Portfolio8 Connect Platform Terms & Conditions
Version 3.0
Effective Date: 01/07/2026
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Please read these Platform Terms & Conditions carefully before accessing or using Portfolio8 Connect. By creating an Account, purchasing a Membership, listing a business, advertising, accessing or using the Platform in any way, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to be legally bound by these Terms & Conditions. If you do not agree with these Terms & Conditions, you must immediately discontinue use of the Platform. These Terms & Conditions constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Portfolio8 Connect.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART A – INTRODUCTION
Acceptance of these Terms
Definitions
Eligibility
Member Accounts
PART B – MEMBERSHIP
Membership Plans
Membership Fees and Payments
Renewals
Cancellations
Refunds
PART C – USING THE PLATFORM
Business Listings
Marketplace Services
Transactions Between Members
Referrals
Affiliate Program
Ambassador Program
Advertising and Sponsorship
Trade Credits and Alternative Value Systems
PART D – MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
Acceptable Use
Business Standards
User Content
Reviews and Ratings
PART E – PLATFORM RIGHTS
Intellectual Property
Artificial Intelligence
Third-Party Services
Privacy
Platform Availability
No Professional Advice
No Endorsement
PART F – LIABILITY
Limitation of Liability
Australian Consumer Law
Indemnity
Suspension and Termination
Force Majeure
PART G – GENERAL LEGAL PROVISIONS
Electronic Communications
Assignment
Severability
Waiver
Entire Agreement
Amendments
Governing Law
Contact Details
Interpretation
PART A – INTRODUCTION
1. Acceptance of these Terms
1.1 Agreement
Welcome to Portfolio8 Connect ("Portfolio8 Connect", "Platform", "we", "our" or "us").
These Platform Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Portfolio8 Connect website, mobile applications, software, online services, business directory, marketplace features, referral systems, communication tools, educational resources, digital products and all related services provided by Portfolio8 Connect (collectively referred to as the "Platform").
These Terms apply to every visitor, Member, Business Member, advertiser, Affiliate, Ambassador and any other person or entity who accesses or uses the Platform.
1.2 Acceptance
By:
creating an Account;
purchasing a Membership;
listing a business;
advertising products or services;
participating in the Affiliate Program;
participating in the Ambassador Program;
accessing the Platform; or
using any Service offered by Portfolio8 Connect, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to be legally bound by these Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any additional policies published by Portfolio8 Connect from time to time.
1.3 Legally Binding Agreement
These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Portfolio8 Connect.
If you do not agree to these Terms, you must immediately cease using the Platform.
1.4 Updates
Portfolio8 Connect may amend these Terms from time to time.
The most current version will always be published on the Platform.
Your continued use of the Platform following publication of updated Terms constitutes acceptance of those changes.
2. Definitions
Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions apply throughout these Terms.
Account means a registered account enabling a Member to access the Platform.
Affiliate means a person or business approved by Portfolio8 Connect to promote the Platform, Memberships, products, services or approved campaigns under the Affiliate Program.
Affiliate Program means any referral or commission-based marketing program operated by Portfolio8 Connect.
Ambassador means a Member appointed by Portfolio8 Connect to represent, promote or support the Platform within a community, industry or geographic region.
Business Listing means any business profile, directory listing, advertisement, promotional page, product listing, service listing or public profile published on the Platform.
Business Member means an individual, company, partnership, trust, incorporated association or other legal entity holding an active Membership for business purposes.
Content means all text, graphics, logos, photographs, videos, audio, software, databases, documents, reviews, comments, advertisements, educational materials and other information made available through the Platform.
Marketplace means any feature of the Platform that enables Members to advertise, promote, discover, negotiate or independently conduct commercial transactions.
Member means any individual or legal entity holding an active Account.
Membership means any free or paid subscription offered by Portfolio8 Connect.
Platform means the Portfolio8 Connect website, mobile applications, software, online systems, communication tools, directories, Marketplace features and all associated digital services.
Services means all products, software, features, subscriptions, events, educational resources, communication facilities, referral systems, advertising opportunities and other services made available through the Platform.
Trade Credits means barter credits, reward credits, promotional credits, community currencies, digital credits, tokenised value systems or any alternative method of exchange independently utilised by Members.
User Content means any information, text, photographs, videos, reviews, comments, business information, advertisements or other material uploaded, submitted or published by Members.
2.1 Interpretation
Unless the context otherwise requires:
words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa;
references to a person include individuals, companies, partnerships, trusts and other legal entities;
headings are provided for convenience only and do not affect interpretation;
references to legislation include amendments, replacements and subordinate legislation made under that legislation;
the words "including", "includes" and "such as" are not words of limitation.
3. Eligibility
To access or use the Platform, you must:
be at least eighteen (18) years of age;
have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts;
comply with all applicable laws;
provide accurate, complete and current registration information;
not be prohibited from using the Platform under any applicable law.
If you register on behalf of a business or other legal entity, you warrant that you have authority to bind that entity to these Terms.
Portfolio8 Connect reserves the right to request proof of identity, business registration, licences, qualifications or authority at any time.
Failure to provide requested information may result in suspension, restriction or termination of your Account.
4. Member Accounts
4.1 Registration
To access certain features of the Platform, you must create an Account.
You agree to provide information that is accurate, current and complete at all times.
