Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Fossil Vault mobile application and website (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.

2. Description of Service

Fossil Vault is a digital collection management application designed for fossil collectors. The Service allows users to:

• Catalog and organize fossil specimens with detailed metadata
• Store and manage photographs of fossil specimens
• Record GPS locations and discovery information
• Analyze collection statistics and generate reports
• Export collection data in various formats
• Sync data across multiple devices (premium feature)

3. User Accounts

Account Creation

• You may use the Service anonymously (local mode) or create an account (cloud mode)
• Account information must be accurate and kept up to date
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account

Account Responsibilities

• You are solely responsible for all activities under your account
• You must be at least 13 years old to create an account
• One person may not maintain more than one account

4. Acceptable Use

You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree NOT to:

• Use the Service for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
• Upload content that infringes on intellectual property rights
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service or other users' accounts
• Transmit viruses, malware, or other harmful code
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers
• Use automated systems to access the Service without permission
• Share accounts or transfer accounts to third parties
• Use the Service to store content that is illegal, harmful, or offensive

5. Content and Intellectual Property

Your Content

• You retain ownership of all content you upload to the Service
• You grant us a license to store, process, and display your content for Service provision
• You represent that you have the right to upload and share your content
• You are responsible for backing up your important data

Our Intellectual Property

• The Service, including its software, design, and content, is owned by Fossil Vault
• You may not copy, modify, distribute, or reverse engineer our software
• Our trademarks and logos may not be used without permission

6. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection and use of your information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Service, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in the Privacy Policy.

7. Subscription and Payment Terms

Free and Premium Tiers

• Basic features are available for free with limitations
• Premium features require a paid subscription
• Subscription pricing is displayed in the app
• Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled

Payment and Billing

• Payments are processed through the Apple App Store
• Subscription fees are non-refundable except as required by law
• Price changes will be communicated in advance
• You can cancel subscriptions through your App Store account settings

8. Service Availability

• We strive to maintain high service availability but cannot guarantee 100% uptime
• The Service may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance or technical issues
• We may modify or discontinue features with reasonable notice
• Local mode functionality does not depend on our servers

9. Beta Testing Program

If you participate in our beta testing program:

• Beta software may contain bugs and is provided "as is"
• You agree to provide feedback and report issues
• Beta features may change or be removed without notice
• Additional terms may apply to beta testing

10. Termination

Termination by You

• You may stop using the Service at any time
• You may delete your account through the app settings
• Deleting your account will permanently remove your cloud data

Termination by Us

• We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms
• We may discontinue the Service with 30 days' notice
• Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately

11. Disclaimers and Limitations

Disclaimers

• The Service is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind
• We do not guarantee the accuracy of fossil identification features
• GPS coordinates and location data may not be perfectly accurate
• We are not responsible for data loss due to user error or device failure

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Fossil Vault shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Service.

12. Legal Compliance

• Users are responsible for complying with local laws regarding fossil collection
• Some locations may require permits for fossil collection
• We do not provide legal advice regarding fossil collection regulations
• Respect private property and protected areas

13. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Germany. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Berlin, Germany.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes through the app or by email. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

15. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us: