Effective Date: February 1, 2018
Last Updated: January 9, 2026
These Terms of Use (the “Terms”) are a legally binding agreement between you and CognoGroup, Inc., a Colorado corporation, doing business as Mediabistro (“Mediabistro,” “we,” “us”).
Mediabistro is a website owned and operated by CognoGroup, Inc.
Contact Information
Email: support@mediabistro.com
Address: 123 Farmington Avenue, Suite 252, Bristol, CT 06010
By accessing, browsing, creating an account, clicking an “I agree” checkbox, purchasing a subscription or other paid service, posting content, or otherwise accessing or using any Mediabistro websites, applications, or services, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Services.
1. Definitions
- Websites means mediabistro.com and any related websites, subdomains, or pages operated by Mediabistro.
- Services means the Websites and any products, tools, job board functionality, employer services, education products, job alerts, newsletters, content, or other services made available by Mediabistro.
- User means any visitor to or user of the Services.
- Job Seeker means a User who searches for jobs, applies for jobs, subscribes to job alerts, creates a profile, or uploads a resume or CV.
- Employer means a User who posts jobs, purchases job posting plans, accesses employer tools, or uses the Services for recruiting or hiring.
- Content means all text, graphics, images, audio, video, software, and materials provided by Mediabistro through the Services, excluding User Content.
- User Content means content submitted, uploaded, posted, or otherwise made available by Users, including job postings, resumes, applications, profiles, messages, and comments.
- Order Form means any written or electronic order, checkout flow, invoice, or agreement accepted by Mediabistro that specifies commercial terms.
2. Additional Terms and Order of Precedence
Certain Services are governed by additional terms, including the Mediabistro Job Board Terms of Service (the “Job Board Terms”) for employer job posting plans and related employer services.
In the event of a conflict, the following order of precedence applies:
- Applicable Order Form
- Job Board Terms (for employer job posting services)
- These Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
3. Eligibility
The Services are not intended for children under 16. If you are under 18, you may use the Services only with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
You represent that you are not prohibited from using the Services under applicable law.
4. Changes to These Terms and Services
Mediabistro may update these Terms by posting a revised version and updating the “Last Updated” date. Continued use of the Services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
Mediabistro may also modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Services, including features, functionality, or availability, at any time without liability, subject to any express commitments in an applicable Order Form.
5. Accounts, Security, and Electronic Communications
5.1 Account Registration
Some Services require an account. You agree to provide accurate, current information and to keep it updated.
5.2 Account Security
You are responsible for all activity under your account and for maintaining the confidentiality of login credentials. Notify us immediately at support@mediabistro.com of any unauthorized access.
5.3 Electronic Records and Consent
You consent to receive electronic communications from Mediabistro, including transactional notices, receipts, service announcements, and legal notices. Electronic communications satisfy any requirement that notices be in writing.
Mediabistro may maintain records of your acceptance of these Terms and related agreements, including timestamps, IP address, and user agent data.
6. Paid Services, Subscriptions, and Billing
6.1 Paid Services
Certain Services require payment, including employer job posting plans and education products. Pricing, billing intervals, and renewal terms are disclosed at checkout or in an Order Form.
6.2 Auto-Renewal
Unless stated otherwise, subscriptions automatically renew for successive billing periods until canceled.
6.3 Authorization to Charge
By providing a payment method, you authorize Mediabistro and its payment processors to charge applicable fees, taxes, and other amounts approved by you.
6.4 Cancellation
Cancellation methods are described at checkout, in account settings, or in an Order Form. Unless stated otherwise, cancellation is effective at the end of the current billing period.
6.5 No Refunds
Except as required by law or expressly stated in an Order Form:
- Fees are non-refundable.
- No prorated refunds or credits are provided for unused time or partial billing periods.
For employer job posting plans, the Job Board Terms control.
6.6 Failed Payments
If payment fails or is late, Mediabistro may suspend or terminate access. You remain responsible for all amounts due.
7. Intellectual Property
Mediabistro owns all rights in the Services and Content, excluding User Content. No rights are granted except as expressly stated in these Terms.
You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or exploit the Services or Content except as permitted by law or with Mediabistro’s written consent.
8. User Content
8.1 Responsibility
You are solely responsible for your User Content and any consequences arising from it.
8.2 License to Mediabistro
By submitting User Content, you grant Mediabistro a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, host, reproduce, display, distribute, and otherwise use User Content to operate, promote, and improve the Services.
You acknowledge that job postings and related content may be distributed via job alerts, third-party channels, and search engines, and that complete removal from all third-party locations may not be possible.
8.3 Removal
Mediabistro may remove or restrict User Content at any time if it violates these Terms, the Job Board Terms, applicable law, or creates risk or harm.
9. Acceptable Use
You agree not to:
- Violate any law in connection with the Services
- Post false, misleading, unlawful, discriminatory, or infringing content
- Attempt to access systems or data without authorization
- Interfere with or disrupt the Services
- Use the Services to spam, scam, or solicit unlawfully
- Scrape or harvest data except through intended functionality
10. Automated Access, Search Engines, and AI Use
10.1 Search Engine Indexing
Public search engines may index publicly available pages consistent with robots.txt and technical controls. No license or right is granted except as expressly stated in these Terms.
10.2 Prohibited Automated Access
Except with Mediabistro’s written permission, you may not use bots, scrapers, spiders, or automated systems to extract data, circumvent controls, overload infrastructure, or replicate the Services.
10.3 AI and Machine Learning
You may not use the Services, Content, or User Content to train, fine-tune, or develop machine learning or artificial intelligence models, including large language models, without Mediabistro’s prior written consent.
11. Job Board and Employment Disclaimers
Mediabistro is not an employer, recruiter, or staffing agency.
We do not guarantee job availability, applicant quality, hiring outcomes, or responses to applications.
Employers are solely responsible for job postings, hiring decisions, and compliance with employment and data protection laws. Job Seekers are responsible for evaluating job opportunities and protecting themselves against fraud.
11.1 No Professional Advice
Content and information provided through the Services are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal, employment, recruiting, human resources, tax, or other professional advice. You are solely responsible for obtaining professional advice appropriate to your circumstances.
12. Privacy
Our Privacy Policy governs our data practices. Employers receiving applicant data are responsible for their own compliance with privacy and employment laws, as further described in the Job Board Terms.
13. Third-Party Services
The Services may link to or integrate with third-party services. Mediabistro is not responsible for third-party content or practices.
14. Copyright and DMCA
DMCA notices should be sent to:
legal@mediabistro.com
CognoGroup, Inc. d/b/a Mediabistro
123 Farmington Avenue, Suite 252
Bristol, CT 06010
15. Suspension and Termination
Mediabistro may suspend or terminate access for violations, misuse, security risks, or non-payment. Paid subscriptions remain subject to applicable cancellation and no-refund terms.
16. Disclaimers
THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” MEDIABISTRO DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
17. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, MEDIABISTRO’S TOTAL LIABILITY WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF:
- THE AMOUNTS PAID BY YOU IN THE THREE (3) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR
- $100
MEDIABISTRO WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
18. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Mediabistro and CognoGroup, Inc. from claims arising from your use of the Services, User Content, violations of law, or infringement of third-party rights.
19. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles.
Binding Arbitration.
Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration administered in Connecticut, except that either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court in Connecticut if eligible.
The arbitrator, and not any court, shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, or formation of this arbitration provision, including any claim that all or part of this provision is void or unenforceable.
The Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this arbitration provision.
20. Entire Agreement; Severability; No Waiver
These Terms, together with incorporated documents, constitute the entire agreement regarding the Services. If any provision is unenforceable, it will be modified to the minimum extent necessary. Waivers must be in writing.
21. Relationship of the Parties
The parties are independent contractors. No partnership, agency, or joint venture is created.
22. Survival
Sections relating to intellectual property, user content licenses, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, governing law, dispute resolution, arbitration, and any payment or no-refund obligations shall survive termination or expiration of these Terms.