4.2 Account Security
You are responsible for:
maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials;
restricting access to your Account;
all activities conducted using your Account;
promptly notifying Portfolio8 Connect of any unauthorised access or suspected security breach.
Portfolio8 Connect is not liable for any loss arising from your failure to adequately protect your Account credentials.
4.3 Account Verification
Portfolio8 Connect may verify the identity of Members, Business Members, Affiliates or Ambassadors where reasonably necessary.
Verification may include requesting:
government-issued identification;
Australian Business Number (ABN) details;
company registration details;
professional licences;
contact information; or
any other information reasonably required to protect the integrity of the Platform.
Verification does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of any Member, business, product or service.
4.4 One Account Policy
Unless expressly authorised by Portfolio8 Connect, a Member may only maintain one personal Account and one Business Account.
Portfolio8 Connect reserves the right to suspend or merge duplicate Accounts where reasonably necessary.
PART B – MEMBERSHIP
5. Membership Plans
5.1 Membership Options
Portfolio8 Connect may offer a range of Membership plans designed to meet the needs of individuals, professionals, businesses and organisations.
Membership plans may include free and paid subscription options, each providing different features, benefits and levels of access.
Portfolio8 Connect reserves the right to introduce, modify, suspend or discontinue Membership plans at any time.
5.2 Membership Benefits
Membership benefits may include, but are not limited to:
Access to the Portfolio8 Connect business network;
Business directory listings;
Business profile management;
Marketplace access;
Member-to-member messaging;
Referral opportunities;
Business promotion tools;
Advertising opportunities;
Educational resources;
Events and networking activities;
Affiliate participation (where approved);
Ambassador participation (where approved);
Member rewards and promotional offers.
The availability of specific features may vary depending on the Member's subscription level.
5.3 No Guarantee of Results
Portfolio8 Connect provides technology, networking and promotional tools to assist Members in growing their businesses.
Portfolio8 Connect does not guarantee:
business growth;
sales;
referrals;
revenue;
customer acquisition;
profitability;
advertising performance;
return on investment; or
commercial success.
Individual results depend upon many factors outside the control of Portfolio8 Connect.
6. Membership Fees and Payments
6.1 Membership Fees
Where applicable, Membership fees are payable in advance.
Current Membership pricing is published on the Platform and may be updated from time to time.
Unless otherwise stated, all fees are quoted in Australian Dollars (AUD) and include Goods and Services Tax (GST) where required by Australian law.
6.2 Payment Methods
Members authorise Portfolio8 Connect to charge their nominated payment method for:
Membership fees;
renewal fees;
advertising fees;
promotional services;
additional products or services purchased through the Platform.
Members are responsible for ensuring that payment details remain current and valid.
6.3 Recurring Billing
Unless otherwise specified, paid Memberships automatically renew at the conclusion of each billing period.
Recurring payments continue until the Membership is cancelled in accordance with these Terms.
6.4 Failed Payments
If payment cannot be successfully processed, Portfolio8 Connect may, without prior notice:
suspend premium features;
downgrade Membership status;
remove Business Listings;
suspend advertising campaigns;
restrict Platform access;
terminate the Membership.
Members remain liable for all outstanding fees.
6.5 Fee Changes
Portfolio8 Connect reserves the right to change Membership fees at any time.
Where reasonably practicable, Members will receive at least thirty (30) days' notice before revised pricing takes effect.
Continued use of the Platform following a pricing change constitutes acceptance of the revised Membership fees.
7. Membership Renewals
7.1 Automatic Renewal
Unless cancelled before the renewal date, Memberships automatically renew for successive billing periods.
Renewal payments will be charged using the Member's nominated payment method.
7.2 Renewal Notifications
Portfolio8 Connect may, but is not obliged to, provide renewal reminders before recurring payments are processed.
Failure to receive a reminder does not affect the Member's obligation to pay applicable Membership fees.
7.3 Continuous Access
Provided Membership fees are successfully paid, Members will continue to receive access to the features associated with their Membership level.
8. Cancellations
8.1 Member Cancellation
Members may cancel their Membership at any time through their Account settings or by contacting Portfolio8 Connect.
Cancellation prevents future renewal charges but does not entitle the Member to a refund for the current billing period unless required by law.
8.2 Effective Date
Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current paid subscription period.
Members may continue accessing paid features until that date unless the Account has been suspended or terminated under these Terms.
8.3 Platform-Initiated Cancellation
Portfolio8 Connect reserves the right to suspend or terminate Memberships where a Member:
breaches these Terms;
engages in fraudulent conduct;
damages the reputation of the Platform;
repeatedly receives legitimate complaints;
misuses Platform features;
fails to pay Membership fees;
engages in unlawful activity.
Termination under this clause does not entitle the Member to compensation or reimbursement unless required by law.
9. Refunds
9.1 General Policy
Except as required under Australian Consumer Law, Membership fees are non-refundable.
No refunds or credits will be provided for:
unused Membership periods;
partial billing periods;
voluntary cancellation;
failure to use the Platform;
dissatisfaction with commercial outcomes;
changes to Member circumstances.
9.2 Promotional Memberships
Complimentary, sponsored or promotional Memberships have no cash value and are not redeemable for cash or credit.
9.3 Australian Consumer Law
Nothing contained in these Terms limits any rights or remedies available under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) or any other applicable legislation.
Where a refund is required by law, Portfolio8 Connect will comply with its legal obligations.
