Materiality.

Terms of Service

Last updated: 2026-04-25 · Effective from: launch day

Plain-English summary

  • Free tier: weekly newsletter at the email you subscribed with + website archive
  • Paid tier (optional): monthly tool spreadsheet + RFP templates + vendor discount codes + bi-monthly deep-dives + reader Q&A archive
  • Refund (paid tier): 30 days, no questions asked. After that, cancel anytime, prorated.
  • What we promise: independent editorial, sourced claims, transparent corrections, sponsor disclosure.
  • What we don't promise: that any tool we cover will work for your firm, or that any business outcome will follow from reading.
  • If something goes wrong: our liability is capped at what you paid (or zero if you're a free reader). NZ courts have jurisdiction.

Full terms below for the edge cases. Nothing below contradicts the summary.

1. The agreement

These Terms of Service govern your subscription to and use of Materiality (the "Service"), operated by Dan Ibbotson, Sole Trader, Auckland, New Zealand ("we," "us," "our"). By subscribing or accessing the Service, you agree to these Terms.

2. What you get

Free tier: weekly newsletter, public archive, right to forward to colleagues.

Paid tier ($19 USD/month or $179/year, subject to change with 30-day notice): everything in free tier plus monthly tool-stack spreadsheet, vendor discount codes (where Materiality has negotiated partner rates), bi-monthly long-form deep-dives, reader Q&A AMA archive.

3. License

Subscribing grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide license to:

You may not:

4. Refund policy (paid tier)

30 days, no questions asked, from your first paid charge. Email editor@materiality.media with "Refund" in the subject.

After 30 days: cancel anytime, prorated to your next billing date. No refund for partial months/years.

If we materially fail to deliver paid-tier content, you can request a pro-rated refund regardless of the 30-day window.

5. What we warrant

We warrant that the Service is what we describe; we follow our editorial standards; paid-tier features are delivered as described.

Everything else is provided "as is." We don't warrant business outcomes from reading. We don't warrant that information is up-to-date the moment you read it. The Service is editorial guidance — decisions about your firm's tool choices remain yours.

6. Not legal, financial, tax, or accounting advice

Materiality is journalism about software and tools used in accounting practice. It is not professional advice. For advice on your firm's specific situation, consult a qualified accountant, lawyer, or tax advisor in your jurisdiction.

7. Limitation of liability

Our total liability is capped at the amount you paid in the prior 12 months (zero for free subscribers). We are not liable for indirect, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages. Nothing excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded (e.g., NZ Consumer Guarantees Act protections).

8. Your conduct

You agree not to share paid-tier content with non-paying readers, harass or defraud any vendor or individual, misrepresent Materiality's coverage, or submit fraudulent payment.

9. Third-party services

The Service uses third-party services (beehiiv, Stripe, Wise, Zoho, Cloudflare, SparkLoop). Their availability, fees, and policies are governed by their own agreements.

10. Sponsorship + advertising

Sponsorships are clearly disclosed per editorial standards. Sponsorship does not influence editorial coverage. We may decline sponsorships at our discretion.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify us against third-party claims arising from your use of the Service in violation of these Terms.

12. Changes to the Service

We may update, modify, or discontinue features. Material changes (paid-tier reductions, price changes) trigger 30-day email notice.

13. Termination

You may unsubscribe at any time — instant via the link in every issue. We may terminate your access if you breach these Terms.

14. Governing law

Governed by New Zealand law. Disputes addressed by good-faith discussion first; if unresolved, by NZ courts — unless your jurisdiction's consumer-protection law gives non-waivable local rights.

15. Force majeure

We're not liable for failures from events beyond our reasonable control. If such an event makes the Service unusable for more than 30 days, paid subscribers can request pro-rated refund.

16. Entire agreement

These Terms + our Privacy Policy are the complete agreement. If any part is unenforceable, the rest remains.

17. Contact

editor@materiality.media — plain English, real human, reply within 48 business hours.