Legal
Terms of Service
Last updated: May 2026
1.Introduction
Welcome to Sonaru ("we", "our", "us"). These Terms of Service govern your use of our platform at sonaru.net. By creating an account or using our services, you agree to these Terms. Please also read our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.
2.Platform Overview
Sonaru is an online marketplace that connects music teachers with students. We do not provide music lessons ourselves. All lessons are provided independently by teachers who use our platform.
3.User Accounts
To use our platform, you must: provide accurate and complete information, keep your account secure, and be at least 18 years old, or have parental or guardian consent if you are under 18. You are responsible for all activity on your account. You may request deletion of your account at any time by contacting us at contact@sonaru.net. We will delete your personal data within 30 days of your request, unless we are required to retain it by law.
4.Teachers as Independent Providers
Teachers on Sonaru are independent contractors, not employees of Sonaru. They set their own pricing, availability, and services, and are solely responsible for the lessons they provide. Teachers must hold valid and current public liability insurance appropriate to the lessons they provide, and must hold a valid Working With Children (WWC) check where required by law, including where any students on the platform may be under 18. Teachers must comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Sonaru is not responsible for the quality, safety, or outcome of any lesson.
5.Bookings and Payments
All payments must be processed through Stripe via Sonaru. Users must not arrange or accept payments outside of Sonaru. Sonaru charges a platform commission of 20% on each lesson, meaning teachers receive 80% of the lesson price. As a founding offer, the first 10 teachers to join the platform will be charged a reduced commission of 15%, meaning they receive 85% of the lesson price for as long as they remain active on the platform. All prices displayed on the platform are in Australian dollars (AUD). Attempting to bypass the platform payment system may result in account suspension or termination.
6.Cancellation and Refund Policy
Cancellations made more than 24 hours before a scheduled lesson may be eligible for a refund or credit. Cancellations within 24 hours may not be eligible for a refund. If a student fails to attend a lesson without notice, no refund will be provided. If a teacher cancels, the student will be offered a full refund or rescheduling option. Nothing in this policy excludes your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
7.In-Person Lessons Disclaimer
For in-person lessons: you acknowledge that participation may involve inherent risks. Teachers are responsible for maintaining appropriate insurance and safe practices. Sonaru is not responsible for injuries, damages, or incidents that occur during in-person lessons. Nothing in this clause excludes any rights or remedies you may have under the Australian Consumer Law.
8.User Conduct
You agree not to: use the platform for illegal purposes, harass, abuse, or harm other users, share inappropriate, offensive, or unlawful content, or circumvent the platform to avoid fees. We reserve the right to suspend or remove accounts that violate these rules.
9.Content and Messaging
Users may upload content and communicate via the platform. By doing so, you grant Sonaru a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to host, store, and display your content for the purpose of operating the platform, and confirm that you have the rights to upload such content. You must not upload content that is illegal, abusive, harmful, infringes intellectual property rights, or contains explicit or unsafe material.
10.Moderation and AI Review
Sonaru uses user reporting systems and automated tools, including AI-based moderation, to review content and communications. We may monitor messages, remove content, and suspend or ban users at our sole discretion to maintain platform safety.
11.Reporting and Safety
Users can report messages, content, and other users. We will review reports and take appropriate action, but we do not guarantee specific outcomes or response times.
12.Pay-Per-View Content
Teachers may upload paid video content. By uploading content, teachers retain ownership of their material and grant Sonaru a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to host and distribute it on the platform. Sonaru is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of uploaded content.
13.Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Sonaru is not liable for any indirect or consequential loss, disputes between users, or loss of income, data, or opportunities. Our total liability is limited to the amount paid through the platform in connection with the relevant transaction. Nothing in this clause excludes or limits any rights you have under the Australian Consumer Law or any other non-excludable statutory right.
14.Termination
We may suspend or terminate your account if you breach these Terms, attempt to bypass payments, or engage in harmful or unlawful behaviour.
15.Dispute Resolution
If a dispute arises, you agree to first contact us and attempt to resolve it informally. If unresolved, both parties agree to attempt mediation before commencing legal proceedings. Nothing in this clause prevents a party from seeking urgent legal relief where necessary.
16.Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make significant changes, we will notify you by email before the changes take effect. Continued use of Sonaru after the notice period means you accept the updated Terms. If you do not accept the changes, you may close your account before they take effect.
17.Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of Western Australia, Australia. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Western Australia.
18.Contact
For questions regarding these Terms, please email contact@sonaru.net or contact us via the platform at sonaru.net.