Policy: Groups

oDesk provides its Groups functionality in order to allow Users with common interests and skill sets to connect in a niche or subset of the overall oDesk Marketplace. Each Group has a sponsor which may be a company or an individual which/who establishes the scope of the Group and participates in the administration and promotion of the Group (the "Sponsor").

This Groups Policy applies to all oDesk Users who interact with the Group or a Group member in any way through the oDesk Marketplace, including but not limited to, (i) applying for membership in a Group, (ii) participating as a Group member and/or (iii) engaging the Services of any Provider who is a member of a Group (hereinafter "Group Interactions"). By engaging in any Group Interaction, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Policy.

oDesk and/or the Sponsor (as agreed by oDesk and the Sponsor) may grant, deny and/or revoke membership in a Group for any reason or no reason in its/their sole discretion. oDesk and/or the Sponsor may publish Group membership requirements, which such requirements may be changed at any time without notice. oDesk may indicate your membership in the Group within your oDesk profile.

oDesk and/or the Sponsor may terminate the Group at any time for any reason or no reason without notice as oDesk and Sponsor mutually agree. No Group member or any other User who participates in any Group Interaction has any right to require the Group with which they interact be maintained within the oDesk Marketplace.

In the event that you participate in any Group Interaction, oDesk may disclose your name, email address and/or information concerning transactions you participate in within the oDesk Marketplace to the Sponsor Administrator. Any use of such information by the Sponsor will be solely governed by the Sponsor’s Privacy Policy.

THE GROUP FUNCTIONALITY "AS IS" WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Without limiting the foregoing; oDesk’s provision of the Group functionality shall not be deemed an endorsement of any Group member and/or any representation or warranty of the quality of any Services provided by any Group member. Likewise, a Sponsor’s sponsorship of a Group shall not be deemed an endorsement of any Group member and/or any representation or warranty of the quality of any Services provided by any Group member.

oDesk is solely responsible for the operation of the oDesk Marketplace and Sponsor has no involvement in the operation of the Marketplace or in any transactions that take place between Buyers and Providers within the Marketplace. Accordingly, no Sponsor will be liable to any User for any claims, demands, obligations, actions, damages, losses, costs or expenses of any nature (collectively "Claims") arising out of a User’s participation as a Buyer or Provider in the oDesk Marketplace, including but not limited to any Claims related to transactions entered into by Users within the oDesk Marketplace. By engaging in a Group Interaction, you hereby release the applicable Group Sponsor, its subsidiaries and successors and their respective officers, directors, employee and agents from any and all Claims, known or unknown, arising out of your participation in the oDesk Marketplace.

All polices are subject to the oDesk Marketplace User Agreement. Any capitalized term undefined in this Policy shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the oDesk Marketplace User Agreement.