emmpress.com

Last update: July 31, 2026

This document contains the policies that govern emmpress.com (the “Site”). The Site is a personal creative work owned and run by Elizabeth Mullen Matteson, doing business as EMWeb. Questions about any section: domains@elizabethmullen.com.

It is organized in five parts:

Terms & Conditions
Privacy Statement
Usage Policy
Intellectual Property
Disclaimer

Part 1 — Terms & Conditions

By using the Site, subscribing to the newsletter, creating an account, or buying a subscription, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

1.1 Who may use the Site

You may use the Site if you can form a binding contract under the law of your location. If you are under 16, please use the Site only with the involvement of a parent or guardian. We do not direct the Site to children.

1.2 The Site and its content

EMMpress is a personal publication: original essays, reflections, and images on topics such as life, family, money, and ideas. The content reflects the personal views and experience of the author. It is offered for general interest and reading only.

1.3 No professional relationship

Your use of the Site does not create any professional relationship between you and EMMpress or E M Matteson. Nothing on the Site is financial, tax, legal, medical, mental-health, or other professional advice, and reading it, subscribing, commenting, or contacting us does not make us your advisor of any kind. See Part 5 (Disclaimer) for full detail. For decisions that matter, consult a qualified professional who knows your situation.

1.4 The newsletter

You may sign up for our email newsletter by giving your email address. By subscribing you agree to receive emails from EMMpress. Every email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out at any time. We handle your email address as described in Part 2 (Privacy Statement).

1.5 Paid subscriptions and billing

Some content or features may require a paid subscription.

Payment processor. Payments are processed by Stripe. We do not collect or store your full card details on the Site; Stripe handles them under its own terms and privacy policy.
Price and renewal. The current price and billing interval are shown at checkout. Paid subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing period at the then-current price, until you cancel.
Managing or cancelling. You can view, manage, or cancel your subscription at any time following the links on your account page. Cancellation stops the next renewal; it does not retroactively cancel a period already paid for.
Refunds. “Payments are non-refundable except where required by law.”
Price changes. We may change subscription prices. We will give notice before a any changes takes effect, and the new price applies from your next renewal. You may cancel before then if you do not accept the change.
Failed payments. If a payment fails, access to paid features may be paused or ended until payment is resolved.

1.6 Accounts

If you create an account with Stripe (our payment processor), you are responsible for keeping your login details secure and for activity under your account. Tell us promptly if you suspect unauthorized use. You may close your account at any time from the account page or by contacting us.

1.7 Acceptable use

Your use of the Site is subject to Part 3 (Usage Policy), which is part of these Terms. Do not misuse the Site, attempt to break its security, or use it for any unlawful purpose.

1.8 Comments and anything you submit

If commenting or submissions are enabled, you are responsible for what you post and you grant us the license described in Part 4 (Intellectual Property). We may moderate, edit, or remove content at our discretion.

1.9 Intellectual property

The Site and its original content are protected as described in Part 4 (Intellectual Property), which is part of these Terms.

1.10 Third-party links and services

The Site links to other websites and uses third-party services and plugins. We do not control them and are not responsible for their content, products, or practices. Your use of a third-party service is governed by that party’s terms.

1.11 Disclaimers

The Site is provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind, to the fullest extent the law allows. See Part 5 (Disclaimer) for full detail.

1.12 Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent the law allows, EMMpress and Elizabeth Mullen Matteson are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential loss arising from your use of the Site or content. Where liability cannot be excluded, it is limited to the amount you paid us, if any, in the 12 months before the claim. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law.

1.13 Indemnity

You agree to cover us for claims and costs arising from your misuse of the Site or your breach of these Terms.

1.14 Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms. The “Effective date” shows the latest version. Continued use of the Site after a change means you accept the updated Terms.

1.15 Suspension and termination

We may suspend or end your access to the Site, your account, or your subscription if you breach these Terms or the Usage Policy, or where needed to protect the Site or others.

1.16 Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Rhode Island, USA, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. The state and federal courts located in Rhode Island have jurisdiction, subject to any rights you have under the mandatory law of your own country or state.

Part 2 — Privacy Statement

This part explains what personal information we collect, why, and the choices and rights you have. Elizabeth Mullen Mullen, dba as EMWeb is the data controller. Contact: domains@elizabethmullen.com.

2.1 Information we collect

Information you give us

Newsletter: your email address when you subscribe.
Account and subscriptions: your email address and account details when you register, and limited billing information needed to manage a paid subscription.
Messages: anything you send us by email or through a form.
Comments: if commenting is enabled, the content of your comment and any name or email you provide.

Information collected automatically

Analytics and usage data through Google Analytics — for example pages viewed, approximate location, device and browser type, and how you reached the Site.
Log and technical data such as IP address and access times, handled by our hosting provider.
Cookies and similar technologies set by WordPress, Google Analytics, and third-party plugins (see 2.4).

Payment information

Paid subscriptions are processed by Stripe. Card and payment details are collected and stored by Stripe, not by us. We receive only limited confirmation and account information needed to manage your subscription.

2.2 Why we use your information and our legal bases

We use your information to:

send the newsletter you asked for (basis: your consent);
provide and manage accounts and paid subscriptions (basis: performing our contract with you);
run, secure, and improve the Site, including analytics (basis: our legitimate interest in operating the Site, and consent where required for cookies);
respond to your messages (basis: legitimate interest);
meet legal obligations (basis: legal obligation).

Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw it at any time.

2.3 Who we share information with

We do not sell or share your personal information.

We share limited information with service providers who help us run the Site, only as needed:

Google (Google Analytics) — site analytics.
Stripe — payment and subscription processing.
Mail Poet— sending the newsletter.
Viridio.net — hosting the Site.
Anti-spam / security plugins (for example an Akismet-type service and Google captcha), if used, to filter spam.

We may also disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights, users, or the Site.

2.4 Cookies and analytics

The Site uses cookies and similar technologies:

WordPress sets cookies needed to run the Site and, if you comment or log in, to remember you.
Google Analytics sets cookies to measure how the Site is used. This data helps us understand traffic; it is not used to identify you personally to us.
Third-party plugins may set their own cookies.

You can control cookies through your browser settings and, where shown, through any cookie banner on the Site. Blocking some cookies may affect how the Site works. To opt out of Google Analytics across sites, you can use Google’s browser add-on.

2.5 How long we keep information

We keep your information only as long as needed for the purposes above:

newsletter data until you unsubscribe;
account and subscription data while your account is active and for a reasonable period after, as required for records and legal reasons;
analytics data per Google Analytics retention settings;
comments for as long as the related post is published, unless removed.

2.6 Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

access the personal information we hold about you;
correct inaccurate information;
delete your information;
restrict or object to certain uses;
receive your information in a portable form;
withdraw consent at any time (for example, by unsubscribing);
complain to your local data protection authority.

If you are in California, you may request to know what personal information we hold, request deletion, and not be discriminated against for exercising these rights. We do not sell or share your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

To exercise any right, email domains@elizabethmullen.com. We will respond within the time the law requires.

2.7 International visitors

The Site is operated from the United States. If you visit from outside the US, your information will be processed in the US, which may have different data protection laws than your country. By using the Site you understand this transfer.

2.8 Children

The Site is not directed at children, and we do not knowingly collect information from children under 16 (under 13 in the US). If you believe a child has given us information, contact us and we will delete it.

2.9 Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

2.10 Changes to this statement

We may update this statement. The “Effective date” shows the latest version. Significant changes will be noted on the Site.

Part 3 — Usage Policy

This part sets out how you may and may not use the Site. By using the Site you agree to it.

3.1 Permitted use

You may read, browse, and enjoy the Site for your own personal, non-commercial use. You may share links to our pages and quote short excerpts with attribution, as described in Part 4 (Intellectual Property).

3.2 Things you must not do

You agree not to:

use the Site for any unlawful purpose, or in breach of any law that applies to you;
post or transmit content that is illegal, infringing, defamatory, harassing, hateful, threatening, or invasive of another person’s privacy;
impersonate any person or misrepresent your connection to anyone;
upload or link to malware, or attempt to interfere with, damage, or gain unauthorized access to the Site, its accounts, or its servers;
attempt to bypass any access control, paywall, or security measure;
scrape, harvest, or copy content or data from the Site by automated means, except for standard search-engine indexing that we have not blocked;
use the Site or any data from it to train, fine-tune, or develop machine-learning or AI systems (see Part 4);
collect other users’ information, or send spam or unsolicited messages through the Site;
resell, redistribute, or commercially exploit Site content without our written permission.

3.3 Comments and submissions

If commenting or other submissions are enabled:

You are responsible for what you post and you must have the right to post it.
Keep contributions civil and on-topic. No abuse, harassment, hate, threats, spam, advertising, or off-topic promotion.
Do not post others’ private information.
By posting, you grant us the licence described in Part 4.

3.4 Moderation

We may review, edit, refuse, or remove any comment or submission, and may close comments, at our discretion and without notice. We are not obligated to publish or keep any contribution.

3.5 The newsletter and email lists

The newsletter is for your personal use. Do not use our content or list to send your own marketing. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email.

3.6 Consequences

If you break this policy, we may remove content, restrict or suspend your access or account, cancel a subscription, and where appropriate report conduct to the authorities. The limitation of liability and other terms in Part 1 continue to apply.

3.7 Reporting a problem

To report content that breaches this policy, or any security concern, email domains@elizabethmullen.com.

Part 4 — Intellectual Property

This part explains who owns the content on the Site and what you may and may not do with it.

4.1 Ownership

All original content on the Site — including the writing, essays, images, photographs, graphics, layout, and the EMMpress.com name — is owned by Elizabeth Mullen Matteson, or used with permission, and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. Unless stated otherwise, copyright is held by EM Matteson.

4.2 Your limited license to use the Site

We grant you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to view and read the Site for your own non-commercial use. This license does not transfer any ownership.

4.3 What you may do

You may:

read and enjoy the content for personal use;
share links to our pages;
quote a short excerpt for commentary, review, or discussion, with clear attribution to Elizabeth M Matteson and a link to the source.

These uses must be fair, must not misrepresent the work, and must not substitute for visiting the original.

4.4 What you may not do/ what AI LLMs may not do without permission.

Without our prior written permission, you may not:

UTILIZE any images or writing herein for training LLM models, creating or training AI generative image makers, or copy, republish, reproduce, distribute, or post our content elsewhere, in whole or in substantial part;
sell, license, or commercially exploit the content;
create derivative works from the content;
remove or alter any copyright or attribution notice;
frame or mirror the Site.

4.5 No use for AI or text-and-data mining

We expressly reserve all rights in our content against automated extraction. You may not use any content on the Site — whether by scraping, downloading, copying, or otherwise — to train, fine-tune, evaluate, or develop machine-learning models, large language models, generative AI systems, or any text-and-data-mining process, without our prior written permission.

Our publishing content here is not consent to such use, and we do not grant any such license by implication.

4.6 Trademarks

“EMMpress.com” and any associated logos are marks of Elizabeth Mullen Matteson. You may not use them without permission, except to refer fairly to the Site.

4.7 Content you submit

If commenting or submissions are enabled, you keep ownership of what you post. By posting, you grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to host, display, store, reproduce, and moderate your contribution on and in connection with the Site, for as long as the related content is published. You confirm you have the right to grant this license and that your contribution does not infringe anyone’s rights.

4.8 Copyright complaints

We respect intellectual property and expect users to do the same. If you believe content on the Site infringes your copyright, email domains@elizabethmullen.com with:

a description of the work you say is infringed;
the location (URL) of the material on the Site;
your contact details;
a statement that you believe in good faith the use is not authorized;
a statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and that you are the rights holder or authorized to act for them;
your signature (physical or electronic).

We will review and respond, and may remove the material.

4.9 Requests to reuse content

To request permission to reuse, reprint, or license any content, email domains@elizabethmullen.com. We are usually glad to discuss it.

Part 5 — Disclaimer

Please read this before relying on anything on the Site.

5.1 For general information only

EMMpress is a personal publication. The content — including writing on life, family, money, and ideas — is offered for general interest and reading. It is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be treated as such.

5.2 No professional advice and no professional relationship

Nothing on the Site is financial, investment, tax, legal, medical, mental-health, or other professional advice. Your use of the Site — reading it, subscribing, commenting, or contacting us — does not create any professional or advisory relationship between you and EMMpress or Elizabeth Mullen, and does not make us your advisor, counselor, or representative of any kind.

Any reference to money, taxes, health, or similar topics reflects personal experience and opinion at a point in time. It may not apply to your situation and may be out of date. Before acting on anything you read here, consult a qualified professional who knows your circumstances. You are responsible for your own decisions.

5.3 Personal views

Views expressed on the Site are the personal views of the author and do not represent any employer, organization, or other person. Mention of any person, product, or service is not an endorsement unless stated.

5.4 Accuracy and “as is”

We try to keep the Site accurate and current, but we make no warranty that it is complete, accurate, reliable, or up to date. The Site and its content are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind, to the fullest extent the law allows. You use the Site at your own risk.

5.5 External links

The Site may link to other websites and resources we do not control. We provide these for convenience only. We are not responsible for their content, accuracy, products, or practices, and a link is not an endorsement.

5.6 Affiliate links and sponsorship

Some links on the Site may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Any sponsored or gifted content will be identified as such. Such as a book with Amazon affiliate link. These arrangements do not change our honest opinions.

5.7 No guaranteed results

Where the content describes outcomes, choices, or experiences, these are personal and not a promise of any result for you. Your results will differ.

5.8 Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent the law allows, EMMpress.com and Elizabeth M Matteson are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of, or reliance on, the Site or its content. This is in addition to the limitations in Part 1.

Contact for any of the above: domains@elizabethmullen.com