9A. Membership Suspension and Reinstatement
Portfolio8 Connect may temporarily suspend a Membership where:
payment remains outstanding;
Account security has been compromised;
verification is incomplete;
unusual or suspicious activity is detected;
an investigation is underway.
During suspension, access to some or all Platform features may be restricted.
Portfolio8 Connect may reinstate a suspended Membership once the reason for suspension has been satisfactorily resolved.
9B. Membership Upgrades and Downgrades
Members may upgrade or downgrade their Membership at any time, subject to the Membership plans available.
Upgrades may take effect immediately or from the next billing cycle, depending on the applicable Membership plan.
Downgrades generally take effect at the commencement of the next billing period unless otherwise specified.
Portfolio8 Connect reserves the right to determine the effective date of any Membership change.
9C. Promotional Offers
From time to time, Portfolio8 Connect may offer:
introductory pricing;
promotional discounts;
complimentary Memberships;
bundled services;
limited-time campaigns;
loyalty rewards;
referral incentives.
Unless expressly stated otherwise:
promotional offers cannot be combined;
promotional pricing applies only for the advertised period;
Portfolio8 Connect may withdraw or modify promotions at any time.
Members are responsible for reviewing the specific terms applying to any promotional offer before participating.
PART C – USING THE PLATFORM
10. Business Listings
10.1 Business Profiles
Portfolio8 Connect enables Members to create Business Listings for the purpose of promoting their business, products, services, events and professional expertise.
Business Listings may include, but are not limited to:
Business name;
Business description;
Contact details;
Website and social media links;
Logos and branding;
Products and services;
Images and videos;
Trading hours;
Business categories;
Licences and qualifications;
Promotional offers; and
Other information approved by Portfolio8 Connect.
Portfolio8 Connect reserves the right to determine the format, appearance and functionality of all Business Listings.
10.2 Accuracy of Information
Members are solely responsible for ensuring that all information contained within their Business Listing is:
accurate;
current;
complete;
lawful; and
not misleading or deceptive.
Members must promptly update any information that becomes inaccurate.
10.3 Compliance
Business Members warrant that:
they hold all licences, permits and registrations required to conduct their business;
they comply with all applicable laws and regulations;
all advertising complies with Australian Consumer Law;
products and services offered are lawful.
Portfolio8 Connect does not routinely verify Business Listings and makes no representation regarding their accuracy.
10.4 Removal of Listings
Portfolio8 Connect may edit, suspend or remove any Business Listing where it reasonably believes that the listing:
breaches these Terms;
contains false or misleading information;
infringes intellectual property rights;
contains offensive or unlawful material;
creates legal risk for the Platform; or
is otherwise inconsistent with the objectives of Portfolio8 Connect.
Portfolio8 Connect is under no obligation to publish or retain any Business Listing.
11. Marketplace Services
11.1 Purpose of the Marketplace
The Marketplace enables Members to discover businesses, advertise products and services, request quotations, submit enquiries and establish commercial relationships with other Members.
Portfolio8 Connect provides the technology facilitating these interactions.
11.2 Independent Transactions
All commercial transactions occur solely between the participating Members.
Portfolio8 Connect is not a buyer, seller, supplier, reseller, distributor, broker, agent, escrow provider or trustee.
11.3 No Participation
Portfolio8 Connect does not:
negotiate contracts;
set pricing;
collect payments on behalf of Members;
guarantee delivery;
inspect products;
supervise services;
guarantee performance;
resolve commercial disputes; or
enforce agreements between Members.
Members assume all risks associated with commercial transactions.
11.4 Due Diligence
Members are solely responsible for conducting their own due diligence before entering into any transaction.
This includes verifying:
identity;
licences;
qualifications;
insurance;
business reputation;
financial capacity;
product suitability; and
legal compliance.
12. Transactions Between Members
12.1 Member Responsibility
Members are solely responsible for all commercial arrangements entered into through the Platform.
Portfolio8 Connect accepts no responsibility for any agreement reached between Members.
12.2 No Guarantees
Portfolio8 Connect does not guarantee:
payment;
delivery;
product quality;
service quality;
completion of work;
warranties;
business outcomes;
customer satisfaction;
commercial success.
12.3 Commercial Disputes
Any dispute arising between Members must be resolved directly between those parties.
Portfolio8 Connect is under no obligation to mediate, investigate or determine commercial disputes.
Where appropriate, Portfolio8 Connect may remove content, suspend Accounts or cooperate with lawful investigations but does not assume responsibility for resolving disputes.
12.4 Taxes
Each Member is solely responsible for:
GST obligations;
income tax obligations;
payroll tax obligations;
superannuation obligations;
reporting obligations; and
any other taxation liabilities arising from their activities.
Portfolio8 Connect accepts no responsibility for a Member's taxation compliance.
13. Referrals
13.1 Referral Opportunities
The Platform may enable Members to introduce prospective customers, clients or business opportunities to other Members.
Referral opportunities are provided solely as a networking feature.
13.2 No Guarantee
Portfolio8 Connect does not guarantee:
referral quality;
referral value;
conversion rates;
commissions;
business outcomes;
future work.
13.3 Referral Agreements
Any referral agreement exists solely between the participating Members.
Portfolio8 Connect is not responsible for:
unpaid referral fees;
disputed commissions;
customer ownership;
contractual disputes; or
commercial disagreements.
13.4 Referral Tracking
Where Portfolio8 Connect provides referral tracking tools, Members acknowledge that tracking systems are provided as an administrative convenience only.
Portfolio8 Connect does not warrant that referral tracking will be uninterrupted or error free.
14. Affiliate Program
14.1 Participation
Portfolio8 Connect may operate one or more Affiliate Programs.
Participation is subject to approval.
Approval may be granted or withdrawn at the absolute discretion of Portfolio8 Connect.
14.2 Separate Terms
Affiliates must comply with these Terms together with any Affiliate Program Terms and Conditions published by Portfolio8 Connect.
Where inconsistencies arise, the Affiliate Program Terms prevail in relation to Affiliate activities.
14.3 Commission Payments
Affiliate commissions are payable only where:
all eligibility criteria have been satisfied;
the referred Member has complied with Platform requirements;
payment has been successfully received by Portfolio8 Connect; and
no fraudulent activity has occurred.
14.4 Fraud Prevention
Portfolio8 Connect may withhold, reverse or recover commissions where it reasonably believes:
fraudulent conduct has occurred;
self-referrals have occurred contrary to Program rules;
fake Accounts have been created;
chargebacks have occurred;
Memberships have been cancelled or refunded;
Program Terms have been breached.
Portfolio8 Connect's determination regarding Affiliate commissions is final unless otherwise required by law.
15. Ambassador Program
15.1 Appointment
Portfolio8 Connect may appoint selected Members as Ambassadors to assist in promoting the Platform and supporting Member engagement.
Appointment is entirely at the discretion of Portfolio8 Connect.
15.2 No Employment Relationship
Ambassadors act as independent representatives unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Appointment does not create:
employment;
partnership;
joint venture;
agency;
franchise; or
fiduciary relationship.
15.3 Ambassador Standards
Ambassadors must:
represent Portfolio8 Connect professionally;
act honestly and ethically;
comply with these Terms;
avoid conflicts of interest;
maintain confidentiality where required;
refrain from making misleading statements regarding the Platform.
Portfolio8 Connect may revoke Ambassador status at any time.
16. Advertising and Sponsorship
16.1 Advertising Services
Portfolio8 Connect may provide advertising opportunities, sponsored listings, featured businesses, promotional campaigns and marketing services.
Advertising opportunities may include:
featured Business Listings;
homepage promotions;
banner advertising;
sponsored articles;
email promotions;
event sponsorships;
marketplace promotions;
digital campaigns.
16.2 Advertiser Responsibility
Advertisers are solely responsible for ensuring all advertising:
is truthful;
complies with Australian Consumer Law;
complies with all applicable legislation;
does not infringe intellectual property rights;
is not misleading or deceptive.
16.3 No Endorsement
The publication of advertising does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation or approval by Portfolio8 Connect.
16.4 Removal
Portfolio8 Connect reserves the right to refuse, edit or remove advertising that may expose the Platform to legal, regulatory or reputational risk.
Advertising fees are generally non-refundable unless otherwise required by law.
17. Trade Credits and Alternative Value Systems
17.1 Alternative Value Systems
Members may independently utilise:
trade credits;
barter credits;
reward points;
promotional credits;
digital credits;
community currencies;
tokenised value systems; or
other alternative methods of exchange.
17.2 Platform Position
Unless expressly stated otherwise, Portfolio8 Connect:
does not issue any alternative currency;
does not guarantee value;
does not regulate exchange rates;
does not provide financial services;
does not hold funds in trust;
does not guarantee liquidity;
does not guarantee acceptance by Members.
17.3 Member Responsibility
Members assume all risks associated with using alternative value systems.
Portfolio8 Connect accepts no liability for any loss arising from the use, fluctuation, redemption or acceptance of trade credits or alternative currencies.
17.4 Future Platform Services
Nothing in these Terms prevents Portfolio8 Connect from introducing its own rewards program, loyalty program, promotional credit system or other digital value service in the future, subject to any additional terms that may apply.
PART D – MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
18. Acceptable Use
18.1 Lawful Use
Members must use the Platform lawfully, honestly, professionally and in a manner that promotes a safe, respectful and productive business environment.
Members must comply with these Terms and all applicable Commonwealth, State and Territory laws, regulations and industry codes.
18.2 Prohibited Conduct
Members must not use the Platform to:
publish false, inaccurate or misleading information;
impersonate another person or business;
misrepresent qualifications, licences or professional experience;
engage in fraudulent or deceptive conduct;
publish defamatory, abusive, offensive or discriminatory material;
harass, threaten or intimidate another Member;
upload malicious software, viruses or harmful code;
interfere with the operation or security of the Platform;
attempt unauthorised access to any Account, database or system;
scrape, harvest or copy Platform data using automated tools;
distribute unsolicited commercial messages or spam;
manipulate referrals, reviews or ratings;
create fake Accounts;
use another person's Account without authority;
infringe any intellectual property rights;
promote unlawful goods or services;
facilitate illegal activity;
upload content that breaches any law; or
otherwise use the Platform in a manner that may damage Portfolio8 Connect or its Members.
18.3 Platform Integrity
Members must not engage in any conduct intended to:
undermine confidence in the Platform;
damage the reputation of Portfolio8 Connect;
disrupt Member interactions;
interfere with Platform functionality;
circumvent Membership requirements;
avoid applicable fees or charges; or
misuse any Platform feature for an unintended purpose.
