Terms of Use
Last updated: September 15, 2026
These Terms of Use govern your use of ChicagoCritic.com (“Chicago Critic,” “we,” “us” or “our”). By using this website, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the website.
Editorial Content and Reviews
Chicago Critic publishes theatre reviews, arts coverage, commentary, guides and other editorial content. Reviews, ratings, recommendations and commentary reflect the opinions of their respective authors and are provided for informational and editorial purposes. They do not guarantee that another person will have the same experience or opinion.
We work to provide useful and accurate information, but theatre schedules, casts, ticket prices, performance dates, venue details and availability can change. Confirm time-sensitive information with the theatre, producer, venue, ticket seller or event organizer before relying on it.
Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise indicated, Chicago Critic’s original reviews, articles, photographs, graphics, logos, design elements and other original materials are owned by or licensed to Chicago Critic and protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.
You may view the website and print or save reasonable portions for personal, noncommercial use and may link to publicly available pages. Except as permitted by law, you may not reproduce, republish, distribute, sell, license, modify or commercially exploit substantial portions of our content without permission from the applicable rights holder.
Linking, Framing, Scraping and Automated Use
You may link to ChicagoCritic.com provided the link does not falsely suggest sponsorship, endorsement or affiliation. Without permission, you may not frame the website or present substantial Chicago Critic content as though it were part of another site or service.
You may not use bots, crawlers, scrapers or other automated means to systematically extract, reproduce or compile substantial portions of Chicago Critic’s copyrighted content except as authorized by us or permitted by law. This does not prohibit ordinary search-engine indexing, accessibility tools or standard web browsers.
Artificial Intelligence, Data Mining and Model Training
Unless authorized by Chicago Critic or permitted by applicable law, you may not systematically copy, scrape or extract substantial portions of Chicago Critic’s copyrighted content to create a commercial dataset, train or develop a machine-learning or artificial-intelligence model, or reproduce a substitute for the website or its editorial archive. This does not restrict uses that cannot lawfully be restricted or ordinary search-engine indexing.
User Submissions and Comments
If you voluntarily submit comments, messages, photographs, text or other material for publication or display, you retain rights you hold in that material. You grant Chicago Critic a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, reproduce, display, format, edit for length or presentation, and distribute it as reasonably necessary to operate, promote and archive Chicago Critic and the content in which it appears.
You represent that you have the necessary rights to submit the material. Do not submit unlawful, defamatory, threatening, infringing, fraudulent, malicious, spam, impersonating or abusive content. We may moderate, decline, edit or remove submissions at our discretion but do not undertake to review every submission.
Acceptable Use
You may not attempt unauthorized access; interfere with the site’s operation or security; introduce malware; impersonate another person or organization; violate applicable law or another person’s rights; or engage in prohibited systematic scraping or copying.
Third-Party Content, External Links and Ticket Sellers
Chicago Critic may link to theatres, venues, ticket sellers, advertisers and other third parties. Their content, websites, products and services are controlled by them, and a link or reference does not necessarily constitute an endorsement. Transactions, purchases, reservations and other dealings with third parties are between you and that third party. Review their terms, prices, refund rules and privacy practices.
Advertising and Affiliate Links
Chicago Critic may display advertising and use affiliate links. We may receive compensation when a reader makes a purchase or takes another qualifying action through an affiliate link. Where appropriate, affiliate or sponsored relationships will be disclosed in or near relevant content. Advertising or affiliate relationships do not guarantee or determine a particular editorial opinion or review.
Privacy
Our collection and use of personal information is described in the Chicago Critic Privacy Policy.
Disclaimer of Warranties
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, ChicagoCritic.com and its content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. We do not guarantee uninterrupted, secure or error-free operation or that every item of information will always be complete, accurate or current. Nothing in these Terms excludes warranties or rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.
Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Chicago Critic and its owners, officers, employees, contributors, contractors and agents will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary or punitive damages arising from use of, inability to use, or reliance on the website or its content. Where liability cannot lawfully be excluded, it is limited only to the extent permitted by law. These Terms do not limit rights or remedies that cannot legally be waived.
Indemnification
To the extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Chicago Critic and its owners, officers, employees and agents from claims, liabilities, damages and reasonable costs arising from your unlawful misuse of the website, material violation of these Terms, or content you submit that violates another person’s rights. This does not apply to the extent a claim results from Chicago Critic’s own unlawful conduct.
Copyright and DMCA Notices
Chicago Critic respects intellectual-property rights. If you believe material on ChicagoCritic.com infringes a copyright you own or are authorized to enforce, send a written notice identifying the copyrighted work, the allegedly infringing material and its location, your contact information, a statement of your good-faith belief that the use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent or the law, and a statement under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act for the owner. Include your physical or electronic signature.
A counter-notice concerning removed material should satisfy the applicable requirements of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Consider obtaining legal advice before submitting a notice or counter-notice.
Copyright contact:
ChicagoCritic.com
17853 Santiago Blvd
#107-261
Villa Park, CA 92861
If Chicago Critic intends to rely on the DMCA safe-harbor procedures that require designation of an agent, the applicable agent information should also be maintained with the U.S. Copyright Office. The contact above should not be understood as a representation that a federal designation is currently active unless separately confirmed.
Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-law s, except where applicable law requires otherwise. Nothing in these Terms deprives a consumer of protections that cannot lawfully be waived.
Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. The “Last updated” date identifies the current version. Changes become effective when posted unless otherwise stated.
Severability
If any provision of these Terms is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Entire Agreement
These Terms and the Privacy Policy constitute the agreement between you and Chicago Critic concerning use of this website, except where a separate written agreement applies to a particular relationship or service.
Contact Us
Questions about these Terms may be sent to info at ChicagoCritic.com or mailed to:
ChicagoCritic.com
17853 Santiago Blvd
#107-261
Villa Park, CA 92861