC PLATFORM OR FOR ANY OTHER CLAIM RELATED IN ANY WAY TO YOUR USE OF THE CEC PLATFORM. BECAUSE SOME STATES OR JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW FOR THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, IN SUCH STATES OR JURISDICTIONS OUR LIABILITY WILL BE LIMITED TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS WILL APPLY WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES ARISE OUT OF BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES WERE FORESEEABLE OR WE WERE ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES OR JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW CERTAIN LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY, SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

13. You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless CEC, its past, present and future affiliates, partners, beneficiaries, participants, licensors, advertisers, third party suppliers, other business partners, and service providers, and its and their respective officers, managers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, licensors, suppliers, successors, insurers and assigns (collectively, the “CEC Indemnified Parties”) from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising out of or relating to, directly or indirectly, your violation of these Terms or your use of the CEC Platform, including, but not limited to: (a) your negligence or misconduct; (b) any User Data you contribute to or submit through the CEC Platform, including without limitation information associated with your account; (c) your conduct, including your use of the CEC Platform; (d) your connection to the CEC Platform; (e) any violation or breach of these Terms; (f) your violation or infringement of any intellectual property, privacy, publicity, confidentiality, proprietary or other rights of any person or entity; (g) your use of the Content; or (h) your violation of applicable laws (collectively, the “Claims”).

You are solely responsible for defending any such Claims, and for payment of any and all losses, costs, damages or expenses resulting from the foregoing. CEC shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to select its own legal counsel to defend the CEC Indemnified Parties from any Claims (but by doing so shall not excuse your indemnity obligations) and you shall be solely responsible for the payment of all of CEC’s reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection therewith. You shall notify CEC immediately if you become aware of any actual or potential claims, suits, actions, allegations, or charges that could affect your or CEC’s ability to fully perform their respective duties or to exercise its rights under these Terms. You shall not, without the prior written approval of CEC, settle, dispose or enter into any proposed settlement or resolution of any Claim (whether having been finally adjudicated or otherwise) brought against you, if such settlement or resolution results in any obligation or liability for any of the CEC Indemnified Parties.

14. Link to Other Web Sites. The CEC Platform may, from time to time, contain links to other Internet Web sites for the convenience of users in locating information and services that may be of interest. As a user of the CEC Platform, you acknowledge and agree that these third-party sites are maintained by persons or organizations over which CEC exercises no control, and CEC expressly disclaims any responsibility for the content, the accuracy of the information and/or quality of products or services provided by or advertised on these third-party sites. CEC does not control, endorse, promote, or have any affiliation with any other Web site unless expressly stated in the Site. You expressly agree that CEC does not need to give you notice that you are leaving the CEC Platform or are connecting to a third-party website or service.

Advertising may be presented to you when you use the CEC Platform. You consent to receiving such advertisements. You also acknowledge and agree that CEC is not responsible for any products or services provided by advertisers outside of CEC, its subsidiaries or its affiliated companies.

The CEC Platform allows you, or could allow you in the future, to share content through various platforms, websites and mobile applications, including, but not limited to, Facebook and Twitter. You understand that CEC does not control what information is published on those sites or who has access to that information. Those sites are managed by third parties and governed by the terms of use and privacy policies published on those sites.

15. Use of the Internet. Use of the Internet is solely at your own risk and is subject to all applicable state, national and international laws and regulations. Neither CEC nor its affiliates will be liable for any loss resulting from a cause over which they do not have direct control, including, but not limited to, failure of electronic or mechanical equipment or communication lines, telephone or other interconnect problems, computer viruses, unauthorized access, theft, operator errors, severe weather, earthquakes, natural disasters, strikes or other labor problems, wars, or governmental restrictions.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction. These Terms and Conditions will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its choice of law rules. By accessing, viewing, or using the material on the Site, you consent to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts presiding in New York, NY, and agree to accept service of process by mail and hereby waive any and all jurisdictional and venue defenses otherwise available. This Site is controlled and operated by CEC from its offices within the United States. CEC makes no representation that materials in the Site are appropriate or available for use in other locations, and access to them from territories where their contents are illegal is prohibited. Those who choose to access this Site from other locations do so on their own volition and are responsible for compliance with applicable local laws.

17. You agree that CEC, in its sole discretion, may suspend or terminate your account (or any part thereof) of use of the CEC Platform and remove and discard any content within the CEC Platform for any reason, including, but not limited to, lack of use or if CEC believes you have violated or acted inconsistently with the letter or spirit of these Terms. Any suspected fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity that may be grounds for termination of your use of the CEC Platform may be referred to appropriate law enforcement authorities. CEC may also in its sole discretion and at any time discontinue providing the CEC Platform, or any part thereof, with or without notice. You agree that any termination of your access to the CEC Platform under any provision of these Terms may be effected without prior notice, and acknowledge and agree that CEC may immediately deactivate your account and all related information and files in your account and/or bar any further access to the CEC Platform. Further, you agree that CEC will not be liable to you or any third party for any termination of your access to the CEC Platform.

You may decline cooperation with these Terms at any time by closing your account and ceasing all access of the CEC Platform. Notwithstanding, your legal obligation to reimburse, indemnify, and defend CEC as defined herein will continue despite your declination. 

Upon termination or expiration of these Terms for any reason, all rights to the CEC Platform granted by CEC to you will immediately cease to exist and you shall discontinue all use of the CEC Platform.

18. Additional Rules. You acknowledge that CEC may establish additional Rules, including, but not limited to, general practices and limits concerning your use of the CEC Platform. You are responsible for ensuring any use of the CEC Platform complies with these Terms and any additional Rules applicable to such use.

19. If any part of these Terms are determined to be invalid or unenforceable pursuant to applicable law, including, but not limited to, the warranty disclaimers and liability limitations set forth above, then the invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed superseded by a valid, enforceable provision that most closely matches the intent of the original provision and the remainder of these Terms shall continue in effect.

20. Copy of Terms. A printed version of these Terms and of any notice given in electronic form shall be admissible in judicial or administrative proceedings based upon or relating to these Terms to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as other business documents and records originally generated and maintained in printed form.