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How oil industry prevails in California Legislature

How oil industry prevails in California Legislature

In a state with a Democratic-supermajority Legislature and a reputation for being a “climate leader,” how does Big Oil get its way?

CalMatters Digital Democracy reporter Ryan Sabalow and data journalist Jeremia Kimelman dive into the curious alliance between oil companies and the powerful State Building and Construction Trades Council. 

The 450,000-member union of Teamsters, boilermakers, iron workers and more has proven a key ally to Big Oil, helping to block several bills opposed by the industry this year. The council has also given big money to California’s labor-friendly Democrats, donating at least $427,000 to the campaigns of California’s legislators in 2023 and more than $3.5 million to legislative campaigns since 2019. 

Many of the union concerns surrounding these bills relate to jobs. A 2020 study that was commissioned by the council found that fossil fuel jobs pay about $30,000 more per year than the solar industry, and that a 50% reduction in fossil fuel consumption could eliminate 57,000 jobs.

That concern is shared by the oil industry.

  • Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president of the Western States Petroleum Association: “You (can call) it a coalition, an alliance; it’s people coming together to talk about common interests and deciding what to do about them. We don’t agree on everything…. But you would imagine that anything that has to do with jobs is going to be a topic of discussion.”

Interviews and analysis conducted by Ryan and Jeremia revealed that during the 2023 legislative session, half of the 20-some bills opposed by the oil industry were also opposed by the building trades union.

Among them were three measures by Sen. Lena Gonzalez that were ultimately stalled or killed: Senate Bill 252, which would have required two state pension funds to divest from fossil fuels and is now a tw0-year bill; SB 556, which would have made oil and gas companies liable for healthcare expenses related to respiratory illnesses; and SB 674 to create a statewide standard for petroleum refinery air monitoring systems.

Though the Long Beach Democrat said she has nothing against the trades unions (and the union has donated $27,800 to her campaigns since 2014), Gonzalez also said the oil industry wins with the union’s help: “I see them winning every single day. So I’m just wondering when California, the greenest state, is actually going to finally put our foot down in a more significant way.”

Then there was SB 842. Originally a measure on homelessness, it later morphed into a bill that would have required the California Energy Commission’s new watchdog division on oil prices to consult with oil industry stakeholders and labor groups “to avoid any adverse impacts.” That bill was authored by Democratic Sen. Steven Bradford of Inglewood, whose campaigns received more than $680,000 from the trades unions and at least $155,000 from the oil and gas industry since 2006, according to a CalMatters analysis. The bill was ultimately vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

For the union president Chris Hannan, the alliance with the oil industry shouldn’t be a surprise given that hundreds of thousands of jobs are on the line.

  • Hannan: “If any time we come across as going hard for fighting for our members, you know, it’s true. We do come across strong for our membership, because our membership is strong, and that’s what they deserve.”

Reminder: When the oil and other industries don’t win in the Legislature, they often go to the ballot. Oil companies have already qualified for the November 2024 ballot a referendum to overturn a law (authored by Gonzalez) that requires setbacks of oil wells near homes and schools. Oil companies have poured tens of millions of dollars into killing the law, stalling any implementation of the policy in the meantime. 

For more about Big Oil and the trades union, read Ryan and Jeremia’s story.

CalMatters events: Catch up on our 2023 events, with videos of sessions here. And it’s not too early to register for the first ones of 2024: Jan. 23 on California’s multi-billion-dollar overhaul of the troubled unemployment benefits system, and Feb. 13 on school battles over book bans and forced outing policies.

Calmatters

Pipe Exchange
14025 West Road
Suite 100
Houston, TX 77041

  • Phone: 713.934.9480
  • Fax: 713.934.9490
  • Email: sales@pipexch.com
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14025 West Road Suite 100
Houston, TX 77041

Phone: 713.934.9480
Fax: 713.934.9490
Email: sales@pipexch.com

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PIPE EXCHANGE PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: August 2019

 

Pipe Exchange LLC (“Pipe Exchange,” “we,” “us,” and “our”) respects your privacy. This privacy policy (this “Privacy Policy”) explains the accepted privacy practices for our online service and product listings (collectively, the “Services”) found via our website at https://pipexch.com/ (the “Website”). It describes the ways in which your personal information is collected and used, and the rights and options available to you with respect to such information.

 

If you have questions or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy and/or our privacy practices in general, please contact us as described in this Privacy Policy. 

 

Personal Information that Pipe Exchange collects

In the course of signing up for the Pipe Exchange e-publication and/or contacting Pipe Exchange via the “Contact Us” section of the Website, you may choose to provide personal information (e.g., your name, phone number, email address, etc.). We will explicitly indicate the fields designated for mandatory completion. If you do not enter the requisite data in the mandatory fields, you will not be able to receive the e-publication and/or complete the relevant contact form.  It’s important that you understand there is no requirement by law for you to provide Pipe Exchange with your personal details – the information you share with us is entirely voluntary.

 

We request that you provide Pipe Exchange with complete, accurate and correct details. Your failure to do so will likely result in Pipe Exchange being unable to contact you about your inquiries into our Services.  

 

If, at any time, you provide Pipe Exchange with personal details about another person, you expressly represent and warrant that you represent and warrant that (1) you have that person’s explicit consent to provide such details to Pipe Exchange; and (2) such person has given explicit consent (a) for Pipe Exchange to collect, process, use and store such information as set forth in this Privacy Policy and any commercial agreement you have entered into with us. When we receive end user data in this capacity (i.e., as a data processor), we will carry out your instructions (i.e., as the data controller) with regards to its usage and processing of such data, and will not use such data outside the scope of our processing activities unless required by applicable law.

 

Content that you provided for publication on the Website

From time to time, Pipe Exchange may enable you to post content on the Website (i.e., on a blog, in a community forum, etc.), or to provide Pipe Exchange with content that Pipe Exchange will post.  In either scenario, by making available such content to Pipe Exchange, you expressly acknowledge, agree and warrant that: (i) such content may be published on the Website; (ii) such content may be used by Pipe Exchange in various other capacities and for various purposes as Pipe Exchange deems appropriate, including without limitation, improving the Services and managing complaints; and (iii) such content does not violate any other person’s right to privacy, does not violate any applicable laws, and does not otherwise infringe any other party’s intellectual property rights. In addition to the foregoing, you should be aware that any content you provide in these areas may be read, collected, and used by others. Based on the foregoing, we ask that any content you provide to Pipe Exchange for publication DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU OR ANYONE ELSE.

 

If, at some point, you request the removal of your content from the Website, Pipe Exchange will undertake reasonable efforts to accommodate your request, but it may not be possible to do so.  If that should happen, we’ll notify you accordingly.

 

Information gathered when using the Services

Pipe Exchange may collect information pertaining to your activity on the Website, including content that you create, information or advertisements that you have read, the web pages you visited, offers and Services that were of interest to you, the location of the computer and the Internet Protocol (IP) address through which you had access to the Website and more. Additionally, Pipe Exchange may collect or use the assistance of third parties to collect and analyze anonymous, statistical or aggregative information related to your use of the Website (and if applicable, the Services offered thereon), including information related to your personal details and activities.

 

Marketing Communications

 

Pipe Exchange does not use any of your information collected or provided for any marketing purposes. In the event this changes we will update you of such changes as required by applicable law.

 

Other Use of Information

We will store the information you provide and the information we collect about your activity on the Website throughout our databases (the “Databases”). We reserve the right to use such information for the following purposes:

  • To provide the Services on the Website and to enable you to use them;
  • To improve and expand the Services and content offered on the Website, including to create new services and content which correspond to the requirements and expectations of the users of the Website and to modify or cancel existing Services and content. The information used by Pipe Exchange for this purpose will be mainly statistical information, and will not identify you personally;
  • To improve and customize your experience and other users’ experience with both the Website and related Services;
  • To contact you occasionally, either by Pipe Exchange or by a third party acting on our behalf, regarding the Services. Subject to applicable laws and aside from our first communication, we will only contact you about Pipe Exchange’s offerings if you permit us to do so.  Even if you authorize Pipe Exchange to contact you, your authorization may be revoked/withdrawn by you at any time and you may opt out of the Website’s mailing lists by following the unsubscribe instructions in each of the emails you receive or by contacting us as described below; 
  • To contact you if you or someone in your organization requests a product demonstration or product information;
  • To contact you as and when Pipe Exchange believes it to be necessary for technical, administrative or security reasons;
  • To analyze and provide statistical information to third parties. This information will not identify you personally; 
  • For the orderly and proper operation and development of the Website and associated Services; or
  • For any other purpose specified in this Privacy Policy.

Choice and Opt-Out

You can always opt not to disclose information to us, but keep in mind that some information may be needed to create an account or take advantage of some of the features of the Website. Even if you have agreed to receive operational communications from us, you may always decide to stop receiving such materials by sending an email to privacy@pipexch.com

 

Transfer of Information to Third Parties

Pipe Exchange will not transfer your personal details and any information collected pertaining to your activities on the Website (provided that such details and information identify you personally) to any third party, except in the following cases or as otherwise outlined in this Privacy Policy:

  • If Pipe Exchange reasonably believes that you have abused your rights to use any of the Services, or performed any act or omission that Pipe Exchange reasonably believes to be violating any applicable law, rules, or regulations. Pipe Exchange may share your information in these cases, with law enforcement and other competent authorities and with any third party, as may be required to handle any result of your wrongdoing;
  • If Pipe Exchange reasonably believes that it is required by law to share or disclose your information in order to prevent, investigate, or take action regarding illegal activities.  In addition, to establish or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims;
  • Further, your personal information may be disclosed as permitted or required by, or in response to lawful requests by applicable local law enforcement agencies or regulatory agencies, or agencies with responsibility to oversee and enforce national security;
  • In any case of dispute, or legal proceeding of any kind between you and Pipe Exchange, or between you and other users or third parties with respect to, or in relation with the Services;
  • In any case where Pipe Exchange may reasonably believe that sharing information is necessary to prevent serious damage to your person or property or to the person or property of any third party;
  • If Pipe Exchange organizes the operation of the Services within a different framework, or through another legal structure or entity, or if Pipe Exchange is acquired by, or merged with another entity, provided however, that those entities agree to be bound by the provisions of this Privacy Policy;
  • Pipe Exchange may share personally identifiable information and information related to your use of the Website, with companies or organizations connected to or affiliated with Pipe Exchange, such as service providers (e.g., an email service provider to send you emails on our behalf), with the express provision that their use of such information must comply with this Privacy Policy; or
  • Pipe Exchange is also entitled to transfer or share anonymous, statistic or aggregative information with companies or organizations connected to Pipe Exchange, and with suppliers, business partners, advertisers, and every third party, according to Pipe Exchange’s absolute discretion; however, Pipe Exchange will not disclose your identity to them, knowingly or deliberately, without receiving your consent.  

Children’s Online Privacy Information

Pipe Exchange does not knowingly collect personal information from minors who are under the age of 16 through the Website and/or the Services thereon. If a parent or guardian becomes aware that his or her child has provided us with personally identifiable information without his/her consent, then he or she should contact Pipe Exchange at the information described below. If we become aware that a child under the age of 16 has provided us with personally identifiable information, we will delete such information from our files. Further, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) requires parental consent for collection of data from children younger than the age of 13 years old. For tips on protecting children’s privacy online, generally, please view the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) website at http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/privacyinitiatives/childrens.html.

Cookies 

  1. What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small text file that is stored in your web browser that allows Pipe Exchange or a third party to recognize you. Cookies might be used for the following purposes: (1) to enable certain functions; (2) to provide analytics; (3) to store your preferences; and (4) to enable ad delivery and behavioral advertising.

