Terms of Service & Acceptable Use Policy

Last updated: January 2025

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Urban Biome Sightings ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Service.

2. Description of Service

Urban Biome Sightings is a community-driven platform for documenting and mapping urban green infrastructure. Users can submit photos and observations of green spaces, which are made publicly available for research, planning, and community benefit.

3. Anonymous Identification

This service uses browser cookies for anonymous identification. By using the Service, you agree that:

• A unique cookie is stored in your browser to link your submissions
• You are responsible for submissions made from your browser
• Clearing your cookies will remove your ability to edit or delete your submissions
• Your anonymous username is automatically generated and displayed publicly

4. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree NOT to submit content that:

• Violates laws: Illegal content, hate speech, harassment, or threats
• Infringes rights: Copyrighted images, trademarks, or other intellectual property you don't own or have permission to use
• Is inappropriate: Explicit, offensive, violent, or disturbing content
• Contains personal information: Identifiable information about others without consent
• Is misleading: False information, spam, or irrelevant content
• Contains malware: Viruses, malicious code, or harmful files

5. Content Ownership & License

You retain copyright to photos and content you submit. However, by submitting content, you grant Urban Biome:

• A worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your submissions
• The right to include your submissions in research, publications, and public datasets
• The right to allow third parties (researchers, planners, public) to view and use the data

This license is necessary because all submissions are made publicly available for community and research purposes.

6. Content Moderation

We reserve the right to:

• Review, moderate, or remove any content at our discretion
• Block browsers that submit content violating these terms
• Use automated moderation tools (e.g., Sightengine) to filter inappropriate content
• Report illegal content to relevant authorities

Content that violates these terms may be removed without notice.

7. User Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

• Accuracy: Ensuring your submissions are accurate and relate to green infrastructure
• Permissions: Having the right to upload and share any photos you submit
• Privacy: Not including identifiable information about others (faces, addresses, etc.)
• Legality: Only photographing from public spaces or with permission

8. Public Nature of Submissions

All submissions are public. Once submitted:

• Content is visible to anyone visiting the map
• Data may be used by researchers, city planners, and the public
• Content may be included in publications, reports, or datasets
• While you can delete your submissions, copies may exist in backups or third-party downloads

9. Prohibited Uses

You may NOT:

• Scrape, harvest, or automatically collect data from the Service
• Use the Service for commercial purposes without permission
• Attempt to access or modify other users' submissions
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service's operation
• Circumvent security measures or rate limits
• Impersonate others or manipulate identification cookies

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee:

• Uninterrupted or error-free service
• Accuracy or reliability of user-submitted content
• Fitness for a particular purpose
• Security against unauthorized access or data loss

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Urban Biome and its operators shall not be liable for:

• Any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Loss of data, profits, or business opportunities
• Damages resulting from use of or inability to use the Service
• User-generated content or third-party actions

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Urban Biome from any claims, damages, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your violation of these terms
• Your submissions or use of the Service
• Your infringement of any third-party rights

13. Age Restrictions

You must be at least 13 years old to use this Service. Users under 18 should have parental consent. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13.

14. Service Modifications

We reserve the right to:

• Modify, suspend, or discontinue the Service at any time
• Change features, functionality, or availability
• Update these terms (with notice of material changes)

15. Termination

We may block your browser or remove your submissions if you:

• Violate these terms or our Acceptable Use Policy
• Submit prohibited content
• Engage in abusive or disruptive behavior
• Fail to comply with applicable laws

You may delete your submissions at any time using the edit feature, or contact support@urbanbiome.co.uk for assistance.

16. Intellectual Property

The Service itself (excluding user content) is owned by Urban Biome. This includes:

• Website design, code, and functionality
• Urban Biome branding, logos, and trademarks
• Documentation and original content we create

You may not copy, modify, or distribute our intellectual property without permission.

17. Third-Party Services

The Service uses third-party providers (Cloudflare, MapTiler, Sightengine). Your use is subject to their respective terms of service and privacy policies.

18. Research Use

Submissions may be used for:

• Academic and scientific research
• Urban planning and policy development
• Environmental monitoring and analysis
• Publications, reports, and presentations

All research use will comply with ethical standards and data protection laws.

19. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

20. Severability

If any provision of these terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full effect.

21. Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Urban Biome regarding use of the Service.

22. Contact

For questions about these terms, contact us at:

Email: support@urbanbiome.co.uk

Return to Urban Biome Sightings Map | Privacy Policy