Terms & Conditions

1. Scope

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern the use of the IOA Documentary Films website ("the Platform") operated by IOA Documentary Films ("we", "us", or "our"). By accessing or using the Platform, you ("the User") agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the Platform.

2. Services

The Platform provides the following services:

• Streaming and rental of documentary films for personal, non-commercial viewing.
• Acceptance of voluntary donations to support independent documentary filmmaking.
• A contact form for commissioning documentary, interview, and commercial projects.
• Publication of user-submitted film reviews.

3. Film Rentals

When you rent a film, you are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable right to stream the film for personal, non-commercial use for the rental duration specified at the time of purchase (default: 7 days). You agree that you will not:

• Download, copy, record, or redistribute the film.
• Share your access or account credentials with third parties.
• Use the film for commercial purposes, public screenings, or educational distribution without prior written consent.
• Bypass or attempt to circumvent any digital rights management (DRM) or access controls.

Rental access expires automatically at the end of the rental period. No refund is available for partial viewing. All films remain the intellectual property of IOA Documentary Films or the respective rights holders.

4. Payments

Rental payments are processed via PayPal. By completing a rental purchase, you agree to PayPal's terms of service and authorize the charged amount. Prices are stated in Euros (€) and include applicable VAT where required. Donations are voluntary contributions and are not refundable except in cases of demonstrable error.

5. Right of Withdrawal

Pursuant to § 355 BGB, consumers in the European Union have a statutory right of withdrawal for distance contracts. However, pursuant to § 356 Abs. 5 BGB, the right of withdrawal does not apply to contracts for the supply of digital content that is not supplied on a tangible medium once streaming has begun. By initiating a film stream, you expressly acknowledge that you thereby forfeit your right of withdrawal for that rental.

6. Donations

Donations support the production of independent documentary films. Donations are voluntary and non-refundable, except where a demonstrable error has occurred. Donor names may be displayed in rolling credits only when the donor has explicitly consented via the "show in credits" option. Donors may revoke this consent at any time by contacting us.

7. Commissioned Projects & Inquiries

Submissions through the inquiry form constitute a request for a quote and do not constitute a binding contract. A commissioned project is only binding upon a separate written agreement signed by both parties. We reserve the right to decline inquiries at our discretion.

8. User-Generated Content (Reviews)

When you submit a review, you grant IOA Documentary Films a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display, reproduce, and distribute the review on the Platform. You warrant that:

• The review is your own original work.
• The review does not contain defamatory, unlawful, or infringing content.
• You are not violating any third-party rights.

We reserve the right to remove reviews at our discretion without prior notice.

9. Intellectual Property

All content on this Platform — including films, trailers, images, text, logos, and design — is the intellectual property of IOA Documentary Films or its licensors and is protected by German and international copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution is strictly prohibited.

10. Liability

We are liable without limitation for damages resulting from injury to life, body, or health, and for damages caused by intent or gross negligence. For slight negligence, we are liable only in case of a breach of essential contractual obligations, and only up to the amount of the foreseeable, typically occurring damage. Liability under the German Product Liability Act (Produkthaftungsgesetz) remains unaffected.

11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). The place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from these Terms is [City], Germany, provided the User is a merchant, a legal entity, or a special public-law fund.

12. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. Changes take effect upon publication on this page. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

13. Contact

For any questions regarding these Terms, please contact us at: info@ioadocumentaryfilms.com