Cookies can either be session cookies or persistent cookies. A session cookie expires automatically when you close your browser. A persistent cookie will remain until it expires or you delete your cookies. Expiration dates are set in the cookies themselves; some may expire after a few minutes while others may expire after multiple years. Cookies placed by the website you’re visiting are sometimes called “first party cookies,” while cookies placed by other companies are sometimes called “third party cookies.”

  1. What cookies are used when I use the Pipe Exchange Website?

When you access and/or use the Website, Pipe Exchange or a third party may place a number of cookies in your browser. Some of the cookies will only be used if you use certain features or select certain preferences, and some cookies will always be used.

Each cookie serves one of four different purposes:

  1. Essential Cookies: These first party cookies allow users to use a feature of the Website such as: (i) staying logged in, or (ii) making purchases.
  2. Analytics Cookies: These cookies track information about how the Website is being used so that we can make improvements and report on our performance. We may also use analytics cookies to test new ads, pages or features to see how users react to them. Analytics cookies may either be first party or third party cookies.
  3. Preference Cookies: These first party cookies store your Website preferences.
  4. Ad Targeting Cookies: These third party cookies (also known as “behavioral” or “targeted” advertising) are placed by advertising platforms or networks in order to: (i) deliver ads and tracks ad performance, and (ii) enable advertising networks to deliver ads that may be relevant based upon your activities.

Finally, we may set cookies within emails we send to you (if you have consented to receiving emails from us). These cookies are used to track how often our emails are opened and clicked on by our customers. You can manage email cookies in the same way as website cookies, as explained above.

  1. How do third parties use cookies on the Pipe Exchange Website?

Third party companies like analytics companies and ad networks generally use cookies to collect user information on an anonymous basis. They may use that information to build a profile of your activities on the Website and other websites that you’ve visited.

  1. What are my cookie options?

If you don’t like the idea of cookies or certain types of cookies, you can change your browser’s settings to delete cookies that have already been set and to not accept new cookies. To learn more about how to do this, visit the help pages of your browser. Please note, however, that if you delete cookies or do not accept them, you might not be able to use all of the features we offer, you may not be able to store your preferences, and some of our pages might not display properly.

You may also opt out of third party cookies by following the instructions provided by each third party in its privacy policy.

  1. Do you use any other user tracking technologies?

We use additional technologies to help track user activities and preferences. For example, we use Google Analytics and when you visit the Website via Facebook, we use tracking pixels.

  1. Interest-Based Advertising

We and third parties engage in interest-based advertising provided by vendors in order to deliver advertisements and personalized content that we and other advertisers believe will be of interest to you. To the extent third-parties are using cookies or other technologies to perform these services, Pipe Exchange does not control the use of this technology or the resulting information for online, mobile, or email advertising, and is not responsible for any actions or policies of such third parties. Advertisements, emails, and other messages may be delivered to you by Pipe Exchange or its service providers based on your online or mobile behavior, your search activity, your geographic location or other information that is collected by us or obtained from third parties. Some of our vendors and we may use our own or third-party aggregated or anonymized personal information, demographic data, and other inferred commercial interests to assist in the delivery of our advertisements to you.

In addition, we and our business partners use third parties to establish deterministic or probabilistic connections among devices (such as smartphones, tablets, and computers) to deliver more relevant advertising to you and for advertising analytics and reporting purposes. This means that information about your use of websites or applications on your current device may be combined with information from your other devices. We also may share this information and other inferences with third parties to allow them to target advertising, personalize content, or analyze behavior. This allows, for example, advertisements you see on your tablet to be based on activities you engaged in on your smartphone. These business partners may share and combine information from cookies with identifiers (such as device IDs assigned by Google or Apple) and IP addresses to make connections among related devices. This also allows for a more personalized experience across the Website.

