ShipSpotter Terms of Service

Effective date: January 15, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, accessing, or using the ShipSpotter mobile application (“App”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”) and our Privacy Policy (available at https://shipspotter.org/privacy). If you do not agree, do not use the App.

2. Eligibility

The App is intended for individuals at least 13 years old (or the minimum age required in your country for online services). Users under 18 (or equivalent age) must have parental/guardian consent. We do not knowingly collect data from children under the applicable age; if discovered, we will delete it. See our Privacy Policy for details.

3. License Grant

Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to install and use the App on your personal mobile devices solely for your personal, non-commercial use as a ship-spotting logbook. We reserve all rights not expressly granted. This license terminates if you violate these Terms or upon account termination.

4. Account Registration

Certain features require an account (via email/password or Apple Sign-In). You must provide accurate information and keep credentials confidential. You are responsible for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately of unauthorized access at shipspotter@kingy.org.

5. Free vs Pro Features and Subscriptions

The App is free with basic features. ShipSpotter Pro (paid subscription) unlocks advanced features (e.g., enhanced logging, more storage for photos/notes). Subscriptions are monthly, yearly, or lifetime and auto-renew unless canceled.

6. Payments, Billing, and Refunds

Subscriptions auto-renew at the selected interval until canceled via your App Store/Google Play account settings. You are responsible for all charges, including taxes/fees. Refunds are governed by Apple/Google policies; we do not process refunds directly. Contact Apple/Google support for billing issues.

7. User-Generated Content

The App allows uploading photos of ships, sighting details (date/time/location/GPS/notes), and other content (“User Content”). You retain ownership of your User Content but grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, sublicensable license to host, display, store, reproduce, modify (for formatting), and distribute it as needed to operate/maintain/improve the App (including sharing in community features if enabled). You represent that your User Content does not infringe third-party rights and complies with these Terms. We may remove content violating these Terms without notice.

8. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

9. Vessel Data and Important Disclaimers

The App provides basic vessel information from public/static sources for reference only. ShipSpotter does NOT provide real-time tracking, live AIS, navigation, collision avoidance, or safety-critical information. Data may be inaccurate, incomplete, delayed, or unavailable. Do NOT rely on it for navigation, maritime safety, legal, or commercial decisions. Use is at your own risk. We disclaim all liability for any reliance on or misuse of vessel data.

10. Intellectual Property

All App content (excluding your User Content), code, designs, logos, and trademarks are owned by us or our licensors. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivatives without written permission.

11. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

The App is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind (express or implied), including accuracy, reliability, or fitness for purpose. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages (including lost profits/data) arising from App use, even if advised of the possibility. Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim (or €50 if no payment).

12. Termination

We may suspend/terminate your access/account at any time for violations, without notice/liability. Upon termination, your license ends; delete the App and stop using it. Sections surviving termination: Intellectual Property, Disclaimers/Limitation, Governing Law, etc.

13. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms. Changes will be posted in the App or at https://shipspotter.org/terms. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. For material changes affecting subscriptions or rights, we’ll notify you (e.g., in-app or email).

14. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of Sweden, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. Any disputes shall be resolved exclusively in the courts of Sweden. To the extent permitted, you waive class actions and agree to individual resolution only.

15. Contact Information

Questions? Contact us at:

Thank you for using ShipSpotter! Enjoy logging your ship sightings responsibly.