Terms of Use
Effective 2026-05-16. By accessing or using The 250 (the "Site") you agree to these Terms of Use ("Terms"). If you do not agree, do not use the Site.
1. The Site
The 250 is an editorial platform — a network of American storytellers presented in their own words. It is operated by LSG, a public-affairs and strategic-communications firm based in Washington, D.C. ("we," "us"). Some functionality is invitation-only (editor access); the public reading experience is open.
2. Eligibility
You must be at least 16 years old to use the Site. If you are using the Site on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization to these Terms.
3. Accounts and access
Editor accounts are invitation-only. The Site does not allow self sign-up. Authentication uses one-time magic links delivered by email — passwords are not used. You are responsible for the security of the email address linked to your editor account and for the actions taken under your account.
Editors fall into one of two roles:
- Storyteller — may edit only the storyteller record and posts that belong to that storyteller.
- Admin — may edit any storyteller, post, tag, or media; may invite additional editors.
We may suspend or revoke access at any time for any reason.
4. Acceptable use
You agree not to:
- Use the Site to publish content that is unlawful, defamatory, harassing, fraudulent, obscene, or infringing on another person's rights.
- Impersonate any person or misrepresent your authorization to publish.
- Attempt to circumvent authentication, scrape protected data, probe for vulnerabilities, or interfere with the operation of the Site.
- Upload viruses, malware, or any code designed to harm the Site or its users.
- Reproduce or redistribute the Site's design, code, or curatorial structure.
If you believe content on the Site violates these rules, email legal@teamlsg.com.
5. Content ownership
- Storyteller content — the words, likeness, and media a storyteller contributes belong to that storyteller. By publishing on the Site, the storyteller grants LSG a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, display, format, distribute, and excerpt the content as part of the Site and its related communications (press, social, newsletter). This license lasts as long as the content is published; on removal, the license ends.
- Site design, code, tooling, and curatorial structure (which 250 storytellers, in what sequence, framed how) belong to LSG. They are protected by copyright and trademark law and may not be copied without written permission.
6. Storyteller-furnished materials
If you are an editor or storyteller, you represent that you have all necessary rights, consents, releases, and licenses for the names, words, images, and media you publish on the Site, including the right of publicity of every person whose likeness appears. LSG has no obligation to fact-check or verify storyteller content but may decline or remove any submission.
7. Trademarks
"The 250," the The 250 wordmark, the φ-scaled logo, and related marks belong to LSG. Nothing on the Site grants you a license to use any trademark.
8. Copyright complaints (DMCA)
If you believe content on the Site infringes your copyright, send a DMCA notice to legal@teamlsg.com with: (a) your signature, (b) identification of the copyrighted work, (c) the URL of the allegedly infringing material, (d) your contact information, (e) a good-faith statement that the use is not authorized, and (f) a statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act for the rights holder.
9. Third-party services
The Site relies on third-party infrastructure (hosting, database, email delivery, analytics, video streaming, AI image generation). Their failures, outages, or policy changes are outside our control; we are not liable for any resulting unavailability or loss.
10. Disclaimer of warranties
THE SITE AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE.
11. Limitation of liability
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, LSG AND ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND CONTRACTORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST REVENUE, LOST DATA, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SITE OR THESE TERMS, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY. OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY WILL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100).
12. Indemnification
If you are an editor, storyteller, or organizational user, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless LSG from any claim, demand, or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of your content, your use of the Site, or your violation of these Terms or any law.
13. Termination
We may suspend or terminate your access at any time, with or without notice, for any reason. You may stop using the Site at any time. The sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination (Content Ownership, Disclaimers, Liability, Indemnification, Governing Law) survive.
14. Changes
We may update these Terms as the Site evolves. Material changes will be announced on the Site at least 14 days before they take effect; continued use after that date constitutes acceptance.
15. Governing law & dispute resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of the District of Columbia, USA, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. Any dispute that cannot be resolved informally will go to non-binding mediation in Washington, District of Columbia. If unresolved within 30 days, it will be finally settled by binding arbitration under the AAA Commercial Rules in Washington, District of Columbia. Each party bears its own costs unless the arbitrator decides otherwise. The prevailing party may recover reasonable attorneys' fees.
16. Contact
LSG
Washington, District of Columbia, USA
legal@teamlsg.com