If you have any questions about our Cookie Policy, you may contact us by sending an email to privacy@pipexch.com or by writing to us at:  14025 West Road, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77041

 

Social Media Features

The Website includes social media features, such as the Facebook and LinkedIn buttons/icons. These features may collect your IP address, which page you are visiting on our site, and may set a cookie to enable the feature to function properly. Social media features are either hosted by a third party or hosted directly on the Website. Your interactions with these features are governed by the privacy policy of the company providing it. 

 

Links to Third Party Sites

The Website may contain links to other sites that are not owned or controlled by Pipe Exchange. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage you to be aware when you leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects personally identifiable information. This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected by the Website. 

 

How We Store Your Information

Data Security

Pipe Exchange implements data security systems and procedures to secure the information stored on Pipe Exchange computer servers. Such systems and procedures reduce the risk of security breaches, but they do not provide absolute security. Therefore, Pipe Exchange cannot guarantee that the Website and Services are immune to unauthorized access to the information stored therein and to other information security risks.

 

Our Commitment to Data Security. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy and ensure the correct use of information, we have applied reasonable and appropriate physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. We also limit access to personal data and confidential information on our systems to only those employees with a specific need to access this information. However, due to technological limitations and the risk of unlawful interceptions and accessing of transmissions and/or data, we cannot completely assure you, and you should not expect, that your personal information, and any other electronically communicated information, will be absolutely confidential.

The security of your personal information is important to us. When you enter sensitive financial information via our Website, the transmission of that information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL).

Please remember that you play a valuable part in security as well. To the extent you have created an account on our Website, your password to access our site, which you select at registration, should never be shared with anyone and should be changed frequently.  After you have finished using our site, you should log off and exit your browser so no unauthorized persons can use our site with your name and account information.

Information Retention and Access to Personal Information. We’ll retain information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you the Services, to comply with applicable law, resolve disputes, and to enforce our agreements.   If your personally identifiable information changes, or if you no longer desire to use and access our Services, you may correct, update, delete/deactivate your information by emailing Pipe Exchange via the contact information listed below. Before Pipe Exchange is able to provide you with any information or correct any inaccuracies, however, we may ask you to verify your identity and to provide other details to help us to respond to your request. But please note: (1) there might be some latency in deleting this information from our servers and back-up storage; (2) we will not delete anonymized data and may continue to use it as describe in this Privacy Policy; and (3) we may retain information if necessary to comply with our legal, tax or accounting obligations, resolve disputes, manage security risks, or enforce our agreements. Even if you cease your use of the Services, we may retain certain information in order to meet our obligations.

Under California Civil Code Sections 1798.83-1798.84, California residents are entitled to ask us for a notice identifying the categories of personal information which we share with our affiliates and/or third parties for marketing purposes, and providing contact information for such affiliates and/or third parties.  If you are a California resident and would like a copy of this notice, please submit a written request to: privacy@pipexch.com

International Transfer of Information Collected

We are a global company, with customers around the world and it is important to note that the Services, and the Website, may be operated via servers situated in the United States and elsewhere. If you are located outside of the United States, please be aware that any information which you supply to Pipe Exchange (including, without limitation, personal information (e.g., your name, phone number, email address, etc.) may be transferred to, processed, and used in the United States and elsewhere. To provide you with the Services, you irrevocably and unconditionally consent that we may store, use, process, transfer and transmit such information in accordance with this Privacy Policy in the United States and locations around the world – including those outside your country which may provide different rules, regulations, and protections regarding privacy. Information may also be stored locally on the devices used to access the Services, which may be mobile.

We have taken appropriate safeguards to ensure that your personal data will remain protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy, whether your personal data is within our control or has been entrusted to our third party service providers and partners.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

From time to time, Pipe Exchange may change the terms of this Privacy Policy. Changes will take effect once they are posted online and by accessing and/or using the Website or Services after we make any such changes to this Privacy Policy, you are deemed to have accepted such changes.  If you do not agree with any of the amended terms, you must avoid any further use of the Website and/or Services offered by Pipe Exchange.

 

Inquiries or Concerns?

You may contact Pipe Exchange by emailing us at privacy@pipexch.com and we will do our best to provide a prompt response to your question.

PIPE EXCHANGE TERMS OF USE

Last updated: August 2019

Welcome to https://pipexch.com/Pipe Exchange (the “Website”). The Website is owned and operated by Pipe Exchange LLCPipe ExchangePipe Exchange including its related companies, affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively “Pipe Exchange,” “we,” “us,” “our”). We make the Website available to you, subject to the following Terms of Use (these “Terms of Use”). PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS OF USE CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE WEBSITE. By using the Website, you agree to these Terms of Use and agree they create a legally binding agreement between you and Pipe Exchange. If you do not agree to these Terms of Use, you may not use the Website. These Terms of Use are effective unless and until terminated by Pipe Exchange.

Minors are not authorized to access or use the Website for any purpose.

CHANGES TO TERMS OF USE

Pipe Exchange reserves the right, at any time, to modify, amend, alter or update these Terms of Use. These changes will be effective as of the date we post the revised version. By continuing to use the Website following such modifications, amendments, alterations or updates, you agree to be bound by such modifications, amendments, alterations or updates. Therefore, you should periodically visit this page to review our most current Terms of Use.

You may access the current version of these Terms of Use at any time by clicking on the link marked “Terms of Use” at the bottom of each page of the Website.

PRIVACY POLICY

In the course of your use of the Website, you may be asked to provide certain personalized information to us (such information referred to hereinafter as “User Information”).  Our information collection and use policies with respect to the privacy of such User Information are set forth in the Website’s Privacy Policy which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.  You acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for the accuracy and content of User Information, and you agree to keep it up to date. 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Pipe Exchange respects the intellectual property rights of others. As between you and Pipe Exchange, and except any User Information which you provide, all rights, title and interests in the Website, including all the content (including, for example, audio, photographs, illustrations, graphics, other visuals, video, copy, software, etc.), code, data and materials thereon, the look and feel, design and organization of the Website, and the compilation of the content, code, data and materials on the Website, including but not limited to any copyrights, trademark rights, patent rights, database rights, moral rights, sui generis rights and other intellectual property and proprietary rights therein (collectively the “Content”) are owned by Pipe Exchange or by third parties who have licensed or provided their Content to us. The Website is protected under Trademarks (as defined below), copyright, patent, trade secret and other intellectual property rights laws, and your use of the Website does not grant to you ownership of any Content you may access on the Website. You are prohibited from using the Website to infringe or violate any intellectual property rights. Pipe Exchange may terminate your right to access the Website if it believes you are using the Website in a manner that infringes the copyright, trademark, patent or other intellectual property rights of another.

We may investigate occurrences that may involve violations of the security of the Services or of the law and we may involve, and cooperate with, law enforcement authorities in prosecuting users who are involved in such violations.

The trademarks, logos, service marks and trade names (collectively the “Trademarks”) displayed on the Website or on content available through the Website are registered and unregistered Trademarks of ours and others and may not be used unless authorized by the trademark owner.  All Trademarks not owned by us that appear on the Website or on or through the Website’s services, if any, are the property of their respective owners.  Nothing contained on the Website should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license or right to use any Trademark displayed on the Website without our written permission or that of the third-party rights holder.  Your misuse of the Trademarks displayed on the Website is strictly prohibited.  Pipe Exchange will aggressively enforce its Trademark rights to the fullest extent of the law, including the seeking of criminal prosecution.

PERSONAL USE ONLY

The Website and the Content are intended for your personal use.  You may access and view the content on the Website via your computer or other internet compatible device, and make single copies or prints of the content on the Website for your personal, internal use only.   The Website and the services offered on or through the Website, including Pipe Exchange’s e-publication and any other content and materials thereon, are only for your personal, non-commercial use. Except as otherwise provided on the Website, you may not modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, license, sell, create derivative works from, transfer, or sell any information, software, products or services obtained from the Website. Use of the Website to sell a product or service, or to increase traffic to your website for commercial reasons, such as advertising sales is expressly forbidden.

