Terms of Service

Last updated: March 26, 2026

1. Scope and Provider

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern the use of the CivicSpot platform ("Service") provided by:

Civic Patches GmbH
Pingsdorfer Str. 88-92, 50321 Brühl, Germany
support@civicpatches.de
https://www.civicpatches.de

By accessing or using CivicSpot, you agree to these Terms.

2. Description of the Service

CivicSpot is a cloud-based platform that enables users and organizations to:

create and manage maps
collect, process, and publish reports (e.g. issues, ideas, incidents)
collaborate on geospatial and civic data
integrate with third-party systems and APIs (e.g. Open311)

The Service may include free, paid, hosted, and open-source components.

3. Accounts and Access

Certain features require a user account.

You agree to:

provide accurate and complete information
keep your login credentials secure
be responsible for activities under your account

We may suspend or terminate accounts where necessary to enforce these Terms, comply with legal obligations, or protect the integrity, security, or availability of the Service.

4. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

upload illegal, harmful, fraudulent, or misleading content
violate the privacy or personal data rights of others
misuse the Service for spam, harassment, or manipulation
attempt unauthorized access to systems or data
interfere with the integrity, security, or operation of the platform
use the Service in violation of applicable export control or sanctions laws

We may remove content or restrict access where reasonably necessary to enforce these Terms, comply with legal obligations, or protect the platform and its users.

5. User Content

You retain ownership of the content you submit ("User Content").

By submitting User Content, you grant Civic Patches GmbH a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to:

host, store, process, and transmit the content
display and share it within the Service
make it available via APIs, integrations, or public maps depending on configuration settings

You are responsible for ensuring that you have the necessary rights to submit and share such content.

6. Public Data and Transparency

CivicSpot is designed to support civic transparency and public participation.

Depending on the configuration of a workspace or organization:

reports and content may be publicly visible
data may be accessible through APIs or public feeds
content may be indexed by search engines

Users and organizations are responsible for configuring visibility and publication settings appropriately.

Unless explicitly configured otherwise, CivicSpot is not intended for confidential or classified information.

7. Data Protection

Personal data is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Where CivicSpot is used by public authorities, municipalities, companies, or organizations, such entities generally act as the data controller for the data processed within their workspace.

Civic Patches GmbH typically acts as a data processor where required by applicable law.

8. Paid Plans and Billing

Certain features or usage levels may require a paid subscription or separate agreement.

Unless otherwise agreed:

pricing is defined on the website or by contract
subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled
fees are generally non-refundable except where required by applicable law or explicitly agreed otherwise

We reserve the right to change pricing with reasonable prior notice.

9. Availability and Service Changes

We aim to provide a reliable and secure service but do not guarantee uninterrupted availability.

We may:

modify, improve, or update features
discontinue parts of the Service
perform maintenance or security updates

Specific service levels, support obligations, or availability guarantees may be defined separately in enterprise agreements or service level agreements (SLAs).

10. Open Source Components

Parts of CivicSpot and related software components may be licensed as open source software.

Such components are governed by their respective open source licenses.

In the event of a conflict between these Terms and an applicable open source license, the open source license shall take precedence for the respective component.

11. Third-Party Services

The Service may integrate with third-party services, providers, maps, or APIs.

We are not responsible for:

the availability of third-party services
interruptions caused by external providers
the accuracy or completeness of external data sources

12. Limitation of Liability

Nothing in these Terms limits liability for:

intent or gross negligence
injury to life, body, or health
mandatory statutory liability under applicable law

In cases of slight negligence, liability is limited to breaches of essential contractual obligations ("cardinal obligations") and to foreseeable damages typical for the contract.

To the extent permitted by law, Civic Patches GmbH shall not be liable for indirect or consequential damages, loss of profits, loss of data, or damages caused by user-generated content.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Civic Patches GmbH from claims, damages, or costs arising from:

your use of the Service
your User Content
violations of these Terms or applicable law

14. Termination

You may stop using the Service at any time.

We may suspend or terminate access where:

you violate these Terms
required by law
necessary to protect the platform, infrastructure, or other users

15. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany.

If the user is a merchant, legal entity under public law, or special fund under public law, the place of jurisdiction shall be Cologne, Germany.

16. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time.

Users will be notified of material changes where required by law. Continued use of the Service after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

17. Contact

For questions regarding these Terms: