The issue of organizer liability involves many different considerations, and whether or not an organizer has liability in any given situation depends very much on the specific facts of that situation. But there are some general points that can help an organizer determine their potential liability.

Every member has agreed to our Terms of Service, which contains in Section 6 a release by that member of organizers for any liability related to a group or event. However, as noted in the Help Center article "Is the Terms of Service an agreement between organizers and members?" our Terms of Service is an agreement between Meetup and each member and is not an agreement directly between an organizer and a member.

An organizer may want to have members sign a release or waiver so that there is an agreement directly with members. Also, if a member brings guests who are not members of Meetup to an event, those guests will not have agreed to our Terms of Service and therefore will not have agreed to this release.

Additionally, the release in our Terms of Service is general in nature and does not address any specific situation. If an organizer is using the Meetup platform for groups or events that involve high-risk or unique activities, an organizer should consider a release or waiver that specifically addresses those activities.

Liability of an organizer can also be dependent on whether the organizer is an individual or a legal entity. More specifically, the "amount" of liability doesn't change, but "who" is liable may change. If the group or event is being organized by an entity, the entity may have the liability and the person that organized the group or event through that entity may have limited personal liability, or no liability at all, depending on the type of entity. For more information about liability and entities, see the following Help section entries:

Where can I get more information about the legal issues related to using Meetup?

As an organizer, can I create my own liability release form or waiver?

Also, an organizer's liability may depend on how they characterize their skills and experience with respect to the group or event and what role they assume in connection with an event. For example, an organizer that holds themselves out as an expert mountaineer and assumes the role of guiding a hiking group up a mountain may be subject to different liability if that Organizer does not hold themselves out as an expert.

Note:  This is general information that does not address any specific situation and is not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Also, the laws regarding liability vary from state to state. You should consult a lawyer for advice about your specific situation.

• The U.S. Copyright Office
  -Frequently Asked Questions about Copyright
   
• The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  -Basic Facts About Trademarks
  -Trademark FAQs
   
• The Lumen Database
  -FAQs about Copyright
  -FAQs about Trademarks
   
• Digital Media Law Project
  -Digital Media Law Project Legal Guide
  -Statements and Content of Others
  -Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act
  -Intellectual Property (Copyright, Trademarks)
  -Copyright: Fair Use
  -Responding to a DMCA Takedown Notice Regarding Your Content
  -Trademark - Fair Use
  -Defamation
   
• Teaching Copyright
   
• Electronic Frontier Foundation
   
• Internet Law Treatise (Beta)
   
• Nolo
  -Business entities
  -Taxes
   
• FindLaw
  -Incorporation and Legal Structures
  -Business Taxation
  
  
• Rocket Lawyer
   
• Legal Zoom
  
  Note: These sites are all independent of Meetup and Meetup has no involvement with the content on these sites. Also, as indicated on most of these sites, the content on these sites is general information that does not address any specific situation and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should consult a lawyer for advice about your specific situation.

Meetup is generally not responsible for and has no liability for what members do offline.

This immunity is established by Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.

However, we may, at our discretion, suspend or remove members of actions that are a violation of our Terms of Service.

If you believe that someone is violating our Terms of Service, you should also report this activity to Meetup directly at abuse@meetup.com.

For more information about the Communications Decency Act, see the following Help Center article:
Where can I get more information about the legal issues related to using Meetup?