PROHIBITED USE

Any commercial distribution, publishing or exploitation of the Website, or any content, code, data or materials on the Website, is strictly prohibited unless you have received the express prior permission of Pipe Exchange or the applicable rights holder.  You may not otherwise download, display, copy, reproduce, distribute, modify, perform, transfer, create derivative works from, sell or otherwise exploit any content, code, data or materials on the Website.  If you make other use of the Website, or the content, code, data or materials thereon, except as otherwise provided above, you may violate copyright and other laws of the United States, other countries, as well as applicable state laws and may be subject to liability for such unauthorized use.  Pipe Exchange will aggressively enforce its intellectual property rights to the fullest extent of the law, including the seeking of criminal prosecution.

SECURITY

You are prohibited from violating, or attempting to violate the security of the Website. Any such violations may result in criminal and civil liabilities to you.  You warrant and agree that, while using the Website and the various services and features offered on or through the Website, you shall not: (a) impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation with any other person or entity; (b) insert your own or a third party’s advertising, branding or other promotional content into any of the Website’s content, materials or services, or use, redistribute, republish or exploit such content or service for any further commercial or promotional purposes or take any action that would constitute or could be interpreted as an endorsement or sponsorship by Pipe Exchange of any third party site, content, information or other materials, or in any manner that would violate the terms and conditions of any such third party sites; (c) attempt to probe, scan, or test the vulnerability of any system or network; or (d) attempt to gain unauthorized access to data not intended for you and/or other computer systems through the Website.  You shall not: (i) engage in spidering, “screen scraping,” “database scraping,” harvesting of e-mail addresses, wireless addresses or other contact or personal information, or any other automatic means of accessing, logging-in or registering on the Website or for any services or features offered on or through the Website, or obtaining lists of users or obtaining or accessing other information or features on, from or through the Website or the services offered on or through the Website, including, without limitation, any information residing on any server or database connected to the Website or any services offered on or through the Website; (ii) obtain or attempt to obtain unauthorized access to computer systems, materials, information or any services made available on or through the Website through any means; (iii) use the Website or the services made available on or through the Website in any manner with the intent to interrupt, damage, disable, overburden, or impair the Website or such services, including, without limitation, sending mass unsolicited messages or “flooding,” “spamming,” or “crashing” any systems; (iv) use the Website or the Website’s services or features in violation of Pipe Exchange’s or any third party’s intellectual property or other proprietary or legal rights; or (v) use the Website or the Website’s services in violation of any applicable law.  You further agree that you may not attempt (or encourage or support anyone else’s attempt) to circumvent, reverse engineer, decrypt, or otherwise alter or interfere with the Website or the Website’s services, or any content thereof, or make unauthorized use thereof.  You agree that you will not use the Website in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair the Website or interfere with any other party’s use and enjoyment of the Website. You may not obtain or attempt to obtain any materials or information through any means not intentionally made publicly available or provided for through the Website. Pipe Exchange will investigate any alleged violations and will cooperate with law enforcement agencies in their investigations.

THIRD-PARTY CONTENT

Some of the information and material available through the Website are provided to Pipe Exchange by third parties (“Third-Party Material”). In some instances, the source of the Third-Party Material is identified. Third-Party Material is provided for your convenience only and Pipe Exchange does not endorse these materials or the parties who supply them to us. Pipe Exchange does not warrant or represent that these Third-Party Materials are current, accurate or reliable.

COPYRIGHT AGENT

We respect the intellectual property rights of others, and require that the people who use the Website do the same.  If you believe that your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please forward the following information to Pipe Exchange’s Copyright Agent, designated as such pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(2), named below:

  • Your address, telephone number, and email address;
  • A description of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed;
  • A description of where the alleged infringing material is located;
  • A statement by you that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law;
  • An electronic or physical signature of the person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright interest; and
  • A statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the above information in your Notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner’s behalf.
  • For all email submissions please include the subject line: DMCA Takedown Request.