18.4 Investigations
Portfolio8 Connect may investigate suspected breaches of these Terms.
Members agree to cooperate with reasonable requests for information during any investigation.
Where required by law, Portfolio8 Connect may provide information to regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies or courts.
19. Business Standards
19.1 Professional Conduct
Members agree to conduct themselves in a professional, ethical and respectful manner when using the Platform.
Business Members should seek to promote honest business practices and contribute positively to the Portfolio8 Connect network.
19.2 Compliance
Business Members warrant that they:
comply with all applicable legislation;
hold all licences and registrations required for their business;
maintain appropriate insurance where legally required;
accurately represent their products and services;
honour contractual commitments;
comply with Australian Consumer Law;
comply with workplace health and safety obligations where applicable.
19.3 Ethical Conduct
Members must avoid conduct that could reasonably be regarded as:
misleading;
deceptive;
dishonest;
unethical;
exploitative;
abusive;
discriminatory; or
damaging to the reputation of other Members or Portfolio8 Connect.
19.4 Member Cooperation
Members are encouraged to resolve disagreements professionally and respectfully.
Nothing in these Terms requires Portfolio8 Connect to investigate, mediate or determine commercial disputes between Members.
19.5 Reputation of the Platform
Portfolio8 Connect reserves the right to take appropriate action where Member conduct, whether occurring on or off the Platform, is reasonably likely to:
damage the reputation of Portfolio8 Connect;
expose the Platform to legal or regulatory risk;
reduce confidence in the Platform;
adversely affect other Members.
Such action may include suspension or termination of Membership in accordance with these Terms.
20. User Content
20.1 Ownership
Members retain ownership of all User Content they submit to the Platform.
20.2 Licence Granted
By submitting User Content, Members grant Portfolio8 Connect a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable and sublicensable licence to:
host;
store;
reproduce;
publish;
display;
distribute;
communicate;
promote;
adapt for formatting purposes; and
otherwise use the User Content,
for the purpose of operating, improving, marketing and promoting the Platform and its Services.
20.3 Member Warranties
Members warrant that all User Content:
belongs to them or they have authority to use it;
is accurate;
complies with these Terms;
complies with applicable laws;
does not infringe any third-party rights;
does not contain harmful code or malicious software.
20.4 Content Moderation
Portfolio8 Connect may, but is not obliged to:
review User Content;
monitor Platform activity;
edit formatting;
remove inappropriate material;
suspend access to content;
restrict publication of content.
Portfolio8 Connect has no obligation to pre-screen User Content before publication.
20.5 Removal of Content
Portfolio8 Connect may remove or restrict User Content that it reasonably considers:
unlawful;
misleading;
deceptive;
defamatory;
offensive;
inappropriate;
harmful to Members;
inconsistent with these Terms;
likely to expose the Platform to legal or reputational risk.
Removal of content does not affect Portfolio8 Connect's other rights under these Terms.
21. Reviews and Ratings
21.1 Purpose
Portfolio8 Connect may provide Members with the ability to publish reviews, ratings and testimonials relating to businesses, products, services or Member experiences.
The purpose of these features is to encourage informed business decisions and improve the overall quality of the Platform.
21.2 Honest Reviews
Members agree that reviews and ratings must:
reflect genuine experiences;
be fair and honest;
be based on factual information where possible;
not contain defamatory or abusive material.
21.3 Prohibited Review Activity
Members must not:
publish false reviews;
submit fake testimonials;
manipulate ratings;
offer incentives for dishonest reviews;
threaten negative reviews to gain commercial advantage;
publish confidential information;
impersonate another reviewer.
21.4 Platform Rights
Portfolio8 Connect reserves the right to:
moderate reviews;
remove reviews;
suspend review functionality;
investigate suspicious review activity;
refuse publication of reviews that breach these Terms.
Portfolio8 Connect is under no obligation to publish every review submitted.
21.5 Opinions of Members
Reviews and ratings represent the opinions of individual Members only.
Unless expressly stated, they do not represent the views or opinions of Portfolio8 Connect.
Portfolio8 Connect does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or reliability of reviews published on the Platform.
21A. Member Privacy and Confidentiality
Members must respect the privacy and confidentiality of other Members.
Members must not:
disclose confidential business information obtained through the Platform without authorisation;
misuse personal information obtained from another Member;
collect Member information for unauthorised marketing purposes;
publish another Member's personal information without lawful authority or consent.
Nothing in this clause limits any rights or obligations under applicable privacy legislation.
21B. Reporting Misconduct
Members who become aware of conduct that may breach these Terms are encouraged to notify Portfolio8 Connect.
Reports should include sufficient information to enable reasonable assessment of the alleged conduct.
Portfolio8 Connect may investigate reported conduct but is not obliged to take action in every instance.
The making of a report does not guarantee any particular outcome.
Members must not knowingly make false or malicious complaints.
PART E – PLATFORM RIGHTS
22. Intellectual Property
22.1 Ownership
Unless expressly stated otherwise, all Intellectual Property Rights in and relating to the Platform are owned by or licensed to Portfolio8 Connect.
This includes, without limitation:
the Portfolio8 Connect name;
logos;
trademarks;
branding;
domain names;
software;
source code;
databases;
graphics;
icons;
page layouts;
website design;
mobile applications;
videos;
documents;
educational resources;
written content;
marketing material;
workflows;
business systems;
artificial intelligence models;
digital tools; and
all other proprietary material forming part of the Platform.
Nothing contained in these Terms transfers ownership of any Intellectual Property Rights to a Member.
22.2 Limited Licence
Subject to these Terms, Portfolio8 Connect grants Members a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable licence to access and use the Platform solely for its intended purpose.
This licence does not permit a Member to:
reproduce Platform content;
copy software;
modify Platform features;
distribute Platform material;
commercially exploit Platform content;
reverse engineer software;
create derivative works;
remove copyright notices;
use Platform branding without written approval.
22.3 Member Business Material
Members retain ownership of their own:
business names;
logos;
trademarks;
photographs;
marketing material;
business documents; and
User Content.
By publishing this material on the Platform, Members grant Portfolio8 Connect a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to display, reproduce, publish and promote that material for the purpose of operating and promoting the Platform.
This licence automatically ends within a reasonable period after the Member permanently removes the material from the Platform, except where retention is reasonably necessary for legal, regulatory, backup or archival purposes.
22.4 Copyright Infringement
Portfolio8 Connect respects the Intellectual Property Rights of others.
If a person believes their copyright or other Intellectual Property Rights have been infringed, they should notify Portfolio8 Connect in writing with sufficient information to enable investigation.
Portfolio8 Connect may remove allegedly infringing material while an investigation is undertaken.
23. Artificial Intelligence and Automated Services
23.1 AI Features
Portfolio8 Connect may utilise artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation or algorithmic technologies to enhance Platform functionality.
These technologies may assist with:
business recommendations;
content summaries;
search results;
business matching;
lead generation;
fraud detection;
content moderation;
customer support;
workflow automation;
personalised experiences;
educational material;
marketing assistance; and
other Platform features.
23.2 Informational Purpose
AI-generated information is provided for general informational purposes only.
Members remain responsible for exercising their own judgement before relying upon any AI-generated recommendation or information.
23.3 No Guarantee
Portfolio8 Connect does not warrant that AI-generated outputs will be:
accurate;
complete;
current;
suitable for a particular purpose;
free from errors.
Members acknowledge that artificial intelligence may occasionally produce inaccurate, incomplete or unexpected results.
23.4 Member Responsibility
Members remain solely responsible for decisions made using AI-generated content.
Portfolio8 Connect accepts no liability arising from reliance on AI-generated recommendations, summaries or automated outputs.
24. Third-Party Services
24.1 Third-Party Providers
The Platform may integrate with or provide access to third-party products and services, including:
payment gateways;
customer relationship management systems;
mapping services;
cloud storage providers;
communication platforms;
social media platforms;
artificial intelligence providers;
accounting software;
government databases; and
other technology providers.
24.2 No Responsibility
Portfolio8 Connect does not control third-party providers and is not responsible for:
their availability;
their security;
their privacy practices;
their functionality;
their content;
their performance.
Members access third-party services entirely at their own risk.
24.3 Third-Party Terms
Where a Member accesses a third-party service through the Platform, that Member may also become subject to the third party's terms and conditions and privacy policy.
Portfolio8 Connect is not responsible for those terms.
25. Privacy
25.1 Privacy Commitment
Portfolio8 Connect is committed to protecting personal information in accordance with applicable Australian privacy legislation.
Personal information is collected, used, stored and disclosed in accordance with the Portfolio8 Connect Privacy Policy.
25.2 Privacy Policy
The Privacy Policy forms part of these Terms.
By using the Platform, Members acknowledge that they have read and accepted the Privacy Policy.
25.3 Member Responsibilities
Members are responsible for ensuring that any personal information they upload or disclose through the Platform:
has been lawfully obtained;
may lawfully be disclosed;
complies with applicable privacy legislation.
Members must not misuse personal information obtained through the Platform.
25.4 Security
Portfolio8 Connect implements reasonable administrative, technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information.
However, no internet-based service or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Members acknowledge that they provide information electronically at their own risk.
26. Platform Availability
26.1 Continuous Improvement
Portfolio8 Connect continually develops and improves the Platform.
Accordingly, the Platform may change from time to time, including:
features;
functionality;
appearance;
software;
integrations;
pricing;
Membership inclusions; and
available Services.
26.2 Service Availability
Portfolio8 Connect aims to provide reliable access to the Platform but does not guarantee uninterrupted operation.
The Platform may become temporarily unavailable due to:
scheduled maintenance;
emergency maintenance;
software upgrades;
telecommunications failures;
internet outages;
cyber security incidents;
supplier failures;
force majeure events; or
circumstances beyond Portfolio8 Connect's reasonable control.
26.3 Right to Modify
Portfolio8 Connect may, at its discretion:
add Services;
remove Services;
modify features;
discontinue functionality;
introduce new technologies;
replace software components.
Portfolio8 Connect is under no obligation to maintain any particular feature indefinitely.
26.4 Beta Features
From time to time, Portfolio8 Connect may release beta, trial or experimental features.
Such features are provided on an "as available" basis and may be modified or withdrawn without notice.
Members use beta features entirely at their own risk.
27. No Professional Advice
27.1 General Information
Information made available through the Platform is provided for general informational purposes only.
Nothing on the Platform constitutes:
legal advice;
financial advice;
taxation advice;
investment advice;
accounting advice;
business consulting advice;
insurance advice;
real estate advice; or
professional advice of any kind.
27.2 Independent Advice
Members should obtain independent professional advice appropriate to their individual circumstances before making any commercial, financial, legal or investment decision.
Portfolio8 Connect accepts no responsibility for decisions made based upon information available through the Platform.
28. No Endorsement
28.1 Platform Neutrality
Portfolio8 Connect provides technology and networking services that facilitate connections between Members.
Unless expressly stated otherwise in writing, Portfolio8 Connect does not endorse, recommend or certify:
Members;
businesses;
products;
services;
advertisements;
Business Listings;
investment opportunities;
employment opportunities;
statements made by Members.
28.2 Independent Assessment
Members remain solely responsible for assessing:
businesses;
products;
services;
referrals;
advertisements;
opportunities; and
commercial arrangements.
Portfolio8 Connect makes no representation regarding the quality, suitability, legality or reliability of any Member or Business Listing.
28.3 No Agency
Nothing contained within the Platform creates any partnership, joint venture, employment, agency, fiduciary or representative relationship between Portfolio8 Connect and any Member unless expressly agreed in writing.
PART F – LIABILITY
29. Limitation of Liability
29.1 Use at Your Own Risk
Your access to and use of the Platform is entirely at your own risk.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Portfolio8 Connect provides the Platform on an "as is" and "as available" basis without any representation or warranty, express or implied, except where such warranties cannot lawfully be excluded.
29.2 No Warranty
Portfolio8 Connect does not warrant that the Platform will:
operate continuously or without interruption;
be free from errors or defects;
be compatible with every device or browser;
be secure from cyber threats or unauthorised access;
meet every Member's expectations;
produce commercial outcomes;
generate referrals, leads or sales;
remain available indefinitely.
29.3 Excluded Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Portfolio8 Connect excludes liability for any loss, damage, claim, cost or expense arising directly or indirectly from:
use of the Platform;
inability to access the Platform;
Business Listings;
Marketplace activity;
Member interactions;
referral arrangements;
advertising;
Affiliate Programs;
Ambassador Programs;
User Content;
reviews and ratings;
AI-generated content;
third-party services;
software defects;
service interruptions;
data loss;
unauthorised Account access;
cyber incidents;
viruses or malicious software.
29.4 Indirect Loss
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Portfolio8 Connect is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive or consequential loss, including:
loss of profits;
loss of revenue;
loss of business opportunity;
loss of contracts;
loss of anticipated savings;
loss of goodwill;
loss of reputation;
business interruption;
loss of data;
loss of customers; or
economic loss of any kind.
29.5 Liability Cap
Where liability cannot lawfully be excluded, Portfolio8 Connect's total aggregate liability arising from any one event or series of related events shall not exceed the greater of:
(a) the total Membership fees paid by the Member during the three (3) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim; or
(b) the resupply of the relevant Services.
29.6 Member Acknowledgement
Members acknowledge that Portfolio8 Connect is a technology platform facilitating business networking and introductions.
Members accept that Portfolio8 Connect is not responsible for the conduct, actions, omissions or performance of other Members.
30. Australian Consumer Law
30.1 Consumer Guarantees
Nothing contained within these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, statutory right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded under:
the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth);
the Australian Consumer Law; or
any other applicable legislation.
30.2 Limitation of Remedies
Where permitted by law, Portfolio8 Connect limits its liability for breach of any non-excludable guarantee to:
supplying the relevant Services again; or
paying the reasonable cost of having those Services supplied again,
at Portfolio8 Connect's election.
30.3 Business Use
Where a Member acquires Services for business purposes, the Member acknowledges that certain consumer protections may not apply to the fullest extent permitted by law.
31. Indemnity
31.1 Member Indemnity
Members agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Portfolio8 Connect and its directors, officers, employees, contractors, consultants, shareholders, affiliates, licensors and representatives against all claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, settlements, penalties, losses, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal costs on a full indemnity basis) arising directly or indirectly from:
use of the Platform;
Business Listings;
User Content;
advertising;
Marketplace transactions;
referrals;
Affiliate activities;
Ambassador activities;
breach of these Terms;
breach of any law;
negligent conduct;
fraudulent conduct;
infringement of intellectual property rights;
misuse of another Member's information.
31.2 Continuing Obligation
This indemnity survives:
suspension;
cancellation;
termination of Membership; and
closure of an Account.
32. Suspension and Termination
32.1 Suspension
Portfolio8 Connect may immediately suspend or restrict a Member's access where it reasonably believes that the Member has:
breached these Terms;
breached applicable law;
engaged in fraudulent conduct;
misused the Platform;
compromised Platform security;
failed to pay Membership fees;
engaged in conduct likely to damage the Platform or its Members.
32.2 Termination
Portfolio8 Connect may terminate a Membership or Account where continued participation is reasonably considered to:
expose the Platform to legal risk;
expose the Platform to regulatory risk;
damage the reputation of Portfolio8 Connect;
adversely affect other Members;
undermine the integrity of the Platform.
32.3 Effect of Termination
Upon termination:
access to the Platform may immediately cease;
Business Listings may be removed;
advertising campaigns may end;
Member privileges may cease;
licences granted under these Terms automatically terminate.
Termination does not affect any rights or obligations that accrued prior to termination.
32.4 Information Retention
Portfolio8 Connect may retain information after Account closure where reasonably necessary for:
legal compliance;
regulatory obligations;
fraud prevention;
dispute resolution;
enforcement of these Terms;
legitimate business records.
Retention will be managed in accordance with applicable privacy laws.
33. Force Majeure
33.1 Events Beyond Reasonable Control
Portfolio8 Connect is not liable for any delay, interruption or failure to perform its obligations where such failure results from events beyond its reasonable control.
These events include, but are not limited to:
natural disasters;
flood;
bushfire;
cyclone;
earthquake;
pandemic;
epidemic;
war;
terrorism;
civil unrest;
industrial disputes;
government action;
internet outages;
telecommunications failures;
cyber attacks;
utility failures;
supplier failures;
cloud service failures;
widespread technology failures.
33.2 Resumption of Services
Portfolio8 Connect will use reasonable efforts to resume normal operation of the Platform as soon as reasonably practicable following the cessation of a Force Majeure event.
33.3 No Breach
A delay or failure caused by a Force Majeure event does not constitute a breach of these Terms.
PART G – GENERAL LEGAL PROVISIONS
34. Electronic Communications
34.1 Consent
By creating an Account or using the Platform, you consent to receiving communications from Portfolio8 Connect electronically.
These communications may include:
Membership confirmations;
invoices and receipts;
renewal notices;
security notifications;
system updates;
policy updates;
legal notices;
marketing communications (where permitted by law);
service announcements; and
other information relating to the Platform.
34.2 Electronic Delivery
You agree that electronic communications satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be provided in writing.
Members are responsible for ensuring their email address and contact details remain current.
Portfolio8 Connect is not responsible for communications that fail to reach a Member due to inaccurate or outdated contact information.
35. Relationship of the Parties
35.1 Independent Relationship
Nothing contained in these Terms creates or is intended to create:
an employment relationship;
a partnership;
a joint venture;
an agency relationship;
a fiduciary relationship;
a franchise;
a trust relationship; or
any other legal relationship beyond that of an independent service provider and Member.
35.2 No Authority
Members, Business Members, Affiliates and Ambassadors have no authority to:
legally bind Portfolio8 Connect;
enter contracts on behalf of Portfolio8 Connect;
make representations on behalf of Portfolio8 Connect;
incur liabilities on behalf of Portfolio8 Connect;
create obligations for Portfolio8 Connect.
Any person acting outside this authority does so entirely at their own risk.
35.3 Independent Businesses
Members acknowledge that each business operating through the Platform remains entirely independent.
Portfolio8 Connect does not supervise, direct or control the day-to-day operation of any Member's business.
36. Assignment
Portfolio8 Connect may assign, novate or transfer any of its rights or obligations under these Terms without obtaining Member consent.
Members may not assign, transfer, sublicense or otherwise deal with their rights or obligations under these Terms without the prior written consent of Portfolio8 Connect.
Any attempted assignment without consent is void to the extent permitted by law.
37. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found by a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, that provision shall be severed.
The remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
Where possible, any invalid provision shall be interpreted or modified so that it remains enforceable while giving effect to its original commercial purpose.
38. Waiver
Failure by Portfolio8 Connect to exercise or enforce any right under these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right.
Any waiver must:
be in writing;
clearly identify the right being waived; and
apply only to the specific circumstance for which it is given.
A waiver on one occasion does not constitute a continuing waiver.
39. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with:
the Privacy Policy;
the Affiliate Program Terms (where applicable);
the Ambassador Program Terms (where applicable);
any additional Platform policies expressly incorporated by reference; and
any written agreements between Portfolio8 Connect and a Member,
constitute the entire agreement between Portfolio8 Connect and the Member regarding access to and use of the Platform.
These documents supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, understandings, representations and communications relating to the Platform.
40. Amendments
Portfolio8 Connect may amend these Terms from time to time.
Updated versions will be published on the Platform together with the revised Effective Date.
Where Portfolio8 Connect considers an amendment to be material, reasonable efforts will be made to notify Members using one or more of the following methods:
email notification;
Platform notification;
Member dashboard announcement;
publication on the Platform.
Continued use of the Platform after updated Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of those Terms.
41. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Queensland, Australia.
Each Member irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland and the Commonwealth of Australia in relation to any dispute arising from:
these Terms;
use of the Platform;
Membership;
Business Listings;
Marketplace activities;
Platform Services.
42. Contact Details
Portfolio8 Connect
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Website:
https://connect.lp.portfolio8.com.au
Support Email:
General Enquiries:
Portfolio8 Connect may update its contact details from time to time by publishing revised details on the Platform.
43. Interpretation
Unless the context otherwise requires:
words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa;
words importing one gender include every gender;
references to legislation include amendments, consolidations and replacements;
headings are included for convenience only and do not affect interpretation;
references to "including", "includes" or "such as" are illustrative only and are not words of limitation;
references to a person include an individual, company, trust, partnership, incorporated association or other legal entity;
references to writing include electronic communications where permitted by law.
These Terms shall not be interpreted against either party solely because that party prepared or drafted the document.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
By creating an Account, purchasing a Membership, listing a business, advertising, participating in any Portfolio8 Connect program or otherwise accessing or using the Platform, you acknowledge that you have:
read these Platform Terms & Conditions;
understood these Platform Terms & Conditions;
had the opportunity to obtain independent legal advice if you considered it necessary; and
agreed to be legally bound by these Platform Terms & Conditions.