 

Pipe Exchange has adopted a policy of terminating, in appropriate circumstances, accounts of users of the services or the Website who are deemed to have repeatedly uploaded content that infringes the intellectual property rights of others.

 

Copyright Agent:

Pipe Exchange Legal

c/o Pipe Exchange LLC

14025 West Road.
Suite #100
Houston, TX 77041

Phone: + (713) 934-9480

Email: dmca@pipexch.com

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES

THE WEBSITE AND ITS CONTENT ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITHOUT REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER. PIPE EXCHANGE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THE WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTIES RIGHTS, AND THE WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE. PIPE EXCHANGE MAKES NO WARRANTIES ABOUT THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, COMPLETENESS, OR TIMELINESS OF THE MATERIAL, SERVICES, SOFTWARE, TEXT, GRAPHICS, AND LINKS FOUND OR CONTAINED ON THE WEBSITE. PIPE EXCHANGE DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE WEBSITE, THE CONTENT, OR ITS SERVERS ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT YOU OBTAIN MATERIAL THROUGH THE USE OF THE WEBSITE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK AND THAT YOU WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM OR LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS.

ALL MATERIAL CONTAINED IN THE WEBSITE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, HAS NOT BEEN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED, HAS NOT BEEN RECOMMENDED BY ANY FEDERAL OR STATE REGULATORY AUTHORITY AND MAY CONTAIN ERRORS OR OMISSIONS OF MATERIAL INFORMATION. THE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE WEBSITE SHOULD NOT, THEREFORE, BE USED OR RELIED UPON FOR ANY SPECIFIC REASON OR APPLICATION WITHOUT INDEPENDENT COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION AND VERIFICATION OF ITS ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, SUITABILITY AND APPLICABILITY. ANYONE MAKING USE OF THE MATERIAL DOES SO AT HIS/HER/ITS OWN SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE RISK AND ASSUMES ANY AND ALL ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL DAMAGE OR LIABILITY RESULTING FROM SUCH USE.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

IN NO EVENT SHALL PIPE EXCHANGE BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS, OR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM LOST DATA OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) RESULTING FROM THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE MATERIAL ON THE WEBSITE OR SITES LINKED TO THE WEBSITE, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND WHETHER OR NOT PIPE EXCHANGE IS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

TERMINATION

Pipe Exchange may terminate, change, suspend or discontinue any aspect of the Website or the Website’s services at any time.  Pipe Exchange may restrict, suspend or terminate your access to the Website and/or its services if we believe you are in breach of our terms and conditions or applicable law, or for any other reason without notice or liability.  Pipe Exchange maintains a policy that provides for the termination in appropriate circumstances of the Website use privileges of users who are repeat infringers of intellectual property rights.

USER’S REMEDY

If you are dissatisfied with any portion of the Website or with any of these Terms of Use, your sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue using the Website.

GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE

These Terms of Use and the relationship between you and Pipe Exchange shall be governed by the laws of the United States and the State of Florida without regard to its conflict of law provisions. You hereby irrevocably submit and consent to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located within Miami-Dade County, Florida and agree that any cause of action that may arise under these Terms of Use and all disputes arising out of or relating to the use of the Website shall be commenced and be heard in the appropriate court in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The failure of Pipe Exchange to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms of Use shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of these Terms of Use is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties’ intentions as reflected in the provision, and the other provisions of these Terms of Use remain in full force and effect. 

QUESTIONS ABOUT TERMS OF USE

If you have any questions regarding these Terms of Use, please either:

Send an email to sales@pipexch.com

Write to Pipe Exchange at the following address:

14025 West Road

Suite 100

Houston, TX 77041